“What?”
“You said you wanted to work to earn me. Well, you can start now. Go flirt with Cupio and let me watch.”
“If I do well?” I ask, wanting to know my reward.
“Show me that Cupio has interest in both of us and I’ll let you pleasure me before you portal back to your miserable little realm.”
My hands drop from her hips as I lick my lips and accept her challenge with a ridiculous amount of enthusiasm.
Ladybird and Gloom dance, looking like the perfect contrast of delicate pink and luminous black.
He makes her smile, and it’s then I realize I’ve fucked up. I’ve waited too long to make a move and now I’ve lost the girl. I can’t even blame her. The reaper is charming and obedient. I was a fool to think that two strong-willed people like Ladybird and myself would be a match.
It would never work.
I feel lonely and lost at the table while I sip my drink and suffer in pathetic silence. I swirl the alcohol, staring down at the sparkly pink concoction and wonder how the fuck I’m supposed to lead Cupidale when I’m so devoid of love?
Suddenly the chair next to me pulls back; it’s the reaper, sporting a wide smile as he sits down, pushing his chair even closer to mine.
I look around, and Ladybird is nowhere to be found.
“Where’s Ladybird?”
“She went to the ladies’ room, plus I wanted a moment with you anyway.”
“Why?” I reply, and the man just shakes his head.
“You’re Head Cupid, doesn’t everyone want a moment with you?” he asks, and his little smirk makes me want to wipe it offhis face. You’d think with the way he was touching Ladybird that I’d like to use my fist, but there’s something captivating about the devious reaper who seems to have no shame.
“Usually because they want something.”
“Oh, I want. But I also think I could give in return.”
“But you were dancing and flirting with Ladybird,” I say, feeling some irritation for the woman I’ve been pining after. She deserves complete devotion, not a reaper who would just flirt with anyone.
“For the love of fuck. She’s into you, man. She’s into you, you’re into her. And I’m into both of you,” he says, like I’m an idiot.
“She never gave me any indication,” I reply, and the man lets out an exasperated breath.
“Of course not, you’re her boss, the Head Cupid. I haven’t spent much time in Cupidale, but enough to recognize she has a bit of a reputation. Why would she feel like she could ever make a move?”
I blink at him, and he smiles.
“I think I could be that glue you two stupid cupids need to make this work.”
“Glue?”
“You’re lucky you cupids are all so pretty,” he says, leaning forward against the table, getting into my personal space. “You have this whole soft daddy thing going on, and she seems like she needs the best of both worlds, someone who can take charge and someone who will be obedient.”
“You want to be that obedient someone?” I ask him with a smirk, finding myself leaning forward and getting closer, our faces less than a foot apart.
“It would be my pleasure,” he says with a cocky grin.
“What’s in it for you?”
“What’s in it for me?” he says with a laugh, grabbing my drink and taking a sip. His lips touch the exact place I was drinking from. “Is it that hard to believe that someone would genuinely want to pursue anything with you? I don’t need any favors, Head Cupid, I just want to get to know you.”
And isn’t that the hottest thing I’ve ever heard?
