Sweeter Than Chocolate: Valentine's Day Anthology

by Gina Kincade

  “Will you be looking for her now that she’s gone?” I sipped my coffee, mouth going dry.

  “I still don’t understand. I’m going to miss her, of course. Hopefully it won’t be so long until we see her again.”

  I gazed down into the black depths of my mug. “Am I going to be enough?”

  Her knife clattered as she dropped it to the plate. “Of course you are! Oh, Ben, I didn’t want to make you jealous. Please tell me you aren’t.”

  My mouth twitched in a smile. “Not jealous, no. I don’t envy what you have with Lisa anymore. I did, until I got to be part of it.” Taking a swallow of coffee, I searched for words. “Will you wish you had more than just me in bed? Another pair of hands, another pair of lips?”

  Diane chewed on a piece of toast, taking her time. “I don’t think so. I can’t imagine anyone but you or Lisa. I wouldn’t want just anyone.”

  “Yeah, not anyone, but what if you made a new friend?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m not going to wish for more than you, Ben.” Her eyes widened. “Are you going to want another woman in bed?” Her voice rose in alarm.

  “God, no. It was hard keeping up with both of you. I wouldn’t want to do that often.” I shifted myself, slightly chaffed from the night.

  When I rose to refill my coffee mug, I asked the question I really wanted answered. “So, do we just go back to before?”

  Diane turned to look at me over the counter. “Yeah, I think so.”

  Releasing a big sigh, I felt a weight lift. “Good.”

  She giggled. “What did you think would change?”

  “I don’t know. Everything?” I sat down across from her, reaching for her hand. “So many questions went through my head last night. What if Mark doesn’t change? What if she comes back? That doesn’t sound like a bad thing, but it’s hard to imagine. How does our feelings for her affect our feelings for each other? Maybe not at all, but maybe it does. You both kept distracting me, and thank you for that, but the big questions still plague me.”

  Diane squeezed my hand. “Give it a week. They’ll go away.”

  She was probably right.

  ***

  Diane and I waited with Lisa at security. She hugged Diane first. "I've missed you, Di. We need to keep in better touch."

  "Definitely, Lisa. I love you."

  "I love you too, Di." They shared a quick peck before Lisa hugged me.

  "Thank you, Ben. For being so good to her, so good for her. I hope Mark is half as good to me."

  I stroked her hair and back. "If he isn't, throw him back. I'm not that special," I said with a chuckle.

  "Yes, you are," Diane whispered in my ear, taking my hand as I released Lisa.

  "Just remember to invite us to the wedding."

  Lisa laughed. "Well, of course. I'll need my bridesmaid, won't I?" She hugged Diane one more time before joining the line.

  Diane put her arm around my waist and I did the same, our heads touching. "I love you. Thank you," she said.

  I kissed her forehead, stretching slightly to do so. "What kind of nerd-boy would I be if I didn't let you have one last fling?"

  She smiled and giggled. "Now take me home, nerd-boy."

  Chapter Five – They’re Going to Need a Bigger Bed

  A knock came at the door while Diane moved a meat pie from the fridge to the oven. She’d picked it up at the farmer’s market on the weekend, a special treat for today.

  “Can you get it?” Her voice echoed oddly, distorted by the oven.

  I’d already gotten up to do just that. At first I opened it just a crack, expecting a boy or girl scout fundraiser. I saw the right side of Lisa’s face, her brown hair curly on her shoulder.

  “Lisa!” I flung the door open and grabbed her in a hug. The grocery bag she held flipped around and hit me in the back. “What are you doing here?”

  She pulled back and lifted the bag. “It’s steak and BJ day.”

  I turned to Diane in the kitchen, but she looked as confused as I felt.

  “It’s Pi day,” I said. “March 14. Three point one four.”

  It was Lisa’s turn to look confused. “Pi? Like circles?”

  I nodded.

  “Oh, well it’s also Steak and Blow Job day.”

  Diane covered her mouth, but she still spluttered with laughter. “You brought steak.”

  “Yeah. I also have the BJ.” She gave me a sly smile and ran her hand down the front of my jeans. I hadn’t been hard a moment ago.

  Diane reached over the island for Lisa’s bag. “Well, I have a steak and kidney pie in the oven, so I think I’ll save this and the BJ’s can wait until after dinner.”

  Lisa laughed and I became aware of my frown in contrast. “That is a great pout.” She touched her finger to my lips.

  Diane came out of the kitchen, wrapped her arm around Lisa’s shoulders, and kissed her on the temple. “Not that it isn’t great to see you, but why are you here?”

  “Why shouldn’t I be?” Diane wouldn’t be able to see the slight hurt I caught in Lisa’s eyes.

  I stepped in. “No reason. I think she wants to know why you aren’t in Phoenix.”

  “Oh, that.” If anything, she deflated even more. “Mark broke up with me.”

  “Oh, sweetie.” Diane hugged her more tightly. “I’m sorry.”

  Lisa accepted the hug and returned it in kind, seeming to cling to Di. “I told him, about you, and he…didn’t take it well.”

  “Good thing you didn’t get to telling him about me.” I came close enough to run my hand up and down her back.

  “No kidding.” She released Di and wiped her eyes. “I’m done crying for him, though. I’m here looking for an apartment.”

  “You’re moving to Tacoma?” Diane’s eyebrows climbed up into her hair. The sparkle in her eyes showing both her excitement and disbelief.

  “Yeah. Visiting reminded me how much I like Washington. Arizona is too hot.”

  Diane clicked her tongue. “You like the heat.”

  Lisa shrugged. “It gets hot here, but it doesn’t last for months. Plus, I have another reason to stick around.”

  Diane’s eyes narrowed on me. “My nerd-boy.”

  Lisa nodded. “He is the best.”

  I chewed air for a while before managing to say, “You’re looking for an apartment?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure you guys could squeeze me in here, but I like my alone time too much.” She grinned. “I figured I’ll come over when it works for us and stay out of your way when it doesn’t.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter where I live as far as work is concerned. I can write anywhere.”

  Diane had risen onto her toes and her excitement was showing. “One near here?”

  Lisa laughed her low chuckle. “Eager?”

  “Well, yeah! Ever since your visit I’ve missed you. I come home from work and want to tell you about my day.”

  “You can tell me,” I grumbled.

  “And I do, but I want to tell her too.”

  “I know what you mean. I had a brainstorm when I got back and pounded out a novel in the last month. Every other day I wanted to ask you to read it.”

  Still confused I mumbled, “You could email it.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not the same. I don’t get to see your reaction to it. I don’t even know when you’ll get around to reading it.”

  Diane set a place for Lisa at the table. I fetched us each a beer. “Here, we have an hour or so until it’s ready.”

  “Thanks. Tequila?” Lisa quirked an eyebrow, making me laugh.

  “Not tonight, thank you.”

  She swigged from her bottle. “Fair enough. Diane? You don’t need to be in there, do you?”

  My wife hovered by the oven. “Um, no, I guess not.”

  “Then get your long legs out here.”

  “Yeah, Di. Set a timer and sit down.”

  “But I was going to make a salad.”

  Lisa rolled her eyes. “Fine, but let me help so it’s don
e faster.”

  I watched from the table as the girls side-stepped around one another, brushing bums or breasts. It wasn’t faster, I was sure of that, but it was more fun. Fun for them, and fun to watch. The erection that leapt at Lisa’s appearance started to strain in my pants. Well, if a blow job was in the offing… I dropped my fly and stroked through my shorts.

  As the touching grew less accidental, Lisa pulled Di down for a kiss. Heat rose in Di’s cheeks and she surrendered to Lisa’s mouth, letting her tongue dart between her lips. I couldn’t let them do that long, not without needing some kisses of my own. I cleared my throat.

  “Yes? Nerd-boy?”

  “Getting pretty lonely over here. You nearly done? Or should I come and pretend to make salad too?”

  Their paired laugh, a pleasure I’d almost forgotten, cut through any irritation I felt. They each dropped veggies in the bowl and came to me.

  Lisa sat down beside me and Di stopped in front. She stared at my open fly, my tenting shorts, and the peek she was getting through them. She licked her lips and looked from me to Lisa and back again.

  Lisa didn’t seem to notice what Di had, drinking her beer and chatting me up again. “You like to watch. You said so. Didn’t we give a good show?”

  Di knocked a fork to the floor and squatted to pick it up.

  “You’ve given better,” I teased. “By the way, what is Steak and BJ day?” Diane left the fork on the lino and pulled the elastic waist of my shorts down to expose my cock.

  “Well, y’know how February 14 is a girlie holiday? March 14 is giving the man what he wants.”

  Even with Diane’s lips wrapped around me, I laughed. “All I want is steak and blowjob?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Well, that’s not true.”

  Lisa stood up enough to watch Di and leveled a flat look at me. “Really?”

  “I want a lot more than that.” Grabbing her shirt, I pulled her close enough to kiss.

  “Is that so?” she asked, leaning over and revealing her cleavage to me.

  Without shame, I slipped my hand down to cup one lush breast, rubbing my thumb over the nipple. “Yes. You ready for that?”

  “Hell, yes. Di? How long on the timer? Let’s take this nerd-boy to bed.”

  The End

  About the Author

  Angelica Dawson is the USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning paranormal romance author of Blue Moon House, which has been in the top ten titles at Naughty Nights Press for over five years, as well as its prequels, Blue Moon House: Kitten, Blue Moon House: Gentleman, Blue Moon House: Slave, Blue Moon House: Investor, Blue Moon House: Vampire, Blue Moon House: Harlot, and Blue Moon House: The Beginning. This series is now available in a Blue Moon House Books 1-8: A Vampire Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxed Set

  She has also written Not Your Bitch, Switching Up, Ethereal Protector, Ethereal Witness, Ethereal Guardian, Woman's Best Friend, Cardiac Melody, Changes: A Transgender Dark Paranormal Romance, Love is for the Birds: A Modern Paranormal Fairy Tale, Dynamic Destiny, Winter's Embrace: A Paranormal Fantasy Romance, and numerous short stories included in upcoming anthologies and boxed sets.

  Writing Young Adult as Kimberly Gould

  Honor & Privilege: A YA Post-Apocalyptic Romance Series (Cargon Trilogy Book 1)

  Duty & Sacrifice: A Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic Romance (Cargon Trilogy Book 2)

  Sovereignty: A YA Post-Apocalyptic Romance (Cargon Trilogy Book 3)

  Cargon: The Complete Collection

  Darkness of Light: A Young Adult Shapeshifter Paranormal Romance (In the Dream Book 1)

  Never Say Die: A YA Zombie Time Loop Story

  Where To Find More Of Angelica Dawson

  Angelica contributes flash fiction to several blogging collectives and excerpts from work in progress can be found on her Blog. Angelica is active on her Facebook Author Page, and Twitter

  Angelica has been writing for several years and having sex a lot longer than that. She is a wife, mother, and environmental consultant. Her love of plants and the outdoors is not diminished by the bloodsucking hoards—mosquitoes and black flies, not vampires.

  Perfect Stranger

  Roxy Matthews

  2 Flames

  Skip To Next Story

  Copyright © 2019 Roxy Matthews

  Edited by Sara Lunsford

  Dedication

  I’d like to thank Gina Kincade for giving me this wonderful, eye opening opportunity. Working in a genre I don’t normally write truly helped pull me from my comfort zone, show me just what I was capable of.

  I will forever be grateful for the extra gray hairs, and my newfound habit of staring off into space with a dumb look on my face as I mumble to myself.

  Much love.

  About Perfect Stranger

  Learning to live after loss hasn’t been easy for Pam Mason. So when her best friend sets her up with a ‘New Year, New You’ adventure, Pam isn’t convinced it’s what she needs.

  That is until a perfect stranger’s indifference sparks a flame inside her, one that tears down her defenses and melts his chilled heart.

  Together they can build happy memories, if only they can get past their volatile one.

  Chapter One

  December 31st, 2019

  “Tomorrow is the first day of a new year.” Kate Winter tipped back her crystal wine glass, sipped the crimson liquid. “Time to make new memories, let go of the old.”

  Pam Mason eyed her best friend since fifth grade from one end of the chocolate brown sofa as she lifted her own.

  Kate was right, as memories go. Some were fleeting, while others stayed with you day after day. There were those that brought a warmth to your cheeks, a smile to your lips and there were those that stole your breath, and shattered your heart. And that was the illogical thing about memories; good or bad, they were part of life, a part of being alive. When you stopped making them, you had, in essence, stopped living.

  Pam nodded, took a sip, lowered the glass to the coffee table with unsteady fingers.

  “I do want to, Kate, I really do.”

  “I know it’s hard to take the first step,” Kate interrupted. “It couldn’t hurt to put yourself back out into the world, to make happy memories again?”

  Just the thought of happier memories to replace the sound of the heavy thud from the living room, the vision of her husband’s blood pooling on the rug, the touch of his cold skin that still skittered goosebumps on her flesh had her exhale on a sigh.

  She wanted to be a part of the living again. In the days, weeks, months, and years since Mark’s passing, Pam went through the motions of life with her own mortality in the back of her mind. Rarely seen in public since, her social life died when Mark had. Just the thought of emerging from her cocoon of safety had her palms dampen, sent a shake to her legs.

  Kate reached a hand out, cupped Pam’s knee.

  “We’ll take it one step at a time.” She winked, threw Pam a smile. “Make it an adventure. A ‘New Year, New You’ adventure.”

  Relief at Kate’s words had Pam lift her wine glass, downing the liquid in one gulp. “Alright, but no Tinder dates.”

  Kate pulled her hand from Pam’s knee, a sly grin lifted one corner of her lips. “I mean Tinder’s probably not the best bet for a woman your age anyway.”

  Pam gasped, playfully punched the bleached-blonde’s arm, thankful for the lighter tone to their conversation.

  “Hey, I’m just saying.” Kate laughed. “Forty is not the new thirty.”

  And that was the first time in years, Pam laughed until her stomach hurt and ribs ached.

  Once finally contained, Pam topped off her wine glass and then Kate’s.

  Kate only wanted what was best for her, and holing up in her and Mark’s two-bedroom house wasn’t conducive to letting go and moving on.

  “I understand,” Kate acknowledged, her voice no longer playful but serious. “You’ve been through a lot and time is something we all need to heal.”r />
  “That’s true.” Pam nodded.

  “But you’ve been listening to that clock tick off the seconds like a death sentence for too long.” Kate nodded towards the grapevine encircled clock hanging above the wall-mounted television. The same one that tick, tick, ticked in the suffocating quiet that overtook their home since Mark’s death. The only thing left of his that she’d yet to part with.

  “I understand that after such a sudden death to someone so close to you, you’d need time,” Kate paused, her voice softened. “But two years is a really long time, Pam. Especially since you’ve holed yourself up, rarely leaving even for groceries.”

  “That’s what cabs and Ubers are for?”

  Kate cocked a brow and Pam sighed.

  “Okay, okay. I get it. It’s time. I am ready for new memories.” Saying the words aloud was refreshing. “But no Tinder,” she added.

  Kate crossed her heart. “Brownie’s honor.”

  A smile lifted the corner of Pam’s lips at Kate’s inside joke. The memory of it was one of the good ones that lit a fire in her heart, warmed her cheeks, and lifted her spirit.

  “Please,” Pam played her role, the words recited decade after decade. “Brownies doesn’t even count.”

  Kate laughed. “No date-date, I promise. Not yet at least. There are steps to go through if you truly want to feel all that is the ‘New Year, New You’ experience.”

  With another lighthearted laugh, Pam lifted her glass in cheers. “You really need to stay off Facebook.”

  “Facebook’s my life. It’s the life of all us GenXers,” she replied with a full-hearted chuckle.

  ***

  “I’m not saying anything disrespectful about Becky.” Brad Winter closed one eye, focused on the dart pinched between two fingers. “But she was a train wreck. Like… Hell.” He pulled back, refocused, then forced his hand forward releasing the dart that hurtled towards the tri-colored dartboard. “That’s a fifteen, buddy. I’m hot on your heels.”