Air got stuck in my throat and I forced myself to look away from his lips and into his eyes. The black depths of them lured me in even more than his wicked tongue. Fucking hell. I was supposed to spend this time with my friend so I could tell him I was not as straight as I’d thought when we’d shared a dorm room, then hopefully I’d be able to get over my insane crush on him.
Was I doomed to fail?
“Yup. The A line is that way.” I pointed to the exit behind me with my thumb. “We’ll be in Times Square in under an hour.” I grabbed one suitcase while Kert took the other, and we headed off.
At noon, the subway was deserted compared to rush hours, but I wouldn’t care if it was packed full. My attention was on Kert, whose smile did not leave his face for a single second despite the stale air around us. He unzipped his parka, showing off a sliver of his midriff, but since his gaze was on me, he didn’t see the heads he’d turned with that display.
I cleared my mind of all naughty thoughts. My best friend had traveled over the Atlantic to visit me and see New York. The leastI could do was not be creepy the first hour he’d set foot on US soil.
“Did you get some sleep on the plane?” I wrapped my tentacles around my waist to keep myself from reaching out for him.
“A little. But I met this lady with the cutest toddler you’ve ever seen and we played magnetic checkers for half of the flight until he passed out in the seat between me and his mom.” He shook his shoulders as if he was about to break into a dance. “I’m too psyched to be tired. Besides, it’s six in the afternoon back at home, so I’m fine. Oh, and I had five coffees on the plane.”
I chuckled. Damn, how I missed seeing that ball of pure energy packed into a slim body. “If you stay up late enough, it will help you battle jet-lag.”
The subway screeched to a halt, and Kert wobbled my way. I caught him with my tentacles, holding onto the railing and his suitcase with my hands. He leaned into my touch, once again bringing back memories of the five years we spent together in the university dorm. He’d always been so tactile; so touchy-feely.
I sent my right tentacle closer, smelling his skin through my suckers.
“That’s us.” I pulled him to the door, giving myself an excuse to graze his midriff with the tip of my tentacle. “I’ll take your other suitcase too.”
“I’ll carry it. Save your strength for carrying me.” He grinned and climbed the stairs, hauling the huge luggage. I followed suit with the bag full of what had to be rocks.
“Oh, wow.” Kert was looking up at the buildings on Times Square, his long neck exposed to the chill of the early December air. He inhaled deeply and turned my way. “It stinks here.”
I snorted. “Yeah. It’s much worse in the summer. You’ll get used to it.” The stench of Manhattan with its mix of car exhaust, pee, garbage, horse poo, and fuck knew what else was somethingnot many expected from the glorious place we all saw in the movies.
He wrinkled his nose, then perked up and walked through half-an-inch of dirty snow towards a souvenir shop, pulling me by the tentacle.
“I need theI heart NYmug.” His pants were so tight he couldn’t fit his hand in the front pocket, so he pulled his phone out with his slim tail.
The city was packed with people from all walks of life and with different visible features on their bodies, so no one paid attention to my tentacles, nor to Kert’s tail and horns.
“Do you already love it?” I lifted a brow, but he didn’t spare a glance my way—he was far too focused on all the knick knacks. “You’ve been here less than five minutes.”
“Yes, I do. It wouldn’t matter. I still want it.” He took the mug from the display, marched to the till, and touched his phone to the card reader. His bright grin as he thanked the cashier probably made her day as she blushed, handing him the wrapped purchase.
On his way out, he grabbed his suitcase with one hand and my tentacle with the other. “Okay, now I’m ready for that hot-dog I saw on the corner.”
Despite the coldness of his fingers, his touch sent a zing of warmth up through my suckers.
The stand was indeed within view, so we headed that way.
“Hi. Can I have the standard? Everything on it?” Kert asked the mustached seller who gave off a Jersey Devil vibe with his hooves and black wings.
“With onions or sauerkraut?”
“Sauerkraut.” Kert beamed.
“Same for me, please.” Acting quick, I paid for the order.
“Oh, is it okay if I take a pic?” Kert looked at the small cart on wheels as if the two yellow and blue umbrellas were the roof of a castle.
“Sure. First time in New York?” The guy packed the bun with a hot dog, mustard, and the German condiment.
Kert nodded. “First day.”
“First hour.” I nudged my friend and plucked his phone from his hand. “Stand next to the cart.”
