The Wager- BBW Erotic Curvy Paranormal Romance (TOUCH OF THE GODS) (3 page)

             
“Himi? Your twin? I didn't know he came down here often.” With my heightened sight, the dark street didn't blind me and with clarity finally setting in, I could see Eros's eyes darken until the irises were as black as the sky.

He looked so different as a human, sadder and stressed. The large wings I was used to were tucked away neatly somewhere, but I could hear them ruffling in agitation. His smile dimmed with the heavy burden it meant to bring love to a clearly materialistic species.

I felt a sudden pity for him.

Just then, a shadow of man flew from the open window at the top left of the mansion. He hovered before it, speaking to someone on the inside, then turned to leave as a car pulled into the driveway.

A portly man got out of the car and entered the home.

I was still focused on the silhouette in the upstairs room, when the dark figure landed in front of us. I nearly jumped out of my skin. He remained a shade, so I couldn't see his face, but from the scent, wings and bow with quiver, I knew it was Himeros.

              “Eros, I thought mother was fooling when she said you were planning to hook our uncle up with a human.”

             
It was apparently my night of surprises, because at my other nephew's snarky comment, Eros let out a curse so vile, I blushed. I knew all about sibling rivalry, but I've never seen him that angry.

             
“I'd say to have a little faith and believe in love bro, but all you care about is getting women hot under the skirt and grabbing a quick fuck.”

             
“Hey, where you like to wait for the home cooked meal, I enjoy fast food and Cynthia. She gives me what I want. No harm done really.”

             
“But she belongs happy and satisfied with her husband!”

             
It was time for me to stop this before it got out of hand. Eros raising his voice didn't shock me, but his form was morphing into his Roman counterpart, Cupid. No one wanted that. Placing a calming hand on his shoulder, I wedged myself between the two of them. “You're brothers, twins. I know neither of you want to hurt each other. Am I right?” I kept my voice low-key, hoping to stop the fight that would start soon.

             
Unfortunately, I couldn't see Himeros's face, but Eros had thankfully reverted back to his normal self, though his lips were pursed.

I'd have to live with it and getting a nod of agreement from the other god, I backed off. But I kept my eyes on them just in case.

The sound of a helicopter above distracted us and by the time it passed, we saw that our shadowy friend was gone. It was better that way. I stood with Eros, waiting for him to find his repose and in the blink of an eye he was back to his sunny disposition. He pointed out several more homes of those he knew from bringing the couples together, before we stopped at a cul-de-sac. There were only two homes on this semi-circle, a gray, stucco one with a red slatted roof and a SOLD sign out front.

Then, there was a yellow one, tiny compared to all of the others and it looked pretty plain with a rather unkempt yard. A rebel perhaps? Yet, it seemed to be more alive and natural than the ones down the road. It stood to the right and I found myself being called to knock on the door, but that would have been inappropriate. So, I stood, at the edge of the walkway and inhaled. The scent was so unlike the ones we encountered when we first entered the development. No, this one was comforting and very, very arousing. “Whose home is this, Eros?”

              “I'm not sure. The last time I was here, it was vacant. Why?”

             
“It just smells different.”

             
“Different how?” he asked.

             
“Never mind, I think exhaustion is speaking for me right now. From the trip down here, to changing into a mortal man, I'm pretty beat.” It was a lie. I was actually wired, but I didn't want to mess up his plans before they even started.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

I kept my expression blank and my mind unreadable. You never knew when a god might try to read your thoughts and I could feel him pushing at mine.

Eros gave a curt nod and gestured to the home with the sign on the lawn. “This is your place. Let me take you in and give you the tour. Also, I'll stay awhile so we can get down your life story. That's important.”

              “Why?”

             
“Humans like to get into your business, especially women. They want to feel like you have no problems opening up to them.”

             
Okay, I thought and tagged along to enter my new home. I halted while smacking my head against the doorframe, and let me tell you, it wasn't a slight knock. Oh no, this was a foundation rattling bang, and I knew a welt would soon appear on my forehead. If a human thought that immortality was awesome because we never die, I'm sorry to say, we can still feel pain. “Oipho! Kariola!”

             
“Now uncle, there is no need for that kind of language.”

             
I grumbled, rubbing my head while remembering to duck, as I entered the humble home. The ceilings were high, something I was grateful for and the walls were a bland off white. It was furnished, but sparsely. The living area was fixed with a couch, small table and lamp.

Eros led me over to the dining room. Again, simple with a table and two matching chairs, but it was when he took me into the kitchen that my jaw dropped. The counter had digital everything, stuff I'd never used before, or even seen for that matter. Unlike the other gods, I didn't snoop into the lives of humans, so for all I knew, they still lived as they had in the earlier part of the century.

              I stood transfixed, while he named each item and how they worked. I couldn't believe it. An oven that cleaned itself and a box, he called a microwave that flash cooked your food in minutes. It was honoring in a way, seeing how I was the God of Inventions. Man had taken my gifts and gone above what I could've ever expected. Yes, man no longer worshiped us, or thanked us for these tokens, but it didn't matter. They still remembered us elder gods, through the work they did.

I turned back, before heading toward the stairs, telling myself I'd be using that equipment often, just to feel satisfied with human progress, and then I jogged up where Eros waited.

              By the time we were finished with the tour while he drilled me with information for my new life, my head was spinning. Time had gotten away from us and the sun was beginning to rise. We shook hands, and he shimmered away, just as the rays streamed through my blinds.

The sounds in the neighborhood of car doors slamming and wheels peeling away made it apparent that the men worked, and were rarely home with their wives. I too, was a working man, owner of
Fix It Fast
. I was a repairman, a job that would be easiest for me. But this day, I would sleep. Afterwards, I would start my new life as a human man and maybe, just maybe, I would find the love of my eternal life.

Chapter IV

Vanessa

              We were at our favorite spot, Cafe Sticky Licks. I could smell the sinful scent of chocolate pizza, something that every visitor to San Francisco should try.

Calvin was sitting adjacent to my chair, eying the area for potential boyfriends. Though how you could call a man you're with for only two to three weeks a boyfriend was beyond me.

I sat, twirling the straw in my water, and wished I had the same confidence that my friend seemed to exude with every breath. Why didn't it wash onto me? Then again, just looking at him, I could see why he didn't have an ounce of doubt for his ability to attract both male and female attention.

             
Dressed casually this day, Calvin's black slacks seemed to hug him, loving him just as his partners did. Even his monogrammed, tan work shirt with the name
Fantasy Free Elementary
imprinted in cursive over his heart, seemed to sexy him up.

I wore the same shirt, but I might as well have been in a burlap sack.

Honestly, it was hard to explain which parts of Calvin were the most delicious. Was it his chocolate brown eyes that matched his smooth skin, maybe? Or, could it be his full lips, always turned up at the corners like he kept a secret funny joke in his mind?

Unlike my dashing friend, I didn't keep up my physique at the gym, so he was chiseled, another attribute that stood out through his fitted top. As great as it was to have him in my life, I often felt like a ragamuffin while in his presence.

My dismal sigh took him from his perusal and I knew he was staring me down.“Nessa? Vanessa what's wrong?”

             
“What is it that only brings the geeks and freaks my way, while the hip and hot go yours?”

             
“Ugh! Nessa, we've gone through this before. There’s nothing wrong with you, other than you thinking you're not good enough for better.”

             
“Am I, though? I mean, seriously?”

             
“If you're asking me if I'd bend you over and give you a good ride, hon? Then sure, I would, but you're missing a pogo stick which means I'd have to fake it. And we don't want that do we?”

             
“Pogo stick, eh? I have battery operated ones. Does that count?”

             
He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “You know what I mean, girl. Look, he's out there. You just have to have some patience and stop finding those weirdoes. Ah, here comes Willa with our chocolate pizzas and milk!”

             
Let me stop here to tell you a little something about Willa. She's—well, eccentric or what some would say Bohemian. I love her, she's my little sister, but she and I are complete opposites. While according to both she and Calvin, I take life too seriously. She’s all about art and wild clothes, like her neon green leggings and practically transparent, aqua painter's blouse. Her mind often wandered and she'd switch topics as fast as Friday night traffic lights. We didn't look much alike, with the exception of our hazel eyes. While I had the figure of a woman who enjoyed the nightly eating of ice-cream-in-the-tub, she was small, but curvy in a way that caused men to salivate.

Her reddish-brown hair cascaded down her back, the hue accentuating her freckled nose and rosy lips. “Here you go. Calvin, I talked chef into adding an extra serving for free.”

              “You are a darling. Thanks, Willa.”

             
“Hey sis, Mom said someone finally moved in next to you. You seen 'em yet?”

             
“No, I think it's a man though. There's a truck out in the driveway. A contractor maybe.”

             
My sister was about to say more, when she froze and turned to stare at a man with his back to us. He wore a black trench coat and red skull cap. Odd attire considering it was in the eighties. He was drinking a coffee, while reading the day's paper. I glanced back up at my sister, noting how pale her face had become, and a protective surge came over me. Wrapping my hand around her wrist, I brought her attention back to me. “Do you know him, Willa? Did he mess with you or something?”

             
Her eyes were wild as she shook her head vigorously and knelt at my side, speaking so low I had to lean just to hear her. “He’s here almost all the time. He feels like—funny.”

             
“Funny how?”

             
“Don't you feel it, Vanessa? He radiates power. I—he's not human.”

             
Together, we looked back over to the man, only this time he was staring back. And I'll be truthful when I say I almost felt the same, in regards to his humanity, but I needed to be the rational one. His face was perfect, yet mysterious. But that wasn't what made him stand out from the others.  It was his eyes, which shifted colors so fast I had to blink a few times. Then, they were gray, so I probably imagined what I saw before. Although, part of me really didn’t believe that.

Willa was locked in on him and he bored his gaze into her. He had her hypnotized almost and when he leaned back, her body leaned forward.

He smiled, then just as fast he turned away, stood and left the cafe.

The spell was broken, but my sister was left trembling, while she held the table for support when she stood. Her breathing was shallow and quick.

              “Willa, you okay? Willa!”

             
“What? Oh, um, I'm fine. I have to go. More customers. Have a great day, Calvin. Love you, Nessa.”

             
“Well, that was weird.” Calvin popped another piece of the sugary treat in his mouth as we watched my sister rush inside the restaurant.

She didn't come back out.

Fraught with worry, I could no longer enjoy my chocolate pizza. Besides, I needed to get back to work, being the lunch lady and all.

Calvin was Vice Principal and could come and go as he pleased.

Standing, I tossed my share of the bill on the table, said my goodbyes and headed down the two blocks to the school. I passed by a pastry shop, thinking maybe it would be nice to get something for my new neighbor. That's what people still did, right?