Page 24 of Euphoria

“Don’t you have a set to play or something?” Cash looked around at the few people that were still left in the bar. The crowds had died down and it was getting near closing time. He was ready to go up to his apartment above the bar and get some sleep. Cash kept a place above the bar for nights that usually ran long. Hell, when he bought the place, finished the upstairs apartment, and used it to play with all the willing women that came through his bar but that was before he lost control and sight of what was important in life. Death did that to a person, reset their goals, and made them take stock of what they needed and what could be disposed of.

“Naw, man,” Callan drawled, working his southern country boy charm. Cash rolled his eyes knowing the effect that it usually had on women. “I’m about to pack up and head out.” Callan turned to face Mercy who couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him. “How about it Mercy, you wanna get out of her and maybe go someplace a little more private?” He bobbed his eyebrows at her and made Mercy laugh.

“Or you could let Mercy finish her beer and leave her the fuck alone,” Cash growled. He knew that he was being a dick and that he had no right to speak for her, but he couldn’t help himself. Little Mercy was tying him up in knots and he wasn’t sure what to do about it. One thing was for sure, he couldn’t watch herwalk out of his bar with Callan or anyone else for that matter. He wanted her and Lord help him, he planned on taking her.

Mercy

Mercy didn’t know what to do with all the attention that she was getting from the two hunky men. She had planned on having a fun night out with Emily and her guys but here she was, at a gay bar getting hit on. Her mind kept playing hot fantasies of both Cash and Callan taking her together, using her body, and giving her more pleasure than she ever imagined possible. She had been listening to Regan and Emily too much; her mind was starting to think that she could handle two guys at once, but she knew better. She thought that she was going to just have a little flirty fun introducing herself to the gay bartender. The only problem was he wasn’t gay and from the way that he was watching her and warding other men away, he was very much into women—especially her.

Mercy was so mesmerized by Callan’s blue eyes and Cash’s sexy, growly voice that she didn’t even notice her best friend, Emily until she was standing next to her. “Sorry to cut in but we are going to head out. The guys are tired and ready to call it a night.” Mercy giggled, not buying the story that Em was trying to sell her.

“Sure, I bet they are exhausted and need to get you to bed, stat.” Mercy joked. Emily rolled her eyes at her friend’s obnoxious use of hospital jargon and grabbed her hand.

“Let’s go, Mercy, you can make fun of me on the ride home,” Emily sounded like she was starting to lose her patience.

Cash grabbed Mercy’s hand, effectively stopping Emily from dragging her out the door. “Hey, if you want to stick around, I’d be happy to give you a lift home later.” Emily shot Cash a look that would warn most men to keep their hands off her friend.

“Or,” Callan stood, pulling Mercy into his space, “I could run you home after my last set.” Callan looked so hopeful that Emily laughed.

“Or,” Emily barked, “you can get your ass out and get it into Jack’s SUV. You came with us, and you’ll leave with us.” Mercy wasn’t sure how to tell her friend that she wanted to stay. Emily sighed as if she could tell that she was about to lose the battle, she dropped Mercy’s hand from her own.

“I’m having fun, Em. Besides, it’s nice to get some attention. It’s been a while since any good-looking man so much as glanced in my direction. At least let me have a few more hours of fun.” Mercy shot Emily a pleading look. Emily wasn’t her keeper and if she wanted to have some fun, that was her prerogative.

“Fine, I can see that you’ve already decided,” Emily leaned in to whisper into Mercy’s ear. “Just keep in mind that you don’t know either of these guys. You might as well be taking candy from a stranger and climbing into their janky van.” Mercy laughed.

“I’m pretty sure that neither one of them is a crazed serial killer. Right guys?” Mercy turned to find both guys had crowded up behind her. They had the same look on their faces that both Travis and Jackson had when they looked at Emily and Mercy suddenly felt a little overheated.

Emily pointed between the two hot guys who had protectively surrounded Mercy, “Just make sure that she gets home safely and in one piece,” she barked. Both men nodded and smiled, and Mercy worried about what she had just signed up for.

Emily pulled Mercy in for a hug, “Good luck and call me,” she whispered.

“I will and don’t worry so much. I’ll be fine.” Mercy kissed her cheek and gave her a saucy wink causing her to laugh. Emily shook her head and turned to find both of her guys. Mercy waved at Jackson and Travis as the three of them left.

She turned to find both Cash and Callan still crowded up behind her. It felt as if they had sucked all the air out of the room and her head spun with desire from them being close enough to touch. But she didn’t. Mercy knew that if she allowed herself one touch or even one kiss, she would find herself between these two sexy alpha men and she was afraid that she would never want to find her way out.

“So, how about it, Mercy? You wanna get out of here?” Callan took her hand, pulling her into his body and Cash pushed up against the side of her. She wasn’t sure what her answer should be, but she looked at them both and whispered, “Yes.” What she was saying yes to, she hadn’t a clue. But she was hoping that if she asked nicely, she might just get what she wanted and she wanted them both.

Callan flashed Cash a cocky smile, “Later Cash,” he barked. Cash looked down at her and the stern warning she saw in his eyes made her shiver. It was now or never, being a coward wouldn’t get her what she wanted.

“Yes, to both of you.” Her voice was so quiet, she wasn’t sure that she even said the words out loud. But, judging by the way Callan’s smile faded and Cash’s eyes flared, she had. She was about to find out if she just made a foolish miscalculation or ifshe had just asked for what might turn out to be the best night of her life. Either way, she had nothing to lose.

Callan

Callan knew that Cash had heard the nasty rumors that were circulating the bar about him. Hell, he had heard them all himself and he knew exactly who had started them. He had taken home a barfly two months ago and she was spreading rumors like wildfire about him. Most of them were false but he was still getting pushback from Cash and that pissed him off. For the most part, Callan kept his nose clean and his head in the game. He let one woman turn his head and now his reputation was shit. She even had her girlfriends coming into the bar and telling Cash that he promised them free drinks.

Cash had sat him down and told him to get his shit together and it pissed him off that his friend bought into the rumors. So, he let it slide and told Cash to lighten the fuck up. He wasn’t about to explain himself to Cash or anyone else, for that matter. He kept his head down and minded his own business. Well, that was until tonight when he saw sexy little Mercy wander up to the bar. He barely made it through his set before telling the guys that he was done for the night. He saw that she had taken an interestin Cash and if he didn’t put his bid in she’d end up in his friend’s bed.

He thought that he had her too, she agreed to get out of there and go home with him but then Cash butted in, and now little Mercy was asking the two of them for something that he wasn’t sure they could give to her—a night with the two of them sharing her. It was something that he hadn’t done before and from the terrified look on Cash’s face, he wasn’t a fan of the idea either.

“Wait, honey, you want both of us—together?” Cash stuttered.

Mercy nodded, suddenly seeming shy and unsure of herself. “Yes, please,” she whispered.

Callan chuckled, “I think this is the first time I’ve seen you speechless, Cash.” His poor friend stood with his mouth open staring at Mercy as if he didn’t quite understand what she was asking.

“If you guys don’t want to or if it’s something that you don’t do, I understand,” Mercy rambled. Cash shook his head as if trying to process everything.

“I’ve done it before princess, just not with Callan. I swore that I’d never do it again either,” Cash growled. Mercy looked down at the floor as if defeated by Cash’s rejection.

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