“I’d much rather think about all the things I’m going to do,” he says with a wicked grin.
Holy shit, this man should be bottled and sold to the masses. Instant libido surges.
With a blush, I turn to go inside and hurry down the stairs, heading into the lavish women’s restroom. As soon as the door closes behind me, I nearly jump out of my skin because there’s Sev, stretched out on the couch inside.
“Sev?” I squeal. “What are you doing here?”
His ankles are crossed, and he has his hands resting behind his head where he lies. He looks like a rocker cupid god, with his AC/DC shirt and tattered jeans. “There you are, luv,” he says. “I’ve got news.”
I look around, but all that’s in here are the sinks and the couch. I hurry to the door that leads to the toilets, but thankfully, we’re alone.
I flip the lock on the entryway door and turn back to Sev. “What news?”
“I’m getting major cupidity flares from you. I’d say just a few more pushes of power, and I’ll be able to bring you back.”
Turmoil and dread wrestle in my stomach like longtime opponents. “Oh.”
An awkward pause stretches between us.
“Wow. Gotta say, that wasn’t the reaction I expected.”
I bite my lip nervously. “What if I were to...hold off on using more powers?” I ask quietly.
Sev sits up and leans forward to look at me, balancing his forearms on his thighs. When his eyes take in my dress and the flush of my cheeks, his brow shoots up. “Fooking pile of satyr shite. Did you go off and fall in love?”
“It just sort of happened,” I say lamely.
Sev blows out a breath and runs his hand through his hair. “Triple X, you’re not meant to be here,” he says seriously.
Tears fill my eyes. “I know. But I couldn’t help it. I’ve always felt drawn to him.”
Sev blows out a puff of air between his lips and flexes his wings behind him. “I don’t know what to tell you, luv. A couple more acts of cupidity, and you’ll be too cupid for this world. I’ll have to bring you back. It’ll be out of my hands, get it?”
“My power is still malfunctioning sometimes…” I offer, though I know it’s working more effectively than it ever has before.
“Well, they’re obviously working enough, or I wouldn’t be here. You’re almost ready, and I suspect you can feel it too.”
As if spurred by his words, my back prickles with awareness as my loose feathers rub against the fabric of my dress. “I know,” I say in a small voice. And I do. I’ve known this all along. That’s why this is so hard.
Watching the expression on my face, Sev shakes his head again. “Oh, luv. You’ve right done it this time, haven’t you?” He slaps his knees before standing up. “Right then,” he says. “I can try to stall you, but as soon as your cupidity flares to completion, I got no choice. I’ve got to take you.”
“I understand.”
“But be careful. Because if you quit using your powers altogether, there’s still a danger that the Veil could pop you into nothing.”
I nod in understanding. “Okay,” I say, taking a shuddered breath. “Thanks, Sev.”
“Don’t thank me, Triple X. I’ll do what I can, but there’s no promises.”
“I know, but I still appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
Sev stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Don’t go all weepy on me. Enjoy this livin’ and lovin’ shite while you can, get it?”
He disappears in a puff of pink smoke.
“Got it,” I whisper to the empty room.
I take a moment to compose myself before using the bathroom and washing my hands.
Determination fills me. Sev just essentially gave me a hall pass to skip class. He’s letting me stall, and I don’t intend to waste any of the fleeting time I have.
By the time I make it back to the rooftop, there’s an entire rolling tray set beside our table, filled with a dozen desserts. Warren is leaning against the balcony, his back to the railing and his hand in his pockets. His eyes lock onto me the moment I step into view, and the curl on his lips immediately warms my heart.
All I’ve ever wanted to be was a cupid.
But that now wars with the desire of wanting to stay with the man in front of me.
I know that this limbo I’m in won’t last forever. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. All I have is right now.
And I intend to enjoy every single right now that I can I get.
Chapter 30
Trix
I stand slumped under the stream of water with my head resting against the tile wall, my entire body feeling like jelly.
“You ever going to open your eyes again?” Warren teases.
I shake my head. “Too tired. I told you to stop after the third orgasm but noooo. You just had to keep going, didn’t you?”
I don’t have to open my eyes to know that he has a smug smile on his face.
“If we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late,” he tells me.
“Can’t walk. Too sexed.”
He chuckles, and then I hear the shower turn off, and I feel his arms come around me as he hoists me up and carries me out. He wraps me in a towel and then dumps me on his bed, where I bounce on the mussed sheets.
“Get dressed, or I’m going to go without you.”
My eyes pop open. “You wouldn’t.”
He runs a hand through his wet hair, tightening his own towel around his waist. He looks edible. “Oh, but I would.”
I frown at him. “Mean.”
He drops the towel. I instantly perk up, and he rolls his eyes at me. “I thought you were too sexed?”
I shrug. “I rebounded.”
Laughing, he walks his naked ass into the closet and then clothes are flung at my face. Clothes that I’ve kept here because, for the past three weeks, I’ve been sleeping here every night.
Ever since our fancy restaurant date night, we’ve been spending nearly every day together. Sometimes Warren invites me into his office, where I usually hang out with Tonya down in marketing. They just launched CupidShuffle, so my picture has been all over the place, and I think her office likes having me around as a sort of mascot.
But today is To-Do List Saturday. And Warren has a surprise for me.
As soon as we’re both dressed and downstairs, Warren and I get into his car, and he drives us into the city. I brush my hands along my lace cutoff jean shorts and turn to look at him. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“No.”
I pinch him on the side, but the man has zero fat on him, so he doesn’t even flinch.
He moves his hand from the steering wheel to rest against my thigh. “Patience, my darling Valentine. You’re always in such a rush.”
He has no idea.
Every second of every day, I’m worried that this will be it. This will be when I disappear—either back to the Veil or gone from existence.
I’ve been straddling this line between using my powers and not using them, trying to keep myself in this cupid-human limbo, but it’s wearing on me.
And still, my powers fluctuate. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don’t. I can’t make heads or tails of it.
It’s been three days since the last time I’ve used my powers, so I know I need to do it again soon. It’s just so damn nerve wracking. What if I use too much and Sev has to take me? I don’t want to leave. Not yet.
“What has you frowning over there?” Warren asks, startling me from my thoughts.
I paste a smile on my face because I know that’s what he wants. He wants fast, fun, and heated. And we’re good like that. We’re perfect. But for how long?
“Nothing,” I assure him. “Just trying to figure out what your diabolical plan might be for today.”
He returns his eyes to the road just as he pulls into a parking lot where there’s a big business complex. “You’re about to see.”
He parks the car, and we walk across the lot toward
s the building. I shield my eyes from the sun so I can read the storefront he’s taking me to.
I’m Mutts About You.
A squeal escapes my mouth, and my eyes fly over to Warren. “You brought me to an animal shelter?”
“I did. Your pet a dog to-do item can be crossed off your list today,” he says before grabbing the door handle.
I don’t know how it’s even possible, but I swear my heart grows bigger in my chest. I pull him down by his shirt collar and place a grateful kiss on his lips. “You’re the best man, Warren Knight.”
He looks down at me, nipping my bottom lip. “You bring it out in me.”
Every day, I fall for him just a little bit more. By now, I’m so far under that I wouldn’t be able to pull myself out even if I tried.
“Although how you’ve managed to go your whole life without petting a dog is beyond me.”
I shrug. “Not many dogs around where I was.” Except for karmas, and I’m not petting those bitches.
We walk in together, and we’re instantly welcomed by a friendly, feminine voice. “Ah, you must be Mr. Knight!”
A short redhead with thick glasses rounds the desk with a smile. The reception area is small, with a wall filled with photos of shelter animals.
“You must be Mary,” Warren greets, holding his hand out to her.
She takes it, though she blushes furiously. It’s hard not to when Warren Knight puts all of his hot attention on you.
“Apologies for being a few minutes late. We had trouble leaving on time.”
I elbow him slightly, because we both know that dig was directed at me, when really, it was his damn fault for following me into the shower. That’s the last time I trust him when he says he’s just going to “wash my back.” Lies. All lies. Although, my vagina did get a nice scrubbing.
Mary waves her hand. “No problem at all. We’re just happy to have volunteers. There are never enough, and our shelter animals can always use some loving.” Her gaze moves from him to me, and then her eyes widen. “Oh! You’re the cupid from that new dating app, CupidShuffle!” she says excitedly.
“Oh. Uh, yes,” I say, caught off guard.
“I love that app!” she gushes. “I’ve been on three dates already.”
“That’s great,” I reply with a smile.
“I just love your hair.”
I run a hand over the untamed waves in a nervous gesture. “Thank you.”
“Alright, I’ll stop holding you up. But it’s just so exciting! I have the Mr. Knight and the cupid in my shelter! I’m going to tweet about this later if that’s alright.”
Warren nods. “So long as you wait until after we leave.”
She marks an X over her chest. “Cross my heart,” she promises. “Alright, come right this way. The next hour is yours.”
We follow after her as she unlocks the back door and leads us down the hallway. Immediately, the smell of kibble and dog hits my nose. We round the corner and come to a row of dog kennels.
“I’ll put you in this section here,” Mary tells us. “Kennels one through four are all dogs that have been cleared for the public. You’ll make their day sitting in there with them.”
“Thank you, Mary,” Warren says.
She hands Warren the keys and starts walking away back to the reception area. “Come get me if you need me; otherwise, have fun!”
Warren turns towards me. “Which one first?”
“How about we just start at the first one and work our way down?”
Warren nods as he walks down to the first kennel and unlocks it. There are three dogs inside—two Labradors and one that looks like it might be part Dalmatian. They instantly swarm me, their wet noses running against my bare legs and making me laugh.
“Nice to meet you too.”
Their tails go crazy as they surround me, their tongues lapping at me in excitement.
I run my hands over their sleek fur with the biggest smile on my face. “They’re the best dates ever.”
Warren leans against the wall as he watches me. “I don’t know whether to be glad or offended,” he says. “Not sure how I feel about dogs outranking me.”
I sit on the floor with them and start rolling one of the tennis balls across the space for them to catch and bring back to me.
“You should be glad,” I tell him. “Because I’m so impressed with you right now, that you are most definitely going to get lucky tonight.”
He chuckles, but we both know I’m not kidding. Puppy points are worth more than normal points. It’s science.
“Aren’t you going to come in and pet them?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’m allergic.”
My mouth pops open in surprise. “But you still brought me here?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I know it is. “You wanted to pet dogs.”
Yep. He’s definitely getting lucky. When he catches my expression, he knows it, too.
This man. He continues to surprise me in the best of ways.
I continue playing with the dogs before moving down the line. By the time I’m in the last kennel, I’m covered in dog slobber and hair, and my cheeks are sore from smiling so much.
Mary comes back, letting us know that our petting hour is up, and I snuggle the little guy who’s been cuddling in my lap for the past fifteen minutes against my chest.
He’s an older dog, with short brindled hair. His chart informed me that he’s a beagle-pit bull-wiener dog mix, and he’s pretty much the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. With his short stocky legs, long body, and loving face, he steals a piece of my heart.
I find myself tearing up as a put him down. “I wish I could take you home, little guy,” I tell him. “But you’re so cute that you’ll be adopted soon, I just know it.”
He whines at me as I walk out and shut the kennel door, pressing his little brown nose through the chain-link.
“Ready to go?” Warren asks.
It’s a struggle to look away from my new four-legged friend, but I nod and follow Mary and Warren out.
Before we leave, I see him hand Mary a check. Her mouth drops open in shock from what’s probably an obscene amount of money that he just donated to the nonprofit shelter. “Oh my word…” Mary’s hand flies to her chest. “Mr. Knight, this is… This… How can we thank you?” Mary sputters.
“No thanks necessary,” Warren says.
Mary thanks him anyway about eleven more times before we’re able to make it out the door. When we’re back in the car, driving back to his house, Warren catches the secretive smile on my face.
“What’s that smile for?”
I shake my head. “It’s just… It’s nice to see you like this.”
“Like what?” he asks.
I shrug and fidget with the lace trim on my shorts. “It’s nice to see the man behind the mask,” I answered. “Not the untouchable asshole, not the aloof CEO, just you.”
The humor leaves his eyes at my sober words, and I see his throat bob as he swallows. He turns his attention back to the road and changes the subject. “We have time to go home and get cleaned up for dinner. I made reservations.”
I know I should be grateful, but I’m not sure I’m up for another dinner out. Warren has been taking me out constantly, and it’s been amazing, but I’m sort of craving something quieter. Still, I don’t want to ruin his plans. “Okay.”
He shoots me a look, instantly picking up on my less enthusiastic answer. “Unless you had other plans?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. I just...how about we just stay in tonight?” I ask.
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.”
I smile. “It is.” I lean forward and place my lips against his cheek. “Thank you.”
He catches my hand and presses his lips against the inside of my wrist. “What am I going to do with you?” he murmurs, although it sounds like it’s a question for himself.
Keep me. I want to say. Ask me to stay.
&nbs
p; I’ve fallen so thoroughly hard for him over the course of our short time together. Despite my soul being bound to cupidity, he’s grounded me here with him. I’m constantly being pulled in two different directions, yet stuck in this limited limbo. But it can’t last. It won’t last.
Every time I feel my cupid mark tingle or another feather falls from my back, I know that I’m closer to losing this. I don’t have forever. No matter how much I pretend otherwise.
Which is why I decide that I’m going to tell him how I feel. Tonight.
I’m going to tell him that this isn’t just fast and fun and heated anymore. Not for me. Not anymore.
Chapter 31
Trix
Watching Warren cooking in his kitchen is damn sexy. He wears a t-shirt and jeans very well.
I opted for some simple black leggings and a soft gray t-shirt. I have to be more careful about my feathers. As soon as I feel one start to lift against my skin, I pluck it out and bury it in one of his trash cans. So long as I don’t use my power very much, it seems to have settled down a bit, but I’m constantly worried that he’ll notice.
Warren sets a plate of spaghetti in front of me, and I immediately dive in and then moan around a mouthful of meatball. “Mmm. This is good.”
His eyes glitter in amusement as he watches me shovel pasta into my mouth. He takes up a much more refined pace as he begins to eat. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“It’s pretty much the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.”
Warren gives me a look. “Careful, darling. Or I’ll be tempted to feed you my cock right here at the dinner table.”
I snort before taking a drink of water. “So cocky.”
“And with good reason,” he replies with a smirk.
I mean...he’s not wrong. His dick is awesome.
After dinner, we clean up together, and then we opt to go down to his private beach and sit on the shore to watch the sunset. I lie on my back on top of the blanket he brought with us, enjoying the view and the cool ocean breeze on my face. I’m going to miss this. I’m going to miss...everything.
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