Chapter 17
PERRY
I smile at my phone. Abel is so damn sweet. Just the fact he’s interested in exploring sex makes my heart burst with adoration. He’s afraid, but interested at the same time.
“What are you smiling at, boss?” Molly asks as she looks over my shoulder.
“My guys. They’re adorable.”
She snorts. “Abel’s such a doll when I talk to him at the library. And Buckle’s such a hottie.” She fans her face. “I went on a date with him once. Perfect gentleman. You’re a lucky guy.”
“I know.” I shove my phone in my pocket. “Abel asked if we’d like a booth at the Valentine’s Day festival. I told him I’d think about it. What do you think?”
Molly taps her bottom lip as she looks around the shop. “Dunno. What would we sell? It’s not like we can have sex toys out in the open.”
“He said he’s going to talk to Aaron about having an adults only area. Or we could promote our pole dancing classes.” I like the idea, but not sure how we’d fit in.
“I think it’ll depend on who the other vendors are and if they’re friendly to having us around.”
“My thoughts exactly. I don’t think anyone will be hostile.
No one ever is, but I’ll see what he says about who else is going to be there.
” In the human world, Pleasures probably would have been protested, but not in Mink Hollow.
Shifter towns tend to lean towards not being prudish and that’s why I always prefer them.
Not that I have much against humans, they don’t know about us.
“Sounds good to me.” She says as she grabs a rag and glass cleaner. “We don’t have a lot of people in right now, so I’m going to redo the Valentine’s Day display.” She nods to the glass shelving to the right of the register.
“Go for it.” I drum my fingers on the counter and look around. Pleasures is my pride and joy. A rebellion to how I was raised. How much do I share with my guys about my past? Abel had it so much worse than me.
I shake my head. I’m not going to compare my trauma with his.
That’s not fair to either of us. Plus, Buckle hints at his own.
We’re all a mess, but I think together we can at least be a loving mess.
I snort at the thought. We really should talk.
Air out some things. It could help Abel, but I’m not entirely sure how to broach the subject.
The bell above the door chimes and Elsbeth waltzes in as if she owns Pleasures.
“Els! What can we help ya with today?”
“You need a booth at the festival.” She flutters over to the clothes rack and flips through the lingerie sets.
“We were just discussing that. Abel said we should, too.”
“He’s got a smart head on his shoulders. You could do something like this.” She wiggles a set. “Get something exclusive in. Us Beta Bitches would eat it up, as would a bunch of others.”
“Hadn’t thought of lingerie. I was thinking toys.”
“Oh that, too!” She moves on to the lube section. “And lube. And silly things like thongs in rose shaped boxes. Candy necklaces. Dick lollipops. Oh! Something like naughty Valentines. Nothing so risque, but still fun.”
Her ideas get my thoughts going.
“Oh, my gosh!” Molly says, joining us. “Naughty Valentines! That would be so fun.”
“It really would,” I say. “Okay, I think I’ll write down your ideas and see what else we can come up with, then talk to Abel about it if he still thinks we’ll fit.”
“Now I want in,” Molly fakes a pout. “We could run the booth together. It’ll be so fun. Ryan can run the shop or we can close it and all of us can be at the festival.”
“The more we talk, the more I want it, too.” I’d never thought one of the various festivals would be open for us, but I might have just been too scared to even try before.
“I’ll put in a very good word for you,” Elsbeth says as she walks up to the counter with her arms full of various novelty items. “Lisa’s throwing a bachelorette party for her niece, and I said I’d bring the fun stuff.”
“I’m not judging.” I give her a smile. “I have more in back if you need more party favors.”
“Oh, yes, please.”
Molly rushes to the back before I can do it myself.
Elsbeth leans in and lays a hand on mine. “You looked so happy at dinner the other day. I’m happy for you. Everyone deserves to have someone look at them the way both your mates look at you.”
“I adore them.”
“It shows.” She squeezes my hand and moves away to look inside the box Molly brought up. “Oh! I’ll take the entire lot.”
Molly snorts. “That’s gonna be one fun party.”
“Darling, when I’m involved it’s always fun.” Elsbeth winks.
I ring her up, giving her a discount. She narrows her eyes, and I do the same and continue ringing her up. If I want to give one of my favorite customers a discount, I will. After Elsbeth pays, Molly carries everything out to the car.
Perry: i can’t wait to see you both again.
I couldn’t help it. I had to tell them.
Molly grins when she comes back in. “She’s always so fun.”
“She’s one of my favorites.”
We get back to work. Molly working on the Valentine’s Day display while I rummage through our porn stash to see what I can bring to dinner. I want something that won’t be too much, but also educational enough it won’t scare Abel. Hopefully, my choice is the right one.