Hell's Gate: Draig Read online

  “Not a chance. I like the sun shining on my face and the warmth beating on my skin.”

  “You just love to rub it in,” Tig laughed.

  She rolled her eyes. “Have you seen Leah tonight?”

  “Yeah, she’s in the back.”

  “Thanks.” Lila walked toward the back and found Leah’s door ajar. Through the crack, she could see her boss bent over the desk. She knocked and waited.

  “Come in.”

  Lila pushed the door open and stood in the doorway. She always kept her distance from the Hell’s Gate owner. She wasn’t afraid of the woman; in fact, they had a mutual respect for each other. But it was easier to stay out of reach if her temper flared and her claws came out. Leah glanced up. A pinched smile appeared on her lips. Her eyes were shadowed under dark brown eyebrows.

  “What did you want, Lila? Did you need to order something for the bar?”

  “No. Last night a man came into the bar and said you were expecting him. His name was Draig. He helped me home after I hit my head. I was a little out of it last night. I was hoping he was here or if you knew where he was. I wanted to thank him.”

  Leah’s face paled. “Did he do anything to you? Try anything with you?”

  “No. He was a gentleman. Should I have been worried? Have you seen him?” Lila played with a piece of her blue hair. The color was fading from the cobalt hue she had dyed it a couple of weeks ago. Soon she’d have to do it again. Maybe this time she’d go for hot pink.

  Leah waved her off and tried to soothe her strained expression. “No. Nothing to be worried about. Draig’s a good guy. He’s a loner. He doesn’t have a good track record with women. They hit on him and he gives them the cold shoulder. Don’t get on his bad side. He has a fiery temper. He can destroy things if he gets worked up enough.”

  “Worse than your moods?”

  The owner of Hell’s Gate chuckled. “Yeah, actually.”

  Lila’s eyes widened and she giggled. “Wow. That’s really bad then. I’ll try to stay on his good side. Have you seen him? How do you know him?”

  “Not yet. Thanks for letting me know he’s here. I have a space in the club ready for him. Draig and I go way back. He’s one of a kind.” She ran her hand through her hair and took a minute. “We met a long time ago when I was staying in London. We had a mutual understanding.”

  “What kind of understanding?” A flash of Draig and Leah popped into her mind. She tried to shake it off and a sliver of jealousy ran rampant through her. It burned in her veins.

  “Friends with a few benefits, but that isn’t the reason why I brought him here.”

  “Oh. Well, then. What’s he going to be doing?”

  Leah scrutinized her. Lila felt her eyes sweeping over her body. She raked her fingers over the desk. Small curls of wood came up from her sharp nails. Lila hugged the door harder. That harsh stare wasn’t something she enjoyed being under. If a person found themselves under the watchful eye of the boss, they eventually found their way out of the club.

  “Why are you suddenly asking about one of the employees here? You never get involved with the acts. You just serve the drinks. Weren’t you the one who told me that it wasn’t worth getting caught up in all the kink? Why so interested now?”

  Lila shrugged. Her cheeks burned thinking about the kiss she and Draig had shared. She didn’t want to think that he and Leah were still involved. By the way he had kissed her, she wasn’t sure. “He seemed like an interesting guy. You know, nice and all.”

  “That he is. Draig likes to tie people up. Sometimes he whips them. Mostly he ties them up and suspends them. Women love it. Maybe you should give it a try.”

  “Tied up?” She took a step back and shook her head. Being bound up was not something she looked forward to. “Not for me. Thanks, though. Oh, do you know if the club has a resident ghost now?”

  The other woman chuckled. “I don’t think so. But I haven’t been looking in the dark corners lately. This place is a Mecca for the strange and otherworldly. I’ll check into it. Something else bothering you?”

  “No. I’ve just noticed things here and there. Nothing malicious. I’ll get ready for the night.”

  “If you notice it getting hostile, let me know and I’ll get it taken care of.”

  Lila nodded. She headed back to the bar club and thought about what Leah had told her about Draig. He has a temper and he likes to tie people up. I wonder if that reflects over to what he likes to do in bed. Maybe he’s a serial killer hiding in plain sight. No, he can’t be because Leah wouldn’t have been with him. Draig hadn’t mentioned anything about what he would do at the club or that he had a mean streak. Then again, she wasn’t in a talkative mood the night before. All she could think about was his hard form snuggled against hers. She licked her lips and tried to remember the taste of him. His particular spice escaped her, and that saddened her.

  Back behind the bar, she set up for the night, stacking the glasses in the fridge to keep them cold, and then filled the ice bins. After several trips to the ice chest in the basement, the ice containers were about full. One more trip down was all she needed. As she was climbing up the stairs, the bucket of ice hit a step and jarred her hand. Lila lost her grip on the handle. The pail slid down the steps and hit her knee hard.

  “Shit!”

  “Seems that we keep meeting this way. You are a very accident-prone woman.”

  Lila looked up to find Draig standing above her with his arms crossed over his chest. His well muscled legs were encased in black leather pants. The sides were laced together with blue leather ties that showed off peeks of his skin. He wore a blue vest that he left open so she could glimpse his chiseled chest. Some kind of silver band hugged his neck. She couldn’t make out the etching on it, but it looked like foreign writing. Two other silver bands clasped his upper arms. Draig offered her his hand. She took it gratefully. Once his smooth hand slid over her palm, her knees went weak. It was only his firm grip that kept her balanced. He helped her up and released her hand. When he did, she had to suppress a moan from slipping from her lips. She hadn’t realized that she craved his touch, and that was a new thing for her. Leah didn’t know how to process that and she wasn’t about to tell him. Or even let on.

  “I think you might need to change.” He motioned toward her shirt.

  Somehow there was a big hole in her shirt. Her bra was torn as well, so her breast was exposed. She tried to cover it up. This is not happening. What is going on with me? “Wonderful. I don’t have any change of clothes with me. Honestly, this isn’t me. I usually don’t get banged up so much.”

  “I bet.” His smile lit up his eyes. “Come on. I have something you might be able to wear.”

  “I have to clean up the ice and then bring another one back up to the bar. We’ll be opening in less than an hour.”

  “Well, you could go topless. I’m sure someone around here has some pasties or electrical tape to cover your nipples. But you don’t seem the type to draw that kind of attention to yourself. I can ask Tig to clean this mess up and finish setting up. Besides, you’re bleeding. We really need to take care of that. Some people around here might take that as an invitation. Follow me.”

  Lila glanced back at the melting ice and then down her front with the gaping hole in her shirt. She sighed. Draig was right. She had to get everything taken care of before the cut got infected. That, and she didn’t want to be considered dinner for any of the people at the club. Hell’s Gate might be a haven for the otherworlders, but she didn’t want to push her luck.

  “Fine.”

  Draig led her downstairs. Some of fetishists had personal rooms there. Leah wanted to make sure those who needed a haven had it. With so many other creatures in Hell’s Gate, she didn’t want anyone to think she was making herself available by snooping around their lodgings. They went to the very end of the hall. The door before them was black with silver flecks of glitter embedded into the paint. Draig unlocked the door and let her go in before him.
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  Inside was a small bed nestled into the corner of the room with a black curtain held back by a purple tie. There was a dresser, a chair, a bed, and a desk. Lila had never assumed the rooms were furnished. She knew there were other rooms especially set aside for the fetishists. And if a patron got into real trouble, they could spend the night. Draig led her to the chair. She sat down gratefully because her knee was throbbing. He disappeared through another door that was hidden behind a black curtain. She peered around the room and saw his bag from the other night stuffed in the corner of the room. Ropes of different colors stuck out from it. Lila looked down at her shirt and touched the wound slashed from her stomach to just under her bra. It stung when she poked at it. The gash wasn’t deep, but it hurt.

  Draig reappeared with a first-aid kit. He knelt before her and lifted up her shirt. The sudden electric jolt of his fingers touching her stomach made her draw back into the chair. It was what she had daydreamed about, but not this way. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “You need to take this off so I can treat your wound.” He stopped before he touched her stomach.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s that or you bleed all over and run the risk for infection or drawing some of the more unsavory characters down here.” He stopped and smiled. A devilish smile made his eyes sparkle. “I have seen beautiful women topless before.”

  Her cheeks heated and she glanced at the floor. She wasn’t sure if she believed what he said about her being beautiful. He had been kind to her the night before and he was only doing the same thing tonight. The feel of his hands was something she desired. But she still didn’t know what kind of creature he was. He could have been a ghoul, but being in Hell’s Gate he had to abide by Leah’s rules. I can’t believe I’m doing this in front of him. After a moment, she thought about the other things she wanted to take off too.

  Lila nodded and lifted her shirt over her head. She used it to wipe away the blood and dropped it on the floor. The sharp sting of alcohol invaded her nose as Draig opened a cleansing pad and swiped it along the slash. The coolness made her jump. The light touch of his fingers contracted her nipple. She drew in a moan and then bit her lip. He didn’t seem to notice her body’s reaction to his touch and slipped the bra strap down off her shoulder. His fingers trailed around the top of one breast, then the other one. She sucked in a small breath. Draig met her eyes. They captured her and held her in their power. The same green flames ignited in them that had claimed her will the night before.

  Lila’s body craved his touch unlike any other man she had ever known. Rational thought slipped away and she went on instinct. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. They were as full as she remembered. Tonight he tasted like ginger. The tang was something she hadn’t expected, but enjoyed. Draig wove his hand through her hair, then pulled her lips from his and looked at her a moment. She held perfectly still and waited. He studied her eyes and then he drew her close. She slipped from the chair and fell to her knees. He drew her to him until her breasts pressed against his chest. Lila wrapped her arms around his neck trying to conform her body to his. He was built harder than any rock she had ever met. It had been a long time since any man had turned her on the way he did. Being with him felt more right than anything. Almost as if he was part of her soul.

  She ran her tongue along his lips. Draig groaned into her mouth and met her tongue with his. The ginger tang fell away. He had a darker taste, smoky and filled with some exotic spice she had never sampled before. He cupped her breast and squeezed it. His thumb brushed her pert nipple. His flesh warmed her and she forgot all about her injuries. Draig ran his fingers along her back. As they did, whatever knots she had were worked out of her muscles. She arched her back and wanted to feel more of his skin, have his lips on her breasts. The passion from the kiss snaked along her nerves. She was already wet from his simple caresses. The yearning in his kisses heated her soul. Sensuous lips worked down her throat and sucked on the skin there. Lila tried to remain rational, but each second they touched she fell deeper under his spell.

  Lila slid her fingers under his vest and pushed it from his arms. She then worked down his back. The muscles in his shoulders were hard and bunched together. He was on edge while she was putty in his hands. Although, when she touched his shoulder blades, on the place where the wings of his tattoo were fused to his flesh, his whole body trembled.

  Draig pulled away and clutched her hands, squeezing them until the bones rubbed together. Lila cried out from the sudden pain and change in his demeanor. The green of his eyes became pure liquid silver. The expression on his face turned alien. He seemed a different person than the one she was just kissing.

  “What did you do?”

  It was like she’d been doused in cold water and shocked back to reality. Lila wasn’t sure what he meant. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I—”

  “Save it! I know your type.” He stood up, putting as much distance between them as he could in the small room. Draig pointed toward the door. “Leave! Now!”

  “What type are you talking about? Now you think I’m some kind of slut? Hold your horses, buddy. I was the one who let you sleep on my couch last night. I could have left you here in the cold club. But I offered you my hospitality.”

  “You weren’t in any shape last night to do anything to me. Now please leave now before I lose my temper. I will not be responsible for what happens to you.”

  She covered her breasts with her hands, not believing what had just happened. Lila stood and walked up to him. He had made her feel wonderful. Her whole body zinged from his kiss and the feel of his hands on her. No one had ever made her feel so alive. And yet with him leering at her now, she felt as if she was under a microscope and she was the bug that he was going to squash. The passion he had awoken in her burned away to anger. She clenched her teeth, trying to hold in her rage. “I can’t leave. Until you give me something to wear. Unless that was only a pretense to get me down here and take advantage of me.”

  “Pretense? Why would I want to get you alone? You’re not my type anyway.” He pushed past her, grumbled and dug into his chest of drawers. Draig threw a vest at her.

  She caught it, turned around and then slipped it on. The vest was a little tight when she zipped it up, but it fit. “Not your type! You were the one who locked lips with me last night! I don’t go around kissing strange men.”

  Draig ran a hand through his hair and swore under his breath. “Really? Because you were just asking for it. You practically threw yourself at me.”

  “Whatever! I bumped my head. Twice. I wasn’t exactly balanced.” Lila walked toward the door and then stopped when she touched the knob.

  “You’re still here?”

  Tears burned in her eyes. He was turning this all around. She didn’t understand what had happened between them. One moment she was in heaven and trying to remember what her body felt like. The next he was a cold-hearted bastard who wanted nothing else to do with her, basically calling her a whore. “You know, I thought you were different. I came in here tonight hoping to thank you for the coffee and the muffin. I figured you had a lucky guess, but chocolate chip is my favorite. I wasn’t looking to have a make-out session. I have a strict rule that I don’t date people I work with. Thanks for the vest and the help last night. We have to work together. So at least we can be civil.”

  Draig didn’t respond. Lila glanced back once and saw the muscles bunched in his shoulders. He breathed heavily. The tension between them weighed her down. Leah was right. Draig had a temper, and she wasn’t going to wait around and find out what was under his skin. She took another breath, secretly hoping he would apologize. When that didn’t happen, she left and headed back upstairs.

  For the rest of the night, Lila ignored the lustful looks she received from the patrons and focused on the drinks she was fetching. Tig tried to pry what happened between her and Draig out of her. But she was tight-lipped, and kept waiting on customers.
At a free moment, she listened to the clientele lavishing praise on Draig. People had lined up for hours to have their chance to be bound by the handsome new addition to the club. He suspended women twenty feet above the floor and then swung them overhead for a few minutes. She didn’t see the attraction, but some of them associated it to flying.

  At the end of the night, Lila was tired and aching. Her knee was killing her, and so was the gash on her chest. She needed the day off to collect herself and be away from Draig to purge him from her system. Now was the time she really needed that hot bath, glass of Chardonnay, and the peanut butter pie that was calling her name in her refrigerator. However, there was a part of her that yearned to be in his arms once more. The thought of being without him hurt like a knife being turned in her heart, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Her fingers ached to touch him once more. Some fire had been lit inside of her because of him. She should have stopped their first kiss before it even started. His mouth was so luscious and soft. It hinted that he knew how to use it the way he had kissed her. His lips needed to be touching her skin. After the words said between them tonight, Lila feared that would never happen again.