Erasure and Affirmation (Hypernaturals 11)

Feeding Time

This wedding is going to differ greatly from Vera and Angel's. A standard-issue community / meetings / wedding hall, for one thing. When not rented out for a wedding or other large group type event, we use the Hall on weekends as overflow dining room space for the restaurant rather than making people wait. The kitchen at the one end can be opened up to the room or closed off. Or have pass-throughs open between the two spaces. Whatever makes sense for the current usage.

When it is overflow seating space, we trolly the food over here from the restaurant, and the kitchen is not used for anything other than soft drink storage. Beer and wine come from the bar. When it's a community event or wedding hall, its usage varies depending on the group and whether or not we are catering it. Some places like this require that the people renting out the space also use the facility for food and drinks. We do not. One can rent the space. The space and food. The space and food and drinks. Any combination of services we offer here: It is a checkbox menu of options.

Morgan and I agreed early on to not be money-grubbing evil people. We prefer the idea that people want us to cater some event because of our reputation for having the best food. The best drink selection. Reasonable pricing. When we presented our thoughts to Holly way back at the start of this partnership, Holly was all in.

"Honey's: I love the pants off that idea. I really do. This place is already way more than I ever thought it might be, and I'd rather have loyal customers who love what we do here, ya know?" Holly had enthused.

Helen, as one of the richest people on earth (I think: I refuse to talk money with her), may not agree. Never asked. We three are happy running a good business that makes us money without trying to change the basics. Holly's started as a hole in the wall joint, and the bar still has that vibe. The beer is still cheap. Well: The cheap beer is still cheap.

For this wedding, since I made part of the food at the house, at Lori's explicit request (no tamales would have been my doom), we'll open the space up. Lay out Morgan and Jessica's latest homebrews for the beer drinkers. Helen and my Claremont wines. Tequila, Vodka, Whiskey, and Scotch all from the bar. Food other than the Tamales from the restaurant. I did not have time to make party platters and tamales and sleep. Not to mention a few other things such as we are the band, so we had to work up songs too.

To keep it simple and also in the tradition of Casa d Gato, it is an open bar and buffet. Everything is labeled as to spice level and flavors. All day long I have found the bride sneaking into the tamales. Her day. Not saying anything.

I wandered around talking to clusters of people after the family meeting and saw Angel and Vera talking to Denise. I headed that way. When I came up between Vera and Angel, I encircled each with an arm and gave them side hugs. "Hi!" I said. As if I had not seen them this morning at breakfast.

Vera rotated in for a kiss. She is not shy about such things since we have renewed our lover status. "Hi, yourself." She said.

Angel came in for a kiss as well and whispered in my ear as quietly as Astrally possible: "Denise."

One word. A warning of some sort. I kissed her again and then looked at Denise waiting for her kiss. Ever since the head in the lap at the beach, she has been more physical than she was before. Subtle things, and perhaps not even conscious. Hugs. Kisses. Trailing fingers along arms. More overt things, such as wanting me to be the one that washes her front. Not totally a social grooming moment, nor does she pretend it is.

I watched at her coming in for a landing on my lips; I saw and scented the issue. Denise is being dumb again.

Her kiss was passionate, her need apparent in her mouth and her scent.

I met Angel's eyes in understanding and decided on the approach. I brushed Denise's lips with mine, went past her cheeks to her earlobe, pushed her hair back, nibbled lightly to a positive response, dropped to her neck, and twined fingers into her hair. I pushed her head very lightly back to let my face have full access to her neck, met no resistance which I took as a bad sign, and confirmed Angel's concern and my read of her need. I dropped my fangs into her neck. Denise did not expect that and melted into it. The opposite of a tasering. Not going stiff, but molding herself to me to maximize physical contact. If we were naked, her resolve to wait a while for us would be gone. Her self assigned penance vanished in a puff of smoke. I may not understand women and what they want from me all the time, but when I have this scent and this level of cooperation with physical intimacy, not to mention Denise's already open declaration of future intent? I do not need a road map at that point.