Gigantic Pleasures Extended preview

Gigantic Pleasures.

Rowen peered through the window and into the bakery. “So Zach. What do you say about getting a bite to eat? Zach?”

“I don’t think we should bring that up at the quarterly meeting. Are you crazy?”

Rowen turned around with her arms crossed. “Zach! What did I tell you about being on that pesky phone of yours?”

His green eyes widened. “Oh shit. I have to go. Call you later.” He slid his cell phone into his pocket. “Umm, hey, I’m so sorry, but you know I am on a deadline here. If we don’t get the projects done, it could be chaos. Chaos honey.”

She kicked him in the shin. “If you don’t focus on what is important, it will be real chaos.”

“Ooww. Hey now. Don’t be that way.”

Rowen brushed her blonde bangs to the side. “Now, we are supposed to be on a date here. You told me that you would have time away from work for once.” He grabbed him by the collar of his grey jacket. “Don’t you try and bring your work with you. Do you understand me?”

“Of course, baby.” He kissed her, and Rowen eased up as she felt his tender touch upon her lips. “I promise I will take no more work calls. Just you and me, ok.”

She smiled. “Ok. That is what I want to hear. So, you want to get something to eat here?”

Zach looked at the establishment behind Rowen. “Hmm. Bob’s Briskets? I don’t know. . .” He turned his head. “Wait, what about that place?”

Rowen followed his finger and spotted a store across the street. “That? That is a potion store. Why would we go there to eat?”

Zach laughed. “Maybe we could get something nice and spicy. Who knows.” He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her across the street. “Come on. It could be fun. Look at all those exotic lights.”

“Zach! Hey.” She sighed as they entered the store. “I wish you could show this much enthusiasm in the bedroom.”

A strange young lady in an exotic outfit suddenly jumped out of thin air. “Greetings and welcome to Potion’s R Us!”

“Ahhhh!” Zach ducked behind Rowen. “Don’t do that.”

The young woman shrugged her shoulders. “What?” She danced around, her multicolored dress flowing about. “I was just giving you two the Potion’s R Us greeting you deserve.” She cheered, her blue and red hair bouncing on the sides of her shoulders.

Zach sighed. “Scaring us is what we deserve?”

Rowen narrowed her blue eyes and elbowed Zach with her pale arm. “It wasn’t that bad. Now come on, you wanted to come in here. Spice things up.”

The strange woman smiled. “I take it you two are “supposed” to be on a date. But it isn’t going well?”

Rowen’s eyes widened. “How in the world did you—

The exotic woman put her fingers to Rowen’s lips. “It’s ok. We here at Potion’s R Us know many a thing that can seem odd. But this?” She giggled. “This is just plainly written on your faces.”

Zach shrugged his shoulders. “It doesn’t seem that obvious.” He shook his head. “Hey, what is your name anyways?”

“Oh, mine. It’s Beth.” She giggled. “Now, let’s see about getting you two something to spice up this night of yours. Take this “date” and turn it into a night of romance.” Beth turned around and started to hum, motioning for Rowen and Zach to follow her.

Rowen looked at her partner. “This is a bit odd; don’t you think?”

“Hey, I think it is a bit cool. What kind of store operates this way?”

“None. That is the point.”

They followed Beth through winding corridors of potions, all of varying sizes and shapes, colors, and mixtures. The whole setup made Rowen ill at ease. What was it here that Beth thought could help her with her date or, for that matter, her relationship that she couldn’t do herself?  Maybe coming in here was a mistake after all. I don’t know why we have to humor this weird lady.

“Ahh, here we are.” Beth ran her hand over a crystal bottle that seemed to hold ordinary water inside. “Perfect. Oh yes, perfect.” She thrust it into Zach’s hands. “Ohh, you two will just love it. I just know you will.”

“Umm. Ok. So, what we both drink this.”

Beth suddenly slapped Zach. “No! No, no, no, you foolish man. This is for you and you alone. If you want to please your wife here, you and you alone will drink this.” She grabbed his cheek, causing it to turn red as she twisted his pale face back and forth. “Otherwise, you will not get the desired results you are looking for, and you might put your marriage at risk. Doom, doom, I say. Would you really trade the best night of your life for doom and gloom?”

“Ok, ok. Please just let go of my face.”

Beth smiled. “Ok. Now that we understand the rules, let’s get you checked out so you can have a nice, pleasant evening together.”

Rowen crossed her arms. “Umm, how much is this going to cost us? I am guessing something of this. . . exotic nature is pretty expensive.”

Beth held up and twitched her finger. “Oh no, not at all. We here at Potion’s R Us don’t deal with silly things like money.”

Rowen’s eyes bulged. “What? How can you not try and make a profit off of. . . whatever it is you are trying to sell here?”

Beth motioned for the young couple to follow her once more. “There are more important things to running a business than that sticky thing called money. Tell your friends about us, tell your family. Let the world know about us. Word of mouth, my young friend. It is the magic that will help keep this place alive.”

Rowen rubbed at her forehead. “I can’t believe my ears.” This woman has a few screws loose or something. How is it we are not being scammed?

They came up to a giant golden counter with a strange-looking device on it. “Ahh, here we are. The checkout counter.” Beth danced around to the other side. “Just a moment.” She typed something into the golden device that looked like a computer, and Rowen felt a strange sensation wash over her. “Ahh, ok. There I have you registered to take our potion out for today.”

Rowen blinked her eyes and stared at Beth. “What was that?”

“Ohh, that? Ohhh, it was nothing. Currently, we are trying a new form of payment here at Potion’s R Us. That is all.” She handed the glass vial over to Zach. “Now, enjoy you two. Have a glorious night full of pleasure and fun.” The exotic woman waved and danced as Rowen and Zach approached the doorway. “Oh, and remember Zach. Bigger is better.” Beth giggled.

As they walked out onto the street, Rowen scratched at her forehead. “What in the world could she have meant by that?”

Zach laughed. “I don’t know, but she is right. Bigger is better.”

“Huh?”

Zach smiled. “Hey, come on now, Rowe. We have the chance to spice things up. Let’s take it.” He looked at the bottle in his hands. “I wonder what this will do. Maybe heightened sensitivity. Maybe something else. Like turning me into the perfect boyfriend.”

“I don’t think a potion could do that.”

He slid his arms around her back. “Come on now. It’s magic. It could do anything. Let’s try it out.”

“Hold your horses. Let’s wait until we get home. I have my own surprise that I need to show you.” She ran her finger along his chest. “And I am not going to have some silly make-believe bottle get in the way of showing it to you.”

Zach’s cheeks turned red. “Oh, really. That sounds wonderful.” He grabbed her arm. “Then what are we standing out here in the cold for. Onward we go.” He dragged her once more down the street.

“Hey. How many times have I told you not to do this!”