Sneak-Peek Stand-in! (Patreon)

So it turns out I'm between novels and don't have a lot to "sneak-peek" at for the mid-month post... but I figure maybe an extra-short story timed to the calendar might substitute okay?

(To answer a question I should've expected: still trying to work to a joint release date with Audible. The ebook is done, the paperback is a formatting issue I need to work out but that's not too bad, but coordinating w/Audible takes time.)

“Always thought I’d make a bigger deal than this.” Alex set the leather-bound menu aside. He made a point of looking sharp tonight, though stopping short of a suit and tie. “We’ve been busy, but I’m still kinda surprised how it snuck up on me.”

“Right?” said Rachel. “Me, too.” Even with her wings and halo hidden from mortal view, she looked radiant. Her wardrobe tended toward white and close-fitting, not too different from her natural angelic dress.

“Hm?” Lorelei’s attention had turned to her phone as soon as she made a selection. “A bigger deal than what?”

“Flowers and dinner out,” said Alex.

“For?”

Alex and Rachel shared an awkward glance. The search for words kept his eyes moving past their table. Candlelight and the shine of customers looking their best awaited everywhere, but no one held his attention like his dates. Neither of them had to make much effort there—but then he noticed, for once, Lorelei really didn’t seem to be trying. Not any harder than usual, anyway.

“You don’t know what day it is?” asked Alex.

“It’s Friday.” Lorelei shrugged. “I thought you were happy to make it to the weekend.”

“Fuck me, are you serious?” Rachel laughed.

Lorelei caught on as soon as she glanced around the room. “Oh,” she sighed. “My loves, I am so sorry. I’ve been focused on the conservatory. I didn’t realize this would mean a great deal to either of you.”

“Turns out it’s less of a thing than I expected,” said Rachel. “You see all this shit every year and think it’d be nice to jump in, but now it’s…”

“Friday?” Lorelei finished.

“Yeah.”

“Wow,” said Alex. “I just…I’ve never been with anyone this time of year, y’know?”

“Aw, hey,” said Rachel.

“My love,” Lorelei began, her hand finding his across the table.

“No, it’s fine,” said Alex, finding it surprisingly true. “I only figured it’d be a bigger deal for you two and I didn’t want to let you down.”

“Every other day is pretty fuckin’ great,” said Rachel.

“Alex. I am three thousand years old, and Rachel is older. This?” She gestured to the décor. “This became a marketing push barely more than a century ago.”

“So you’re good without…?”

“If I want anything special tonight, it’s to have both of you beneath me, helplessly begging for the mercy of climax. Over and over again. That has nothing to do with the calendar.”

Slowly, Alex turned his eyes to Rachel, who looked every bit as interested. “There’s probably other people waiting for this table, anyway,” said Alex. “It’s crowded.”

“Are you trying to make this into something generous to get me horny?” asked Rachel.

“Hornier, maybe.”

“Fair.”

“Is it working?”

“It’s a cheap move, but yeah,” she admitted.

“Then I feel like I’ve done my bit for the holiday. Let’s get out of here.”