Beast in the Night

Chapter 7: The Old Fork

Rhys sat in a corner at the end of the bar with his third glass of whiskey, feeling a few sets of eyes on him, the same ones he felt when he entered The Old Fork an hour ago. He brushed it off and continued watching quietly as few remaining patrons finished their last rounds, their quiet conversations filling the air. The night was slow, and the time was dragging.

His eyes scanned the room when he got the shivering feeling that someone was looking at him. Standing behind the bar, she saw the attractive bartender, glancing in his direction now and then. She tried to look as if she didn’t notice him as she poured another shot for the shabby man who was already at the bar when Rhys came in.

Rhys looked around once again, taking in the important details of the place:  the neon signs covering the walls, and the slow music from the speakers, one exit door, and another door behind the bar that Rhys thought was for the manager or the staff.

Then Rhys’ eyes darted at the man standing in the dark next to the pool table.

Randy Dahl.

In his plaid shirt and jeans, hairline receding toward a patch of sparse hair at the back, Randy could blend in well with the humans, but his strong male scent was something Rhys’ couldn’t miss. He was, after all, the Blue Blood Pack’s beta.

Randy was paying half attention to two other men about his age. Rhys noticed that he seemed pretty occupied by something else as he absently stroked his dark beard, his other large hand twisting the porcelain cue ball in his grasp.

With his wolf sedated, it was difficult for Rhys to read and calculate the beta’s every move as well as the surrounding talks. Everything seemed dulled down, except for the loud scraping noise, followed by clattering metal, that immediately caught Rhys’ attention. He looked and saw that the man at the bar had tripped and nearly knocked a couple of stools over as he stood to leave.

Rhys tensed up as he watched Randy walked over to the bar, frowning at the drunk man who stumbled a bit from trying to fix the barstool.

“Are you okay there, Paul?” Randy asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Randy. I just tripped,” Paul quickly explained, trying to balance both his feet on the floor.

“I think you’re ready to call it a night, Paul.”

Paul swayed as he put on his jacket. “Alright. Alright.” He grabbed onto the back of a stool.

When Rhys caught Randy glancing at him, he quickly looked the other way when he realized someone else was watching him. It was a new set of eyes on him. He glanced around until he landed on a pair of brown eyes. The girl’s gaze was unflinching.

“Hey, there.”

“Hello,” he greeted back at the girl who took the empty stool beside him.

“I’m Lucy. And you?”

“Carl.”

Lucy smiled. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

Rhys nodded and took a sip of his whiskey. “That’s right.”

“Yeah, didn’t think so because I’d never miss such a pretty face.”

He chuckled. “So I’ve been told many times.”

“Really? And what brought you to old fork tonight?”

“Just wanted to get away from the city.”

Lucy giggled, her hot breath brushed against Rhys’ ear when she leaned close. “And here I am, itching to get out of this god-awful place.”

Rhys slightly pulled away, bringing the glass of whiskey to his lips for another sip. “How old are you?”

“Old enough to show you a good time. And maybe run off to the sunset with you in the big old city.”

He stared at her, looked her up and down, before grinning again. “I just came here for a drink, Lucy. I’m sorry, but I’m not really looking for a good time tonight. I’m sorry.”

Lucy looked like she just celebrated her eighteenth birthday. Still, there was a predatory edge to the smile she gave Rhys, something that the latter was already very familiar with, something he also had. But his wolf was still out, and he was nothing to Lucy but a pretty human who could be fun to play around with.

“Lucy!”

They both looked to see Randy and three other men approaching them.

“Why are you still here?” Randy asked firmly.

“None of your damn business,” Lucy replied at bit sternly.

“It’s late.”

“Let’s go home, Lucy.” One of the three men tried to grab her hand.

“Don’t you f*****g touch me!” she shrieked. “This is bullshit! I’m telling dad!” She stormed out of the bar.

“Go after her,” Rhys heard Randy told one of his men. “And you…who are you?”

“Just here to have a drink,” Rhys casually replied.

“Where are you from?”

“Boston?”

“You came all the way here from Boston for a drink?” Randy’s forehead creased.

Rhys just smiled and raised his glass of whiskey. “Why not? Like I told the young Lucy, I wanted to get away from the city.”

“And I say be quick now and finish your drink and leave,” Randy ordered.

“Oh, damn. I’m actually planning for another round.”

“This bar is exclusive for locals from nine onward. It’s already half-past ten, boy.”

“Exclusive. Do you run a cult around here or something?” Rhys kidded.

Randy glared at him. “You have no idea what you’ll be getting yourself into if your silly ass isn’t out of that damn door in the next couple of minutes.”

Rhys soon noticed how everyone in the room stood up, looking at him. Even the sexy bartender.

Then silence filled the room for a few seconds—everyone looking as if they’re waiting for him to say or do anything stupid.

But he didn’t.

“Fine. Aren’t you guys a bit weird?” He gave a quick wave and walked out of the bar, heading to his car. He got inside and took a deep breath. Even without his wolf to pick up Randy’s vibe, the beta had still stirred him a bit and showed his superiority.

“Hey, Boston.” Rhys looked up and saw as the bartender walked over to him.

“Name’s Carl.”

“Carl…call me Jessie. And where are you heading, Carl?”

“You heard that big brute inside…the bar’s exclusive for locals from nine up.”

Jessie smiled sexily at him. “Yeah, about that, a pretty young man like you shouldn’t be coming in here…”

“And why is that?”

“Let’s just say there are some parts in this world that are off-limits, Carl. And they’re off-limits for

a reason.”

“Like the bar?”

“Like the bar, yes. You are, however, welcome to my place. You can just tell your girlfriend you’re working late.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Rhys said, not really sure where Jessie was trying to lead the conversation.

“You can’t fool me, Carl. A pretty face like that can’t be single. And I could smell your scent all.

the way from where I stood.”

“What do you mean?”

Jessica whispered into Rhys’ ear. “Lust. I’m not sure for whom, but you have it hard.” She then opened the door to the driver’s seat and moved her hand up Rhys’ leg, rubbing against the front of his pants and smiling invitingly. “Do you want to have a good time before you go home, Carl? Let me take care a bit of that lust?”

“And why do you think I’d want you to take care of it? I even turned down that girl at the bar. Why do you think I’d say yes to you?” Rhys teased, feeling the burn of whiskey in his system.

“Because Lucy’s just a pup who knows nothing about pleasing a real man.”

“A pup?”

Jessie smiled, her brown eyes darkened. “Just a slang we use around here to call young girls like Lucy. So what do you say, Carl?” Her fingers slowly went for the zipper on Rhys’ pants.

His wolf may still be asleep, but the bottled-up craving he’d been trying to ignore since his dream with Emily was barreling into him in full force. It had been a year since he last slept with a woman. It had been a year since he allowed himself to get lost in his own animalistic desire.  

How could he easily turn Lucy down and not do the same with Jessie?

Rhys knew there was something about the woman and how her touch felt hot against his skin. There was no doubt that she was one of them, but how could she be this bewitching? He couldn’t bring himself to brush her off.

Jessie licked her lips and leaned in to whisper into Rhys’ ear. “I can smell you, Carl.”

Looking around the car, Rhys finally gave in. Jessie quickly joined him and settled into the front of the car.

Rhys drove the car a little farther from the bar, under a gigantic tree where they could stay hidden from any vehicles or anyone.

Jessie scooted the seat back as far as it could go. Rhys was going to suggest the back seat but reckoned that the front would be fine, too. He quickly helped Jessie with her racerback T-shirt and skinny jeans, leaving her in her black thong. Cupping her face in his hands, Rhys kissed her lazily, allowing her hands to unbutton his jeans, then slowly pulled down the zipper. Once they’re both naked, he helped Jessie onto his lap with her back to him.

Would Emily be willing to have naked s*x in a car, too?

Emily.

Rhys paused.

How could he be having a lascivious act with an utterly desirable woman and think about his next-door neighbor?

“Are you okay?” Jessie asked, looking at him over her shoulder.

“Yeah.” He nodded and shoved her underwear to the side before touching her tight, wet heat with his finger, getting himself even harder as he listened to her moan.

Jessie teasingly rolled her hips against his hard member, whining at how limited the space of the car was for them. She braced a hand against the dashboard to steady herself.

“You’re ready for me, Jessie?” Rhys asked, his voice was rough, cupping both breasts with his hands.

Jessie moaned. “I’m f*****g ready.”

“Face me and ride me.” Rhys watched as she got up and turned to face him.

“f*****g hell!” Jessie gasped when she felt his full length entered her.

He wrapped a hand around her back to keep her close to him. “Ride me hard…” he growled as he dipped his head to suck at her breasts.

“Faster, baby?” Jessie slid up and down his thick erection.

“Yes.” He ran his free hand down her thigh, fingered the strap of her panties, and pulled it so tight against her skin that fabric bit into her flesh. He knew they were getting close when Jessie started grinding hard against him. “That feels so good…Emily.”

Jessie looked down at him, but he was quick to capture her lips in a heated kiss and slipped his hand between their sweaty bodies, rubbing his wet fold. She rode him, fast and hard, moaning loudly from the pleasure that was about to erupt.

A wave of orgasm soon overtook them, and Jessie screamed Rhys’ name as she arched her back, her muscles quivered in ultimate pleasure. Rhys groaned from his release, panting wildly. They stayed still for a moment after Jessie collapsed on top of him. The only sound they could hear was their heavy breathing.

When they finally had their strength back, they slowly put on their clothes in silence, until Jessie asked, “Who’s Emily?”

“What?” Rhys felt his heart pounded in his chest.

“Before you came, you mentioned that name.”

“I did?”

Jessie smiled and slowly shook her head. “Don’t be that guy, Carl.”

He looked down as soon as he put on his pants. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. It’s not like I’m in love with you or something. We just met.” She casually laughed. “Is she your girlfriend?”

Rhys thought about what he did and what Jessie said for a moment. “Ah, no, she’s not.”

“Then what is she to you? She should be something for you to mention her like that while f*****g me. I mean, it’s a bit disrespectful, you know. Good for you, I’m not easily offended.”

“She’s…she’s no one. Just my next-door neighbor.”

Jessie laughed. “Don’t be stupid, Carl. You know she’s not just no one. She’s the woman you’re lusting for, isn’t she?”

Rhys said nothing. When he finally looked at her, he asked instead, “Where do you want me to drop you off?”

“You don’t want to talk about her, fine. Okay, just drive me back to the bar.”

“Got it.”

As soon as they got ready, Rhys started the car and drove back to The Old Fork, with a little urgency this time as his wolf was slowly waking up from the deep sleep he had put it on.