Night of the Lions (Lions of Manhattan 1)

“Marvin Jackson. He’s my father’s lawyer. Told me to meet him here to discuss a few things.”

“Marvin Jackson,” Gabriel echoed, looking thoughtful. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. And here I thought I knew everybody in this place.”

Crap. Quick, distract him. “Nice shirt.”

“You think so? That’s a lovely dress you’re wearing, as well.”

“This old thing?” She managed a quick laugh. “Got it on discount racks at Kohl’s.”

“It suits you well.”

“Thanks.” She spun her brain, thinking of an excuse to get away from this place. Even though Gabriel was hot and all, he was sharper than she’d thought. Sooner or later, he would find out she was blowing hot air. Bathroom? Too cliché. Grab her purse and dash to the door like Road Runner? Hmm…

“Boyfriend?”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t see any ring on your fingers, so you aren’t married or engaged. No mark of a ring either, so you can’t be widowed or previously engaged. You’re too young to be the love interest of the gentleman you’re meeting if he’s your father’s lawyer. Ninety per cent of the members of this club are gentlemen over the age of fifty. I’ve safely assumed you’re either single or in a relationship with a man your age.”

“Wow. You guessed all that based on the fact I’m not wearing any ring?”

“It’s a simple matter of deduction.”

“How do you know I’m not a lesbian and in a domestic partnership with…” Cat gulped and added lamely, “…my partner?”

“I could be wrong.” He tipped his head. “But you would likely have declined my invitation if you were into girls.”

Jesus. She had to get out of here. Gabriel was way, way smarter than she had expected. What had she been thinking, spying on him closely on his own turf like this? She sucked at questioning people. This wasn’t a missing cat or nabbing some married guy who’d had nookie with a stripper. This was some serious shit she was treading in.

“Well?” he demanded.

“Nice shirt.”

Gabriel looked super amused by now. He snatched her wrist and semi-dragged her to the table he was playing on. She had a feeling he knew the game she was at. He thrust the cue stick in her hand and scooped himself behind her. No, against her. She could feel warmth emanating from his body, and his scent permeated the air like an intoxicating perfume. It had a heady effect. He didn’t wear any cologne. Just his natural scent. Musk. Feral. And, whatever it was, it spiked her libido to the roof. Her nipples hardened. Her pussy became wet. She felt his hot breath on her ear. The hairs on her nape stood up. She heard a deep inhalation.

Dude. Did he just scent me?

She looked over her shoulder to investigate, but all of a sudden his lips were on her cheek. Her heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t a kiss. No. It was more like…tasting. He dragged his tongue lazily across her jaw line to the shell of her ear. She shivered. Gabriel nipped her earlobe and sucked it.

Cat’s knees buckled.

Gabe quickly steadied her with an arm across her belly. It gave him the opportunity to draw her closer to his chest. She was just perfect. Her body moulded to his embrace as if she had been made just for him. He could feel the fast gallop of her heartbeat. The goosebumps on her skin where he’d tasted her. And her deepening arousal…

Her scent.

Fucking unbelievable.

She was more irresistible than a lioness in heat and this woman wasn’t a shifter. She was only a human. Ironically, her name was Cat. She was a kitty Gabe would be only too happy to pet.

“Are you all right?” Gabe asked her. He knew he wasn’t. His cock had been hard from the moment he’d caught her scent as she’d innocently breezed into this club. The white cocktail dress she wore had caught everybody’s attention. It hugged her hourglass figure seductively without being trashy. But since the club was rather deserted at this hour and mostly populated with older gentlemen, they knew better than to stare at her blatantly. Especially at the pair of fine breasts she had. If she were his woman, Gabe would forbid her from wearing something that flirty. He wanted to keep this scrumptious morsel of delight and all her glory to himself.

Cat. Catherine. Gabe wanted to purr her name.

“I’m fine.” Her voice was a bit shaky.

“You sure?” Gabe leant down and breathed in her scent. God. He would have jumped her bones if she were a lioness and they were in the Serengeti, not in the heart of Manhattan. His lion said Fuck the society rules and just claim her, already. His beast had been restless as soon as it had caught her presence.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”