Arik's nose was twitching from the moment he ducked his way into the White Rabbit. A smorgasbord of scents accosted his highly-tuned olfactory sense, making him dizzy with the power of them. Sweat, alcohol, smoke, drugs and an odd undertone he'd come to recognise as uniquely
vampire ever since he'd begun his adventures in seeking a sire. It coated every surface in the room, though there were high notes and low in that particular bouquet as well, telling him that many,
many of the creatures frequented this place.
The one he was looking for wasn't in this part of the bar, though, so he didn't linger. He strode confidently through the lower level, checking his phone as he went, to be sure he was going to reach his desired location in a timely manner. He'd already taken too long trying to figure out what to wear. He'd been so suave in his texts with Jake, telling him he'd cancelled his 'plans' in order to come here and meet him. What he
hadn't said was that his plans were with his phone and bed, because Jake finished work
late and Arik had work early tomorrow. Like all cats, the shifter
liked his sleep and he was usually in bed by ten on a weeknight.
He believed his slumber sacrifice would be worth it. He hadn't found any vampire he liked enough to want to be bonded to them yet and none of them had been interested in more than a drink and a fuck, anyway. Most of them he refused after they drank because he wasn't in this for the sex. He could get that any time. He wanted
more and there was a clock ticking away inside him that just got louder every day he woke up and looked in a mirror and saw minor changes. Another wrinkle forming around his eyes, a hair not looking as dark as the rest, a droop of skin beside his abs. Sure, it went away when he shifted position but who could say how long that would go on for? His time was limited.
Taking the stairs three at a time with his long legs, Arik bounded up to the second floor and paused just inside the entry to have a look around. Movement on a nearby box attracted his attention immediately, the swirling lights only enhancing the dancer's alluring moves. He watched the svelte man dance with small twitches of his head, absorbing every sway, every dip, every sinuous arm movement with the fascination of a cat eyeing prey. His feet shifted on the spot, settling him as he looked at another dancer, his eyes drawn over this man's body with quick movements as well.
Arik suddenly felt overdressed and doubted his choice in presentation. If Jake was constantly surrounded by slinky, near-naked men like these, how impressed would he be with Arik's teal
suit and white shirt,
sans tie? He'd dressed to impress, to prove that he was serious about meeting someone as important as District Leader Jake McCloud but had he made the right choice? If he'd showed more skin than just what was revealed by having his top three buttons undone, then-
no. He cut his own thoughts off. Doubt was for losers. Jake had seen his Lovebite pic, he'd
seen some skin. Now was the time to present the
package.
Taking a deep breath and rolling his shoulders, Arik's fascination with the dancers broke and he headed for the back table he'd been told Jake would be at. The music swelled and coiled around him, echoing a powerful rhythm in his chest and curling in his ears, the eerie sounds achieved in the bridge scraping at his spine in an aggravating-yet-pleasant way. He didn't understand how such discomfort pleased him but he put it down to excitement; he was about to meet an important vampire and the music seemed to be carrying adrenaline through his veins along with its beat. The night was dark and full of possibilities.
Those possibilities seemed less easy to come by as he spied the man he sought, framed by two burly bouncers. As Arik strode up to Jake's table, they shifted to face him, their gazes challenging. Arik paused warily, poised on the balls of his feet and his fingers flicking as he stared back at them. He assessed first the man and then the woman, his gaze shifting rapidly between their eyes and their hands thereafter, because he knew that's where they'd move first, if they were going to take a swing at him. He was taller than them and not intimidated because he was certain his reflexes would save him from getting hurt (if Jake didn't) but he didn't want to directly challenge people Jake valued. He was confident, not stupid.
"Easy there, folks," he grinned cockily. "I think you'll find I'm expected." He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head slightly, waiting for them to relent and allow him passage to the table.