is at the very top. I have lavender scented sprays in the corners to help calm everyone, but just in case, there are several undercover operatives with tranquilizer guns. In all the years that I’ve been doing this, we’ve never needed to use them, but safety is the number on priority.”
Cassie jotted the quote in her notebook. “Why shifters? Aren’t they destined to be with just one person? How can do you have such a high success rate when the odds are stacked against you?”
Lydia gave her sly smile. “That, my dear, is a trade secret.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Cassie saw some people moving quickly. Curious, she followed the movement and saw that the crowd was parting for one man. Her jaw dropped.
“Damn,” she whispered. He was gorgeous. Thick blonde hair framed his square face and amber eyes. She watched his smooth jaw clench, and immediately, she wanted to run her fingers down those high cheekbones and over those lips. He was tall and built with muscles that rippled under the tight shirt.
“See something you like?” Lydia asked softly.
Cassie blinked and blushed. “You have some gorgeous men here,” she muttered.
“That’s Maxwell Torrent. He’s the alpha for the local lion shifter pride. I guarantee at least half of the women here would kill for just one night in that man’s bed.”
She felt the pull of sexual attraction and waved it off. She was not here to pick up men. She was here to work.
As she tried to focus and ask Lydia a few more question, she found herself getting aroused. Looking up, she saw the lion staring at her.
“My, my,” Lydia purred. “He seems to be interested in you. Why don’t you go talk to him?”
Cassie tried to shrug nonchalantly. “In a minute. It will be interesting to get the perspective of an alpha shifter at a scene like this. I just have a few more questions before I start talking to the crowd.”
She looked up from her notebook and saw the irritated look on Lydia’s face. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No. It’s fine,” the woman said hurriedly. “You know, we can always talk tomorrow after the party. Why don’t you get a feel for the crowd before they get too entangled with each other?” She pointed to the corner where one shifter and a woman were getting a quick taste of each other. “Some of them will be looking for more private places soon.”
Watching the two touch other stoked a fire inside Cassie. She’d never thought of herself as a voyeur, but with the lion still staring at her, she realized she’d never been so turned on in her life. Her skin ached to be touched, and moisture was gathering between her legs. She stood quickly and snapped the notebook shut. She needed to finish this so she could leave. “That’s a good idea. I’ll call you tomorrow if I don’t see you before I leave,” she said quickly.
“Good luck,” Lydia said with a strange smile.
She got up quickly and moved across the room, trying to put as much distance between herself and the lion shifter as possible.
Max ignored all the women. Many of them walked by, several were daring enough to reach out and touch him, and a couple stopped to talk, but he ignored them. He was so removed from the party that he forgot he was even there.
She was stunning. Tall with long dark raven black hair and a sun-kissed glow, she’d been the center of his focus all night. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he’d heart beat increased. He stirred, but it was more than just sexual attraction. She was completely covered from head to two in a pants suit and a blazer, but he could see the outline of her heavy breasts and that large ass that was just made to fit the palms of his hands.
The longer he stared at her, the more he yearned to taste her. Every now and then, her dark eyes flitted in his direction, but she seemed to be purposely moving away from him. His predator instincts kicked in, but he forced himself to relax. If she was meant to be his, she would make