Brogan’s phone rang just as he was climbing back in his car still chuckling over Caeden’s behavior with his mate.

“Hey West, what’s up?”

“Two things, first how did it go dropping Thumper off?”

“I wish I had a camera so you could see it. He is going to have one hell of a night if I don’t miss my guess. Koira is already in love with Thumper. I bet he has one hell of a case of blue balls before morning.”

West burst into laughter and relayed Brogans words to someone in the background. Wherever the sheriff was it was noisy and he couldn’t hear the other person. “Deader says that maybe we should pin one of those micro cameras on your shirt next time. But my second reason for calling is, since you’re now off duty we’d like you to come join us for a drink and some dinner.  Our significant others are occupied for a few hours so we’re at loose ends.”

Brogan didn’t answer right away, he was debating the sanity of having a drink with the two of them.  More than likely Rook would show up when he came around to do his nightly patrols. So, if things got to uncomfortable he’d be there to help...hopefully.  “Sure, where are you?”

“The Wolfe’s Den. Booth in the back corner.” West shouted as the noise got louder for a few minutes. “Sorry, fight broke out. Can you hear me now?  Never mind, just see you in a few.”

Brogan frowned at the phone and hung up. What was going on, had the sheriff just ignored a fight? Five minutes later he pulled his patrol car to a stop outside the bar and waited for a second debating the sanity of parking and going in or not. He was just glad he wasn’t in uniform, not that it would help a whole lot.  Blue Creek was small enough everyone knew everyone. So, if something did happen, uniform or not, he was going to have to intervene. He finally gave in and parked grumbling the whole way to the doors.

“Hey guys. How are things tonight?” Brogan called to the bouncers loitering by the door.

“Pretty quiet for the most part. Have some out of towners in that tried to start shit with your boss and the bone doctor.  We moved them to a more secluded area away from the other customers and it’s helped …. Tremendously.”

Brogan opened his mouth to respond, shut it and then tried again. He wasn’t sure what to think. “The sheriff and Deader got into a fight?”

The bouncers shrugged with a laugh, “Not really. We separated everyone quick enough. Last thing we want to do is arrest the guy in charge of the police you know.  Should warn you, they are well on their way to becoming drunk as skunks and that’s saying a lot considering they’re shifters.”

“We can get drunk?” Brogan asked skeptically.

“I’ve never seen it happen, but sure seems that way to me. Go check it out for yourself if you don’t believe me.”

Brogan had to see this or he’d never believe it. No wonder West had sounded so odd on the phone. He nodded to the bouncers and headed inside. For a bar, it wasn’t as loud as it was on some nights. That might have had a lot to do with the two Policemen sitting in the back corner with a huge number of empty tables around them.  Seems like people were giving the two lunatics a ton of space.

“Bout time you showed up.” West hollered from the back with a wave of greeting. “Come on, we already ordered drinks.”

A quick glance around and he was even more suspicious. Most of the faces in the bar were familiar and most of them had smirks on their faces. He took slow measured steps waiting for something to happen, he was missing something, he knew it he just couldn’t figure out what it was.

“Sit, have a drink and let’s talk.” Deader announced as he stood and slid in next to West so the two of them were on the same side of the booth facing Brogan.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Brogan started to say but was cut off by the two men waving him off.

“We’re doing a favor and trying this new liquor out. It’s made for shifters, have a glass and you can give your opinion too.” West pushed the glass closer with a lopsided smile. “I’m your boss, I wouldn’t steer you wrong, I swear.”

“Is that what ya’ll have been drinking? I hear you almost started a fight?”

Deader laughed and nudged West, “We didn’t start it but we would have finished it.  And now you have me sounding like a high school jock.” The two men burst into laughter for a few seconds before calming down. “But to answer your question, we’ve only had two glasses of it. We’ve been drinking other stuff prior to this.”

Brogan still wasn’t sure, but he decided one glass wouldn’t hurt. From the soundwhispere of it these guys had been drinking a bunch of different things. He picked the glass up and took a tentative sip. He couldn’t contain his surprise at the taste. The flavors danced on his tongue and his brain felt like it was having mini orgasms.

“Holy shit.” Was all he was able to say as the two men grinned huge Cheshire cat grins at him.

“Right, amazing, isn’t it?” West waved the waitress over and asked for another round.

“So, I’m taking it this is a keeper then?” She called as she walked away shaking her head in amusement.

They made small talk while Brogan downed his first glass of the delicious drink and they waited for the refills. He couldn’t remember ever actually spending much down time getting to know Deader. West sure, he was his best bud’s mate.

The hours flew by and the drinks were flowing freely when they finally got around to talking about anything more serious than arguing over their favorite sports teams, chances of winning, whatever game was coming up.

“West tells me you’ve found your mate.” Deader slurred with a lopsided grin.

Brogan couldn’t help the smile that bloomed across his face at the thought of Jericho, “would seem I have. Now to just get him back.”

“We’ll figure something out, I have faith in us.” West half yelled, half demanded before hiccupping, causing them all to burst into fits of laughter.

Once they’d calmed down, Deader leaned forward and nodded for Brogan to do the same. “I’ve got a question for you and I don’t want to scream it.”

“Okay,” Brogan whispered as he moved closer and waited.

“Have you ever had sex, you know with a man before?”

Only Brogan’s alcohol soaked brain kept him from dying of embarrassment at the question. Instead he just kinda shrugged sheepishly and shook his head no. “Never been attracted to a man before him.”

West leaned forward, “It’s different, but so good. You’ll love it, I promise.”

Brogan moved closer so they were all almost touching foreheads. “I’m scared I’ll do something wrong or screw it up.”

Both men vehemently denied that statement. “I remember my first time.” West recalled, “I was petrified too, but I had a mentor like friend. He was older and he told me what to expect and how to make sure it was good for me and my partner.”

“A mentor?” Brogan repeated.

Deader laughed, “You should see your face.”

“Well, yeah. I mean that just sounds so weird.”

“My first time was similar in some ways to West’s. I was with someone a few years older and more experienced. He made it great for me and taught me everything I needed to know before we parted ways.”

Brogan scratched his cheek, “So, basically you’re telling me it should help that Jericho has experience then?”

“Nope,” both men chorused before bursting into laughter.

West winked, “We’re saying, that we’re here to explain things so you don’t have to worry.”

“Exactly, so some guys are tops, some are bottoms and some are both. Just because a guy is ultra-macho outside of the bedroom doesn’t mean he’s going to be a top. You just never know. Being one or the other doesn’t make you any less of a man either, in case you were wondering.”

Brogan opened his mouth to respond but before he could Deader picked up the conversation and kept going.

“Now, one major thing you gotta make sure you have plenty of lube on hand.”

West snickered at Deader’s words which made both men turn to look at him in confusion until Deader gasped and started to belly laugh too.

“You said... lube on …. hand. They’ll need it…. on hand and …. on their hand.” West could barely get the words out he was laughing so hard.

“It would appear I showed up just in time.”

All three of the men turned and smiled up at Rook as they heard his words.

“Babe, what are you doing here?”

Rook took a step back and widened his eyes in surprise. “What in the hell are you drinking? You know what, never mind. I think it’s time to go home and sleep some of this off.”

Brogan protested first, “No, we can’t leave yet. I need their advice.”

Rook blew out a breath and leaned forward so he had all three men’s undivided attention. “This bar is full of shifters and as open as Blue Creek is, I really don’t think they want to hear the finer point of sex between men.”

“But we’re whispering,” West exclaimed indignantly.

“I love you hun, but you’re drunk and talking loud enough for the whole bar to hear you. Now I’ve already paid your tabs. Let’s go home.”

“But I don’t want to go home. It’s so quiet and …” Brogan trailed off with a shrug.

“He misses his mate, babe. Can’t he stay in our spare room tonight so he’s not alone?”

Rook rolled his eyes and Brogan knew they’d won. He wouldn’t have to be alone tonight. How he could miss someone he barely knew he wasn’t sure, but he did. It was like a physical ache that tore at his soul.

“Fine, as drunk as you all are he probably shouldn’t be alone anyway.  Deader, I already called Skarlet and told her what to expect. Though I don’t think she believed me that you guys really are drunk.”

Brogan wanted to protest but he couldn’t feel his lips anymore. He tried to stand but the room swayed and he giggled in wide-eyed amusement. “I don’t think I can walk straight.”

“This is going to be a long ass ride home isn’t it.” Rook mumbled. “Sit back down and don’t move any of you. I’ll be right back.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. Brogan dropped back into his seat and watched as Rook made his way up to the front of the bar and spoke to the bouncers there before heading outside. Within a minute he was back inside and heading to where they all sat waiting. The bouncers following close behind with amused looks on their faces.

“What’s going on?” West asked as he tried to stand and almost fell, which caused them all to burst into laughter.

“Time to go.” Rook announced as he pulled West to his feet and helped him start walking. Brogan looked at the two bouncers and finally understood what was happening. They were going to be their crutches to the car.

“I’ll tell you one thing, you three sure are going to be hurting mofo’s tomorrow. But on the bright side, this is going to make one hell of a story once word spreads around town.”

Brogan laughed good naturedly, he was too drunk to really care about what the next day would bring. Right now, he had more important things to think about. Mainly what else Deader and West could tell him.

“No offense, dude, but I’ve heard enough for one night. Wait till you get in the car okay?”

The bouncer groaned and the murmured laughter from the other patrons of the bar quickly clued Brogan in on the fact he’d said that out loud. Damn that alcohol was some kick ass shit.