by Erin R Flynn
I nodded. That was true. Even Greg, but I couldn’t hold that against him. I gestured to Jade and I. “Greg wants both of us to.”
“How did you know that?” Greg asked, his eyes wide.
“It’s all over your face,” Owen snorted. “What were you playing, love?”
“Never Have I Ever.”
Aidan gave me a slow nod and went over to the glasses, pouring out shots. “Never have I ever had to work hard to get a woman to give me the time of day until you.”
I burst out laughing when all four of them took shots. “Well, apparently I’m doing the world a favor by checking your egos a bit.”
“Never have I ever had sex with a rainbow haired beauty that worried me that she ruined me to ever be with anyone else,” Owen muttered before he took a shot.
Two did, but Evan shrugged. “We’ve not had sex yet, but I think I’m still ruined for any other woman.” He took the shot.
“I like this game,” I purred, plopping down on the ottoman. “This is way more fun with you guys.” I looked at Dylan expectantly.
“Never have I ever been willing to bring a man to bed because I wanted to see a sexy rainbow haired minx experience more and more bliss.”
I burst out laughing when it wasn’t just the four of them but Tomas and a few of the guys. “You guys want to come to bed with us too?”
“Yeah, I’m bisexual, remember?” Tomas chuckled. “Shit, this is like the best night in ever. I vote for the punishment game, Eight Minutes in Heaven, and Truth or Drink because I can’t keep up with the Never Have I Ever and then people are drinking who asked the question. That’s too confusing.”
“I don’t know those first two,” I admitted. “You have to have sex for eight minutes while people watch?” I frowned when several people laughed.
“No, it’s more innocent than that,” Jade answered, taking pity on me. “You sit in a circle and spin a bottle. The person it lands on you go in a closet with for eight minutes and it’s like a free pass to do what you want and push those of us who aren’t as bold as you to go have fun.”
“Well, I don’t know how you’re not bold considering I heard you screaming at the top of your lungs when I came home last night,” I drawled, smirking at her. “‘Yes, right there. Harder, oh fuck, yes, right there, Greg.’”
“Bitch,” she hissed, shoving me. “Okay, which do you want to play since you’re the one who needed to drink?”
“What’s the punishment game?” I asked, thinking that sounded fun.
“So say it’s my turn and I say you and Jade have to stare at each other for sixty seconds without laughing and if you do, you have to kiss me,” Tomas said as an example.
“I want that,” I agreed as I jumped to my feet and grabbed another fruity drink. “I go first. Aidan, I want you to get a lap dance from one of the others, and if you get hard, I get to punish you.”
“That’s mean,” Jade muttered. “It’s supposed to be goofy stuff, not insulting our friend that she’s not as hot as you.”
I frowned. “I didn’t mean it like that. Of course he would get turned on.”
“She’s pushing my buttons like always,” Aidan grumbled, rolling his eyes when I nodded. “Come sit on my lap and be mean to me, and if I get hard, you can punish me.”
“That’s better,” I agreed. He sat on the chair Evan had been on. I pulled off my panties with my ass facing him and then sat on his lap. It took about two seconds to get him hard. “I get to restrain you to the bed and do whatever I want instead of you being in charge.”
He snorted. “That’s not a punishment. More like my fondest hope.”
“I’m next,” Greg chuckled, shaking his head. “Evan and Owen have to stare at each other for a minute without making the other laugh, and the loser has to kiss Tomas.”
“That’s hot,” I groaned, squirming on Aidan’s lap. “I will totally blow whoever loses.”
“Your lips are a little too loose around the humans, darling,” Aidan breathed in my ear at a level the humans couldn’t hear. “We want you to have all the fun you need, but you’ll be mad later if you let too much slip.”
I nodded, snuggling against him and letting his calm strength soothe me. Owen lost, and I was right back to being wound up as he made out with Tomas.
“Mate, you’ve got lovely form, but you aren’t my cup of tea,” Owen chuckled when Tomas went back for more.
I got lost in my head as we kept playing and drinking, people going for more food too. We ended up taking a restroom and refill drink break as something hit me.
“Flowers,” I muttered as I turned around on Aidan’s lap. “Did you send me that watch?”
“No, Dylan asked me, and I told him it wasn’t me,” he answered, frowning. “I would never send you anything at the club. That wouldn’t seem to prove I could be less overbearing.”
I bobbed my head, and then my eyes went wide as I jumped off his lap. “Dylan, they all had flowers. I have to get that watch to Pine. I need Kyle. I need to feed and sober up.”
“Okay, slow down, sweetie,” he said as he intercepted me. “You need some water and to sober up.” He moved his fingers over my mouth when I went to argue.
“I’m done in too,” Jade agreed, coming over and kissing my cheek. “Good thing we took an Uber to get here.”
“I have the guest rooms,” I argued.
She glanced between the four men who only had eyes for me. “Oh, I don’t think I’ll be able to pass out anywhere near you tonight. Greg, take me home and undress me.”
“Yes, please,” he purred, giving a drunk giggle as he hugged her.
I waved at my human friends as they left, some taking food to drunk chomp on for the ride. The moment they were gone I headed to the locked office to use the portal.
“Love, change,” Owen told me.
“I need to feed to sober up,” I argued as I punched in the code. I bit my finger and set off the portal, walking right into Nathanial’s closet. I listened and was glad when he didn’t have any humans there, using all my speed to get to him.
And tripping over the edge of the coffee table and cursing up a storm.
Nathanial, David, and a few other angels blinked at me and my outfit, the pigtails and all.
“I need to feed to sober up,” I explain, moving the material of the costume out of the way as I crawled right onto Nathanial’s lap. “I’m his next target.” I kissed him and fed as he tried to ask me what was going on. I was off of his lap in a flash, blinking at David who had moved me. “Right, no panties on. Thanks.”
“Even then, there’s not much to what you’re wearing, and we don’t want any accidents,” he muttered, giving me a gentle kiss. I took it up several notches while his hand slipped under the costume and he teased me. “You look delicious, darling, but why are you grieving?”
“I’m not,” I lied.
“She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Owen said, clearly knowing that was what I felt too. “Do you guys only feel what she does or what she does to others?”
“You mean would we feel the blow job if she gave it to one of you?” David asked, waiting until Owen nodded. “We haven’t tried that yet. Another time as she’s in a rush.”
“Sorry, my brain just went there.” He shrugged and gestured to what I was wearing as if saying how could he not go there when I looked as I did.
“Last time they did me with toys and ate me out and felt all the orgasms as I did,” I told him.
“I would very much like to see that,” Evan muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fuck, let me play like that too.”
I waved off some other comments as I started to sober up. A bit more from the others as Nathanial made me orgasm as their payment—which I hated having to pay—and I was completely sober. I gave each of them a quick kiss and a thank you before heading back to the portal.
“Keep her safe,” David told them.
“I can take care of myself,” I called over my shoulder.
“Of course
you can, but more eyes keep anyone safer.”
Fair enough, but we both knew they were more protective of me because I was a woman. And younger. If I was being fair, it was because I was younger.
I walked into home base, ignoring the looks I got at what I was wearing and who I was with. “Bring up the photos I took at all of their homes,” I told one of the guys working. He nodded and moved over to my system as I went over to the panel of monitors.
“Start at the connection,” Dylan said as we waited.
“I was thinking about if I should get flowers for the funeral, and I thought about the flowers I got and—”
“Who died?” Evan cut in.
I sighed, scrubbing my hands over my head as I pulled down the pigtails. “The man who ruined me for ever trusting men or being normal with one.”
Understanding flashed in Dylan’s eyes. “You did check in on your grandparents.”
“Yes, I put them in a care facility because Mom would have wanted me to,” I admitted quietly. “They notified me today that he died, asking what I wanted done and with her. It might all be coming anonymously, but that email is listed as where the director of the facility is to contact me if anything changes. Grandma is too far gone to make any decision on anything.”
He didn’t ask the questions I saw swirling in his eyes. “And you thought funeral flowers?”
I snorted. “Yeah, I had some insane thought about how he used to talk about how things would be done right when it was his time and how he would feel that there wasn’t going to be all the flowers and fanfare.” I went over to the pictures of Debra Meyer’s place and pointed to the vase of wilting flowers. “Yellow like her hair. I didn’t think of the others as the flowers were all dead. One looked like they were dried in a vase.”
“You think he’s sent flowers to all the women he’s courted in the color of their hair,” he muttered, looking at the pictures.
“And the watch is his trophy,” I added, nodding to the thing still sitting on my desk. “He takes it back after. I thought the blood weird but—”
“If it was at six murder scenes, I’m shocked there’s not more blood on it,” he agreed, bobbing his head. “I’d call Pine. This is enough to move on. The police can make faster progress to get information from the florist and courier in the morning.”
I nodded in agreement as I studied the photos. “I just wanted to check that I’d seen it at every location.”
“You seriously are a genius, love,” Owen praised. “That seems a leap to me.”
“Work enough cases and your mind starts to recognize patterns.” I glanced over at the demon watching footage. “Wake Lewis and Mindy. We might have what we need, and that pushes up the timetable on the takeover. I have no idea where we are, but we need to move faster. The boss wants the new place built before snow and construction halts.”
“Does that mean we get a break for winter?” he asked.
“No, it means we’ll probably go somewhere warmer next if we get the choice since we normally don’t choose where we go,” I drawled. “I’ve got almost two months coming to me now if we get this one.” I blew out a harsh breath. “Too many murderers for me to get my vacation breaks.”
“How much do you normally get?” Evan asked.
“Two weeks after each takeover and case closed,” I answered, smirking at him. “Normally with a beach and cabanas. Corporate has a lot of property, and we’re able to use any of it on vacations. I promised Kiera we were due for some naughty fun.” I caught the phone the demon tossed me and cloaked it to call Pine, telling him what I’d come up with.
“Okay, I admit, if you’re right, you were way more help than bother, and I wish any who consulted on my cases were of such use,” he muttered when I was done.
“Aww, I don’t hate you either,” I teased. “I’m bagging the watch and giving it over to you, but I want to check the blood and not my fingerprints.”
“You got something to hide?”
“Yes, lots, but nothing criminal. I got everything handled with ISLE, and it was a misunderstanding of someone I’d come in contact with, but I’ve helped a lot of people over the years get away from bad people. That comes with a lot of angry people on me if I pop my head out for them.”
“Got it. Yeah, we can check just the blood. I’ll take it in myself to the head of the lab tomorrow.”
“I’ll bring it to you tonight.”
He cleared his throat. “I’d really prefer my wife never actually lay eyes on the very pretty woman helping me who’s been going undercover as a stripper and hooker.”
“I don’t touch married or involved men, but I’ll have someone else on my team who’s male bring it over.”
“I appreciate that.”
I hung up and rolled my eyes. Men.
18
“What are you doing here, Acadia?” Kevin asked when he came out of his apartment building and I was standing there. I hadn’t known his name was Kevin until Pine told me after checking who’d sent the flowers and the watch.
“I can’t accept the watch,” I told him, holding a box the same size it had come in, but the watch was in evidence as it had the blood of two of the victims. It didn’t have his DNA on it, and any competent lawyer would say someone had just used his name and info to pay but it wasn’t him. So we needed more than that. “Thanks, but it’s too much.”
“But I want you to have it,” he argued, coming closer. “You liked the flowers.”
“Yeah, they were nice, thank you,” I muttered, not able to hide how upset I was that my first time getting flowers was from a murderer. That had to be one type of trauma or another. “The watch is too much. I don’t feel comfortable taking it.”
His eyes flashed shock. “Why? Why don’t you want it?”
I studied him, the pieces falling into place. Something hadn’t been adding up in my mind on the profile and story coming together, but now it did. “They accepted it, didn’t they? They accepted it even if they weren’t interested. That’s why you were so pissed.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he grumbled, coming closer as he looked around. “How did you find me?”
“The florist has to give over the information if someone demands it because it’s a safety thing,” I lied. “They had your address for payment. You don’t even know me. Why send me this?” I realized who he was now that we were so close. I’d seen his license picture when Pine had showed me, but it was several years old so I hadn’t made the connection. “You watched my costumes for me, but that’s not worth a watch.”
“You’re a nice girl, not like the others,” he muttered, moving closer. “You’re different, Acadia. You don’t have to work at that horrible place. I can provide for you. We can be together, and you won’t have to sell yourself like that.”
“I don’t. I’m not for sale, Kevin. I dance, and I didn’t even know your name,” I drawled, realizing the dismissive play was the way to push his buttons. “It’s over the top and a bit creepy, so take it back.”
His eyes flashed rage, and I felt that darkness I had sensed before but couldn’t tell who it had come from. “I’m not creepy. I’m a nice guy, and it’s not my fault women are bitches who won’t appreciate being treated right.”
I snorted. “Yeah, a used watch. Wow, you’re such a prince. Gag me and get off your high horse as you judge us but want us. That’s the fun, right? You try and win the woman everyone wants, but you have to buy her and—”
“Shut up,” he seethed, storming over to me. “Shut your slut mouth.”
“Oh, I’m a slut now? But just not a slut enough to give it up to you, right?” I pushed, smirking at him. “That’s what you want, right?” I threw the box down, glad I’d thought to put something in it so it didn’t just plop down like it was a decoy. “You’d need to do better than a used watch to get me to fuck a loser like you. How much did you pay for your last fuck, Kevin?”
“Fucking whore!” he bellowed, backhanding me when he reached me.
“That was such a mistake,” I chuckled, smirking at him. He went to hit me again, and I blocked it, shoving the heel of my hand up into his nose. “I’m not like the others, Kevin. I can lay you out.” He tried to get his bag off his shoulder, but I knocked it away, guessing that was where he had the gun.
Pine came racing over with the other cops and grabbed Kevin before I could do more damage. He passed him back, and Pine moved closer to make sure I was okay. “Shit, that escalated fast. Did you just know exactly what buttons to push?”
“Yes, it’s my gift,” I grumbled, adjusting my neck as I kept my eyes on Kevin and what was going on.
“Forensics will have to check it, but it’s the same type of gun,” one of the officers said as he used his gloved fingers to transfer it to an evidence bag, careful to touch it as little as possible to not smudge anything. “That should be enough for an airtight case.”
Yeah, that should be part was what always worried me.
I walked over to Kevin, giving him a hit of my power so he wanted me even more. “Have fun in jail. I’ll be going home to my boyfriend and his friend to have sex, and they didn’t even have to pay for me. You would have given anything to have me, right, Kevin?”
“No, you’re a slut,” he sneered. “I knew you would be just like the others.” He struggled against the policeman to try and come at me. “I’d strip you down to show everyone you’re a slut, tie you up with that shit you wear to tease us all, and give you what you deserve.”
“What do I deserve?” I pushed.
“A bullet in the head and to cut off every piece of you that you use to seduce men you just play with like you played with me.”
I knew it would never happen now, but still, I swallowed loudly and bit back a shiver. No one could hear that about themselves and not take pause.
“That’s enough,” Pine told me gently, knowing what I was doing. “That’s more than the news reported. We’ve got him. Don’t give yourself nightmares.”
“I already have them,” I chuckled darkly as the other officers dragged Kevin off. “Don’t you?”