by Robin Roseau
"But-"
"The terms are harsh so you can't possibly cheat me. But even if somehow your soul becomes mine, it's not for eternity."
"But-"
"What would I do with it, Teigan?"
"The usual," I suppose. "Why is it demons want souls in the first place?"
"To take you to Hell. But I have no intention of ever going back there, and I gain nothing by sending you."
"You could trade it."
"I wouldn't. If you did something so bad I felt justified in taking your soul from you, it would be of a limited duration. Granted, it might be a very long time, but you are mortal. When you die, I would free you, and your soul would go wherever it's going to go. Are you a good person, Detective? Do you think you are bound for Hell?"
"I don't know."
"Oh, please," she said. She turned to her computer, typed for a moment, and then the printer fired up. She collected the papers, read the top one last time, then slid them to me. It was another contract, an incredibly brief contract. I read it. It was a promise from her to me that if ever she gained possession of my soul, she would eventually release it no later than my death.
I stared at the words for a while.
"We're not playing for eternity, Teigan," she said. "And frankly, I don't expect this to ever become an issue anyway. You're not going to cheat me, and I'm not going to cheat you."
I looked up. "There are other ways to lose my soul."
"Ah," she said. "I suppose there are." She leaned forward, collected the papers from me, then turned them to face her and signed both copies. She slid them back. "It's not binding until we have both signed." She put the pen in my hand. I read the papers once more then signed them. She collected her copy and set it aside. When I sat there doing nothing, she took my copy, folded it, then leaned way across her desk to slip it into my jacket pocket. She patted it and smiled.
"There. That's taken care of." She sat back in her chair. "Feel better?"
"I don't know," I said. I looked up. "Just a kiss?"
"That I control," she said. "There will be a great deal of physical contact, but just a kiss."
"And then we negotiate."
"Yes."
"And you'll demand a price I can't pay."
"Of course not." She laughed. "I'll demand a price you won't be willing to pay. And you'll probably say something horrid to me. It's a good thing I have a thick skin, metaphorically speaking."
"Fine," I said. "Where?"
"Sofa," she said with a gesture. We both stood, and when she gestured further, I took the place in the center of the sofa. She knelt down so our eyes were on a level. "I will not touch you without permission. Make the offer."
"I will allow you to kiss me, Demon," I said.
"Bah," she said. "That's a terrible offer. You can do better than that."
I sighed. "I offer a kiss, as discussed, as payment for our negotiations."
"Better," she said. "Barely." She paused. I thought she was going to say something about giving good value, but instead she nodded. Then her expression changed, from one heartbeat to the next, and suddenly I felt like prey.
My heart rate jumped, and she hadn't even done anything yet.
Then she began slowly moving forward, not quite touching me, but moving closer and closer. From that moment, everything she did was done very slowly. She leaned over me, setting her hands on the back of the sofa beside my shoulders, looming over me but still not touching me. I stared up into her eyes, and she stared into mine.
I felt one of her legs move against mine, and then the other. Then a knee came up onto the sofa, sliding along my leg until it was pressed against the side of my hip, her foot caressing my leg. The other leg moved to my other side, hemming me in completely. And then she lowered her weight onto me.
I could feel the heat radiating from her, but I thought perhaps I was just as hot. I felt myself growing flushed.
She smiled then wriggled slightly, settling more against me. She lowered herself further, and our bodies were pressed together, my back firmly against the sofa and my head tipped up towards her.
She lowered her head but came to a stop with our mouths an inch or so apart. "You may touch if you want," she said, her voice deep. "I know I will."
And then our mouths met; our bodies met as she pressed against me. One hand shifted, sliding underneath my neck, cupping me as we kissed. And then the other was against my cheek, caressing.
Her lips were soft and full. I could smell her scent, although I couldn't have placed it. I didn't think she was wearing perfume, and so I was smelling her natural scent. It was lovely and alluring, and I wondered how many people she had snared just by how good she smelled.
She flicked her tongue at me, sliding the tip between my lips. Reflexively, I parted, and her tongue invaded. She explored, teased.
I couldn't help it. My heart pounded in my chest.
I couldn't help it. I moaned.
I couldn't help it. I wrapped my arms around her.
She kissed me, and she kissed me. We kissed together. Her tongue teased then withdrew.
I couldn't help it. Mine followed hers.
She tasted amazing, but again, I couldn't have explained it.
She continued to hold my head, and her fingers pressed against my cheek, her thumb caressing the underside of my jaw.
And, breathless, we continued to kiss, our bodies hot. I pressed my hands against her back, barely stopping my left as it drifted south, anxious to clasp her delicious bottom.
And then, slowly, far too soon but not soon enough, she withdrew, but only so far, our faces inches apart. We were both panting, and I knew I was deeply flushed. I opened my eyes and looked into hers.
She caressed my cheek again then marginally withdrew a tiny bit further.
"Thank you, Teigan," she said softly. "That was quite lovely."
I didn't say anything. I'm not sure I could have if I wanted to. Anything I might have said would have been a smart-ass remark, and I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
It had been the best kiss I'd received in three years.
My arms were still wrapped around her, and they weren't letting go. But I leaned forward, tipping slightly to the side, and set my forehead against her shoulder. She lowered her head beside mine, her cheek against my ear, her hand shifting until we were holding each other.
"Are you all right?" she whispered.
"I don't know," I admitted.
"I thought you would throw me from your lap as soon as the kiss was finished."
"You must know the effect you have."
"I do," she said. "Many people would be trying to rip my clothes off. You're not."
I didn't say anything. We stayed like that for a while, then slowly she leaned away, and reluctantly, I released her. She sat back on my knees, and I looked down at the space between us. But she lifted her hand to my chin, pulling my eyes back up to her.
"I'm going to climb off you now," she said. "Unless you want me to stay."
Yes, I wanted her to stay. But I nodded, and slowly she slipped from me, moving to her feet. She walked backwards away from me, watching me until she was on the opposite side of the office. I stared straight ahead, not really seeing. A moment later she was in front of me again, holding out a bottle of water. I took it from her, opened it, and drank deeply. When I looked up at her, she was holding a hand out. I stared at it for a moment before taking it, and she readily pulled me to my feet.
"The sofa is a poor place to negotiate." She led me back to the guest chair, and soon we were both seated, facing each other across her desk. I drank more of the water before setting it down on a conveniently waiting coaster.
"How much to see her?" I asked quietly.
She tapped her lips then leaned back in her chair. "I'm not offering to free her, and if I do take you to see her, I will be taking steps so you will not know where we are going."
"You'll allow me to leave afterwards?"
"Of course. We'll leave in the
same fashion we arrived, and I will then take you wherever you wish to go."
I nodded. "What sort of steps?"
"Quite mundane. A hood, and of course, we will not travel by a direct route. You would leave this office hooded and will remain that way until we arrive." She paused. "You will agree to make no attempt to remove the hood, or I will also bind your hands so that you cannot."
I nodded understanding.
"You require these steps even when I could have gotten you to tell me exactly where she is?"
She smiled. "She currently isn't where she was last time we met. I had her moved prior to our conversation and have, of course, moved her back."
"I see. How much?"
She tapped her lips again then lowered her hand to her lap. "You for a year."
"Excuse me?"
"You would belong to me for a year. I will release you for your job, and I will see to your continued good health."
"You're insane."
She said nothing for a moment, then smiled. "I was expecting a far harsher response than that. Perhaps you should drink more of the water and further recover from our most amazing kiss."
I looked away, but I did, indeed, drink the rest of the water. I stared at a spot on the wall for some time. I didn't look at her when I finally asked, "What do you really want?"
"I told you. I want you for a year."
I turned back to face her. "Negotiation." She nodded. "I don't even know where to begin."
"You're not going to threaten me?"
"Would it do me any good?"
"No. Come on, Detective. Make a counter offer."
"Five hundred dollars."
She laughed. "Offer me a million."
"You're asking for a million?"
"I'm suggesting you offer me a million," she said, "to see my response. Surely the family could pay for proof of life."
"I'm not sure they could pay a million, but if they could?"
"I'm not interested in money, Teigan. You won't see her for money, and I certainly am not going to free her for money." She tapped her lips. "I might free her for influence. Tell me. Do you think you have influence I might find interesting?"
"You're asking me to warn you-"
She waved her hand at me before I could go further. "I don't need a mole in the police department. I don't engage in illegal businesses. I already told you that. I was suggesting something mundane to help you think of other offers to make."
I looked away. "Another kiss."
She laughed and clapped her hands. "Now you've got the spirit. That is far too small a price. I wouldn't even offer proof of life for a kiss, as lovely as it might be. Perhaps instead of a conversation, you would like a recent photo. I'd still want more than a single kiss, however." She paused, looking me up and down. "Twelve dates."
"Excuse me?"
"One a month for a year," she said. "And at the end of each, after our good night kiss, I'll have a fresh photo for you."
"We're negotiating for an in person conversation." I shook my head. "I can't believe you'd give me proof of life for a date."
"They would be very, very good dates." She looked me up and down again. "In public with you wearing a gown I would buy for you. A fresh gown for each date. You would be stunning."
"I'm not a gown kind of woman."
"For me, you would be," she replied. "Or no photo."
"A conversation, Demon." It was said harshly. I hadn't intended to be so harsh.
She frowned. "Fine. Make a serious offer." Her tone was a little sharp.
"I'm sorry," I said. I looked away again. "I don't know what I'm doing."
She shifted in her chair before asking, "Is the apology for not knowing what to offer, or for your tone?"
"My tone. Well, and probably for not knowing what to offer."
"Then you are forgiven," she said, her tone lighter. "Make an offer, Teigan. I've given you enough hints."
"Fine," I said, but my tone was under control. I looked back at her and stared into her eyes for a moment. "One date. I'll dress however you want, and we'll go wherever you want, but you will treat me with respect."
"And you would also treat me with respect?"
"Yes."
She steepled her hands under her chin. "While that is too small an offer, at least it's a real offer." She tapped her fingertips together a few times. "A weekend a month for a year."
"You're still insane," I replied immediately. "For that, I'd expect you to release her to me."
She smiled broadly. "So being mine isn't completely off the table, if I can sweeten the pot sufficiently. Excellent!"
"Damn it," I said. "That's not what I meant." She only laughed.
We watched each other for a while, but then she smiled again. "Perhaps I will offer you a different choice. Ten thousand dollars."
"I thought you said you didn't want money."
"Earned dancing in my clubs."
"What?" I screeched.
"I'll teach you," she said, grinning. "You will dance in one of my clubs, as often as you desire, until you have earned ten thousand dollars in tips. And you can't invite a ringer to come in and pay it off, either."
"Not happening."
She tsked at me, shaking her head. "You should consider it. Maybe you could make me a counter offer." I didn't say anything. "You wouldn't have to strip. This isn't a strip club, Detective. Although I admit, the more skin you show, the better your tips are likely to be."
I growled at her.
I couldn't help it.
She laughed again.
"You're enjoying this too much," I complained. "What do you really want?"
"I've been telling you. They weren't false offers, Teigan."
We stared at each other for a while. Finally I said, "A meal."
Her eyes widened, and then she schooled her expression. "Excuse me?"
"A girl has to eat," I said. "That's what you said to me. A meal. Hell, a feast, as long as I'll recover afterwards."
She stared. I had actually surprised her. Then she shifted in her chair again, her eyes never leaving mine. "Interesting," she said finally. "A brief conversation." She paused then shook her head. "How serious are you, Teigan? How much is this worth to you?"
"I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes," she agreed. "You are." She tapped her fingers then leaned forward. "If we come to an agreement, will you deliver on your side in good faith?"
"Yes."
"Well then. This is my best offer, Teigan. The feast you have offered, plus..." She paused. "Two more things. There is an event Friday. You will be my date. Afterwards, you will see Rachel for a brief conversation, and then I will take my feast. You will be worthless for the weekend but should be safe to return to work on Monday. But tomorrow night you will dance."
"No."
"Yes. This is my offer. Four sets."
"Isn't tomorrow ladies' night?"
"Yes, it is."
"No one is going to be interested in watching me dance."
"I am," she replied. "You will do your best to please me."
"Don't make me do this."
"You'll let me feed from you, but you're afraid to do something quite mundane like dancing on a stage?"
I looked away. "I can't dance," I said in a small voice. "I'd be a laughingstock. I can't imagine that would be good for business for you."
She didn't answer immediately, but when she did, her voice was gentle. "They might laugh at you. But you'll go out there and do your best to please me. I can teach you or assign one of my girls to teach you. Four sets. You can pick the music or you can let me."
I stared at the spot on the wall for a while. "A brief conversation is still more than 'Hello, are you healthy?' "
Evaline laughed and clapped her hands. "You won't feel cheated."
"I'll need to call the family. Before your feast, if I won't be able to do it afterwards."
"You will tell them no more than we agree."
I looked back at her. "One dance."
She laughed. "Four. Or two dates and two feasts, and one dance. I'll have to let you know about the date of the second feast, but I'll let you see her Friday night."
I took a breath. "You'll count the dances if I do my best, regardless of how pathetic I look."
"You will make an honest effort. So it is to be the four dances?" At that, I nodded. She clapped her hands. "Excellent. You will come tomorrow at four. I will teach you. Come casual. I will have your costumes ready."
"Costumes. You said-"
"You will be fully dressed. If you choose to remove a portion of your costume, that will be your choice."
"Fine," I said. I held out my hand. She stared at it for a moment then clasped it.
"But we must be formal," she said. She squeezed my hand before releasing it. I wasn't surprised when she turned to her computer. She spent a few minutes, smiling the entire time. Finally she presented me with our agreement in writing. I read both copies. Then we both signed.
Dance
The demon told me to arrive at four. I was worried she'd consider me in default if I were so much as a second late. And so, dressed in workout clothes this time, I stepped through the door of the Vixen Club at 3:50, ten minutes early.
I looked around as my eyes adjusted, expecting the usual smattering of people. My expectations weren't met. There were already several groups of people -- most of them women, all of them looking like they'd come from the office. Several heads swiveled in my direction as I entered, although none of the gazes lingered.
There was a different bartender today, one I hadn't met before. He was one of the few men in the room. As I stepped in, he was chatting with a couple of women seated at the bar. None of them looked in my direction. He had the look of someone who was perhaps popular with the ladies.
As I watched, one of the women to the left rose from her seat, walked to the jukebox in the corner, studied it for a moment, then fed it some money and made her selections. I watched as she returned to her table and leaned down to whisper into one of her tablemate's ears. The other woman nodded and stood up. The music started, a Katy Perry song, and the first woman led the way towards a set of stairs at the end of the runway. I was surprised as they climbed the stairs and began dancing together.