by Hart, Allysa
“I want to hear you beg for it.” His fingers resume their play on my nipples, softly rubbing and pinching the peaks until I want to cry. He always wants me to beg and I always protest, but when he deigns to give me what I so desperately want I am wet and ready and it never takes more than a second for the screaming orgasm to rip through me.
“Please give me your cock, Daddy,” I ask prettily, hoping it is enough. I really want to come.
“You’re going to have to do better than that, little love. You have been a very very naughty girl.”
Why does he keep saying that? That is a new line. More importantly though, why does it give me the urge to fall to my knees in front of him and show him exactly how sorry I am, even if I don’t know what misdeeds I have committed?
“Why don’t we start with an apology, hmm?” His hand trails down the front of my naked form and head straight for my clit. He circles the sensitive nub and my brain clouds with lust forgetting what he wants from me.
“Yes, please.” I arch into his touch.
“Not until you apologize for how you treated me today,” he whispers.
My eyes shoot open as his words register. And I strain my neck to look behind me at my partner. My typically faceless dream man has been replaced by my worst nightmare, Eros Adonis.
I sat bolt upright in my bed, panting and sweating and achingly frustrated at this unwelcomed turn of events. First my business, then my home, and now my dreams! How much more was this infuriating piece of man-meat going to invade my life? Worse still, why was I still thinking about his fingers and his cock?
I had taken care of my own needs before bed, making this dream, and the star of it,totally unnecessary and unwanted.
I threw myself back onto my bed, smothered a pillow over my face, and screamed. “Aaaarghhhh.”
I hated him. I hated him so much. Why did he have have to be so damned fucking handsome? Why did the one man who could ruin me have to be the one man that had stirred my interest in years? I needed to get rid of him and I needed to get rid of him soon.
And I still have no idea how I am going to do that.
I patted myself on the back as I sat at my desk smiling and waiting for the little hand on the clock to tell me it was eight a.m.
Eight was the time that I would make the phone call that would get Eros out of my life for good. I hoped.
After all, I had had five hours to plot and execute the perfect plan to bring down his stupid little matchmaking service. I hadn’t been able to get back to sleep after waking up from that ridiculously disturbing dream at three in the morning. So after a hot shower and four cups of coffee, I had come up with a foolproof plan to get him shut down and stop this ridiculous prank war before it even began. But this was about far more than just pranks and unwanted competition now. It was about getting him gone before I did something ridiculously stupid. Like fuck the enemy. Lord knows I was unable to keep my wits about me whenever that man is within spitting distance.
At five I had been waiting down the road at the pet shop, where I knew the owner well. He was always there early to feed the animals and clean out cages before customers arrived. I had procured a dozen mice and taken them across the street to the Tillman Building.
Picking the lock to the back door had been outrageously simple and I had made a note to upgrade the locks to my own shop, not that robbers were apt to break into a building with no merchandise or cash business, but one could never be too careful.
I had cracked the door open just enough to roll in the huge wheel of cheese I had purchased at the cafe and release the rodents inside and then snuck back to my store to wait. The health department opened at eight and after I called and reported the building I could happily go about my day and focus on paying my bills and saving my shop.
And not focus on how sweet his peach pie covered lips had tasted when he kissed me. And not on how many pairs of panties I had gone through in the last twenty-four hours since I met him, either.
Definitely not that.
Chapter 6
Eros
A new day. A new plan.
That was my mantra and would continue to be every day until I made her mine.
The only problem was, I had no plans. Not for today or any other day thereafter.
All I had known when I had woken up this morning with a hint of a hand shaped bruise on my cheek was that I couldn’t wait to see her again.
I had lingered at my apartment as long as I possibly could, enjoying the benefits of my fully stocked fridge and home-like apartment. After a long hot shower and a leisurely breakfast, I was chomping at the bit to get to work, but it was only six in the morning.
So I had gone for a jog, indulged in a second hot shower, downed three bottles of water in five minutes flat, while dripping dry on the kitchen floor, and changed into work clothes.
At seven-twenty I left my apartment. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Rebekah, but I was pretty sure she was trying to avoid me at all costs.
Or she was planning to prank me.
After our run in last night, that was a possibility, and one I was prepared for.
I couldn’t wait to see what my little red-headed temptress cooked up in her efforts to get rid of me.
The walk was short and quiet in the morning hours. There were cars on the road, of course, and kids waiting for the school bus, but there was a briskness in the air and a peacefulness that seemed akin to the energy I had already experienced here.
The town seemed dull and listless, devoid of excitement. It made me that much more eager for Rebekah’s arrival.
My little lover would surely spice things up.
When I reached our block, I saw no sign of her, so I doubled back and grabbed a coffee and croissant from the cafe for a mid morning snack.
The coffee was hot and rich, and the heady scent floating up from the paper cup filled my nostrils, and seemed to add a pep to my step before I had even lifted it to my lips.
Today was going to be a good day, I thought as I reached my door, and pulled my keys from my jacket pocket.
I had barely gotten the door open before I saw the evidence of my little lover’s shenanigans.
“Well, what do we have here?” I chuckled aloud as I entered, closing the door behind me.
In the middle of the floor in the entryway, not five feet from the door, sat a group of cute little white and gray mice, gathered in a circle around a huge block of cheese that looked to be a one pound loaf. A lone dark gray mouse perched atop the middle of the loaf as if he were the king. The cheese was his mountain, and the other mice were his trusty men, ready to ride into battle with him to defend their mountain, or in this case, their breakfast.
Mice? That was her big first move?
They squeaked in unison, and I snickered, looking around for something to put them in before my shop filled up with clients. A large file box was perched on an empty bookshelf. I removed the lid, and peeked in at a stack of empty file folders, which I dumped on my desk. Using scissors, I stabbed a few large holes in the lid, and some smaller ones on the side to create ventilation.
Then I set the box down on the floor, and scooped the nibbled block of cheese into the box, taking king mouse with it. Once the cheese had been captured the mice started to scatter, so I quickly broke off a large chunk and threw it into the center of the circle.
Note to self: Next time, grab the mice, and then the cheese.
I waited a few seconds for them to scurry back to their original circle and then began to scoop them up one by one, and gently place them in the box. They were cute and tiny, and fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare.
Once they were all secure, I replaced the lid, and lifted the box back to its place on the bookshelf. Shaking my head, I stepped back and stared at it.
Fucking mice. Really?
She’s an ameteur prankster, apparently, and not a good one.
I wasn’t sure what to do with them, or her, but I could figure it out later. It was eight o’clock . Time to open a
nd I had appointments lined up all day.
I ran a broom over the middle of the floor to catch any leftover mice residue, turned on the lights and flicked my open sign. I had barely returned to my spot behind my desk and flipped open my appointment book when the bell on the door jingled, alerting me to the arrival of a client.
My first appointment didn’t start for twenty minutes. I looked up expecting to see an eager female in her mid forties or an older gentleman, as they seemed to be the majority of my client base by a wide margin.
Instead, I found a gentleman who looked to be in his early forties. He wore a cheap suit, that I could tell had come off the rack of a department store, with a name badge attached just below the lapel. The badge told me his name was Hank. The hair on his head was thinning, and he wore round wire rimmed eyeglasses. Hank was wearing a wedding ring.
I hoped he wasn’t here for my services, because I didn’t do that kind of matchmaking. I was in the business of making marriages happen, not destroying them.
Wearily, I cleared my throat, and extended my hand. “What can I do for you Mr….?”
“Oates.” He stepped forward, but did not take my offered hand. I dropped it to my side and watched as he scanned the room with his eyes. He appeared to be looking for something, but I wasn’t sure what.
Finally, he seemed to stop searching, and frowned, turning his attention toward me. “We got a call about an infestation at this address. Do you know anything about that?”
“An infestation?” I stared at him dumbly for a split second before the pieces started to come together in my brain.
Oh, you got a call did you? Well, well, well, my little lover isn’t quite as amateur as I thought.
I smiled warmly at the confused looking man in the cheap suit. “Do you mean to tell me you got a call about my pet mice?”
“No.” He frowned. “Um, yes. Maybe?”
“Well, you’re welcome to take a look at them.” I walked over to the box , and placed both hands on the lid, but didn’t lift it. “What business did you say you were with?”
“The Department of Health in Valentine County.”
Valentine County, huh? How had I missed that?
“Well, Mr. Oates.” I lifted the lid. “Allow me to introduce you to my new pets.”
The health inspector raised his eyebrows as he peered in the box. “New, huh? Do they have names?”
“Names?”
Yes, you doofus. Pets have names. Think fast.
“I named them after Greek gods!” I exclaim, a little too loudly. I cleared my throat, and lowered my voice. “You know, Zeus, Ares, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Callypso…” I rattled off names until I was sure he was buying it.
He looked bored, and a little disgusted by the cute little rodents. I replaced the lid, and he seemed visibly relieved.
“Well, Mr. Adonis, we aren’t sure what the anonymous reporter would like us to do about your umm…” he waved his hand in the direction of the vented filing box I had set up on the corner of my desk, “your mouse situation? You do not serve food or sell… anything really. And as you claim they are pets, it would be a bit insensitive to recommend a good exterminator. However, I would recommend that if you intend to keep them here as pets, you get them set up with a real cage and feeding system, instead of a filing box and a brick of cheese.”
“Absolutely sir,” I agreed, jovially, eyeballing the clock. My first client was due to arrive soon and I had one thing I wanted to do before she came in. “I can get that done today right after work.”
Please leave.
Thankfully, Hank did exactly that, shaking my hand and leaving hastily, as if he couldn’t wait to put space between himself and said “rodents”.
I had only a few minutes before my shop filled up with love-hungry mortals, and I was dying to confront the naughty little minx behind my sudden infestation.
Anonymous, my ass.
No, I knew exactly where my little furry mice friends had come from and exactly who had called the health department. I had even spotted her peeking out her blinds at us at least a half dozen times during Hank’s short visit.
Following him outside, I leaned against the brick wall, and stared across the street waiting for the blinds to move once more. It only took a minute or two before I caught her. I pointed and turned my wrist before curling my finger up in a ‘come here’ motion. The blinds snapped shut again, but there was no other movement. I stretched, and rested my arms behind my head. I had all the time in the world to wait, I was immortal after all.
We continued our little dance for ten minutes before she gave in and stomped out her door.
“What?” she yelled across the street.
“You know what.” I smiled and shook my head. I couldn’t help it. She was so damned cute with her hands on her generous hips and an angry pout on her face. “Why don’t you come over here so we can talk?”
“I don’t want to talk to you. I want you to leave.”
I shook my head again, slowly this time to ensure she would see it. She stomped her foot.
“Come on over here,” I shouted. “I’d come over there, but I’m expecting clients any minute. I know you can’t say the same.”
That did it.
Her face turned fifty shades of red and she stormed across the street like her shoes were on fire and I was her only hope of extinguishing the flames.
As soon as she got to the sidewalk, I turned and went inside praying she would follow me.
She did.
The squeaking from the box of mice was incessant, and I could see the exact moment that she noticed it.
Her eyes narrowed and her mouth opened slightly, her lips forming a little “o” when she realized her plan hadn’t gone quite as she had expected.
She bristled slightly more, but quickly recovered.
I stood behind my desk and waited, smirking, for her to speak.
“Why is your open sign up?” She finally managed. “Didn’t you get shut down this morning? Wasn’t that Hank from the health department I saw from the window?” Her chin jutted out, with a hint of stubborn pride. “I set him up with his wife, you know.”
“Good. That’s good. It’s nice to know you do have some matchmaking skills, at least. I’m sure they are very happy, especially with Hank having all the personality of a dirty kitchen sponge.”
“That’s mean. I hope you treat your own clients a little nicer than that. Everyone deserves love, you know.”
“I do know. And I’m going to be the one who finds it for them. Despite your sad little attempt to put me out of business this morning.” I shook my head, and tried to frown. “Mice. Really? I think I’ll do you a favor, and forfeit this little prank war right now. Seeing as how you obviously have a fourth grade aptitude level when it comes to a good prank. I’m on a much more advanced level than you, and I don’t want the unfair advantage.”
“Good! End it then! If you forfeit does it mean you leave? Cause that would be awesome!”
I crossed in front of the desk and patted her head. “No silly. It means you prank me and I don’t prank you back.“
“I don’t want to prank you!” she all but screamed, stomping her foot and turning red again. “I never did! I suck at pranks, you’re right—that’s not news. I’m not the one who declared a prank war begin with. That was all you, buster. So I’ll be damned if you’re going to forfeit and refuse to participate.”
I quirked a brow. “Buster?” I scoffed. “ And excuse me, little lover, but I am quite certain that it was you, and not me that started the prank war.“
“I didn’t start it,” she repeated deadpan. “I said I was going to get rid of you, and I am. Mark my words.”
“Right. You’re going to get rid of me. I’m dying to see how, since your first attempt was so epic and inspired.” My voice was heavy with sarcasm.
She was sputtering and staring again at the box that held the mice. I walked over and retrieved it from the shelf, holding it out in front of me.
“You know, I really must thank you. I’ve never been away from my family before, and I imagine it will get quite lonely. I would have never thought on my own to get a pet, and now I have a dozen. Would you like to meet them? Or should I say, reacquaint yourself?”
Before she could answer, I popped the lid off, and placed the box on my desk. “This is Ares, and that’s Zeus, and Apollo, and Callypso. Over here on this side of the box we have Aphrodite and Artemis.” I rattled off the names I had given Hank and added a few more to be sure everyone had a name. “That’s Triton and that’s Persephone and that little white one sleeping in the corner is Morpheous. The dark gray one on top of the cheese is King, and these little lovers right here,” I said pointing to a pair of mice currently going at it, while mentally patting myself on the back, “are Cupid and Bekah.”
“Oh that’s cute. That’s really cute. And really, you named them after Greek gods? Obsessive much? It seems like you have a god complex going on,” she spat, looking quite pleased with herself.
I shrugged. “It’s not a complex.” I didn’t bother to explain. She wouldn’t have believed me anyway.
“You can’t keep them as pets!” she exclaimed staring straight into my eyes.
I quickly looked away knowing the pheromones would kick in. I was quite enjoying this battle of the wits we had going on at the moment.
Mostly because I was winning.
“I can, actually. You did buy them at the pet store didn’t you? Let me guess. The owner is a friend of yours? Maybe you introduced him to his wife too?”
“I did, actually.”
“Well, like I said, it’s nice to know that you actually do have some talent in the matchmaking department. Of course it’s not going to do you any good here because all your current clients are coming to me.”
We stared at each other hard. I knew it was a bad idea, but I couldn’t look away. I could feel the air around me seem to shift as the sexual tension grew thick and heavy between us. We were going in circles, and the next move was anybody’s guess. For two minutes, the room was fully silent save the squeaking of mice chomping on cheese.
