Succubus Heat CHAPTER 17

The sweet scent of a white chocolate mocha woke me from a heavy sleep the following morning. For a few moments, as I stirred to consciousness, it was ilk wake up any(prenominal) other day. Then, as I opened my eyeb solely and shifted position, my forms nerves came to life, reminding me what had happened yesterday. It wasnt the horrible agonizing annoyance Id experienced before, merely I had enough aches and soreness to dissuade me from in addition overmuch movement. Still, I homophileaged to to a greater extent(prenominal) or less sit up when Dante entered my bedroom.He held the mocha in unitary re phaseate and what looked like a bakery alkali tucked on a lower floor his arm. In the other hand, he carried an commodious vase of blue and white hydrangeas, interspersed with orchids. I n incessantly would devote pictured those particular flowers vent together, however the exhibition worked.Did you rob a florist? I supplicateed.Dante gave me a withering look as he g ive me the mocha. Why atomic number 18 you assuming the worst again?Because orchids arent cheap, I said.They were reveal of crab grass, so I had to settle. He gently placed the vase on my dresser and indeed freed the bakery bag. And I beat up some kids for these.After a long, delicious sip, I set the mocha on my bedside table and took the bag from him. Inside were chocolate croissants-my favorite kind of breachfast pas analyse.All this because I got beat up? I asked.He sat on the side of the bed. Im worried ab show up you.I should get in fights with demons more(prenominal) often, I teased, my coating few words getting muffled as I bit into a croissant. Tiny flakes and crumbs fell onto my sheets, but I didnt care.Not funny, succubus, he said. And to my surprise, I could count on that he meant it. no(prenominal) of his usual sardonic humor showed on his face. at that place was no bitter twist to his lips. Thats neer contingency again. And Im going to read sure you get ru in, immortal better or non.never took you for a nursemaid.Be quiet, he snapped. And preclude eating. Your body charters calories to heal.Happy to oblige, I started to take another bite and then froze. Do you think I might start rankting on weight? Calories were nothing Id ever had to count before. Id feared neither weight gain nor health effects from the things I ate.I think thats the to the lowest degree of your worries.I supposed he was near. I unploughed eating-but with a little less enthusiasm. He lock in looked so serious and worried that I couldnt shake my fond(p) and fuzzy feelings. Thank you for in all of this. Its genuinely great.He smiled at me, and his gray eyes were lovely in the morning light. Not many throng in this world I feel deserve my table service. Youre in an exclusive club.I started to make a comment ab dis finale how the live of the club members must be imaginary, but at that place had already been too much snark this morning. Nanettes attack h ad seriously shaken Dante up.Thank you, I said again. A design laid low(p) me. I might sop up some other way for you to encourage. Will you grab my purse?He retrieved it from the living room and handed it over. Reaching inside, I was relieved to see the word picture that Id swiped from Mary was suave there. I analyze it for a moment, willing the medallion to yield some sort of revelation. All I saw was a translucent br induce disc and runes or symbols that could easily be mistaken for a childs scribbles. With a sigh, I handed it to him.Does this mean anything to you?His brows knit perspectivefully as he looked it over. No. Should it?I think it might be part of Jeromes summoning. Remember when I asked you ab let on an artist who carved lechatelierite? This is what I sour up. Supposedly, the stone and marks are clues, but I dont crawl in what they are. I venture thats where I need great deal like you or Erik.He gazed at the picture for several more moments, and to my surpr ise, I saw anger building in his features. Abruptly, he stood up and tossed the picture on the floor.son of a bitch, he growled.Whats the issuance? I exclaimed.This, he said, gesturing at me and the fallen picture. This is the matter. What good am I, succubus? Im ten times more powerful than those people I sent you to go see. Aside from Lancaster, theres likely no one else in this fucking town who k nows as much more or less the arcane as I do. And what good is it? He paced approximately my room and ran his hand angrily through his hair. zero. Thats what its good for. I cant seem to help you. I cant do a goddamned thing. I couldnt save you from that demoness. And I dont be anything slightly this medallion thing.I was stunned by his reaction. Hey, whoa. Its okay. Sit spile. Dont beat yourself up.Its not okay. He came to a halt. I feelpowerless. For someone whod spent his life doing horrible things in the quest for power, I could earn what a potent admission that was.Youre n ot obligated to do anything here, I said gently. You help me more than you realize. only this isnt your fight. This isnt your responsibility. Youre my responsibility, he said. If I cant look out for you, then why do you need me?Im not with you for what you can do for me.Yeah? Youre with me for my winning personality?The truth was, I salvage wasnt sure at times why I was with him. I couldnt help but re entreat his comments about me keeping him as a bed warmer, but straightforward or not, now wasnt the time to bring that up. Plus, hed been sweet lately-something Id never expected when Id saturnine to him in my post- readiness rage.Dante, Im serious. Dont worry about any of this. Ill take care of it and talk to my friends.I saw from the look on his face that that wasnt quite what hed valued to hear. Knowing I had other people to go to seemed to make him feel more inadequate.You shouldnt be involved in this at all, he said.What, in welcomeing Jerome? Of course I study to be.There are others, people who are more powerful. I dont want you getting hurt again Why cant you effective lie low and keep yourself prophylactic? he demanded.Because its not what I do And no one else is going to do it anyway. Theyre retributive permit this go. Letting Jerome go.Why dont you let it go? he asked. Would it be so bad to work under another demon? Youve worked for others.I rancid and gazed out the window. The sky was blue, but something told me it was cold out. It was a curiosity of Seattle weather. We often had warmer temperatures when it was cloudy out, colder ones when it was sunny. Dragging my eyes defend to Dante, I said, Yeah, I pee. But this is different. This isnt right-it shouldnt overhear happened. I have to materialize Jerome.Yes. You do. Its written all over you. Why do you have to make everything so difficult and create these problems?If youre unhappy, no ones make you stick around, I said quietly.Of course Im viscid around. And if theres nothing to be done for your impulsivity, I might as well help. He snatched up the photo and glared at it. Let me take this and ask some questions. I might not know what it is- all the selfsame(prenominal)-but there are resources I can tap.There was a hard set to his face. He was a man with a mission, which I preferred to him being drink down on himself or ranting at me. I was about to send him strike with my blessings, but something held me keister. I couldnt let the picture go.I want to keep the photo, I told him.He stared. You dont think Ill bring it back?No, Im not worried about that. But I did a lot to get it, and besides, I want to show it to some people too. Well make a copy of it. You can take that.Yeah? You got a copy machine in the bathroom?Cant you just draw it or something?Succubus.Well, I dont know But if you want to do sleuthing, youre going to have to find a workaround. Until I feel like traipsing around the city with you, I want the picture to plosive with me.He glowered, loo king very much like his usual bitter self. Finally, realizing I wasnt going to yield, he did a hasty trace of the medallion onto another sheet of paper. He added a few notes off to the side and did his best approximation of the symbols. He seemed miserable the entire time.Sorry, I said.Its fine, he said.Youre going now?If you think youll be okay.I assured him I would be. My phone was nearby, and I had a feeling if he stayed, hed just grow more and more upset about how hed let me down and about how I was putting myself at risk for reasons he didnt understand. At least this gave him a feeling of purpose. I promised to call if something happened and voiceless a sigh of relief when he finally left.I stayed in bed for a while after that, consuming my calorie-laden breakfast and thinking about his extreme reaction. I hoped hed find something out for me, and in the meantime, I needed to do some investigating of my own. First things first, though. I needed to shower.It turned out to be har der than I expected-but not impossible. I just had to move slowly when I walked to the bathroom, wakeful not to get too ambitious. Hughs bandages liquid covered my back, and it took a fair bit of dexterity to discharge them. They were soaked with blood, but underneath, the cuts showed signs of Meis healing. They were still there, still uncomfortable, but had all scabbed over and were much humiliateder. I kept the water lukewarm as I showered and was careful when I toweled off to not break any of the scabs open.By the time I was sitting on my couch in the living room, I felt up like Id run a marathon. Id never precious shape-shifting so badly in my life. I wore well-fixed clothes-drawstring pants and a T-shirt without a bra-but it had taken some effort to put them on. My hair Id devoted up on completely, figuring combing it out would have to do. I didnt have the patience to change it and didnt want to think about the frizziness I was inviting.Aubrey joined me on the couch as I rest from my morning labors and flipped through the channels. After cycling through twice, I gave up and left the TV on some sort of nature show about Siberian tigers. Aubrey watched it with wide eyes, but I wasnt interest.This is your same of reality television, I observed.The talk shows dont come on until later, a voice suddenly said. Thats when things get good.I sighed. Carter. What a pleasant surprise.The angel st involute into my line of sight and sat down on the armchair opposite me. Aubrey instantly left me and hopped onto his lap.Traitor, I said.He grinned and scratched her head. Word on the street is that you had a bad day yesterday.Ive had worse, I said. Marginally. You should have seen me before Mei healed me.Bah, demons cant heal. Not rattling. They lose the finesse it takes when they cross over.Hey, Ill take what help I can get. I brightened. And speaking of help, I think Ive got a picture of the seal-No.No what?I know what youre going to ask, and the perform is n o.You have no idea what Im going to askYoure going to ask me to help identify the seal so you can figure out where Jerome is.I stayed silent. Damn.He rolled his eyes. And the answer is no.But you could make this so much easier, I argued. Dantes out trying to figure out what the seal means. You could tell me right now.Georgina, I told you before. I cant interfere.Then why are you here?To see how youre feeling. Believe me, I worry I could interfere. Id do a better healing job than Mei.I fell silent, mind spinning. Were you here yesterday?Doing what?Look, I wont consider it interfering, but just tell me if it was you.Carter didnt look confused very often. If anything, he was usually the one messing with other peoples minds. I think under typical circumstances, when the immortal state of affairs in Seattle wasnt in limbo, he would have faked it and hidden his confusion. Now, he just shook his head in exasperation.What are you talking about? psyche was here after Nanette beat me up. A guy. He put me to bed and called Hugh.It wasnt me.Technically, it wouldnt even be interfering.Georgina, he said sternly. Listen. It wasnt me.I held his gaze and shivered at the intensity in his eyes. His were gray, but whereas Dantes were like leaden clouds on a winter day, Carters were like gleaming silver.It wasnt you, I said at last. Hed answered directly, with none of the half-truths and subterfuge angels usually employed. Hed answered directly, and angels couldnt lie. I suppose you didnt blow up the stove either?No.Who did, then? You said in Vancouver youd try to protect me. I figured this was you.Its possible the stove blew up because of a gas leak.Maybe, I grumbled.He smiled, instantly transforming him to the mocking angel I usually knew. Believe me, Daughter of Lilith, I wish I could take credit for these things. And if it comes down to it, and I have the means and ability, I will try to protect you. For now, Ive still got to stay out of this.House calls aside.Just a visit among friends. He winked and stood up. I very do wish I could help more, but youre going to have to find another way. Be careful, whatever you end up doing.Youre not warning me out-of-door from all this?He arched an eyebrow. Should I be?No, I mused. But everyone else is. They say its dangerous.It is dangerous. But these are dangerous times, and honestly? Youre the only one that I think has the means or desire to get us out of this mess. Good luck, Georgina. And dont leave the house without checking your hair. He vanished.Fucking angels.I realized then that I was famishment for real food, not sugar-filled sweets. My kitchen was s analyze as usual, so I decided to risk the world and go cream up something. I was tired and certainly incapable of running a marathon, but Meis healing really had gone a long way. I could manage the one block walk to a nearby take-out Chinese restaurant. I placed the order, and by the time I was out of my robe and out the door, the food was ready. I sto pped at a convenience store as well to pick up some pop, and the whole endeavor only ended up taking about 30 minutes. From the look on Aubreys face, you would have thought Id been gone a whole day, but then, she just valued my orange chicken.I changed back to my robe and relaxed with the food, pondering how to spend my day. As Id told Dante, I didnt want to go traipsing about town, but I wanted some leads on the medallion. Erik was probably my best bet at this point, and I hoped hed be able to ID my symbols from phone descriptions. Before I could do that, I heard a knock at my door. I expected it to be Hugh making a house call, but to my astonishment, it was exercise set.Hey, I said, stepping aside so that he could come in.Hey, he returned.I stuffed my hands into the ratty robes pockets, wishing I hadnt been so hasty to change back to casual mode. My hair was undoubtedly a lost cause, so there was no point stressing over that. Hows it going?Okay. He met my eyes frankly, somethin g he hadnt done in a while. It sent a tingle down my back. I was just nearby and wanted towell, that is He sighed. I just wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday.Yesterday. The kiss. Something that only a demon attack could have dwarfed.I shook my head, trying not to recall how Id felt that kiss all the way to my toes. You have nothing to apologize for. I thinkI think I was as much to blame. Besides, it was nothing.Nothing? he asked, looking twain surprised and hurt.I mean, not nothing , I amended hastily. But we were both kind of worked up, and things got crazy, and well, like I saidnothing to apologize for.OkayIm glad youre not upset. I dont want there to be anythingwell, anything bad amidst us.I thought about all the fights and arguments. Well, Im not sure weve reached that state. I mean, come on, do you think things will ever be normal and friendly between us?Yes, he said bluntly. No matter what has or hasnt happened romantically, I still feel likelike theres something between uslike, a connection, I mean. I feel like were always destined to be important in each others lives.You are my life , I thought and promptly looked away, as though he might have heard me. Do you trouble it? I asked before I realized I had.Regret?Ending things.I looked back at him, fearing his answer, no matter what it was. I regretwell, I dont regret saving you from future hurt. I do regret the hurt Ive caused youif Id known youd react and spiral the way you haveYou cant take that into consideration, I said hastily. Thats not your fault. I was surprised to be saying that, but it was true. My bad behavior these last months had been my doing.I cant help it. Ill always worry about you. Like I said, I feel like no matter what, were always going to be connectedlike theres something bigger than us at work. As it isWhat?Never mind.I stepped forward, never taking my eyes off him. Tell me.As it is He shrugged. Life is easier not dating you. But sometimesit feels incomplete. Like th eres a piece of me missing.And thats easier?Think of it as winning the lottery and having people waiting on all your needs, but its at the cost of, I dont know, getting your leg amputated.Wow. You should be a writer with that imagery.He smiled. Yeah, yeah. But you know what I mean.Except, I was missing a part of my life and things were harder, not easier. You at least have Maddie.You have Dante.Dantes not Maddie, believe me. median(a) enough. Shes greatI care about herlove herI dont know. Its all just different.Silence fell, but it was comfortable. Good lord. I cant believe were discussing this rationally.See? Not so hard to be friends.I had my doubts about that. I guess.Dont worry. Well keep trying. Before long, well be on a bowling league or something. He spoke his words lightly, but there was a catch that belied the truth of his words. Being friends wasnt easy for Seth either. He still cared about me and was suffering just as much as me with this separation. Seeing that make som ething in me soften.Hey, its okay. Well make this work.I reached out to hug him, and he automatically returned it. I felt warm and safe and right in his embrace-until he casually squeezed my back. I cried out, jerking away at the pain that shot through me. We sprang apart, and he looked at me in alarm. Whats wrong? are you okay?Itscomplicated. My standard answer to uncomfortable questions.GeorginaIts nothing. Dont worry about it.He strode toward me, reached a hand out, then pulled back. Intensity filled his face. Are you hurt?I tried to keep out of his reach. Look, I got in a fight last night, and Im sporting some, uh, residual effects. Its mostly gone, though, so theres nothing to worry about.You? Got in a fight? With who?Whom. And it was with Nanette. I told you, its nothing.Whos Nanette?Shesa demon.He gave me a level look. A demon. A full-fledged demon.Something like that.Let me see your back.Seth-Georgina Let me see your back.There was anger in his words, not at me, but at the thought of someone hurting me. It reminded me a little of Dantes reaction, except that Dante always had a bit of anger in him. It was normal. To see it woken up in Sethto see him so passionate and fierceSlowly, slowly, I turned around and undid the front of my robe, letting it slip halfway down my back. I heard Seth drag at what he saw, and then a few moments later, he stepped forward and pushed my hair off my back so that he could get a better view. I shivered when his fingers touched my skin.Georginathis is horribleIt was worse before. I spoke flippantly, hoping to deflect his worry and realizing Id only increase it now.Worse?I tugged the robe up and turned back around. Mei healed it. Im fine.Yeah, it seems that way.Look, its nothing you have to worry about.Not worry about? His eyes were filled with incredulity. Even when yourenormala demon could still kill you, right?Yeah.Seth put his hand to his forehead and sighed. This is what its like, isnt it?What?What you went through with me. Living with the fear that I could die. Having it tear you apart.I didnt answer right away. You dont have to worry about me. Thisll work out.Did thisdid Nanette do this because of your investigating?I nodded, then crooked him a wry smile. Still like how brave I am?He stepped nestled to me and looked me up and down in a way that was so serious, my smile faded. Even after this, you arent going to stop, are you? Youre going to keep pushing to find Jerome?Do you want me to stop? This was almost like my earlier discourse with Dante, when hed made it clear he thought I was a fool for continuing with my quest.Seths answer was a long time in coming. I dont want you to get hurt. But I understand you, and I know why you have to do thisand its still part of that strange, brave nature of yours thats soHe didnt finish, but I saw the anguish in his eyes, the worry and heartache over something happening to me. It was mingled with something else, though. Pride. Affection. I put my arms around him again, wanting to comfort him now. Hey, hey. Its going to be okay. Ill be okay.His hands rested on my hips, careful of my back, but honestly, I barely noticed. My attention was on his lips, pressed against my cheek. Georgina, Georgina, he breathed against my skin. You areincredible.And like in the car, I dont know who barely was to blame, but our lips met and were kissing again. Unlike before, we didnt break apart out of shock. We kept kissing. And kissing. His lips were intoxicating and felt like theyd been designed especially for mine. Our bodies pressed against one another, though his embrace was still gentle. As the kiss continued, that same sensation came back to me this was purely a kiss. Just an expression of love between two people with no dire side effects, no soul stealing. The longer it went on, the more amazed I was. By now, as a succubus, I would have begun to taste his energy and feel his thoughts. But not now. I was alone in my own head, enjoy his body and not his soul.We pulled back slightly, and he moved his hands up to the side of my face, smoothing my hair away and touching my cheek. Georgina. You arebeautiful.We kissed again, and it was so sweet, so pure, that it didnt seem possible. I hadnt had a physical experience that could really be called sweet or pure sincewell, since my mortal days. But this was. And by pure, I didnt mean non-sexualbecause my body was definitely awake and yearning for his. But, it was pure in the sense that there were no ulterior machinations here, just our feelings. My love for him was the turn-on, and as his hands ran down my arms and back to my hips, it was the knowledge that it was Seth that made it all so powerful.His hands carefully moved down to the robes tie and undid the knot. He broke the kiss and studied my face as he hesitantly, almost reverently, slipped the robe off me. It hit the floor, and I stepped away from it. Seth moved with me, running his fingers along my arms, leaning down to kiss my ne ck. I tilted my head back as my own hands began pushing up his T-shirt. When I had it half-way, he paused to push it up the rest of the way.Then his hands were on my waist once more, sliding down and feeling the curve of my hips. I had on plain cotton panties-sexily cut, at least-and his fingertips traced the edges down along my thighs, every touch soft yet quivering with pent-up energy. I dont think I was being quite as gentle. I was starved to touch him, eager as I ran my hands along his chest and the lean muscles of his stomach. I wanted to kiss it and taste it and lose myself in all things Seth.I began backing up toward my bedroom, and he followed, twist hesitant once we reached the bed and I started to sit. You cant he began.I can lie down, I said, doing exactly that. I just cant slam my back down or anything.After watching me for a moment, making sure I spoke the truth, Seth took off his jeans and lay down next to me. I rolled slightly to my side, pressing back to him. We re sumed kissing, doing no more than that, just letting our nearly bare bodies get through around each other. Having all this skin touching between us was heady. Never, never had I imagined it could really happen. Our hands explored each other, feeling every line and curve wed always been denied. Every gesture between us was exquisite. Every caress was a prayer. We regarded each others bodies with wonder and joy.When my hands slipped to the edges of his boxers, I found his own fingers were tugging at my panties. We hardly needed any communication, and once completely naked, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him toward me and seeking the completion with him Id so long dreamed of.To my surprise, he pulled from my arms and scooted down the bed. What are you doing? I asked.This, he said.He smoothly pushed my legs apart, and I felt him shower my inner thighs with light, delicate kisses. Up and up his warm mouth moved until he made contact with my clit. I gasped softly at the fire that coursed through me from that light flick of the tongue. It was so lightyet so powerful. Id been so drunk with the simple fact that we could touch that I hadnt been consciously aware of just how aroused I had grown. I ached and was wet and nearly melted at his touch.He lifted his mouth up slightly. Do you know how long Ive dreamed about this? To be able to touch you? To taste you?I had little accident to ponder his rhetorical question because his lips returned to me, sucking and licking, somehow infinitely gentle and blazingly hot at the same time. I closed my eyes and lost myself in the pleasure of it, of Seth bringing me closer and closer to orgasm. As my muscles tightened and my cries grew more frequent, he intensified his movements, his tongue dancing and teasing harder and more rapidly.I wanted to hold off, to prolong this as I did his books, but I couldnt help it. My climax hit me hard and fast, and I moaned long and low as I came. All the while, Seth kept his mouth down ther e, refusing to let up as my body arched and trembled from the sparks of ecstasy that flowed through me. When my body finally quieted, he lifted himself up again and returned to my side, showering my chest with more of those tiny kisses.I brought my face to his, trading in the little kisses for one big one. His mouth tasted like me, and I opened my lips farther and farther as our tongues stroked each other. I might have come already, but I still burned between my legs and still needed him. I pressed myself against him, wrapping my legs around him so that there was almost no space between our hips.Georgina he said warningly.It was another sign of how well we knew each other that I realized he wasnt worried about asking permission about what came next. He was worried about my back again. So, shifting over, I rolled him to his back and straddled him, looking down at him with a small smile. He gave me an answering one, amused by my ready solution. As we held gazes, I was again overwhelme d with the emotion of the experience, of how indefinable it was to finally touch someone I loved. I had been terrified at the thought of dying, but I realized then that I was only afraid of dying uselessly. For Seth, to save him, I would have lief laid down my life. He was right. We were connected in something bigger than both of us.Empowered by that realization, I lowered my hips, joining us at last. I felt him enter me, felt him fill me up. We both paused then, neither breathing or moving, half-expecting something to happen or end this. Nothing did, and after that, I didnt quaver any further. I slowly moved my hips up and down, savoring the feel of him in me and underneath me as he glided in and out. My hands were on his chest and his were on my hips. Our eyes were on each other, never wavering, never breaking contact.How to describe sex with Seth? Its difficult. It was unlike anything Id had in my existence as a succubus. Somewhere, in the back of my head, it resonated with me mories of my marriage, when my husband and I had still been happy. Every other instance after that had been absentmindeduntil now. Each movement and touch with Seth was a dream, a wonder.The intensity of our lovemaking steadily increased. My need for him grew stronger and stronger, and I rode him with a ferocity that was still tender and full of the love that burned between us. I loved the feel of him, loved how I could thrust him into me, hard and deep. And yetIts not enough, I murmured. Were still not close enough. It might have been a foolish sentiment, considering we were as physically close as two people could be. But Seth understood.I know, he gasped. I know. Well never be close enough.Joy lit his face then, and when he came, his body arched up toward mine. I leaned down and increased my rhythm and hardness, wanting so badly to be even closer and have as much of him in me as I could. His mouth parted in a soft moan that reflect my earlier one, and when he started to instinct ively close his eyes, he quickly opened them again to stay locked with my gaze. There was no looking away between us, no avoiding what we felt. As I stared into his eyes and felt his bodys apprehension fade, energy seemed to crackle between our souls in a way that had nothing to do with succubus soul-stealing.Carefully, I eased myself off him and lay down on my side again, draping my body over his. I was drowning in feeling and emotion.Georgina, he murmured, pulling me closer. You are the world.Id heard that somewhere before, but I was too overwhelmed to parse it much. I was too lost in Seth. Instead, what I said was unoriginal but absolutely true I love you.