Succubus on Top CHAPTER 2

Bastien, I pillowd, still disbelieving. BastienI threw my arms round him, and he lifted me up exchange satisfactory I weighed nothing, twirling me around. When he gently pot me back on my feet, he looked take in at me fondly, his go through nigh face cracking into a grin. Until I saw it, I hadnt realized how much Id missed that smile.You look exactly the resembling, I noted, taking in the curling black pilussbreadth that touched his shoulders, the eyes so dark a chocolate brownness they al close to looked black as healthful. Unthe likes of me, he liked to wear the shape hed been born with, the ashes from his mortal days. His skin was the color of the mochas I consumed regularly, smooth and lovely. His nose had been confused when he was human, notwith jumping he never b differented to shape-shift the signs away. It didnt detract from his looks each in fact, it sort of gave him a dashing scoundrel persona.And you, as usual, look completely different. What argon you c a lto swallowhering yourself these days? His voice carried a faint British tension left everywhere from many years spent in London after(prenominal) leaving the slave plantations of Haiti. He kept that accent and the French expressions of his childhood only for force when he chose to, he could speak Ameri post English as flaw slightly as I could.Georgina.Georgina? non Josephine or Hiroko?Georgina, I reiterated.Very well then, Georgina. Let me see you. Turn around.I spun around, like a model, letting him cause the proficient effect of this personate. When I faced him again, he nodded with approval.Exquisite not that Id expect any less from you. Short, estimable like every other nonpareil, but the curves are in each the right spots, and the coloring is very nice. He leaned c lapser to me, studying my face with a professional eye. The eyes I especially like. Catlike. How long wee-wee you been wearing this one?Fifteen years.Barely broken in.Well, observed Hugh dryly, it sort o f dep nullifys on how you define broken in.Bastien and I both turned, remembering we had an audience. The other eonians watched with bemusement, the poker game momentarily forget. Bastien turned on a high-beam smile and crossed the room in a few quick strides.Bastien Moreau. He extended a polite hand to Hugh, every inch of him polished and deferential. Incubi, after all, gain just as honest a sense of customer service and public relations as succubi. Its a plea genuine to stomach you.He do equally polite introductions with the rest of the host, pausing momentarily when he reached Carter. A brief glitter of surprise in Bastiens dark eyes was the only other indication that he found an angel in our midst odd. Otherwise, his surface charm remained perfect as he smiled and shake Carters hand.Although clearly strike at Bastiens presence, Peter s excessivelyd up dutifully. Have a seat. You penury a drink?Thank you. Youre too kind. Bourbon on ice, please. And thank you for allowi ng me to show up so unexpectedly. You break a stunning home.The vampire nodded, mollified at person eventually appreciating his hospitality.I, however, had other concerns and wondered what had caused the incubus to show up so unexpectedly. I utterly remembered Jeromes cod surprise. Jerome k at one times youre here, doesnt he?Of tier. Long since arranged. Our kind could not cross into anothers territory without reservation arrangements with the local supervisor. For a group that had allegedly rebelled against the system, we had a staggering amount of rules, regulations, and paperwork. We made the 1RS look juvenile. He told me where to find you tonight.And youre here because?He flung a playful arm around me. Youre pushy. No Hello, how are you? Cant I just stop by to see an old friend? non in this business.How long have you known Georgina? asked Hugh, shifting his solidly built body into a to a greater extent comfortable academic session position.Bastien turned thoughtful. I do nt know. How long has it been? Ages?You have to be a little more specific than that, I reminded him, my mind slipping back to a London of long past, recalling rough-hewn streets redolent with the scent of horses and unwashed humans. Early seventeenth century? He nodded, and I let my tone turn teasing. roughlyly I just remember how green you were.I have no idea what youre let looseing close to.Whatever. I taught you everything you know. Ah, older women. Bastien glanced around at the others, shrugging his shoulders with feigned haplessness. Always so sure of themselves.So, rationalise how this works, Cody urged eagerly, puppyish eyes on Bastien. Youre like the male equivalent of Georgina, right? You shape-shift and everything? Having been an immortal for less than ten years, Cody was ever so learning something new about us. I realized hed probably never even met an incubus before.Well, theres really no equivalent for Fleur , but yes, something like that. I think he preferred c alling me Fleur because it was easier than trying to remember the names I kept acquiring all oer the years.So you seduce women? pushed Cody.Exactly.Wow. That must actually be hard.Its not so wait a minute, I said. What are you implying over there? Whats this actually business?Well, hes got a point, insisted Peter, handing Bastien the drink. Its not like your jobs all that difficult, Georgina. By comparison, I mean.My jobs very difficultWhat, getting men to have sex with a beautiful fair sex? Hugh shook his head. Thats not hard. Thats not even remedial.I looked at them incredulously. Its not like I can just jump into bed with anyone. I have to get quality guys.Yeah, as of a month ago maybe.Bastien shot me a sharp look at that remark, but I was too annoyed to intromit it. Hey, I just won an award, you know. Got the certificate and everything. And anyway, contrary to your pathetic love lives, not all guys ordain immediately give in to sex. It signs work.What, like horns and a whip? suggested Peter slyly, referring to a particularly ungainly incident from my past.Thats different. He valued it.They all indigence it. Thats the point. Hugh turned to Bastien reverentially. How do you do it? Got any pointers you can share with the rest of us?Several lifetimes worth, chuckled Bastien, still watching me. Those are trade secrets, Im afraid. Although, really, in Fleur s defense, the techniques are the same for both of us. You should have been paying more attention to her. Low-cut necklines arent exactly a trade secret.Much more to it than that, my friend. Especially with Georgina. Shes one of the best.Hugh and the vampires looked at me as though theyd never observe me before, apparently attempting to figure out if what Bastien said was true.No need to start that up, I pointed out hastily. tot on, werent you just bragging about how you taught me everything I know? You and I used to run some goodly rackets back in the day.What kind of rackets? asked Peter.When I wouldnt answer, Bastien merely shrugged. Oh, you know. The kind that require a partner. Codys eyes widened. the likes ofgroup sex?No I protested, unable to stay silent at that. Not that it wasnt in my curriculum vitae. Partnerships to suck somebody in. Play husband and wife. Or brother and sister. Oror some(prenominal) it takes to nail your mark.Bastien nodded along with me. Men really like the thrill of winning over someones beautiful young wife. Women too, for that matter. The forbidden ever has a certain al enticement to it.Wow. Cody and the others pondered this new development and tried probing us a bit more for details. Bastien, sensing my reluctance to elaborate about the past, gave vague answers, and conversation presently drifted to other topics as well as to Peters amazing dinner. It wasnt Met good, but maybe the company had biased me. ar you passing game to tell me whats going on? I murmured to the incubus later, as our group finally bloom from the table and began making motions to ease up. I was dying to know what could have drawn him here and earned Jeromes approval. Hells denizens could take vacations, but this smacked of business.Bastien patted me on the back, giving me his trademark grin. In good time, my sweet. Is there somewhere we can talk?Sure. Ill take you back to my place. You can meet my cat.When Bastien left me to once again thank Peter for dinner, Carter strolled over. atomic number 18 you beholding solidification soon?Later tonight. Seeing his divert expression, I scowled. Just get it over with, okay?Get what over with?The part where you tell me how stupid it is to try to have a grave kind with a mortal.The mirth faded from his face. I dont think its stupid.I studied him, waiting for the pigeon berry line. Everyone else does.Does stage set? Do you?I looked away, thinking about Seth. That funny, distracted look on his face when dream seized him. His goofy T-shirt collection. The exquisite way he could capture the world on paper. How warm his hand was when it slid into mine. The way I just couldnt stay away from him, despite the million reasons that said I should. Suddenly, caught in Carters penetrating eyes, something inside of me let loose. I hated how the angel could do this to me.sometimes I do. Sometimes I look at himand I remember how it was when I kissed him and felt that love. It opens me want that back. I want to relish it again. I want to return it. Other times, thoughother times, Im so scared. I find out to these guysand to Jeromeand then the doubts gnaw at me. I cant get them out of my head. Weve been sleeping together, you know. Literally. It hasnt been a problem so far, but sometimes I lie awake watching him, thinking this cant last. The longer it doesI feel likelike Im standing on a high wire, with Seth at one end and me at the other. Were trying to reach each other, but one misstep, one breeze, one side-glance, and Ill fall over the edge. And keep falling and falling.I took in a shaking suggestion when I finished.Carter leaned toward me and brushed the hair away from the side of my face. Dont look crop up then, he talked.Bastien had returned, catching the end of my soliloquy.Whos Seth? he wanted to know later, once we were back at my apartment.Long story. Yet I found myself spilling it anyway.Of course, telling Bastien about Seth meant telling him about a lot of other things too. Like a recent chance on with Jeromes half-human, half-angel son a stunningly beautiful man with a twisted sense of social arbiter who had been on a semipsychotic mission to practice other immortals pay for the shoddy treatment of him and his kind. The fact that he had been a good dancer and a phenomenal lover had not really been enough to make up for his wanton killing of lesser immortals and subsequent attempt on Carter.That, of course, led me to next explain how Seth had witnessed the inevitable showdown and had been injured when I kissed him to get an emergency fix of ene rgy. Jerome had wanted to discharge Seths memory of the whole event, as well as the writers love for me. I had begged the demon not to, finally getting him to agree when I sullenered to devote all of my efforts back to seducing and corrupting equal men like a good little succubus should. Horatios visit had been the ultimate testimony to my new and improved self.Bastien, conurbation on my sofa, listened thoughtfully and frowned when I finished. What do you mean? Why werent you going after decent ones already?I got tired of it. Didnt like hurting them.So what? You were going after bad ones?I nodded.He shook his head, knowing as well as I did how little life energy an cowardly mortal yielded compared to a good one. Poor Fleur . What a miserable existence that must have been.I gave him a bittersweet smile. I think youre the offset person thats ever sounded more sympathetic than incredulous. Most people think Im idiotic for getting by like that.Its a pain, yes, Bastien agreed, and requires more frequent fixes, but hardly idiotic. You dont think I have days when I feel the same way? When I just want to throw my hands up and leave decent women alone?Why dont you?Not our lot. You and I are glorified prostitutes courtesans, if you want to be more genteel, but its all the same thing. switch over to bad ones wont change our fates. Wont even do anything in the long run, really, except relieve our guilt a bit, and even that championship doesnt last forever. Christ. You arent really making me feel better.Sorry.No, no, its okay. Whatever. I mean, its nice to have someone to talk to about this. No one else none of the other immortals really get it. He snorted. Of course they dont. How could they? My silence agreed for me, and Bastien gave me a kindly look. Not that your friends werent nice. Are there other immortals in the urban center you can talk to? Any succubi or incubi?A few more vampires and minor demons, but thats it. Theyre less social than the ones I run with. I have some good mortal friends too. Still. Theyre not the same either. I smiled gently. Theyre not you. Ive missed you.Bastien tousled my hair, earning a critical glance from my cat Aubrey. Ive missed you too.So will you tell me whats going on now?His serious mien turned jovial. Not sure what youre going to think about it, now that Ive gain vigord all of this.Try me.Sliding off the couch, Bastien colonised next to me so we could speak face-to-face. You ever heard of Dana Dailey?I live on this planet, dont I? Shes always my first choice when Im driving in my car and feel like listening to some extremely commercial, conservative rhetoric. I didnt make any attempt to hide my disdain. In addition to touting worn-out family values, intercommunicate host Dana Dailey also enjoyed working thinly veiled racist, homophobic, and even sexist insinuations into her talk show. I couldnt stand her.I imagine that mood strikes you quite a bit. Did you know shes Seattle based?Of course. Its a wonder she hasnt dragged down the property value. Funny you should mention that. A house in her neighborhood just came up for sale.So?So, our employers have purchased it.What?Grinning, knowing he had me hooked, Bastien leaned in eagerly. Pay attention, Fleur , because heres the good part. We got wind of some rumors concerning Mrs. Daileys ex-pool male child in San Diego. He claims to have been romantically involved with her.I racked my brain, recalling a promotional picture Id seen of her and her politician husband on a billboard. Have you seen Mr. Dailey? Id opt for a pool boy too. What became of the rumors?Oh, you know. The same thing that always happens to rumors with no proof. They faded away nothing happened.I waited expectantly. Okay, and the house fits in how?Well, like you said, her husbands no prize. Of course, she isnt going to get divorced or anything, not when it could potentially tarnish his political future and her whole prissy, on-air family-values campaign. Butt he profane streak is still there. If shes strayed once, I bet she could be lured into doing it again.I groaned as the pieces fell together. Like with a handsome, debonair neighbor?Debonair? Really, youre too kind.So what happens after that?Then we just let the inference do its work.Evidence?Well, yeah. Were not going to go the way of the pool boy. When I manage to lure the illustrious Mrs. Dailey into physical pleasures surpassing her wildest dreams, therell be a camera rolling. Were going to record this for posterity, then go to the press. Full exposure, full takedown. No more radio empire preaching to the masses to return to pure, decent ways. Even her husbands political campaign will be marred, thus opening the door for some broad upstart to take his place and help get this area back into the corrupt rut it so desperately longs for. Gee, its all so neat.He eyed me. You doubt the plans brilliance?I dont know. I care for the ballsy factor here, but I think this is kind of out-t here, even for you. I cant imagine Dana Dailey,ll go down so easily. Leave the going down to me.Your egos out of control.He laughed and pulled me to him. His arms felt good around me. Familiar. Reassuring. Admit it. Thats why you love me. Yeah, youre like the brother I never had. whiz that doesnt set my hair on fire. His eyes sparkled wickedly. And once again, youve jumped ahead of me. I want you to see me in action on this not to mention keep me company eyepatch Im in town. Youve got to come visit as Mitchs sister.Who?Bastien suddenly stood up and shape-shifted. The familiar features morphed, leaving no trace of the rakish incubus I knew. Six-two and broad-shouldered, he now had dark blond hair and sky blue eyes, his face only just losing its pretty boy aspect and giving way to the sizzling promise of an experienced, confident man in his early thirties. When he smiled, those perfect teeth lit up a room.He winked at me. Mitch Hunter, he explained in a suave, movie-star voice. N o accent now.You got an equally cheesy title to go with that? Mitch Hunter, MD or Mitch Hunter, Private Investigator? Seems appropriate.Nah. Im a consultant, of course. Everyones favorite nondescript yet well-paid white-collar job.You look like you need a golf nightspot in one hand and a burger flipper in the other.Tease all you want, but Dana wont be able to resist this. Now he gestured for me to stand up lets see what you can do.Are you jocose?Do I look like Im joking? If youre going to come visit me, youve got to put on some family resemblance.I rolled my eyes and stood up. After a moments study of his features, I shape-shifted my petite body into a taller, more athletic one with long blond hair.He scrutinized me, then shook his head. excessively pretty.What? This is perfect.That bodys unreal. No one looks that good. My God woman, that ass.Oh, come on. You dont think Special Agent Mitch Hunters sister isnt the type to omit two hours a day on a stair-climber?Bastien grunted. Youve got a point there. At least lose some of the hair. These suburban types go for boring and practical.Yeah, but Im not suburban. Im your hipper, more stylish Someone knocked at my door. He glanced at me questioningly.Oh Its Seth.I changed back to my normal body, and Bastien did the same. I opened the door.Seth Mortensen, best-selling agent and professional introvert, stood outside my apartment. Clad in a Frogger T-shirt and corduroy jacket, he seemed to have forgotten to brush his hair again. It was messy and brown with a faint coppery cast, mirrored in the permanent five oclock shadow across his lower face. His lips turned up in a smile upon seeing me, and I couldnt help but briefly ponder how soft and kissable they looked.Hey, I said.Hey.Despite whatever loss leader burned between us, the engine of our conversation always took a little while to turn over. I led him inside, and his expression faltered a bit when he saw Bastien.Oh. Hi.Hello, boomed Bastien, extending his ha nd. Bastien Moreau.Seth Mortensen.A pleasure. Ive heard all about you. Your books are fabulous. I mean, Ive never read any of them just dont have the time for that any longer but Im sure theyre magnifique.Um, thanks.Bastien is an old friend, I explained. Hes going to be in town for a while onbusiness.Seth nodded, and silence dropped in between all of us like a fourthly companion. Finally, Bastien cleared his throat. I could see from his face that he was already losing interest, dismissing Seth as too softly and unexciting. The incubus craved action.Well, I should take off. I dont want to get around your plans.What are you going to do? I asked. You cant have any plans of your own yet. He winked. Ill improvise.I gave him a knowing look.Ruffling my hair again, he embraced me and kissed each of my cheeks. Ill be in touch, Fleur . Make sure you keep an eye on the news.Ill never leave my television.Bastien gave Seth a friendly nod. Nice meeting you.When the incubus was gone, Seth as ked, When you say old friend, are we talking, likesince the Ice Age?No. Of course not.Oh.Its only been about four coke years.Ah. Yes. simply four hundred. A wry expression spread over his face. Being with you is a continual experiment in perspective. Among other things. He considered. So what is he? Werewolf? Demigod?Nothing so exciting. Hes an incubus. You must have heard of those.Seth nodded, frowning. Sure. Like a succubus onlyhe has to go after women to survive?I nodded.Wow. For all eternity. Wow. His eyebrows shot up as true wonder played over his face. Thats got to bewow. Thats really rough.My eyes narrowed. Dont even start down that road.Bastien had said he didnt want to interrupt our plans, but we didnt really have any, short of spending the evening together. I suppose most couples, run out of options, could have resorted to sex or at least making out, but the nature of our relationship required a full itinerary. We mustered some ideas.You want to rent a movie? I offered. Ive got some coupons.We ended up renting Gladiator, at which time I discovered Horatios free rental coupons had expire long ago.That son of a bitchWho? asked Seth.But of course I couldnt explain. Fucking demons.Back home, Seth and I snuggled on my couch as we watched, warm and close yet still untroubled from any detrimental succubus effects. He listened with bemusement as I pointed out historical inaccuracies, most of which involved how much dirtier and smellier the Roman Empire had been.When it finished, we turned off the television and sat together in the dark. Seth stroked the side of my face, sifting through the strands of my hair and occasionally brushing my cheek with his fingers. A gnomish gesture, yet when that was all you could do with another person, it became startlingly erotic.I looked up at him. I knew what I saw when I studied him. He was everything I could want and everything I couldnt have. The steady, loving companion Id pined for all these years. I wondered wha t he saw with me. The expression he wore now seemed fond. Admiring. And a little sad.But thy perpetual summer shall not fadeNor lose possession of that fair ow,stNor shall Death brag thou wand,rest in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou grow,stSo long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. Sonnet Eighteen, I murmured, thinking he recited beautifully. Hell, forget his recitation skills. How many guys in this age of instant messaging even knew Shakespeare anymore? His amused little half-smile played over his face.Clever and beautiful. How could any man settle for a mortal woman?Easily, I returned. My friends misgivings suddenly loomed up in me. You could, you know.He blinked, and his rapt look faded, giving way to exasperation. Oh. Not this discussion again.Im serious And so am I. I dont want to be with anyone else right now. Ive told you that a hundred times. Why do we keep talking about this?Because you know we cant Nobuts.Giv e me some credit for world able to control myself. Besides, Im not with you for sex. You know that. Im with you to be with you.How can that be enough? It never had been for any other man Id known.Becausebecause He tipped my chin up with his hand, the emotion in those eyes making my insides melt. Because being with you feels so rightlike its always been meant to be. You make me believe in a higher indicant for once in my life.I closed my eyes and put my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating. He wrapped me to him, his embrace warm and solid, and I felt like I couldnt get close enough to him. Probably I should have let the discussion go then, but one more thing was still on my mind tonight. After all, I had a gold-embossed certificate sitting on my counter.Even if you can control yourselfeven if you can stay celibate, you know I wont be.The dustup hurt coming out, but my mouths control switch didnt always function so well. Besides, I didnt want anything standing between us.I dont care. But I felt his hold on me stiffen a little.Seth, you will Thetis, I dont care. It doesnt matter. Nothing matters except what happens between you and me.The fierceness in his voice a furrow to his normal placidity thrilled me, but it was not that that made me give up the argument. It was the word Thetis. Thetis. Thetis the shape-shifting goddess. The shape-shifter wooed and won by a steadfast mortal. Seth had coined the name for me when he learned I was a succubus, when hed first insinuated that my infernal standing was not a deterrent.I pulled him closer. Dont look down.We went to bed shortly thereafter, Aubrey snuggling up at our feet. The feel of Seths body curled by mine under the covers was tantalizing, a cruel whisper of the restrictions around us.I sighed and tried to think of something other than how nice he felt or how big(p) it would be if he slid his hand up my shirt. I grinned as a most unsexual sentiment came to mind.I want pancakes.What? Right now?N o. For breakfast.Oh. He yawned. Youd better get up early then.Me? Im not going to make them.Yeah? His sleepy voice carried mock sympathy. Whos going to make them for you then?You are.It was a well-known fact at least to Seth and me that he made the best pancakes known to mankind. They always came out perfect, light and fluffy. Through some kitchen magic, he even managed to put smiley faces on them when he made them for me. Once hed even puta Gon one. Id assumed it was for my name, but later, hed sworn it stood for goddess.Am I? His lips brushed my earlobe his breath was warm against my skin. You think Im going to make you pancakes? Is that how you think its going to be?Youre so good at, I whined. Besides, if you do, Ill sit on the counter in a short robe while you cook. Oops. Maybe pancakes could conk out sexual after all.His soft laughter segued into another yawn. Oh. Well then. He kissed my ear again. Maybe Ill make you pancakes. His breathing grew slow and regular, the tension in his body easing. Soon he slept, not troubled or tempted in the least by having me in his arms.I sighed again. He was right he did have self-control. If he could do this, surely I could too. I closed my eyes and waited for exhaustion to take over. Fortunately, it didnt waste any time staying up late will do that to you. Maybe that was the real key to sleeping chastely.I woke up in his arms hours later, hearing the ever-so-faint sounds of bad seventies music drifting through the wall. One of my neighbors felt the need to do aerobics to the Bee Gees every day around lunchtime. Certifiable insanity.Wait. Lunchtime?I sat bolt upright, panic jolting me into full consciousness as I assessed the situation. My bed. Seth sprawled beside me. The full roar of traffic outside. Clear, winter sunlight pouring through the window a lot of sunlight.Fearing the worst, I looked at the nearest clock. It was 1203.Groaning silently, I groped on the floor for my cell phone, wondering why no one had ye t called me in to work. Looking at the phones display, I realized Id turned the ringer off during the movie. Seven new voice mail messages, the phone read. So much for pancakes. Tossing the phone back down, I looked over at Seth, the cuteness of him in a T-shirt and flannel boxers momentarily allaying my frustration.I shook him, wishing I could just crawl back under the covers with him. Wake up. Ive got to go.He blinked up at me drowsily, further increasing his appeal. Aubrey wore a similar look. Huh? Tooearly.Not that early. Im late for work.He stared at me blankly for a few seconds and then sat up nearly as rapidly as I had. Oh. Oh man.Its all right. Lets go.He disappeared into the bathroom, and I shape-shifted my fashion once more, turning the pajamas into a red pinny and black skirt, my loose hair into a neat bun. I hated doing this so often, much preferring to rape through my own closet. Shape-shifting also burned through my energy stash that much more quickly, requiring mor e frequent victims. Unfortunately, time-crunches call for certain sacrifices.When Seth returned, he did a double take at my appearance and shook his head. Still cant get used to that.I expected him to go home and sleep, but he went with me to the bookstore. Its coffee shop was his favorite place to write. As we walked into Emerald City Books andCafe,I breathed a sigh of relief that neither my manager Paige nor Warren, the store owner, appeared to be around. Still, business had already opened for the day without me, and my chipper, morning-people coworkers made it insufferable to sneak in without notice.Hey, Georgina Hi SethGeorgina and Seth are hereGood morning, Georgina Good morning, SethSeth left to take up his writing station upstairs, and I made my way to the back offices. All of them were dark, which I found odd. No managers at all. Someone should have opened before me. I flipped on the light in my own office.I was so fixated on figuring out what was going on that the demon to ok me completely by surprise.Red-skinned and multihorned, he leapt out at me, waving his arms and making unintelligible grunting sounds. I yelped and dropped the things Id been carrying, recoiling.A moment later, my senses returned, and I walked over and smacked him on the side of the head as hard as I could.