So Far Gone in You(Primal Heat 2)(6)

Details Coop would never give.

“Anyway.” Karidon swatted the back of his hand on Coop’s chest. “Let’s go check out the south side of town. Talyn tells me there have been reports of coyotes in the area.”

The south side of town was densely populated by woods. They had their occasional bobcat or coyote that wandered into neighborhoods. Talyn’s men usually coaxed the animals back into their habitat, but there had been a few times when the animals weren’t cooperative.

Coop slid into the passenger’s side of Karidon’s Jeep, and then the two pulled from the driveway. Coop glanced back at the house and then chastised himself for doing it.

A one-off, remember? No strings attached and definitely no repeats. He was going to make sure he didn’t go near Olin again. It would never work between them. Olin wasn’t his type. The guy was too fiery, too untamed for Coop’s taste.

“Sex in the afternoon.” Karidon chuckled. “I’m jealous.”

If the guy only knew. Coop needed to change the subject. “Who said they spotted the coyotes?”

“Talyn didn’t say.” Karidon turned into Stillwater National Forest ninety minutes later. The last time they’d been here, they were meeting with High Councilmember Khan Sythe. Although it had only been two months ago, for Coop, it felt like another lifetime.

Karidon pulled the Jeep in front of the cabin-style bathroom and parked. “I guess we go on foot from here,” Karidon said as he cut the motor and got out.

The beginning of the forest started in an urban area that was mostly residential. They would start there and work their way into the forest, trying to scent and spot where the coyotes were.

“Does your booty call have a friend?” Karidon asked as they trekked up a small hill. “I mean, you know, someone available?”

Coop did not want to continue this conversation. “Tell me the great Karidon has trouble finding a guy for sex.”

He and Karidon had never been anything but friends. Coop liked it that way. But he wasn’t blind. Karidon had those dark, exotic looks with long, black hair that had a few auburn highlights when the sun hit it right. His eyes were almond shaped, the irises a dark, liquid amber. If the guy had been his type, Coop would have been all over Karidon years ago.

But Coop liked his men smaller, more compact, a twink. Something Karidon was not. His bronzed skin alone drew men in like flies. So why was he asking for a hookup from Coop?

Karidon snorted. “No, I don’t need help finding a lover. I was just…forget it.” Now Coop was truly intrigued. He had no clue that Coop had fucked Olin. But if he did, then the guy was asking about Ollie—Olin’s twin.

Nah. Karidon had no idea who Coop had slept with.

But Coop had been staring at Karidon, and now Karidon was more than likely uncomfortable. Coop slapped his friend on the shoulder and laughed, trying his best to alleviate the tension. “No friend. Sorry. Hell, I didn’t even get his name.”

Coop knew that Karidon was uncertain of himself. His father had been a bastard to him until his mother left the guy. That was when Karidon was fifteen. But the damage had been done, and Karidon carried around not only the physical scars but mental ones as well.

Karidon might be outgoing and laughed a lot—he was even snarly at times—but deep down inside was that scared little boy who only wanted approval. He’d known Karidon since forever and had seen the hell the guy had gone through. Coop had protected his best friend the best he could, but there were times when he knew Karidon wanted to end it all.

And that was why Coop was so protective of the man.

They stilled when they heard rustling close-by.

Karidon squatted as Coop moved to the left. They didn’t want to harm the coyotes, just move them farther into the forest. He hoped there weren’t too many, or this could turn into an all-day thing.

Coop dropped to his haunches when he spotted men, not animals. He scooted closer to Karidon, and they kept themselves hidden as they watched and listened.

“It’s been hours,” one man said as he kicked at the dirt. “When are they going to come?”

“You need to have patience,” the other guy said mulishly. “They’ll come.”

“Are you sure he’ll send the two we’re looking for?” the first guy asked. He had kind of a whistle as he spoke and had a few moles dotting along one cheek. Coop didn’t recognize the guy.

“He always sends Coop and Karidon in first before he sends anyone else.”

Coop had never thought about that. Why did Talyn always send him and Karidon to do things? They were his top Enforcers. The other Enforcers should have done this grunt work. Corralling coyotes wasn’t exactly something they were meant to do.