3

QUINN

I can’t believe how slammed the Stillwater Tap is on a Wednesday. When Kyla and I walk through the door, my thoughts are immediately drowned out by the loud thump of the music, my eyes taking in the sheer number of bodies packing the place. Though it’s not what I expected, I’m pleasantly surprised. The dance floor is already crowded, and before we’ve even made it to the bar to order a drink, I’m itching to get out there.

Kyla elbows her way to the front of the bar to order drinks while I hang back, scanning the crowd and tugging at the hem of the dress Kyla let me borrow. It’s too small and too short, but it was the only thing remotely appropriate that I tried on from Kyla’s closet. I’ve got a good six inches in height on her, not to mention several cup sizes. This stretchy black tube dress was my only option, aside from my brewery t-shirt and work shorts.

I feel a hand slither behind my back, a low voice in my ear saying “Hey, Quinn”. I jump a little, startled, whipping my head around to see Kyla’s boyfriend Tony positioned beside me.

“Oh, hey Tony,” I breathe.

He grins, his beady dark eyes roaming my form, hand still glued to the small of my back. “Wow, you look amazing.”

The way he says it makes my skin crawl. I love Kyla, but something about Tony has always made me a little uncomfortable.

“Uh… thanks,” I mutter, casually sidestepping away so that his hand falls from my back. “Kyla’s just up at the bar grabbing drinks.” I tick my head in her direction.

Tony flashes a smile. “Guess I should grab one, too.”

I give him a little nod, forcing myself to smile back. As he shuffles away, I glance out at the dance floor again, scanning the faces in the crowd.

It feels a little odd to be surrounded by so many strangers. As the alpha’s daughter, everyone in Summervale knows me. I’ve never been around so many other shifters and been… anonymous. It’s kind of thrilling. Tonight, I can be anybody I want to.

“Anyone caught your eye?” Kyla asks, appearing beside me and thrusting a shot glass in my direction.

“Not yet,” I laugh, taking it from her appreciatively. I bring it to my lips, tossing it back. The chilled tequila burns my throat on the way down.

Kyla wrinkles her nose. “Ugh, how can you drink that stuff?”

I shrug, smiling. “Because it’s delicious. Aren’t you going to take yours?” I eye the other shot glass in her hand.

She shakes her head, holding it out to me. “That’s all you, girl. I can’t stand tequila. Tony’s bringing me a drink.”

I chuckle, taking the second shot from Kyla’s hand and tossing it back. I love tequila- it’s basically the only alcohol I drink. Ideally in shot form, so I can keep my hands free when I hit the dance floor, and chilled so that it goes down smooth.

“Thanks,” I say, shifting both shot glasses to one hand and pointing at an empty high-top table with the other. “Should we snag that spot before someone else does?”

Kyla nods her agreement, wordlessly grabbing me by the elbow and leading me in the direction of the vacant table. We make it there to stake our claim right before another group descends upon it. A minute later, Tony finds us, his hands full of drinks. He sets them down on the table- one for himself, one for Kyla, and two more shots for me.

“Ky said you like chilled tequila?” he asks as he slides the shot glasses in my direction.

I nod, offering him a smile. “Thanks Tony.”

Four shots in quick succession will definitely give me the buzz I’m chasing before I get out on that dance floor. I make quick work of taking down the two that Tony brought over, sliding the empties onto the table in front of me.

The three of us chat for a while, Tony disappearing periodically to fetch more drinks. Apparently it’s ladies’ night and the drinks are free, but I’m still trying to keep a count on the tequila shots. I’m up to seven when Kyla leans in, grinning devilishly.

“That hottie by the bar hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of you since we got here.” She waggles her eyebrows and flickers her gaze in his direction.

I follow it, trying to discern who she’s talking about amid the sea of people, when my eyes meet another pair. I can’t tell what color they are from where I’m standing, but holy hell those eyes are intense, and my heart stutters a little when I realize how devastatingly gorgeous the man is that they belong to. I don’t know how I didn’t notice him before- he’s easily the best looking guy I’ve seen in here all night. He’s got dark blonde hair, tousled and a little wavy and styled in that way that somehow looks messy and nonchalant but perfect at the same time. His square jaw is stubbled with a five o’clock shadow that adds a rugged appeal, and his body- damn, his body. It’s absolutely jacked. He’s casual in a t-shirt and jeans, but I don’t miss how the sleeves of his tee strain against his thick biceps, the front of it taut across his broad chest.

And Kyla’s right- he’s looking right at me.

My cheeks heat, my heart rate increasing as I turn away from him and back to Kyla. “Who is he?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen him before!” she replies excitedly, glancing his way again. “Must not be from around here… but he’s gorgeous, right?!”

Normally I’d laugh or roll my eyes or tease her for being so swoony, but she’s right- the guy is a fucking god, dripping in sex appeal. Just looking his way is twisting up my insides, making me feel all breathless and hot and bothered. After everything with Clay, my libido seemed to go into hiding, but it’s nice to see now that it’s alive and well. This man has me thinking dirty, dirty things.

“You gonna go talk to him?” Kyla presses, elbowing me in the ribs.

I purse my lips, considering. I’m not sure how to play this- while I’m not above making the first move, I feel like this guy is a hunter. “Why don’t we hit the dance floor?” I suggest with a wink.

Kyla doesn’t have to respond in the affirmative- that grin spreading across her face and the determined gleam in her eye tell me everything I need to know. She takes my hand, mumbling to Tony that we’ll be back and threading through the crowd to the center of the packed dance floor.

I start to sway my hips to the music, casting a casual glance back in sexy guy’s direction only for our eyes to meet again.  

He’s still watching me.

I tear my eyes away, refusing to give him another look. He can come to me. I start dancing, arms above my head, hips swiveling, long hair swaying behind me like an extension of my body.

And then he does.

I feel fingertips skimming my hip, feel his presence looming behind me. Before I even turn around, I know it’s him- it’s like he’s radiating dominant energy. I allow my body to melt back into his, meeting every hard line of his chest and torso as I finally peek up at him over my shoulder.

Blue. That’s what color his eyes are. They’re a light greyish-blue, his irises darker around the outer edges. Beautiful, like him.

We don’t exchange words- we just dance. His hands cruise down my waist, gripping my hips firmly, holding me against him as we move to the music. I grind my ass against the hard bulge straining the front of his jeans, arching my back and reaching up behind me to trail my fingers along the column of his neck, the exposed skin feeling almost electric beneath my touch. The attraction between us is thick; palpable. He skims the fingertips of one hand up my belly, over my breast, to my throat. Then he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning my face sideways to meet his over my shoulder, his lips capturing mine.

It feels like a current of energy slams through me, stars exploding behind my eyelids. It’s a simple kiss, but it rocks my world off its axis. My knees buckle, my pulse races- I don’t try to make sense of it, I just know I want more. I deepen the kiss, lips parting, tongue dipping into his mouth and twining with his own. All the while, I’m still moving my body against his, dancing as flames of desire coil in my belly.  

I spin around without breaking the kiss, looping my arms around his neck and holding on for dear life as he continues to devour me. I’m completely lost in the sensation by the time he breaks the kiss, dipping his head beside mine so his lips hover next to my ear.

“Wanna get out of here?” he rasps, and the deep tenor of his voice sends a fresh flood of heat to my core. For the first time since he walked over, I blink my eyes open and actually get a good look at the guy up close, and I’m not disappointed.

Yes please!

Before I can fully think it over, I’m nodding my head in the affirmative. This is what I came here for, right? Something to make me forget about Clay. Someone to make me forget.

His lips curl into a heart-stopping smile. “Your place or mine?”

Ugh, that voice again. It’s so deep and rich and velvety, sending shivers down my spine.

“Yours,” I reply, and the word comes out like a breathy moan. “I’m not from around here.”

“Me neither,” he murmurs, leaning in so his lips brush my ear. Another shiver runs down my spine. “I’m staying at the packhouse.”

I smirk. “Perfect.” If he’s staying at the packhouse, he must be visiting the six-pack from another city or something. It doesn’t get more anonymous than that- which is exactly what I want. I’m not ready for a relationship or even a fling right now; the wound that Clay left is still too fresh. I’ll go back to healing my broken heart tomorrow, but tonight, I just want to forget about that asshole and indulge myself in a one-night stand with this Adonis.

The guy leans back, draping his arms around my waist and gazing into my eyes. “What’s your name, beautiful? I’m…”

I quickly raise a finger, pressing it against his lips and giving a little shake of my head. “No names,” I say. “No strings. No attachments. Just one night.”

Amusement flickers in his pale grey-blue eyes and he brings a hand up to my chin, swiping the pad of his thumb across my lower lip. “Okay. Deal.”

Holy crap. Am I really about to do this?

“Shall we?” he asks, taking my hand in his.

I suddenly remember that I wasn’t alone when I hit the dance floor. I take a little step back, looking around for Kyla, relieved when I spot her back at our high-top table nestled in Tony’s arms. We make eye contact and I give her a subtle wave to let her know that I’m leaving with this guy, and in return she gives me a big ol’ grin and a thumbs up.

The queen of subtlety, that one.

I turn back to my sexy stranger with a coy smile. “Yeah,” I breathe, stepping close to him again. I rise up on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “Let’s get outta here.”