Page 14 of Iridescent Lust

“You’re literally going to the wrong side of the city.”

“Do you want to drive?” My backseat navigating didn’t thrill the cabbie. I wanted to reach through the break in the plastic and strangle him with his scarf. I had been spending too much time with Xander.

“Just stop,” I said, “I’ll walk.”

If I had said that fifteen minutes ago, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. At this point, it would take me at least an hour to get myself home. I didn’t have time to dwell on the impending moistness. The driver slammed the breaks, skidding to a stop. He popped the locks on the door.

“Do I tell you how to do your job?” He turned, sneering. “Get out.”

I had barely gotten out and shut the door before he dropped the gas and peeled away. I ran across the sidewalk under an old movie theater sign. It had been years since they had shown a movie. By the way the boarded-up doors struggled to stay on their hinges, I imagined vandals claimed the building for themselves.

I examined the map on my phone. I had been right. The driver had taken me to the outskirts of Southland. This part of the city was dangerous enough during the day that taxis avoided it. Getting one at this hour was going to be impossible. When I scanned the available car services, they weren’t much better.

“Well, tonight is going to suck.”

The phone vibrated. A dozen missed texts.

Astroman: I want you to fuck me again.

“I’m not making that mistake again.” My finger hovered over the message, prepared to delete it when I remembered he could fly. “I mean, putting out would keep me dry.” I should have slapped myself. “Have standards, Al.”

Lightning tore through the sky, followed by a grumble of thunder that shook the city. If I had considered walking, the renewed vigor of the falling rain had me reconsidering. I wouldn’t make it to the end of the block before I turned into a squishy mess. Mother Nature forced my hand.

I pulled a folded napkin from my pocket. Punching in the number, I took a steadying breath. “Here goes nothing.” I sent the message. It was a long shot. EO could be off saving the world or be curled in bed playing little spoon to Stonewall. I didn’t have high—

“You didn’t have to concoct an emergency to get my attention. A simple ‘how’s it going, you handsome stud’ would have been enough.”

The amusement in his tone made me smile. I turned around to see my bearded savior. I tried to play it nonchalant, but the sight of EO put sinister ideas in my head. And my pants. “I had been trying to get kidnapped, but nobody took the bait tonight.”

“A win for me then.”

“What is that? Three times you’ve come to my rescue tonight?”

“Four technically, but who’s counting?”

I wish I could see his face without the mask. Most superheroes thought it made them look more striking, but I found it hid their best quality. I liked a muscular man covered in soft padding, but it was always the eyes that caught my attention. EO’s mask left space for his nose and beard, but the part covering his eyes left them white voids. Unfortunately, never being sure who was under the mask was par for the course when dealing with caped crusaders.

“Are you up to anything? I mean, do you have any plans? I-I-”

“EO, are you asking me to hang out?” Dammit, he was even more charming as he tripped over his words. The cocky persona fell away, and I saw a nervous man stepping into his shoes. Despite texting him for another dutiful save, he reverted into an awkward teenage boy.

“A handsome man like you? I wasn’t sure if your dance card was full.”

“Funny,” I said. “I was thinking the same thing.”

Two portals opened, one to his left, the other to his right. I recognized the front door to the club in the one to his left. It wasn’t exactly close to my house, but anything would be better than Southland. The other portal, however, was nearly blinding as light poured out, cutting through the dreary night.

“I like options.” He knew how to slip in a double entendre. My phone had a dozen unanswered text messages of men looking to have their clothes torn off. But this stud, he maintained just enough mystery to keep me on the hook. This was a lesson to all the desperate men out there, play it cool. I might let little Alejandro do the driving most of the time, but even he enjoyed being wooed.

Taking a step toward the portal filled with light, I paused, unsure of what I was about to get myself into. “I’m not about to fall into a forest fire? It doesn’t lead to the sun?”

The other portal closed, and he wrapped a hand around my waist as he guided me into the light. For the second time that night, EO held me close. I hated to admit it, but I didn’t mind being rescued by this hero. It almost felt, dare I say it… Right?

What had I gotten myself into?

6

“I don’t have words.”

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