I went to the toilet and cleaned up, then headed back out. Kellen was nowhere to be seen, and part of me was glad. I had a feeling he might just fight for my attentions, and while I was wolf enough to think that wasn't a bad thing, neither Misha nor I needed that sort of attention at the moment.
Misha was over near the bar, sitting on a stool and nursing what looked like a beer. I made my way toward him.
"Didn't expect to find you here," I said, kissing his cheek and forcing a cheerful note into my voice. "What happened to the Rocker?"
His eyes met mine, then briefly slid past. I understood the warning clear enough. His watcher was near. I'd have to be the one to make the moves.
"They've decided to go modern," he said, his voice dry. "And you know I can't stand that stuff."
"You and me both." I plonked down on the stool beside his. "You want another beer?"
"Sure."
I ordered two from the bartender, then said, "You know, it's nice to see you again."
Amusement touched his cold eyes. He raised a hand, brushing the hair away from my cheek, his fingers cool against my skin. "It's been a while," he said softly.
I resisted the urge to pull away. "How come you're here alone? You've usually got a half dozen pretty blondes hanging off you five minutes after you walk into a club."
His smile was warm, genuine. "I did have. But I've got an important liaison with a couple of pretty sisters in the green room in - " He paused, glancing at his watch. "Forty-five minutes."
The green room was one of five private rooms the Blue Moon offered, and from what I'd heard, the most expensive. It apparently came complete with a spa, vibrating chairs, the latest in "air" beds, and for those who got off on pain, a whipping area. "And you're not using it in the meantime? Misha, you're getting old."
He grinned. "Conserving strength, more likely." He thanked the barman as he placed our drinks, then added, "The sisters are young and extremely active."
"So," I said softly, sliding my hand up his thigh, "there's nothing I could say that would sway you toward putting that room to use for the next half hour?"
He raised an eyebrow. "The last time I saw you here, you said you wanted nothing more to do with me."
I'd said nothing of the sort, though I'd certainly thought it. But given Misha could no more read my mind than I could his, it was obviously said for the benefit of the watcher. And if I wanted to pick Misha's brain, I had to play this game, at least for the time being.
"As I told you at the time, I don't take kindly to being kept waiting. Not when there's plenty of other offers on the table."
"So what made you change your mind?"
I forced a grin, and lightly ran my fingers up and down his erection. "What makes you think I have? Maybe I'm just getting a little revenge. Making you rue missed opportunities."
"Oh, I have been," he said dryly, "especially in the last few minutes."
"So that means we can play?"
"I guess if you're going to insist... "
"And I am."
"Then a sensible wolf has no choice but to give in."
He rose, and offered me a hand. I placed my fingers in his, grabbed the beer with my free hand, and slid off the stool.
He escorted me down the dark hall, and opened the last door. Candles flickered in the wall sconces set in each corner, throwing pale light across walls painted in various shades of green, so that they resembled leaves in a forest. The ceiling was black, and dotted with hologram stars that offered little in the way of light. What looked like a mat of dry leaves sat near the right wall. This was obviously the air bed. Had I been here with anyone else but Misha, that would have been the first thing I tried out. Instead, I headed for the pondlike spa, easing myself into the steaming, bubbling water with a sigh.
Misha locked the door, then pressed several buttons on the security panel to the right of the door, setting the timer and the psychic shield.
"So," I said, dropping all pretense of niceness. "Tell me why I should let you fuck the hell out of me."
"Because you want a kid."
"Besides that. You and I both know that I could walk out onto that dance floor and within five minutes have half a dozen wolves ready and willing to get their chips ripped out and attempt to have a kid with me." Though there was only one particular wolf I'd actually be interested in.