I spin slowly and blink at him.
His hand reaches out to touch them. “I think they’d look good on you.”
Despite the betrayal, I flush hotly, and my ears flick. I would very much like to know how they feel on me. How they look. But even with the money I have in my hand, I do not think I should waste it on something so frivolous.
‘No, thank you,’ I sign.
Dante pulls a face. “But you like them.”
I do not answer, and eventually he lets them go and jerks his head, asking me to follow him to the counter. My claws pad lightly on the low, rough carpet as we make our way to the front of the shop, and I can see that he’s turned the lock and the closed sign is on the door.
It is perhaps early, but he doesn’t seem to regret it. Maybe he knows that I am…unsettled. Seeing him now, I want to kiss him. To hold him. But I also want to know why he has lied to me for so long.
“Are you okay?” he asks me after a long beat of silence.
I nod, but it feels like I’m lying now, so I stop and shake my head. Then I stop because I’m notnotokay. It’s all very confusing, and I don’t like this feeling. I don’t like feeling anything other than possessive and wild over my Dante.
“Do we need to talk?”
I nod.
“Okay.” He leans on the counter, then his gaze catches on my hand where I’m still holding the money. “Oh. Is that cash? Where did that come from?”
“Quilliyn,” I tell him.
“Don’t tell me you’re stripping for him? I mean, I’d pay to see that, but I also kind of don’t want anyone else looking at you.”
“Noooo. I weeerk nowww at theee gimmmmm.”
“What? No way! That is amazing!” He is genuinely happy about it, and my hearts thud in my chest. “So, what do you do there?”
He waits so patiently for me to say, “Latteeeehhs.”
“Oh my god, your dream job.” He leans forward, and I cannot help but let my lips find his. He tastes wonderful, like mine, and it eases some of the frustration and hurt in my chest.
“I am so proud of you.”
It is clear as if he is speaking directly to me. I know this is special. Something last night changed who we are to each other. And that helps the pain, too.
“Theeeenk youuu.”
“You’re welcome.”
He looks so pleased with me. I enjoy it very much. But I also must remain strong. Quilliyn is right. Dante must know that he upset me.
I hold up my hands and sign, ‘You tricked me.’
His face falls, his mouth opening and closing. “What do you mean?”
He is breathless from the lies.
‘You have fed me your cum. It was not from the factory.’
“What? How…why do you think that?” he stammers. I can feel him in my head, though. He knows he’s caught.
‘Q gave me cum from the factory as payment. It tasted wrong. Strange. He said it all tastes like that,’ I sign, my fingers working furiously. ‘What you have been giving me came from you. I know it. I tasted you last night.’
His cheeks flush, and he glances away, his lashes fluttering. “Forgive me,” he whispers.
