by Ashley Ladd
“Perfectly fine. Never better.”
A group of women started to gather around them. They ogled Leo, their hot, hungry gazes glued to the gaping fly of his jeans.
The teasing glimpse of his white underwear peeking out, the trail of golden hair disappearing into the waistband… Jealousy blazed down her veins and her tailbone twitched. Her ears flattened against her skull. She stepped in front of Leo, turned him
46 Heavenly Hijinks
and marched him back to the dressing room. “Can I go in with him?” Without waiting for the open-mouthed salesgirl’s reply, she said, “Good!” Clestie dragged Leo into the small cubicle and locked the door behind them.
Swallowing hard, she turned her back to him and closed her eyes. “Go ahead and change. Let me know when you’re decent.”
Hangers clicked and the whoosh of sliding material sounded through the cubicle. The heavy denim material grazed her hand and she longed to sneak a peek. But she clung to her pride and squeezed her eyes shut even tighter.
“Okay, I’m decent. You can look,” Leo practically purred.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she opened her eyes—and froze. A very naked, very large Leo stood beside her in the mirror. Her gaze devoured his beautiful and impressive cock thrusting out through the glorious waves of his golden hair.
“Oh god.” She covered her eyes with her hands. “I thought you said you were decent.”
His large, warm paws turned her slowly and deliberately around. He slid a finger beneath her chin and said, “Look at me, Clestie. Am I not to your liking? Be truthful.”
Without opening her eyes, she managed to strangle out through very parched lips, “Y-yes. Y-you’re very beautiful. But this isn’t r-right.”
Then why did it feel so incredible? So tempting? So naughtily decadent?
“What if they have security cameras videotaping all this?” What if they weren’t the only ones in the dressing rooms?
“What if?” Leo dragged her roughly against his length, crushing her lips beneath his. He ground against her stomach and then lifted her off the ground so that his cock nestled against her pussy.
She parted her lips and drank deeply of his ambrosia, losing herself in him. When he plundered her lips, she moaned deeply. When he set her back on her feet, she groaned in protest of losing his heat.
“Helen and Aphrodite would be jealous of your exquisite beauty.”
“You’re the beautiful one,” she murmured, tingling all over.
“We’re a match.”
She recalled a bit of her astrology. “But Leos and Scorpios aren’t a match made in heaven.” Richard, a Cancer, was supposed to be her perfect match.
Leo grimaced and lowered his head to lick her cleavage with a long, sensual sweep of his tongue. “Believe me, those that rule the heavens aren’t always right. Leos and Scorpios both possess great passion and zest for life. I sense great passion in you.”
For the first time in her life, so did she. For this man.
He buried himself deeper in the valley of her breasts, dipping his tongue under the rim of her tank top.
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She clung to him lest her knees buckle. She reveled in the soft tickling caress of his silky cascading hair. Flinging her head back, she gave him free access to her breasts as he shoved aside the suffocating material and suckled a beaded nipple.
“We really shouldn’t be doing this,” she said halfheartedly as she pushed herself deeper into his mouth. “Here,” she added. “We’ll be the store detective’s porno flick.” But the thought of having an illicit audience only fueled her ardor and she squirmed. Richard would never dream of indulging in so much as a kiss in public.
Leo murmured against her breast, his breath hot and sultry. “Then where?” His hand slid under the edge of her pants and he cupped her pussy. The pad of his thumb circled her clit. He delved two long, talented fingers inside and explored her most private cave.
He released her nipple and plundered her lips. Against them, he murmured, “’Tis too late to stop this tide—for either of us.”
She nodded and squirmed against his hand. She shoved at her own pants, no longer caring about anything, except knowing this man completely. She yearned to possess and be possessed, to learn every secret of his flesh, heart and soul.
“Here is good,” she whispered. Anywhere was heavenly.
He backed her against the wall and plunged his cock into her pussy.
The flimsy wall shook with the force of his strokes. He pounded into her and caught her moans in his mouth.
It was all she could do not to scream out her rapture. She clutched at his back, clawed his flesh and wound his glorious hair around her. Her temperature skyrocketed as she met him thrust for exquisite thrust.
Loud knocking broke into her reverie. “Are you okay in there? We’re going to use the key and come in.”
“No!” Leo growled and slammed his hand against the door. “Give us a minute.”
Mortified, Clestie tried to tear herself away, but he held her tight as his release flooded into her and ran down her legs. She hissed, “Let me go.”
“Not until you’ve had your pleasure,” he murmured against the pulsing vein in her neck and as he ground his cock deeper into her pussy.
Oh, but she had! Moans escaped her lips as his heavenly gyrations set her on fire. She was so close that she quivered uncontrollably. Her heart pounded heavily against her ribs and she couldn’t catch her breath. Needing him more than she’d ever needed any man, she impaled herself on his luscious cock until the earth quaked beneath her feet.
“Your beauty takes my breath away.” Reverently, he swept her wild and damp hair away from her face. “The goddesses are surely jealous.”
She’d never felt so precious, so special, or so giddy. Ecstatic, she writhed against him and flung back her head. Pressing her lips to his throat, she murmured with a smile, “You’re a strange man, Leo the Lion.” Strange but wonderful.
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Renewed pounding on the door startled her. Fear surged through her heart. She was about to be a new business owner and a jailbird. She tried to pull away. “We’re out of time. We have to go.”
He savored her lips and then murmured against them, “We’re not finished.”
Thrilled and yet apprehensive, she trembled and pulled away this time.
He grazed his knuckles along her cheek. “I mean it.”
She hopped around as she tugged up her slacks. “Oh god. I can’t believe we did that.”
Leo leaned against the pounding door and tugged up his pants before leisurely buttoned his shirt. “Believe me, we’re not the first to use these premises such.”
Eh. He was probably right. She giggled and then laughed outright.
“Come out now or we’re calling security,” a peevish feminine voice warned.
Leo grabbed Clestie’s hand and with a sly smile, quickly moved clear of the door.
The door burst open and the sales clerk tumbled onto the floor. “Get out and don’t come back.”
“Guess we’ll take our business elsewhere.” Clestie turned up her nose. “Pity. We were going to spend a bundle. Oh well…the quality’s substandard anyway.”
Leo paused and offered a hand up to the young woman who tried to scramble to her feet. “Are you all right?”
The woman scowled and brushed away his hand. “I’m fine. Please just go.”
Clestie tugged Leo behind her, in a hurry to leave. “Let’s get some pizza. I’m starved.”
“Pizza?” Leo’s brows puckered.
Clestie stopped dead and stared at him. “Are you putting me on? Have you truly never tasted pizza?”
Leo shook his head. “Never.”
“Oh, you’re in for a real treat. It’s pure ambrosia.”
“Then I must try it.”
She sniffed, followed the wonderful smell of the pepperoni. Her nose led her to the bustling, noisy food court where at least two hundred tables crowde
d into a tiny space.
She spied a couple vacating one of the tables and made a beeline for it. Soon as they cleared off their trays, she said, “Sit here and wait for me. I’ll be right back with some food. Regular cola okay?”
He stretched out on the chair and his hair fanned around him, earning him several appreciative looks from women of all ages.
Missing his touch, afraid he’d wander off, Clestie hurried. A few minutes later she balanced a tray with two sodas and four slices of pizza, two plain cheese and two pepperoni.
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When she spied Leo amidst a swarm of women, she misstepped and almost dropped the tray. Transfixed, a sliver of jealousy catching her off-guard, she watched the melee for several moments before approaching.
The women took turns sitting with Leo, talking in earnest and then leaving with wide grins and flirtatious winks. A few stroked his hair and hung all over him.
Was this what life with Leo would be like? Good thing he wasn’t her man or she’d have to claw out their eyes. But it would be dynamite for business if he pulled in customers so easily.
Who cares about the business? the little devil on her shoulder hissed.
Her stomach clenched.
Go break it up, the devil said on a snarl.
Clestie squared her shoulders and marched over to the crowd. “I see you’ve been kept well entertained so I won’t worry you missed me.” She glared at the goth girl in her chair and narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me, but you’re sitting in my seat.”
The young woman scrunched her nose in protest but rose. “He’s not done…”
A collective sigh went up from the growing crowd. “But he’s not helped us yet.”
Clestie didn’t know whether to groan or shout for joy. She wished she had cards to pass out and bring official business the shop’s way. She put that on the top of her to-do list.
Or did she have to? She pasted her most professional smile on and stood. “Leo will be available for astrological readings beginning tomorrow at Petunia’s Mystic Sensations.” She gave the address, phone number and shop hours.
“What’s your email address? Your website? Can we get online readings?” a young man asked as he pushed toward the front of the crowd, his pen busily jotting down the information Clestie imparted.
Clestie’s mind went blank. She didn’t know if Petunia had moved into the internet age, but if she hadn’t, she’d have to hire a website designer. “That’s to be announced soon,” she said with a slight shrug.
Her mind clicked ahead three miles a minute. Online astrological readings… She’d run across several online psychics in her astrological searches. This could be a gold mine.
She repeated the information several times for those in the back who couldn’t hear or write quickly enough. But the crowd continued to linger, their gazes worshipping the sexy blond as the pizza grew cold and the ice melted in their drinks.
She scowled. “Let me get warm food for you.”
Leo clamped a forestalling hand on Clestie’s forearm. “This will be fine.” He stood and smiled to the crowd. “If you’ll pardon us while we dine, I will be most happy to meet with each of you individually should you decide to visit our shop.”
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Clestie nodded and nibbled on a piece of pepperoni that was sliding off the side of her slice. Even cool pizza beat warm veggies. She savored the sauce clinging to the thin round of meat as Leo bit into his slice, and she anticipated his pleasure.
Rapture lit his divine features and he quickly gobbled up the wedge. “The gods don’t know what they’ve been missing.”
She laughed lightly. “So what’s your favorite food?”
Leo stroked his chin and stared into the distance. Then he brought his gaze back to hers. “Until I returned to Earth a few days ago, I’d not eaten mortal food in centuries, but I do believe it was lamb something-or-other.”
She had to give him credit for being consistent with his story. As it was easier to humor him than express doubt, she said, “I don’t think I could live without eating. It’s one of my favorite pleasures.”
“I can see I’ve been missing out on a lot of things.” Leo’s appreciative gaze devoured Clestie.
Wildfire licked her veins and she almost choked on the cheese sliding down her throat. Coughing and spluttering, she quickly took a sip of the lukewarm soda. When she could speak again, she averted her gaze. “Well, you look great, not at all deprived.” Except fashion-wise.
She wiped off her mouth, loaded her trash onto the tray and pushed her chair back. Standing, she looked at her companion. “Time to finish shopping. I have a premonition that you’re going to have a very busy opening day tomorrow.”
Leo stood and pushed in his chair. He took her tray and placed it on top of the trash receptacle. He waved at his many fans as if he was a rock star.
She spied a kiss being blown to him by one amorous woman and several winks by others. Jealous, she linked her arm through his and pulled him close against her. When he looked down at her, she mumbled, “I don’t want to get separated from you in this crowd.”
The crowd looked ready to mow her down in their hot, single-minded pursuit of Leo. Would she have to hire security guards to keep peace at the shop?
Leo placed his other hand on her arm and whispered, “Don’t worry. I have no intention of being pulled from your side. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Clestie almost melted at his feet but managed to hold herself together. Barely. She gazed up into the most soulful, beautiful eyes she’d ever seen and almost lost herself. “But you have to get back to the heavens.”
A small frown tugged at his chiseled lips. “Ah, that I must, but that is not my desire.” He pulled his arm away from hers.
An immediate chill shivered down her spine and she missed his touch. God, she had to get a grip.
He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, dropping a light kiss on her cheek.
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Her head spun and butterflies somersaulted in her stomach. She leaned closer into him and inhaled his scent, quickly becoming intoxicated. “What is your desire?” She dare not examine her own desires.
He stopped and turned her gently but inexorably toward him. “To spend my days and nights left on Earth with you.”
Nights?
She gulped and it felt as though the earth quaked beneath her feet. As sweet as it was, she couldn’t let herself continue with this forbidden, impossible fantasy, so she pulled away from him and dredged up a fake smile. “We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, so we need to find you some better clothes.” She glanced down at his ratty sandals. “And shoes.”
* * * * *
Leo imprinted Clestie’s scent on his heart. If only she wasn’t a mortal, a Scorpio with only Leo in her moon…
Fire and water couldn’t mix. Her water would douse his flames… But it hadn’t so far.
Although he was vaguely aware that several women gazed upon him flirtatiously, some with downright lust, they were out of focus. Only Clestie shined brightly, outshining the brightest stars in his constellation.
He couldn’t care less about acquiring new clothes or shoes—he found them stuffy and annoying, nor did his Leos seem to care what he wore, only who he was and how he could help them. But if getting new clothes made Clestie happy, if it meant he could have her undivided attention, he’d take home all the clothes in the mall. If changing his looks meant winning her approval and hopefully her heart, he’d escort her to wherever her heart desired.
Despite his initial disinterest in the new clothing, he marveled at the zippers modern man used to fasten their clothing. But he balked when Clestie tried to put closed-toe shoes on him. He folded his arms and stood firmly. “I prefer sandals.”
Clestie tsk-tsked and shook her head. “You need decent dress shoes and gym shoes as well as sandals.”
“I’ll end up owing you the whole of my wages should you buy so many things fo
r me.”
She waved away his worries with a nonchalant flick of her wrist. “Let me worry about that.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and squared his shoulders. “Sandals only.”
Clestie looked down at his feet and crossed her eyes. Her foot tapped rapidly, making a series of dull thuds on the carpeted floor. “I suppose the beach bum look is more in keeping with the whole zodiac thing.”
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Not liking the sound of that, he narrowed his eyes. “I can assure you the zodiac is quite reputable.”
Chagrin flashed across Clestie’s beautiful face and her brows drew together. “I didn’t mean any insult. I just have trouble believing in it.”
If only he could take her to the stars…
He tilted his head and looked up toward his father. Would Zeus consider exalting her to the heavens?
Thunder shook the building, and several shoes and purses fell off their racks. People jumped and clutched at their bags, each other and anything near them.
Clestie looked up at the ceiling. “Heavens, what was that? It was sunny when we came in here.”
She was right about the heavens part, only his father’s undeniable “no” was not very heavenly. He took Clestie’s hand in his and pulled her out of the store. He eyed the many shopping bags swinging from their arms, filled with all manner of work and play clothes. “Are we through?”
Clestie’s gaze followed his and she laughed lightly. “Is the mall making you claustrophobic?”
He was pleased that she didn’t pull away from him and even curled her fingers around his. He squeezed her hand and murmured against the tantalizing lobe of her ear, “I’d much prefer to have you all to myself.”
She shivered against him and linked her fingers more securely through his. She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss across his lips. “That sounds divine.”
He returned the kiss with an equally light one, wishing he could deepen it. Soon as they were alone in the dark confines of her vessel, he gathered her into his arms and drank deeply of her lips. He stroked her hair away from her lovely face and memorized her delicate bone structure.