Ten Sweet Pea
W hen my doorbell rings, I don’t have to wonder who it is. This is the sixth night in a row Eris has shown up on my doorstep asking to use my shower, but this time, at least he brought dinner.
“Yes, you big dummy. Come in.”
Grinning, he kisses the top of my head in greeting and moves around my kitchen like he owns the place. “How was your day? You get those orders out?”
“Yep, sure did. I also did the laundry you left here,” I say pointedly. The little shit has been leaving things behind every time he comes here. “But you’re washing your own thermos. I think there’s something breeding in there.”
“Dramatic much? I thought you liked it when I’m all dirty.” Walking over, he pulls me in for a proper kiss. “Thanks for doing my laundry. I appreciate it.”
“Mm don’t say that just yet. I didn’t get a single one of the stains out.”
“It’s okay, your detergent smells better than mine. Send me a picture of which one it is and I’ll bring some to help out. I grabbed more coffee too since I saw you were almost out.”
And now he’s bringing household necessities? How did we get here?
It’s fucking weird, yet as he unpacks the food and sits down at the table, I get the feeling he’s always been here somehow. “Bring some toilet paper, too,” I joke. “And paper towels.”
“You got it. Oh, I was wondering,” he changes the subject as he starts eating. “Do you make wax for like... wax play? Y’know, sex stuff.”
The question makes me choke. “Uhm... yeah, actually. All of my scents are available in low temp wax.”
“Yeah?” He grins, eyes scanning my face eagerly. “You want to try that one of these days? ”
Squirming, I pick at my chicken and nod a little bit. “I usually only test them on my wrists just to be sure it’s safe. I’ve never... done anything else.”
“Me either. I was telling my brothers about you and the second Evan asked if you were into wax play, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’m down to try it if you are.”
He’s been spotty with information about his brothers, and now I know why. They’ve been gossiping about me. “I suppose I should thoroughly test my products.”
“You should. You tell your friend about me yet, Burrito?”
“Before we even met, yeah,” I laugh. “And every day since.”
That makes him smile so widely, I blush. “Good. Wait, good things right?”
“Nope. Terrible things, obviously. You’re mean, can’t find my clit, your feet smell, you snore...”
Laughing, he shakes his head at me. “Okay, I see how it is. My brothers thought it was hilarious when I told them about your sleep farts. I recorded a video if you want to see.”
My jaw drops. “My what? You what? ”
“Too easy,” he teases, chuckling a little harder. “I was kidding, your sleep farts are our little secret. I only told them about the drool.”
That one’s fair. I do drool. Sighing, I roll my eyes playfully. “Fine, fine. I just won’t cuddle with you anymore then.”
“No no no,” he rushes out. “You don’t have a choice there, girl. I’m bigger, I’ll pin you down if I have to. Plus we both know it’s the only way I’ll get any blankets.”
“Hey, they don’t call me Burrito for nothing. I like my blankets. Maybe you should get your own.” I take a slow sip of my drink to hide a laugh, and it’s his turn to roll his eyes.
“Such a spicy burrito today.”
His hand finds my inner thigh under the table and squeezes, making me clench. Spicy is definitely one way to put it. “Eat your food. You smell like shingles and you’re absolutely taking a shower before you come anywhere near me with wax.”
“I smell like shingles?” This time he moves into my space to tickle me and annoyingly kiss all over my face. “Come on, baby. We know roofing turns you on.”
I don’t think it’s the roofing specifically, but knowing he’s capable, strong, and smart? Yeah, that does something for me. Breathless from laughing, I force out, “Take it or leave it, sweet pea.”
“Sweet pea?” Eris pulls back to look at me and deadpans. “Did you do a sweet pea wax today?”
No, but I am working on one I’m not ready to tell him about. One I’m not sure if I’ll even finish. “You don’t like the pet name? I’ll try a new one. How about... love muffin? Honey bun? Sugar britches?”
Grimacing, he shakes his head quickly. “You call me sugar britches and I’m calling you waxy panties.” He pinches my nose, hesitating for only a moment before he says, “How about you just call me your boyfriend?”
Whoa, that’s a big word and he’s very close to my face right now. My chest flutters, stomach swoops, and I have every intention of saying yes — but my mouth has other plans. “Eris, we’ve only known each other for like a week. Isn’t it a little soon?”
He shrugs. “You’re the boss there, baby. It’s okay, I’ll try again next week.”
Tossing me a wink, he moves back to finish up his food after a quick peck on the cheek, and I have to take a moment to appreciate how well he handled that. Most guys I know would’ve freaked out, but Eris seems to be confident that he’ll get his way eventually.
I guess I should be flattered since the man who refused to date anyone wants to date me, but I still feel like I’m missing the punchline of a joke. He’s too perfect. No one’s that perfect. Maybe he’s homeless or something — he showers at my house every day, leaves his laundry here, sleeps in my bed. I have no proof he’s ever actually gone home since he leaves my place to go to work and comes back right after. He brings more things with him, sure, but he also has a huge truck with a big toolbox in the back.
... Wow, that’s a leap even for me. Suppressing a snort, I finish my dinner and strip for him as I head to the shower, knowing he’ll insist I join him anyway. And after the shower, my stomach twists itself in knots. “Did you want to try the wax tonight or some other time?” I ask, half hoping the answer is the latter. “I’m good either way.”
“Maybe this weekend or something.” He collapses on the bed in his briefs and pats his chest. “Come here. Two truths and a lie time.”
Oh look, I’m disappointed he doesn’t want to play today. Being a girl is fun.
Grinning, I curl up against him and let out a happy sigh anyway. “You go first.”
“Okay.” He pauses for a moment. “I haven’t read a book since high school, my mom dipped out when I was fourteen and I haven’t seen her since, and one time I broke my arm falling off a roof.”
The first and last seem likely, which puts me in a good position. “I’m hoping the thing about your mom is a lie.”
“No, actually it’s true. She texts every so often, but she moved to Hawaii and got a new boyfriend. My dad hasn’t moved on, but we’ve been trying to talk him into Tinder.”
Fuck, that’s so sad. Hugging him a little closer, I whisper, “I’m sorry,” then ask him what the lie was.
“It’s alright. Been years now. The lie was my arm. I actually broke my leg and my wrist, but my arm was fine. I’ve tried to read a book if that counts for something.”
Eris kisses the top of my head like he didn’t just dump a bunch of sad shit on me. I’m not sure I even want to play anymore, I’d rather put him in a bubble and protect him from all the bad things in the world.
“I turned down a scholarship to an Ivy League school, I went through a preppy girl phase when my hair was blonde and I wore floofy skirts every day, and I’ve never had a job other than my own business.”
Humming, he drums his fingers on my arm as he thinks. “Uh... well, you’re definitely smart enough for an Ivy League school, so I say the preppy girl one.”
“Nope. I turned down an acceptance to an Ivy League school, but I wasn’t ever offered a scholarship. It’s the whole arm/wrist thing, you know.”
“Ah, you got me. Touché, little burrito. I’ll need to see pictures of preppy Rowyn soon. Oh, I got another one. I like pineapple on pizza, one of my childhood homes was haunted, and I played soccer in high school.”
“Nobody really likes pineapple on pizza,” I laugh. “That one.”
“Damn, I thought you’d believe that one because it’s so ridiculous, but I’m honestly glad you didn’t. That’s a dealbreaker for me,” he jokes.
Hmm. Smart man, good taste. “Now I need to hear about this haunted house. ”
“Alright, so we found out later that this old lady died in the kitchen, and I swear we’d see her in there all the time. One time I went to get a drink of water and she was standing in the middle of it with her mouth wide open, pointing at me.” I feel him shiver like the memory is still clear. “I didn’t leave my room at night again.”
“Creepy,” I sing-song. “We should go back and see if she’s still there. For science.”
“You’re crazy,” he chuckles. “Want me to chase you around that house like we did the graveyard? Give another dead person some free porn?”
I’m actually not opposed to that. “That depends. Is there some poor, unsuspecting family living there now?”
“No damn clue, it’s in Texas. Military brat, remember? Though I’m sure there are plenty of haunted places around here we can find.”
“Did you... spend time in foster care when he was deployed?” I ask quietly. “You and your siblings?”
“Luckily, no. I think that’s why my mom thought it was fine to leave once we were able to pretty much fend for ourselves. We had an uncle that’d come stay every so often, but mostly it was just us. I learned how to cook when I was like eleven.”
Kids shouldn’t have to fend for themselves at any age, and I hate her for it. I can’t believe he doesn’t. But I also recognize from his tense shoulders that this is hard for him to talk about, so I steer the conversation back to happier waters. “You’re right. We’re close to Helltown, there are plenty of truly haunted buildings there. I’ve heard a few of them have been turned into haunted houses for the season.”
“Yeah, there’s going to be a shit ton of parties coming up out there too. When’s the last time you went out there?”
Glancing up, I quirk my eyebrow at him. “It’s cute you think I’ve ever been brave enough to go alone.”
“Well shit, it’s settled. I’m taking you before the season is up. You’re breathtaking when you’re scared, Rowyn.”
I don’t miss the subtle change in his voice, the deep timber instantly reminding me of what this man is capable of. It makes me almost too excited for what’s to come.
“You’re on, Eris. You’re on.”