Chapter 20
I’ve been at Kiss & Tell for the last hour helping Claire finalize and set up for the dance. I wanted to text Mikey to check in, but I realized too late I don’t have her number. How have I had my face on her pussy, my cock in her mouth, her in my bed, but not her number in my phone?
I’ll be correcting the mishap as soon as I see her. No way am I letting her leave Cupid’s Cove without a way to talk to her again. I’m not going another three months without seeing her. I can’t. Not after this weekend.
I’m nursing a beer at the bar when Slater slides onto the stool next to me. Color me surprised because Slater usually rolls up to the dance right at the end to find someone to take home.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I was bored. Thought I’d come get a drink and check in with you. Finally get the scoop on you and Mikey without Ruby around. Claire,” he calls, “can I get a beer please, doll?”
Claire rolls her eyes but plops a beer on the table and cracks it open. “Don’t call me ‘doll,’ dickwad, or I’ll spit in your drinks for a month.”
“Don’t you know that’s my kink, Claire Bear? Are you trying to flirt with me? Because your approach could use some work,” Slater teases.
Claire scoffs. “I don’t need to work on my flirting, Madison. I get more pussy than you.” She walks away to help another patron, effectively ending the conversation.
Slater chuckles as she does. Claire is technically considered a newer transplant since she’s lived here less than ten years.
She moved to Cupid’s Cove to take care of her grandpa, the previous owner of Kiss & Tell.
He passed away about a year before my mom did.
She implanted herself in my and Slater’s friendship with her quick wit and ability to put Slater in his place.
When my mom died, Claire and I found solace in each other and decided to give dating a try, only to find out it wouldn’t work between us. I realized I needed more from a relationship than she was willing to give, and she realized she wasn’t into men. Luckily, our friendship stayed intact.
Slater takes a swig of beer then motions to me. “Spill it, Cupid. Tell me all the dirty details about your pretty mechanic.”
“I’m not telling you shit.”
“I tell you everything about my hookups!”
“You offer unsolicited information.” But now that I think about it, he hasn’t been telling me anything about any hookups since November. “Have you even been hooking up lately?”
“Of course I have.”
“Then why haven’t you been blabbing about them?”
“I don’t have much to tell.”
Before I can pry, my phone pings with a text at the same time Slater’s does. A string of numbers and a few photos light up my screen as I swipe it open. I’m expecting one of those scams about a package not being delivered, but that’s not what I find.
It takes me a few seconds for my brain to comprehend I’m looking at Mikey.
She’s on a bed, lying on her stomach, her feet kicked up behind her as her back arches, while she gives the camera a sultry, pouty look.
I swipe to the next one, this one of Mikey standing in a mirror with no bra on, one arm banded across her breasts, teasing me, while the other is mussing up her hair.
The next picture is another sultry pose, showcasing her ass in those goddamned lace panties. I’m hanging on by a thread, contemplating skipping the dance in favor of getting Mikey alone when a text comes through.
UNKNOWN: See you soon, big guy. I can’t wait to dance with you.
I quickly type a reply.
SAINT: Shit, sweetheart, I can’t think properly when all the blood from my brain is rushing south. Those pictures… you look fucking incredible. I’m so damn lucky. I can’t wait to see you soon.
I finally find the strength to put my phone down so I can calm myself, and when I look over at Slater, his jaw is slack as he stares at his phone screen.
“What’s got you gaping like a fish?” I ask, trying to see his screen.
Slater quickly makes the screen go dark and clears his throat, shoving the phone back in his pocket. “None of your business,” he snaps.
I hold my hands up in surrender. “Woah, hey. No need to get snappy with me. You’re the one who’s all about sharing.”
“Sorry, man.” Slater pinches his eyes shut and takes a giant swig of his beer.
“It’s all good. Are you… seeing someone?”
“No,” he says too quickly.
“Then what are you—”
“It’s complicated, okay?” he interrupts. “She doesn't want anyone to know about us. I think she might be gearing up to break it off soon, so it’s not like it matters.”
“Why wouldn’t she want anyone to know?”
“Take your pick. We met on an app, I have a reputation, it was supposed to be a one-time thing. It was only supposed to be sex, but I can’t stay away from her.”
“Then tell her how you feel. Is she here? I can help—”
Slater shakes his head before I can finish my sentence. “No, Cupid won’t work for this. I’ll get over it when she ends things. I haven’t had any problem moving on before, and this won’t be any different.” He sounds like he’s trying to convince himself as much as me.
I clap him on the shoulder. “Good news is there’s a plethora of available women here tonight if you need someone to take your mind off her.”
“Yeah, sure,” he grumbles, finishing off his beer. “I’ll catch you later, man.”
Claire comes by as he leaves, grabbing his empty bottle. “What’s up with him?”
I shake my head. “He’s down bad over some girl, I guess. I had no idea he was even seeing anyone.”
“I didn’t either, and you know how he likes to brag.” She pauses for a second, contemplating. “You think this girl is different?”
“I don’t know, but it seems like it.”
“He’ll be okay.”
I hope she’s right.
The dance started ten minutes ago, and I’ve been watching the door waiting for Mikey to come in. It’s taken all of my willpower not to stare at those damn pictures, but they pop up in my mind anyway.
The curve of her ass, the thickness of her thighs, the softness of her belly. The way her tits spilled over her arms, teasing me with their heaviness…
I’m the lucky son of a bitch who she’s deemed worthy enough to share them with. I’m the lucky guy who gets to take her home and worship that gorgeous body. I get to bring her pleasure.
Hopefully this means I’ll be able to convince her to give us a real chance. I don’t know what that looks like with her job and the distance, but we’ll figure it out. We have to.
Sienna and Dominic’s group walk in, and Sienna immediately heads in my direction with a determined look on her face. “I’m ready for my match.”
“What if I said you already know your match? You’ve been with him all day.”
“I’ve been with my group all day. Only me, Emily, and Dom…” she trails off, and I see the moment it clicks for her. She looks back to where Dominic is standing, hesitation painted all over her face when she looks back at me. “You think Dominic and I belong together?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“I don’t know. I guess I figured if he felt something, he would have asked me out already.”
“He told me he did, but you shut him down. He hasn’t tried again because he doesn’t want to ruin your friendship.
I’m assuming you’ve felt the same way?” She nods.
“I don’t take this matchmaking business lightly.
I see the spark between you two. It’s up to you if you want to fan it into a flame or let it die. ”
I take a plastic arrow out of the quiver slung over my shoulder and notch it into the gold bow. “What’s it going to be? If I shoot him, are you willing to take a chance?”
Sienna nods as the song changes to something slow. I walk over to Dominic, take aim, and gently “shoot” him with the arrow. He freezes, his eyes glued to Sienna. “Ask her to dance,” I prompt.
He takes a deep breath and holds out his hand to her.
She takes it, and they make their way to the dance floor, where they start out moving stiffly and a bit awkwardly.
Halfway through the song, they find their stride and melt into each other.
I can see the moment they come to realize they’re exactly where they’re meant to be.
Emily nudges me with her elbow. “Thanks for pulling their heads out of their asses. We’ve all been trying to subtly set them up for years, but neither would budge. I guess all it took was Cupid’s intervention.”
“All in a day’s work. Now, you see the gentleman over there in the maroon shirt? His name is Daniel. He’s thirty, a web-designer, and has two cats named Misty and Mabel. He’s looking for someone to travel with and someone who likes to experience new foods. I think you two would really hit it off.”
Emily studies the man across the room, then shrugs. “Why not? Hit him, Cupid.”
I chuckle, doing the same song and dance I did with Sienna and Dominic before leaving the two lovebirds to get to know one another.
Just as I’m walking away, the door opens, and I swear the energy shifts. Stella walks in first, followed by Ruby, and then Mikey.
I have to hold back a groan when I see what she’s wearing. There’s no way in hell I’ll be able to stay here longer than an hour with the way the strapless dress hugs her curves.
Her eyes find mine across the room, but I’m already making my way over to her. I don’t say anything as we meet by the bar, I simply grab her wrist and drag her down the hall away from the crowd. I find an unmarked door I know leads to a storage closet and pull her inside.
“Saint, what—”
I don’t let her finish the question. I can’t go another minute without kissing her.
I pin her to the door with my body, practically attacking her mouth, pouring how obsessed I am with her, how desperate I feel for her into the kiss.
She matches my energy, our tongues sweeping together in messy movements, and the held-back groan rips from my chest.
When I finally find the willpower to pull back, Mikey blinks up at me with glassy eyes framed with thick black lashes. I haven’t seen her with much, if any, makeup on, and she looks stunning. Her makeup is subtle, but it enhances the natural beauty she possesses.
“What was that for?” she asks breathlessly.
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, tracing the soft line of her jaw.
“You think you can send me pictures looking like a goddess and I won’t want to worship you?
Nearly gave me a heart attack with how good you look.
I’ve been hard since you sent the first one, and if I didn’t want to go out there and show off my girl, I would hightail it back home and spend the rest of the night making you come. ”
“You didn’t think the pictures were too much?” There’s a hint of vulnerability in her tone, and I hate it. I hate she can’t see how gorgeous she is.
“They were perfect. You are perfect, Mikelle. If I could set the one of you topless as my screensaver, I would.”
“I took more than the three I sent you if you want to see…”
“Yes. Please. I’d pay Stella an obscene amount of money to take enough pictures of you to fill an entire photo album.”
Mikey giggles, pulling her phone from a little clutch. She turns it towards me, and I scroll through the handful of pictures of her in various poses, teasing me with glimpses of her body without being entirely explicit. When I reach the end, I hand it back to her and press my forehead to hers.
“Here’s the plan. We’re going to go out there and dance. I’ll finish up my matchmaking duties, and in no more than two hours from now, I’m going to take you home, peel you out of this dress, and fuck you as long as we have the energy. Sound good to you?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Fuck, don’t say that to me right now, or I’ll be too tempted to fuck you in this closet.”
“That wouldn't be so bad, would it?” Mikey’s hand trails down my stomach, but I stop her before she can reach my cock.
“I’m not fucking you for the first time surrounded by cleaning supplies. When I finally have you, it’ll be on my bed where I can spread you out properly and no one else can hear.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
With a groan, I kiss her again. I love the way the word sounds coming from her. I love how easily it slips out.
I love that she trusts me to take care of her.
I love her.
As insane as it sounds, I love her. But I won’t say it out loud, not yet.
As soon as the door opens and we step out in the hall, Mikey and I run into a scowling Ruby and triumphant looking Slater in a heated argument.
Slater stops mid-sentence, his face transforming into a teasing grin when he realizes where we just came from.
“Well, what do we have here? I can see the headline now: ‘Cupid Shoots More Than His Arrow in Guest Visiting for Valentine Festivities.’ What will the city council say, Saint?” Slater teases.
“Shut up, Slater. Nothing salacious happened in that closet,” I grunt, wrapping my arm around Mikey. Her eyes are glued to the floor, and I could punch Slater in his handsome face for embarrassing my girl.
“Riiiiiight,” he says. “Don’t worry, S, it wouldn’t be the first time the bleach bottles have seen someone’s—”
“Slater, shut up!” Ruby hisses. “No one wants to hear about your conquests.”
Slater clicks his tongue, “Come on now, precious, don’t lie. I know you need something to think about when you’re alone in bed at night.”
Ruby’s nostrils flare. “I would rather become a nun than ever think about you.”
Mikey and I share a look. One we both seem to understand as what the fuck is happening here?
I clear my throat. “Why don’t you go find a tourist to take home, Slate? Ruby, I can try to match you with—”
“No!” Ruby interrupts. “I don’t want a match tonight. I want to hang out with Stella and have a fun time. Maybe next year.”
“Are you sure? Just yesterday you were saying—”
“I know. I know. I’m sure. Go have fun with your girl.”
Not wanting to push her, I agree. I interlace Mikey’s fingers with mine and drag her back to the dance floor, leaving Slater and Ruby alone.
“That was weird, right?” I whisper when we’re out of ear shot.
“I guess? I don’t know much about how they act towards each other, so I'm not the best judge.”
“Slater and I have been best friends for twenty years, and he’s always treated Ruby as a little sister.
They argue more than she and I do. I think as much as they don’t want to admit it, it’s because they’re so similar.
Stubborn, driven, and independent, but they’ll drop everything for the people they care about.
They’ve been weird towards each other since November though.
Fighting more. He keeps calling her ‘precious,’ which seems to piss her off. ”
Mikey’s eyes widen. “Weird. I hope they figure out their issues soon.”
“Me too.” I glance around the room, and my eyes land on my next matchmaking target. “Want to come watch me work my magic again?”
“Always.”