Page 7 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

I barely slept last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept picturing Kai with his half hooded ruby gaze and the sensation of his soft fur tail caressing my skin. My imagination kept playing that part on repeat, elaborating on its journey up my leg until it slid up my shorts and stroked other parts of me.

I’ve never been so turned on by the thought of a male in my life. There’s something about Kai and his blunt confidence and flirtatious nature that intrigues me. I know I should heed my brother's warning and forget about Kai, but forgetting about someone like Kai is like forgetting there’s a sun in the sky. You can’t, his presence is blinding and demands attention.

Kai’s promise to come see me again is still playing over in my thoughts when I spot a familiar head of light brown hair making her way through the greenhouse.

“Calliope!” I call over the hedge of greenery and her head whips in my direction revealing the black rim of her glasses and bright kind brown eyes beneath.

Calliope is a human who works at the bakery in town. As far as I know she has no idea about the non-human world and until something changes to allow her to know, I have to keep my non-humanness a secret. Which is a shame. Calliope is the sweetest human I know, and not just because she always smells like sugar and frosting. I doubt she would tell anyone about non-humans, she’s not that kind of person.

“Daisy!” Calliope calls and waves back at me, finding her way around the tangle of hanging vines.

We hug warmly when she reaches me, and I instantly feel more at ease. She’s never questioned my “tattoos” or commented on the flowers in my hair, or even mocked my lack of shoes. She’s the only person I’ve ever met who’s instantly accepted me for me and never made me feel awkward or uncomfortable.

Kind of like Kai , my mind reminds me. I feel like this around Kai, plus a healthy helping of desire and lust. Let’s not forget that little tidbit.

“I’m so glad I found you. You’re awfully busy today. Something special going on I’m not aware of?” Calliope pushes her glasses up her nose and glances around at the abnormally full greenhouse.

I follow her line of sight and realize almost everyone present is a non-human, but Calliope doesn’t know that or that they’re all preparing for the equinox celebrations.

“Um, well, you know how people get when the season changes. Alternating their summer displays for fall colors and blooms. It always happens around this time of year. We’re all very into seasonal decorations.”

I try to play off the influx of customers on a Wednesday as nothing of note. To me it isn’t, we expected as much so close to the equinox. Before I met Kai, I was expecting to see Endo or maybe Julia (the Kingsley family’s personal assistant) picking up flowers for their pre-equinox party. They always have one and it’s usually one of those two who come seeking the best blooms in season for the event.

I don’t know who Endo is to Kai. I never asked how he was related to his family, and we never spoke about his relatives in much detail. I got the impression he didn’t like to. So, we spoke on easier topics like flowers, decorations, and the upcoming celebrations.

“Oh. Well maybe I should do the same. I don’t want to be the odd one out in town,” Calliope jokes.

She’s only lived here for about six months now. She moved here when her great aunt died and left her house and all her possessions to Calliope in her will. Instead of selling it off and leaving with the money she decided to move here and live in her great aunt’s house. She’s still not sure if she’s going to stay permanently but has no plans to leave any time soon thankfully. Although she was here during the summer solstice, she didn’t see any of the celebration preparations, as most humans aren’t supposed to. Summer is also our smallest celebration. People tend to come here for autumn and winter because of the changing leaves and snow and go to warmer, more southern locations, for spring and summer.

“Nonsense, you’re not the odd one out in town, I am. Everyone already loves you.”

“They love my baking. That’s all.”

“No, that’s not all. You possess the ability to befriend everyone you meet, whereas I manage to always make people uncomfortable.”

“Stop that Daisy, you do not. You just need more practice being social. If you’d go into town with me more, you’d see that.”

“No thank you,” I shake my head and back away instinctually. “I don’t do well in town.”

“Because you need practice. Come into Sticky Buns any day and we can just sit and talk and enjoy a warm sticky cinnamon roll.” Calliope gives me her award-winning smile and big doe eyes and even though I probably never will, I agree.

“Fine. But don’t hold your breath.”

She laughs and thankfully drops the subject of trying to assist in practicing my nonexistent socialization skills.

“So, what brings you in today? If you’re not changing your seasonal decor?” I ask, more comfortable talking about her than me.

“Oh, Sage called and said the tea leaves were ready for pick up.”

Among our many flowers and floral arrangement services, we also grow green tea, black tea, and chamomile for the businesses in town as well as for individual sales. We also grow a selection of flora that pair well with tea that customers can use to make their own, like hibiscus, when in season. For customers and friends like Calliope and Sticky Buns , we also pick and dry the leaves and petals.

Currently we have a batch of black tea leaves that are ready. Getting into the fall, the non-floral and light flavors become more popular. Meaning my cinnamon and allspice will be getting low soon.

“Yes, I have it all ready for you at the house. Why don’t you come up with me and I can get you some fresh cinnamon as well.”

“I would love that. There’s nothing like fresh cinnamon to make everything better.”

My cinnamon comes from a Cinnamomum verum tree my mom brought back from one of her trips to Sri Lanka and planted in our greenhouse. I’ve nurtured and cared for it ever since, harvesting many years of cinnamon sticks from it to sell to the locals, and use personally. It’s a bit of a treat having it fresh nearly year-round.

I guide Calliope out of the greenhouse and through the back towards the house I’ve called home my entire life. To me it looks like a cottage from a fairytale, but with modern amenities. It’s a white two-story, with a curved roof and pale-yellow shutters, complimented by the creeping vines we’ve let grow up the walls. We make sure to tend to them and the house, so they don’t overpower the wooden siding and affect its structural integrity. We like having the plants around but we also like having a safe place to live.

The house is off limits to customers, but Calliope is more than a customer, she’s a friend. This isn’t the first time I’ve invited her into my home, and it won’t be the last.

Stepping up to the front door I use a soft shoe cleaner to brush off the dirt and debris from my feet before stepping over the threshold. Calliope does the same without question.

I quickly procure the tea jars and help arrange them within the canvas tote Calliope brought. She’s short like me but with curves I’ve always envied. Where I’m lanky like a stick-bug with breasts smaller than a peach, Calliope is soft curves with an hourglass figure and breasts that actually create cleavage. She hefts the bag onto her shoulder, and I grab a bundle of dried cinnamon sticks to add to her haul.

When we reach the front porch again, I offer Calliope a seat and to make her a cup of tea before she goes back into town. I may be socially inept, but I have manners. Plus I’d like to spend a little time with my friend. As Sage so painfully pointed out, I have very few.

Calliope sits in one of the many chairs cluttering the porch. We like to sit out here throughout the day and have a wide variety of comfortable chairs to choose from. Calliope chooses a wooden rocking chair, while I go inside to get the tea kettle and cups. I return minutes later with a small tray laden with tea making instruments.

“How have you been?” Calliope asks as we prepare the tea.

“Fine.”

“Nothing unusual happen lately?” Calliope’s tone changes and I hear a very clear and distinct curiosity in it.

Looking up from my steeping tea, I inspect my friend closely. She’s holding her teacup in both hands, rocking her chair idly. But there’s something in her shifting gaze that says this is more than her average inquiry into my boring life.

Leaning back in my rocking chair, I tuck my feet underneath me, rearranging the long flowing skirt I chose to wear today. Tucking it neatly around me to cover my legs and tail. The temperature dropped today from yesterday and I even put on a thin cropped sweater to keep out the growing chill.

“Why? Is there something specific you are referring to?” I ask with narrowed eyes watching her closely.

“Well, I heard you had a special customer yesterday. A rather handsome and flirty male customer.” She doesn’t outright say his name, but I know she’s referring to Kai.

“How did you hear that? It was literally less than twenty-four hours ago.”

“If you ventured into town more often, you would know how quickly gossip spreads. I heard it this morning from Jimmy, our delivery boy, who heard it from his sister, who heard it from Larken, who said she was told by Donna, who saw you two canoodling over flower arrangements in the greenhouse.”

“Wow. People really need to find better things to fill their time with.”

“So, it’s true? You were canoodling with Kai Kingsley, the infamous playboy?” Her eyes go wide, and she leans forward in her chair expectantly, hoping for gossip confirmation.

The last thing I want to do is be a part of the town gossip , but Calliope looks so excited I can’t lie to her.

“We weren’t canoodling , we were just talking. He was helping me with some bouquet orders, that’s all. Nothing scandalous or worthy of gossip, so everyone can just cut that out right now.”

Calliope looks absolutely thrilled at the partial confirmation. I have a feeling this isn’t going to stop her curiosity.

“And what do you mean playboy ?” I ask, trying to redirect the conversation to get a few answers of my own. She seems to know more about Kai than I do, and I can’t deny I’m curious about him.

“He’s a player. A relentless flirt and philanderer. He’s already gotten a reputation in town, and he’s only been here for like, what, two weeks, maybe a month? From what I’ve heard he goes to Blue Moon almost every night and hits on any female who will give him attention. Gone home with a few too.”

This information sours the tea in my stomach. I already knew he was a flirt, but this blunt explanation of his activities so close to home, is far less tactful than Sage’s was yesterday. I’m not special. The thought surprises me with how much I wanted to be special to Kai. A realization I’m just now having, and it seems like a rather inappropriate time for my heart to give a heavy kick in my chest.

Calliope notices the change in my demeanor, including my lack of reciprocated enthusiasm about Kai’s playboy status.

“Oh, I mean…he seems like a nice guy. Very friendly. Everyone who speaks about him doesn’t have a negative word to say. Maybe people are just overexaggerating to make better gossip. You know how people can be. Making things greater than they are.”

She’s trying to assuage my discomfort, I can tell by her tone; it’s filled with regret. Although I know she’s probably just saying it to make me feel better, she does have a point. You can’t always believe everything you hear from others. Kai may indeed be a flirt, that I can vouch for, but that doesn’t mean he’s a womanizer who sleeps with every female he meets. After all, people were saying we were canoodling or making out, when in reality we were just talking.

“Right. Can’t always trust those gossip chains. Too many interpretations of the truth.”

“Exactly. I haven’t met him personally yet, only seen him around a few times, so I can’t say what kind of guy he is. You’ve spoken to him, spent time with him. You would have a better idea than anyone what kind of person he is.”

The more we talk the less dejected I feel. Because she’s right. I spent time with him, not them. They’re just making up extravagant stories that make good gossip, none of which has been confirmed. The Kai I met was open, friendly, nice, and yes there was flirting, but he didn’t act like a womanizing sex fiend.

There’s nothing wrong with having an active sex life. He’s an adult and the women are adults. They can make their own choices, and their choices are no one else’s business.

Feeling more confident in my original presumption of Kai’s character, I relax into my rocking chair and sip at my now cooled tea. The warm bitterness of the black tea soothes the unease in my chest. As if on cue, knowing we were talking about him, the male himself rounds the greenhouse and heads straight for us.

I sit up straight in my seat and watch as Kai casually and unhurriedly makes his way towards us.

“Is that him?” Calliope stage whispers to me.

Unable to remove my eyes from Kai, I give Calliope a short nod. He’s wearing a shirt today, a real one. The black material is tight on his lean frame, and somehow it feels more revealing than when he was shirtless. Maybe because I know what lies underneath? It’s like a secret between us, that again makes me feel special.

Every part of me is on high alert and my nipples respond, turning to points that brush against the soft material of my sweater. I’m not wearing a bra or an undershirt and I’m now regretting that choice. If I were at least wearing another layer, perhaps it would help protect me from his heated gaze. Highly unlikely as it only seems to grow hotter the closer he gets.

My breaths turn shallow and I’m squeezing my legs together under my skirt. What the actual hell? This is not a good response to just seeing him from a distance. I’m going to need to get my shit together asap.

“Oh, my goodness. He is really focused on you, isn’t he?”

I assume the question is rhetorical because I don’t respond.

“I wish a man would stare at me like that.” I can hear the slight jealousy and longing in Calliope’s voice and am shocked to hear it. No one has ever been jealous of me before.

Kai finally reaches the porch and stops halfway up the few steps.

“Hello.”

That’s it. That’s all he has to say for my heart to jump into my throat and my pussy to clench with want. Oh holy hell this isn’t good. And apparently Kai can see all the internal turmoil I’m going through as he gives me a slow once over, his eyes lingering on my chest.

Oh my god he can see my nipples.

I should move to conceal them or shift to force his gaze away, but I don’t. I let him look his fill for as long as he likes. I think I like his attention on me.

We probably would have remained there in silence for an eternity had it not been for Calliope thankfully breaking the sexual tension.

“Hi. I’m Calliope.”

Kai’s eyes drift away from me and to my friend sitting next to me. His lips stretch into an easy smile. It doesn’t appear lude or suggestive, as one would expect from a playboy . It’s natural, friendly, like he smiles all the time. I think he does. He seems like a happy guy to me.

“Hello Calliope, I’m Kai. It’s very nice to meet you.”

He steps all the way on to the porch and reaches out to shake Calliope’s hand, bringing with him his warmth and bonfire smell. As an earth nymph, fire is my natural enemy. It burns forests and kills plants, but I can’t help but be drawn in by the scent of it coming off of Kai.

Once the introductions are over, Kai leans against the short wooden railing across from us, hands shoved in his pockets and eyes once again glued to me. His smile remains in place but softening, right along with his posture. He’s completely comfortable and relaxed, whereas I’m wound tight as a spring ready to pop at the slightest breath.

In his reclined position, Kai’s muscles flex and stretch, his tail resting lazily on the porch’s wooden planks. Calliope can’t see it with his glamour in place, but I do. He is a sight to behold, vibrant red hair, polished ebony horns, the gold adorning his ears and hands. Kai carries himself differently than the local boys, all swagger, confidence and sex appeal. It’s not hard to understand why females are drawn to him.

Calliope’s voice breaks through the haze of sexual longing I’m aiming at Kai once again. I’m gonna have to work on that.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to go to Tall Tail to get a new book Daisy?”

“What?” Finally breaking my gaze away from Kai, I turn to frown at Calliope. What is she talking about?

“The other day you said you had no good books to read and wanted to check out Tall Tail Books for something new. Maybe Kai could accompany you into town?”

Oh no, she did not just say that.

Instantly Kai’s face brightens with delight.

“I would love to escort you into town, Daisy. I’m bored hanging around the house with only Endo for company. Maybe I need a good book as well.”

“Oh, I don’t know. We’re awfully busy today. Sage needs my help,” I argue, hoping the excuse I’ve used more than I can count to avoid town, actually works this time. It doesn’t look like I’m going to have such luck.

“I think your brother can manage,” Calliope says without hesitation. “Pretty sure I also saw one of the local high schoolers you hire on occasion helping out today.”

She gives me a cheeky grin and I know I’m going to lose this battle.

“Come on Blossom. Let’s play hooky for the afternoon.” Kai reaches out a hand waiting for me to take it.

Between Kai’s outstretched hand and Calliope giving me the don’t you dare say no to this hot man eyes, I know they won’t give up until I agree. Reaching out one hand I slip it into Kai’s and let him pull me to my feet, bringing our bodies inches from one another. He doesn’t step back or give me space, just gently removes the teacup from my other hand and places it on the table.

Looks like I’m playing hooky today and going into town…with Kai.