Starved for Love

by Annie Nicholas

  Chapter Thirteen

  We parked in front of Cooper’s cabin and I glanced at Val. “Be nice.” My new boyfriend was about to approve one of my meals, but I didn’t need him scaring Cooper away. It took me awhile to catch a cutie like him. I shook my head. Incubus and succubus relationships could hurt a person’s sensibilities. Maybe Val was right. My parents shouldn’t have sent me to mortal school. The amount of chick flicks and romance books I devoured didn’t help my mental well-being either. Why shouldn’t I have a soul mate?

  The wolf shifter was pulling out camping gear from the back of his beat-up Jeep and tossing it toward the open garage door. He jumped from his vehicle as I exited mine and scooped me into a bone-breaking hug. “Today’s my day.” He swung me around then stopped at the sight of Val. “And you brought a friend? I’m not into that kind of thing.” He plunked me on my feet and blocked Val’s path. “Sorry, man.”

  The lack of amusement on Val’s face didn’t bode well for the meet and greet. And my bearing Cooper some bad news would be a total killjoy for him. “Coop, it can’t be your day.”

  “What?” He spun, his shaggy, sun-streaked hair whipping with the momentum. “You dumping me for an incubus? That’s low, Pia.”

  Val reached over and tapped my chin, suggesting I close my mouth.

  My jaw snapped shut. “And how did you know what he is?”

  Cooper tapped his nose, grinning like a pleased pup. “The nose always knows. I take it he’s leaving now.” He pulled me back into his overly possessive arms. Shifters and their territory issues could be cute when a female needs to feel wanted, but not at present. Not with Val glaring daggers at my suitor.

  “Today’s not my day three anymore. My schedule’s all screwed up. I’ve been trying to call you.” I gave him a punch in the shoulder, which probably felt like a nudge to him. “You need to get a cell phone. I really needed you. John vanished and I had to crawl back to Sin, which lead to…” I pointed to Val.

  “Man, that vampire is such a dick. That doesn’t explain how you’re off schedule, though. I could set my clock by your need.” Cooper came off as a goofball on first impression but he did that on purpose. He’d earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy and taught at the local community college. Not a complete egghead, but close.

  Of all my suitors, he was the only one who cared. We both knew he wouldn’t keep me, though. I wasn’t his soul mate, but while he searched for her we kept each other company until the day she showed up and stole him from me. Since Val was courting me, it made him my boyfriend, possible future fiancé, and I had to introduce him to Cooper.

  “I was knocked off schedule. Your day is tomorrow.”

  “That’s not fair.” He enveloped me in his strong arms, bending close to my ear. “I had plans for a bubble bath, maybe some foot massages.”

  I moaned. Those were my favorite pastimes. “You’re not playing fair either.” Suddenly, my body jerked and Cooper’s warmth vanished.

  “Hands off until it’s your day, wolf.”

  Cooper lay sprawled on his back in the dirt driveway. “Hey man, turn down the alpha attitude. If you haven’t heard the news, you need to learn to share if you want to play with Pia.”

  I dropped my face into my hands. “Val’s not into sharing.”

  Cooper scrambled onto his feet and dusted off his worn jean. “You’re pretty strong for a sex demon. John couldn’t toss me like that and he’s a mizza-something.”

  “We’re not demons.” Both of us said it. The response was reflex, something we were all taught since childhood. Once upon a time, succubi and incubi ranked among demonkind but because we, like vampires, were parasitic to humans, we needed a better way to blend with the mortal world. In exchange for human form, our people sacrificed our wings and our ability to use magic. Demons didn’t consider us part of their hierarchy anymore. We’d become our own kind.

  “And John is mazzikim class. Well, supposed to be anyway.” I shrugged. John didn’t fit the profile. Mazzikim were the pillaging, rain-fiery-brimstone-on-the-world types. Not Xbox addicts or crossword puzzle experts. I guess that’s what attracted me to him in the first place—neither of us fit into our cultures.

  Val regarded me and shook his head in disbelief. “Mazzikim?”

  “He’s harmless.”

  “No, he’s a harmer. They usually don’t like existing on this plane.”

  I shrugged again. “John’s different.” I squeezed Val’s bicep, testing for muscled yumminess. “Your toss was quite impressive.”

  “My strength comes from the power my wives feed me.” Val placed his arm around me. “Pia and I are considering marriage. I want to meet her food.” He eyed Cooper as if the shifter were a bug.

  Cooper scratched his head. “You want to marry him? I thought you weren’t into that lifestyle.”

  “I agreed to let Val court me. It’s time for me to grow up.”

  The shifter went back to unpacking his camping gear. “You should have come camping with me. The place we stayed at was breathtaking.”

  “Sounds like you had a nice time. Did you meet any prospective mates?” I rubbed Val’s back before breaking from his hold.

  “No. Nothing. Nada. My alpha is organizing a singles mixer this weekend with another pack.” He glared at Val, then glanced at me. “Want to come?”

  Val stiffened behind me. “She’s attending my banquet this weekend. Suitors are for food, not socializing.”

  “Look, you can’t waltz into our lives and demand changes. Pia’s my friend and I’m not going away. If she wants to come over on book club night, she’s more than welcome to. You shouldn’t try to take over her life.”

  “I—” Val hesitated and turned his head toward me with a smirk on his face. “You’re part of a book club?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Coop, Val’s concerned you’re going to seduce the panties off me between our feed days.”

  “I don’t do that now. I didn’t think I could. You can have sex without feeding?”

  Groaning, I shoved past him and opened a cooler by his Jeep. “Beer, thank God.” I popped a can open and chugged.

  “Is she always this dramatic?” Val helped Cooper shut the tailgate.

  “Yes. It’s worse on feed days. She gets very demanding.”

  “I’m right here. And no, I feed every time I reach an orgasm except when I’m with an incubus. He steals the energy I make with others from me.” I tossed my empty can in the recycle bin. The alcohol helped. Having a boyfriend meet a suitor could raise a female’s blood pressure.

  Cooper regarded Val. “Cool.”

  “I don’t steal it. They have to give it to me. We already discussed this, Pia.”

  “Is he the reason you’re off schedule? He—um—fed from you?” asked Cooper.

  I belched. “Excuse me. Yes, and if we continue to stay together I suspect my feeding schedule may get erratic. Are you still willing to be my suitor?” I kicked a rock.

  “Sure. I’m easy.” He winked at me. Cooper was attractive in a rugged, outdoorsy way. His shifter nature could make him wild and untamed at times but he was shy around most females, especially those of his race. Our contract included a clause for me to help him overcome this, which my father grudgingly agreed to. A year ago Cooper never would have gone camping with his pack.

  “Pia should find a few more suitors to compensate her increased needs and to avoid what happened this week.”

  “So John’s missing?” Cooper took a beer and offered it to Val.

  He shook his head. “One of us has to drive.”

  “He left a note on my door the other day saying he had to leave town. I haven’t heard anything from him since. He’s not answering his phone either. It’s not like him.” I rubbed my arms to ease the shivers. John could fight off mortals and some vamps but he was fresh m
eat for stronger demons. He kept a low profile and did his best not to attract attention.

  “I don’t know how to help. Demons are out of my league.” Cooper sat on the cooler and tipped back the beer.

  Val frowned at us, a perplexed expression on his face. “If you’re so worried I can hire someone to summon him. He’ll transport within the pentagram and be safe.”

  I hugged him. “Wonderful idea. I don’t know anyone who practices the dark arts but I’m sure one of my sisters do.”

  Cooper choked on his drink. “You do know someone.” He coughed another time and cleared his throat. “Zur-Sin. And I hear he’s very powerful.”

  I gasped. “No.” That sneaky vampire, I never suspected he did magic. “He won’t do it out of the kindness of his heart.”

  “Bastard doesn’t have a heart.” Cooper threw the can into the bin to join mine.

  Val pointedly stared at the shifter. “The last thing Pia needs to do is make more deals with Sin.”

  My spirits sank. “He’ll want something.” It would be something bad, I just knew it.

  “We’ll find someone else.” Val hugged tighter.

  “I agree with Val. You shouldn’t go. I don’t like you being around Sin.” Cooper nodded to my incubus as he rose and offered to shake hands. Male bonding, what female could understand it?

  “Whatever, neither of you know him.” I crossed my arms and faced Val. “Do I get to keep him?

  The incubus shrugged. “I just met him. We should set up an interview.”

  Cooper’s eyes went wide. “I don’t do well under pressure.”

  I rolled my eyes at Val, then, on tiptoe, I gave Cooper a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Me too.” Val added. “We’ll make it informal.”

  I raised my eyebrow at him. “Are you becoming my shadow?”

  “If these males are part of your life then I need to know them.”

  “Uh, but I’m coming here to feed.”

  “And I’ll watch.” Val gave both of us a no-nonsense glare.

  Cooper sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “That’ll be weird.”

  Val slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you some pointers.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  I dropped Val off at the entrance to his hotel, refusing the invitation for dinner. After everything we’d shared, I needed time apart to think, to feel, before facing Sin together.

  Entering my house, I paused and listened. Quiet blanketed the building. My sisters must be gone but my dad’s car sat out front still. I crept upstairs to my bedroom, praying for solitude.

  My insides were raw and it hurt. The memories of Pierre scorched me each time I pulled them out. I knelt by the short wall by my bed, where the roof sloped to meet it, and pried open a loose floorboard. Crammed in the hole was a shoebox. Not an original hiding place but it worked. I struggled to pull it out and opened the lid.

  I hadn’t kept much after Pierre left me. It all fit in the box. Lifting a picture, I stared at the human with the blond good looks of a boy-next-door and the chocolate-brown eyes that had melted me each time our gazes had met. I was over him.

  I was.

  I had to be.

  Hunched over the open box, I stared at the contents and my stomach went sour. I’d lied to Val about not seeing Pierre again. He never saw me, but I went to his wedding and sat in the back of the church behind sunglasses, a wig and a stupid hat. A glutton for punishment, I needed to see him happy. It gave me closure.

  I closed the box once more and glanced at the hole in which I’d secreted it for two years. What had Sin said to me once? Something about how fire could cleanse a soul. I always wondered what his cryptic words meant, but he was right, fire would cleanse me. Creeping back downstairs, I peeked into the study and found it empty. I breathed a sigh of relief and scurried to the cold fireplace. The kindling rested in a metal container. On my knees, I went over Cooper’s instructions for how to build a fire. We’d spent an evening in his backyard stargazing over the summer and he couldn’t believe I’d never made a campfire.

  Kindling, check. Lighter, check. A few small logs, check. I didn’t require a bonfire, just something small enough to break my ties to the past so I could focus on my future.

  Time for me to forgive myself.

  I lit the kindling and tossed the contents of the box on the fire. Ticket stubs to a concert we went to, three love letters he’d written me and a dry rose. They burst into flames upon contact. I glanced at the picture one last time. Even if things didn’t work out between me and Val, I knew I was finally ready to move on. I set the picture on the kindling and added the logs.

  “What are you burning?” My dad strolled in and sat in the leather chair facing the fireplace.

  “Memories.”

  “Hmm.” He watched in silence. Having him witness my past go up in flames helped anchor my reality. “You’re serious about Valerio then?”

  “I’m giving it consideration. I’m older and wiser now. I wish you could see that.”

  He sighed. “Baby girl, I see it.”

  I turned my back to the hearth and faced my father.

  His elbows rested on his knees as he leaned toward me. “I think it’s this growth that makes me fear for you the most. You’re finally finding your own path and I don’t want to see all that progress squashed.”

  “You seem leery of Val. Why give him access to Lake City? Why did you offer him Rose or Adele?”

  “I am always careful around people of great power. I’d ask you to do the same. Your sisters would have been good matches for him.” He caressed my cheek. “But you, baby, you’re very sensitive. I don’t want you to get hurt again.” Concern aged his face. He was thinking about what happened after the break-up, after Sin tracked me to New Porter city.

  I couldn’t stand seeing his pain and tore my gaze away. “I know.” What could I say? I guess I could have offered false reassurance. Promise that I’d never be silly and run away again, but I’m a terrible liar. “I don’t think he would hurt me. We talked today. I think he understands.”

  “It won’t be easy for either of you. Don’t rush into anything.”

  I held up my wrists. “See, no engagement bracelets. I’m curious about him and his wives. They live differently than we do. He’s really taken by what you and the moms have. I think—I think if I’m to have any chance to find love with an incubus, Val is it.”

  “I curse the party where we met him. He watched us like a hawk the whole night. Made your mothers nervous as hell. I half-expected him to try to lure one of them from me. Then the request came to meet the three of you.” He sighed. “Just keep your happiness in the forefront of your mind. You don’t have to marry an incubus. There are some succubi very happily married to other races.”

  I nodded and watched the flames die in the fireplace. Some succubi chose to marry outside our race. Open marriages, of course, but the concept was still the same. The husband had to provide the security we craved to obtain a wife of extraordinary beauty. Those succubi who took that path usually had control issues or hungered for power. With the right amount of skill, she could rule the household from the perch of her bed.

  He chuckled. “If things don’t work out with Val maybe you should consider becoming serious with that shy shifter of yours.”

  “Cooper? That’s not a possibility. He wants his soul mate. That’s why we chose him as a suitor, remember?” I stood and straightened my dress. “Don’t worry, Dad. Val is genuinely interested in me.”

  “Val is only part of the equation. You still need to meet and win over his wives. Your mothers didn’t approve of every succubus I courted.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  He nodded. “There were two before your birth mother. I d
idn’t want to upset the delicate balance I’d created with my first two wives. I listened to their opinions since they’d be living together.”

  If I married Val I’d have to feed him and not my father. Would he have to start looking for a new wife to compensate for the loss?

  “Val doesn’t even live with his wives.” I rubbed my upset stomach. That said so much about him and the relationship he had with the females in his life. He wanted something different with me but how would that go over with everyone involved? “I’m not hurrying into anything with my eyes closed.” I kissed his cheek. “Thanks for worrying. I appreciate it. And if I’m being stupid feel free to point it out.”

  He grabbed my hand, stopping me from leaving, and opened his mouth as if to say something. He shook his head and looked away from me. “Your mothers need some help in the kitchen.”

  Foreboding wrapped around my shoulders, sucking the warmth from the room. “Okay, Daddy.”

  Before hitting the kitchen and more dreaded culinary lessons, I retrieved my cell phone and called my sisters. “Adele? Do you know anyone who could summon a demon?”

  Silence answered my question for a few seconds. “Demons are selfish lovers, Pia. It’s hard to feed from them. Why not come club-hopping with us tonight?”

  My eyes went wide. “I’m not shopping for a date! Do you know someone or not? Never mind, pass me Rose.” Of all the silly ideas, she thought I’d summon a demon as a suitor.

  “Well, if you can summon one and bind him, he has to do as you say, sweetie. Considering you’re short a meal, that might solve part of your problems. Bye.” The sound of the phone being passed followed her comment.

  “Pia?”

  “I need a demon summoned. Do you know where I can get this done?”

  “Hmm…” I could picture her pulling on her earlobe as she was prone to do when forced to think. “There’s not any black magic in Lake City. All the witches I know use white.”

  “Do you think they’d try it for me?”

  She laughed. “No, they can’t summon a demon any more than an incubus could feed off a mortal. It’s just not possible. Are you in trouble?”