Page 105 of Impromptu Match

He totally meant an orgy. Maybe he’d started shopping in thrift stores for clothes he didn’t mind getting ripped off him. Or covered in splooge.

Suddenly, the mental image of Marcus at an orgy made me want to start giggling.

“Sounds fun,” I said politely instead. “And how is Sage?”

“Oh, you know.” Marcus smiled and waved his free hand. “His blog has really taken off. He’s getting a lot of sponsorship deals now. We’re flying to Miami in a few weeks. He’s started DJing.”

“DJing. Wow. Very… impressive.”

“Does he incorporate animal sounds into his music?” Holt asked suddenly, his tone far too innocent. “Like… oh, I don’t know, dying chickens…”

I pursed my lips to stop myself from snorting. Marcus was giving him a strange look. Luckily, he wouldn’t have any idea what Holt was referring to. Unless someone at an orgy had commented on his interesting come noise.

“No. He doesn’t. He takes his craft very seriously.” He ran a hand through his blond hair and lifted his chin, giving me a tight smile. “Well. Very unexpected bumping into you, but I should—”

“Was it?” Lizard Granny suddenly piped up, filmy eyes gleaming with cunning. “Because you came in here right after them and spent a very long time lurking, almost as if you were looking for someone—”

“Right. Well.” Marcus’s cheeks were bright pink. “I must be going.”

“Have fun in Miami,” Holt said demurely, giving him a toothy smile as Marcus shuffled toward the exit.

“And who is this, Holt, my dear?” Ethel—Big fucking E—asked the moment he was gone as I shuffled forward to place our items on the counter. She was watching me curiously, in a way that made me sweat a little.

“This is Taylor,” Holt purred, smoothing his hand up my back as he flashed her a charming grin. “He’s been to Goliaths several times, but we usually watch from my private box, so you might not have seen him.”

I wondered if that was his subtle way of telling her that I knew about the supernatural world and non-humans.

“Oh!” She squinted at me, then cackled. “My eyes aren’t what they used to be, but now I recognise you. I remember seeing your face on the big screen when that sweet boy Larkin made the announcement about Holt.”

Ah. Yes. As in the time Larkin made the entire audience look up at the private box while Holt was on his knees out of sight sucking my dick. And then the camera operator zoomed in on my sweating face as I was trying my hardest not to whimper.

My entire body went hot at the memory with a confusing blend of embarrassment and arousal.

“That’s right.” Holt winked at me, then snorted. “And Larkin is the furthest thing possible from a ‘sweet boy,’ Ethel.”

She tutted, haphazardly folding the suit and shirt and stuffing them into a bag. “He’s a darling. Such a sweet boy. And so handsome. I tried to set him up with my granddaughter once and he got so flustered and tongue-tied.” She sighed. “It never did happen.”

I shot Holt an uncertain look, but he just rolled his eyes.

“But anyway.” Suddenly, Ethel’s wizened little hand, with her knobbly knuckles and papery skin, was patting mine on the counter. I gulped. “Who was that?” she asked, tilting her head toward the exit Marcus had vanished through.

“Oh. Um. Just… my ex.” I gave her a nervous smile, resisting the urge to yank my hand back.

Her lip curled. Were her teeth sharp little points, or was I just seeing things? “Seems like a bit of a dick.”

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish as I blinked at her, a childish giggle wanting to escape at hearing a little old lady call someone a dick.

“He is,” Holt drawled, reaching into his coat pocket for his wallet, which spurred me into action. I fumbled to grab my card so I could pay before he did.

Ethel held out the card reader as I tapped my card to it, but before I could withdraw my hand, her little fingers were suddenly curling around my wrist with shocking strength.

“If you’re Holt’s”—she tilted her head at him and gave me a loaded look—“and you’re in the know, then you just say the word, my dear. My girls can pay him a little visit if need be. We protect our own.”

I sucked in a breath so fast I almost choked. Oh my god. Oh my god. I’d been right. This had to mean I was right, didn’t it? Lizard Granny Mafia was real. And their boss, Big E, was offering to have her “girls” pay Marcus a visit for slighting me.

What did “girls” mean? Who were the “girls?” A team of Lizard Mafia Grannies, armed with machetes and brass knuckles? Holy crap.

“That won’t be necessary,” I squeaked, freezing in place like a deer caught in headlights when she released my wrist to reach up and give my cheek a gentle pat.

---