“Just sit back down, Melissa.” Candace spoke up. “Those bears are far more animal than man, and too much for even you to handle.” For a moment, no one said anything, and the steady beat of music surrounded them, but then Melissa started laughing.
“You guys are such wimps. I’m getting me some tonight, and it’s going to be with a Wylde bear.” She pulled out of Ary’s grasp and sauntered over to Bram. February felt her face heat at the blatant sexuality that poured from Melissa. She was used to this behavior from her friend, but now she was sucking her into her craziness. There was no denying she was attracted to Charlie Wylde, but this certainly wasn’t the way she wanted to go about it.
Turning back around and grabbing her shot, she downed it and let the burn travel straight down her throat and to her stomach.
She was halfway to the point of being drunk already, but it wasn’t nearly enough, not when she knew Melissa had some of the biggest balls around and something up her sleeve concerning the bears.
2
Melissa stayed by the bar for a good ten minutes, and as much as Ary didn’t want to check to see what she was doing, she found herself doing exactly that. In that short amount of time, she managed to throw back another two shots, accompanied by the worried looks cast her way from Candace.
“It’s my birthday,” was all she said and tossed back one more. She would need to be good and trashed tonight, especially when Melissa brought over the bears, which Ary knew was bound to happen soon.
“I didn’t say anything.” Candace looked over her shoulder again at Melissa, but Ary didn’t miss the way her eyes strayed to the coyote waiter. The silent flirting between the two was cute, but maybe that was just because her previous buzz had turned into full-blown intoxicated giddiness.
“Just go over there.” Ary smiled widely, feeling the pleasure of her alcohol-induced happiness. Candace cast an unsure expression, and Ary waved her off. “I’ll be fine. Besides, Melissa will no doubt be back soon, and you don’t need to be subjected to her antics.” No doubt, their friend would be in she-wolf stalking mode. Candace mouthed, Thank you, and scurried off. Someone should at least be excited about picking up a guy, not counting Melissa, since she was always excited about meeting a guy.
Hell, Melissa had enough of that for the whole damn bar. As Ary sat there and let the alcohol do its magic, she felt her worries, unease, and overall uncomfortable feeling that surrounded her wash away. Her eyes strayed to the dance floor, and she watched the crush of bodies move sexually and hypnotically against each other.
Shifty’s was a shifter-owned bar, but it didn’t discriminate against humans. All beings were welcome to enjoy the wild, animal-like fun that could be had. Most of the time, humans didn’t really come to Shifty’s—well, not if they actually knew what type of bar it was. There was always the occasional human who passed through their small town and stopped for a drink, but the locals tended to stay away.
Rightly so too. Shifters tended to let their animals out more when alcohol and raw sexuality were involved, and that combination was always going down at an animal bar. The hair on the back of Ary’s neck stood up, and she knew she was being watched. She pushed the long fall of her blonde hair over her shoulder but refused to look at Charlie. She still couldn’t grasp why a man like that wanted an ocelot shifter like her.
Maybe Frank did do a number on her and she buried it so deep she thought she was fine. How many times had she looked in the mirror and wondered what any man saw in her? How many times had she criticized her flat blonde hair, dull blue eyes, and overall curviness? Had Frank’s hurtful words really made her believe that she was less than what she actually was? Sitting up straighter, she realized the truth. Why should she let herself feel like she wasn’t worth another man’s time?
Glancing at Candace, she was glad her friend was putting herself out there. She was the quietest one of their trio, and if she could go after what she wanted, why couldn’t Ary? Looking over her shoulder, she saw Charlie still watching her. He brought his beer bottle to his lips and took a long drink while never breaking eye contact. His position was relaxed as he leaned against the bar with one arm resting on the counter.
Melissa was laying it on thick with Bram, and Ford was making out with some barfly between them. Could she actually go after one of the Wylde brothers?
And why not? Do it, girl. Show Frank and yourself that you are something special and desirable.
Determination settled inside her, and she stood. Was she really going to have a one-night stand after she said she never would again? She stared at Charlie, and he cocked one dark brow. God, he was so freaking gorgeous that her inner question was already answered as she made her way toward him. He looked unaffected by her approach, but then again, maybe he knew this would be the outcome.
He certainly had the arrogance and assurance to think that way. The music was loud and angry-sounding, and it seemed she got more than one nasty glare from the female population the closer she got to Charlie. He hadn’t moved from his spot and just continued to drink his beer and watch her. When she was just a few feet from him, she inhaled deeply. The act caused her to get a concentrated scent of his cologne and natural scent.
It was a mixture of something rugged and wild, spicy and woodsy. To be honest, it had to be the most arousing aroma she had ever come in contact with, or maybe that was just her hormones talking. Melissa’s seductive giggling told Ary that her friend was on the fast track to getting exactly what she wanted, but she doubted she had to try very hard. Melissa was gorgeous and svelte, and by the look Bram had given her, there was no doubt the bear wanted to roll around in the sheets with a wolf.
February should say something, she knew this, but being so close to a man like Charlie Wylde had her tongue in knots. Her heart was a frantic, pounding mess, and her whole body felt like it was on fire. Could he see her nipples through her too-thin top? They felt hard enough to cut glass with. Could he smell her arousal? She was certainly wet enough that the moisture pooled in her panties, and the tingling in her clit made her think of his big, hard—
No, she wouldn’t go there, not when she felt as though she’d combust as it was.
With slow, methodical movements, he set the bottle down and took a step forward. He towered over a foot above her, and she craned her neck back. She thought she was aroused before, but holy damn did his presence make every cell in her body light up. As if he didn’t turn her on enough, watching him close his eyes and inhale deeply sent her over the edge.
A gush of moisture rushed out of her pussy, and she clenched her thighs together. When he opened his eyes, the blueness of them speared right into her and had her knees nearly buckling. His pupils dilated, and there was no doubt in her mind that he could smell her pussy and knew what his presence did to her.
As he leaned toward her, Ary forced herself to keep her place and not moan from his nearness. She didn’t care about the sneers the other women were giving her, and didn’t care that people were probably watching the spectacle. All she cared about was the heat from his body pulsating around her and his scent of masculinity and power consuming her.
His lips brushed along her ear, and a shiver raced up her spine. “Your name.” His voice was low, deep, and so damn sexy. It wasn’t a question but a command that made her realize this male was all alpha.