AllsFair

by AlexandraOHurley

  Easing up to her knees, she placed a leg over his waist, straddling his cock. She loved the searing burn of his heat against her tender flesh, and she sighed in delight. His hands reached for her hips, pulling her closer to him as he ground his body into her. The friction was nearly too much for her to bear, and she trembled.

  One of his thick, strong hands reached up to cup one breast, his thumb and forefinger twisting and plucking the tender flesh of her nipple. She ground her own hips against him and was charmed by the male groan of need that vibrated in her ears.

  She lifted herself slightly as she reached for his cock, placing the head against the wet entrance of her pussy. Just as she began the descent down his length, she heard the screeching noise beside her.

  Beeeeeeeeeep, beeeeeeeeeep, beeeeeeeeep!

  Slamming her hand down on the alarm clock, Kami dropped back into her cold bed alone. The dreams of the chocolate-haired man were getting more and more intense as the weeks went by, and she thought she would go mad at the sexual intensity she felt after each one. Need was a powerful thing.

  She jumped from her bed, dressed, and headed out for another day of work. Locking her door, she bolted down the two flights of stairs to the front door of her apartment building. Pausing at the front door, she wrapped herself tightly against the extreme cold she knew was awaiting her on the other side of the door.

  As soon as her feet hit the pavement, she picked up her pace, not just because of the cold, but because of the intense feeling that she was being watched. Looking behind her, she only saw the empty street and the haunting faces of the other buildings surrounding her. Not able to push past the feeling, she pushed herself harder, needing to get to her destination fast.

  Suddenly, a chill raced through her, like an electric spark, and she felt disoriented. Raising a hand to her head, she wobbled and tried to capture herself. A tugging came from behind her just as a large SUV whizzed past her. Turning, she saw an old homeless woman smiling up at her.

  “You almost caught your death, little one. One needs be more careful. The streets are a dangerous place.”

  A feeling of revolt and nausea rolled through Kami as she looked at the decrepit woman, perhaps from her filthy appearance or her even-worse body odor. Kami bit the inside of her cheek to attempt to check herself. The woman may be dirty, but she had potentially saved her life.

  Smiling, Kami tried to ensure the gesture made it to her eyes. “Thank you. I dazed out there for a moment.”

  “Don’t mention it. We girls need to look out for one another.” The hacking laughter the woman emitted made the hairs on Kami’s neck stand up straight, and the desire to run from the woman was monumental. Laughter quickly turned into coughing, and Kami took the woman’s inattention as the escape she needed.

  Moving quickly, she crossing the street and kept walking as fast as her feet would take her. Kami looked back down the street as if she was missing something. She looked over her shoulder once more, the feeling she was being watched stronger than before, but she saw no one. She felt a sense of longing, of loss, and it swelled inside her suddenly, so much so, she was on the brink of tears.

  Too little sleep or too much caffeine must be the reason why I am feeling jittery, or maybe almost walking out in front of a speeding SUV. Talk about major duh moments.

  Perhaps that was why she felt so emotional. Coming face-to-face with the grill of a huge vehicle about to mow her down could have an impact on one’s emotional state. With one last look over her shoulder, she threw her thick woolen scarf over her neck and sighed before shivering once more.

  This has to be the coldest winter on record. Walking across the icy paths became more and more treacherous, but at least if she did fall, it would probably be into one of the large snow banks that littered the sides. Too bad the gritty streets had turned most of the snow brown, and the snowplows had mixed up the mess, so even though it might break her fall a little, it would make her filthy and disgusting.

  Having moved to the city to push her career further, she felt more like she had moved to Antarctica, and the weatherman seemed to agree. It appeared as though the entire country had broken temperature records on a daily basis over the last few weeks, and Kami wasn’t sure this had been the best time to make this move.

  After a year here, she still lived in an incredibly expensive, lonely little two-room apartment, still worked at the coffeehouse three blocks away, and had no real friends. With no boyfriend, either. A master’s degree in art history, and she was serving up double espressos to white-collar pains in her ass every day instead of working for one of twenty museums or fifty galleries found in the city.

  Pulling her shoulder bag closer to her in hopes of blocking a little more of the wind that howled louder and louder each day, she finally reached Morning Joe and pushed inside. The aroma of freshly ground beans and brewing coffee smacked her in the face as she entered, and she inhaled deeply. No matter how much she hated this job, she loved that smell more than anything. Plus, it was warmer here than in her little run-down apartment.

  Walking behind the counter, she slipped into the coatroom. She dropped her heavy coat, gloves, hat, and scarf on one of the hooks and left her shoulder bag on the floor below it. She then grasped a deep-purple apron, and she tied it around her body as she glanced out the small window in the middle of the door and watched as her two other coworkers ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.

  The weather may have become super cold, but it was doing amazing things for business. Washing her hands in the small sink just inside the door, she watched as the office door burst open, and the yummiest male on the planet issued forth. Okay, so maybe there was another reason she kept this job besides the smell of coffee.

  Her boss, Joseph “JC” Elocin, was an everyday Adonis, looking to her as if he walked off the pages of GQ, as if she had ever looked inside a GQ in her life. She had a good imagination, though, and if she did read GQ then this is the kind of man she could envision gracing the pages.

  This was the man who graced her naughty dreams, and he even looked better in person. Dark chocolate-colored hair flowed like silk from the top of his head and just caressed the tips of his stiffly starched shirt—he was a constant contradiction, and she loved it.

  The same color from his locks melted into his eyes, which swirled with a beautiful amber light that twinkled when he smiled or laughed. Ah, when he smiled, he had the cutest dimple that she just wanted to lick. The soft crinkling at the corners of his eyes made her heart melt.

  But when he frowned at her, like he was doing right now, the wrinkle between his brows made him look so tough and hard, and it just made her want to…Oh, God, I’m doing it again aren’t I?

  “If you are done daydreaming, could ya go help your two stressed coworkers? I need to go run to the grocery store and pick up a few items. This cold has been great for business but hell on our supplies.” That wrinkle furrowed farther between his eyes as she felt the whoosh of air when his hands moved in front of her face. “Earth to Kami!”

  Shaking her head, Kami attempted to clear her lust-addled mind and to try to seem less like a total moron then she currently did. She stood up straight and mumbled some nonsense about the cold freezing her brain and she was short-circuited before she rushed out into the coffee bar. Kami grabbed the next customer in line before noting the top of JC’s head before he stepped out into the cold February day.

  Her thoughts were all over the place after the day she was having. The erotic dream that flitted back through her mind. The image of JC ready to penetrate her flashed into her brain once more, and her whole body tightened.

  He was the perfect man. Driven to succeed, the business flourished under his strong leadership. Intelligent, the conversations she had once been able to have with him, before her erotic dreams had nearly made it impossible, had been thought provoking. He was the kindest man she had ever met and was genuinely interested in the people he talked to.

  Add in the fact that he was hot
as hell and had a body that screamed “fuck me,” and he was indeed the perfect package. Sighing, she burned her thumb as she poured coffee all over herself.

  * * * *

  Eros stood in the back of the shop, looking at the woman spill coffee all over her hand. She was a lovely female, seemingly plain with her hair braided back, lack of makeup, and simple clothing, but he could sense the fire within her begging to be released. She could not compare to Psyche, of course, but what woman could? Even his own mother, Venus, who embodied beauty itself, had been jealous of Psyche’s allure.

  In another place, another time, he could see himself attracted to the woman had he not had his love to warm his bed at home. The woman behind the counter had flawless porcelain skin, and the cold had caused her cheeks and lips to ripen with a hint of red. Her thick hair flamed down her neck in the loose braid, and she had eyes the color of a summer day. He also saw the longing in those eyes as she had watched the tall, dark man exit the building.

  The same man who had been behind the wheel of that SUV. This was going to be easier than I thought.

  Humming to himself as a patron jostled him from behind, Eros turned to look at the tiny man who had had the gall to push him. Seconds later, the tiny man must have been surprised to find himself in the middle of a field in coastal Ireland. Eros grabbed his tall mocha cappuccino with double whip and sipped the first delicious taste of the coffee while getting a wad of whipped cream on his nose. He smiled at the beauty before finding himself a seat near a window to watch her. Seconds later, he became invisible so he could truly enjoy the show.

  * * * *

  JC stood in line at the local grocery, awaiting his turn, thinking back on his early morning run-in with Kami. The woman was driving him insane with her odd drifts off to never-never land. When she drifted, he often found her staring at him, and it unnerved him.

  It made him wonder if she realized just how attracted he was to her. That frightened him even more, as she was his employee, and he just wasn’t that kind of person. Always the professional, he had to draw a line in the sand when she was around and pretend that he wasn’t imagining how soft her perfect porcelain skin was or how he could get lost in the deep blue depths of her eyes.

  Her looks had been the thing that had first caught his attention. She was absolutely gorgeous, but she didn’t seem to notice it herself. Kami’s humility and strong mind had been the thing that had kept his attention. She was a hard worker, reliable, and could expect the needs of others before they realized themselves.

  Although hardworking wasn’t a trait he ever imagined to be at the top of his attraction list, respect was. He respected Kami, and that was monumental. She worked just as hard as he did and took ownership of what she was doing.

  Morning Joe had been his clear focus for many years as it took persistence and hard work to get a business off the ground and smarts to keep it running. He had put 110 percent of himself into the daily operations of the coffeehouse, working hard to establish a reputation in the community. There was no time for family and friends, and over the years most everyone in his life had drifted from him.

  Now, after nearly a decade, business was strong, and the cold weather made it even better. He was considering hiring a manager to run the day-to-day so he could focus on seeing the bigger picture and perhaps even find him a little bit of time to find a life again.

  Every single solitary time he thought about having a life, Kami popped into his head. As she had been staring at him this morning, he had felt the desire to reach out and run his fingers through her hair, releasing it from the soft braid she always wore to work. He had never seen the mass of waves released from its confines, and when he closed his eyes to imagine what she may look like with it loose, he envisioned it flowing across the light-blue silk sheets that covered his bed. His bed that had been empty for far too long. That thought made him envision her nude form below his own as he licked every inch of her creamy skin.

  “Hey, buddy, are you gonna move up or what?”

  Forcing himself from his reverie, he turned to look at the snarling woman behind him. Shaking his head, he tried in vain to get Kami out of his head as he stepped up to the register. He was afraid it was a losing battle. Apparently, Kami’s daydreaming was contagious.

  * * * *

  Eros sat back in his chair to get more comfortable and wiped at his nose to ensure he had gotten all the remnants of whipped cream off. Turning to his left, wondering when the SUV driver would return, he was shocked to see Apollo materialize in the seat across from him.

  Eros felt his cheeks contract from the huge smile that formed on his face as he dropped the napkin onto the scarred wood of the table. “What do I owe the honor of the God of Light’s appearance before me in this humble coffee shop?”

  “I was interested in what would bring you down to Earth and away from your precious Psyche, as I would never allow that little morsel to ever be alone. Ever.” Apollo’s leer was almost comical. “You never know. Someone may woo her away.”

  “Do you have designs on stealing my wife, Uncle?”

  “No, not I.” Apollo spread his arms out dramatically before him. “But there are some that are chomping at the bit to get a piece of precious Psyche.” Putting his arms down on the table in front of him, Apollo smiled wickedly while turning to face Eros completely. “So, what pulls you from her loving arms? I watched you on the street this morning. Quite interesting. Always a jolly good show when Eris is involved. And a descendent of a Muse involved as well.” Eros paused, shocked at Apollo’s words. “A Muse? What Muse?”

  “The girl, that one.” Apollo pointed to the counter. “The one you were trying to aid.”

  Eros attempted to ensure that the shock did not show on his face. He turned to look at the beauty once more and shook his head. Why had he not seen it as well? No wonder she had sensed him behind her. She had immortal blood in her.

  “So, why is Eris tempting the Fates?” Apollo’s question pulled him from his reverie. “Good question. My magic had seemed to be ineffective in recent weeks, so I came down to see why no one was lusty or in love. I watched Eris and wonder why myself. I feel there is more to this than simple discord. If it were just her playful antics then it would have been over within a week, maybe two. She is chaotic at best, not capable of this type of long-term focus.”

  “True, but she is over three thousand years old. Maybe she is finally growing up?”

  “You are hilarious, Uncle, but I find it impossible to believe Eris is capable of anything but simple mischief.” Staring stonily toward the auburn beauty, he sighed.

  “What do you plan to do about it? She has already changed the fate of this woman. What makes you linger here?”

  “Ah, but the man in the SUV, the one fated to be her love, is in fact her employer. He owns this fine establishment. Oh, and you must try their mocha cappuccino, it is to die for.”

  Rolling his eyes, Apollo grunted. “You and your love of coffee. I swear if Ganymede knew you sat here now instead of drinking honey mead, he would have your hide.” The two men grinned at each other, knowing that Zeus was probably getting a piece of Ganymede’s hide right at that moment. “And what does him being her employer have to do with any of this?”

  “If Eris can interfere and change fate, why can’t I recreate it?”

  “But once their fate is changed, do you really think you can reweave the fibers and bring the two together again?”

  “I can try. I’m not sure if the act has moved their course in a new direction, but dammit, I have to try. Maybe it will be enough to send a message to Eris, or whoever is truly behind this, that I will not allow this planet and its people to die off.”

  “Well, good luck. Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you in this fine mystery.”

  “There is. See what you can find out in Olympia as to whom Eris has been consorting with as of late.”

  A deep scowl crossed Apollo’s face. “I do not do your bidding, God of Lust.”
<
br />   “Please, for me, Uncle.”

  The elder god shook his head, looking as if he was beat. Eros knew he was the only family member Apollo could stand the sight of. “You are going to owe me a big one, I swear. Why I didn’t write you off as I did the rest of this family, I will never know.” Apollo preened a moment and then added, “And can you drop this uncle bit? We both know you are not Aphrodite’s child but a child of Nyx. You can play that tired old uncle crap in front of Zeus, since he apparently doesn’t want to face the fact you are primordial and therefore, technically not controlled by him, but when it is just you and I, give it up. Besides, I am younger than you, so it’s just creepy.”

  Eros smiled. “Of course, Unc—Apollo. Anything you wish.” Eros smiled to himself, knowing Apollo was right. “You will try to gather information for me?”

  Sighing wearily, Apollo stood to leave. “‘Gather’ makes me sound as though I am your errand boy.”

  “I would never presume to say that, Apollo. The collection of information would be vital to this situation. If I can’t count on your assistance, this is doomed from the start.”

  “I do shut up your babbling.” Apollo ran his fingers through his golden hair, preening yet again. “Your ass-kissing skills need work. But since you are the only family member I can stomach for more than a few moments, yes, I will see what I can find. Of course, it may not be much, but I will try.” Apollo had begun to shimmer out of visibility with the last few words and was gone.

  Moments after Apollo left, the SUV man walked back inside the door, the bell atop it chiming with his presence. Eros watched as he walked across the tiled floor toward the crowded counter, dropping his bags behind it, noting that he only had eyes for the auburn beauty the entire time. Much easier than I thought.

  * * * *