Mists of Velvet

wraith. He needed energy, not only to survive, but to perform magick. But something was holding him back. Keir was normally eager to climb into bed with any woman. He enjoyed sex, but tonight it looked like a necessary evil—a sacrifice, if Rhys was interpreting Keir’s clenched jaw correctly.
    “I was wondering about her friend. The blonde. She’s pretty.”
    “No blondes,” Keir snapped, “and no one too . . . full.”
    Now Rhys understood. Keir didn’t want any reminders of Rowan—a full-figured, stunning blonde he couldn’t have.
    “It’s too much,” Keir murmured. Even though the techno goth music was pulsing loudly through the club, Rhys heard Keir’s anguished voice in his thoughts. “I can’t be with someone who looks like her. It’s wrong. I . . .”
    “It’s okay. I understand.” Rhys felt the wraith’s instant relief. “Let’s get back to the one in the silvery blond wig,” he suggested.
    “Nice,” Keir replied, trying to sound as if he were into this whole threesome thing tonight, although Rhys knew he wasn’t. “You think she’ll take us both?”
    “Well, her eyes seemed to light up even more when you appeared. One can hope.”
    “If not, there’s always Abby.”
    Rhys searched through the flashing strobe lights and colored laser beams for the red-haired waitress. She’d been trying to get into bed with them ever since she’d started at the club a year ago. Trouble was, doing this kind of thing with the staff was risky. He didn’t like it. It made the night after sex awkward, and she was a good waitress. His customers liked her, and he’d hate to lose her if she wanted more than just a night of hot and sweaty sex. He’d have to let her go if she got all clingy—especially if she got suspicious about Keir. Normally, the whole magical, immortal thing wasn’t a problem. Humans saw what they saw, and to them, most of the patrons were just like them—human. But if Abby took it into her head to get close with them, things might change.
    On the other hand, Abby was the farthest thing from Rowan. And she was the complete opposite of his dream lady. Maybe that was what they both needed—to lose themselves in a woman who reminded them of no one.
    “Hey,” Abby said as she sashayed past them. She was wearing her customary black leather dress that looked to be at least one size too small, and black fishnets with thigh-high black boots. Her hair was dyed a burgundy red and worn in a bob. Her look was dominatrix, and Rhys wasn’t sure if what he wanted tonight was something rough or . . . simpler. Straight pleasure.
    “If you’re wondering about Silver Bunny,” she said, pressing forward so they could get a view of her cleavage, “she’s good to go. She was asking me about you.” Then she smiled and pressed closer. “But if you want someone who can handle both of you, there’s me.”
    With a smile and a laugh, she sauntered away.
    “Silver Bunny,” Keir said as he nodded in her direction. “Pick her. You want her more than Abby. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
    Then he was gone, evaporating into fog, which mixed in with the vapor of the dry ice. Rhys followed the writhing form as it made its way to the stairs to their rooms in the part of the club that remained the mansion.
    Picking his way through the crowd, he pressed against the woman, preparing to ask her to dance, when she pressed back against him and kissed him.
    Obviously, small talk wasn’t required. From the feel of her breasts pressing against his T-shirt, her nipples were already hard, and her tongue . . . It was definitely searching for more.
    “You sure?” he whispered in her ear as he kissed his way down her jaw. She moaned and pressed against him, her hand sliding down his abs to his crotch. She cupped him and said breathlessly, “I’m sure.”
    “What about my friend?” he asked as he pulled them deeper into the shadows and toward the stairs. Her body vibrated against him with the suggestion of the threesome. He could smell her excitement, could feel it as she wrapped herself around him.
    “What about him? Is he willing?”
    “More than willing.”
    She practically purred as he took her hand in his to lead her to the staircase. “I’ve never done this before.”
    “I know.” They always said that, pretending innocence, then clawing at him and Keir as soon as they were alone.
    She looked up at him, her eyes outlined with black eyeliner. She was pretty, and he was turned on. And Keir needed