Page 66 of The Magic of Revenge
"I'm never in trouble, princess," I said huskily. Damn, I wanted her. Always wanted her. She pulled me across the console and planted a kiss on my lips that made me groan. It was really starting to heat up when I felt the swipe of a tongue that was definitely not Goldie's.
"By the moon, Faris!" I shouted, jerking back from the both of them.
"What?" he asked, blinking his big puppy dog eyes.
"You can't just join in on anyone's kiss like that, man," I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
"Well, I wouldn't do that with just anyone. Only you and Goldie," he said matter of fact, like I was a damn idiot.
My eyes closed and I took a deep breath. I was going to have to teach him some things. Boundaries, for one. When I opened my eyes, Faris was kissing Goldie softly. He handled her so gently. Another thing that surprised me—I'd expected him to be incredibly dominant. I watched as she pulled back, a loved-up expression on her face. Hooded eyes, a soft smile, rosy cheeks. Perfection.
"I'm getting out of the car now. I'll introduce you to Frank and Arlo when you get back. If you act like butt asses, I'll give you titty twisters," she threatened, and Faris and I both covered our nipples in horror. With a laugh, she slipped out of the car and walked away. We watched, because... duh. When the woman you love walks away from you with an ass like that, you damn well watch.
"Ow!" I grumbled as Faris scrambled over the console, smashing my face with his palm and then shoving his ass right in my face. "Gods sake, man. Get your ass out of my face."
"Sorry, sorry. I'm good now," he promised, dropping down into the seat and getting the seatbelt on. "Let's do this shit!"
Dear stars, give me strength. The good people of Emerald Lakes were not ready for Faris Bahri.
* * *
"B. O. O. B."
"Why are you spelling boob?" I asked, grabbing a shopping cart.
Faris looked confused for a second and then he laughed loudly. "Oh stars, I did, didn't I?" he snorted. Legit snorted. "It's their blood types." He gestured to the group of people that had just passed us on their way to the exit.
I chuckled at that. "Okay, well, that makes it a little better. Come on, let's get started. This will probably take a while. Kai wrote a list long enough it could be a novel."
He followed me down the produce section and I started picking out things that were on the list. I turned to ask him a question and my heart nearly stopped when he wasn't there. Spinning in a circle, I let out a breath as I saw him a little ways down, chatting with... Was that Randy Roger? I remembered meeting him on the street my first day here. He wouldn't remember me, I was Johnny then, but I remembered him. The man sure knew how to make a lasting first impression.
I kept glancing over to make sure Faris stayed in my line of vision while I continued crossing things off my list. As I got closer, I noticed they were standing in front of a wide variety of mushrooms. Randy Roger was talking animatedly, pointing at different kinds and Faris was nodding, looking very inquisitive at the fungus lesson.
"And here we have one type of morel," Randy Roger explained. "You can see how the shaft is much longer than the small cap at the top. Hot commodity, these. I remember being just a boy and going mushroom hunting in the woods with my Pa. What. A. Rush. Here!” He shoved the shroom under Faris’ nose. “It's got a very distinct scent, compared to say, this portobello cap."
"I gotta be honest, RR, they all smell like dirt to me," Faris told him frankly, and poor Randy Roger clutched his chest as though he'd been mortally wounded.
"Fungus isn't for everyone. But do you accept the beauty of them? So very spongy, so many sizes and shapes," Roger sighed, letting his fingers caress several different varieties before realizing I was standing there and observing this... Whatever this was.
"Oh, hello. New in town, too? Wow. We don't get a lot of new people, but lately, it's been off the charts! My best guy friend, Sloane—"
"Wait. Sloane Sullivan?" Faris and I both asked.
"Yeah! You know him? That spritely little thing challenged me to a produce battle! Can you even imagine? I kicked his ass, of course, but that was the start of our friendship. Then he stayed at my house with me for a few days. Such a sad boy. I hoped the mushroom room would spruce him up a bit, but I'm not sure it did the trick. In hindsight, the eggplant suite probably would've suited him more. He seems like an eggplant man, doesn't he? Fuck." Roger ran both hands through his curly ass mullet.
"Hey, I'm sure it was fine. He was probably just going through some shit," I said, trying to calm the guy down before he had a meltdown.
"Bram, I want an eggplant suite." Faris pouted and looked up at me. Those damn eyes.
"And where would I put an eggplant suite?" I asked.
"You can make me one in one of the spare rooms at the cottage," Faris decided, his tone final.
"Oh, the cottage? Wait, are you more of Saige's men? Damnnn, that lucky witch. I haven't been out that way in a hot minute, but Bette and I are due for drinks and dancing soon. Bette's my best girl friend. Has been for years," Roger explained.
"Yes, that's us. Hear that, Bram? We're famous!" Faris beamed and then looked behind us like he expected fans to come crawling out of the displays.
"Well, if you need any decorating help, I'm your guy. Sloane has my number. I have to get home, I can't wait to get these babies cleaned up," Roger told us, holding up a bag with a mix of shrooms. "Toodles," he winked and waved then sashayed down the aisle, the little bag slung over his shoulder, hand on his hip. We heard him call out to the two women working at the front of the shop. “Yoohoo! Renee! Amber! Looking fierce today, sisters. Did my shipment of…”
