Hell Inc. (43 page)

“Where's Dia?” As if on cue, my genie flung
back the curtains and grinned at us.

“Girl, you sure scared the crap outta me. You're
lucky you've got so much magic inside of you.” She poked a
finger under my chin just as the sphinx leapt onto the bed.

“I thought I was
out of trouble with 3
^rd
Century Realty?” I blurted at him. He blinked contented eyes
at me.

“You are. I just like you.” From the
silence in the room, I was guessing that I wasn't the only one that
was shocked.

“You can talk?” I gasped. The sphinx sat up
and licked his shoulder.

“Of course I can talk. What do you think I've
been doing all this time, giving you such amazing advice. I
certainly wasn't pretending to be mute.” Okay, so that was true
but still ...

“But, but, you've seen me naked.” The sphinx
frowned at me.

“And? Your point? I was also present during your
coupling with the demon. Don't worry, if the two of you wish to do
so again, I won't make a sound. Though I can't imagine why you'd
want to go through with such a dreadful act more than once a year.”
Levie snarled at the sphinx and batted him off of the bed.

“You will do no such thing. Go on. Get out.”
The sphinx stuck his tongue out at Levie and trotted to the door,
now visible as Dia was in the process of tying back the curtains.
The room was massive with wall to wall rugs, tapestries, and massive
pieces of dark furniture in a wood I didn't recognize. It was just
to my tastes. Rich, baroque, dark. I turned to Levie and studied
his face. Maybe we would work together as a couple ... “And
you,” he said to Dia. “Can make yourself scarce as
well.” Dia raised her eyebrows at me, and I turned my own lour
on Levie.

“And why is that?” His eyes were warm and
inviting when he gazed back at me. I flushed to the annoyance of Dia
who threw up her hands in surrender.

“Whatever.” She stomped from the room and
slammed the heavy doors behind her.

“Ginger,” he said softly, running his
fingers along the side of my face. “I was worried about you.”
I rested my hand across his lap and felt him getting ...
excited.

“You were worried?” I asked, leaning back
from him. “Or just certain parts of you were?” Levie
laughed; the sound was deep and low and rich. I felt my own body
respond despite my injury.

“All of me, Ginger,” he said, placing a hand
on my chest and pressing his lips against mine. I kissed him back
without thinking. It felt too good not to. When he leaned back, he
was all confidence and smirks. It was annoying. “Does this
mean that you'll be my bride?” I gave him an, 'Are you freaking
crazy?' sort of a look before responding.

“No way, Levie.” The look of absolute horror
on his face was too much for me.
I laughed and grabbed his cheeks between my hands. “I'm not
saying that I don't want to be with you. I just don't want to get
married yet. We can date.” He scowled at me.

“I refuse to
live in that hovel of yours. We will have to find ourselves a more
suitable residence for the remainder of your time on Earth.”
God, he was dense. I loved him anyway.

“I never said
we were going to move in together.” He gave me another look of
sheer horror before I silenced him with my lips and pulled him on top
of me. I was done talking. There would be plenty of time to talk
about life's possibilities later. The one thing I did know however,
was that my new life was going to be one hell of a ride.

If you enjoyed this book, look for more by C.M. Stunich!

...
The Third House of Faerie is Missing Their Queen ...

A
Houses Novel Book 1

Books by C.M. Stunich

The Seven Wicked Series

Houses Novels


• The House of Gray and Graves
  
• The House of Hands and Hearts
  and Hair
  
• The House of Sticks and Bones
  

Indigo Lewis Novels


• Indigo & Iris
  
• Indigo & The Colonel
  
• Indigo & Lynx
  

Stand Alone Novels


• Suicide Girls
  
• She Lies Twisted
  
• Hell Inc.
  
• Zombie Hunter Lulu
  

About
the Author

C.M.
Stunich was raised under a cover of fog in the area known simply as
Eureka, CA. A mysterious place, this strange, arboreal land nursed
Caitlin's (yes, that's her name!) desire to write strange fiction
novels about wicked monsters, magical trains, and Nemean Lions
(Google it!). She currently enjoys drag queens, having too many cats,
and tribal bellydance.

She can be
reached at [email protected], and loves to hear from her readers.
Ms. Stunich also wrote this biography and has no idea why she decided
to refer to herself in the third person.

Happy reading and carpe diem!

www.cmstunich.com