For What Its Worth...Lust

Persephone

"Have you lost your mind ?" I say to Celine as I walk towards her while she organizes a display in the back.

"I don't think so, but I could with the right circumstances" She says with her finger on her chin, seriously thinking it over.

I roll my eyes at her statement, deciding to get right to the point. "Why the hell did you tell Rocky I had a date?"

"To conduct an experiment duh. And it was successful by the way" she looks at me like it was supposed to be obvious.

"Successful?? You call him coming in here basically threatening me to tell him the name of my non-existent date is a success."

"Well I meant when he got jealous and tried to hide it when I told him, but semi threatening today is even better. More evidence for my hypothesis." She says all matter factly.

"He is not my secret admirer. And even if he was, I wouldn't want to deal with him and his annoying ... well everything." I say not so convincingly.

"It may not be a secret but he is definitely your admirer, like how many times has he come just to see you. And I know it's just to see you cause he never buys anything." She walks toward the front of the store, I follow because this conversation is not over.

"Not true he bought quite a bit today, you should've seen the stack, almost $500 worth." I say like I'm trying to prove some kinda point.

Celine doesn't seem convinced. "He probably just randomly chose books to prove something. He probably doesn't even know what type of books we sell?"

"He most definitely doesn't because he picked up things like Haunting Adline and Pucking Around. I kinda wish I could see his reaction when he realizes." I said, trying to hold back a laugh.

"You're kidding, even I wouldn't read those." As if on signal the bell rings and a probably traumatized Rocky walks in, stack of books in hand his face hiding behind them.

"Speak of the devil, good luck explaining all that." Celine shakes her head walking to the back of the store.

Rocky gets to the counter placing the book stack on it.

"Wow, you finished all the books already. And I thought I was a fast reader."

"Take all of them back, I don't even want my money back, just take them back." Rocky says almost desperately looking at the books like they're infected.
"So you didn't enjoy your purchase?" I say holding in a laugh.

"You must think you're so funny. Letting me buy all these books knowing what is in them. "

"What, you don't like sex. Wouldn't have taken you for a virgin but then again you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Or in your case just picking it up and dropping it on the counter."

"Please, that wasn't sex. It was very questionable porn. Like I'm pretty sure some of that is illegal. Either way it was a crime in my eyes and that is a lot coming from me."

"Oh please, I'm sure what you read was some of the more tame stuff. Besides, you probably could use the pointers. Given your-" I stop mid sentence to lean forward and whisper. "Virgin status."

The veins in his forehead look like they are about to pop. He leans even closer, invading my personal space and making me smell his cologne. "Sweetheart I can assure you I am no virgin. And I'd happily prove it to you right now and everyone else in this store when you start screaming my name." His lips barely graze mine when he steps back. "That is if I thought you were ready for me."

I just stand there staring at him. At a loss for words. What does he mean? I'm not ready.

"You know what on second thought? I think I'm going to keep these. It'll give me some insight into what you like for when I'm making you mine. I'll be back so you can give me some other recommendations for that less tamed stuff you mentioned." He picks the stack right up and walks back out like nothing happened.

I try to compose myself trying to get back to work. But my brain is plagued with what he meant by me not being ready. First of all, how dare he question what I can handle. Second of all, it's not like I'm going to wake up one day and beg him to take me. Yeah I'd have to lose my mind first. But that doesn't stop my mind from lingering on how he said he'd make me his. And the butterflies that stir in my stomach remind me of the war stirring beginning to stir between my head and my heart.