Page 2 of Double Shot

Just like my last date. And the one before that. I either met guys who just immediately wanted to fuck, or I met guys who were willing to go on dates but they were always weird. Or they still just wanted to fuck, but were prepared to pay for dinner beforehand to get some.

Clarence pouted and spent five more minutes trying to convince me to share the chocolate lava cake with him before I finally managed to catch the eye of the server and asked him to please bring us the check. He did so quickly, perhaps sensing my desperation to get away from my date.

I breathed a sigh of relief as we stepped out onto the dark street a few minutes later. The restaurant Clarence had brought me to was in the district with a heavy concentration of supernatural-run and -frequented places, so I was familiar with the area. We were across the street from the bakery Nat and I liked to get a little treat from after jogging—okay, walking slowly while gossiping—around Tirnal Park.

It was still open. I perked up, eyeing the pastries and donuts in the window. Hughie, the owner, would be selling them for cheap now to get rid of them before he closed. My mouth was already practically watering. I was going to buy a whole fucking bag, then go home and eat them in bed on the phone to Nat.

“That was a fantastic meal,” Clarence said, still seemingly unaware of how little I’d enjoyed it. Or his company.

“Mm.” I managed a tight-lipped smile and made a big show of peering around. “I think I’m going to—”

“Oh, look.” He pointed down the street, where I could see the glowing sign of the grocery store Fauntastic Foods, its bright overhead lights spilling out from the glass windows onto the sidewalk. “Where we met. Gosh, what serendipity, huh?” He sighed.

“Yeah,” I said warily, looking between the Fauntastic Foods and Deo’s Bakery.

I’d been super flattered when Clarence had come up to me in the grocery store. I’d never been hit on in a grocery store before. He’d appeared by my side while I was picking out avocados and asked what I was going to make with them. Within a minute or two, he’d asked me on a date.

I’d said yes because he’d seemed kind of nice, and he’d told me he was a faun, and I’d been interested to get to know him better. And find out how fauns liked to fuck. I’d never had sex with one before.

And, it would seem, I was going to be waiting a while longer to find out. Because I did not want to have sex with Clarence. That was confirmed now. Cemented into my brain. This date was over.

Time to be firm and decisive and assertive, Klaus. You can do it.

I cleared my throat. “Well, thanks for—”

“Klaus.” Clarence turned to face me.

I wilted a little. I just didn’t have it in me to say goodbye and walk off, not without at least trying to explain… “Yeah?”

He hesitated, then took a tiny step closer, until the toe of his sandal almost touched my boot. “I just want to say… you’re the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life.”

I froze, my breath catching, my heart giving a little thud in my chest. “Wha… R-really?”

He nodded solemnly, gaze roaming over my face. “You’re stunning. When I saw you at the grocery store… I never do that, by the way—approach strangers like that—but I just had to. I had to talk to you.”

Oh my. My throat bobbed as I stared at him in stunned silence.

That was… kind of sweet. Kind of… romantic, actually.

I felt a little flushed.

Fuck. Did I like Clarence? Was he The One? That was super romantic and it felt like he meant it. You know? Like he really thought I was that beautiful.

Trying to keep my expression appropriately demure, I tucked a stray curl behind my ear and smiled. “Thank you, Clarence.”

“I’m not ready for this night to end,” he breathed, impassioned, then he suddenly grabbed my hand to clutch it tight.

My breath caught again as I stared at him, a little taken aback.

Gosh… he really liked me, didn’t he? Wow. That thick-dicked gargoyle guy hadn’t been able to leave my apartment fast enough after he was done blowing my back out. He definitely hadn’t said anything romantic like that. Or called me stunning and beautiful.

Maybe Clarence was The One.

“Should we… go and get a drink somewhere?” I asked, twining my fingers through his and not hating the feel. His hands were kind of clammy, but he was probably nervous. Nervous to be holding my hand, because he thought I was just that stunningly beautiful. That was so cute. And so flattering.

“Yes. Let’s.” He was still gazing at me, and when I saw his eyes flicker down toward my lips and flare with heat, my body had a weird reaction. Kind of like… instant repulsion. But no, I was just… nervous. And not ready for that yet.

I wanted to take things slow this time. Yeah, that was it. It wasn’t because the thought of kissing him made me feel mildly ill, it was just because we hadn’t got to know each other enough yet. I just needed more time.