18
E rin opened her front door to find Paetyn on the other side. She smiled at him, and he leaned down and kissed her, his left hand cupping her face as he walked her backward into the apartment and closed the door with his free hand. He kissed her slowly like he hadn't seen her in months, and Erin felt the same way. She hadn't seen either of her men in over a week, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't miss them. She was glad to know the feeling was mutual.
"Hello, Angel," he greeted against her lips.
"Hi, baby."
Paetyn gave her a soft kiss before pulling away. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you. You look handsome as usual."
Erin walked over to her couch, picked up her purse and a blanket, and turned back to Paetyn. "I have an entire day planned for us, but since you're more familiar with the city, will you drive?"
"Of course, baby," Paetyn responded.
Erin led them out, Paetyn making sure the door was locked as she set her alarm through her app. When they reached his car, he opened the door for her, and Erin slid in. He reached in and put her seatbelt on her, and she knew she would never stop being surprised by their gestures.
"Where are we going, Angel?"
"We're going to Cheesman Park."
Erin leaned back in her seat as Paetyn pulled out of the parking space. They listened to the music filter from the speakers, and at some point, Paetyn reached over and took her hand in his, kissing the back of it before resting them on her thigh.
When they pulled up to the park, Erin looked around the expansive area for the activity she wanted them to do once they'd gotten out. Once she found it, she took Paetyn's hand and led the way over. She'd already paid the deposit online to reserve their easels.
She gave the attendant at the table her name and reached into her purse to pay for the package she'd chosen for them. When Paetyn grabbed her elbow, she turned to him with a playful glare.
"No," she told him. "I'm paying, and you aren't stopping me."
The woman behind the table laughed when he held his hands up in surrender, and Erin turned back to her, paying. Paetyn grabbed the two easels, and Erin took the large basket wrapped in cellophane that held their materials. They found a quiet spot under a tree, and she set the basket down before spreading the blanket.
Paetyn set up both ground easels, and they sat behind them while Erin placed the basket between them. They were doing a watercolor painting by number, and she was excited about her chosen picture. When she handed Paetyn his, he smiled at her. She'd chosen Café Van Gogh because she knew he was planning to open a bistro.
Once they had everything unpacked and set up, they started on their paintings, working silently for several long minutes and enjoying each other's company.
"Did you take a picture of your logo?" Paetyn asked after a few minutes.
"I didn't. I want you to see it when the sign is done and on the building."
"But you're happy with it?"
"I am. It turned out extremely well. I hope it translates when it's brought to life," Erin responded.
"When are your appointments? I know you said they were this coming week."
"They're on Tuesday. I was able to schedule them all on the same day so that I could do all the running around then."
Erin looked over to see where he was in his painting but got distracted by his hands. It wasn't the first time she'd found herself staring at either of their fingers, and she didn't know when she'd become attracted to a man's hands, but it'd happened. She was sure it was just her being attracted to her men's hands.
"Have you chosen an opening date?"
Erin turned her attention back to her painting. "I'm aiming for mid-July. It gives me time to have the sign made, which, depending on the company I go with, shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks, and bring on a couple of other artists and maybe hire a receptionist, but that can be further down the line. I'm not opposed to opening with myself as the only artist to start, though."
"That gives you a month, so it's a workable timeframe."
"I want to do some sort of opening event and maybe offer a discount to the first ten people that book appointments."
She'd been thinking about it for a bit and decided that it was something she could advertise on social media. She would get Chayse and Alijah to come since every tattoo Alijah had was one she'd done, and she also did eighty percent of the ones Chayse had. She would also put every tattoo she'd ever done in an album on her tablet and let them flip through it to see her different styles.
Erin was a dynamic artist. She could do just about any style, which would come out phenomenal, but she specialized in blackwork, realism, and aesthetics, followed closely by Japanese and anime.
"I think you should do it, baby."
Erin dipped her brush in the jars of water they were given before getting some red on it and working on another section of the painting.
"Were you able to choose enough desserts to add to the menus?"
"I was, but I've made a mental note to do it sooner next time."
They continued to paint as they talked, Erin asking Paetyn if he'd thought of names for the bistro yet and if he was still waiting to hear back from the bid he'd put in. He asked her if she, the other women, and Lawrence had decided where they wanted to go for their planned trip.
When they finished their paintings, they packed up all the materials and moved the easels to the side to let them dry. Paetyn wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to sit between his legs. Erin had never thought she would enjoy being manhandled, but Chayse had a point when she said there was something about a man that could make you effortlessly portable.
She leaned back against his chest and played with the fingers on his right hand as she watched others at the park throw a frisbee back and forth or kick a hackie sack around.
His phone began to ring, and Erin leaned forward so he could get to it, but he pulled her back to him, and she wasn't used to someone she was dating giving her this sort of attention. It made her realize that they hardly ever looked at their phones when they were with her.
A minute later, her phone began to ring, and she pulled it from her crossbody to silence it or answer it if maybe it was Cruz and he’d been trying to reach Paetyn for some reason. That same number that had been calling flashed across the screen, and she hesitated briefly before sending them to voicemail.
“Is everything okay, baby?” he asked, and she looked over her shoulder at him.
“Yeah. It’s…this number has been calling me, and most of the time when I answer, they don’t say anything. I think they’ve been trying to make an appointment, but the reception is bad.”
“Do you recall giving your number to someone so they could?”
“Chayse asked if she could give it to some of her co-workers, and I did give it to a few people at the convention in Sante Fe,” Erin responded.
She was sure if it were one of Chayse’s co-workers and they were having issues they would tell her friend, and she could get with Erin to set something up on their behalf. She knew it wasn’t a Denver area code, at least not one she’d seen, and thought it was likely someone from the convention.
“I’m sure they’ll text you or come in when you open if they’ve heard about it. If not, it’s their loss.” Erin nodded, turning back around.
Once their paintings dried, they returned the easels to the booth, took their paintings and supplies to the car, and placed them in the trunk. Erin then asked Paetyn if he would walk around the park with her.
They walked hand in hand around the large park, avoiding children playing as they ran by, and Erin had to try her hardest not to laugh at a little girl who was irritated with her brother as they played tag. He continued to target her and not the other kids playing with them.
"So, what made you want to major in hospitality?" Erin asked as they walked up the steps to the pavilion.
"My father and Lena own a bed and breakfast, and when I was younger, I enjoyed helping out during the summers. I knew I wanted to go into business for myself and be my own boss when I graduated, so a business management degree made sense to complement it."
"You double majored?" she asked, and when Paetyn nodded, she bumped him with her hip. "Overachiever," she teased.
"You know what they say. Anything worth having is worth working and waiting for."
"Touché."
Erin lifted Paetyn's arm and looked at his watch. They'd been at the park for a few hours, and it was going on five forty-five. It would take them a few minutes to walk back to the car, and by the time they got to the restaurant, it would be after six. She typically didn't eat that early, but she hadn't eaten lunch and planned for them to go dancing afterward.
"Come on, let's head to dinner," Erin stated as she led the way back to the car.
Once again, Paetyn opened the door for her and fastened her seatbelt before getting in behind the wheel. As he pulled out of the parking space, Erin turned to look at him.
"Since I'm still learning about the city and restaurants, will you choose where we have dinner?"
"Is there anything you have a taste for?"
Erin shook her head when he glanced at her. "Not in particular."
Paetyn nodded, and she turned back in her seat, turning up the radio a bit as a song she liked came on.
E rin sat beside Paetyn as they waited for their meals to come out. They'd shared an appetizer, and he was currently using his middle finger to draw circles on her knee as she told him about being a military brat and all the different places she stayed until her mother decided she wanted to put down roots in Florida when she was eleven. They'd discussed this before, but she always told them something new.
She found herself growing quiet as she thought about it. It never failed that thinking about their settling down made her sad because she couldn't help but wonder if they hadn't done that, would her sister still be alive? She'd died almost two years after they had, a few months before Erin's thirteenth birthday. Paetyn squeezed her knee, and she figured he could sense her mood had slightly changed.
"How many other languages did you learn due to moving so much?" he questioned in Spanish.
"Two that I can speak fluently. Though one is thanks to Chayse in part, and two, I can converse in, I wouldn't say I'm fluent. I also haven't spoken them in a while, and one that I would probably butcher at this point," she responded in kind.
"What are they?"
"Spanish and French fluently. Japanese and Korean conversationally, and I butcher Russian. We weren't stationed there, but I wanted to learn something new, and I just let it go because I didn't have a good teacher or resources at the time."
Paetyn chuckled. "If you know the basics of Russian, you can get Cruz to teach you Polish. It isn't the same, but they're both Slavic languages, so there are some similar fundamentals."
"Like what?" Erin asked, switching back to English.
"Cruz calls you Ma?y. In Russian, it's malen'kiy."
"You speak Russian?"
"Not at all. I'm on the butcher bus with you," Paetyn chuckled, and Erin joined in. "But I do speak Polish conversationally. It's hard not to pick it up or learn it when you live with two native speakers. Sort of, in the same way they picked up Spanish."
Erin nodded as their server returned with their food. He sat the steak down in front of Paetyn and passed her plate between them, placing it in front of her. He asked if he could get them anything else, and Paetyn asked him to wait a moment.
"Can I, baby?" he asked, gesturing to her plate, and Erin nodded.
He slid his plate aside, picked up his fork and knife, and cut into her fish. Paetyn pushed the two pieces apart and turned them so the server could see them.
"This fish is undercooked."
"I can assure you, it's fully cooked. That's the way cod looks when it's cooked to perfection."
"This is still translucent and spongy. It isn't done." Paetyn then took the fork, stuck it in the thickest part, and twisted. "And the skin should have flaked when I did that if it were."
The server looked down at the plate for a few seconds before his eyes went to Paetyn, and Erin felt as if he should have just taken the plate away in the beginning instead of trying to convince them.
"If she eats this, she can get sick. It could give her food poisoning or a parasite," Paetyn informed. "Will you take it back and have them cook another?"
"Our chefs are highly trained, and I can tell you with the utmost confidence that the fish has been prepared beyond standards."
Erin had never seen Paetyn mad, but she could tell he was annoyed at the server. His job wasn't to convince them of the food's preparation. He should have just taken it back. If it went back to the kitchen and turned out to be fully cooked, then the chef or manager could return to the table, inform them, and they'd eat their words. However, Erin was sure Paetyn wasn't wrong.
"And I'm telling you, as a chef that owns several Michelin-star restaurants, that the fish is undercooked," Paetyn responded.
The server stared for a second before nodding slowly. "I'm going to have my manager come over."
When he was gone, Paetyn put the fork down and sighed. Erin reached over, took his face in her hand, leaned in, and kissed his lips softly.
"How'd you know the fish was undercooked?"
"I could smell it."
Erin wasn't sure she could tell the fish was bad from the brief smell Paetyn got; she probably would have only been able to do so when she bit into it. She turned her attention as the server approached the table, this time with another man behind him.
"What seems to be the—" he cut himself off as his eyes shifted to Paetyn. "Mr. Silva, we haven't had you join us in a while."
"Yes, I'm starting to remember why."
Erin saw the man wince a bit at Paetyn's slight.
"I hear there's an issue with the fish."
"It's undercooked," Paetyn responded.
"My apologies. I will get both of your meals remade and expedited, and it is on the house." He grabbed their plates, handing them to the server, and the two walked away. As they did, Erin heard the manager say, "If he said it's undercooked, it's undercooked."
"Your culinary prowess and name strike fear and admiration in restaurant managers," Erin stated, remembering the man who introduced himself to Paetyn when they celebrated Nik's birthday.
He shook his head. "I hate pulling the 'I'm a successful chef card,' but I wasn't about to let you eat that."
"Thank you, baby," Erin kissed him again, and she sparked another conversation as they began their second wait for their food.
P aetyn stood behind Erin, hands on her waist as they moved to the slow, melodic beat of the music. They'd been dancing on and off for a couple of hours, and as Erin did a slow wind against him, he tightened his hold on her waist and leaned down, attaching his lips to her neck. He didn't hear the moan she released, but he felt it against his lips as it vibrated along her throat.
She tilted her head, giving him more access, and her hand came up to the back of his neck, playing with the hair at his nape.
After a moment, he removed his lips, and Erin turned, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him down. She placed her lips against his and continued to move to the music, kissing him in time with the tempo of their swaying.
He couldn't remember the last time he made out in public, surrounded by people who probably had enough liquor in their systems to make them bold enough to watch and stare unabashedly.
When the song went off, he continued to kiss her for a few seconds longer before pulling away. Her hands slid down to his chest, and he watched her lick her lower lip.
"I'm hot," she informed.
"Come on; we'll get you a drink."
Erin shook her head. "I'm all danced out. Can we go?"
"Yeah, Angel. We can go."
She took his hand, and Paetyn allowed her to lead him out of the building. They stopped outside so she could stand in the cool night air compared to inside and then continued to the car. When they were both inside, Paetyn pulled out of the parking space and headed toward Erin's apartment.
As he drove, a song came on; Erin danced in her seat and sang along. She sang a particular line while caressing his beard, and Paetyn smirked as he shook his head.
"Just a quarter after two?" he asked, referring to the line.
"Mm, no. At other times as well."
Twenty minutes later, they were pulling into the parking lot of Erin's apartment building. He walked her to her door. When she unlocked it, he turned her towards him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I had fun today, Angel."
"I'm glad. I did, too, but the fun isn't over yet," she informed him. Her right hand grabbed the top of his pants and pulled him into the apartment as she walked backward.
"You're spending the day with Cruz tomorrow."
"Mhm."
"The last thing you need is to be tired."
"I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Or sore," Paetyn added.
Erin let him go and raised a brow at him. "If you're too tired to fuck me, Paetyn, just say that," she teased, a smirk quirking on her lips.
He leaned down, his lips brushing hers as he spoke. "I'm never too tired to fuck you. I was trying to be considerate and make sure your legs functioned tomorrow. But since you wanted to be cute…" he trailed off.
She ran her tongue over his lips. "I didn't ask you to be considerate. I want you to fuck me."
Paetyn closed the door, reaching back to lock it. He released Erin and gestured for her to lead the way. She led him into her bedroom, turning the light on, and he walked over to sit on her bed.
"Strip for me."
Paetyn watched that alluring smile that was becoming one of his greatest weaknesses blossom across her face as she began to undress for him—slowly pulling each item of clothing off.
When she stood naked in front of him, Paetyn took his time to take her in. He'd seen her naked a few times, but he'd never get tired of it. It would always feel like he was receiving a prize that he didn't have to share with anyone else. Well, one other person, but he didn't mind that.
"Come shower with me," she requested.
"I will, but you have to keep your hands to yourself the entire time." He could tell she wanted to protest, so he stood and walked over to her. "Keep your hands to yourself, and I'll give you a prize. Touch me, and I'll give you something else."
He watched her swallow before turning and walking into the ensuite. Paetyn followed her, curious as to whether or not she would do as he said. However, he knew Erin and was getting to know her better daily, and he doubted she would.
P aetyn circled his thumb around Erin's clit as she held her hands against the headboard. He'd been correct, and she hadn't kept her hands to herself in the shower. So, instead of giving her a prize, he punished her. She bit her bottom lip as she moaned, and he didn't miss the dip in her lower stomach, the quiver that began, and he knew she was close to cumming.
He pulled his thumb away, and she whined, balling her fist against the headboard because she still wasn't allowed to touch him, as her eyes pleaded with him. It was the third time he'd brought her close to orgasm since they'd gotten out of the shower. If it was too much, she knew what to say. He'd made sure she remembered her temperatures before they started.
Leaning down, he slowly blew on her clit, and Erin gasped; her orgasm had not wholly subsided. Paetyn flicked the tip of his tongue over her clit, and her legs shook slightly as she moaned. He swirled his tongue around it while he watched her.
"Paetyn, please."
"No," he responded, speaking against her pussy. "Hold it." He took her clit between his lips, and she arched off the bed. He watched her fist unclench and clench, her eyes screaming in desperation as she looked down at him.
Paetyn released her clit, giving her pussy a final kiss. He'd been cycling this sequence for the past twenty minutes. He used his fingers in some way to bring her close to orgasm and then used his lips and tongue to try to push her into it while forcing her to hold it. It was sweet torture for both of them because she wanted to cum, and he wanted to taste it, but giving in to what either of them wanted before he planned to, defeated the purpose of punishment.
Grabbing one of the condoms she'd pulled from the nightstand, he opened it, aware of her eyes on him the entire time. He rolled it down his dick, hooked his arms under her thighs, and pulled her down.
"Keep your hands above your head," he instructed, running his dick up and down her pussy.
Paetyn pushed in slowly, and as he bottomed out, he reached up, holding both of her wrists hostage in one of his hands. He leaned over her, lips a mere millimeter from hers.
"You're taking me so well, Angel," he told her as his other arm hooked under her right leg. He swiveled his hips, not pulling out, his pelvis grinding against her clit. She moaned for him, and he drank it down. "Such a good girl, baby." He nipped her lower lip. "Keep holding it for me."
"Mm, Paetyn. I don't know that I can."
"Yes, you can." He pulled out slowly before pushing back in even slower. "You want to be good for me, don't you?" She moaned in response, and again, he nipped her lower lip slightly harder. Paetyn gave her another slow stroke. "Words, baby."
Another moan pushed through her lips, and she wiggled her wrist in his hold. Her lower half shifted as she began to try to undulate her hips. He threw her leg over his shoulder and gripped her waist, stopping her.
"Answer me, Erin."
Her pussy tightened around him, and the soft whimper she released let him know she wanted to cum, and she was about to do anything to make sure that happened. She tightened around him again, released, and repeated. Paetyn knew that she could work herself to orgasm if she continued. He tsked.
"I'd think you'd want to be good after being such a bad little temptress in the shower, touching me and trying to get me to fuck you." He pulled out slowly until his dick left the warmth of her pussy. His tongue ran along her lips. "I guess I was wrong, and that's why you don't get to cum. Because I don't reward naughty little sirens."
Paetyn sat up, and she wrapped her legs around him to keep him from moving. He raised a brow at her.
"I'll be good," she spoke breathily, her hands still above her head.
Paetyn licked his lips. "I don't believe you, Angel." He reached up and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "I think this pretty little mouth is lying to me."
Erin shook her head. "I promise," she started. "I'll be so good for you, Papi," she finished in Spanish.
She was playing dirty. He knew it but found himself pushing back into her. He hooked his arms under both of her legs. Paetyn pulled out before pushing back in, enjoying the moan she rewarded him with. The sounds of her moans always acted as payment, encouragement for him to elicit more.
"I'm going to hold you to that, Angel." Another slow stroke. He was in no hurry. "I'm going to fuck you like this all night." Two slow strokes were rewarded with the aphrodisiac sound of her moans. "You'll come only when I let you." A slow stroke, with a quick punctuation of his hips at the last minute.
"Fuck, Paetyn!"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand."
He pressed his lips to hers in a slow kiss that mimicked his slow thrust. Paetyn wanted to steal the air from her lungs. Take her breath away and replace it with himself.
"What's your temperature?" he questioned against them.
"Warm."
He rolled his hips and fucked into her. He'd keep her there a while before giving her more.