Page 31 of Cider
His weight shifted from my back and his body heat moved to my left side, next to the wall. His hands gentled as he pulled me half on his chest and he pushed the hair out of my eyes.
“Wow.” We both spoke at the same time.
Wow was right.
Chapter 16
The next morning as I opened the shop, wearing the same clothes as yesterday with my hair a complete mess, I couldn’t have been happier. I was sore along my ass, thighs, and backside. If I walked funny, it was a badge of honor.
Jack had kept me up all night, save a few blessed hours of sleep really early. He should be a bunny shifter with how fast he recovered for more rounds.
“What’s got you humming this morning?” Frostine, a two tailed moon fox shifter I knew by proxy, had come in while I had been distracted.
I about jumped out of my skin and on top of the counter. Frostine stood in front with her hands in her front pockets. She had her hair up in a bun on the side of her head. That was kind of cool, actually. I didn’t know her very well.
“Was I humming?” I pushed my hair out of my eyes, flustered. I turned around to grab a mug and started making a drink.
“Loudly and a little off key.” Her smug tone was soft, belaying that she wasn’t being mean, just teasing. “Who's the lucky guy?”
I finished making her a hot chocolate that I named ‘Malik’s Delight’ since I added a splash of vodka to it and served it in a see-through red cup. It might be morning, but who cared?
As I turned, pushed it across the counter to her, I couldn’t help the grin.
“Jack Frost.” I knew that he would be grumpy if random people started talking to him about us. So, it was perfect.
Frostine’s eyes widened slightly as she blew on the hot chocolate. “Really? That cold hearted grumpy pants?”
I didn’t like him being called cold hearted. He was far from it. But, he liked to appear that way. Hell, he’d been a jackass to me before Titus put his face into a table.
“He’s actually quite passionate.” I waved my hand in my face remembering how he’d held me up in his arms against the wall and screwed me into yet another happy ending.
“Obviously.” Her sassy reply could have made paint dry. “Well, if he makes you happy, who am I to judge?” She shrugged as she sipped at Malik’s Delight. “I wanted to come in to talk to you because early this morning, I noticed Samuel skulking around here, like he was looking for you. That guy gives me the creeps.”
My good mood instantly dissipated. What had Samuel wanted? This guy seriously just wasn’t giving up. I made the decision to confront him later today during a break and let him know that I wasn’t folding to his demands. He was going to lose this war that he set out to win.
Frostine finished her drink. “Thank you for the hot cocoa. I’ll see you later. Let me know if you need any help with this guy.” She waved as she left.
I pulled out my phone and sent off a text to Billy.
Samuel was seen around my store again. I haven’t seen him yet.
The three little dots appeared.
I’m getting tired of this guy. I’m coming over.
Well, that’s not what I planned but hey. I’d get to see Billy. Worked for me. Maybe we could make out in the back. I hadn’t christened the back room yet with sexy times besides that quick session with Titus.
The clock above the door chimed just as Billy walked into the shop. That was fast.
“Uh, how’d you get here so fast?” I met him around the counter and returned his kiss.
“I thought you might like a change of clothes so I was already on my way here.” Billy handed me a bag. “I take it your date went well.”
“You’re my favorite.” Hugging the bag to my chest, I had him bend so I could kiss his cheek.
“Damn right I am.” Billy patted my ass as I went to the tiny restroom to change. “I’ll watch the shop.”
He’d packed my favorite lounge pants and one of his hoodies I stole. By the time I finished getting dressed, Billy had moved behind the counter and was handing a bag of popcorn to a couple of kids who’d come in.
