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“Are all the bottoms fleeing to the city or something? Because there is a distinct shortage in an already limited pool of options out here.”

Bailey snorts a laugh but says nothing more on the subject. Then the end credits for the first movie begin to roll.

Chapter seventeen

Cas

Well, then. This is not at all going according to plan. After coming to terms with the idea that I will not be killing Will anytime soon, I need to go in search of an immediate outlet for my base urges before I get sloppy. That’s what I carved out my night to do. Sigh. What a mess.

I’ve seen him before at the farmer’s market and he’s never been subtle. He loves to flirt and has all but asked me out. So when I saw him by chance, sans wife, I took a chance. I know a sure thing when I come across it.

It takes time, and it takes effort, but not so much that the reward becomes overshadowed. One long shower later, I’m curled up in a nice clean outfit, including a shirt I stole from Will. As in, he likely doesn’t know I took it when I saw him, but it smells just like him and I need something to keep me from going berserk.

After spending as much time with Will as I have, I’ve come to the realization we should not work. We are too similar. He likes to top. I like to top. Yet, when I’m with him, I findmyself bending to his will and I actually love it. He wants me all to himself. I want him all to myself. Instead of our neurosis overcoming us, we rev each other up and feed off it. And then, there’s the part of him I glimpsed long ago but readily dismissed. He’s too much like me already, but I need to knowexactlyhow much. I’m hoping Cas can get the truth out of him.

Purple Puppy:I’ve missed you, baby.

Purple Puppy:And I need you.

Purple Puppy:When can soon be right now?

Orchid Mantis:When I feel like it’s going to be a good decision on my part.

Purple Puppy:As opposed to?

Orchid Mantis:Reckless. Maybe dangerous.

Purple Puppy:You make me seem so scary.

Oh, if only he knew.

Purple Puppy:I don’t scare you, do I?

Orchid Mantis:No. Until now, we’ve been very compatible. What I need is reassurance that’s going to extend to when we meet in person.

Purple Puppy:Okay. And what do I need to do to do that?

Orchid Mantis:Give me real honesty. Tell me everything you think I need to know and then some.

Purple Puppy:I’m not typing this out.

I’m about to call him on his shit when the phone rings in my hand. He really is more careful than I give him credit for sometimes.

“Hey,” he says when I answer. Surprisingly, he sounds normal, but I’ve also never spoken to him this early in the day. “If this is about who’s going to bottom, I swear I will if that’s what it takes.”

“No.” I laugh. “This is more… I need you to give me a preview of what’s going to happen.”

“Baby.” His voice unexpectedly softens, and that does something entirely new to me. “I won’t do anything you don’t want. I can’t make promises, but I will always promise that much.”

“And what will you do to me, consensually?”

“Ideally?”

“Sure.”

“Everything you don’t want me to do.”

And fuck, that makes my hair stand on end.