Page 9 of Primal Urges

“There. All done,” Caden announced with a hint of pride in his voice.

It wasn’t that he felt a sense of accomplishment for sweeping the floor; it was more of a sense of pleasure at having fixed the young man’s problem for him. He wasn’t sure why, but the kid seemed overly nervous and was taking this breaking of some glasses way too personally.

“Thanks, mister.” The boy was back to looking at his feet. It was like he was intimidated or uncomfortable with making eye contact with people, or perhaps he was just uncomfortable with him.

“It’s Caden. But everyone here calls me Cade.” He extended his hand and waited for the boy to introduce himself.

“Nice to meet you, Cade. I’m Lucas.” The boy glanced up and made eye contact only for a moment before looking back down at the floor.

Jesus. Who was this guy? The guy was going to get eaten alive by the customers of this bar if he didn’t grow a pair and stop being so… shy?

“Nice to meet you, too, buddy. Let me know if you need anything else. I’m one of the bouncers here at the bar.”

“I know,” Lucas said, catching Caden a little off guard.

He knew he was a bouncer?

Lucas reached for the dustpan and picked up the discarded tray.

“Thanks again for the help, mister.” He glanced up quickly before disappearing down the hallway toward the makeshift kitchen Marcus had upgraded a few summers ago.

Watching him disappear into the darkness, Caden wasn’t quite sure how he felt about their newest addition. There was something sweet and endearing about the awkwardness and shyness of the boy. But to be honest, that sort of personality was going to get trampled by the animals who came drinking at the bar.

He guessed he would have to see how the boy handled himself.

Caden turned and headed back toward the door, wondering if the porn shoot was still taking place.

3

LUCAS

It was just after three thirty a.m. when Lucas climbed the squeaky old ladder that led up to the loft he now called home. It wasn’t much. Basically, it was a large open space at the top of a barn that Old Man Benson had converted into living quarters.

There was a tiny bathroom and shower that Benson had installed on the main level, with a bed and living space up in the barn rafters. The place was… quaint. Not something Lucas had ever envisioned himself living in, but hey, he needed to do what he needed to do, even if it was only for a few months.

He was broke and needed to save up cash so that he could find a much better place to live. But for now, Mr. Benson’s barn loft would have to do. Plus, it might be difficult to rent a place without doing a credit and criminal check. He couldn’t afford the additional risk.

Stripping off his clothes, he turned on the water in the shower and stepped inside. The water was cold, turning lukewarm only after rotating the faucet as far to the left as possible and waiting a few minutes.

Fuck his life.

Grabbing the bar of soap, he rubbed it between his hands, working up a nice lather as he waited for the water to heat up.

It’s a roof over your head. It will do for the time being.

He hated his life. How had he gotten to this point? Alone. In a strange town. Broke and constantly looking over his shoulder.

He had once been happy.

On his way to having a promising career, having graduated from college with a degree in musical theater. He’d even started auditioning for a few musicals that he hoped would land him his first role on stage and under the spotlight for thousands of adoring fans.

But none of that had happened. Instead, he met…him.

Lucas tucked his head under the spray and let the promising warm water run over his body.

It felt good, like being wrapped in a warm embrace.

Safe and secure.

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