Page 43 of Always Eros

I shrug. “Probably. They live in the Supreme Being’s home because they are deemed transcendent. I never got to see any of them, but if you expressed the tertius traits, you were sent to live at the higher compound.”

“Sounds like better treatment than this world sometimes. Transgender people are not always treated kindly, but in New Onyx, they are safe. Sinister is the only woman who works here because she transitioned during her employment, and they kept her on staff anyway. The patrons all understand and accept it.”

“Wait. Only men work here?”

“It’s a club for queer men.”

I nod, glancing around and realizing, yep, no women. “Is that a common thing? Separating genders?”

“For the purposes of entertainment and sexual pursuits, yes. There are lesbian clubs, gay clubs, and mixed clubs. Something for everyone in New Onyx. I assume Sable Cove has the same landscape, being a big city, but you were sheltered from it.”

“Right. Like everything.” I smile. “I’m not unhappy though. I’m so grateful to be experiencing this. I was never told whether I’m gay or tertius or whatever. I was just taught to stay away from women, but it was easy. I didn’t want to do anything with them.”

“Perhaps you are gay, but you don’t have to label anything unless you want to. You can just be attracted to whoever you want to be without naming it. There are no boxes or groups you have to fit into out here.”

Nodding, I gaze into his eyes. “So if my orientation is Eros, that’s enough?”

He laughs heartily and I really like the sound. “That suits me just fine.”

“Me too.”

Eros takes my hand again and continues to lead me to a large wooden counter with lots of people standing around it. Two men are behind it with glass bottles in their hands, flipping them in the air and talking to the people.

A tall black man with a bald head notices Eros and grins as we push forward. “Haven’t seen you in a while,” he calls out.

“I haven’t been out in a while. Sin said she’d cover our first round.”

“I’ve got your second one then.”

I notice how the man looks at Eros. I’ve seen that look before. It’s desire. I bet that’s how I look when I see Eros. The man moves closer to the bar, leaning in to talk to Eros. I can’t hear the discussion over the music, but I’m well aware of the hot pit of jealousy growing in my belly. That man wants to take Eros from me, but there’s no way I’m letting that happen.

I shove forward and get between them, glaring at the handsome man behind the bar. “I’m Justice. I’m with Eros.”

The man pulls his head back with an amused smirk. “I’m Zax. Just making drinks, little warrior. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t call me little.” I puff my chest out.

Zax puts his hands up in surrender, but he’s still smirking. “You’ve got yourself a lively one, Eros. Good for you.”

Zax turns his back on me, and then embarrassment sets in that I just acted like that. When I turn around to face Eros, he’s gazing at me with the sexiest expression I’ve ever seen. My dick twitches in my jeans as I bite my bottom lip.

“Sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t want him to take you from me.”

Eros cups my chin with delicate fingers. “He can’t, Justice. No one can. I want to be honest with you and tell you that I have been with him before, but it was only once and a very long time ago. He’s just flirtatious.”

That hot, prickly feeling is back, and I want to punch the much bigger man in the face. “I don’t like that.”

“Darling, my sweetheart,” Eros whispers, but somehow I still hear him. “You can’t blame me for what I did before I knew you existed. Just believe now that no one could possibly tear my attention away from you.”

I nod, trying to push away the ugly feelings. “I’ve never felt like this before. It’s weird.”

“It pleases me.” Eros lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles. “It lets me know that you desire me as much as I desire you. I’m usually the possessive one.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I’ll try to calm down.”

“And if you can’t, that’s okay. I’ll prove my devotion.”

“Two dirty pom martinis,” Zax says, putting two glasses filled with vibrant red liquid down. He winks at me and moves on to the next customer.