When we got to the club the parking lot was empty with the exception of a few cars here and there. I guessed they were employee cars. The club was open to the public from Thursday to Sunday. Since it was Wednesday, they were closed. You had to be eighteen to enter and twenty-one to drink in The Two Points. The patrons were eclectic, ranging from high-school and college students to hard-working adults. As with most clubs, business hopped on the weekend.

Dinah had informed me several weeks ago that the club had a gay-and-lesbian night. It was held in a different part of the club, with a bouncer on each door. I was heading toward the main entrance when I heard Normani mumble, "Quite the mouth, she has."

I turned back to see she was walking beside Lauren. She'd spoken as if I couldn't hear, but I was guessing she actually didn't care if I did.

Lauren's green gaze met mine, glinting softly in the streetlight. "You have no idea," she said, her voice low. I ignored the twinge between my legs.

I waited by the two double doors as they approached. Normani reached for the door and looked back when she noticed Lauren had stopped to stand next to me.

"Go inside and tell the others I wish to speak with them privately," Lauren said.

Normani did as she was told without question. I nearly had to put her through the windshield to get her to stop looking at my CDs, but Lauren asks and off she goes.

Lauren touched my shoulder, and I jumped, turning back to her.

"I know she makes you uncomfortable," she said softly, "but you must believe me when I tell you that she is not as bad as she pretends to be."

"Not to you. You've got her wrapped around your finger."

Lauren shook her head, curls dancing against her back "No, she is not wrapped around my finger. You merely have to give her a reason to respect you. Until she does, she will continue to challenge, tease, and even sink to the level of irritating you intentionally. It is similar with wolves in a pack. She taunts you."

I pictured various ways of gaining respect from Normani...none of them exactly pleasant for her. But if I wasn't careful Normani would literally flip my bitch switch. I wanted to jump on her and make her...well, make her do something. The words "shut up" came to mind.

"I don't really care if she respects me or not."

"You should. Normani is not one you would enjoy having as an enemy."

"What is she?"

"That is for her to say."

I gave a frustrated growl.

"I'm not putting myself out there and trying to be her friend, Lauren. You'll just have to deal with that. So far, I don't like her, and my dislike grows every time she opens her damn mouth."

The corner of Lauren's mouth twitched and humor illuminated her gaze.

"Don't," I said.

Her smile was genuine, but awkward, as if she was trying not to but couldn't help herself. "I do not expect you to befriend her. I think you have gained some of her respect with your little stunt in the car. You caught her off guard and showed her she has underestimated you."

"She keeps pushing my buttons. It's really annoying. If you're asking me to try to control my anger, to not start a fight with her, I'll try, but I want to know why."

Lauren put a hand on the brick wall behind me. "Because she is my friend."

"Wait. That's not fair. You can't pull the friend card on me." I tried to glare at her and knew I failed. The smell of her skin so close was intoxicating.

"Just as Shawn is your friend, Normani is mine." She leaned in until I could feel her body scant inches from my own.

"I hate it when you do that," I mumbled.

"Do what?"

"Distract me while you drive home your point. It's not fair."

Her lips were against my brow. "Isn't it?"

She took a step back and I reached out to stop her, burying my hand in her thick curls. I pulled her mouth to mine. "If you're trying to distract me, distract me properly."

Her tongue traced my lips before she pressed into the kiss.

"Better?"

I cupped her face, pulling her back toward me. "Not yet," I mumbled, but I didn't kiss her. I inhaled her scent. Our scents mingled like a wintery forest. Gently, I used my cupped hands to tilt her head. I pressed my mouth against her brow and stepped out from between the wall and her body.

"Now we're even."

The onyx crests of Lauren's eyelashes rose. That otherworldly silver light made my pulse race, made my body tighten. She went entirely still, predatorily still...and then...her laughter filled the night like something sweet and touchable.

"What have I gotten myself into with you?"

"I should be asking myself the same thing."

She reached into her blouse pocket, holding out a square of black material. I took it from her, realizing it was a handkerchief.

"What?"

"Your face." She sounded amused.

It took me a moment to realize I was wearing most of her lipstick. I set about using the handkerchief to wipe it off.

"Come here," I said. She did what I asked and I wiped the faint imprint of my lips off her brow.

"You win."

"I win?" she asked.

"For now, I'll try to play nice with Normani. Though I'm not happy with you for not telling me what she is. Clearly, she isn't human. She doesn't seem to be a vampire and she sure as hell isn't a wolf. But I'll wait, if you trust her so much."

To that, she was silent.

"Does my face still look like a crime scene?"

"No." She opened the door.