Wicked lessons with the rakish wolf

A smitten Alpha kitten

*Ethan*

"You are beginning to make my employees uncomfortable with your lurking about on the balcony."

I have been up here, scouring the crowd, making note of who enters and who leaves, for the better part of three nights now. I glare at Lupo. "Shouldn't you be off tending to your wedding?"

"Dotty and her aunt are managing that. I merely need to acquire the license, so I have time to see to my business. Right now, the club is a novelty, its acceptance still questionable. However, I did not invite she-wolves to join so men could engage in voyeurism. You're going to damage the reputation of my establishment, of what I'm trying to achieve, if you continue in this vein. I shall be forced to relieve you of your key." He tells me.

Ignoring the rebuke and the threat, I instead ask, "What do you know of Mrs. Rosalind Shadowveil?"

"Who?" He asks.

"You don't know who she is, yet you invited her to your ball?" I question.

He looks thoughtful. "The name is somewhat familiar."

"The she-wolf in red," I say impatiently. "I introduced her... or rather she introduced herself... to you in the gentlemen's salon."

"Ah, yes, I remember now. I'm afraid I was rather preoccupied with other thoughts that night." He grins.

"So how did she come to your attention?" I ask.

Lupo brushes his fingers through his long, dark hair. "Her solicitor sent me a missive, thinking she might qualify based on my standards."

"Which were?" I ask.

"A well-turned ankle and money." He says.

I do not like that the solicitor might have seen her ankle. "How would he know what her ankle looks like?"

Lupo sighs. "He was referring to the fact that she is female. Why do you care?"

"Has she been here since the ball? I've not seen her." I ask instead.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Lupo leans against the wall. "Have you got an interest in her?"

I see no point in mincing words. "I want to bed her."

Lupo narrows his eyes. "The she-wolves welcomed into my club are not here for that purpose."

"I'm not going to force her, what do you take me for? but I certainly intend to seduce her. Nothing I do will reflect badly upon your establishment." I huff.

"I should hope not. I would hate to revoke your membership." He says, and add. “And kick you ass.”

"Has she been here?" I repeat succinctly.

He shakes his head. "Not that I've noticed."

"Did she purchase a membership?" I ask.

"I would have to check my records." He mumbles.

I am losing patience. "Then check them."

"That information is private." He tells me.

"We have long been friends..." I try.

"We've never been friends. Acquaintances, due to our family connections and our friendship with Silverpine. But other than that, I would be hard-pressed to refer to us as friends."

I scowl. For a man who caters to vice, Lupo is far too upstanding. And irritating as the devil, even if I were being generous with the definition of our relationship. "Is there anything you can tell me about her?"

"Not really, no." Lupo holds up a hand before I can lambast him for his unwillingness to cooperate. "I don't truly know her. As I said, I invited her because of a recommendation."

"But you must have researched her a tad. And you would have obtained her address in order to send her an invitation." I point out.

He shrugs. "Again, private."

"Devil take you." I turn my attention back to the main floor. What if she never returns? What if she hadn't been intrigued by what the Twin Wolves had to offer? What if she had not been intrigued by me?

The kisses we had shared indicated otherwise.

But perhaps the attraction had frightened her. Just because she is a widow doesn't mean she has known passion. Her husband could have been one of those sanctimonious sorts who believed only men derived pleasure from s*x. What had transpired between her and me had been heated.

Chesnut brown silken strands caught up into a perfect coiffure with a few curls dangling along a slender neck snag my attention as a she-wolf walks through the door. The air backs up painfully in my lungs. She wears a deep violet gown that leaves her shoulders bare so that I can nibble on them more easily. White gloves rise past her elbows. I would enjoy leisurely peeling them off.

"What's garnered your attention?" Lupo asks.

"She's here." At last, at long last. I release my breath. It is unconscionable that she affects me so. To maintain the upper hand, I will remain up here for at least half an hour. Then I will slowly make my way...

To hell with it. I can't risk her leaving before I ensure our paths cross.

"Have a room prepared for a private card game." I stride briskly from the balcony.

"Is the elusive Alpha of Riverdale smitten?" Lupo calls out.

Ignoring the mocking tone, I carry on. Smitten is too tame a word for what I feel. Regrettably, I have no words to describe this madness that has taken possession of me, because I have never experienced anything like it. I simply know I have to have her. One way or another. At any cost.