I turned my head, closing my eyes just before it splashed across my cheek. The next couple coated my chest hair and stomach. It might have been a week, but I didn’t expect to cover my upper body. Tremors worked their way through my muscles, and I had to hold my hands away from the bed as sparks showered from the tips of my fingers.
“Damn.” I opened my cum-free eye. Licking my lips, I tasted the cum covering my beard. My phone vibrated. Holding my palms together, I let the electricity arc from one to the other, burning away the remnants of a satisfying morning. I smiled at the sight of another message. If only SeekingBeefy knew he was the inspiration behind this mess.
SeekingBeefy: I guess that means we’ll have to get coffee first.
Did he just invite me to coffee? Okay, maybe I didn’t hate online dating as much as I thought. At least the morning started off with a smile. Maybe this was the start of a new chapter?
“First, a shower.” I dragged my finger through a puddle of cum running down my chest. “Then we can think about this fresh start.”
With the hood pulled over my head, I turned, scanning the street for any reporters that might be following. It was bad enough they camped out at the entrance to the building, but to call in the news choppers? They really wanted an exclusive interview. Until I figured out what I was going to do, I wanted to avoid the press.
I ducked into the HideOut. The regulars were used to seeing Cobalt or Zipper come in and grab their coffee. It had become common to see supers. Sentinel in street clothes? They’d hardly bat an eye. I just hoped the patrons were too busy writing their novels to be bothered by the likes of me.
By the time I reached my seat, Chad was already bringing over a cup of coffee. Nowhere in Vanguard did a barista know my order like Chad. Mmm, coffee strong enough to kill a man. He always had it behind the counter, waiting for me to arrive. There were plenty of reasons we treated this as our home away from home.
“Bernard,” Griffin started, “settle a bet for us.”
I prepared for a conversation about sex, possibly bondage, depending on how their previous nights had gone. Their goal every morning—get a rise out of the old guy. These youngins would have to get up pretty early to shock me. If they hadn’t figured out that I played the prude as part of the alter ego, I would not ruin my image.
“Why do heroes that fly all have jets?” Griffin’s question didn’t have to do with sex. Had I slipped into a mirror universe? Were they being possessed by ancient magicians? Cause something seemed off.
“Why does somebody have a driver’s license and take a taxi?”
They all nodded as if it satisfied their curiosity. But it was Xander who leaned across the table. “Can you join the mile-high club without a plane?” This was more in line with the typical breakfast conversation.
“Good question,” Griffin added.
“Yes.” Alejandro and I answered at the same time. We locked eyes as we sipped our coffees. I’m sure he was busy trying to think of who I shagged to warrant that answer. I was busy trying to figure out who he hadn’t. Neither of us would spill our secrets, so we drank in silence.
“So, Mr. Big Shot Hero, what did you find out at work?” Only Xander hadn’t known about my secret identity. I appreciated him skipping the questions about Sentinel. We might give each other a hard time, but he knew when I needed a friend.
“We disbanded. Let me correct myself. They informed me we had disbanded. They’ll have a new team in place soon enough. They’ll have to recruit—”
“You haven’t heard, have you?” Griffin raised an eyebrow. “They announced the new director late last night. It’s not good, not in the least.”
“Who?”
“Damien Vex. A guy Sebastian used to work with at Revelations mentioned it.”
Revelations had become a thorn in the side of every hard-working hero in Vanguard. Vex used his magazine to create suspicion and discredit the good intentions of Vanguard’s protectors. I rejoiced when Sebastian quit and took a position with Griffin at the Beacon. At least they did an excellent job of showing the humanity behind the heroics.
“So Revelations is sponsoring the new Centurions?” Asked Xander.
Griffin shook his head. “I don’t know what qualifies him, but he is the new director of the Centurions.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity of Director LaToya being cast out with the rest of the riffraff or cry. It was hard to not think of it as years of my life thrown out the window. It had all come crashing down because one villain got his hands on a few files. New day, new life. I needed to move on.
“Let him have it.”
“It doesn’t make you mad?” Xander’s clenched fist made it clear that he was mad enough for the both of us. “Want me to clock him for you?”
The phone vibrated in my pocket. If I reached for it too quickly, Alejandro would sense a disturbance in the force. I might have taken the long way to the coffee shop this morning so I could continue chatting with this mysterious SeekingBeefy. We’d progressed from roundabout flirting to complimenting one another’s physique. It wasn’t a date, but considering it had been years since I went on one, it was moving at a brisk pace.
“How long before you think he answers it?” Asked Griffin.
“He’s trying to play it cool,” Xander said.
“Leave him alone,” Alejandro said. The smile spread. “Or DaddyBear will spank you.”
I threw my hands up in the air. Why did I try to keep anything a secret from them? “How did you know?” Had they bugged my apartment? It wouldn’t surprise me if Alejandro had cameras in there. If one of them had found me on the app, they, of course, would have texted the others. Hiding my superhero identity—easy. Hiding my dating life from them—impossible.
They all turned their phones in my direction. My profile was on all three screens. “Papi, it shows who’s nearby.”
“You’re all taken. Why are you on there?”
Even Griffin rolled his eyes at the statement. “We’re taken, not dead. Besides, looking is fair game.”
“So, who is he?” Xander wasn’t one to pry, but the way he leaned forward on the table meant he wanted details. “Look, we just told you that the biggest jerk in Vanguard has your old job. And here you are fighting to keep a goofy-ass grin off your face.”
“Spill it, Papi” said Alejandro.
I grabbed my phone, and before I could read the message, Alejandro plucked the device from my hand. “SeekingBeefy.” He eyed me. “Yup, that checks out. Tasteful nude photo. He’s coy, but a freak in the bedroom.”
“You got that from his photo?”
Alejandro handed it to Xander while staring at me. “Do I question your superpowers?”
“Oh, he’s chubby. I’d tap that.” Xander leaned in closer to the screen. “Okay, just checking I hadn’t already tapped it. But if you don’t want him, let me know.”
Finally, Griffin took the phone. At this point, Chad joined in. Peeking over Griffin’s shoulder, he gave me a thumbs up. “Cute, but let’s check the rejects.” With the swipe of a finger, he started scrolling.
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Chad said. “Need extra lube.”