Page 79 of A Taste of Bliss

“I don’t think he’s super picky about physical appearance for either men or women. It’s about their personality,” I say, starting to ramble. “She’s got a shit personality, so maybe it’s not so oddafter all.” I sit down on the hay bench. “And seriously, what’s with the fucking ribbons?”

Benny and Evan let out little chuckles.

But for some reason I don’t think they’re laughing with me.

I let out a sigh. “I fucked up, though,” I admit, my eyes finding Benny’s.

“What do you mean?”

“She was trying to flirt with Simon, and then with me. I could feel it. But I could also feelguilt.She’s up to something, but I have no idea what. It pisses me off that she’s messing with Simon. I might have lost it on her.”

“You bit her?” Evan asks, his face going paler than normal.

“No, no, nothing like that.” I groan. “Honestly, though, that might have been better.”

“Stars, what did you say?” Benny asks.

Before I can launch into the full story, a new set of volunteers comes to relieve us from our duties. I leave the prizes to them, heading out with Evan and Benny.

As we walk out, one thing settles clearly in my mind.

I took it too far with Bliss.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

BLISS

Between the millionand one things I have to do as band manager, I finally manage to carve out some time to go check in on everyone at the townhome. I haven’t run into Taser yet, and now that my flirting went so poorly with Simon, I’ve been keeping busy so I don’t run into him anywhere. Between Taser, Simon, Grim, and Jordan, I’m seriously starting to develop quite a few boy problems.

I am still fucking furious with Taser—and myself.

Simon I will never be able to hang out with again out of embarrassment.

Grim is gorgeous and flirty but has no rune.

Jordan I need to avoid like the plague.

And now Pisces, who was a complete ass for absolutely no reason.

I come to a stop in the living room, looking around at everyone. Blake and Amelia are playing a card game at the coffee table and Reese is in a heated discussion with Tubbs over Voracious Maw’s drummer, Mist.

They’re both arguing that he is the best drummer in existence, but they can’t seem to agree on why.

“It’s the way he’ll intentionally lag on a beat that makes their music so interesting,” Reese is saying.

Tubbs shakes his head, pointing his set of drumsticks at her. “That part is great, don’t get me wrong, but that’s easy if you have good timing, which all drummers should. It’s the inspiration he takes from all different genres for me.”

I stop paying attention to the weird discussion.

“Would you two just get a room with Mist already? Have a threesome!” Taser mutters under his breath as he flips through a magazine. His eyes sweep over to me and I angle my head towards the staircase. I don’t check to make sure he follows. I know he will.

We end up in the primary suite. I poke my head out to make sure no one else came upstairs before I close the door. When I turn Taser is taking his shirt off.

“What are you doing?” I yell at him.

He looks at me like a deer in headlights. “What?” He throws his shirt back on. “I thought that’s why you wanted me up here. You didn’t exactly recharge much this morning. I thought you needed to power up again, my bad.”

“You and I are never doing that again,” I mutter, crossing my arms.