Chapter 13
thirteen
DANTE
“Ihope to see you again,” I call to the last customers in the store. The woman grins, swinging the bag, and the man behind her in the wheelchair uses a little extra flourish with each push.
They’re not from here, but they found my shop online when searching for adaptive toys. They’re my least-selling items, but I have an entire section in the store, and this couple wasn’t the first to make the drive so they could see things in person instead of taking a risk online.
More stores like mine really need to stock this stuff. I earn more than enough profit on everything else to justify the cost of buying it all.
But people are weird.
Hell, I’m weird.
I’m in the middle of an intense affair with a Vyastil, and it’s not like the experimenting and fooling around I did with anyone from my past. This is something new.
It’s different.
It’s making me feel things I know I’ve been running from for a long, long time.
My past is…complicated and tricky. I was the obvious queer kid in school who got beat up a lot, then propositioned in abandoned locker rooms by the jocks who just got done shoving me into trash cans.
And the two relationships I did have before I gave up entirely had been both short and ugly. They left behind thick, itchy scars beneath my skin that I don’t like poking at.
They aren’t worth remembering, even if I know I needed to deal with them someday. But on top of the pressure of keeping the shop alive and being there for my family, I also have my pain issues.
Those are the problems I’d rather focus on.
Not the dickheads from my past who made me feel…well…
Less than.
I jump half a foot when my phone buzzes, and I glance down to see that I have an email. The logo looks familiar, and my gut sinks as I open it to see the Vyastil clinic name at the top with an appointment confirmation button in bright blue.
Tuesday at nine.
That’s in two days. Fuuuuuck.
My heart crawls into my throat. I haven’t been called by the clinic in ages. I was kind of hoping my last round of testing told them I was too…I don’t know, fucked up or something for the Vyastil to want my cum.
And now that I have Cielo with me, how the fuck am I meant to undress, let myself get strapped to a chair, and have some stranger suck me off?
And with the way Cielo’s been wildly possessive over me? He’s probably going to flip his fucking lid over this. God, how am I going to tell him?
My phone buzzes again, and this time it’s a FaceTime request from my brother. He’s due back from the expo soon, so I answer and try for a smile when his face appears on the screen.
‘You look like shit,’ is the first thing he tells me.
‘Love you too, asshole.’
He burst into laughter, but I can see something’s off with him. There are dark bags under his eyes, and his smile seems a little forced. Of course, I know Luca. I know that even if I ask, he’s not going to tell me.
I have to wait until he’s here, and then I can ply him with wine and chocolate until he gives in.
‘When is your flight back?’
‘Tomorrow night. Red-eye. Gets in at 5 a.m.,’ he signs with a faint whine in his throat, looking annoyed. He’s always hated being up early.
‘Need a ride?’
He snorts. ‘Yeah, right. You won’t get up that early.’
He’s not lying. I shrug and lean back on my stool, resting the phone against the register so I can put my elbows on the counter. ‘Did everything go okay?’
He nods. ‘A lot of sales and interest in the cookies. And several surveys to go through for you.’
Surveys are both my favorite and my least favorite part of when Luca goes to expos. I like seeing what people want, but too many of them have unrealistic expectations about what sex toys can do.
And some of them are creepy as fuck. Some of the people should probably be spending way more time behind bars.
But it’s an integral part of my job, and I’m thinking about having Luca canvas around town and talk to some of the Vyastil about their own needs.
According to Everest, Rathyn didn’t even realize he could fool around, and from what I noticed about Cielo, while he was aware his body could provide pleasure, he seemed unfamiliar with how to really enjoy it.
So now I want to know about the others in town. The ones who have been living with humans for a few decades. The ones who are past their curiosity phase.
I should probably speak to Quilliyn.
Luca makes a loud, irritated noise, and I realize I’ve just zoned out. ‘Sorry,’ I sign quickly. ‘Been a long week.’
His brows lift, and he gives me a pointed look.
‘Pain,’ I tell him. He’s not aware of how often it’s been coming on lately, but he knows about my flares. He and Gia are the only ones I’ve talked to about it.
Luca’s face softens. ‘You need to hire someone to help at the store.’
I immediately brighten. ‘I did! Everest,’ I tell him, using his sign name. ‘He’s starting today.’
Luca looks immediately relieved. He’s been up my ass about not doing this all on my own for a while now, but he also knows I can’t really afford the full-time help. Maybe if I can diversify our stock to cover humans and monsters, sales will pick up.
But it’s hard to make a profit on this in a small town.
The door opens, and I sigh. ‘Customer. Text me if you need a ride,’ I tell him.
He waves me off, then disconnects the call, and I set my phone down, looking up to see Everest smiling at me. He looks a lot better than the man I met a couple months ago when he’d first signed his contract with Rathyn.
Back then, he’d been angry, a little scared, and very tired. But he’s a different man now.
“Am I too early? Or shit, am I late?”
I laugh and wave him over. “Nope. Right on time.”
“Amazing.”
Everest walks to the other side of the counter and grins at me, almost eagerly. “I’m so fucking excited. Rath isn’t, but god, I needed this.”
“I bet. You must be exhausted, you poor thing.”
“Tell me about it. Fifteen orgasms a day is wild, my dude. Have you and Cielo talked, or…”
“No. I will. I just need to find the right time.” I feel bad about it. I don’t want Everest to be upset with me on the first day.
“I hope that when you tell him, he realizes he’s allowed to make himself happy. Fuck what anyone else says.”
I bob my head. “I hope so, too. In the meantime—” I sigh and grab onto the counter, a sick feeling swirling in my stomach as I think about where I will be this time Tuesday. I feel a hand on my back, and I glance up. “I have to go to the clinic on Tuesday and, fuck, I don’t wanna.”
“Oh. Yeah…is it because of Cielo?”
“Yeah. I think so. I haven’t told him yet.” My words trail off, and I taste something bitter on my tongue. “He’s not going to be happy. I wish I had a way out of it.”
“Maybe there’s something I can do.”
I’m too afraid to hope. “You think?”
Everest works his bottom lip and glances around. “Let me think on it, okay? And talk to Rath. I’m sure we can come up with a solution. He’s got contacts and everything. He might be able to pull some strings.”
I nod and then stand up, shaking out my hands and straightening my shoulders. “That would be amazing, thank you.”
Everest’s lips quirk. “Don’t thank me yet, but I’ll do what I can.”
I shake off an almost hysterical giggle and face the register. “Okay, sorry, got sidetracked. Let me show you how the system is set up. And I’ll stay with you for a few customers. When you’ve gotten the hang of it, I can show you how to do some inventory.”
“Awesome. I’m ready. I want to see all the cool things you have delivered here.”
I let out a laugh and show him how to ring things up, and when the first customer comes in the door, Everest gets the jitters.
“Shit. I’m nervous,” he whispers so they don’t hear him. “I used to work at a hot dog stand, but that feels like ages ago.”
“You’ll do great. I mean, these are kind of like hot dogs.” I sweep my hand toward all the dildos, and he giggles again.
He does great with the customers, chatting with them and being far friendlier than I’ve ever been. The only issue arises when Rathyn randomly appears an hour later. He ducks down under the door, his ear hitting the bells hanging from the top.
When he stands up, he looks around the store, far too regal for a sex shop. He’s very much the commander of Vyastil armies that Everest says he is.
When Everest sees him, he flushes bright red and groans. “Oh god, I’m so sorry. I told him not to show up.”
“It’s fine,” I say, patting him on the shoulder as Rathyn approaches, his tail wrapped tightly around his leg. The dim lights reflect off the piercings in his ears, and I wonder why Cielo doesn’t have his anymore.
“My Everest,” he rumbles, leaning in close to him, “how is your first day?”
Everest peers up at him and fawns slightly before straightening his shoulders.
“It’s been very good, and thank you for coming in to check on me, but I told you not to do this.
” When Rathyn says nothing, he leans forward, his brows meeting, his gaze serious.
“I mean it, Rathyn. This is overstepping my boundaries.”
“I do not like your boundaries. They are weak and odd. Nonetheless, I am here to shop. I want to buy many things to put in your hole and on your small cock.”
Everest sighs loudly and glances over at me, his cheeks flaming, “My cock is normal-sized.”
I bite back a laugh and meet Rathyn’s stare. “Would you like some ideas for holes and small cocks?”
Everest groans as Rathyn nods.
“Yes. Please show me what my Everest would enjoy. He already has a cage.”
Everest has his forehead on the counter and is mumbling something under his breath. I, however, am having the time of my life. This is fucking hilarious.
“I actually have something you might enjoy,” I tell him once I have his full attention. Rathyn looks uncertain, Everest looks intrigued. “I’ll be right back.”
In the back room, I pull the top off a box and stare down at it. It’s rough but ready—my silicone molds are not nearly as fancy as the ones we get from our production factory, but it will do.