"Um, excuse me."

Cupid froze at the light tapping on his shoulder. Thousands of years he'd been amongst people and not once in all that time had anyone looked at him, much less touched him. They looked through him. Went around him without realising it. Always treating him as if he were invisible. Like they should. Because he was to them.

So why had a human just tapped his shoulder to get his attention and spoken to him which meant she could see him!

He let the arrow fly at his target - because it was important for the fate of the voles in the Midlands of England that those two fell in love - and slowly turned to see who was speaking to him.

She flicked her eyes to him then up at the streetlight. A delicate pink suffused her cheeks. Eyes back to him then to the storefront beside them and the pink deepened to dusky rose. Once more back to him then to the cars passing and her cheeks glowed a deep red.

In a great rush she said, "I'm sorry to disturb you, it's just that it's illegal to carry weapons in the city, and do you realise you shot that man with an arrow? And, uh, and, do you know you aren't wearing any clothes?"

She clapped her hands over her eyes for a breathless moment, then moved one finger slightly to peek through.

Cupid took his time slipping the bow over his shoulder and adjusted the quiver of arrows. He ran a hand through his riotous curls because he was a resourceful guy being a god and all, but this situation had him stumped.

He didn't miss how another of her fingers moved to allow her other eye to peek through or how her eyes roved over his sleek physique.

"You can see me?" he asked.

"Of course I can! I'm worried because I think that cop can too! Quick! Come with me."

She grabbed Cupid's hand and pulled him toward a nearby doorway.

"Just pretend we're a couple. Talking."

Her cheeks flamed and when she glanced at him again, Cupid felt himself respond. The little hitch of her breath when their bodies made contact almost undid him.

"I'll cover your, uh, you know, parts."

Her arms slid around his sides, hesitantly exploring his bare skin as they went, although he sensed the tension of holding herself back from how she really wanted to touch him. Her hands came to rest where his wings met his back. She stilled them for a nanosecond before her fingertips gently continued their curious exploration up and over his feathers.

Cupid had never felt such a touch that burned so exquisitely. None of the nymphs he'd flirted with affected him an iota akin to how this unknown woman had within seconds of their meeting.

What exactly was going on?

This time her eyes didn't meet his but were latched on to his full lips. He was Cupid after all and had the lips that gave rise to the feature's name.

Cupid put his hands on her waist under her long coat and pulled her against him more tightly.

Her irises expanded and her breath started to come a little faster. She stared hard at his lips and licked her own, earning a groan from Cupid himself.

"We should... Is it okay if I... It'd be more convincing if we kissed."

She looked at him then, awaiting assent.

"I've never wanted to kiss anyone until this moment," he responded and leaned in to her.

The moment their lips touched Cupid lost all control of his powers.

The local news later that night would report the unexplainable phenomenon of showers of rose petals from a cloudless sunny sky all over the city, swooping pairs of birds singing beautiful songs and dropping paper hearts all over, and the sound of harps that filled the air.

Cupid felt his soul meld together with the woman's as One.

He may be the Harbinger of Love, but he'd never truly known what it meant to Love and Be In Love until that moment.

He had enough mental capacity to stop time for the mortals so he could spend as long as he wanted on this kiss. The problem was he didn't want it to end, and from the way his unknown heroine was pressing herself against him she didn't want to either. She seemed to be wanting something that would not be seemly to do on the public street.

When they finally pulled apart he restarted the clock for the fun of seeing where his counterpart would take things next.

She hadn't batted an eye at his wings. She'd been more turned on by his nakedness than alarmed by it and concerned only with him not being allowed to carry a weapon. She'd only shown mild alarm that he'd shot someone on the street with an arrow. What would she do next?

As their breaths mingled from their open mouths mere millimetres apart, a deep voice said from behind her, "Are you okay there, Miss?"

She jumped, turning quickly - Cupid instantly missed her hands stroking his wings - and pressed herself back to hide his naked form.

"Don't mind my ... boyfriend," she stumbled over the word. His heart whispered 'soulmate' to hers which swooned in response.

The cop's eyes looked behind her and blindly through him, as they should.

Cupid smiled deviously and leaned forward to lick the shell of her ear. She jumped in response, so Cupid began sucking her earlobe making her squirm.

The cop looked at her in concern. "You sure you're alright? I can't call someone to come and get you?"

"Enough already!" Cupid said and conjured a finger dart. He flicked it at the cop who rushed off without another word because he suddenly felt the need to call his wife and tell her he loved her.

The woman turned and swatted his shoulder. "You wicked imp!"

"I'm not an imp."

He snapped his fingers and transported them to the opulent bedroom of his palace.

"I'm Cupid, god of Love at your undying service. And who might you be?"

The woman gazed around at the luxurious room, smiling when she saw the red satin-covered king-sized bed.

"My name is Amore."

"Of course it is, my Love. My other name is Eros. Let me demonstrate."

Cupid scooped her up and flew her where they could do exactly that.