Page 20 of Primal

I didn’t know why his invitation–or rather,order–excited me. Going to a bar wasn’t that special. Except it was. Cody’s Saloon was the only bar in town, and everyone my age was dying to be old enough to get to party there. It was the best–and only–nightlife in town. The place where bands played, people went dancing, and hook-ups happened amidst free-flowing drinks. I even heard about the mechanical bull. I had to admit that was some of Cody’s appeal, that he was legendary as the sexy bar owner. The host of Cooper Valley’s hookups and good times.

And he was into me.

Ordering me to come down to his bar. It was almost too good to be true, which meant it really was.He was a player who drugged me!I needed to avoid him and let my newly unleashed sex drive steer me back to guys my age.

“–and because I have plans,” I said, finishing my sentence.

His brow arched as if he thought I was lying. Or making up another excuse to avoid him.

“I’m going bowling with my friends Alice and Wendy.”

“Bowling?” he repeated, his mouth tipped up, clearly not expecting that answer.

I nodded.

His blue eyes held mine, and we just… stared with the sounds of the neighborhood–a lawnmower, a bird chirping in a tree–around us.

Eventually, he lowered his head and brushed his lips across mine. “I’ll see you soon then.”

I leaned against the door after I closed and locked it behind me.

Cody McIntire wassoooooooconfusing. A player quickly slept with you and then left you at your door with a “I’ll see you soon” but wouldn’t mean it.

Cody had refused to take my V-Card. He refused to have sex with a virgin, which, from romance books and porn, was a thing no guy turned down.

Except he had.

And that meant that he really would see me soon?

I tossed my arms up in the air, giving up.

9

CODY

The beer deliverywas short four kegs. One waitress called in sick. Someone took a shit and clogged the toilet in the men’s room. That all happened before eight. Then the customers started to really pour in, and I was helping out behind the bar, trying to keep up with the orders. Besides the clogged toilet, it was all no big deal. Another night owning the only bar in town.

Whatwasdifferent tonight was that I had a fated mate. Sure, I had fucking blue balls, but I couldn’t help but smiling like I got laid. Riley’s taste was on my tongue, soaked into my skin. I knew what she soundedlike when she came. Looked like whenIgave her pleasure.

My dick pulsed at the idea that I was theonlyguy who’d done so. And ever would.

Except she was bowling with her friends. My wolf didn’t understand that concept, didn’t like the fact that we were apart. He wanted to hunt her down. Chase her again and go primal on her ass. Shit, now I was thinking about fucking that virgin hole, too.

Someday.

Someday, I’d have every inch of her.

Hopefully before the full moon because that approaching tension was going to drive me and my wolf into a frenzy. I pulled another beer then set it on the tray with the three others, slapped the damp order slip beside it, and placed it in the pickup area for Wanda, one of the waitresses.

Turning back to help the next customer, I found it wasn’t a guy who wanted another pitcher waiting, but Rob Wolf and his mate.

Fuck.

He leaned against the bar, casual as fucking ever, one arm slung about Willow’s waist. As if the loud country music didn’t faze him. Or the screaming bachelorette party in the corner. Or the whoops of a rowdy group by the mechanical bull. With his cowboy hat onhis head and ranch-worn hands, he blended right in. The fact that he could probably hear a mouse fart in the alley because he was an alpha shifter wasn’t obvious.

Grabbing a clean rag, I wiped the glossy bar in front of them. “Hey guys. Beer?” I asked with my usual easygoing smile.

He looked to Willow. “That’d be great,” she said. “Thanks.”

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