Chapter 4
SELENE
U gh!” I groan as my stomach growls for the fifth time in the past half hour. “Guess it’s time to eat.”
With a sigh, I switch off my blow torch, finishing the seal on the glass tube. This is the stopping point I was trying to get to before calling it quits. Just one more step …
I get everything properly hooked up, suck in a deep breath of anticipation, and then hit the switch.
The tubing lights up a beautiful shade of neon pink. I scan the tube, making sure there are no impurities.
“Sucess!” I declare when I see none.
Thank the goddess, because I really needed this to work out. This is the last piece I need before my gallery show on Wednesday. I can finally breathe a little.
Taking a step back, I admire my work. It’s a life-size sculpture depicting the silhouette of a nude female succubus done with pink neon lighting. It took me forever to get the bend of the tubing just right on her wings and it was so worth it. This piece is amazing.
I glance at the clock on my phone. It’s just before four in the morning. No wonder I’m starving. I haven’t stopped since I got to my studio around ten last night.
But what to eat? The smart thing to do would be to go home and make myself something, but I think I’ve earned myself a little treat for finishing my final piece.
My stomach growls again.
What’s fast, open, nearby, and most importantly, delicious?
I smile, the answer obvious.
Waffle House, and thankfully, there’s one not far from my studio. I glance down at my attire of dark pink sweats and a coordinating sweater in mint, making sure there aren’t any rips or stains. Spotting none, I grab my phone and keys and head toward the door.
When I arrive, I inhale through my nose, taking in the greasy, yummy aroma of fried eggs and hashbrowns. But there’s another scent in the diner that catches my attention. Something warm, spicy, and sweet, like mahogany and freshly-ground coffee beans with notes of vanilla.
I scan the diner, looking for the source of the smell, when I spot a handsome and familiar face sitting alone at a booth. He’s staring out the window while sipping his cup of coffee.
My heart skips a beat. Fate must be smiling down on me.
It’s Caiden.
And the very moment I recognize him, his gaze flicks from the window to land on me. It’s evident even from the other side of the diner that his pictures on Kismeet don’t do him justice. I lift the corners of my mouth in a small smile and hold up my hand, offering him a tentative wave.
“Do you need to be seated or is that your friend?” the sweet, yet tired drawl of a server asks from my side.
I turn to greet the purple troll. “Uh … yeah ... umm ...”
“She’s with me,” a low, gravelly voice answers her.
Caiden joins us, a bright smile on his face. That wonderful smell is definitely coming from him. It makes me dizzy and giddy at the same time, like I’ve been tickled in just the right spot. I look up at him. He must be at least six feet tall, dwarfing my five-foot frame.
“Alright.” The troll nods toward the booth Caiden was sitting in. “If you don’t mind, can you please be seated? I’ll be with you in a few moments.”
“Shall we?” Caiden asks with a quirked brow, holding out his hand for me to take.
I place my hand in his calloused one. A hot sensation warms my body from my antennae to my toes. It’s like my body has been frozen up until this point, but I never realized it because I had gotten used to the cold. Is this the touch of a fated mate?
Even if it’s just my hand, I can’t believe my mate is touching me. And how would his rough hands feel against the velvet of my skin? Heat creeps up my neck and face at the thought. I just met the dude; why am I already fantasizing about sex with him? He may be my fated mate, but I should wait to see if we have chemistry first, right?
When we sit down at the booth across from each other and Caiden offers me a warm smile, a small thrill causes my wings to tremble. The man has barely said two words to me and I’m already putty in his large and hopefully capable hands.
And this close? He’s even more gorgeous somehow. The silver in his hair and beard is more prominent than in his profile photo, making him look even more distinguished. A smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose and cheeks adds a certain boyish charm. Thank the goddess I’m sitting down because they make my knees weak. His brown eyes are somehow both warm and intense, inviting me to get lost in them.
The sleeves of his black button-up are rolled to his elbows exposing his forearms. His arms are covered in various flowers in shades of bright orange, vivid yellow, and brilliant purple. I wonder how far up the piece extends. Maybe I’ll find out someday.
My eyes trail to his large hands. His knuckles read GOOD LUCK in old English font. But it’s the tattoos on the back of his hands that catch my attention.
I blink, trying to clear my eyes. Are his hand tattoos Cecropia Silk Moths? How is that even possible? Is this fate’s way of confirming that we are indeed mates? It only makes sense that if my mate were to have moth tattoos on his hands, they would be the same kind of moth as me.
I clear my throat. “Nice hand tattoos. Are those Cecropia Silk Moths?”
Caiden’s face and neck flush a dark pink. It’s adorable. “Yes, they are. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but they’re my favorite moth.”
“Why are you embarrassed?” I ask with a tilt of my head.
He breaks eye contact. “Because I don’t want you to think I’m only interested in you for your wings or something like that.”
I smile at him, appreciating his moment of vulnerability. “I think it’s kind of cool. Almost like we were meant to meet? Don’t you think?”
His eyes finally meet mine again, a relieved grin on his face. “I agree. It feels ... like a sign.”
I nod, agreeing with him. This is destiny; I can feel it.
“So ... how did you find me?” he asks, changing the subject. The question isn’t accusatory. It’s more amused curiosity than anything.
My jaw goes slack. “You think I’ve been looking for you?”
His laugh is deep and boisterous, sending another wave of heat through my body, pooling low in my belly. “I’m teasing. Do you live or work around here?”
I giggle, his humor infectious. “Work. My studio isn’t far from here.”
He cocks his head. “Studio? You did mention you’re an artist in your profile.”
I nod. “And I just wrapped up the last piece I needed for my gallery show next week. I thought I would celebrate with some hashbrowns and waffles.”
“What sort of art do you create?”
Just as I open my mouth to answer, the server appears. “Alright. Thank you for your patience.” She turns to me, notepad and pen in hand. “What can I get you, honey?”
I don’t even bother picking up the sticky menu. My order is the same every time. “Can I get an order of hashbrowns; smothered, and covered with an over easy egg, toast, and a waffle? Oh! And some coffee!”
“You got it, honey.” She turns to Caiden. “What about you, sweetheart?”
Caiden stares at me, mouth agape. “Uh ... I’ll take the same thing but add chocolate chips to my waffle,” he answers, never taking his gaze off me.
The server nods. “I’ll be right back with some coffee.”
My eyebrows pinch. “Is that really your order?”
Caiden nods. “Every time. Sometimes I order two eggs. I like to mix the eggs?—”
“—into your hashbrowns?” I’m breathless waiting for his response.
“Yes.” He grins at me.
I release the air in my lungs. Is it just me, or are Caiden and I really hitting it off? My wings ache to flutter as fast and hard as my heart, but I don’t allow them. I don’t want to come across as too eager. Caiden may be my fated mate, but that doesn’t mean he’s automatically on board with it or me.
At that moment the server comes back to pour me a fresh cup of coffee and top off Caiden’s. I doctor my cup with plenty of cream and sugar while Caiden watches me with a quirked brow.
“You drink your coffee black?” I ask, adding my fifth packet of sugar.
“I do.”
I stick out my tongue. “Yuck!”
He chuckles. “You’re cute.”
My cheeks flush with heat. He thinks I’m cute? I hold back a nervous giggle. “Thank you,” I mumble, unable to look at him.
“You’re most welcome.” He places his elbow on the table, lacing his fingers together. “Back to what kind of art you create ...”
Caiden’s undivided attention makes me feel special, like this moment with me is all that matters. It’s refreshing.
“I’m a neon artist,” I say with a twitch of my antennae.
“Oh?” He leans forward in this booth. “You sculpt glass?”
I nod, thrilled he knows a little bit about the process. “It’s a lot of steps, but it’s so rewarding.”
“I bet. I don’t know much, but from what I do know, it sounds intensive. What is your subject matter?”
My antennae twitch in excitement, and I fight the urge to bounce in my booth. Talking about my art is one of my favorite things. “I create neon pinups.”
Caiden’s eyes brows rise. “Tell me more.”
“Neon is often considered over the top and garish, but when you pair it with the soft curves of a pinup, it becomes welcoming, inviting the viewer to accept their sensuality,” I explain, hoping I’m making sense.
“Interesting.” He rubs his hands over his beard. “Neon is always used outside of commercial businesses. How does that traditional use play into what you create?”
I twirl a lock of my hair around my finger. Jade is the only person who’se been this interested in my work—outside of the gallery curator I inquired with. I must say, it’s nice to talk about it without any kind of pressure.
“Just like a traditional sign advertising a business, I advertise a variety of body sizes and shapes.”
“All bodies are beautiful?”
I nod, impressed he understands what I’m going for without even looking at my art. “How do you know so much about art?”
Caiden hums. “I guess I’ve just always appreciated it, but the owner of the club I work at is a collector, and he never hesitates to explain the latest piece he buys. You learn a lot just by listening to people.”
“That’s very true.” I bite my lower lip. “Speaking of learning, tell me about the club you work at. Your profile said you work security?”
“At The Den,” he says with a nod.
“Oh!” I perk up, knowing exactly what he’s talking about. “I’ve heard of that one.”
Caiden smiles softly, as if amused by my excitement. “Have you been there?”
I shake my head. “I’m not much of a club person, but I do know it’s very popular with my fellow nocturnals. I’ve heard it’s pretty swanky.”
“‘Swanky’ is exactly what Andre, the owner, was going for.”
“Here y’all go,” says the server, returning to our booth with a serving tray laden with breakfast foods.
My stomach growls as she sets plate after plate on the table. It all smells and looks delicious, and I can’t wait to dig in.
“Thank you,” Caiden and I say in unison.
“Can I get y’all anything else?” she asks as she sets down the last plate.
“No, thank you,” I answer, already slathering my toast with jelly.
I take a large bite of toast and let out a groan of satisfaction. Caiden begins mixing his egg into his hashbrowns with a smirk.
“What?” I ask around a mouthful of toast.
“I love how enthusiastic you are about food,” he responds, taking a large bite of hashbrowns. “I like to eat, so I need a partner who enjoys it as much as I do.”
“No worries here.” I pat my soft tummy. “There’s nothing I love more than a good meal.”
Caiden eyes my stomach intensely, sliding his gaze up to my ample breasts and finally landing on my lips. “Me too.”
A shiver goes up my spine, making my toes curl. His hungry look sends heat rushing to my lower belly and I squirm in my seat. Caiden smirks before returning to his hashbrowns. Fuck. Now I’m starving for something other than food.
Caiden and I continue to enjoy our meal, talking about anything and everything in between. He’s funny, down-to-earth, and most of all charming. I couldn’t ask for a better mate and I’m thrilled we connected on the app.
“So,” I begin, but not before nudging his foot with mine, testing the waters of physical contact, “what made you decide to download Kismeet?”
“I didn’t,” he replies as he begins to play footsie with me under the table.
I cock my head, my antennae twitching. “Wait. What?”
“Yeah, it was weird. It just magically appeared on my phone.” He shakes his head. “At first, I thought it was my nephew, but he would have needed my thumbprint or passcode.”
“Interesting,” I note with a frown.
His brows crease together. “You’re telling me you didn’t have a similar experience?”
I hesitate to answer. If he didn’t download the Kismeet, then how did he get the app? Magic? We are fated mates. Does that mean fate brought us together? Wait. Does he even know what the app does? Now that I think about it, he hasn’t brought up us being mates yet. I hate to make things awkward, but he has a right to know.
“Do you know what Kismeet does?” I ask, putting down my fork and pushing aside my plate so I can give him my undivided attention.
Caiden mirrors my actions, putting down the slice of toast he had in his hand. “It’s a dating app, right?”
Shit. He doesn’t know. And I’m going to have to be the one to tell this unaware human that we’re mates.