Demons of Desire (6 page)

I sighed, because I sooo wanted to go there. “It would only be one night, though. He’d do the ‘just friends’ thing, and I’d want more. Remember?”

Darci shrugged. “Who’s to say you wouldn’t feel the same? You were crazy for that Zumba instructor, and the next day you felt nada. Maybe you need to jump this guy, get it out of your system, and move on. You wouldn’t need to feel guilty either, because he’d want the same thing.”

But the way I felt about Irix was different than that Zumba guy, or any of the other crushes I’d had over the years. The craving I felt for him went beyond my need for energy, beyond my desire for physical pleasure. Every cell in my body sang when he was around; every part of my being wanted him next to me. One night would never quench my thirst for him.

“Maybe, but not tonight. I need to think about things and get my head on straight before I make that sort of decision. Tonight I’m going to do my thing, and he’s going to do his. Separately.”

“Okay.” Darci’s voice wavered and her eyes focused behind me, just as Jordan’s had done.

I will not look. I will not look. I was practically gritting my teeth with the effort. Whatever Irix was doing, I knew I didn’t want to see it.
Just put him out of my mind and go dance with my friends.
I needed to pretend he wasn’t here, needed to keep my eyes in my friends’ direction.

Oh, fuck it
. I turned my head and scanned the crowd behind me. There had to have been a hundred people on that side of the club, but my eyes zeroed in on one. Irix. A redhead was plastered to him, rubbing the entire front of her body along his backside in a rhythmic motion. At his feet was a brunette, wrapped around one of his legs, practically dry–humping his foot. A blond stood in front of him. He dribbled his beverage down the front of her dress then bent his head to chase the drops.

I whipped my head around, holding back the urge to rip his head off. My mind stupidly replaced the three girls with myself, and before I could stop my thoughts, they spiraled into lust and jealousy. In my mind, I could feel his back against my breasts, his foot rubbing between my legs, his tongue teasing down into the hollow between my breasts. . . but it wasn’t me he was with on the other side of the bar. I tried to calm the fury that warred with a resurgence of desire. This was who he was, what he did. No sense in getting resentful about it.

Darci looked at me sympathetically, taking in my flushed face. She put an arm around my shoulders. “It’s always the fish that tries to get away, isn’t it? Maybe the problem isn’t that you can’t connect with men, it’s that easy conquests don’t capture your heart. Amber, every guy you crook your finger at falls at your feet. You need a challenge. You’ve got one. Go get him.”

It wasn’t that simple. I’m sure I could have him, it was the keeping him that would be the problem. I tried to force a cheerful smile and gave Darci a quick hug.

“I’m just a player that doesn’t like to get played, I guess. Yeah, I want a challenge, but not one that has three women licking his boots.”

“Got it. Let’s dance and show your sexy life–coach what he’s missing out on. Gavin can join us when he gets back.”

She yanked my arm, dragging me to the dance floor. I found myself in a big mess of friends, all dancing together and swapping partners. It was fun and light. I laughed, and every few moments slid a quick glance at Irix. It was practically a porno on his side of the room. I couldn’t quite see with the crowd of people, but the blond was half seated on top of the bar, with her head tossed back. The brunette was on her knees, most of her body blocked by Irix’s. Lord only knows what the redhead was doing. I know this was a pretty permissive club, but how the heck could he get away with this stuff?

I wanted to retaliate, to entrance one or more of the guys dancing near me and show Irix that he wasn’t the only one who could inspire this kind of sexual adoration. I’d done it with the doorman; it should be easy to do it again. But it wasn’t. Sure, plenty of guys gave me appreciative looks, rubbed various appendages against me, but I couldn’t manage to spark a fire. So I just smiled, danced and mentally counted down the hours until closing time.

I felt Darci elbow me in the ribs. “He’s coming this way. Mr. Sex–on–a–Stick. Look lively.”

She didn’t need to warn me. Even if I hadn’t been watching him, I would have felt him approach.

“What’s wrong?”

I’d yanked my hair up because of the heat, and his breath tickled across the nape of my neck. Sensation fluttered down through my body, and finally a spark caught — a tiny flame in the kindling of his presence.

“Nothing. I’m just having fun with my friends.”

He sighed, turning me around to face him. “Amber, pick someone. Anyone. Male, female, bovine, I don’t care. Just pick someone.”

“I’m not here to get laid, I’m here to have fun with my friends. I might be half succubus, but that’s just half. The rest of me actually enjoys activities that don’t involve having something shoved in an orifice.”

Crude, but I knew I’d made my point when his jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. “You’re ignoring that half of yourself, starving it out. I won’t allow it. If you don’t choose someone, then I’ll do it for you.”

My temper flared. “Oh like a pimp? I’m not fucking some guy because you tell me to. You don’t have that kind of power over me, and you never will. Go back to your little harem over by the bar and leave me alone.”

A slow smile spread across his lips, like a predator who knew he had his quarry cornered. My heart skipped a beat. He knew I’d seen him with those three women, and now he knew it bothered me enough to mention it. Crap. Me and my temper. He leaned in close, his breath stirring the loose hair around my ear.

“But the whole time it was your sweet mouth I wanted on my cock, your taste on my tongue, your velvet softness wrapped tight around my fingers. I want to splay you naked on the bar and explore every inch of you. I could be yours, Amber. Yours for all eternity.”

The noise of the club faded into background buzz; the only sound was the thud of our heartbeats. I turned my head, lips so close to his. His breath smelled of rum, of dark chocolate. Mine.

But he wouldn’t be mine for all eternity. It would be one night, and I’d be enslaved. I already was enslaved. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to jump–start that succubus instinct in me, the one that longed to occupy a man’s thoughts for the rest of his life. Every time he dreamed, when he made love to his wife, when he jerked off to naughty magazines, it would be my face and my body he saw. He’d forever relive the memory of one passionate night, and each time I’d be given a bit of his energy. But I’d never get that from Irix. All I’d get would be one night and a lifetime of heartache.

“I’m not going to have sex with you, Irix. Never.”

My voice was weak and shaky. Heck, even I didn’t believe myself. Rather than laugh at me, or call my bluff, he closed the tiny distance between us and brushed my lips with his — soft, gentle, and fleeting.

“Then pick someone. Or you
will
have sex with me. I won’t see you starve, and if you won’t feed yourself, then I’ll share my energy with you.”

Well, if that wasn’t the most romantic thing I’d ever heard. Still, his words stirred something deep within me. A demon shouldn’t care if I starved or not, and certainly not enough to “share” anything with me. Could his offer be spurred by something beside the obligation he had to my demon parent? Or was I a fool, head over heels and grasping at straws?

“Not tonight. I’m enjoying an evening out with my friends. I’ll go back to Darci’s house tonight, go to bed alone and sleep.”

Nope. I’d toss and turn all night, dreaming of him and all the things I wanted to do to him — what I wanted him to do to me. Still, he didn’t have to know that.

His hands snaked around my waist, pulling me against him. We swayed in time to the music, his leg between mine. I couldn’t help but angle my hips toward him, riding his thigh, and he cupped my ass, tilting me into optimal position.

“Twenty–four hours, Amber. That’s your deadline. Find someone by this time tomorrow, or it will be me warming your bed. Understand?”

I closed my eyes, letting everything fall away except for the friction of his jeans against me. The thought of him rolling naked with me across the sheets turned that tiny flame into an inferno. I felt things ratchet up again on the dance floor, felt the energy course into me. Twenty–four hours was an eternity. I’d deal with that tomorrow. Right now, all that mattered was the feel of Irix against me.

“ I understand.”

5

I
woke up to the smell of coffee and the sound of Darci snoring beside me. We’d crashed on her bed without removing either our dresses or makeup. Mascara was smeared across my pillow, and I’m sure Darci’s was covered with glitter. At least I wasn’t hung–over — one of the advantages of my succubus side. I was pretty sure Darci wouldn’t be so lucky, so I slid out of bed as quietly as possible and showered before heading into the kitchen.

Darci somehow had the forethought to set the coffeemaker on automatic and put out a store–bought coffee cake before we’d headed to the club. I need more than a pound of sugar to start my day, so I dug through the fridge and went to work. By the time my friend staggered out of the bedroom, I was ready for her.

“Oh my God.” Darci covered her mouth as I pushed a plate in front of her. “You can’t seriously expect me to eat that.”

“Yep.” I handed her a big glass of water and two aspirin. “My brother swears by it. Biscuits and sausage gravy — best hangover cure ever.”

She sat and gulped down the pills and water, staring at the food like a convict facing the hangman. “Is that why you’re so chipper? You were sucking down those rum things all night.”

“I don’t get hangovers. A quirk of genetics.”

“I hate you.” She took a bite of the food and swallowed. “Although, this is really good. You made it from scratch?”

I had. Both the biscuits and the gravy. “Yep. Wyatt taught me. He can cook all sorts of things.”

She grinned. “And is he single? I’ve seen pics, and he’s pretty hot.”

‘He’s dating Satan’ didn’t seem like a good response. “He’s got a girlfriend. Besides, doesn’t your heart belong to Gavin? Hmmm?”

Darci shoved another forkful into her mouth. “I can’t believe that. Last night was magic. I’ve been trying to get him to look at me for months, and suddenly he’s like flypaper. He barely left my side. We’ve got a date tonight.” She looked up at me guiltily. “I hope you don’t mind. I can see what the girls are doing, and maybe you can hang with them.”

My heart nearly stopped, and it wasn’t from my friend ditching me to go out on a date. I’d remembered last night, Irix’s deadline, and the repercussions of not meeting said deadline. Last night, in his arms, the punishment sounded pretty good to me, but in the cold light of day, I panicked. I needed to find someone to have sex with. I glanced at the clock. Noon. Oh crap. It was noon, and I had a little more than twelve hours to get laid. Normally, that shouldn’t be a problem, but I had hoped to be a little pickier than just grabbing someone off the street.

“I’ll fly solo tonight. I’ve got some needs to take care of, if you know what I mean.”

Darci gave me a quick grin. “With Irix, the life coach, I hope?”

“Nope.” I took a quick swig of my coffee. “It’s going to be a stranger–in–the–night for me this time.”

“Be careful; some of the places in the French Quarter can get a bit crazy. Stay off the side streets and watch your drink.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I might not be a black–belt in anything, but I did have some special self–defense skills. And I always watched my drink.

“Will do,” I promised.

“Well, I’m going back to bed.” Darci pushed the empty plate across the counter. “Come join me.”

If only. I could use more sleep, but I needed to strategize how I was going to find and seduce someone who wouldn’t result in my feeling like a horrible monster the next day. I waved Darci on, promising to wake her by four, and opened the laptop. Dating sites? Craigslist ads? I wanted someone attractive enough that I would actually enjoy this, but not someone I’d feel guilty about. Not married. Maybe a bit of a jerk, so I could justify it by thinking he’d had it coming. Or should I go for a backward, socially inept guy — a virgin who could be happy with fond memories the rest of his life? One night stands had never been so much work before, and I grumbled to myself, regretting that I’d ever found out about my weird parentage.

The doorbell rang. I answered the door to see Jordan with a backpack that looked like it weighed three–hundred pounds.

“Darci’s sleeping,” I told her, closing the door. She stuck her foot out, blocking it.

“Good. I came to see you.”

And here I thought I’d gotten rid of her. Instead, she pushed past me and deposited the backpack on the sofa, pulling out what seemed to be an endless quantity of notebooks and photos.

“I know you said you’re not a witch, but you’ve clearly got some powerful magical stuff going on. I did some research last night, and there’s not much out there on what elves can do. Still, I’m hoping you can help us.”

Help them do what? Revive dying petunias? It’s not like I’d ever been able to do much with my elf side. It’s not like I even knew what my elf side was capable of. My mother was dead, and there hadn’t been an elf outside of Hel in millions of years to ask.

“I don’t have any magic. I’ve got a bit of a green thumb, and I can make a room full of people want to have sex. I’m sure most of your coven can do that too. Just light a few candles, break out the oysters, and open up a bottle of wine.”

She paused, giving me the raised–eyebrow look before continuing to pull stuff from her backpack.

“You nearly dropped that doorman to his knees. I’m sensitive; I can
see
the way the energy circles around and loops into you. When a witch does sex magic, we channel the energy into our spell — but the energy comes
from
us. You don’t do that. You jump start the energy in those around you and absorb it. You’re like a giant battery.”