Cherry Creek

by Dani Matthews

  “Work her over?” I ask with a laugh.

  He smirks. “Got to get her a bit riled up. That way when the club closes, she'll be ready to go.”

  “Have you ever met someone you couldn't get into bed?” I have to ask.

  “Nope.”

  I shake my head. “Someday you are going to come across someone that's immune to you. I hope I'm around when it happens,” I say with an amused smile.

  “Never gonna happen,” he says, flashing me a rakish smile as he starts backing away towards the stairs, his eyes still on mine. “You good?”

  “I'm fine. Go.” I wave a hand to shoo him off.

  “You've got your own guard, so have fun. No one's going to touch you unless you want them to,” he calls before he disappears down the stairs.

  I turn back to the glass railing and watch for Roman. I see him enter the crowd a moment later, and he cuts through to the dance floor. He moves lithely among the grinding bodies until he approaches three women that are dancing and having a good time. He smiles and starts talking with them briefly before turning to the pretty brunette. He says something to her, and she smiles up at him and nods. A second later he's got her to himself and they are dancing.

  I shake my head, feeling bad for the girls he feeds from. Roman can enthrall anyone with that charm of his, and I bet they have high hopes when they meet him for the first time. They probably think Roman might be the 'one' until he sends them on their way once he's done with them. I'm sure he's broken quite a few hearts.

  “Hey, Livvy.”

  I start with surprise and turn to find Nathan standing before me. “Hi,” I say awkwardly as he grins at me. I feel my face heating up as I remember just how much he’d enjoyed our kiss. “Um...sorry I took too much when we...” I'm trying to apologize for making him pass out, but I'm making things worse. I need to shut up.

  His gives me a lopsided grin. “Nah, it's all good.”

  I don't know what to say, and I’m saved from the conversation when I see Tatum walking towards us. My eyes just about pop out of my head when I see her dress. It's modest on top and sleeveless with a collar. But then the navy blue dress turns quite provocative below her ribs and down to about mid-hip. Each side is missing, leaving a huge circle of tan skin on each side. Her hips are bare, making it very clear that she's not wearing any type of panties.

  “Livvy,” she greets with a slight smile.

  “Tatum,” I say with a nod.

  Tatum turns her attention to Nathan, and she touches his arm near his bicep. “Nate, will you go get us something to drink?”

  He looks at me. “Any requests?”

  “Soda is fine.” I'm not in the mood to be drinking alcohol.

  Tatum's eyes roll. “Just get her a wine cooler,” she says and sends him off. “Nice dress,” she comments, her brown eyes flickering over it politely. “It's last season, though,” she tacks on.

  Great. Tatum's in bitch mode. “At least it's not missing any pieces,” I say dryly.

  She gives me a slow smile. “The guys sure like it.”

  “I'm sure they do.”

  “Where's Roman?” Tatum asks as she scans the club below.

  “He said he found his meal for the night and went off to work her over,” I muse.

  Tatum gives an unladylike snort. “He doesn't have to work anything. All he has to do is smile at them and they drop their panties.”

  I remember that Tatum is a succubus, and I look at her through newly enlightened eyes. With as bold as her sexuality is, I’m guessing she’s a full succubus rather than partial like myself. She has to have sex to survive, and I wonder if she resents it sometimes. I know I would. I certainly wouldn't want to share my body with a stranger every time I had to feed. It makes me wonder how much of this confident persona of hers is for show and what really lies beneath it.

  “Why are you looking at me that way?” Tatum demands.

  I realize I've been staring at her too long, and something must have shown on my face, because she looks about ready to spit nails at me. The last thing I want is to insult her. “I was just thinking that I'm glad I'm not here with a guy. If I was, I'm sure he'd be leaving with you instead of me. You look great.” I shake my head and glance at her dress. “I could never pull that off, but on you, it looks like the designer had you in mind,” I say sincerely.

  “Are you hitting on me?” Tatum asks as her eyes narrow.

  My mouth drops.

  Tatum immediately bursts out laughing. “I'm kidding. Let's go sit. I'm betting you have a lot of questions since I'm the only female succubus you know.”

  “You don't mind?” I ask with relief.

  “No. Roman warned me you might have questions. He told me it's hard to answer some of them, since he's a guy. He said it might be good for you to hear some stuff from a woman's perspective instead,” she says seriously.

  I owe Roman when I see him next. “If you don't mind, I do have some questions.”

  She motions to the couch, and we walk over and sink down onto the cushions. Nathan happens to come back up to the balcony, and Tatum motions for him to go away. He gives her an annoyed look, but turns right around and disappears down the stairs.

  I can't resist giving her a disapproving look. “Is he your human toy or something?”

  Tatum gives me a strange look. “Nate? No, of course not. He's a good friend.”

  “You don't treat him like a friend.”

  “He is. I just don't waste time with sugary nonsense in fear of hurting someone's feelings. Nate will be back in a bit,” she says easily. “So, what's on your mind? Besides Nate's feelings.”

  “You warned me about school. Will you tell me what I'm going to be walking into? Why won't people like me?” I hadn't wanted to ask Roman, because I'd worried that he might wonder why I was so concerned about it. I had promised Tatum that I wouldn't repeat our conversation we'd had at the store, so I figured I'd better hold off on it.

  Tatum's silent a moment. “You know of the other supernaturals, right?”

  I nod.

  “Well, they know what I am, and they'll know what you are when you start school in September. Supernaturals gravitate towards us. They know what we can give them, but because we feed off of different people constantly, they look down on us.” She shrugs. “I guess you could say I'm considered a slut,” she says bluntly. “They know what I need, and it's beneficial to them, but all I'm good for is a good time. They'll never allow it to be anything else. So the supernatural guys will sniff around you, and the supernatural females will resent you for it, because they consider their guys, theirs. Get it?”

  I slowly nod.

  “Livvy, guys will want you, and girls will hate you,” she says simply. “Even the humans. They don't understand why we sleep around, since they don't know what we are. To the humans, I'm also a slut. The human guys are worse and horny as hell. Even the one's with the girlfriends. I'm the most hated girl at school. And because you'll be with me, Roman, and Harper, they'll assume you're like us. Which you are except for the sex part.”

  “What if I don't interact with you guys?”

  She gives me a look. “Remember those groups I told you about at school?” When I nod again, she continues, “Well, not all supernaturals get along. There's always going to be a rivalry. There are supernaturals that will hate you on sight either because of what you are, or because you're a Deveroux.”

  “What does being a Deveroux have to do with anything?”

  “Not everyone gets along with Khristos, let's just leave it at that. My point is, at school you stick with your own kind. Your own kind provides protection.”

  “Nobody would attack me, would they?” I ask with a hint of alarm.

  “The supernaturals wouldn't dare, because even if they don't like Khristos, he's still someone they don't want to mess with. Unfortunately, the humans have no clue what we are, so they can be worse. I've been jumped a few times at school. I'm not going to lie, it sucks.”

  “Were yo
u hurt badly?”

  “Not really.”

  “What did you do after it went down?”

  She smiles with unsettling relish. “Fucked their boyfriends. No one's come after me in a long, long time.”

  “That means the only friends I'll have are you guys,” I realize.

  Tatum nods. “Pretty much.”

  “But what about Nathan? He's human. How does that work at school?”

  “Roman's big on trying to mix with the other students. Nate's popular at school, and he's liked enough that he can gravitate between us and his other friends. It helps Roman and Harper fit in. The guys have it easier than I do,” she says truthfully.

  “Are there any other succubi at school?”

  “Nope. Just me.”

  “And now me,” I murmur.

  “Harper and Roman have a rep, and most guys won't mess with them. Stick with them, and you'll be fine.”

  “How does all this work? I mean, how do you all keep the humans from finding out about you?” I ask with puzzlement.

  “Secrecy is the key. But it also helps that all the public officials in Cherry Creek are supernatural. Something bad can go down, and the public will never know. That's why so many supernaturals reside in Cherry Creek and in the cities. You don't have to hide what you are so much, because all the higher ups take care of it. But that doesn't mean we go around telling humans about us. If word gets out you're spreading rumors or secrets,” she mimics slicing her throat. “They shut you up.”

  “They'll kill you?” I gasp.

  Her eyes hold mine. “There are serious rules here, Livvy. Cherry Creek will protect you, but if you're stupid, it can kill you.”

  I blow out a breath and stare at the kaleidoscope of lights flashing along the ceiling above the dance floor. What exactly have I become a part of?

  Tatum pats my knee. “Let's go dance,” she says brightly as she gracefully stands up.

  “You just told me I'm screwed at school, and you want to go dance?”

  She smiles down at me. “Yep. Let it go for now, worry about it later. C'mon.”

  With an inward sigh, I rise to my feet and follow her across the balcony and down the stairs. Tatum pulls me out on the dance floor, and I soon find my concerns about school fading. We're having a good time when Trace comes up out of nowhere. His eyes meet mine as he says loudly over the music, “Time to leave, Livvy.”

  I look at him blankly, then glance at Tatum to see if this is a joke.

  Tatum quits dancing, and she gives him an annoyed look. “Let the girl breathe a little and have some fun. It's not even bar time yet.” Trace gives her some sort of look and she blinks, recognition crossing over her pretty features. Her expression promptly shifts to acceptance as she turns to me. “I'm about to leave anyway. We'll talk another time,” she says simply, and I watch as she fades into the crowd.

  I'm left alone with Trace, and I frown up at him. “Why do I have to leave?”

  He shakes his head and mimes he can't hear me over the music. “We'll talk in the car,” he says before he rests a hand on the small of my back, nudging me in the direction he wants me to go.

  I want to balk and refuse, but I don't want to make scene. I reluctantly begin to make my way through the crowd, fully aware of Trace's warm hand on the small of my back. As we leave the dance floor behind, we pass by a bouncer who nods meaningfully at Trace. Before I can ask what's going on, I'm led to the back of the club and out the back exit. We find another bouncer climbing out of the driver's side of Trace's SUV, which is parked at the curb.

  Trace's hand drops from my back as he reaches out and opens the passenger door for me. I give him a puzzled look and slide in. He shuts the door for me and hurries around to climb in the driver's seat. I'm just finishing buckling my seatbelt as he pulls out of the back alley and into the street. “What's going on?” I demand.

  “Nothing,” he says as he begins to navigate through traffic. Even after midnight, people are out and about, searching for a good time.

  “You just dragged me out of there, Trace.”

  “Khristos felt like it was time for you to leave.” He glances in the rearview mirror before changing lanes.

  He ushered me out of there way too quick for this to be as simple as Khristos wanting me to go home. “Why do I have a feeling you're keeping something from me?”

  Trace glances at me. “You have a lot to learn, Livvy. There's a lot you don't know, and you're not going to learn it all in just a matter of days.”

  “So there's more!” I exclaim as aggravation mixes with dread. “What else are you guys keeping from me?”

  “Let it go for now,” he says, sounding distracted as he switches lanes again.

  I can't resist looking in my side-view mirror. We're leaving the city behind, and Trace has taken an exit that leads to some back roads. I see headlights behind us, but they aren't following too close or anything. I sigh inwardly, knowing I'm not going to get anything more out of Trace. The men here in Cherry Creek are tight-lipped when they want to be.

  Trace seems to relax once we enter the estate grounds and pull up to the mansion. I'm silent as he escorts me into the foyer, which is brightly lit. “Why don't you go on up to bed,” he suggests.

  I toss him a scowl. “I'm not a kid.”

  He gives me a meaningful look. “I'm well aware of that.”

  Footsteps distract me from retorting, and I look up uncertainly when I see a man approaching us. He’s bald, but it just makes him look more bad ass. He's a big, muscular man, but his movements are smooth and deliberate. His hazel eyes focus on me briefly before he meets Trace's questioning look and nods.

  “Who are you?” I ask boldly when I realize he works for Khristos and isn’t a threat. He's not here to harm me. Probably the opposite.

  “Marko. I work for Khristos,” he says simply.

  I look between Marko and Trace. Something is definitely up.

  “Go to bed,” Trace repeats lightly.

  The next time we see each other, I'm going to have a few things to say to him. I give him a glare that tells him I'm less than pleased before I reluctantly walk away. If that's not bad enough, I can hear Marko chuckling under his breath.

  ***

  The next morning, I find myself on a mission before I even bother with breakfast. The men in this house are keeping something from me, and I want to know what it is. I am so sick of being left in the dark until they feel they have no choice but to tell me the truth. Well, this time I want the truth before the situation gets dire enough that they have to fill me in after something bad happens. I know where Roman's room is now, and I make my way to the east wing of the estate.

  When I reach his door, I knock on it three times. I add a fourth knock just to aggravate him. Knowing Roman, he's still sleeping. When he fails to open the door, I pound on it a few more times.

  Suddenly, it swings open and Roman stands there, his expression irritated. I can't help but do a little ogling. His dark hair is sexily mussed, and he's bare chested. He has a pair of jeans on, but the top button is unsnapped, and I can tell he'd literally just climbed out of bed. His irritation fades as he squints at me. “Vee? Something wrong?”

  “I want to talk to you,” I say as I try to ignore all the skin he's showing off. I make a move to walk past him into his room, but he blocks me. I look up and frown questioningly at him.

  Roman gives me a meaningful look. “I'm not alone,” he says pointedly.

  Oh. I try not to look embarrassed, because I need to get used to all this sex stuff. I live with sex demons, I'm fifty percent of what they are. It's ridiculous feeling awkward over something that's a way of life. I tilt my head up and look at him a bit stubbornly. “If she's not awake, do you have a minute?”

  He glances over his bare shoulder briefly as he steps out in the hall, quietly shutting his door. “What's going on?”

  “You tell me. Trace dragged me out of the club and had me home and tucked in bed in no time at all. I'm sure you know wha
t's going on. Fill me in.”

  He sighs, and his hand carves through his messy hair. “It's nothing for you to worry about.”

  “Liar,” I accuse. “I didn't see him dragging you out of the club. Whatever is going on has to deal with me.”

  Roman gives me a look. “Finding out you're a succubus completely threw your world off its axis, right?”

  “Yeah. Obviously.”

  “Then concentrate on what you do know and work on adjusting to it.”

  I fold my arms over my chest. “Roman, I am more concerned with what I don't know.”

  “Don't worry about it.”

  “Right,” I say sarcastically. “Keeping me in the dark from pertinent information has worked out so well for me in the past.”

  Roman mutters something under his breath and shoots me a look. “Go bug Khristos. I am not the bad guy here.” He turns and goes back in his room, firmly shutting the door in my face.

  I glare at the door for a second until I decide to do just exactly that. I have to talk to him about my mom anyway. I make my way down to the kitchen, because Adelaide usually knows where everyone is. Sure enough, she's at the stove making pancakes on a griddle. Just the smell has my stomach rumbling.

  Adelaide looks up and catches sight of me. “Morning, Livvy.”

  “Morning, Addie.” I'm gradually coming to terms with the fact that she's a witch, and every time I see her it gets a little easier. “Do you know where Khristos is this morning?”

  “He's out by the pool.”

  “Thanks. I'll be back in shortly,” I say lightly as I walk over to the patio doors. I see through the glass that Khristos is sitting at a table on the far side of the patio. It looks like Trace and Marko are out there with him. I look back at Adelaide, who has her back to me, her attention focused on making breakfast. “Addie?”

  She turns her head and looks at me questioningly.

  “Is it okay for me to go out there?”

  This brings a smile to her face. “There's a new rule in this household. When you ask for Khristos, we take you to him immediately. He'll welcome your company.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” I step outside and as soon as Khristos sees the movement, he looks up. I see him say something to Trace and Marko, and they both rise to their feet and walk towards me. At first I think they are coming to greet me, but then I realize they are leaving and walking towards the patio doors.