Page 11 of The Bairwick Witches
Schuyler never felt he was one to be drawn by the superficiality of a gorgeous face and a body untouched by the cruelest witch of all: time. He was envisioning a cute cabin in the woods for the two of them to spend their days in, and yet he didn’t know the first thing about him. Stunning faces hid ugly hearts far better than any other disguise.
The young man had injected himself into Sky’s brain; the image was driving him crazy, leading into every sexual scenario he could create. The young man as the bottom, the top, or being a side on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Sky daydreamed the remainder of the shift away, finding himself surprised when five o’clock rolled around and it was time to close.
The vision of the young man stayed with him through dinner, through TV time with Beau and Marshall, even through his late-night porch-side rendezvous with the nameless gentleman he referred to as Velvet Mouth—who did exemplary work; and probably deserved to have his real name known. Once again, Schuyler used him as a proxy for someone else. Thankfully, Velvet did not seem to mind and got what he had come for before vanishing into the night air.
Sky remained seated on the porch, pants around ankles, cock to the breeze, and looked at the stars, rocking back and forth. Where was his new future husband? A spell could help, a Locator would pinpoint the young man to within at least a hundred feet and answer the question of whether he was still in the area. A Vision Perception spell would reveal his would-be suitor in a mirror’s reflection in real time. Schuyler’s fingers twitched, faint magenta pre-energy forming aroundthem, sparking off. He could perform a Dreamception and place himself inside the young man’s head, where he could then whip any dream the young man had into a frenzy of sexual excitement.
Schuyler pushed all those thoughts away. Despite being gross violations of privacy and leading directly into stalker territory, he would never want those actions lingering on his conscience when it came time for their dream wedding.
I’d have to announce my indiscretions during the vows, the most inappropriate of times, thus the most dramatic, and our wedding would be ruined. So long, dream lover. So long, dream life in a cabin.
As he settled into bed, he laughed at his own ridiculousness. He loved the feral fun a new crush always wrought within him. The desire. His vivid imagination working overtime. The frenzy would fade by morning. He was surprised the feeling hadn’t dissipated when he came earlier. The young man so emblazoned upon his memory now would be added to the other handsome faces who’d come into the shop and then were never seen again.
Chapter Five
And just like that… he came back.Schuyler channeled his bestCarrie Bradshawas he stood at the counter in the shop, watching the lothario who’d occupied his mind the entire previous day and night, the one who’d made him feral, now walking up the street.
Does he know the effect he has on me? Do I?
Much like the day before, the young man seemed perplexed. As if he didn’t know where he was, or that what he sought ought to be right in front of him, but wasn’t. The only difference today was the pink-and-white striped shirt so tight against his body it appeared painted on.
Schuyler, happy to be a spectator, silently wished for the cutie to come back into the store. He could help him; there was plenty he could assist with. Sky let out a little giggle, feeling ridiculous to be like,Come here sexy, I got what you need.The truth was, Schuyler wasn’t certain that even if he did attempt to speak to the handsome young man, he’d get the desired response.A truth he avoided thinking about yesterday to allow his vivid sexual fantasies to play out unspoiled.
“Well, hello there, stranger.”
Schuyler drew his attention back from the window and greeted Cal, who stood in front of him. “Hey you,” he greeted warmly, “how are you?” He went to ring up whatever Cal had brought up, but there was nothing.
Cal noticed the confused look. “Just came in ’cause I saw you were here and wanted to say hi.”
“Too kind,” Schuyler exclaimed and tried to not allow himself to sneak glances out the window, yearning for another glimpse before the object of his lust disappeared. “I appreciate the visit.”
“Was hoping we could have dinner together tonight, if you didn’t have other plans?”
“I don’t actually, I’d be down for some grub.”
“Nice,” Cal replied, seeming relieved. “You hadn’t responded to my messages on the app, so I wasn’t sure where we were at with all that.”
“All of what? Cal, I gave you my number, if you want to text me, just text me. The apps are for strangers we’re trying to get to know. We’re already friends. You can text friends.”
“You’re right.”
“I usually am,” Schuyler said dryly but still unserious. “Though I didn’t expect you’d want to hang out again. You seemed annoyed last time when we didn’t go home together.”
“Oh,” Cal stammered, caught off guard by Schuyler’s bluntness. “Well… I mean… I’d been thinking about us, when we used to hang out, and guess I figured, maybe for old times’ sake we would have—selfish of me, I know.”
“Nah, you’re good. I get it, I’d want to sleep with me too,” Schuyler joked, “but that really wasn’t on my mind. I was happyto have dinner and catch up with my friend.” Schuyler greeted two new customers who began their tour around the store and returned his attention to Cal. “But it’s all good.”
“So… there’s a chance?” Cal’s eyes lit up, and for a moment, Schuyler saw not the aged face hiding the scars of his over-glamouring, but the youthful one he warmly remembered.
“Cal, if it happens, it’ll happen. How about we remove the pressure of the idea for now and have dinner as friends. Would that be okay?”
Cal brightened up more, “I’d love it.”
“Okay then, tonight at what, 7?”
“Sure,” Cal spotted the customers approaching the counter and backed away, heading for the exit, “I’ll… um… text you.” He lingered awkwardly in the doorway a minute as Schuyler smiled and nodded before turning his attention to his customers.
