chapter 1 & 2 Drunken Body Shots & Hidden Dangers

Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 1. Drunken Body Shots

As I slowly opened my eyes, the sound of ambulance sirens faded into the distance outside my bedroom window. My cat, Scuttlebutt, was purring contentedly on the pillow above my head, his soft fur a gentle caress on my skin. I stretched, arching my back and extending my arms, yawning. I glanced over at my alarm clock, and noticed it had never gone off – no surprise, given Scuttlebutt's mischievous habit of stepping on the buttons.

 

Following the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, I stumbled into the kitchen, my feet padding softly on the floor. Scuttlebutt darted ahead, his tail twitching with excitement, as he meowed loudly, demanding treats. I smiled, indulging him with a few snacks before pouring myself a steaming cup of coffee into my favorite mug. The rich aroma filled the air as I made my way to the cozy bay window seat, where I settled in to watch the tourists strolling by outside. As I sipped my coffee, the warm sunlight streaming through the window, I suddenly remembered that I needed to confirm Lucas' favorite band for his surprise birthday party tonight at the club. I made a mental note to call the club soon, ensuring everything was in place for a memorable celebration. 

 

Lucas and I lived together, we had been inseparable since our childhood days at the orphanage, sharing a bond that only grew stronger with time. Our journey together took an extraordinary turn a few years ago when we joined the witches' coven, embracing our innate powers and unlocking new possibilities. But as I reached for my phone to confirm the party details, it rang, it was Brent, my trusted shapeshifter bouncer from my club, his deep and gentle voice, brought a smile to my face. "The liquor delivery has arrived, and the band is setting up for tonight's gig," he informed me.

 

"They're looking for your input on the playlist and start time. They've prepared a list of songs, just in case you hadn't gotten around to it yet." I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, still trying to shake off the remnants of my oversleeping. Noon had already come and gone, and I was only now savoring my first cup of coffee. "Whatever they've got is fine, Brent," I replied, my voice laced with a yawn. "Just double-check that they've brought all the equipment I requested, okay?" Brent's reassuring grunt came through before he hung up, leaving me to ponder the whirlwind of activity that lay ahead. Tonight's party would be a celebration to remember, and I was determined to make it perfect for Lucas.

 

 

As I stood outside the club, the night air was heavy with anticipation. I could barely contain my excitement, knowing that my best friend, Lucas, was about to experience the surprise of a lifetime. His 25th birthday party, carefully planned to perfection, promised to be an unforgettable night. I spotted Lucas approaching, none the wiser, and played my part to perfection. "Hey, I need your help," I said, feigning frustration. "I think I lost my keys, can you let me in?" Lucas obligingly fumbled for the light switch, and as the lights burst on, the room erupted in a deafening chorus of "SURPRISE!!" Lucas' eyes widened in shock as he took in the sea of familiar faces – friends, co-workers, and fellow witches and warlocks from our coven – all gathered to celebrate him. "HOLY SHIT, SIS!!" he exclaimed, his voice hoarse with emotion, as he swept me into a tight hug. The cheers and shouts from the crowd drew him in, and soon he was beaming, basking in the love and adoration that filled the room. "I seriously thought you had forgotten my birthday!" he yelled over the crowd..

The club came alive with flashing neon lights and a fog machine that created a magical atmosphere. The music was pulsating and the crowd was buzzing with energy.

Lyra, my club waitress, and vampire, was nowhere to be found, that's when I saw a mysterious message on the wide screen above the DJ booth read: "The night is young, but time is running out.."

Suddenly, a cloaked figure emerged on stage, shrouded in darkness. Lyra's sultry voice whispered through the mic, "Welcome, darlings, to a night of mystery and mayhem." She revealed her fangs with a sly smile, and her eyes gleamed with mischief. "Among you hides a secret guest, and our 'birthday boy' must unravel the clues to find her... before the night consumes him." With a dramatic flourish, Lyra's cloak fell away, revealing her black dress and mask. The room plunged into darkness, and maniacal laughter echoed through the shadows. When the spotlight snapped back on, Lyra stood at the bar, this time, her eyes gleaming with seduction. "The game begins now, my dears," she purred, her voice dripping with anticipation. "Let the hunt commence..."

"First Lucas, Mr. Sexy, loverboy". She flirts with him and tells him he must find the female who's wearing vibrating panties and that lucky lady, will give you, your first clue. "Hurry, tic tock.." his face turns bright red trying to figure out how to go about doing this.. "Wait a minute I have to touch every female in the club's, lady parts?" he says with a devilish grin...

"Or, Mr. Dive right in! you could simply ask them!?!" the crowd explodes with laughter. "Yes, but my way was more fun." he declares as the men high-five him.

The crowd danced with abandon, lost in the infectious energy of the night. With each challenge Lucas conquered, the room erupted in cheers, and shots were handed out to all, toasting his success. The air was electric, charged with anticipation and sexy surprises lurking around every corner. Lyra's announcements became the highlights of the night, her sultry voice teasing the crowd with hints of what was to come. Lucas's determination and charisma drove the party forward, his progress marked by cheers, shots, and the tantalizing promise of the next clue.

As the party raged on long into the night, laughter and music filled the air, bottles littered the tables and everyone was stumbling around, when I noticed Lyra was lying on the table next to the bar, way too tipsy, trying to lure Brent into licking a body-shot.

"Come on you Sexyyy Man-Beassss, you know you want me!" she says with slurred words, then she whispers very loud "I want you too!" she moans "I need my own p-personal gigantic Teddy Bear," she says as she giggled.

"Oh boy, Brent take her to my office while I call her brother to come get her." He smiles while trying to convince her to go with him, which she does without hesitation.

I listened to the band play their last song as they announced that it was last call for alcohol. The club was a mess and so was everyone who was still here.

The party was a huge success, with laughter and music filling the air. Then, I saw him walk in - Lyra's brother, here to collect his sister. I'd heard Lyra talk about him many times, but she never mentioned how deliciously sexy he was.

I watched him as he scanned the room searching for me. He stood 6'4" tall, with a strong muscular build. His hair was jet black, long, and messy. His piercing blue eyes finally found me. His full lips curled up into a devilish grin, with a small scar just above his left eyebrow which only added to his rugged sex appeal. His style was effortless, wearing a half-unbuttoned fitted silk shirt, dark jeans, and an Italian leather jacket. He had that billionaire, deadly, sexy-hot, mob boss look that had all the ladies drawn to him, with lustful eyes and wet panties.

As he moved his confidence and charisma were alluring, drawing me in like a magnet, "Raven?" his deep smooth voice made me feel like I was the only person in the room, I was hopelessly captivated by his presence. Every gesture and every smile seemed to be tailored to make me feel like I was his for the taking. My heartbeat was pounding in my chest as he smelled my sexual arousal.

Chapter 2 Hidden Dangers

Just stepping out of a steaming hot shower he wraps a towel around his hips and heads for the kitchen. Lyra is seated at the table still in her PJs drinking a steaming cup of coffee, with a splitting headache.

"Good morning party girl." her brother greets her. "I'm assuming you have one hell of a hangover. The party was that good, huh." He smiles as he recalls the club and the stunningly beautiful Raven Williams. "Yeah, I kinda over-did it a bit?" she says softly.

"Oh you should have heard the stuff you were saying in the limo ride home, even Sam was blushing." he laughs.

"Oh geez, do I even wanna know?" she moans. "What did I say?" She looks up at her brother, who's pouring himself a cup of coffee, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Well I'm not repeating it," he says as he fixes coffee for himself, despite the maid fussing over it.

He sat across from her as she sipped her coffee, admiring his charming smile. Then she thought about last night with Brent. She had secretly wanted Brent to notice her, and after what happened last night, a sly grin slowly spread across her face, Now, I don't think he'll ever forget me, She blushed.

"So tell me more about your boss." He asked as he watched her smiling to herself.

"Oh my God no Kie, you cannot date my boss! That will be way too weird". she replied.

He raised an eyebrow. "Geez, I just asked a question. I haven't proposed to her or anything" He laughs.

His sister grabs her coffee and her laptop. Shaking her head at him with a sweet smile she strolls back to her room. But the truth was, she secretly wanted her brother to hook up with her boss, then maybe he'd support her relationship with Brent. Maybe, just maybe, she'd have to reconsider her earlier statement. After all, a little weirdness could be a good thing, right?

"Sam find out everything you can on Miss Raven Williams..." he says as he walks into his office suite.

"Yes, Boss." a man of few words but a massive amount of knowledge about everything, when you have lived as long as Sam has, you learn a lot.

*Brent*

He unlocks his front door with a grin on his face still thinking about Lyra and what she said. He thinks.. If she only knew how hard he was, with her saying all those delicious things to me, and he can never tell Raven that he did take that belly shot she offered him, after Raven walked away to call her brother. He wanted this woman so bad, that her 'personal TeddyBear' would eat her alive and make her scream his name, over and over again.

He pops a TV dinner into the microwave.. Does she even know that I'm a Grizzly shapeshifter? Did Raven tell her? She must have, after all, Raven did tell me she was a vampire. And.... his People would have a certified shit fit, if they found out, that he wanted her like this. It's strictly forbidden, but he wanted her with every beat of his heart.

*Raven*

"I feel like cooking tonight, but I'm not sure what to get as I shop around the local market in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The city has a diverse population, and everyone seems to get along well, except for the occasional dispute. New Orleans is a lively city that keeps its residents well entertained, from Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest, the French Quarter to the Superdome. It's one of the oldest cities in the state and has a rich history, from vampires to voodoo queens, and Cajuns are well known for their southern charm.

After deciding on a Seafood Creole Gumbo, I returned home with my grocery bags.

Later, in my kitchen, while stirring my pot of browned onions and bell peppers adding a dash of cayenne pepper and a pinch of paprika. Then the shrimp and half crabs went into the pot, as I stirred the Gumbo with my wooden spoon. It felt like I was putting a lil piece of my magic into every stir. Everyone could taste the love I poured into the dishes I made.

When the Gumbo was finally ready, I let out a satisfied sigh, taking another sip of my wine before giving the pot a final stir. I closed my eyes and let the flavors transport me to the bayous and cypress swamps where I grew up.

*Would it be too weird if I called to check in on Lyra?* I talked with Scuttlebutt while tasting my gumbo to make sure it was seasoned just right.

*I like the hooman, female* He says in our mind link.

The rice pot dings to let me know that the rice is ready. .. He just meows and rubs around my legs, hoping I'll give him another treat.

* She smells nice, but sad that she doesn't have 9 lives like me.* I had no idea that this was something he had seen in her future.

* What do you mean by that?* I look at him strangely.

As I changed the music to something more sultry swaying around the kitchen while setting the table I sipped my third glass of wine, my thoughts wandered back to last night's meeting with Kieran.

"What the hell.." I can't help but giggle over what I'm about to do, the wine has given me newfound confidence, as I place the call.

He answers on the second ring. "Well hello, beautiful."

I smile feeling silly." I see southern charm is still alive and well." "Yes, Ma'am," he says with a thick southern drawl, sending shivers down my spine. "Well Mr. Delacroix, I was just checking in on our lil party girl, to see how she doing?"

"She's got a massive hangover, Oh and... can you believe it? She has forbidden me to have anything to do with you!!" he says with a mischievous grin.

"Is that so?" I said being sassy, " Well in that case, have you eaten dinner yet? I've just made my world-famous Seafood Gumbo." Of course, I had to brag, while still swaying to the music.

"Well, that sounds like an invitation that I can't refuse, what kind of wine would you like me to bring?" 

"Red Please!" Why am I giggling so much?

"I love a Lady who begs, I'm on my way." He hangs up after climbing into Sam's limo, "Sam?"

"I just put her address into the GPS Sir." He smiles looking into the rearview mirror.

Kie expertly ties a ribbon around the bottle that he had grabbed from his wine cellar, while on the phone with Raven as Sam glides his limo smoothly into traffic.