“What are you trying to say, that I’m an alcoholic?” Aquarius asked, affronted.
“Not in the least. Alcoholics need a drink, but I see that you already have one!”
“I am not drunk,” Aquarius replied, stomping his foot like a small child, and then said, “My body is a temple.”
“You’re a distillery with legs,” Capri deadpanned as several of Celestial’s citizens snickered. As interesting as it was to watch Aquarius have his balls shaken, not stirred, Virgo turned and headed into the Crystal Tumbler, knowing that when he was done grabbing his java fix, those two lovebirds would still be at it when he walked back out into the street, because some people never changed.
Hercules was sitting at one of the five picnic tables in the Crystal Tumbler, looking at the plate of food before him, wondering if it was all right to eat. He had ordered a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs and banana pudding, when what he really wanted was bacon, sausage, and big slathering of biscuits and gravy. But he knew better than to order the latter. Nope, he could only consume soft foods that could be easily digested and broken apart quickly, before he choked to death, just another side effect of his lovely curse. Still craving meat, Hercules looked over at Apollo, who was sitting at the picnic table next to him, as the blond God chowed down on steak and eggs, with a side of cured ham that was blackened to perfection. His mouth watered, and his stomach grumbled in defiance. Sighing, Hercules had just scooped up a fork full of his scrambled eggs and placed the fork in his mouth when Virgo walked in.
Virgo spotted him and smiled, and that was when Hercules started choking. Coughing violently, Hercules reached for his water and tried to wash the scrambled eggs down, only to cough as water came out his nose. Virgo reached him, and started patting him on the back.
“Come on, man, its scrambled eggs. Just swallow.”
After a minute of sheer terror, Hercules managed to do just that. His throat was raw, but he was breathing again. Taking another sip of water, he wiped his face with a napkin and took a deep breath. “Thank you, V.”
“No problem,” Virgo replied, sitting next to him. “Just take smaller bites, okay.”
“I’ve tried that, but it doesn’t help. Thank you anyway.”
“So, what’s good here?” V asked, reaching for the menu.
“Everything smells delicious. But I can only vouch for the scrambled eggs or oatmeal bowls.”
“How’s the coffee?”
“Hot, I burned myself three weeks ago. I only drink the cold coffees now.”
V shuddered. “Man, that sucks. Coffee is supposed to be hot.”
As V looked over the menu, Hercules went back to eating. Taking miniscule bites, he figured he should be done eating in about an hour. Making himself comfortable, Hercules began the daunting task of eating nothing bigger than the size of a pea.
“You take your time, Herc. We have nothing going on for the next few hours. Afterwards, I figure if no one comes in to the gym, I say we close the joint, head back to your place and have a wrestling match of our own.”
Hercules nodded instead of saying anything, since he had just taken a bite. He didn’t want to risk another choking fit. He didn’t mind one bit heading home with Virgo. Actually, he rather liked the sound of that…home. His studio apartment had felt homier since V’s arrival, and who was he to argue when the gorgeous man wanted to spend more quality time with him? Hercules was on board with that plan.
An hour and thirteen minutes later to the second, Hercules had just placed his napkin on his now empty plate, when the doors to the Crystal Tumbler opened and in walked Miz. Raven. Smiling, Hercules went to wave, when he noticed Virgo’s mouth hanging open as he stared straight ahead. Looking in his lover’s direction, Hercules felt his heart skip, and then sputter as the most stunningly gorgeous woman in the entire universe walked in behind Miz. Raven. As if the Goddess of love herself, Aphrodite, had handpicked and created the masterful beauty, the majestic woman smiled.
* * * *
When Raven suggested that Savannah take another detour, Savannah figured why not. Her life adventure had gone horribly wrong from the start, and instead of returning home, with her head down in shame, she thought, why not go visit the small town of Celestial, which Raven kept raving about. She didn’t mind the detour much, with Raven at least there was a companion to talk to, and the drive was beautiful. However, once she arrived in town, she worried that just maybe she had made another wrong decision.
There really wasn’t much to the small town. Of course, coming from a big city like Chicago, everything looked small and tiny. Yet, this place looked like a walk-in closet rather than a town. Still, Savannah wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. She had given her word to Raven and with an open mind, she was going to let the older woman be her tour guide, but first, she needed to eat.
Upon entering the quaint establishment called the Crystal Tumbler, Savannah gasped. “Okay…um, not what I was expecting.”
“Now, dear, you promised to keep an open mind,” Raven replied, patting her hand.
“Oh, I am very open, and so is the ceiling in this place, and is that real grass?” Savannah asked, as she took in the unique diner. On the outside the Crystal Tumbler looked like a typical small hometown restaurant, with a brick façade, and even a hanging sign. Windows lined the place for a picturesque view of the town and mountains. However, once inside, she was technically outside. The roof was gone, letting the sunshine and breeze flow, the fresh grass floor looked as if it had been recently mowed, and the picnic tables with umbrellas made her feel as if she was eating outdoors. Well, if she wanted to get technical, she was!
“Oh, just the two people I was looking for,” Savannah heard Raven say, before the old woman took her hand and ushered her over to a yellow picnic table where two gorgeous men sat. Stumbling over her own feet, Savannah followed as she took in the two men before her, each muscular in build, but that was the only similarity she could see. The handsome devil on the right was tanned, with a few tattoos she could see peeking out of his T-shirt. His jet-black hair heightened his eyes that were color of a clear blue sky, with lips the color of cherries. Sitting next to him on the left was a true Greek God, with long shoulder-length golden-brown hair, lightly tanned skin, and not a blemish anywhere. The God’s eyes were amber, almost like sparkling gems as they looked up at her. His facial features chiseled and strong, almost as if Michelangelo himself sculpted him from granite.
“Virgo, I’m so happy you stayed,” Raven said, talking to the man on the left.
“I was hoodwinked,” he muttered.
Laughing, Raven replied, “That may be, but look what you’ve gained.”
The man called Virgo grinned, then looked at the man next to him, and smiled. “I guess you’re right. Hercules may be a walking curse, but he’s also a blessing.”
“Maybe the blessing is in the curse?” Raven asked.
Virgo laughed, and then nodded, placing his arm around the Greek God.
Savannah sighed. She knew two men as gorgeous as them couldn’t be that perfect. Not that she thought anything about their sexual orientation. She really could care less, but still, all she could keep thinking was…damn, damn, damn.
“Oh, my manners!” Raven gasped. “Virgo Craven, Hercules Meriwether, this is my good friend Savannah Miles.”
When both men smiled at her, Savannah smiled back, and took a seat at the picnic table. She had been on her feet for a while, and she was starving. She figured if Raven was going to converse for a bit, she could at least rest her feet and get something to eat.
“Savannah’s come to visit our amazing town, and I was wondering if you two weren’t busy, if you would be so kind to show her around a bit. She’s on a life journey, and though I would be happy to help her, I have a coven meeting tonight, and then there’s the cosmic pickle festival committee I must deal with tomorrow along with Dynasty’s melon extravaganza, and then the Pickle festival itself the day after. We’re finalizing all the festivities
and booths.”
“Good heavens, are Hermes and Glory still trying to institute the practice of cock pickling?” Virgo asked, chuckling.
“Oh yes. I’ve seen their demonstrations, and I agree with the natural effects of pickles, but the smell is something awful. Glory has informed the committee that she believes she has found a solution.”
“Which is?”
“Sauerkraut.”
“Oh this I’ve got to see.” Virgo laughed harder. “When’s the committee meeting?”
“Tomorrow night after the sunset ceremony. You’re more than welcome to come to the meeting, but don’t forget that the sunset meeting is only for coven members.”
“Still not letting warlocks in, huh?”
“Oh, it’s nothing against men, Virgo. We just believe that a cock in the hen house, so to speak, will create havoc, and we are all about peace. Now, I must be going. I sense Moon is in distress. Please take care of Savannah, and show her a good time for me,” Raven said, turned, and walked out of the diner, before Savannah could utter a word.
Left alone with two handsome men, in a strange town, she didn’t know what to do, but she was curious about one thing. “What did Raven mean by cock pickling?
* * * *
Later that evening…
“Oh my God.” Savannah gasped, looking at all the naked women parading around the large bonfire. Savannah had heard of covens, and wiccans before, but she had never had the pleasure of meeting anyone who practiced. She wasn’t sure she wanted to stay and participate, but Hercules and Virgo assured her that they wouldn’t leave, and parked down the hill from where the meeting was to be held, in case she wanted to make a clean getaway.
“You came!” shouted a beautiful raven-haired woman. Savannah froze, as the woman ran toward her, her naked body glimmering in the moon light. “Raven told me you were coming, and I am so happy you did. I’m Moon Goddess.”
“Hi,” Savannah whispered.
“Don’t worry, we don’t bite,” Moon said, linking her arm in Savannah’s, ushering her closer to the women. “Now, we don’t expect you to participate tonight, unless you feel the urge to do so. We can get pretty loud at times, but don’t worry, that’s normal.”
“Oh, she’s here!” a stunning woman said, with hot pink hair. “I’m Pandora. Oh, Moon, look at her chakra. She’s all jumbled up. Oh, honey, you need to come see me tomorrow, and I’ll fix you right up. I’ve got the perfect chakra to-go bag for you.”
“Thanks,” Savannah whispered.
“All right witches, let’s start this fucking party! I have arrived.” Savannah turned along with Moon and Pandora as a beautiful blonde-haired woman walked up the hill, naked. Savannah felt a little out of place with all the gorgeous women around her, and though she was clothed, she felt utterly naked around them.
“Charity!” Pandora screeched, running over to greet the woman. As Pandora approached, the woman called Charity held up her hand and stopped Pandora. “You can hug me, not my breast, got it?”
Sighing, Savannah watched as the perky pink haired woman nodded.
“What was that all about,” she asked Moon.
“Last year Charity showed up at one of our meetings with a set of new tattoos. Pandora is so enamored with them, and can’t stop touching them. She’s been trying to get her men to allow her to get her breast done, but Zac and Garret don’t want her defiling her body. According to them, if the Gods wanted Pandora to have tattoos, she would have been born with them.”
“And she just accepts that?” Savannah asked, appalled.
Laughing, Moon replied, “When you meet Garret and Zac, you will understand. They are intense, and to make matters worse, they are Doms.”
“Excuse me?”
“Dominants. They practice BDSM, and Pandora is their wife and submissive.”
“Oh.”
“Stop touching my tits, Pandora!”
“But I can’t help myself.”
“Moon, help!” Charity shouted, slapping Pandora’s hands away. “Damn, woman, go play with your own.”
“Excuse me, Savannah,” Moon Goddess said, running off to protect Charity. Savannah wondered if she stepped into another dimension. Everything around her was so foreign and outrageous. Women walked around naked as the day they were born, taking about spells, potions, and fucking in some of the most shocking places.
Yet, as she observed everything and everyone, Savannah was relieved in a way. Though she was almost positive the women were bat shit crazy, she kind of felt at home. She couldn’t explain it, any more than she could explain why she chose to stay. She felt almost drawn to the women, as if she actually belonged. It was weird.
By the time, Raven showed up, the moon had risen, and several more women had arrived. Moon Goddess had introduced her to everyone, but for the life of her, Savannah could only remember a few of their names. Just when the party was about to get started, Savannah spotted a man walking up with a woman. She had to blink a couple of times, to make sure she wasn’t seeing anything, because the woman was, without a doubt, the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. Her creamy alabaster skin shimmered under the moon, and her white blonde hair glistened in the night.
“Damn it, Pisces, no men allowed!” Charity shouted, standing with her hands on her hips, unashamed of her nudity.
“Oh put a cork in it, Charity,” Pisces replied. “I’m just making sure my Princess Sugar-Britches made it here safe.”
“Well, Ace is here, now leave.”
“You know something, Charity, I think you need your chakra cleaned.”
“That’s what I said!” Pandora jumped up, raising her hand. “I can’t clean you, Charity.”
Rolling her eyes, Charity replied, pointing at Pandora, “You keep those twigs and leaves away from me. And you, you ingrate, I’ve got your number. Payback’s are a bitch, you know that, Pisces.”
“And I know three Greek Gods, who would love…”
“You leave them out of this!”
“All right, my lovies, the time has come,” Raven said, halting their argument. “Thank you for bringing Angelica, Pisces, you may now go. Gather around my loves, and let’s welcome the Moon.”
* * * *
Sunrise, the next morning…
“I can’t feel my mouth,” Hercules moaned, as he smacked his lips together several times, trying to get the feeling back. “Shit, I can’t feel my tongue either!”
“Stop complaining.” Virgo groaned, holding his head. “And turn off the lights, it’s too damn bright.”
“That’s the sun, V. Good luck turning that off.”
A soft voice interrupted their bickering, and moaned, “Where are we?”
Hercules and Virgo froze where they sat on the ground, and looked between them.
Moving slowly was the most beautiful woman in the world. Her dark hair sprawled out between them in massive waves that glimmered like black glass in the morning light. Virgo worried about her pale skin shimmering in the early sun. Her creamy alabaster skin was sure to burn if they didn’t get her covered soon. As she rolled over onto her back, Virgo and Hercules gasped.
“Holy shit,” Virgo cursed
“Oh wow,” Hercules replied, staring at the woman next to him. “Savvy is not going to be happy when she sees herself.”
“I think it looks beautiful,” V stated, looking at her face.
“I hope Taurus used washable paint.”
“I hope it’s permanent.”
There was just something about a beautiful woman with a tattoo that sparked Virgo’s libido. Oh, he knew that Savannah might get a little upset when she finally saw herself, but damn, Taurus did an amazing job. On the side of her right face by her right eye was a small crescent moon with starbursts shooting out of it. He thought it was tastefully done, and went well with her milky complexion and dark hair, but what did he know, he himself had acquired several tattoos while away from Celestial, but none were of Taurus’s caliber.
“We need to get her back
to my place,” Hercules said, looking for his pants.
Virgo looked around, trying to figure out exactly where they were. So far, he was pretty sure they were still in Celestial, but as to the exact location, well, that was another matter.
“Where are we?” she asked again groggily, sitting up. “Is that a giant pickle over there shaped like a cock?”
“Yeah, it is,” Virgo, replied standing up. “I think we’re at the edge of the festival, or at least somewhere near it.”
“But how did we end up sleeping outside?” Savannah asked.
Virgo sighed, rubbing his neck. “I think we…ah hell, I have no idea. The last thing I remember was a bonfire, some chanting, and then getting walloped by a broom.”
“We were at Raven’s coven meeting,” Hercules stated.
“I thought she didn’t allow men?” V asked, looking around.
“She made an exception. Something about the cosmos needing a sacrifice.”
“Oh Goddess, what did she do to us?”
“No clue, but we need to get Savannah out of the sun, before she burns.”
Not everything around Virgo looked familiar but he was sure they couldn’t be too far from town, but as to how they slept under the stars during Raven’s Coven meeting was beyond him. As of right now, he needed to find some clothes, grab a cup of coffee, and pray that Savannah didn’t look in a mirror until they could get her in a shower.
“You need to tell her,” Virgo said, finding his jeans and quickly putting them on.
“I need to live a bit longer, you tell her.”
“You are such a pussy, Herc, just tell her.”
“Nope, I ain’t gonna do it. I just got that damn curse lifted, and I ain’t starting my new life with a pair of broken balls.”
“What’s going on?” Savannah asked, getting to her feet, wrapping the blanket around her. “What are you two arguing about?”
Virgo and Hercules both smiled, and then V said, “Congrats sweetheart, you’ve been welcomed into the community.”
Embracing the Celestial Way [Celestial Nights 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 4
