by Lola Taylor
The air thinned. Or maybe that was because I was about one gasp away from hyperventilating.
Shaking his head, the most endearing smile came over his face. “Hi,” he said, stepping forward with his hand outstretched. “I’m Hector Aurelius. And you are…?”
Coming to my senses, I took his hand. “Sally. Sally Sanders.”
The moment our hands touched, a warm tingle went through me that had nothing to do with static electricity. It wriggled down my arm, then to my chest, and I felt a weird tug toward Hector, like his touch was familiar somehow.
Hector must have felt it too, because his grip tightened slightly. “Um,” he said, finally letting go and shaking his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Sally. You work here?”
“Yeah,” I said, feeling a little dazed from whatever it was that had passed between us. Weird. “I do. Succubus by night, cubicle bitch by day.”
Hector laughed outright. “I sure don’t miss those days. I don’t know how much longer I would have been able to hold out doing phone sex jobs for horny eighty-year-old men if I hadn’t been promoted to full-time Incubus.”
“You were a phone sex operator?”
“Don’t look so surprised,” he said wryly. “Us Incubi have to start somewhere too. It’s not restricted to just you fine women. I’ve been everything from a model to a sex toy salesman.”
“It’s just… you’re so glamorous. I mean, you’re a walking legend among our kind. I guess it’s just a little unexpected.”
He chuckled, but it was darker than the warm rumble from earlier. “Well, a lot of things in life turn out to be unexpected.”
I studied him. A shadow came over his face, and his dark eyes got a far-off look, like he was thinking about something that overshadowed his soul. I recognized that look. It was the same one I got when looking in the mirror sometimes, wondering what the hell I was doing and if I was really cut out for this. You’d think someone who exuded confidence like Hector wouldn’t ever have any doubt.
I was about to inquire what was wrong when the elevator chimed, and the doors opened. We both hesitated, neither one of us seeming willing to leave yet.
Finally, I stepped off. “This is my stop. It was really nice meeting you, Hector,” I said lamely. At least the nervous hitch had left my voice.
He smiled, holding the doors open. “Yeah. Likewise.”
With one last lingering look, Hector stepped back, his eyes remaining locked on mine as the doors slowly closed.
I didn’t let out my breath until he was gone, and I leaned against the wall and stared at my hand. It wasn’t entirely a surprise to see Hector here, seeing as he was one of Elias’s go-to models and oldest friends, according to rumors. But running into him on the elevator, actually getting to speak to him in private, had not been something I thought would ever happen.
I smiled sadly. It was nice while it lasted. Too bad I’d never see him again, or at least, not up close and personal like that.
Dismissing the odd tingle I’d felt at his touch to my imagination, I got off the elevator and strutted to my cubicle, a new bounce in my step that hadn’t been there before.
Chapter 3
MONIQUE GRINNED AS I finished relaying yesterday’s lovely chat with our boss. “Elysian, huh? Now there’s an all-expenses-paid vacation to a sex resort that allows you to screw as much as you want. I’m almost jealous.”
I slurped on my Diet Coke. “I feel like such a reject. I mean, who gets sent to Elysian?”
“You, apparently.”
I threw a french fry at her. We were sitting in a booth at our favorite diner having lunch. A lot of sups came here. Who knew paranormals had an appetite for comfort food?
“It’s not bad,” Monique said, shrugging as she stuck a mouthful of mashed potatoes in her mouth. She looked like she’d just strolled from a beauty shop. Smoky eyes, red lips, and curly hair almost as dark as mine, she was one of my best friends, and one of the Underworld’s most kickass succubi. She’d had multiple offers of representation from different sup firms, including Vixens’ biggest rival, Wonderland.
How many offers had I had? Goose egg. Nada. Let’s just say I was lucky I could get Elias to take me in, an experiment of sorts.
“Are you listening?”
I shook my head. “What?”
Monique’s lips spread into a sultry smile. “You know, doll,” she said, leaning forward and twirling a strand of my hair around her manicured finger, “I could always privately tutor you in the art of seduction.”
I slapped away her hand. “You know my gate doesn’t swing that way. But I appreciate the offer.”
She sighed and sat back. “Such a pity. Well, at least let me hook you up with some outfits before you leave. Your pleated skirts and boring blouses from your secretary days just aren’t making the cut.”
“I like those clothes!” I said indignantly. “They’re cute.”
“They’re something,” Monique muttered.
I was about to whip out a comeback when a ton of screaming girls near the front of the restaurant stole our attention.
My jaw nearly hit the table when I saw who’d walked in through the door. “Holy hell,” I breathed. “It’s him.”
I watched, flabbergasted, as Hector strolled through the restaurant, signing autographs and taking pictures as hordes of adoring females crowded around him. Maybe it was his alluring sexual prowess, but he seemed to attract this kind of attention wherever he went.
Which made me kind of pity him. I mean, it had to get tiring after a while.
“Careful,” Monique murmured. “Wouldn’t want your crush to see you drooling.”
Cheeks flaming, I wiped the back of my mouth with my hand. I still hadn’t told her about the elevator. Some part of me wanted to keep that interaction private, and I wasn’t entirely sure why.
My eyes remained glued to Hector, watching him smile at his fans and sign autographs, including a few shirts. “What’s Hector doing here?”
Monique watched with boredom. “Dunno, love. Maybe he’s in town for business.”
Hector was the Underworld’s most infamous Incubus. His exploits were the stuff of legend. Every Incubus wanted to be him, and every succubus - hell, any woman, human or sup - wanted to bang him.
I watched with rapt attention as Hector excused himself from his posse and made his way through the restaurant. Eyes followed him wherever he went. He went straight to the back, at a private booth. A waiter immediately showed up to take his drink order. Even the waiter looked enamored with him.
Monique whistled. “The man’s got skills. I’d kill for thirty minutes with him to pick up some new tips.”
“Please tell me you wouldn’t want to just pick up tips,” I breathed, eyeing Hector dreamily. How many times had I imagined those strong arms sweeping me up and carrying me to his bed?
Heat coiled deep below my navel, and I clenched my thighs, licking my lips.
Monique raised her brows. “All right, I’ve gotta go before you make me horny too.”
I flushed. “I was not horny.”
“No, you were in heat.” She rose. “I have a three o’ clock appointment, so I need to get going. See you at the apartment tonight?”
I nodded. “Yep. See you.”
She leaned down and kissed me once on each cheek. Monique wasn’t European, so I don’t know why she did it. To make her feel and look classier, I guess.
I watched my friend sashay out of the restaurant, and looked back to Hector.
I nearly choked on my drink.
He wasn’t alone. A very familiar head of auburn hair was with him, laughing and carrying on like old friends.
What the hell was Elias doing here? I thought hole-in-the-wall places like this were beneath him. I guess they’d decided to do lunch after whatever business meeting they had, or perhaps, this was the business meeting. Either way, I needed to go.
Not wanting Elias to see me, I pulled some money out of my purse and dumped it on the table before getting
up. I was almost to the door when a strong hand shot out of a booth and seized me by the wrist, jerking me back around.
“I know you,” drawled the handsome werewolf man with tattoos all up and down his arms.
My blood temperature dropped. And I definitely knew him.
Oh, no.
He chuckled, a sinister look on his face. “Yeah, you were that succubus who was supposed to take care of me last Thursday night.” He ran a tongue over his lips. “I don’t believe I got my money’s worth.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t sue your ass for striking me,” I snapped. Elias had been furious. No one mistreated his girls. Of course, he couldn’t formally strike back at the loser, not without starting something between the were and witching communities. Paranormal law sucked sometimes.
The guy - Davey, I remembered - and his buddies laughed and whistled. “Bitch has got a mouth,” Davey said, getting up.
He twisted my arm behind me, yanking me against his chest. Pain shot to my shoulder at the odd angle. “You’re hurting me,” I snapped. “Let go!”
“Just relax,” he breathed, kissing my neck. “You’ll forget all about the pain in a minute.” He started making toward the back exit, the one that led to the alley.
“What are you doing?” I said, fighting to break free. I couldn’t struggle much, otherwise I’d risk breaking my arm.
“Getting my money’s worth,” he growled.
I knew exactly how he planned on doing that, and no way in hell was I letting it happen.
Improvising, I brought my stiletto down hard on Davey’s foot. He howled, loosening his grip enough for me to squirm away and follow-up with a kick to his groin. Davey immediately cupped his balls and doubled over, yowling. His buddies laughed behind him as he straightened, giving me a death glare. “You’ll pay for that, bitch.”
He started forward.
I backed away, keeping my eyes on him. Great, now I’d really pissed him off.
Looking for something to bust over his head, I yelped when Davey suddenly cried out and let go of me. Tripping over someone’s foot, I nearly fell when my hands splayed against a smooth, bare chest as two arms wrapped around me. “It’s all right,” a deep voice rumbled through me. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
I looked up and gasped.
Oh. My. Word.
Two eyes the color of chocolate stared into mine as Hector gazed back at me. His lips parted as his eyes dropped to my mouth, and I swore his heart sped up.
I know mine sure did, right before the most perfect calm settled over me. I’d never felt so safe in my life, like this moment was created just for us. The feeling from earlier, that I somehow belonged with him, intensified, its heat wrapping around me and making me feel safe.
Why do I feel this way with him? I feel as if I know him, but that’s impossible.
“Hey!” Davey yelled behind me. “Who the hell do you think you are? My packmaster will hear about this!”
Elias stood between me and Davey. Davey appeared to be frozen. Nothing moved except his mouth.
Elias’s body crackled with power, and flames licked his skin, shimmering beneath the surface. His eyes glowed bright red. It was the angriest I’d ever seen him.
“You’re damn right about that,” he growled. “I will be speaking to your packmaster tonight. I am well-acquainted with Lila.”
“What, did you fuck her?” Davey sneered.
It happened so fast, I couldn’t even be sure I’d seen it. Davey’s head jerked sideways, as if smacked by an invisible force. Teeth flew to the floor, followed by drops of blood. When he looked back at Elias, his eyes were filled with fear.
I smirked. At least he wasn’t as dumb as he looked.
“I am Elias, sixth brother of the House of Hex.” Elias straightened. “And you have pissed off the wrong warlock.”
Davey’s eyes widened in terror. “Did you say ‘Hex’? Oh, man. Look, I’m so sorry.”
Elias smiled cruelly. “Not yet, you’re not.”
The manager came out, a handsome vampire dressed in a black business suit. You’d think he was in New York City at a five-star restaurant, considering how he was dressed.
He rested a hand on Elias’s shoulder. When he was like this, Elias had to be scalding hot to the touch, but the flames did not burn the vamp. Instead, they merged into his pearly skin.
Another Red Warlock, I thought. Vamps, succubi, incubi, and weres could all use magic too, if they had the gift for it.
“My old friend,” the vampire purred, “is this miscreant bothering you?”
“My apologies for the ruckus, Orlando,” Elias said. “But I could not sit idly by while this pup attacked one of my succubi.”
Orlando’s eyes took on that luminescent red hue all vampires’ did when lusting after blood. “I see.”
In a flash, his fangs were at Davey’s throat, but they never penetrated. Davey screamed while Elias held him immobile. A vampire bite was lethal to a were.
“Let this be a warning,” Orlando hissed, “never to return here again. I shall also be filing a complaint with your packmaster.”
“And if it’s one thing my dear friend Lila won’t tolerate, it’s a foolhardy pup,” Elias said.
“I-I won’t come here again! I swear!” Davey howled.
Patrons snickered, no doubt entertained by the goings-on.
“Let that be a lesson well-learned, pup,” Elias spat.
With a jerk, Davey was dropped to the ground. He sputtered, slipping and sliding on the polished wood floor, then scampered out the door with his buddies close on his tail.
Soon as it was over, the patrons returned to eating, as if nothing had ever happened.
Gotta love the paranormal community.
I hadn’t realized how closely I’d been clinging to Hector until he chuckled. The sound vibrated through his chest and into my ear, which was plastered to him. “Damn,” he murmured. “Now I don’t have an excuse to hold you.”
My face lit up, and I hurriedly backed away.
Reluctantly, he let go, looking disappointed.
It’s just part of his job, to make you feel special, I reminded myself. That thing you felt earlier was probably just some side effect from the adrenaline. You’re putting extra meaning where there is none.
“Um, thanks for keeping me steady,” I said, my voice shaky. “I, uh, appreciate that.”
“Anytime,” he said, frowning. He looked puzzled about something, and for a moment, I was worried I had said or done something to upset him.
“Sorry about that,” Elias said, coming up from behind us and clapping a hand on Hector’s shoulder. “Sometimes a public example is the only type to knock some sense into a youngling.” He looked at me. “Are you all right?”
“Er, yes. Thank you so much for saving me.”
“It’s my duty,” he said brusquely. “You’re one of mine.”
Oh. So he hadn’t been doing it because he’d cared.
Douchebag.
“Sally, my colleague and I were in the middle of an important business discussion.”
Meaning, “You need to scram.”
“Got it,” I said. “I was just leaving.”
“Actually,” Hector said quickly, “I was thinking about walking Sally to her car. I’m sure she’s pretty shaken from the interaction.”
Hell yeah, I was shaken, but not from that meathead.
Elias raised a brow. “How chivalrous of you,” he said dryly. “Fine. I have a phone call to make anyway.”
“I won’t be long,” Hector said, clapping him on the back. It was weird seeing someone being so chummy with Elias. I didn’t think he had any friends, considering how scary he was. Then again, maybe that was just my own biased perception of him.
Hector turned to me and smiled. “After you.”
I smiled back, grateful to him for being such a gentleman.
I bundled my scarf around my neck as we walked outside. The air seemed chillier today.
“Looks
like winter’s moving in early,” I said lamely, watching my breath turn into little steam clouds.
“Yeah. Even though it’s only September, we’re getting way too much cold weather too soon.”
I frowned. “That sucks.” I hadn’t even gotten to work on my tan that much this year.
Looking sidelong at him, I admired his profile for a moment. He hadn’t bothered bringing his coat, and his cuffed burgundy shirt accentuated his tanned skin and dark hair. When my eyes drew up to his face, I found him watching me back with a small, amused smile.
My face instantly heated. “Sorry,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I bet you get tired of being stared at.”
“I don’t mind with you,” he said softly.
A hitch caught in my step, and I tripped. I blame the sidewalk; it practically leapt up and attacked me. And I would have suffered an embarrassing face-plant on the ground if Hector hadn’t stepped in and steadied me.
“Here,” he said, tucking my arm under his. “Hold on to me. I think I saw some ice back there.”
There had been no such ice, but I smiled at how sweet the gesture was. “Thanks.” Jeez, he was so warm, like he ran a few degrees hotter. “I can see why you never wear a coat,” I said.
“Hmmm? Oh, yeah, I have an abnormally high body temperature.”
Most paranormals ran about the same as humans, around ninety-seven or ninety-eight. Demons tended to run hotter for obvious reasons, and weres to an extent because of their animal blood. But I wasn’t picking up on a were signature, and incubi and succubi, while considered “demons,” weren’t hot-blooded because we weren’t born demons. We had to be created, usually by a full-blooded demon or a Red Witch or Warlock.
The distance from the diner to the parking lot was too short for my liking. My heart sank as we stopped in front of my car. “Thanks again for helping me back there,” I said, trying to spend every second I could with him.
“You’re quite welcome,” Hector said, smiling. “You know,” he added with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes that made my knees weak, “we really should stop meeting like this.”
I snorted. “Yeah. Elevators. Were-fights. What will the public say?”