"Morning, Sunshine."
Isra cringed at the sound of Seth’s voice. A growl formed deep in her throat as she pushed herself up onto one arm and searched for her captor. He was sitting in a leather recliner watching television on the opposite side of the room.
Where was she? There were no windows —— just solid stone walls. Surely this wasn’t his apartment. Who kept jail cells in their own homes? Michael’s warriors were too discrete for that.
Damn, damn, damn.
This was not the way things were supposed to go. The real Camille chuckled deep inside of her, mocking her situation. The grumble of displeasure in her throat grew louder, drowning out the contemptuous laughter of her host.
"If you keep growling like a rabid dog, I’ll shoot you with my tranquilizer gun."
Isra immediately silenced the sound and rubbed her upper arm self-consciously. She was still sore where he’d stuck her earlier with the needle. She should’ve seen that coming. He was no amateur. Seth had disrupted her entire seduction, and now she’d need to start over under less than ideal circumstances.
She took a deep breath to center her mind and begin the game once again. "Where you have you taken me?" She spoke now in Camille’s soft, confused voice.
Seth rose from his chair and made his way over to her. He grabbed a folding chair from nearby and placed it a few feet from her cage. He flopped down into it, surveying her for a moment before crossing his arms over his chest with satisfaction. "Someplace where no one can hear your screams for the next..." he glanced over his shoulder at a red countdown clock on the wall, "thirteen hours or so."
A lump formed in Isra’s throat as the clock counted the seconds away. This was bad. Very bad. She was locked in a cell, and her only way out was to seduce the man who held the key. So far, she hadn’t been doing that well. She had to turn up the heat or her reception back to Hell would be less than grand.
She needed to switch tactics. She dropped Camille’s voice for her own throaty one. "Are you going to make me scream?" she asked suggestively. She rose onto her hands and knees and crawled across the stone floor to the bars like a slinky feline.
"Perhaps." Seth leaned toward her.
"Mmmmm..." she purred. "I want to make you scream, too." Isra pulled herself up and pressed her breasts against the cell wall. The satin blouse she’d chosen from Camille’s closet was slinky enough for the full mounds to slide easily in between the iron bars. Her hips surged forward, her pelvis straining against the confines of her cage.
"I’m sure you do," he said.
She watched Seth’s reaction as she moved her body. His green-gold eyes took in everything. His square jaw flexed as he swallowed hard and balled his hands into fists. No man could resist her otherworldly charms. She brought her fingers to her lips, kissing them, then blowing the kiss towards him. With the air was mingled a seductive pheromone only a succubus could concoct.
Isra waited a moment for the chemicals to swirl around him. Once he breathed her in, she would be hard to deny. "Will you let me?" She smiled coyly and licked her lips. "Unlock this cage and I’ll do things to you that you’ve only ever dreamed of. Things that would make the old Camille blush in embarrassment."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah." She let her hand slide up to unbutton the top of her blouse, exposing the tops of her breasts as they nearly spilled out of her demi bra. "I know you’ve always wanted her. You’ve seen her slink around your building, swaying her hips, wearing those tight sweaters." Isra let her hands wander over Camille’s curves the way she knew Seth wanted to. "She dangles the goods in front of you, but she never delivers. Through me, you can have your precious Camille."
Seth took a deep breath and sat back into his chair. Isra expected he’d grown uncomfortable in his tight jeans. She could hear the quickening of his pulse; see the faint sheen of sweat on his brow as he tried to fight her powers. Isra was winning. "And even better," she continued, rising to her feet and clutching the bars, "you can have her the way you really want her."
Seth arched a curious eyebrow up at her. "How’s that, exactly?" His voice had grown deep and raspy with unmasked arousal.
"We both know Camille is a modern, high maintenance girl. She’ll want romance and flowers and all the strings that go with it." Isra slowly tugged the hem of her skirt up, revealing Camille’s creamy, smooth thighs inch by inch. "You’re a man from another time. I can give her to you the way you secretly fantasize about it. Raw, carnal, dirty sex right here on the floor."
Isra slowly crouched down, hiking the skirt up and spreading her thighs wide for him. There were no panties to restrict the salacious view. She ran her hands over her inner thighs, noting how his eyes followed them. "You can take me from behind. You can pull my hair."
Isra paused to gauge Seth’s interest. His erection was unmistakable now, his breath ragged. She’d found just the right buttons to push. "You can call me a dirty little whore and spank me. You can ride me all night if you want to." She let her fingers roam even further down, teasing her moist folds. "Any ...way...you...want it." She let the last few words fall slowly from her lips.
Seth leaned back towards her, his green-gold eyes blazing with pure lust as they moved from her hands to her face. "Any way I want it?"
Isra felt a surge go through her. She’d done it. She’d have his soul in no time. "Yeah, Baby," she purred, bringing one long finger up and licking it ever so slowly. "Any way you want it," she promised.
"How about...without you killing me when we’re done?" Seth stood up suddenly and walked out of her line of vision.
4:35 P.M.
Seth threw a pizza into the oven and slammed the door shut, taking his irritation out on the innocent appliance. She was getting to him. He couldn’t let that happen. He grabbed an energy drink from the refrigerator and took a large sip. He needed to stay awake and focused. And not focused on Camille’s breasts, at that.
He’d underestimated the impact the succubus would have wearing Camille like a coat. Seth had battled his fair share of demons of all kinds, succubae included. It had always been impersonal. He didn’t know the hosts, and he certainly didn’t harbor an attraction for any of them.
With Camille it was different. It looked like her, sounded like her, smelled like her...the only difference was that this Camille was horny and throwing herself at him. He wished the real Camille would try that. Maybe then he could have the prize she was dangling without the inevitable consequences.
Seth eyed his watch. Ten minutes until the pizza was done and thirteen hours until the sunrise that would force the demon back to Hell. He considered hitting her with another tranquilizer, but that wasn’t safe for Camille. They all had side effects, and he didn’t want to do anything he didn’t absolutely have to. He just needed to be strong and treat this like any other job.
Seth turned to look back at the cage. Camille’s lacy, pale pink and red bra was lying on the floor in front of his chair. A moment later, her blouse and skirt followed. He tried not to look beyond the bars. She was going to be naked and he wasn’t sure he could take that.
The television suddenly started flipped channels, landing on one of the satellite music stations. The slow sound of tribal drums filled the room with an erotic, rhythmic beat. He could no longer resist a peek. He could see her naked body sway in time to the music. Her delicious curves called to him from across the room. The demon was relentless in her pursuit.
He shouldn’t look back. Sodom and Gomorrah taught him that much. He needed to put an end to it.
Seth stalked across the room and unplugged the television. He didn’t look at her as he returned to the kitchen in silence. Instead, he braced his arms on the kitchen countertop and closed his eyes. He took several deep breaths, concentrating on the flow of air into his lungs and out, like he did when he needed to center his consciousness and contact Michael. With each rush of air he expelled, he hoped the intoxication of the succubus would go out with it.
By the time the pizza was finishe
d, he almost felt normal again.
Seth threw two slices onto a paper plate and one slice onto another. He carried both with him back to the folding chair, kicking her clothes back toward the cell. He didn’t look inside. Instead, he sat down and immediately began eating.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Camille trying to get his attention. She was still completely nude, writhing around on the floor. She let out the occasional moan of pleasure as her deft hands moved from place to place, begging him to look up and get an eyeful of her pornographic display.
Seth resisted the urge to throw dollars at her. She was working harder than most of the exotic dancers he’d seen in his years. But he wasn’t about to look.
"Do you want some pizza?" he offered. "I’m sure your host is starving by now."
The movement and pleasurable cries stopped at once. Camille drew up onto her knees and gripped the bars of the cage to get a better look at his plate. "Her stomach is empty, yes. It aches." She took a deep breath. "Pizza? Is that what I smell?"
"Yep." Seth risked a glance at her now that she wasn’t playing the sex kitten. She was still nude, but now the display was more like a tasteful statue than a girls’ revue. "It’s got cheese, tomato sauce, spicy sausage...don’t they have pizza in Hell?"
Camille chuckled and sat back on her heels. "Despite reports that it’s just some big, flame-kissed orgy down there, I can assure you it’s not. We don’t have any of the things we once enjoyed in Heaven or on Earth. Why do you think we risk what we do to come here?" Her rose eyes scanned his face, but he wasn’t sure what for. "Will you really give me some?"
"On a few conditions."
Camille sighed and pulled away from the cage bars. "Like?"
"For one, put your clothes back on."
Seth noted her hesitation. He took a big bite, closing his eyes and groaning in pleasure at the flavors and gooey cheese rolling around in his mouth. He cracked one eyelid open just enough to spy Camille as she started tugging her clothing back on.
"There," she announced, standing fully clothed in the center of her cage. "Can I have it now?"
Seth shook his head. "I wanna talk to Camille."
The demon crossed her arms over her chest in defiance. "Forget it. I’d rather let her starve to death."
"Come on, what will it hurt? I just want to make sure she’s okay." Seth opted to appeal to her vanity. "Unless you don’t think you’re strong enough to retake consciousness when we’re done?"
"Of course I am." Camille’s chest puffed up at the insinuation that she was weaker than her host.
"Then prove it." Seth threw down the challenge he knew she couldn’t pass on.
"Fine." Camille approached the cage, watching Seth with intensity as she gripped the bars in her hands. She took a deep breath and closed her eyelids. Her body shuddered for a moment and then went slack. When she reopened her eyes, they were the clear blue of Camille instead of the demon’s pinkish-red.
"Seth?" she asked, looking around in confusion.
He regarded her for a second, ensuring it was in fact his neighbor and not a trick. He set the pizza down and walked closer to the cell. "Is that really you, Camille?"
"Yes, it’s me." Her eyes welled with tears. "What am I doing here? Where am I?" she asked, the fear evident in the trembling of her voice.
"You’re someplace safe, that’s all I can tell you. I don’t want you to worry."
"Not worry? Something has taken over my body." Camille reached through the bars and gripped his hand. "I don’t want her to hurt you. I know that’s what she wants." The concern in her voice touched him. She was more worried about him than she was for her own well-being. Her thumb stroked the back of his hand as she squeezed him for reassurance.
Perhaps there was more to their relationship than the neighborly friendship he settled for. He’d always told himself that it could never work between them. Aside from the fact that he wouldn’t age, she was far too innocent to be involved in his life and his work. Now she wasn’t just involved, she was his work. And if Michael let him out of his contract, what was to stop him from pursuing her now?
That was a thought better saved for tomorrow. "I can take care of myself," he soothed. "You just need to be strong for me, okay? We’ll get through this."
Camille nodded, her back straightening with resolve. "Okay. I trust you. But Seth, there’s something I want to tell you."
There was an urgency in her words that made his stomach tighten with anxiety. "Whatever it is, you can tell me later. Don’t do it now," he urged.
"No, I want to tell you. I want to say it just in case this all goes wrong. I hate regrets."
Seth’s mind began to swirl madly with thoughts he never allowed himself to have. "Okay."
Camille took a deep breath and nodded. "I’ve heard the things she’s said to you. I know there’s something between us that we’ve never pursued for whatever reason. I know I was always too frightened of what we could have together. There seemed to be this darkness that followed you, and I wasn’t certain I could cope with it. But if we both get out of this alive, I don’t want to be scared anymore. No matter what happens, I want you to know that I..." she hesitated.
"Yes?" Seth’s heart skipped a beat in his chest.
Camille’s eyes darkened from blue to purple then pink as her expression hardened and a wicked smile spread across her face.
"I want my pizza now."
5:10 P.M.
Just one more of many reasons she had to fight to stay on Earth —— pizza. Isra inhaled the food Seth offered. It was everything he said it was, even if it had cooled slightly by the time she got her hands on it. She could tell there was more left in the kitchen and she wanted another piece. Camille’s body needed the fuel if she was going to remain strong enough to achieve her goals.
"Can I have another piece?" She shouted across the room at Seth. He’d stomped off after her imperfectly timed interruption. She had to admit, she got a little joy from it. If he was going to toy with her, it was only fair she toyed with him. Now he was back in his recliner, watching a cable news show and doing his damnedest to ignore her.
"Seth!" she yelled, but he didn’t budge.
Focusing her attention on the television again, she flipped the channel, this time to one of the pornography stations. The newscaster was quickly replaced by two women devouring each other in a steamy spa.
Seth poked his head around the edge of the chair and scowled at her under his heavy dark eyebrows. Isra could already see the answer was no, but if he didn’t want to watch some girl-on-girl action, he needed to pay attention to her.
"Camille is still hungry," she added innocently.
With a grunt of displeasure, Seth slammed the footrest down and stomped over to the kitchen. He muttered something about tranquilizers and lesbians under his breath, but Isra didn’t care. She just wanted another slice of Heaven. Then, her tummy full, she could refocus on her mission.
He paused with the plate outside her cell. "The television," he said.
The channel flipped back to the news station. "A pity." She shrugged. "It was just starting to get good between those two."
"Here." He thrust the piece through the bars.
"My host thanks you ever so much," Isra mocked with a smile, snatching the plate away and retreating protectively to the corner of her cell to eat it.
When the pizza was gone she opted to take a power nap. Demons didn’t sleep the way humans did, but when they took a host, they needed to give the body time to recuperate. It wasn’t her body, but if she wanted to keep it beyond the next few hours, she needed to take care of it.
Isra took off her shirt and wadded it up in a ball under her head. She closed her eyes and within seconds, she was in a deep, unnatural asleep.
When she opened her eyes sometime later, she felt thoroughly refreshed. She sat up and stretched, working out all the kinks from lying on the cold stone floor. The room was quiet, the television off. Isra couldn’t see Seth, but she
assumed that he, too, fell asleep.
The clock on the wall caught her attention —— she had a little more than ten hours left.
A sly thought crept into her brain as she rose to her feet. She stood on her tiptoes to catch a glimpse of her sleeping captor in his chair. Isra grinned with satisfaction as her next course of action took form in her mind.
Quickly and quietly, she removed the rest of her clothes and knelt down in the center of her cell. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Her breathing fell into a slow and easy rhythm as her hands slid up and down her bare thighs in time with it.
A heat started radiating from between her legs, the warmth spreading through her whole body. The rush of arousal overtook her —— her nipples hardened, her cheeks and chest growing flush. Tiny beads of perspiration began forming on her skin. Her irresistible pheromones grew stronger as she became more aroused, the seductive scent no doubt making its way to where Seth was sleeping.
She took another deep breath and let her mind wander beyond her cage. Her spirit slipped through the bars and crossed the room. Seth was kicked back in his chair, his breathing slow and soft. He was a beautiful male specimen, with dark strands of hair that fell across the chiseled features of his face.
It was a pity she had to destroy him, but she would do whatever it took to get out of Hell for good. The higher echelon demon that approached her had promised her freedom if she could deliver the immortal life force of the warrior Seth. It would be a challenge. She knew that. But the reward was so precious if she was successful.
Isra’s spirit reached out and touched his cheek, her mind connecting to his in an instant. Back in the cell, her eyes rolled up into her head. It was time.
"Seth..." she spoke the word silently in Camille’s voice, reaching out to him in his sleep through the connection she’d made.
Seth stirred slightly in his sleep, grunting and turning himself to another position.
Sexy As Hell Page 3