idea. How about I take over at the bar, and you can walk around and take orders?” Rhys
suggested. Peyton paused and looked over at Rhys.
“Are you sure? That would be amazing. I really suck at being a bartender. But I don’t want you getting
stuck doing it.” Peyton looked dejected.
“Peyton, before I came here I was a bartender at Purgatory. It’s what I do.” Rhys laughed at Peyton’s
hopeful expression. Was he really that bad at bartending? It caught him by surprise at how easy it was to
laugh lately, being with Moe made all the difference in the world.
“Seriously? You mean I don’t have to do it anymore? Thank God!” Peyton practically sobbed. Rhys
wrapped an arm around the smaller shifter.
“Go put on an apron and see what people want. I’ll finish cleaning up here.” Rhys gave him a one-
armed hug and pushed him toward the open room. Peyton beamed at him, and Rhys was taken aback at
how utterly handsome he was.
“Yes, go ahead, Peyton.” Moe’s low voice moved through him. Peyton smiled again at Rhys and took
off like an over-caffeinated rabbit. Rhys grabbed the rest of the larger pieces of glass and stood. He threw
them away and had just picked up the foxtail and dustpan when he realized Moe was still standing at the
end of the bar. When he looked up, Moe’s gray eyes had darkened to an unreadable onyx.
It dawned on him that Moe was jealous. He couldn’t hide his satisfied smile if he tried. Moe’s
smoldering eyes and shadowed jaw coupled with the ink peeking out from his black tee shirt made him
look dark and dangerous. God help him his man was so damn sexy right now. He put the foxtail and
dustpan down and sauntered over to Moe.
“Hey baby, you do know that you’re it for me, right?” Rhys looped his arms around the large man’s
waist. Moe took a deep breath and crushed him against his muscled frame.
“I’m sorry, it’s just we haven’t mated yet, and my monkey is going nuts.” Moe’s eyes widened when he
realized what he said. Rhys couldn’t help the chuckle and slid his hand between their bodies to cup his
mate’s bulging package. He saw Moe’s eyes practically cross as he dropped his head back on his shoulders.
“I may not be ready for sex, but I won’t leave my mate in such a state. I’ll take care of your monkey,
baby.” Rhys stroked him through his jeans.
“Now? You’re ready now?” Moe looked down at him almost in tears. In the background Peyton fired
up the jukebox. Rhys winked.
“Now you have something to look forward to.” Rhys gave the impressive bulge one final squeeze and
stepped back.
“Heart—heartless.” Moe took deep breaths and reached down to readjust himself.
“Oh, Moe darling!” An older woman’s voice carried across the bar. Rhys nearly laughed out loud as he
saw his mate’s “problem” quickly deflate. Moe turned to him.
“You wouldn’t want to serve some nice older ladies would you?” he asked. Rhys shook his head.
“Go get ‘em, lover.” He blew kisses at Moe and turned to finish cleaning up behind the bar before the
night crowd started.
“Coming, Ms. Tully!” Moe shook his head and walked to the other end of the bar.
Rhys looked around and smiled. He was behind a bar again, he felt like he had returned home. This he
could handle with his eyes closed and one hand tied behind his back.
He had just finished setting up behind the bar the way he liked it when he heard a throat clear.
“Excuse me, barkeep.”
Rhys turned around and smiled. Rian and Damian had taken seats at the bar.
“What can I get you, gentlemen?”
“Thank god, a real bartender,” Damian exclaimed.
“I love Peyton to death, but he couldn’t make a drink for shit. Where is his tweaky little self anyway?”
Rian asked.
Rhys pointed to where Peyton was chatting with Gina and Cecelia at a corner table.
“He’s much better suited as a waiter. He looks happier.” Damian nodded his approval.
“He reminds me of a guy I
Xara X. Piper;Xanakas Vaughn