Unbound by Cat Miller Page A

returned to his table to observe the goddess from a better vantage point.  His friend Cayden arrived and put a hand on Chase’s shoulder making him jump.  The rest of the club had seemingly disappeared while he watched her dance and smile.
    “Chase, you alright man?  You look lost.”  Cayden stepped into Chase’s line of vision. 
    “Do you know that girl, Cayden?”  He cocked his head toward the dance floor.
    “Which girl do you mean?  The house is full ladies tonight.”  Cayden flashed a bright white, wolfish smile.
    “You’re not catching that?  The scent is absolutely unique.”
    Cayden turned to find the object of Chase’s current obsession.  Just like Chase, Cayden caught the aroma and followed it to its source, in awe.
    “I’d remember if we’d ever crossed her path.  Her scent is off somehow but still all together intoxicating.”  Cayden sniffed the air.  “I assume you don’t know her?”
    “Not yet my friend, but I’m about to correct that injustice.”  They both hit the dance floor.
    He found her leaning against a railing looking rather winded.  Chase stopped and watched a little longer.  What is this?  Vampires don’t get wind ed easily.  He inhaled again.  She was d efinitely a vampire.  Cayden was getting a little too close to her and his proximity was pissing him off.  Stepping up to the railing next to the goddess, he leaned down.
    “Hello.  Would you like to dance?”  She turned her eyes on him and Chase was caught momentarily in the web of her scent and the beauty of her eyes.  Gathering himself, Chase tried again, “I’m Chase.  And you are?”
    She extended her delicate hand to him and the combination of her touch and scent was a shock to his system.  She didn’t answer until he’d guided her to the nearest corner, noticing how her eyes searched the floor along the way.  Maybe she wasn’t alone.  He hadn’t seen another male but he hadn’t looked for one either.  A flash of jealousy made his eyes search the floor as well.  When they reached their destination, she looked up, “My name is Dani.”
    Dani wasn’t at all a suitable name for a goddess.  He’d have to come up with a nickname.  They danced and his head swam with conflicting instincts.  He wanted to taste her.  He wanted to hold her.  He had to know her.
    “Do I know you?  Lovely as you are, I’m sure I would have remembered you.”
    “No.  I just started school at the university last week.  Do you go to school here?”
    Chase blinked stupidly.  Did she really n ot know who he was in his own house? “My family lives in the area but I have friends at the college.  I frequent the grounds regularly.”
    Just then, Chase had to deal with a rude interruption by an employee.  When he returned his attention to his dance partner, her body tensed and she began to pull back.  The space between them made him angry.
    “Thanks for the dance.  I gotta get back to my friends.  Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”  She had dismissed him.  Stunned, he grabbed her arm, leaning in and tried to persuade, “Don’t you want to stay with me, Lovely?” 
    She began to lean back toward him and he smiled with the joy of her returning warmth.  She stopped cold with her lovely faces slightly tilted, “No, I actually would rather be with my friends.  Catch you later, maybe.”  She stalked away leaving icy confusion in her wake.  Chase had never been rejected in his life.  He stood there with his mouth agape as waves of embarrassment and fury washed over him.
    “I never thought I’d see the day Chase Deidrick got shot down.  Man I’m glad I came out tonight.  Tough break, Chase but now that she seems to be available I think I’ll go take a stab at her myself.”  Cayden was amused by Chase’s expression as he started toward the girl and her friends in VIP.
    Chase stepped in front of Cayden, his blue green eyes now black with anger and growled through his teeth, “Don’t