“You don’t know?”
His eyes flitted across her flushed cheeks. He ran another hand through his hair. “I think I can probably guess. I’m the one who should be sorry,” he said. “I didn’t even know I could transfer that type of energy. I promise. I had no idea.” Etienne shook his head. “I just thought that when I felt your gratitude. I wondered what I could make you feel, and I didn’t mean for it to be that, but…it turned into it. Fuck. Fuck. I’m sorry.”
Ophelia sat in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry. I should have asked first.”
“You should have asked to make me aroused?”
“Of course. What kind of man do you think I am?”
“It’s okay…I…It could have easily been the other way around. Neither one of us really knew we could do that. I had no idea you could feel my gratitude, and you had no idea I could feel your…” Ophelia trailed off and snorted at the hilarity of the situation.
“Did you just snort?” he asked in shock.
“Yes. This whole situation is ridiculous and unprecedented.”
Etienne huffed a laugh. “I liked the snort.”
They both sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Etienne seemed like he was still struggling with what he thought was an unwelcomed invasion into her body. She hated that he felt that way and blurted out the truth.
“I actually liked it.” A blush broke out across her face.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Ophelia drained the rest of her wine, and Etienne followed suit. She wasn’t sure what to do now that she had been magically aroused, but Etienne made the decision for her.
“I should probably go. It’s getting late, and I have work early as fuck tomorrow.”
Now, it was Ophelia’s turn to be embarrassed. Had he notwantedher to like that? Was it just an accident, and now he was leaving so she didn’t get the wrong impression? She reminded herself that there had been plenty of times for him to shoot his shot, and he never did.
“Oh, of course. Thanks again for your help,” she said, standing to escort him to the door.
“Anytime.” He paused at the door and looked as if he was about to say something else, but instead he said, “See ya around. Have a good night.”
She could only watch as he walked from her porch to his truck.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Mateo: Hey, wild one, excited to see you tonight. You got your costume ready?
Ophelia: Yes, I’ll be the one that looks like an absinthe fairy masking as a garden nymph.
Mateo: Sexy. Can’t wait to see that. I’m cooking you dinner at my place before our adventure. Meet at my place at 8. Address is 2340 Chartres St.
Ophelia: Yes, Chef. ;)
Mateo: Btw, my place is hard to find. When you get here, walk down the alley on the side of the house and ring the first doorbell on your left.
Ophelia sat uncomfortably in her car idling on Chartres St. She was nervous about wearing a costume on their first real date—like she was presenting a dramatized version of her actual self. The dress was gorgeous, though a bit revealing in the best way. The vintage basil-green organdy dress was, in fact, a deep V-cut leotard with a sewn-in sheer skirt. She found it at one of the many costume shops in New Orleans several years ago and woreit to Mardi Gras with shimmery wings and an elaborate headdress that featured a bottle of absinthe and little green faeries. But for tonight, she left the wings and headdress at home and opted to place fresh flowers from her yard strategically through her hair.
The sun was starting to set, and faint sounds of cicadas could be heard from inside her car. Ophelia couldn’t quite tell where his place was. She was definitely on the right street, and she saw the house number, but no alley. She reread the text again.
Walk down the alley on the side of the house and ring the first doorbell on your left.
It was getting darker, so she called his cell.
“Hello, Ophelia,” Mateo crooned in a seductive voice.
