Contents

  Title Page (Paperback - 1)

  By Nicole Edwards

  Title Page (eBook)

  Copyright

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  More to come

  Acknowledgments

  About Nicole Edwards

  Connect with Nicole

  Nicole Edwards on Amazon

  PRIMAL

  INSTINCTS

  Vol 2

  BY NICOLE EDWARDS

  THE WALKERS

  ALLURING INDULGENCE

  Kaleb

  Zane

  Travis

  Holidays with The Walker Brothers

  Ethan

  Braydon

  Sawyer

  Brendon

  THE WALKERS OF COYOTE RIDGE

  Curtis

  Jared

  Hard to Hold

  Hard to Handle

  Beau

  Rex

  A Coyote Ridge Christmas

  Mack

  Kaden & Keegan

  Alibi (a crossover novel)

  Trey

  BRANTLEY WALKER: OFF THE BOOKS

  All In

  Without A Trace

  Hide & Seek

  Deadly Coincidence

  Alibi

  Secrets

  Confessions

  Bounty

  AUSTIN ARROWS

  Rush

  Kaufman

  CLUB DESTINY

  Conviction

  Temptation

  Addicted

  Seduction

  Infatuation

  Captivated

  Devotion

  Perception

  Entrusted

  Adored

  Distraction

  Forevermore

  DEAD HEAT RANCH

  Boots Optional

  Betting on Grace

  Overnight Love

  Jared (a crossover novel)

  DEVIL’S BEND

  Chasing Dreams

  Vanishing Dreams

  MISPLACED HALOS

  Protected in Darkness

  Salvation in Darkness

  Bound in Darkness

  OFFICE INTRIGUE

  Office Intrigue

  Intrigued Out of The Office

  Their Rebellious Submissive

  Their Famous Dominant

  Their Ruthless Sadist

  Their Naughty Student

  Their Fairy Princess

  Owned

  PIER 70

  Reckless

  Fearless

  Speechless

  Harmless

  Clueless

  PRIMAL INSTINCTS

  Vol 1 - 2

  SNIPER 1 SECURITY

  Wait for Morning

  Never Say Never

  Tomorrow’s Too Late

  SOUTHERN BOY MAFIA/DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND

  Beautifully Brutal

  Without Regret

  Beautifully Loyal

  Without Restraint

  STANDALONE NOVELS

  Unhinged Trilogy

  A Million Tiny Pieces

  Inked on Paper

  Bad Reputation

  Bad Business

  Filthy Hot Billionaire

  NAUGHTY HOLIDAY EDITIONS

  2015

  2016

  2021

  PRIMAL

  INSTINCTS

  Volume 2

  NICOLE

  EDWARDS

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locals is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2023 by Nicole Edwards Limited

  This is a self-published title.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. For information, contact Nicole Edwards Limited, PO Box 1086, Pflugerville, TX 78660

  Nicole Edwards Limited, Nicole Edwards Limited logo, Because Naughty can be oh so Nice, and the series title are registered trademarks of SL Independent Publishing, LLC.

  PRIMAL INSTINCTS

  Volume 2

  NICOLE EDWARDS

  COVER DETAILS:

  Image: © Emmanma (175652815) | 123rf.com Design: © Nicole Edwards Limited

  INTERIOR DETAILS:

  Formatting: Nicole Edwards Limited

  AUDIO DETAILS:

  Image: © Emmanma (175652815) | 123rf.com Narrators: TBD

  ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-64418-067-9 | (paperback) 978-1-64418-068-6

  BISAC: FICTION / LGBTQ

  1

  Monday…

  Journey Zeplyn

  Another weekend was behind me. Whooshed right into the past because of too much to do and too little time to do it.

  I had spent the majority of it sitting at my parents’ kitchen table with my laptop in front of me. Despite the fact my days and nights included nonstop thoughts of Creed and our encounter in the bathroom at Austere, I had managed to focus long enough to get my presentation to the point I was happy with it. The cats proved to be a decent sounding board, but after about the fifth time of reciting my proposal, they lost interest and disappeared as they were prone to do.

  If someone were passing out blue ribbons for participation, I would’ve earned it because it hadn’t been easy. Nor had it been easy not to look at my phone a bajillion times to see whether Creed or Hawk had texted. They hadn’t, but as a wise poet once said, hope springs eternal.

  While it might sound like I was a studious perfectionist, that wasn’t true. I did manage to sneak away on Sunday afternoon. It had been required for my sanity when I found myself alone and overwhelmed with the temptation to stare at my text messages, waiting for a new one. Instead of stalking my iPhone, I filled the time with a quick trip to the mall to buy a new outfit. Rather than invite Rhylee, which was usually my preference, I didn’t call to tell her. It felt wrong to be in her company when I was harboring these feelings for Creed, considering how she had reacted to him when they met. As it was, I didn’t know whether she had encountered him again after I left, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

  So I tackled the task on my own.

  While my closet was full of items I adored, I wanted something new, something that would make me feel confident and assertive for my presentation to the VPs. My intention was to buy a formal business suit, but I changed my plans when I saw a long sleeve, black A-line wrap dress at the first store I went to. The knee-length number wasn’t at all what I intended and was likely the opposite of the business suit, but the more I thought about Creed’s high-handedness, the more ornery I became.

  Of course, me being me, I’d spent most of last night questioning my purchase, but now, as I stood in front of the full-length mirror, admiring myself, I couldn’t figure out where my doubt had come from. I loved everything about the dress, from the way it hugged my body to how the two halves of the dress crisscrossed between my breasts, giving the illusion I had actual cleavage. The slit that ran high up on my thigh beneath the bow that tied it together was both demure and sexy. The fabric was heavy enough to keep the skirt from flapping wide so it didn’t show off much leg at all, but it teased with every step I took.

  I put my hand on my hip and put my right foot forward, swinging it back and forth on the heel of my Louboutin Bombina spikes stiletto sandal. The shoes took the outfit from trendy to sexy with an edge. There was no way Creed would be able to look at me and not notice the wicked spikes and think dirty thoughts, which was exactly what I was going for.

  I would admit Gem’s and Delaney’s cattiness had swayed my decision, too. People often saw me as the mousy little girl content to remain on the fringes. But people saw what I wanted them to see. I figured it had to do with my single-minded focus. In college, I had kept my nose to the grindstone and overtaxed myself with a dual degree, but I had known it would pay off in the long run. Princeton hadn’t been my first choice, but my parents were thrilled when I got accepted, so I caved to their urging. When I arrived on campus, I told myself I wasn’t there to make friends or to party. I was preparing myself for my future, and it had paid off tenfold.

  All of that work led me to where I was right at this moment.

  I couldn’t help taking another look in the mirror to ensure I was comfortable about the statement I would make. Up to this point, I’d relied on my sweet girl image to get doors opened. Sometimes it worked; often, it didn’t. But even I knew sweet would only get you so far, and thanks to Creed’s arrogance, I wasn’t feeling particularly sweet.

  “You’ve got this,” I said aloud.

  I’d never been one to seek attention from others, but I’d never wanted to hide in the shadows, either. After what I’d heard Gem and Delaney say, I wasn’t above playing to all my assets if it got me what I wanted. In this case, it could get me more than I bargained for with Creed, but I figured it was worth the gamble. I hadn’t stopped thinking about our encounter in the bathroom at Austere. He had exposed a side of me I’d suspected was there but could never quite tap into. Now that he’d uncovered it, I wanted to pursue whatever this was.

  Getting through today was the first step.

  I arrived at work an hour early because I wanted to take Cheryl up on her offer, seeking input on my proposal. As promised, she was already there. Since I arrived first, she gave me half an hour of her time, and by the time I walked out of her office, I was feeling even better. We had tweaked a few things, added a couple more, and despite the fact those militant butterflies were starting to make their presence known, I was ready.

  The morning passed in waves of drama. While I finalized my presentation to send to Cheryl, I was entertained by the constant chatter as the team interacted. It started when Cheryl met with Delaney. Whatever took place behind that closed door evidently didn’t sit well with Delaney. She was grumpy for most of the morning, but her sourness faded shortly after a second meeting with Cheryl.

  Then there was Gem, who decided they would do it on their own rather than seeking input from Cheryl. They had words, most of them pertaining to Cheryl pleading with Gem to do a mock presentation and Gem repeatedly refusing.

  But the best part was when Wayne came in an hour late only to learn that the presentation had been moved and he would be going first since he didn’t have a doctor’s note. He bitched that he didn’t get to meet with three of the four product teams because time hadn’t allowed for it. When Cheryl asked him what time he was meeting with them today, Wayne told her he was planning to find time today, but he hadn’t actually set anything up. Cheryl politely reminded him that was his fault, not hers. Maybe if he’d been more proactive, she would’ve given him a reprieve. I don’t think it went over well because Wayne had been grumbling and cursing for the last two hours.

  At noon, the butterflies in my belly went haywire.

  By 12:30 p.m., they were on a full-blown rampage.

  And at 12:50 p.m., as we were making our way to the third-floor conference room where we’d present to the VPs, they were doing an all-out assault on my nervous system.

  “Have a seat at the back,” Cheryl instructed when we reached the door. “I’ll get your presentations set up. I’ll run them for you so you can focus on your talking points.”

  Oh, boy. It was go-time.

  “Are you nervous?” Delaney asked as we followed Cheryl into the empty room.

  “Terrified,” I admitted.

  “Just imagine them in their underwear,” Delaney whispered.

  “Maybe she doesn’t have to imagine,” Gem muttered under their breath.

  “Maybe I don’t,” I retorted, grateful for the anger that overpowered my anxiety.

  Hello, backbone. Welcome to the party.

  Delaney’s head snapped over, her eyes wide, but she didn’t say anything.

  I cocked an eyebrow and headed for the row of chairs at the back of the room. There were four, one for each of us.

  At 12:59 p.m., the door to the conference room opened, and four of the most magnificent men I’d ever seen in my life strolled in. They were laughing about something, but it faded off as they looked our way. When Hawk met my gaze, I smiled, and it earned me a sexy smirk in return. The butterflies in my belly fluttered recklessly, hope and anticipation stirring them into a frenzy.

  No sooner did the door close than it opened again. The directors who oversaw each product line came in one after the other. My nerves weren’t thrilled that the party was a little bigger than I’d anticipated.

  “Good afternoon,” Nick greeted, addressing us while the others took their seats at the table. “When Cheryl calls you up, you’ll have fifteen minutes to present and another fifteen set aside for questions if we have them. We’ll move through these as fast or as slow as you need. Once everyone’s done, we’ll review amongst ourselves and make a final decision. Cheryl will have our final answer first thing tomorrow morning.” He smiled. “Good luck.”

  As he joined the others at the table, Cheryl called Wayne to the front.

  He didn’t dress for the occasion because he wasn’t aware the timeline had shifted. If he had, maybe he would’ve come in wearing something that wasn’t wrinkled. His navy-blue dress shirt would’ve been a nice choice if it didn’t look like he had grabbed it from the floor of his closet after it had been there for a week. His khaki Dockers didn’t look much better, and his Sperry boat shoes felt too casual for a meeting of this caliber.

  “Introduce yourself,” Garrison stated when Wayne stepped to the front of the room.

  “Wayne Parson,” he said with a grin. “Nick and I go way back.”

  They all peered over at Nick, who shrugged.

  “New-hire orientation,” Wayne reminded him.

  “Continue,” Creed said firmly, clearly not amused.

  “Give us a little of your background,” Nick instructed, his tone warmer than Creed’s but only a little.

  “I worked in a sporting goods store as a teenager, but I got tired of stocking shelves. I spent some time after that trying to find myself. Different jobs here and there.” He tucked his hands in his pockets, smiled. “I didn’t go to college because I don’t think we put enough emphasis on life skills, nor does a degree accurately depict your level of intelligence.”

  “But it does attest to your dedication,” Nick noted.

  “That’s what I hear. Not sure I agree. I have life experience, which is far more valuable.” Wayne shrugged. “Before I came here, I worked at a large tech company in their communications department.”

  When he paused as though they might ask him something, Hawk spoke up. “And your presentation.”

  Wayne stepped to the side and motioned toward the blank television screen behind him. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t given enough time to complete my presentation.”

  Eyes began shifting, then Garrison said, “You weren’t given enough time?”

  “No. I only learned this morning that the meeting was moved to today.”

  I peered over at Cheryl. She appeared unfazed despite Wayne lobbing an accusation she could’ve easily countered. I liked her more for the fact she didn’t feel the need to get defensive.

  “Where were you when the rest of the team learned on Friday?” Nick asked.

  “Out sick.” He waved. “Just a twenty-four-hour thing. No big.”

  “When did you start working here?” Hawk asked, and it was clear he was trying to be pleasant, but his frustration bled into his tone.

  “Last week.”

  Garrison turned, glancing back at me, Delaney, and Gem, addressing us as a whole. “Were you given enough time to complete your presentation?”

  “Yes, sir,” I answered dutifully.

  “Yes,” Delaney acknowledged.

  “More than,” Gem stated.

  Garrison turned back around, but I couldn’t see his expression as he peered at each director before glancing down the table at Nick.

  “Were you able to meet with the product teams?” Nick prompted, his friendliness waning.

  “Only the CBD team.”

  “Who did you meet with?” Garrison asked.

  “I … um … I got the notes from the last meeting they had.”

  “So you didn’t actually meet with anyone?”

  “I was going to do that today, but—”

  “No more excuses,” Creed barked. “Get on with your presentation.”

  Wayne’s eyes narrowed on Creed for a moment before he looked away. “I was able to do some research on our competitor’s similar products. I made a list”—he produced a sheet of paper from his pocket—“of things that I feel are beneficial to my success.”

  Honest to God, I had to grind my teeth together to keep my jaw from falling open as Wayne read from the list I’d had on my desk. Verbatim.

  I was right; he hadn’t been borrowing a pen.

  He’d been stealing my work.

  Asshole.

  “Why do you feel those are good comparison products?” Hawk asked.

  Wayne fidgeted with the paper. “Well, you see, I didn’t make it much past that. I thought I had time.”

  “But you chose those for a reason, did you not?” Hawk probed.

  “I did, yes.”

 

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