Sins of the Flesh (Half-Breed Series Book 2) (17 page)

“We’ll need to swig it from the bottle. I forgot to grab cups.”

She hadn’t forgotten a corkscrew, though. I opened the bottle as Kai put the food out. We sat in silence and ate, passing the bottle between us. The sun on the curling waves shone blinding white. Incoming surf shifted the lava rocks, making them rattle as the water receded. It sounded like a thousand maracas against the roar of the ocean. The surfers moved farther out and down the shore, and I realized there were no bags or gear on the little beach, just Kai and me with our picnic and a bottle of Pino Grigio. Was this her idea of a pickup spot? Who the heck was I supposed to pick up?

Oh.

For a half-succubus, I could be a real idiot sometimes.

“Can you... do you see
my
fantasies?” Kai’s shy smile wobbled a bit before she busied herself with the cheese slices.

Yes, I could.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Kai babbled, taking a quick sip of wine. “Not a great place to jump in because of the rocks, but a great spot to watch the surfers and sunbathe. These rocks, the black sand, it all heats up, and when you lay down, it’s like being at a spa.”

“Then let’s do some sunbathing.” I stood and untied my bikini top, shedding my shorts along with the lower part of my swimsuit. Kai’s eyes grew wide, and she gulped wine.

She
was nervous? I was the one buck naked, sprawling on a beach of hot lava rocks and gritty black sand. The only thing keeping me calm was the succubus confidence that this would all come together in beautiful harmony.

I tucked my palms under my head and looked at Kai from beneath half-closed eyes. “Well, come on. And bring that wine with you.”

She hesitated then rose gracefully and padded on bare feet to my side, wine extended. I took the bottle and watched her undo the back of her bathing suit, pulling it over her head with shaking hands. Hooking her thumbs in the waistband of her shorts, she shimmied them down, turning to the side and giving me a view of her slim profile.

I patted the sand beside me. Kai lowered herself gingerly, shifting a few stones for a more comfortable surface. We lay there, listening to the clatter of the rocks, the sun warm on our skin. I was completely aware of her next to me, of the rise and fall of her breasts with each breath, of the concave curve of her stomach and the angles of her hips, of the muscles along her arms and legs and the restless twitching of her feet. Slowly rising to my elbows, so I didn’t disturb the serenity of the moment, I took a drink of wine and looked across the black sand.

But my eyes returned to Kai. It was as if she was part of the beach, of the island itself, like she was one of the old gods whose souls were forever tied to the fire and rock, the wind and surf, the flora and fauna. Her eyes were shut, dark lashes a short fringe against her broad cheekbones. Her braid extended sideways along the rocks, a darker black than the rocks and sand.

“Stay there” I wedged the wine safely between some larger stones and rose. Her eyes fluttered open, full of nervous anticipation. “Close your eyes and relax.”

“Okay.” She closed her eyes, but the previous ease fled, leaving her tense.

I crawled, picking up the end of her braid and loosening the elastic. With gentle fingers, I untwined the tresses, spreading them out in a fan of wavy black above her head. Then I ran my fingers through her hair, scalp to end, smoothing the tangles as I gloried in the thick, heavy strands. It was like ropes of silk, so different than my fine blond locks. I rubbed the wavy mane between my fingers, thrilling at their texture and glossy sheen. I separated each strand, lovingly running my fingers along them as I arranged her wavy dark hair above her head. Working my way around, I ended up by her side, leaning over her as I worked.

She sighed, a smile curving the edges of her lips. I continued to caress her hair, amazed at how sensual such a basic act could be.

“There. You look just like a mermaid come to shore with hair spread out and your tanned body an offering to the sun.”

Her eyes fluttered open, looking into mine. My hands left her scalp to trace the lines of her face, one of my fingers exploring the curves of her upper lip. She said nothing, just watched me intently while I touched her.

Then I lowered my mouth to hers, my hair a golden canopy around us.

She hesitated, a breath against my lips, then kissed me back, tongue dancing with mine as her fingers curled in my hair. I know Irix said to let her kiss me first. I know I should have paused to ask if this was okay, if she really wanted to break her rules and do this with me, but somehow this felt so right. For once it wasn’t the horny succubus who was full steam ahead, but
me
. I’d never been swept away by anyone but Irix before, and part of me was shocked. I’d come to terms with loving someone and having sex with others, but loving someone and having a very different sort of love for another? I wasn’t sure how to handle these feelings, but there was no way I could stop now — Kai’s enthusiastic response had sent my body into overdrive.

Balancing my weight on my knees and one hand, I freed the other to roam lower, down the column of her neck, feathering across the delicate shoulder bones to palm the firm swell of her breast as my tongue flickered over her lips. She murmured against my mouth as I ran my fingers lower to brush the bud of her nipple with my thumb.

Then Kai yanked her mouth from mine with a gasp. “I want to touch you.”

“Patience,” I teased, kissing her pointed chin. “I get to do everything I want to you first, then, when I’m good and done, you can have your turn.”

Kai’s mouth set in a stubborn line that nearly made me laugh. Not willing to give her the chance for argument, I swung a leg across her waist, straddling her and bending my head to her breast.

I loved them, firm and smooth under my hands, the tips tightening to rounded points as I ran my tongue across their surface. She gasped, becoming pliant beneath me, and I lost myself in her warm scent, in the taste of the sea on her skin, in the way she rolled against me, whispering soft encouragement.

Her hands glided through my hair, caressing the sides of my face and along my shoulders as I slowly worked my way downward, mouth following my hands as I tasted every inch of her skin – the hollow of her belly, the curve of her waist, as well as the edges of her hip bones. I skated my hand along the muscles of her leg, curling back along the inside of her thigh as I worked my fingers upward. She shuddered, moaning with abandon as I placed my other hand on her taught stomach, resting on my knees to look up and meet her eyes. “Kai, you’re beautiful.”

I don’t know whether it was the pheromones or my words, but for the first time, she completely relaxed, her eyes warm and full of emotion as they met mine. We both smiled, and at that moment, everything else fell away — the fire-being, Cleo, the price on my head. I knew it was the same with her, that every hurt and doubt she’d had vanished. Irix was right; what I had to give was a gift. That expression on Kai’s face, the softness about her lips and eyes, it powered through me, lighting me up more than I ever thought possible from anyone but Irix. Unable to hold back, I lowered my head and kissed down the triangle of soft brown curls, skirting around her sex to touch her inner thighs with my tongue and teeth while my hand explored her warmth. My fingers danced over her folds, teasing with a light touch as she jerked upward, trying to urge me on.

My tongue joined my fingers, stroking, savoring every inch of her with my hands and my mouth, and she stilled, gasping as I worshiped her. Then she came with a breathy shudder, heat rolling like a fire across her skin. As it ebbed away, I felt the sweet strength of her energy, given freely.

Her eyes were liquid, slightly unfocused as they met mine. Her hand reached out to give my hair a gentle tug. “Come here,” she commanded. “It’s my turn now.”

***

The sun was dropping on the west side of the island as we sat, wrapped together in the blanket, drinking warm wine. The tide was coming in, teasing our toes with warm, salty water. The ebb and flow of the waves was our music as they rattled the rounded lava and smashed against the larger rocks. I felt drunk off the power of the energy she’d shared. Happily, giddily drunk.

No Cleo. No fire-being since last night. Kai warm beside me under the blanket. It was peace destined to end.

Chapter 15

I
climbed out of Kai’s jeep after a more physical goodbye than we’d ever had before and pranced into the resort lobby. Pranced. I felt like a fucking lighthouse beacon, or one of those flashing neon signs. Heads turned as I walked past — more heads then when I’d had the pheromones cranked up. If I had been Selma Hiyek buck naked, I wouldn’t have attracted as much attention.

And I loved it. Damn it all; no wonder Irix had been hounding me to up my game. Was this how he felt all the time? Probably more, since he had nearly two-thousand years on me. I could pick up the world and carry it around. I could pull the stars from the heavens and string them into a necklace. I could snuff that fire elemental like a birthday candle. Each moment that passed, the power Kai had given me settled and grew, filling me with a sense of invincibility. I couldn’t wait to show Irix. But, of course, he wasn’t in our room.

I paced around like a caged tiger. It was late afternoon, and I’d texted him that I was going to be out with Kai until dinner. The thought of waiting and working on my thesis for two hours drove me nearly insane. I needed to do something — something beyond wear a path through the plush carpet. So out I went.

I was smart enough to realize I couldn’t drive in my high-as-a-kite-on-sex state, so I took a taxi. It’s a wonder the guy didn’t wreck — his gaze stayed glued to me in the rearview mirror as he negotiated traffic seemingly by psychic power. Some sense crept through my insane ideas of invincibility, and I asked him to let me off in Lahaina. It was only a few miles from the resort, and I knew I was risking an encounter with Cleo, but I just didn’t give a fuck.

The little beachfront restaurant was packed with diners having a late lunch or just enjoying the view with a drink. Men in shorts sat at the bar beside guys sporting garishly bright swimming trunks. Women wore breezy cover-ups over their bathing suits. This was clearly a tourist spot, and I was hesitant as I stood in the doorway, feeling very much like a piranha in a koi pond.

I didn’t hear music screeching to a stop. No crowds of people turned to stare at me. No one came rushing over to throw my ass to the curb. What they did do was eye me from behind menus and the shelter of sunglasses, as if I were a celebrity they were trying hard
not
to stare at. The drunk feeling was doing more than making me an eye magnet and filling me with a sense of power; I could see the energy in the humans, the quality and quantity, the color that hinted at their emotional state. It would make hunting for sexual partners so much easier. Why hadn’t Irix told me about this? Now I finally knew what he meant when he chastised me for my starvation diet. Well, diet no more. I had two hours to kill, so I walked in.

A succubus doesn’t need a seat at the bar — even a half-succubus. I squeezed between two men, smiling apologetically at each in turn. They scooted sideways, not so far that their arms didn’t brush mine, and smiled back. Two sets of eyes roved over me as I leaned forward to summon the bartender.

“I’ll have that Maui Brewing thingie you’ve got on tap”. The local beers were amazing, but I could never remember their names. Not like I could remember the names of towns, prominent landmarks, or half the mythological figures either. Hundreds of thousands of plant names — both common and in Latin — were like second nature to me, but these Hawaiian names were
hard
.

The bartender slid the pint over to me, and I was once again grateful that alcohol didn’t have any long-term effects on me. If I had a few of these, I’d get tipsy, but never sloppy drunk, and never hungover in the morning.

“Well, hello there, beautiful.”

I froze at the husky, feminine voice then slowly turned. Cleo. Seriously? How the fuck had she found me? Was she stalking me all over the island?

She blinked as I faced her, backing up a few steps. Surprise flashed across her face before being replaced by the usual cocky arrogance. This bitch was driving me nuts.

“Can I at least have one day without getting into a brawl with you?” Admittedly, my voice sounded pleading rather than the forceful tone I’d been aiming for. I’d prevailed against her the last time, but I doubted I’d do so again. And even with a win on my side, I’d still gotten the crap beaten out of me.

Cleo stared at me, cocking her head to the side and taking another step back. The air of confidence cracked; under it I saw uncertainty, wariness, and... loss. This was something I could take advantage of, but instead of forging ahead with an attack, I tried for peace.

“It’s a big island. Big enough for both of us. Can’t we coexist without constantly coming to blows?”

“Maybe.” As if her expression hadn’t been odd to begin with, she nodded slowly. It was as if she were hinting to me, prodding me to resolve this. My elf-half jumped at the chance at reconciliation, no matter how short-lived it might be.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

She smiled, and I suddenly realized why so many men fell at her feet. The power she emanated was palpable, but it was her smile that made me want to kneel down and worship her. She promised adoration, devotion, and an eternity of affection in that smile.

“I will accept your offer, sister. And I apologize for not recognizing you at first. You look very different from when we last saw each other so long ago.”

Umm, whatever. She’d thought I was faking my elf half at first, and now she was confusing me for some other succubus. Demons were so fucking weird. And Lord only knew what the significance was of what I’d just done. I’d have to ask Irix later if my buying her a drink equated service for a decade, or my firstborn son, or a quickie in the back alley. Whatever. It was too late to worry over, so I flagged down the bartender and ordered my third-favorite Hawaiian drink — pineapple juice, mango, and vodka.