He grabbed the handle of the door and stalked inside.

The security at the place was shit. Most feeding rooms had a hell of a lot better protection to keep the “undesirables” out.

Undesirables like him.

Miranda was at the bar. Already, several vamps were glancing her way. His gaze focused solely on her, and he cut a quick path through the crowd of humans and vampires.

The humans were there because they liked the thrill of walking with death.

The vamps were there because they either wanted to screw the humans or to drain them.

Miranda’s back was to him. He reached out, grabbed her shoulder, and spun her around.

Her breath jerked out and her eyes widened. “What are you—”

“Dance with me.” Cain didn’t give her time to refuse. Holding her wrist tightly, he pulled her behind him and onto the small dance floor. He could feel the gazes on him now, the awareness. A vamp’s sense of smell was much more acute than a human’s, and all the vampires there would know that he was different.

He’d once heard that shifters smelled like animals. Maybe they did.

Either way, the vamps would detect that smell and know he was different, and because he’d claimed Miranda’s sweet body earlier that day, some of the older vamps might even be able to catch his scent on her.

“Uh, Cain?” Her nails dug into his shoulders. “This isn’t exactly part of the plan.”

Damn, but the woman felt good in his arms. “Plan changed a bit.” He lowered his head, nuzzled her neck. He loved the way she smelled there, at that sweet spot where her pulse raced. The vampires were watching so closely, their stares weighed on him.

But at least now they’d understand why his scent was on Miranda. They’d attribute it to the dance.

And not to the sex.

“I’m gonna kiss you,” he told her, lowering his hands to her hips and bringing her flush against the arousal he always seemed to have when she was near. A band played near the far back of the building, a drumming beat that matched the fire in his blood.

Her eyes were so damn blue. And her honeysuckle scent was calling to him like a beacon in the room that reeked of blood.

“This isn’t the way to get the vamps to open up and talk to me.”

His head lowered toward hers. He could already taste her. “No, but I want your mouth.” So bad he was starting to ache. “And in about thirty seconds, when you slap me as hard as you can, you’ll have the undivided attention of every vamp in the room.”

Her eyes widened right before he took her lips. His tongue thrust deep. Slid over hers. The light flavor of her filled his mouth. Oh, yes, this was exactly what he wanted. Her nipples stabbed against his chest, pebble-hard and tight, and the creamy scent from her sex rose to tease his nostrils as—

Miranda jerked her mouth away from his. Shoved her arms between them and broke free of his hold. Then the lady did just as he’d directed. She drew back herhand and hit him.

He heard the gasp from those who’d been watching. Tension hummed in the air. Some knew what he was. Shifter. He’d caught the whispers moments before.

The vamps would be hungry for his reaction. Would he strike back? Turn tail and run?

Neither. Cain lifted his chin, smiled at her, and said, “Baby, if you thought screwing with an animal was bad, you don’t know what’s waiting for you.” His voice was pitched to carry across the crowd.

She shook her head and threw herself into the little drama they’d created. “I know what’s waiting.” Her hand swept around the room. “And it’s gonna be a damn sight better than what I had.”

His eyes narrowed at that. Okay, so his little human was a good actress. He’d held back on warning her about this little scene because he hadn’t wanted her to waste time worrying about what would happen. Or trying to analyze and plot out her performance.

In his undercover situations in the past, he’d found that a fast, gut response always came across as more genuine.

He hadn’t realized that Miranda would shine so in the spotlight.

“Now, if you don’t mind,” she said, and her voice could have dripped icicles, “I’d like for you to get the hell out of my way.”

His gaze held hers. Hunger beat at him because the woman was just so beautiful standing there, head thrown back, face taunting and angry.

Oh, yeah, damn good actress.

As he took a deliberately grudging step out of her way, he realized their little show had taught him a lesson he hadn’t expected.

He didn’t want Miranda to look at him with anger.

And he sure as hell didn’t want to ever have to step aside so that she could go to another.

Shifters weren’t designed to give up their mates. Not without one hell of a fight.

He snarled and slunk away into the shadows as the beat of the music flared harder.

By the time she got back to the bar, two vampires were waiting for her. Miranda’s heart rate sped up at the sight of the men. Both were blond, pale, and wearing smiles that made her blood ice.

“You were right to leave him,” the one on the left said, letting his gaze sweep over her body. He licked his lips, thin lips that, paired with his angular face and hollowed cheeks, gave him a harsh, almost cruel appearance. “Their kind doesn’t know how to treat human women.”

Like vampires did? ’Cause having her blood sucked out of her was just exactly what she’d imagined for her dream date.

“Have a seat.” The second guy indicated the bar stool between them. “I promise, we won’t bite—yet.” His face was a bit softer than the other vamp’s, but his eyes were already in that creepy black mode. Hunting mode, that’s what Cain had called it. He’d said their eye color darkened to black when they were about to fight or feed. Or fuck.