Three weeks later …

“Come on.” Edith did a twirl, it reminded her of how a half-drunken ballerina might look. This despite her best friend only having had one glass of wine. “It’s Saturday night. Just say ‘yes’, it isn’t that difficult. It’s a three letter word, for goodness sake. Three little letters.” She picked up the bottle of wine off the counter and skipped back.

Her apartment was tiny so it only took three little skips. Edith sloshed some wine into Ana’s glass. “I don’t know … it seems like too big a step all at once.”

“Your doctor ordered you to have some fun. She ordered you,” Edith said with conviction. She tipped more wine into Ana’s glass, filling it right to the rim.

“No,” Ana shook her head. “She prescribed fun. It wasn’t an order.”

“Same difference. Let’s just go. It will be fun. I promise. These guys are not looking for love or anything. They’re here to let off steam. They’re in town to have a little fun, which is exactly what the doctor ordered. Exactly what your doctor ordered.”

Ana took a sip of her wine. “What if I have an attack?”

“What if you don’t?” Edith giggled. She had a headful of curly hair. “What if you end up having more fun than you ever thought possible?”

“I don’t know.” Ana could hear the uncertainty in her voice. “I don’t want to puke on someone again. You have no idea what it feels like.”

“I’ve puked on someone before.” Edith widened her eyes.

Ana choked out a laugh. “Somehow, I can believe that.”

Edith laughed as well. “I was fifteen. My parents decided that I was old enough to babysit my younger bro. Well, epic fail … I found their stash of vodka and ended up vomiting on my dad when my parents got home.”

“No way!” Ana laughed so hard that her belly hurt.

“At least, that’s what they told me in the morning when I woke up feeling like there was a hole in my head and a sewer in my mouth.”

Ana laughed some more. “I’m having fun right now,” she blurted. “We’re having fun. We don’t have to go to some stupid bar.”

“No, we don’t.” Edith plopped herself down next to her, suddenly looking serious. “I’m happy right here, if you are? Only, I don’t think you are, Ana, not really. I know you want to be able to date again, I know you’re lonely … that you want to meet someone, maybe settle down again one day.”

Ana shook her head. “Forget settling down. I don’t want to think that far ahead. I’m nowhere near ready for that.” She sighed. “But, I would love to go on a date. Not just the start of a date but a whole damned date. From beginning to end.” She made a groaning noise. “Sex … now there’s a concept … What I wouldn’t give for an orgasm. One I didn’t have to give myself that is.”

“It isn’t the same, is it?”

“Not even close.” Ana sighed.

Edith turned to face her. “You can have it all ‒ the sexiest guys you’ve ever seen. I’m talking off the charts, pick your tongue up off the floor hot.”

“Aren’t they big and hairy? I heard they smell musky.” Ana wrinkled her nose.

Edith shook her head. “Shifters don’t have any body hair but they sure are big ‒ you were right on that one.” She bobbed her eyebrows. “I’m not sure about the musky smell. Honestly though,” she choked out a laugh. “I’m willing to breathe through my mouth if it means being with one. They’re supposed to be really fantastic in bed.”

Ana giggled along with her friend.

“Let’s just go.” Edith sprang to her feet. “If you have an attack, we’ll leave.” She picked up her glass and took a sip.

“I hate having them. That’s what I meant when I asked you earlier if you knew what it felt like. I was talking about having an attack, not puking on someone. It’s scary. So incredibly scary. I always feel like I can’t breathe. Like the room is closing in. Worst of all, I hate the way people look at me. I hate the lack of control. There is nothing I can do to stop it.”

Edith put her glass down and sat on the chair next to Ana. She slid an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to push. I meant it when I said I was happy right here.”

Ana sucked in a deep breath. She hoped to god she didn’t come to regret this. “No!” her voice sounded stronger than she felt. “I think we should go. I have to keep trying. I’ll never get better if I hide out at home. I can’t give up.”

“That’s my girl.” Edith jumped up and gave another twirl.

“You said these guys aren’t looking for a relationship?” Some unease set in.

“Not at all! They’re not allowed to date or have relationships. They come into town for sex. Straight up, all night, blow-your-mind sex.”

Ana huffed out a pent up breath. “Okay then. Let’s do this.”

Edith gave a squeal. “Now to get you all sexied up.”

Oh God, please don’t let this be a mistake! Ana meant it though, she had to try. She couldn’t give up.

* * *

A piece of meat.

That was how Winston felt at that moment, as well as whenever he came into town on any Saturday. On Shifter Night, as the locals had dubbed it. He felt like a piece of meat on a butcher’s block, reduced to sinew, muscle and bone. Don’t forget the bone. That was the part the human females were most interested in.

Ash had been right on the money on that note. He yelped as a hand closed over one of his butt cheeks and squeezed. Winston turned. The woman was a little older but still in great shape. She looked him up and down like he was the last piece of candy in the jar, even giving her lips a languid lick. “Hey tiger,” she murmured, stepping in closer.

Nope! He wasn’t feeling it. Not for her, or for the red-head earlier. He hadn’t felt it for the brunette ten minutes before that either. Females approached him left, right and center. The moment he managed to lose one, another would pop up. Some were sexy, some were more girl-next-doorsy, but none held any appeal for him. Not like they used to, at any rate.

The female reached out. No damned way! Her hand reached further and further forward, aiming for his crotch. He sealed a hand over hers just as she was about to squeeze his dick, feeling her perfectly manicured, red nails against his palm. “I don’t think so.”

She smiled. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” Another glide of that tongue.

“I’m here for a drink.”

“Sure.” She narrowed her eyes. It was clear that she didn’t believe him.

“Can I buy you a drink? We can talk.” This female must have a story; one he wouldn’t mind hearing.

“We can talk after.” She bobbed her brows suggestively.

Yeah right! There would be no talking after. She’d be wrung out, barely capable of walking, let alone coherent speech. It wasn’t that he was arrogant, it was just a simple fact. Winston shrugged. “I’m headed to the bar. You’re welcome to join me.”

“One drink and then we’ll head out?” She raised her brows suggestively.

Meat … that’s all he was to them. The shifters had somewhat of a reputation though. It was their own fault for starting Shifter Night in the first place. This was all about sex … no holds barred, all night long rutting. No emotions, no tomorrow, no future. It was about cleaning out the old pipes and giving the female as much pleasure as possible, and for years he’d been okay with that.

Make that, he’d loved it. Looked forward to it. He counted down the weeks, days and hours until it was his turn to hit Sweetwater. As of late though, it had grown old. All of it. Females didn’t come to the ‘Dark Horse’ for the riveting conversation. They didn’t see any of the shifters as anything more than meat and bone. He may as well be a giant dildo. To think he’d believed they might see something more in him. He hated to admit it, but Ash had been right.

“On second thought …” He smiled at her, watching as her eyes lit up. She was about to be bitterly disappointed. “I think I’ll head out,” he continued.

The glint became a spark. Oh hell, she was reading this all wrong. “On my own.” He added. “Have a good evening.” Winston gave a nod to the pouting human and headed out.

“Hey!” Ash yelled. “Going so soon?” The bear alpha grinned and a couple of human females swooned.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Winston said, hand on the door.

Ash laughed, he mouthed the word ‘pussy’, putting his arm around a curvy blonde. Winston couldn’t help but chuckle. Just then, two females came through the door. He stood to the side. The one female had a head of curly hair. She eyed him like he was … a piece of meat. The other female looked shell-shocked. Like she didn’t really want to be there. Her eyes were wide and really blue. The female was so nervous, she didn’t even see him standing there.

“Ladies.” He tipped his head, leaving the bar, the noise, all of the hustle and bustle behind him.