Interlewd
“What did the test say this time?” Carolyn turned in place as I rejoined her in the lab.
“Still negative. How many of these tests do you want me to take anyways? It’s not like anything is going to change in the short term.”
“Well…” Carolyn grimaced, "I've been thinking, and consulting with Mazer… and we’re not sure it’s a good idea for you to carry a child while having non-human biology. Quite the opposite in fact.”
“But… if I’m not making milk…”
“Your fanclub will understand the necessity of a hiatus."
“You would know I suppose, being president, chairwoman, and treasurer.”
“I appointed Ellen as chairwoman actually…” Carolyn smirked, “that was a good one though, treasurer of your fanclub… I’ll have to remember that one.”
“So I’m also going back to an omnivore diet? I’m going to miss my clover and rye.”
“I know, I know. With so many omnivores on the farm, Jake and Thad are going to be expanding the non-vegetarian pantry. Surely there's something you miss eating from before.”
“I don't think you understand the degree to which I was subsisting on garbage before coming here.”
“I… didn’t think you were subsisting on garbage before… Don't tell me you were doing ramen cups.”
“Maybe not daily but pretty regularly.”
Carolyn looked scandalized now. “I hadn’t even imagined it could be daily! What is ‘regular’ for you‽”
“Chill, chill. I was just doing fast food for lunch every day, fried chicken/burgers and so on followed by microwave meals for dinner, TV dinners as you might call them I suppose.”
“That’s… gods Maddie…”
“So my diet is better now! I mean, it’s not like I was avoiding healthy food.”
“It kinda sounds like you were.”
I folded my arms “look, I didn’t open up on this just to be shamed for stuff I don’t even do anymore. Suffice it to say I can soundly resist the siren call of a fried chicken sandwich now that I’ve had good food.”
“Fuck…” Carolyn muttered under her breath. “I mean, yeah. I’m glad to hear it I suppose. Didn’t you have any good home cooked meals growing up?”
“Oh, sure. Though… My mom was kinda big on health food trends so there was a lot of cabbage soup and quinoa. Hmm… besides that though we did a lot of boxed pasta meals. Hamburger helper and such, so maybe the answer is ‘not really’. Big home cooked spreads were a holiday sort of thing.”
“Kids these days…” Carolyn muttered under her breath.
“I’m not a kid!”
“Right, right. You’re a grown woman who doesn’t miss her chokky milk and chicken nuggies whatsoever.”
“You’re the one who’s going to be missing her milk soon.”
“Got me there.” Carolyn spun back around in her chair to face her desk. “So there isn’t much of an omnivore bucket list to revisit.”
“You could show me your favorites, like that spaghetti dish Deyha brought back for you a while back.”
Carolyn turned back to me slowly this time. “You mean the bolognese?”
“Yeah! That one!”
“And you just call all pasta spaghetti? That was rigatoni, for the record.”
“I meant pasta, it’s just the particular word wasn't coming to mind.”
“I swear you said pasta less than a minute prior. How the fuck did you forget a word over the course of two sentences?”
“It’s my special talent.” I put my hands on my hips. “You don’t even want to know how many times I’ve been temporarily unable to recall names.”
“You’re right.” Carolyn rubbed her eyes “I’m pretty sure I don’t… Yes, you can try a proper bolognese dish when your digestive system is settled. Perhaps even lasagna.”
“Do you have a particular affinity for Italian food?” I pulled up a chair to sit beside her as she turned to her computer once more.
Carolyn shrugged “My first wife was Italian. We cooked together.”
“First wife‽”
Carolyn smirked at me. “I really can just make up any lie I want for you, can't I?”
I resisted the urge to start a shoving match. “You’re evil, and I don't think you want to press the limit of how much I trust you and Deyha implicitly.”
“Its actually really fun.” Carolyn tapped on her keyboard and brought up a now-familiar gene map. “So, unless you want to incur a further debt with Mazer, I think we should do a temporary mod to bring you back to a human baseline.”
“Temporary mod of… my entire digestive system? You think that’s enough?”
“Sure, assuming Mazer made human eggs for you and developed your base biologics on human DNA…” Carolyn trailed off as she tapped at her keyboard. “There, the model has picked up your stomach— Aww, you really didn’t change anything from my design! That's so sweet~”
“So you have the mod to put it back to human?”
“Yep,” Carolyn tapped another key and an empty progress bar appeared, but far more concerningly, the lights flickered. “The quantum processor is on the job, should have the lithography template this evening, and a full potion by morning.”
“What about the lactation mods?”
“I know, I know~” Carolyn expertly highlighted sections of the model and in minutes had several more progress bars ticking away on another monitor. “So, what's for lunch?”
“You’re taking a lunch break? At nine in the afternoon? It's already dark out.”
“Unless you think I shouldn’t…”
“No! I mean, yes you should. I'm just surprised. Uh. We can go wherever, what are you hungry for?”
“Mmmm steak.”
“Carolyn…”
She made a show of licking her lips as she eyed me.
“Stop being weird!”
“Fine, fine. Let’s go to Waffle Haus.”
“Really? You shame me for fast food and then suggest the cheapest breakfast food ever?”
“Cravings don’t bend to logic.” Carolyn shrugged.
“What would I even eat there?”
“Waffles, obviously. Just because you can't have them to produce milk doesn't mean that you can’t currently digest them… make sure to have plenty of maple syrup, I want to see if the flavor makes it to your blood~”
“You’re so weird…”
“We can go to the international house of burgers instead, but waffle haus is definitely where the freaks go. I guarantee they won't even bat an eye.”
“Jesus, fine. Just us then? Or did you want to invite anyone else along?”
“Nope, it's a date.” Carolyn took my hands, pulling me up out of my chair and toward the door before I could protest.
“Right now‽ Dressed like this‽” I gestured at my fuzzy pjama pants but Carolyn shrugged.
“I don’t see why not. Besides, like it or not, nobody cares anymore.”
“I care…”
“Then go grab your sunflower dress and matching hat. I’ll meet you at the barn entrance.”
I squinted at Carolyn as she dropped my hand. I had a feeling that deviating on her instructions wasn’t an option, but I also wasn't thrilled with the extremes of either being under or overdressed.
True to Carolyn’s prediction nobody batted an eye as we entered the diner. I’d really thought there would have been a renovation of the style in the decade or two since I’d last set foot in one, but it looked exactly like the one I remembered from the south— even the cook behind the counter looked the same.
“Sit anywhere ya like.” He gestured lazily about the half empty diner, and to my chagrin Carolyn strode up to the counter.
I took my time getting situated on the stool, doing my best to tuck my tail so it wouldn't hang in sight of the entrance behind us.
“Do you need menus or do you already know what you want?”
I felt another weird pang of recognition, and Carolyn capitalized on my confusion to order a steak for her and waffles for me.
“Mhmm, now, no offense, but don’t you think it’s a little insensitive to eat steak in front of your pet?”
I pulled my hat down and tried to make myself small as Carolyn laughed.
“Oh, I like you! But to answer your question, she only really demands that I don’t drink anybody—“
“Carolyn!” I whisper-yelled as the cook laughed too.
“Ahm sorry, Ahm sorry.” The chef stepped back and pulled up a couple mugs. “Wasn’t intending to put anyone on the spot, my mouth just gets ‘head of me sometimes.”
“Happens to the best of us.” Carolyn leaned on the counter. “I for one find a joke refreshing in contrast to the stares and whispers.”
“Agreed, agreed.” He poured coffee and placed mugs in front of me and Carolyn. “A century ago it might have really tripped me up but this isn’t my first time encountering new flavors of supernatural. I will confess though, I thought I’d seen it all. ‘Guessin you’re a minotaur, and… I mean, dragon seems like the safest bet.”
“A century?”
“Mhmm, I’ve been kicking around since prohibition, so I’m not that old all things considered. You?”
“Oh… uh,” I struggled to turn my mind to the simple task of remembering my last birthday, or even doing the math on my age. Sure, after meeting Mazer the idea that there was a broader world of supernatural individuals had occurred to me, but I hadn’t really prepared for a close encounter so soon, certainly not tonight.
“A lady never tells~” Carolyn spoke with mock bravado, “but in all seriousness we’re just a couple funny looking humans, mere mortals. I use runes to do transfigurations the slow way, but Maddie here is a product of the finest Demon sorcery around.”
“Carolyn~”
She pressed on, throwing an arm over my shoulder as she pushed her coffee cup toward me. “What sort of supernatural are you then?”
“Me?” The cook shrugged, “you can probably guess.”
“What am I supposed to do with this?” I hissed under my breath.
“You know how I like it—“
“I am NOT doing that here.”
“Probably for the best.” The cook placed a small carafe of milk in front of me. “Whole milk, just taking a shot in the dark. Any sweeteners?” He repositioned a little box of paper packets in arms reach as Carolyn got her giggles.
Finally, he turned back to the cook top and I set about my task.
“I’m sorry you put you on the spot like that.” Carolyn whispered, tickling my ear with her breath.
“No you’re not.” I grumbled and pushed her mug back to her.
“You’re right, but it felt like the thing to say.” Carolyn took a sip and smacked her lips. “It definitely loses something, but this is still good, considering.”
“Uh huh.” I folded my arms on the counter as the embarrassment passed. Nobody else in the restaurant seemed to care about our little talk, and in fact, the diner at large seemed quieter than it ought to be given the hard surfaces and full booths. I couldn’t pick up any conversations to listen in on.
“Weird question,” I looked up at the cook as he returned with a plate of waffles “Did you used to work at a waffle haus in the south?”
“Yep. You’ve got a good eye for faces I see.”
“Not really, you just made an impression.”
“Sorry to hear that.” He grinned and turned back to the cooktop.
“What brought you to Tristate?”
“So that’s where you are…” He mused as he set a plate of steak and eggs in front of Carolyn. The steak was thin, sure, but I found it hard to believe it had had enough time to cook through already. “Truth is, I’m still in Texas.”
“But… we’re in Tristate?”
His certainty made me doubt my own assurance. Could Carolyn have accidentally driven us across the country?
“No argument there,” he held up his hands. “You’re there, I’m here, it can all be rather confusing.”
“Ooooh” Carolyn leaned forward “Is this a tesseract?”
He chuckled “No, nothing so scientific. I’d love to tell you that there’s only one waffle haus, but the truth is the number varies depending on load. Saves money to not have any empty or over-staffed restaurants, you see? Simplifies cleaning too.”
I looked from Carolyn's expression of child-like wonder to the chef's polite sort of amusement. I wanted to interrupt and tell them they’d lost me, but I figured I’d have better luck getting Carolyn to explain after. The dude seemed to deeply enjoy being cryptic.
“So like a station? Or some sort of temporary internet lobby? What decides which instance we step into?”
“It’s arbitrary, though I can black-list trouble makers— make sure I personally never see them or even just have the entrance always be mysteriously locked.”
Carolyn leaned even further forward. “Isn’t having so many locations expensive? Why take the shape of a diner? Could we accidentally walk out of a different location than we entered?”
“Whoa there!” He held up his hands again before leaning on the counter. “Operating costs are fine, the diner is my preference, and no, this isn’t a shortcut to teleport across the globe. You haven’t gone anywhere in that sense.”
Curiosity got the better of me. “But aren’t we occupying the same space? Like, we’re in the same diner now, but you’re saying we’re also across the country from each other?”
“Paradoxical isn’t it?”
“Are you some sort of fae trickster?”
He laughed the hardest he had yet “Hah! Maybe in another life. No, I was born human, same as the two of you.”
“But…”
“But A long time ago.”
I rolled my eyes. “You mentioned that. Why has your lifespan been unnaturally prolonged?”
“I think he’s cursed, dear.” Carolyn spoke over the lip of her coffee cup. It was almost irritating how unbothered she was, as though none of this could possibly be dangerous.
“Bingo! Any guesses on the nature of the curse though?”
“Fast food?”
He smirked. “You’re too funny for your own good, but no. I just like the atmosphere.”
“Should I just rattle off cursed mythical beings then? Vampires, werewolf’s—“
“Got it in one. Not bad.”
“Vampire? You’re a vampire?” Carolyn glanced at me. “Well I’m in no position to throw stones.”
I looked between Carolyn and the chef, trying to process the tangle of jokes they had been making. Of course Carolyn couldn’t judge his diet if she was feeding on me, but should I judge him? It’s not like I knew anything about vampires anyways aside from the whole blood drinking thing. Still, he’d revealed himself as though he didn’t expect it to be a problem, or at least if it was a problem for us it wouldn’t be for him. He’d already said he could make sure we couldn’t come back, and it’s not like we knew any supernatural police that we would report him to— and for that matter we’d have nothing to report. It would just be prejudice.
This was fucking messy, but hey. Humor to cope has never steered me truly wrong.
“So do we pay for our meal with blood? Or…” I trailed off as he smiled.
“Kind of you to offer, if that’s what you’re doing, but no. Good old capitalism papers will suffice. Honestly, I think I over-estimated the degree to which you two are actually into the supernatural. Anyone with their finger on the pulse knows about the handful of vampires that have ever existed and furthermore which ones are rogue.”
“And you’re not? Rogue?”
“Well I could tell you anything, couldn’t I?”
Beside me, Carolyn was already cutting into her steak. She shrugged and nodded as though acknowledging his point but finding absolutely nothing wrong about it.
“I guess I’ll just have to look up your Wikipedia page then. What was your name?”
“Aiden.”
“Aiden…”
“Thas enough to find me by. I don’t give out the family name to just anyone.”
“Fair enough I suppose. Well, my name is Madeline, and the overgrown lizard is Carolyn.”
She turned toward me and raised an eyebrow. “That was bold…”
“What are you going to do about it?” I stuck out my tongue at her and she pulled out her phone as well as a length of rope with a clip on the end.
“You’ll see.” She tapped out a quick message and I heard the little swoosh of it being sent.
“What’s that for?” I pointed at the cord. I had a sinking suspicion that it was a leash, just going off the pink and gold that perfectly matched my collar.
She toyed with the clip idly before glancing at Aiden. “You’ve gotten around. I’m sure you have a pretty good read on Madeline here. What do you want to bet that she asks me to clip this on her before we leave?”
“What‽”
Carolyn ignored my outburst, and Aiden only gave me half a glance.
Aiden narrowed his eyes as though giving the question some serious thought. “Ah ain't gonna bet against you, not when you’re holding the cards.”
“I will! Carolyn, what the fuck?”
“You will?” She turned on my grinning broadly now. “What will you wager?”
“I… uh…”
“If you can resist asking until you finish your waffles, I’ll buy you anything you want.”
Aiden was already shaking his head and chuckling.
“And if I can't?”
“Then you’ll wear the leash for the rest of the day.”
I eyed the stack of waffles. It was just two rounds. I was hungry enough to finish them, and the stakes seemed pretty low…
“Fine. Deal.”
Aiden whistled. “Well that’s going to be amusing. Enjoy your meal.” He stepped back and turned to check on other customers as Carolyn continued to smile.
“You’re not going to cheat are you? Like, there’s not going to be more waffles or something, right?”
“Hmmm, if you want additional waffles, you can have them, but I specifically don’t think you’ll resist long enough to finish this plate.”
“That’s absurd.” I looked away from the leash and sectioned off a bite of the waffles. “But I guess it will take me a while to chew all of this so that I don’t get indigestion.”
“Don’t forget the syrup~” Carolyn pushed the little pitcher to sit next to my plate.
“Sure, sure. You know, when I expressed interest in a leash, it wasn’t such a powerful desire that I’d want to immediately wear it in public.”
“Mhmmm. I figured.”
“But you’re still betting I’ll be asking to wear it soon?”
“I’m quite certain. Mazer helped me with this, it blocks the tactile effects of the doll.”
My stomach dropped.
“No.”
“Maybe you have a good while before the doll gets activated.”
“Carolynnnnn~”
“You accepted the bet. I’d hurry if I were you.” She rested her chin on her palm.
“Fuuuck~”
I heard Aiden chuckle from somewhere down the bar. I suddenly wished I'd really followed his example. Why had I thought the wager was so simple?
I was about a quarter of the way through when I felt the first signs. Carolyn wasn’t watching me as closely anymore but I still struggled to keep from reacting.
Already I’d been eating a bit too fast, and the dread turned into despair as the sensations escalated. Hands rubbed and groped, massaging in unfamiliar ways. Nobody had messed with my hooves before but now someone was pressing between my toe beans and squeezing the pads as if to understand the bone structure.
I was tempted to text Deyha and beg her for mercy, but what kind of hypocrite would that make me?
When another set of hands joined in I was tempted to call it off right there. There was no way I’d keep a shred of dignity under Ellen and Deyha’s combined attention, but aside from the odd tickling move, there hadn’t been anything particularly stimulating.
I focused on continuing to chew thoroughly as the squeezing and prodding continued. They were acting like they’d never seen the doll before.
“How are you holding up?” Carolyn rested a hand on my back and I glared at her.
“I’m fine.”
“Do you feel like me rubbing your back would be cheating?”
I shrugged. “It’s not too different from what Deyha and Ellen are doing, so I suppose not.”
“What am I doing?” Deyha settled into the stool opposite of Carolyn. “Nothing bad, I hope.”
“I… but…” I struggled to do the math on how many places someone could be at once.
Now there was a third set of hands, removing any doubt about just how fucked I was.
It had to be Xander, Rose, and Ellen. Jake and Thad never seemed like the sort to fool around but Jesus, Xander and Rose sure fucking were right now. It was also pretty clear that an experienced Maddie-toucher had joined the party and Ellen was holding on particularly tight to my tail to make sure I knew.
“Is the steak good?” Deyha leaned forward to look past me. “Oh, it’s almost gone. That’s an endorsement if I ever saw one. Do you not like the waffles, Maddie?”
“Nope. Fuck this, gimmie the leash.” I reached for the rope but Carolyn pulled it easily out of reach.
“Ah ah ah, ask nicely~”
I grit my teeth as Carolyn waved the pink rope in front of me.
“Carolyn, would you please attach the leash to my collar?” I didn’t see any hint of mercy in her expression so I decided to go for broke. I tried to speak quietly and clearly despite the myriad of distractions. “You were right, I’m sorry for acting out, and I’d be very grateful if you leashed me and treated me like your pet… in. Uh. Public…”
“Very good Maddie!” Carolyn cooed. “You can have the leash after three more bites.”
“Carolyn~”
“Four then.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I picked up my fork and sectioned off another bite.
“Five it is.”
I resisted the urge to glare or complain further. I couldn’t begin to articulate just how poorly this was panning out for me, especially since Ellen seemed to be gleefully escalating activities on her end.
I leaned hard on the counter top as a finger delved into my cunt, curling cruelly before beginning a leisurely pumping action, and meanwhile the others were getting more bold, but also being weirdly tender? Kissing my shoulder… interlacing fingers with mine… I wished I could tell whose hands were whose, but I also wished it would just end. If prior experience was anything to go on then it wasn’t like any one of us was going to be able to orgasm.
I sectioned out the upcoming bites of waffle as I chewed the first, making sure that Carolyn could see so that there wouldn’t be any fudging of the numbers.
“Good girl.” She cooed. But I ignored the saccharine tone.
Someone was massaging my scalp and ears now, so it took a little extra effort to chew with my mouth closed.
Deyha had struck up conversation with Aiden, but I couldn't be bothered to follow the plot. Hell, I was breathing so heavily that just finding the moment to swallow was a task. Someone was really milking the doll now and while I was glad I remembered my nursing pads, I had to wonder if they could even handle this.
Another finger joined the first as I speared another bite. It took so much focus just to relax my hips and keep from clenching down on the intruding fingers. The solution was obvious. All I had to do to be more comfortable was accept it. Accept that I was being used and fucked in public and that given the option I would cum.
Could I be the sort of person who just did that? Who could just lose herself in bliss in full view of others? Right now, it was hard to argue that I couldn't.
I breathed in time with the thrusting fingers, accepting the sensations and untensing my back as I let my friends wind me up. I felt practically smothered in sensation, held on every side as hands fondled and squeezed every sensitive place they could. There was some tighter grabbing as they seemed to pause and reposition the doll, and then they were right back at it. Soft breasts pressed against my back as my tail became enveloped in warmth. I spread my legs on the stool on instinct as the sensation became a sandwich, someone’s dick pressed against me and slid in with absolutely no resistance. Meanwhile, the third person held my throat rubbing up to my chin before something pressed against my lips and— nothing. I stared at the leash hanging off my collar, clipped to the same ring as my bell.
It didn’t take a mathematician to count that I hadn't finished the five promised bites.
“Way to call my bluff…” Carolyn looked mildly aggrieved as Deyha chuckled and rubbed my back.
I inspected the rope as my thoughts cleared. How had it gotten there?
“You were really getting into it.” Deyha murmured. "The degree to which you were enjoying the waffles was beginning to seem like a bit more than a compliment to the chef.”
I covered my face as Deyha pulled me into a hug.
“It’s okay, you’re okay.”
“Folks are going to think I put drugs in these.” Aiden set a plate in front of Deyha and shrugged “Might be good for business, but I’m not exactly keen on seeking out attention.”
Carolyn combed her fingers through my hair. “It’s my bad, I’m sorry for making a scene.”
“Nothin to apologize for. I’m just glad I didn’t bet against you. Ahm fully capable of just assuming that was just a compliment of my cooking.”
“It does really scratch an itch.” Carolyn helped herself to a bite from my waffles. “Fuck, is that maple syrup? You spoil us.”
“Nah, it’s a clever fake, but it’s real sugar at least. ‘M glad it passes muster.” Aiden turned to Deyha “Didja want coffee as well?”
“Oh, no thanks. Unlike these two I need to sleep tonight.”
I looked at my half empty mug. I meant to murmur some sort of expletive about how I shouldn't have been drinking coffee either, but all that came out was a plaintive little “moo.”
“Maddie?” Deyha’s hand stilled on my back.
Turning to Carolyn revealed she was doing a very poor job of holding back giggles. “That was my idea. I know you don’t particularly like going moo, but… well, pets don’t talk do they?”
“Moo…” I put as much deadpan exhaustion as I could muster into the sound.
“It’s absolutely tragic how cute you act when you’re annoyed. It really doesn’t incentivize fairer treatment.”
This time I refused to even try to speak, settling for a bored glare as Carolyn waited expectantly for my next moo. If I had my way, she’d be waiting a long time.
“Hmm, I have a feeling I could blackmail or manipulate you into mooing for me, but I’m hoping I can reward and condition you to do it on your own.”
“Moo.” I rolled my eyes and turned back to my waffles.
“You’re right, conditioning is manipulation, but you’re such a good girl! My precious little cow.” She gradually started to sound like she was talking to a baby, but she wasn’t talking that loud so I decided to let it go. I had tasty waffles to eat and even if I wasnt feeling fucked three different ways, I was still very horny.
I turned my plate so one of the pre-sectioned pieces was facing Deyha and nudged it in her direction, looking up to see if she could read the sign language or if I’d have to moo out some charade of an offer.
“You’re all done?”
I shook my head.
“Just want to share then?”
I nodded and gestured again.
“As long as you still get enough to eat.” Deyha used her fork to pick up the bit of waffle and wiped up a little extra syrup.
She chewed, nodded, and shrugged. “Its pretty decent, though mostly it reminds me that we ought to dig out your heart-shaped waffle maker some time. Now that you’re going back to the omnivore diet we could have a really nice breakfast spread for the three of us some time… eggs, bacon…” she paused. “Unless you want to stay vegetarian.”
I frowned. She hadn’t really made it a yes or no question, so I settled on a shrug.
“We’ll discuss it when you’re feeling a little more verbal.”
“Moo.” I squinted at her and she set down her fork to pat my head.
“Yes, you’re a very good girl.~” Deyha chuckled. “You’re also radiating warmth like a space heater. Maybe we can take a little walk in the cool night air after this. Could help with digestion too.”
I shrugged and nodded.
“She won’t be much for conversation though,” Carolyn cut in, “the leash is staying on for the rest of the day. We agreed.”
“It’s not safe to sleep with it on.” Deyha argued.
“Fine. Maddie, I’ll detach the leash for bed but I don’t want to hear anything but pet noises from you until it’s back on tomorrow morning, okay?”
I smirked. “Moo.”
If the leash was off for sleep that meant the doll would probably have to be off as well. Personally, I liked my odds of getting a little breeding session in.
“You’re scheming, I can see it in your devious little eyes.”
“MooOoo” I tried to say ‘no, I’m not’ but I was pleasantly surprised to find the resulting involuntary moo was fairly expressive. Carolyn continued to doubt, but she begrudgingly pet my head anyways.
I liked the leash. Mooing wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and the affection on top of sugary sweets and full body tingles had me in a pretty good mood. I swayed idly in my seat as I finished my waffles, paying no mind to the conversation around me. My name wasn’t being said, and nobody was jostling me for my attention, so I felt content despite the uncomfortable stool.
I contemplated licking the plate once I’d collected the last sugar-soaked crumbs. Carolyn shot me a look when I wiped up some syrup with a finger, so I decided not to tempt her wrath.
“So, Aiden.” Deyha pulled out her wallet and sifted through her bills. “Will we be able to find you here next time the craving strikes? Or is it just luck of the draw for which chef we find.”
“Chef? Luck? You flatter me. I suppose it will all come down to how well you tip~” he smirked, but the smile froze on his face when Deyha placed a bottle of milk on the counter. “Is that…”
“I arrived a little late to help fix Carolyn’s coffee, but something tells me this wouldn’t be wasted on you.”
“Deyha‽” Carolyn balked, expressing my shock and embarrassment for me as Aiden considered the bottle.
“Tristate farms… that does explain quite a bit.”
“Cursed to feed on the living, right?”
“Can’t say I’ve tried much aside from meat and blood in a long time… I’m not sure it would be wise.”
Deyha shrugged. “Alright. Just thought I’d offer. One of our regular customers specifically requests unpasteurized on account of her vampirism…”
Aiden’s confusion quickly turned to glee “Oh, I think I know who you mean. I’m going to give her so much shit over this.”
“Then it would only be fair for you to know first hand, right?”
Aiden chuckled and shook his head. “Damn it, fine. Curiosity’s got me by the ball’s- sorry.” He glanced at me but I was still stunned by the fact that Deyha had just brought that along in her toolbelt.
He took the bottle and turned it, whistling at the price before placing it in the fridge behind him. “I’ll get in touch if it works out, but ahm not going to risk subjecting you to what rejection looks like.”
“Then here’s a bonus for your trouble if it doesn’t.” Deyha added another bill to the small pile of cash she’d put in the ticket book and pushed it across the bar.
“Why does this feel like a free sample of heroin?”
Carolyn groaned and rubbed her forehead. “Because that’s basically what it is. I mean, obviously it’s not *truly* addictive but… damn it Deyha. We have a vampire customer?”
“Ideally two now, but it didn't seem polite to share.” Carolyn shrugged.
“Uh huh. Sure.” Carolyn hopped down from her stool, forcing me to turn and follow as she looped the leash over her wrist. “Thanks for the meal, sorry for the rest of it.”
Aiden chuckled. “Think nothing of it.” He smiled, showing his teeth for the first time. “I’m always here after dark if the cravings hit again.”