Chapter One
Jared Bass rolled his shoulders and looked across the room for what seemed like the millionth time that night. The booth that held his attention was full of humans, but he only cared about the short, curvy blond who had already danced with at least half of the patrons in the bar.
His bear paced and growled just beneath the surface, his dick hardened, and he felt the sharp tips of his canines trying to escape from his gum-line.
Shit!
He balled his hands into fists, took a deep breath, and scanned the room. More than usual, he needed to release some tension as soon as possible, and he mentally dared anyone to make a wrong move.
Shifters had a higher tolerance for alcohol than most humans, but that didn’t stop them from getting into trouble. It took a lot to get a shifter drunk, but alcohol made them rowdy and unpredictable. Throw in a few intoxicated humans, and at least one fight a night was guaranteed.
Bouncing wasn’t his job, but if he could get to the scene before Lucky, he might be able to get in a couple of good swings before breaking up the mess. Gabe would be angry, and he might get arrested if he took it too far, but the benefits outweighed the risks. The adrenaline rush would tame the tension coursing through his veins, and he’d be able to think clearly again.
As he’d predicted, a fight broke out near the door within minutes, and Jared turned to abandon his station behind the bar and jump into the mix.
“Don’t even think about it,” Gabe said.
The two men nearly collided, and Jared inwardly cursed. His boss had been watching him all week, and he was sick and tired of being babysat. Unfortunately, if he wanted to keep his job, he had to keep his hands to himself.
Fuck!
“Don’t think about what?” he growled.
“Nice try,” Gabe said. “Your place is behind the bar and I see a lot of thirsty people.”
He’d known Gabe a long time, and he hated the man’s all-knowing attitude. His boss knew him too well, and it was a stark reminder he’d been in Liberty far too long. Somehow he’d managed to let his guard down, and nothing good ever came from allowing others to get close.
He only stood an inch taller than Gabe, but he stared down at his boss and friend, and growled for the second time. To any other bear, his stance would be a challenge, but Gabe didn’t back down or strike out against him.
They’d gained the attention of everyone at the counter, and even though he knew he was out of line, and his job might be in jeopardy, his pride kept him from turning away first.
“Enough,” Lucky said, pushing them apart.
The big bear blocked out the customer’s curious eyes, and he heard Isabelle filling orders on his side of the counter. Gabe’s cousin, Isabelle, worked with him behind the bar, and her mate, Lucky, was the bouncer. Together, the couple had saved him from doing something incredibly stupid.
“Sorry, man,” he said, refusing to look away from Gabe.
“Me too,” Gabe said, “but you know the rules. You have to stay behind the counter or go home. No more fights.”
“Right,” he said, “I know. No more fights.”
Honestly, he was lucky to still have a job. Before Lucky arrived in town, he’d been in a fight nearly three times per week, and he’d been arrested twice for swinging hard instead of pushing the men apart.
Gabe’s behind the counter rule had been his final warning, and he’d resorted back to running long distances in his bear form and visiting the gym daily to release the tension. Working out helped, but nothing felt better than his fist connecting with skin and bone.
“Okay,” Lucky said, “only two more hours. Let’s finish the night strong.”
Lucky kissed Belle on the cheek, and then walked back out to the main floor and started doing his rounds. Gabe followed him without a word, and Jared turned back to his station. Everyone seated at the counter averted their eyes, and he welcomed their fear. Even on his best days, most
Jared Bass rolled his shoulders and looked across the room for what seemed like the millionth time that night. The booth that held his attention was full of humans, but he only cared about the short, curvy blond who had already danced with at least half of the patrons in the bar.
His bear paced and growled just beneath the surface, his dick hardened, and he felt the sharp tips of his canines trying to escape from his gum-line.
Shit!
He balled his hands into fists, took a deep breath, and scanned the room. More than usual, he needed to release some tension as soon as possible, and he mentally dared anyone to make a wrong move.
Shifters had a higher tolerance for alcohol than most humans, but that didn’t stop them from getting into trouble. It took a lot to get a shifter drunk, but alcohol made them rowdy and unpredictable. Throw in a few intoxicated humans, and at least one fight a night was guaranteed.
Bouncing wasn’t his job, but if he could get to the scene before Lucky, he might be able to get in a couple of good swings before breaking up the mess. Gabe would be angry, and he might get arrested if he took it too far, but the benefits outweighed the risks. The adrenaline rush would tame the tension coursing through his veins, and he’d be able to think clearly again.
As he’d predicted, a fight broke out near the door within minutes, and Jared turned to abandon his station behind the bar and jump into the mix.
“Don’t even think about it,” Gabe said.
The two men nearly collided, and Jared inwardly cursed. His boss had been watching him all week, and he was sick and tired of being babysat. Unfortunately, if he wanted to keep his job, he had to keep his hands to himself.
Fuck!
“Don’t think about what?” he growled.
“Nice try,” Gabe said. “Your place is behind the bar and I see a lot of thirsty people.”
He’d known Gabe a long time, and he hated the man’s all-knowing attitude. His boss knew him too well, and it was a stark reminder he’d been in Liberty far too long. Somehow he’d managed to let his guard down, and nothing good ever came from allowing others to get close.
He only stood an inch taller than Gabe, but he stared down at his boss and friend, and growled for the second time. To any other bear, his stance would be a challenge, but Gabe didn’t back down or strike out against him.
They’d gained the attention of everyone at the counter, and even though he knew he was out of line, and his job might be in jeopardy, his pride kept him from turning away first.
“Enough,” Lucky said, pushing them apart.
The big bear blocked out the customer’s curious eyes, and he heard Isabelle filling orders on his side of the counter. Gabe’s cousin, Isabelle, worked with him behind the bar, and her mate, Lucky, was the bouncer. Together, the couple had saved him from doing something incredibly stupid.
“Sorry, man,” he said, refusing to look away from Gabe.
“Me too,” Gabe said, “but you know the rules. You have to stay behind the counter or go home. No more fights.”
“Right,” he said, “I know. No more fights.”
Honestly, he was lucky to still have a job. Before Lucky arrived in town, he’d been in a fight nearly three times per week, and he’d been arrested twice for swinging hard instead of pushing the men apart.
Gabe’s behind the counter rule had been his final warning, and he’d resorted back to running long distances in his bear form and visiting the gym daily to release the tension. Working out helped, but nothing felt better than his fist connecting with skin and bone.
“Okay,” Lucky said, “only two more hours. Let’s finish the night strong.”
Lucky kissed Belle on the cheek, and then walked back out to the main floor and started doing his rounds. Gabe followed him without a word, and Jared turned back to his station. Everyone seated at the counter averted their eyes, and he welcomed their fear. Even on his best days, most
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