A: Griffin’s not wrong.
B: I hate you all.
X: I’ll be there.
B: Don’t be late.
B: I’ll need an alibi when I kill them.
B: Just kidding.
B: Not kidding.
Now was the part of the conversation when everybody descended into lewd emojis and archaicmemes. For a group of grown men, we acted like a bunch of children. We should be ashamed, but we’d be loud about it until the entire coffee shop stopped and stared.
Setting my phone aside, I laid back in bed, staring at the ceiling. It had been a long time since I stayed the night after sex. I found the ritual awkward. Aiden had attempted to exit without waking me, which was sweet, but now I didn’t know if I should stay naked in bed, get up and make some coffee, or hunt down any juicy dirt I could uncover?
Coffee. I don’t know why I even considered other options.
I scoured the bed for my underwear. I needed to do a better job of remembering where I disrobed. Nothing. Peeling back the cover, I was about to give up hope when I dropped to the floor, hunting for my boxer briefs.
“Where the hell?—”
There are certain sensations the skin can recall just by thinking about it; a warm towel, a light touch, even the warm sands between the toes. The cool, wet slime worked its way along my arms. Quickly, it caused my gag reflex to kick in. Oh my God, it was awful. There was no controlling it, willing it underneath my skin. Seconds later, it had responded to the dilemma of being naked.
“Not now.” It acted like fabric, pulling away from my body as I tugged at the collar. Despite stretching, it refused to tear. If I peeled myself out of it, would it vanish? Was it alive? While I was playing hero, I didn’t care how it worked,just that it lets me be super. Now, I needed it to go away before Aiden discovered he had blown a superhero this morning.
“Did you say something?” The shower shut off. I kicked the door, slamming it harder than I intended. He probably thought I was going through his drawers, which would be easier to explain than wearing skintight latex.
“I don’t need you right now.” It’s hard to make a whisper sound stern, but I tried my damndest. I found my t-shirt wrapped up in the sheets and tossed it over my head. Shaking out the linens, I was out of luck. I was about to give up hope when I saw the pile of damp clothes. I found underwear, socks, but still no pants. Without wasting a second, I pulled on the underwear. Damp, this was going to be a rough morning of chaffing. I ignored the fact they were inside out. Next, the socks.
I looked like a superhero on laundry day.
“Go away.”
“Xander?” I pinned my foot at the base of the door. It held fast as Aiden attempted to open it. “Is everything okay?”
I looked down, grasping at how I’d explain the suit. Skin. Bright white thighs vanished into a pair of black briefs. Without so much as slither, the suit vanished. Thank you, an awkward conversation avoided.
“Sorry about that. Was hunting for my pants.” I lied, sue me. “Much as I’d like to stay naked with you—” I had topause and soak in the sight of him. Upright, I admired the curves of his body. He might be even sexier.
“Oh,” he said, “yeah, I should probably get some work done.”
Taking his hand, I placed it on my shoulder as I stepped in closer. “Trust me, I would much rather be right here.”
“Still on for coffee?” The poor guy was worried that this was a one-night stand. I had done that in the past before, but now… yeah, it wouldn’t be the last time. After a night of mind-altering sex, I was already thinking of what might happen next time.
Kissing him remained as amazing as last night. I broke away before the urge to throw him on the bed returned. “I’m expecting it.”
“Pants are on the table.”
“Stealing my clothes?”
“How else would I fashion a pillow boyfriend to sleep with?”
I gave him a pat on the ass as I walked into the kitchen. He vanished into the bedroom, opening and closing drawers as I slid on my pants. Scattered across the table were notes on legal pads of paper. There were several news articles torn from the paper.
“Powered hero saves hospital.” I pushed it to the side, looking at the other clippings. “Vigilante demonstrates abilities.” Even as I whispered the words, I couldn’t fathom that my antics had landed me in several newspapers.
