Just His Taste by Candice Gilmer

first, and faced Ava again.
    â€œI will be keeping an eye on this, Miss Avalynn.”
    Ava rolled her eyes, hoping her aura didn’t reveal more than necessary. “You’ll be wasting your time.”
    Duncan nodded and left. She doubted he believed her.
    Just perfect.
    Cupid watched him leave and didn’t speak again until the door closed. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m fine,” Ava replied. “Just an accident.”
    â€œIf you are sure.”
    â€œOf course I am,” she said, not looking at him.
    Cupid came to her side and ran his hand over her forehead. “I was worried.”
    Ava pulled away, suddenly feeling cheap, because she knew she didn’t care for him. Not in a way that required affection. Sex wasn’t affection. And Cupid was good at sex. Not at affection.
    Even now, as she glanced back at him, he looked strained attempting to be affectionate.
    He said her name again.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be here,” she told him.
    â€œWhy not? You are my friend.”
    She snorted. “I don’t have time for this.”
    â€œTime for what?”
    She waved her arm, wincing as pain shot through her shoulder. “You. This. We shouldn’t even be aware of one another.” There were a lot of things she shouldn’t be aware of—like how her charge kissed.
    â€œYou never cared before,” Cupid said, drawing her out of her thoughts and her memories.
    â€œI’ve never been in a healer’s bed with FID hanging around either. I can’t afford to screw up my place, Cupid. I’m not even three hundred years old yet. I can’t have a blotched record.” Or worse—lose her place as a Fairy Godmother. What would she do? What would the Council do to her? Retirement—like Christy faced—was one thing. Being fired would be horrible. She’d trained to do this for decades. Had been doing this for a couple hundred years and hadn’t considered doing anything else.
    Where would she go?
    What would she do?
    â€œYou do not want me here?” Cupid asked.
    Ava nodded. “I can’t have you or your minions meddling. I have enough on my plate right now.”
    Cupid snorted. “I can help you.”
    â€œIsn’t that how all this got started?” Ava said.
    Cupid grinned. “True enough. Though I still find it fascinating that you came to me instead of your trio for help.”
    â€œYeah, well, we all do desperate things from time to time.” Ava hadn’t been with Christy and Lilly long when she’d gone to Cupid. She’d been desperate, hadn’t known her trio well yet. They had bonded with each other, but Ava had been new, and she had to prove she was as good as they were. Harder than it sounded, what with them having over a hundred years more experience.
    Cupid had agreed to help her. For a price. At the time, Ava had been glad to pay—after all, he was the God of Love. And he was good at the making-love part.
    It wasn’t constant, or even monogamous—not that Ava cared. At least she never had, not until now, anyway. Not until she’d met Jason. Feeling that connection, Ava didn’t want the empty physical relationship she had with Cupid.
    She wanted more.
    While it would never be with Jason, she could find someone, somewhere, and feel that deeper emotional connection.
    Maybe Christy could set her up with someone again.
    Cupid sighed. “You should rest. Would you like Christy or Lilly to be notified of what happened?”
    Ava shook her head. “It’s bad enough you know I’m here.”
    â€œI’m hurt.”
    â€œWhatever. Now get going. I have to rest so I can get back to work.”
    â€œOf course.” Cupid caressed her hand. “If you need me—”
    â€œNot likely.”
    â€œHmm. Be careful. You may need me before all is said and done.” He started to leave.
    â€œWait, Cupid.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œKeep