"Because he's just as human as the rest of us." Rose stopped walking when she realized what she'd just said. She'd called Duncan human. In her mind, his vampire powers aside, he was human to her...in all the ways that counted.

Rose resumed walking. "You were right. It was a great concert. Thanks for insisting I go with you."

"See, I'm good for you, Rose." Michelle preened, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. "You spend too much time working and not enough time playing. Even though I'm jealous as sin you got the 'guitar lesson', I wouldn't have wanted it to happen to a better person...well, other than me, of course."

Rose looked at her watch. "Well, I guess I'd better be going home."

Michelle shook her head. "Oh, no you don't. I've got plans for the evening."

"It's nine o'clock. What do you want to do now?"

"I want to meet the band," Michelle said with a wide grin.

"I'm sure my uncle can arrange it." Rose laughed.

"Nah, even better. I heard they planned to check out Rosco's after the show."

"They'll be mobbed..." Rose started to say, thinking of the bar right next to the Five Star Hotel. Then she remembered Duncan's display of power over the crowd and his comment about keeping the band's life sane.

Michelle's brow furrowed. "You would think so, but for some reason I've heard the fans respect the band so much, they keep their distance. And I will...unless they talk to me first, which I'm bound and determined they will," she finished with a cheeky grin.

Duncan leaned past someone sitting on a barstool to retrieve the longneck the bartender handed him.

When he reached in his jeans pocket to pay, the man grinned and shook his head. "Tab's on the house, sir. Thanks for the business."

Duncan eyed the crowd of people waiting in line at the bar and his band mates having a blast with the fans on the dance floor. He recognized many faces from the concert. "I'd say you're swamped tonight."

The dark-haired man nodded as he rang up an order. "Yeah, I'll be tired, but hey, the bills will get paid."

Duncan raised his beer in salute to the man. As he put the bottle to his lips, his body began to tingle all over. His vampire senses had kicked in.

Ian had arrived. Glancing at the bar's entrance, Duncan nodded to his brother and moved to wait at a nearby standup cafe table for Ian to approach.

Ian weaved and shouldered his way through the crowd until he reached the table. "Someone having a party? This place is packed," he commented.

"I heard some concert just let out at the Pavilion next door," Duncan replied in a bland tone before he took a swing of his beer.

"About the case," Duncan started to say, then paused. His gaze narrowed on his twin's broad smile. Ian didn't try to hide his thoughts and Duncan immediately jumped in his mind. He pressed his lips together in anger when he learned Ian had been aware of Rose's strong mind-blocking ability from the beginning. That he sent Duncan on purpose, thinking the woman might intrigue him. Intrigue him? What the fuck? He was like a man obsessed.

Shaking off his irritation, Duncan refused to be baited. "How'd the summit go?"

The expectant look on Ian's face changed to annoyance. "They're winding down. I cut out early when I got your call to meet you here."

Duncan's grip on the beer bottle tightened. "And James' fate?"

"Is being decided now."

"There shouldn't be anything to debate," Duncan snarled.

"The debate wasn't if he should be eliminated, but by whom. You know my choice."

Staring into his brother's intense golden gaze, Duncan knew Ian's wishes. He'd eliminate the vamp in a heartbeat.

"Eamon is insisting he be the one to take James out. I argued he was too close to James, that he'd known him too long." Ian looked at Duncan with steady regard. "Did you learn anything from James' thoughts as to what's going on?"

Duncan set the beer bottle down on the table with a thud. "One thing I know, I ought to kick your ass for sending me to battle with a vampire whose shape-shifting ability is unlike anything I've ever seen. A little 'hey, he's capable of kicking your ass across town, so watch your back' would've been helpful."

Ian's brows drew together in a deep frown and his shoulders tensed. "What the hell are you talking about? You knew the Sythens were shifters."

"I didn't know they have the ability to shift beyond their size and mass," Duncan countered.

At Ian's surprised expression, Duncan cocked his head to the side. "You really didn't know?" He picked up his beer and took another swig, contemplating that bit of news. "Neither did Mom."

Ian clenched his fists, his expression as hard as granite. "What the hell is going on? Sythens with hidden shape-shifting powers? Eamon and I are going to have a talk. I never would've sent you if I had known."

"Gee, thanks for the confidence 'dere, bro." Duncan rolled his eyes.

"You know what I meant," Ian snapped. "I'm just fucking pissed at the games Eamon seems to be playing with people's lives, since he was the one who called me and told me about James kidnapping the human woman. Granted, he wasn't happy when he found out I'd sent you in my place..."

Duncan stiffened. "He was annoyed, was he? Fuck Eamon. I'll take James out myself."

Ian shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face as he rubbed his jaw. "No, I don't think it was your physical ability he was worried about. Now that I think about it...I'll bet it was your mental ability. He's worried you'd discover something."

Glancing at his brother, Ian asked, "You don't have a clue as to why James kidnapped that woman?"

"You mean, other than the fact he's a lunatic who's absolutely obsessed with Rose?" He shook his head. "His mind is very strong. I couldn't breach it."

Frustration crossed Ian's face. "I know Eamon's hiding something." Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed a number. "Lucian, I want to interrogate James. Stall on Eamon's request to destroy the vamp. I've discovered some hidden powers the Sythen possesses. I have a hunch Eamon knows, too."

Duncan's stomach tensed. He didn't wait for Ian to relay the information. Instead, he used his powers to listen to Lucian's response.

The Vite chuckled. "Right now everything is stalled. Your mother just showed up, insisting she speak with Eamon immediately. He's in the library talking to her. I admit a certain curiosity myself."

"My mother's speaking to Eamon?"

"That's what I said."

"I'll be there in half an hour." Ian snapped the phone closed. He glanced at Duncan. "I know you heard that."

Duncan nodded, his brow furrowing. "Mom seemed tense when I called her earlier today."

Ian's eyes widened in surprise. "You called Mom?"

"She's my mother, too," Duncan replied in a dry tone. "I called to ask her a question about a song she used to sing to us when we were kids."

"Which one?"

Duncan shrugged at his brother's curious look. "The Irish lullaby she sang to us before bed."

Ian laughed and leaned across the table to put his hand on Duncan's forehead. "You feeling okay? All this sentimentality..."

"Bite me," Duncan snapped, knocking away Ian's hand. "Rose sang the same song and hearing it again made me curious as to its origins in Ireland. That's all."

Ian sat back in his chair, a knowing smile on his face. "Ah, Rose, is it? She's singing lullabies to you? Did she put you to bed, too?" he teased with raised eyebrows.

"She's-" Duncan started to speak but cut himself off when he saw the object of their conversation enter the bar alongside the tall brunette from the concert. Rose wore one of the sexiest outfits he'd ever seen on a woman. Her top was a black corset with a drawstring tie that barely held in her creamy breasts. But it was the skintight black leather pants that laced all the way up the side of her legs, giving a glimpse of skin along her thighs that made his stomach clench in swift sexual response.

Noting several men approach Rose, jealousy sliced through him, making his shoulders stiffen. He clenched his fist and heard the empty beer bottle crack, then crumble in his hand. Ignoring the wounds on his palm, all he could think was, Why the hell is she wearing an 'I want to be fucked' outfit?

Ian had followed his line of sight. At the sound of Duncan's bottle shattering, he turned his gaze back to his brother and gave a low whistle. "I take it that's Rose. A redhead, hmmm? Talk about all fire. Ready to share now?" He threw back the comment his twin had made to him when Duncan first met Jax.

"Like hell," Duncan growled, then stood up.

"Aw, come on...it's only fair. You got to kiss Jax," Ian continued to tease.

Duncan's gaze narrowed on his twin. "Keep it up and I'll tell Jax."

Ian immediately sobered. "Watch it. My Anima knows how to wield weapons, remember?"

"Indeed I do." As Duncan walked off, he spoke in his brother's mind. I want to know why Mom's involved in this. Call me once you've spoken with her.

Rose smiled at the two men who'd immediately claimed her and Michelle's attention, pulling them onto the dance floor. She recognized the taller one dancing with Michelle as the drummer from Duncan's band and the shorter one who danced in front of her as the keyboard player. As she gyrated to the upbeat music, she sensed Duncan's presence somewhere in the room. She wasn't sure why she could feel him, but she did. Maybe it was because she'd been so aware of him up on stage earlier. It was also why she'd insisted on going shopping at the casino's clothing store for an outfit that would knock his socks off.

The music ended and a slow song started up. She smiled and turned to walk off the dance floor when John, the man dancing with her, cajoled, "Awww, come one, just one more dance."

He looked so sincere. She laughed and started to put her hand in his when a large hand clasped hers.

"Sorry, John, she promised me this dance," Duncan said.

Michelle grabbed John's hand before he could walk off the dance floor, purring, "I've never slow danced with two men before. How about it, handsome?"

The drummer grinned and moved behind her so John could dance in front. They looked like one big happy dancing sandwich, but Rose couldn't help the protective streak that welled up in her.

Duncan must've sensed her unease based on her tense stance. He turned her to face to him. "She'll be fine."

"But, she's a bit impulsive..." she began, worry in her tone as she looked back at her friend.

Duncan hooked a finger under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. "I guarantee that nothing she doesn't want to happen will happen to her."

She clutched his wrist, her gaze searching his. "You've compelled the two men?"

Duncan flicked his gaze to his colleagues then back to her. "If they decide to remain in Michelle's company, they will feel a strong urge to keep her safe. Even alcohol and sexual desires won't overcome my wishes. I guarantee they won't hurt her, Roisin."

Relief washed over her and she relaxed as Duncan pulled her in his arms.

Locking his arm around her waist, he slid his thigh between hers and moved their bodies to the beat of the music.

Duncan's cologne smelled so good, she laid one hand on his hard chest and hooked the fingers of her other hand in his jeans belt loop so she could lean close and inhale. God, she wanted to drown in this man. Her stomach tensed and her heart rate revved quickly at the way he made her feel.

Weak.

Needy.

Aroused.

The realization he had her emotions by a string hit her like a bucket of cold water. Rose stiffened in his arms and mumbled an excuse to get a drink as she tried to pull away.

"No!" His hand grasped her upper back, holding her in place, while his stormy golden gaze locked with hers.

Her heart knocked hard on her chest as he held her gaze for a long, tense moment. They stood there, stock-still among the people slow dancing on the dance floor.

Duncan lifted the hand she'd placed on his chest and kissed her palm. His gaze followed his thumb as he rubbed the pad across her fingers. "This is the sweetest hand I've ever felt wrapped around my cock. I've thought of nothing else since." He met her gaze once more and started dancing again. "I want to know what you feel like wrapped around me."

As her pulse jumped, he leaned next to her ear and said in a husky voice, "I want to move inside you, to feel your legs wrapped around me...to hear you scream out when you come."

Rose's lower stomach muscles clenched at his sexy words. Her nipples jutted against the corset she wore, aching for his touch. Her sex began to throb in time to the slow-moving, sexual thump of the music. Stilling herself, she refused to let him hear her breathing change.

As if he sensed her tensing up, Duncan pulled her hips forward and rubbed his erection against her mound. She gasped when he kissed her throat and whispered in her mind. I hear your heart racing, feel every pump of your blood thundering through your veins and damn it, I smell your arousal. You want this just as much as I do.

Rose had moved her hands to his shoulders when he pulled her body forward. Fear raced through her at the reality of his words. She did want him. Desperately.

Digging her fingers in his shoulders, she gritted out, "Fine. A good fuck is something we both need," before she let go and turned to walk off the dance floor.

Duncan's arm snaked out and grabbed her around the waist. Yanking her back against his warm, hard frame, he warned, "Don't think for one minute you'll hold back your emotions from me. You'll feel every heart-pounding, body-rocking one down to your lovely toes. That, I promise you."

Anger washed over her and she gripped his hand, trying to pull it off her. "Arrogant ass," she hissed, furious with herself for still wanting him.

His hand clutched her waist like a steel band, unmoving. "That I am, but before we leave I'll warn you now..." He paused and pushed her hair over her shoulder, then brushed his lips down her neck. As he slowly made his way back up, Rose felt his sharp incisors scrape across her skin. Goose bumps formed on her arms, but she held back her gasp of excitement.

"I will take your blood again, a ghra. Guaranteed," he finished in a dark, hungry tone before he let her go.

She glanced at him over her shoulder and gave him a haughty look. "You'll have to beg for it."

His fangs retracted back to normal size and Duncan gave her a steely smile. "We'll see who does the begging." His expression was way too confident.

Flipping her hair back over her shoulder in a kiss-my-ass manner, she walked over to Michelle and told her she was leaving for the night.

Michelle glanced at Duncan waiting behind Rose and met her friend's gaze. "I hate you," she said with a friendly smile.

"Love you, too, Mish." Rose reached up and kissed her friend's cheek before she walked off the dance floor.

Rose strode past Duncan and headed toward the door without looking back. She didn't have to-she sensed his presence close behind her. As she reached for the door, a tall man stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"Leaving without introducing this gorgeous woman, Duncan?"