By the time they’d left the condo, Layla’s hair was tousled in a sexy style and she wore red lipstick to match the blouse and teetered on spiky heels.

“Before you complain, we’re going to Nautica. I made reservations for us.”

Nautica was a werewolf hot spot. Members only. Tia loved it, Layla tolerated it for Tia.

“I thought you said I was supposed to play tonight? Now I’ll be hounded by power-hungry males who want to f**k their way into my family.”

“Oh my god! Lay! Have you looked at yourself lately? You’re f**king gorgeous.

They want to f**k you. Some of them are hot to be married into the Warden family but most of them want to bed you because you’re beautiful, sexy and have a good job.”

It was an old argument and on most days Layla could believe Tia, but it was hard being from an influential family. People assumed things. They assumed she got her job through her connections instead of the fact she’d graduated at the top of her class, interned and then worked part-time at her company for three years. They assumed her money was family money. There was money there but it was all tied up in trusts. What she and her siblings had they’d all earned.

“Okay. Fine.” She knew she was being selfish and she gave in. Tia didn’t date too many humans. She didn’t think it was fair to have to hide such a large part of herself from them. Werewolf-only clubs like Nautica were the few places she could meet wolf males their age.

“Good. Life would be so much better if you just agreed with me from the start and I didn’t have to argue with you. Because you know I’m right.”

Layla rolled her eyes when they pulled into valet and flashed their membership cards. “It’s 1996! What is up with the mullets?” Layla whispered this quietly to Tia before they got to the top of the stairs leading into the restaurant and lounge area.

Tia looked back over her shoulder at the group of male wolves clustered near the front doors, several with the short on the top, long in the back hairdo that puzzled both 9

women. “Werewolves and their mullets! I don’t know, but I’m sure glad Cade got rid of his. Your brother is hot stuff but man did he look stupid.”

The two of them dissolved into laughter and the hostess just smiled at them as if they were a bit soft in the head as she led them to their table.

One thing Layla did like about the place was that due to the sheer number of wolves on site, they piped a neutralizer for pheromones through the air circulation system. So there wasn’t a whole lot of sniffing going on. She thought it was tacky when some guy she’d just met started sniffing on her.

Across the room, Sid Rosario watched the tall, very busty redhead enter the room and sit down. Her hair was tousled around her shoulders like she’d just rolled out of bed and very big china-blue eyes took in the room around them. And damn, but the woman did leather pants well enough to make him want to lick her like a giant ice-cream cone.

“Who is that?” Sid asked his cousin Adam.

Adam peered around Sid’s shoulder and smiled. “The tall one with the red hair is Layla Warden. The petite one is Tia Mathers. Layla is Pack royalty. She’s the oldest daughter. Tia’s just smoking hot.”

“I’m not interested in her pedigree. But I’d sure like to get to know her better. You know either one of them?” Sid could not take his eyes from Layla Warden’s mouth with that shiny red lipstick painting it. His c**k throbbed in anticipation as a picture of red lipstick marks at the base of it flashed through his mind. Lipstick kisses on his cock, yeah, that worked.

“Ah, it’s like that, is it? Well, many have tried and failed. She’s a bit cool. But yeah, Tia and I dated a few times. Let’s go. I’ll introduce you.” Adam stood up and Sid followed.

“Ah, so soon?” Tia murmured to Layla. “Adam Rosario. I have very fond naked memories of him. And who is that with him?”

Layla looked up from the menu and locked gazes with tall, dark and dangerous.

The man just oozed rebellion. Short black hair, a row of earrings in his right ear.

Nautica had a strict dress code but despite the black jeans and the button-down shirt, she was sure the guy lived in ripped jeans and Clash T-shirts.

So utterly not her type. This thought seemed to escape her as she looked into those big hazel eyes.

“Tia, gorgeous. Long time no see.”

Tia smiled up at Adam and batted her lashes a bit. “Hi, Adam.”

“Hey, Layla. You look great too. Can we join you?”

Tia accepted before Layla could speak. But she wouldn’t have refused anyway. Mr.

Rebel made her all tingly. And it had been a while. Four months to be exact.

“This is my cousin, Sid. He’s visiting here for a few weeks. Sid, this is Tia Mathers and Layla Warden.”

Sid shook hands with Tia and smiled at her, but it was fleeting compared to the full-on, deep, soul-shaking look he gave Layla. Taking her hand, he kissed the knuckles and the warmth of his lips shot straight to her pu**y.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Layla. I like that name. Is it…”

“Yes. My parents were big Eric Clapton fans when I was conceived. Let’s speak of it no more.”

Her smile was flirtatious and Sid smiled back.

“So what are you doing while you visit? Where do you call home?” Layla felt like she couldn’t get enough of looking at him.

The server came and took their orders and Sid watched as she sipped her drink.