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assume your friends here
aren’t into our music.”
    “I’ve never taken a poll, but I highly doubt it. Michael
tends to lean more toward jazz, and the rest of these fuckers are old white men
in every aspect.”
    Max snorted.
    Derrick shot him a look, then returned his attention to
Sonja. “As much as I like class and sophistication, I do also enjoy getting
down and dirty with my metal brethren.”
    “And sisters.” She bared teeth in her grin.
    The way the light hit her eyes really emphasized the glint
in her blue-silver irises. Their oval shape suited her face, he decided. “I’ve
had my share of fun.”
    “Just like all the other males.” She rolled her eyes and
took his cigar from him. Bringing it to her lips, she took a puff, blew out a
ring of smoke, and handed it back to him.
    He became all too aware of the taste of her once he took
another puff of his cigar. Her flavor melded well with the Nicaraguan
earthiness of the stick. He’d die to have another, more personal taste of her.
“Brazen. Different from last night.” He paused for effect. “I like that.”
    “Indeed you do. My onstage persona and who I am offstage are
just different enough that the fans won’t think I’d really eat their heads when
I scream. So…” She shrugged out of his coat and let it fall against the back of
the leather chair. “I assume you want this back.”
    Derrick stretched his legs out. His body tightened, muscles
primed with the urge to carry out the very sensual threat the big cat in him
wanted to make: to lick and lap at her folds, kiss and caress her, learn her,
possess her.
    His cock strained against his jeans but he forced himself to
think of her as fun, not a permanent thing. Derrick couldn’t do permanent.
    It was usually best for everyone involved.
    Yet a little play couldn’t hurt. He let the tone of his
voice drop just a touch, aiming for subtlety. “I did mean to swing by later and
pick it up. But…I didn’t know if Rob would have had it or if you’d assume it
belonged to some lame groupie.”
    She laughed, then cleared her throat. “About my brother…”
    “Yes?” He waited, patiently hoping the human would just let
things drop like they did when met with silence. Or keep talking, in which case
he would have to time to come up with something more plausible than, Oh,
hey, we knew each other from school .
    Sonja didn’t say another word.
    The silence hung between them. Thankful for his spy
training, Derrick made no move to show interest in the subject or encourage her
to continue.
    “You’re not helping his cause.”
    Now he laughed. “I’m sure I’m not. What about him?”
    “Friend from school, hmm?”
    Derrick nodded ever so slightly.
    Max snorted.
    Derrick shot the Goth wannabe a dirty look.
    “Afraid you’re busted, pal. He told me this morning that
you’re one of the regulars in his bar. Seems a little odd.”
    “I have to go somewhere after this place closes.”
    “Indeed.” The wry smile returned to her lips and she laughed
again. “You’re very amusing.”
    Her laughter held a musical quality that seemed to seep into
Derrick’s skin and make him tingly. Energy crackled in the room between them,
the air heated, charged full of powerful lust.
    Sensual darkness.
    She wanted him. Perfect.
    The other pumas gasped. Even Erick froze before resuming his
relaxed yet stoic position in the chair.
    He leaned forward, pressed a hand to her muscled thigh. He
appreciated her strength but found her femininity even more of a turn on.
“You’re doing it again, dear.”
    Rocky stood, made his way toward the door. “She’s a danger.
I told you, I felt it! You all felt it!” His cigar shook in his trembling
hands. “I told you! She—”
    “Rocky settle down. And shut the fuck up. You’re paranoid
anyway. The world is out to get you, remember?” Michael’s words made Rocky stop
and blink.
    He calmed down and resumed his position in his chair, though
his eyes darted back and forth between