Carnal House

Light stalking.-Ash

What is it about girls in bookstores? I kept my distance, watching her as she ran her fingers along the spines on a romance shelf. She seemed to choose books at random, not once reading the back, just looked at the cover.

She walked leisurely through the sections, kneeling in the fiction section she pulled a book off the shelf and without a second glance set it in the crook of her arm.

I spent 45 minutes watching her before an idea struck me. I quietly approached her.

“My friend is in the dog house with his woman. Any suggestions on how he can find his way out?” She smiled, biting her lip.

“Books make great gifts.” She said, not looking up from the book in her hand.

“She does love to read, but I don’t think a book will fix it. I think it would be better if it were to be an action versus a gift. What would you suggest?” She shifts her weight, a swing to her hips as she thought about it, leveling her gaze on me.

“Perhaps a reenactment of something from her favorite book, a scene or a gesture, perhaps a phrase.” She blushes so beautifully.

“I will have to let my friend know. Thanks for your help.” I said, walking away down the row of books. I made quick work of finding her Goodreads profile and looking at the list of 5-star reviews, finally finding one that was promising for her favorite, most recent favorite anyway.

Group Chat

C-Furniture will be delivered in 18 days, taking bedding and paint to the car.

A-Still in the bookstore, just tried to pick her up in the fiction section. Might have a way for you to get on the same page with her.

J-I’m listening.

C-Don’t be a wanker. Tell us!

A-Read her favorite books.

I added the link to her Goodreads.

C-Bloody hell, how does she have time for anything else?!

J-What do the chili peppers mean?

I grin, typing my response to John.

A-The more chili’s the more f*****g there is in the book.

J-Our little darling reads a lot of porn.

A-They call it smut.

“I think we might be in a bit of trouble here, have you read some of these descriptions. A priest? Stalkers, aliens, demons. A game warden? Oh, wait, no that has no chilies.” John said from behind me.

“I like the sound of the vampire executioner/necromancer.” Connor said staring at his phone screen.

“Almost all of these are incomplete series. I asked her earlier if the thought of more than one of us in her bed at the same time was something she isn’t interested in and she said that if I knew the things she enjoyed reading I wouldn’t have to even ask her that. I’ll take the demons.” I said pulling up the cover of one of her 5-star reviews.

“I’m liking the look of this fae series, wee bit dark.” We looked at Connor, he looked up at us questioningly. I raised my eyebrow waiting.

“Oh! Yes, this executioner/necromancer seems pretty badass.” Connor said, turning to scan the sections to find the right one. We break apart like we are on a mission.

By the time we regroup to check out with Ryker, she has the biggest s**t eating grin on her face that I wonder just what we got ourselves into.