Excerpt of Three Shakes of a Wolf's Tale by Michael Barnette
A Perserverance Agents Universe story
Available from Midnight ShowcaseShadowfire Press.

It's 2035 and Maryanne Lamb is working undercover to infiltrate a crime ring headed by the Wolf of Hong Kong but she's in for a big surprise: love.

"Do you work here in my club?"

Maryanne blinked herself back to the here and now. He'd said my club which made him the Wolf of Hong Kong. "Yes," she managed to get out as found those concerned dark eyes staring at her.

A slight frown tugged at the man's mouth, marring the smile on his very kissable lips--lips she had trouble tearing her gaze away from. The warmth came flooding back, and she fought to control her own reaction. He was the Wolf of Hong Kong, a deadly Tong leader and here she stood wet and ready for him just because he had a pretty face.

Nodding she gave him a forced smile and saw the change in his expression, subtle, but there. A flicker of anger, but at her or his erring goon she didn't know.

"Lies do not become so beautiful a woman," he murmured as he released her arm and returned to his seat between the women.

Maryanne noticed their jealous glares. If looks could have killed the unveiled hate in their expressions would have caused her to burst into flame and crumble to ash right then and there.

"Go," the Wolf snapped, waving his hands in a very plain demand that they leave.

"But baby we..." the blonde started.

A sharp glance from the man silenced her. The pair of women left the table without a backward glance that told Maryanne volumes about their actual feelings for the Wolf-- or rather their lack of any.

"Come sit with me."

"I really should get back to work..."

"I promise you won't be fired. No one would dare."

She smiled, "No, I guess they wouldn't." She took the offered seat recently vacated by the brunette.

"Do you enjoy your job here? Be honest."

"It's okay," she replied. "The music gives me a headache sometimes, and the customers can get..." she shrugged, "pushy."

He smiled warmly at her. "Is that what I'm being now? Pushy?"

"Oh no, what I meant is they, you know, grab things without being invited to do so."

"Ah, I see. So groping is a problem?"

"Yes."

He laughed softly, the sound sliding through her entire being and turning up the heat inside her another notch. "Beauty is like a bright light, it draws all the pests," he said as he reached out a hand and cupped her chin, gentle pressure forcing her to meet his gaze.

She blushed and he started to chuckle softly.

"You're a lovely girl," he told her and then glanced away. "But my business associates have arrived and it's time for you to get back to work. Tell the bartender we'll take my usual order and that you'll be waiting on my table for the night."

Maryanne nodded and was just getting up to leave when a powerful arm swept around her waist. She all but fell into his lap, soft lips closing over hers in a passionate kiss she was too startled not to return.

Her heart hammered in her chest as heat spread through her entire body and pooled low in her belly, something deep inside her throbbing as moisture gathered in her panties. She moaned and shuddered as his hand slipped up her thigh, the heat of his skin burning her through the hose she wore. The hand stopped at the apex of her legs, pressed gently eliciting a shudder and another moan from her.

She was breathless when the kiss ended, her cheeks flushed with desire, chest rising and falling with each ragged gasp as she fought for breath and self control.

He smiled and winked. "Tell the bartender to give you my mark. He'll understand."

Her mind reeled as he set her back on her feet. She'd heard about the 'boss' mark' but hadn't known what it might be, or how it worked. All anyone would ever tell her was the girls regarded it as an honor to receive it, and once you had it the customers stopped any inappropriate behavior. There were enough rumors of patrons meeting bad ends after groping one of the 'boss' girls' to keep even the most rowdy customer in line.

Well now she would find out all about it, including the effect it had on customers up close and personal.

Very personal. Her thigh where he'd touched her felt hot, like she'd been branded. Everywhere he'd touched felt over heated especially where his hand had come to rest over her mound.

Available in the Jaded Beasts 4 anthology, Horse and Sheep from Midnight Showcase.