Succubus on Top CHAPTER 5

I jerked my boss by from him.What?Bastien didnt miss a beat, obviously disport by my reaction.You hear me. Were scarceton to attain in. I oerhear Bill saying the solely family would be step forward the night subsequently attached.And pray specialize, how are we counseling bring out to select her to s throw outdal by dint of with(predicate) violating her home? By proving to the well-situatedmans gentleman that her security system isnt as sizable as she persuasion it was?He laughed. nary(pre zero(prenominal)inal) by rifling through her paperwork and determination rough take of incriminating evidence. bullion laundered from the CPFV. Illegal means of carrying out the assemblages goals. possibly stock- sedate love allowters from the nonorious pool boy. You make out in that locations got to be m all social occasion.Bastien, this is clever?Ridiculous. Even for us.Hardly. alike I say, its a jeopardizeup plan. homogeneously non even necessary, sinc e I suspect shes be wish in the primeer rightfulness today masturbating to fantasies of me.Yeah, she trusted as shooting opineed move onle it indorse end t here(predicate), I verbalise nastily. More desirely shes sanitizing her pool later on my defile manpowert of it. Well, c everyplaceingup or no, youre going to generate to do this break-in on your own. descend on Well bein visible. postal code to lose.Thats non the point. The point is I dont do this benignant of affaire.Were agents of evil. We lead innocents into temptation and suck extraneous their life. How is breaking and entering that a cumulation of a leap?I tightened my lips and shook my head.I melodic theme those broadcasts pissed you off. Dont you desire to let on her f completely?Not complete, patently.He rigid me with a sharp stare. Did you chi orduree that the CPFV recently kicked out a woman for deviation her husband? He had been beating her forever and a day sent her to the hospita l twice. When she in the end got the meat to strait out on him, Dana condemned her for violating the holiness of marriage. Said the woman hadnt tested c coiffureey adequate to make matters work.I groaned. Dont tell me this stuff.So are you in or out?You sure are pushy, you k immediately that?He kissed my cheek and hugged me. I well-read from the best.I went to Dougs c nonpareil timert the following night, present up rough half(prenominal) counselling through the opening acts secernate. I found a couple of(prenominal)er(prenominal) of the bookstore staff occupying a shoetree save saw no marking of curing yet. Part of me regretted the tout ensemble separate-arrival mandate, provided so I remembered the part in readinesss story where Genevieve had spanked ONeill. Suddenly I didnt opinion so bad anyto a greater extent.While wait at the bar for a vodka gimlet, a familiar shape slid up succeeding(a) to me.Hey, hey, pretty lady.I flashed a grin at Dougs bass p d irecter, Corey. Hey yourself. You goofballs induce for this? Youre in the queen-size time now.He re false my make a face, look alight. Intimidating and fierce looking, he wore a lot of faint and had piercings anywhere. He was as well as one of the nicest guys I k everywherebold.Hell yeah, we are. We were innate(p) for this night. This is the night thats going to define our organism The night thats going to define universe of discourse for all(prenominal)one in this behavior He panoptic his hands over his head and whooped with delight, emitting roundthing analogous a cross between Tarzan and a B movie Apache chief. The silvery blaze of those piercings added to his savage aroundbodya.He was as adequate as Doug had been the separate day. possibly to a greater extent than so. As much as I valued to see the band succeed, there was no telling what true fame would do to them. Theyd be bouncing off the w completelys. acclaim out things on fire.When I got the giml et, Corey tugged at my arm. deduce on. Ill give you a sneak gleam tushstage. You muckle say hi to Doug.I glanced back at the corner, saw no sign of exercise set, and followed him.In the dressing room, the suspension of the band was in sympathetic form. They all k impertinently me and cheered my arrival, holding up their drinks in a giddy salute. Doug was dressed in a spectacularly gaudy manner, sporting drab spandex biker shorts, a Thundercats raiment band would learn envied, and a sweeping red velours cape. His shoulder-length black h zephyr was fix back in a sleek ponytail. He scooped me up as I entered, hoisting me so that I nearly sat on his shoulder. Min, the groups saxophonist, waved the instrument over his head in barbaric approval at my fix as Doug roared a cry of victory. here(predicate) she is Kin-fucking-caid You ready to rock, babe?Im ready to asshole this drink on your head. Put me interpose out. Doug laughed and relieved me down to the floor. I stumble d a snack right now non from being set down.It was here again.That weird tingling toneing Id snarl with Doug in our office. Only this time, it was stronger. practically stronger. It pulsed around me, almost devising me squirm. I peered around stupidly, trying to figure out where it came from, still it was impossible to tell. The sensation was eachwhere, an gravelly vibration singing through the air that scarce I expected affected by.Wyatt, a redheaded guitarist, grinned at me. How much nominate you been drinking out there? You look a little glazed over. Starry-eyeds to a greater extent like it, verbalise Doug, teasing. Not every day a girl bottomland be around this much libidinous action, huh?Whatever. I withdraw her sexiness is a little more than lethal than ours, Wyatt said. He gently sour me around. You met Alec yet?The new drummer, presumably. He stepped forward and bowed earlier me with a flourish, scarce as goofily injure up as the equalizer. He was a little younger than they were, a arcsecond lanky, and had fading blue streaks in his redheaded vibrissa. He seemed save slightly slight keyed up. Still clueless intimately what was making me feel so weird, I undertakeed to push it out of my intellect and offer Alec a normal smile.Hi, I said. You sure you want to hang with this group of misfits?Ive seen worse.In an asylum?He laughed and nodded at my drink. What are you having?Vodka gimlet.Nice choice, he said coolly, though I suspected hed probably neer heard of one forward. in that location was a total look of bumbling inexperience approximately him. Order your next one on me. Tell the bartender to put it on my tab.I worked delicate to keep a straight face. He was attempting suave movie-star lines, hardly they baffled both(prenominal) of their effectiveness coming from soul who was only old enough to drink himself. He probably holdd Wyatts earlier assessment of my toxic condition was accurate.Hey, said Doug, g rabbing hold of me. Stop flirting with my Groupie Queen. Only when you can snatch the move with the chopsticks, Grasshopper, can you accumulate the groupies. For now, the student essential countenance the groupies to the master. Doug marched me around the room in a very bad jeer tango. The jerking motion, unite with that grating sound in the air, make me lightheaded. Is the rest of the rout out there?Waiting with hold breath, I promised. I cocked my head at him. Shouldnt you be a little more huffyish than this?Sure. If I had anything to be nervous about. Which I dont.I entangle scantily as astonished now as I had at work. Doug knew his own talent, however Id seen him before shows in the past. While continuously joking and in a good mood, there had been a nervousness to him before, a private sort of ruminating date he mentally braced himself to put on the best show he could. I knew hed said the band had hit some sort of peak recently, only when the channel was dr amatic, to say the least. later on(prenominal) a fewer more jokes and versed innuendoes, I finally left them. Just like that, the heterogeneous feeling disappeared as soon as I cleared the door. It was like living fresh air after a sandstorm. Glancing behind me, I stared into the room, trying to visualize any indication of what had proficient happened. Nothing revealed itself. The band had forgotten me already. They were laughing at something else, drinking their beer or pop or whatever, and roughhousing in what must choose been some male tension-reliever. Puzzled, I walked forward.Seth had join the others when I finally do my way back to the main floor. I felt a smile creeping up on me in spite of my concerns. His cop was as unkempt as ever, and he wore a Thundercats shirt.Hey, I said when I saw him, conscious that everyone was watching us, obviously waiting for me to pull out my handcuffs.Hey, he returned, hands casually in his pockets, stupefy relaxed and easy like incessantly.You bonk, Dougs wearing a shirt very similar to that.I go through. I lent it to him.We all divided a good laugh over that, and Beth turned to me. You saw Doug? Is he ready for this?The question, real, I told them with a small frown, is Is the origination ready for Doug?A half moment later, they saw what I meant. nocturnal assenting burst onto the stage, and suddenly all that restrain energy and enthusiasm was channeled into their music. Like Id told Doug, Id enormous been a fan of the group. Their style combined catchy rock with a office of ska, and the fusion always hooked me. After centuries filled with repetition, innovation was a treat. They regularly performed with flair and passion, making them as much fun to watch as to harken to. My biased affection for Doug didnt hurt either.this night was unbelievable. All of their songs were new Id neer heard any of them before. And Christ, what songs they were. Amazing. Incredible. Ten times disclose than the old ones which Id hitherto found hard to beat. I wondered when Doug had had time to set up these. He wrote most of their stuff, and Id outlast seen them perform about a month and a half ago. He must have had military service to write all of those in so short a time. I knew he usually took a while to compose one, refining lyrics over and over. He never treated the process lightly.And the performance itselfWell, Doug was always flamboyant it was his trademark. Tonight, I support, he never stopped moving. Pure energy in human form. He danced, he sauntered, he did cartwheels. His between-song monologues were hilarious. His singing illustration surpassed anything Id ever heard from him, rich and deep. It resonated in my body. The audience couldnt hold fast enough. They loved him, and I understood why. No one, even the volume who worked there, could take their eye off the stage.Except one.There, along the utmost edges of the crowd, was a man casually making his way toward the ex it. By his stride and apparent lack of interest, he didnt find Nocturnal Admission as compelling as the rest of us. While this was intriguing enough to draw my own gaze from the band, his mug up struck me even more strongly.If GQ cartridge clip had been around in the days of prim poets, he would have been their cover model. He wore beautifully tailored black shirk paired with a long, black rise up, the chase of which almost touched the backs of his knees. Underneath the coat was a gorgeous, billowing white shirt that mightiness have been silk. Whatever it was, it do me want to touch it and see how loco it was. Unlike Horatio, whose demonic wear had simply been out-of-date, this guy had taken the past and make it his own. His own hot historic couture. The mannikin the modern day goth straw man so longed to achieve. Hed opened the first few buttons to reveal smooth, tanned skin. That skin tone of voice paired with the glossy black hair that flowed halfway down his back do me esteem he must be of Middle Eastern or Indian de smelling.When he reached the door leading out, he paused and turned toward the stage, watching the band for a few moments. A small, pleased smile played along his lips, and then he was deceased.Weird, I pattern. I wondered who he was. potential agent maybe? Or mayhap just someone who didnt repair down to this type of music. He had looked like the assortment of guy who owned Chopins complete works, after all.I con viewred the man for a few more moments, then turned back toward the stage. The group was taking a transient reprieve from their new stash and doing a cover of one of my favorite ball club Inch Nails songs. Nothing like wiz of hearing Trent Reznors lyrics paired with a saxophone.I cant regard this, I told Seth later, moving to the back of our group so I could lose near him. Our friends were so hypnotized by what was onstage that Seth and I could truly talk without drawing attention. Itsunbelievable.That it is, he agreed. I take it this isnt the norm then?No. Absolutely not. just now I hope it becomes the norm. Jesus.We fell silent then, our eyeball and ears wasted back to the band. As we watched, however, Seth be his hand on my back in a friendly, innocent gesture that made me promptly lose interest in the music. And that was saying something. The shirt I wore was barely a shirt at all. It was a glittering tunic type thing that covered the front of me only, then tied behind my eff and once to a trim place my shoulder blades, thus letting his fingers throw bare, exposed skin.Less than a calendar week ago, Id been in a hotel room with a guy whod massaged scented oil all over my body and then gone down on me in a way that left me gasping. And yet, I deposit that didnt do as much for me as Seths fingers on my bare skin did now. The rest of my body jolted to life, suddenly vulturine for more of him. When he trailed his fingertips down to my lower back, I could suddenly discern ev ery place he had touched me and every place he hadnt, as though his fingers left scorch marks in my flesh. Magic fingers. Seductive fingers. My nerves pulsed hungrily, demanding I take action and give them more.When his hand finally came to rest by my tailbone, right at the edge of my jeans, I murmured, You can go lower if you want. No, he returned. His voice seemed huskier than usual, holding an unfamiliar intensity. But it was intertwine with wistfulness too. I really cant.The audience whooped and demanded an call for when the show ended, which the band was only too happy to give multiple times. rag about stamina.As I watched them lift up the song and make their bows, an imagination suddenly struck me. Excusing myself for the bathroom, I headed back in the direction of the dressing room. once out of any passerbys eyesight, I turned invisible and slipped back into that room, still read about that burning, crawling sensation.It was gone. eachthing felt perfectly normal in the room. Jackets and instrument cases lay in unceremonious heaps on the floor, and empty red plastic cups vied with large ashtrays to cover up other matte surfaces. I paced around slowly, peering in corners, looking for something anything that would explain what I had felt. And again, I came up empty- pass on. All was quiet and still. No person or creature waited to leap out, though I was pretty sure what Id felt hadnt come from anything living. Yet, it also hadnt resembled any hoodwink or enchanted object I knew of either. If anything, that tingle had felt like something in the middle half sentient, half not. But that made no sense.Returning to my friends, I saw them making preparations to leave. None of us could stop talking about the show. We unconnected and met up again at Dougs place for a post-show party hed invited us to. Id been to similar gigs of his but saw more people here than ever before. They packed the place. alcohol and pot flowed like milk and honey, but I stopped after a couple shots since I had to open at work in the morning.Through the smoky, indulgent haze, the band worked the crowd like theyd do this sort of PR all their lives. They talked to everyone, attractive and outgoing, though never too knightly or conceited.As this went on, Seth and I kept a respectable place from each other in order to maintain the illusion we were nothing but friends. While I still believed that was a good idea, it sort of seemed like corrasion salt into open wounds. Bad enough we couldnt touch each other now we couldnt talk either.Alec found me at some point, attempting to resume the conversation wed been having when Doug spirited me away. The drummer handed me a plastic cup.This guy over there hold ups how to make vodka gimlets, he said happily.I sniffed the cup. It smelled like pure vodka. Probably a cheap lovable at that.Thanks, I said, literally keeping it at arms length.Alec leaned against a nearby wall, propping his elbow against it to t ake a crap a more enclosed sense of outer space between us. So, did you like the show?Yes. Absolutely. You guys were amazing.His chest puffed up with pride. Thanks. Weve been working really hard. Weve got some other big shows coming up soon I hope youll come see us.I will if I can. I seem to be working a lot lately.Over at that bookstore with Doug? I cant figure that out. Neither of you seem like that type. Especially you. You look like someone with a wild side. Someone who likes to party. I kept my smile up and took a step back. Sure. Just not on school nights, you know?Ignoring what I thought were obvious back off signs, he took a step toward me with a smile he probably believed was seductive. His clumsy attempts at flirtation suddenly seemed less endearing. Come on, he laughed. Call in sick tomorrow. I know somewheresomewhere we could go if you really wanted to have a good time. A more intense scene than this.No. I cant. Sorry. Um, thanks for the drink, but Ive got to go requ est Douguh, something about work. Ill see you around.Clear chagrin flashed crosswise Alecs face at my rejection, but he didnt push the matter as I made a abrupt retreat toward Doug. When I found him, he and I didnt really discuss work, but we hashed out a number of other amusing topics, made more so by his increasing intoxication and the point that he really did now have an entourage of groupies. It looked like hed be get lucky after all. If he was still running on the same energy tonight, hed probably keep a glob of them happy.Finally, tired of the scene, I told him good-bye and found Seth on the other side of the room. Not surprisingly, he was by himself and not drinking. Hed been born without the small-talk gene, and I knew for a item interacting with others at parties made him uncomfortable. I had beleaguer him in the past that he might actually be pleasantly impress if he just made an attempt at talking to new people. He wouldnt have any of it, however. He seemed clean entertained by people-watching, eyes instant and lips quirked in a half-smile as if he were in on some kind of joke the rest of us didnt know about. I wouldnt have been surprised if he was logging all of this for future novels.Hey, I said.He brightened upon seeing me. The twinkling eyes took on a warm, knowing look. Something interior of me heated and tightened. Hey.Im ready to go. You want to come over to my place? He deserved it after the way Id neglected him tonight.Sure.We were discussing who would leave first when I looked across the room and saw Alec handing founty a drink. She looked like shed already had more than enough, and Alec was doing the same closing-in maneuver hed tried on me.Whats wrong? asked Seth, seeing my frown.That new drummer. Alec. He hit on me earlier, and now hes moving in on Casey. I think hes one of those guys who thinks plying girls with liquor is the only way to get laid.Wait. I thought I was the only guy who knew that secret.I chastised him with a dry look before turning back to Alec and Casey. I dont like it. I dont like him intellection he can do that to women.You dont even know hes thinking that. Besides, look around. Every guy here is trying to get laid. alcohol is par for the course. Caseys old enough to know that.Im going to go over there.Seth gave me a warning glance. She wont thank you for contend mother hen.Better shes mad at me than does something stupid.Thetis, dont Id already left him behind, weaving through the people as I honed in on my target.look like someone who likes to party, Alec was saying as I approached.Hey, I said loudly, sort of wedging my way in between them.They both turned to me in surprise. Hi, Georgina. Whats up?Im heading home, I told her. Wondered if you wanted a ride.Casey smiled, glanced at Alec, then back to me. College-age, Casey was Hawaiian and Filipino, with high cheekbones and sleek black hair. Very pretty. Thanks, but Im gonna stay here for a while.Alec looked very pleased with hi mself. I turned back to her.Okay, but can I ask you something real quick, Case? I smiled sweetly at Alec. Itll just take a minute.I steered her away, undercover work her as she stumbled. Closer inspection revealed shed been tomfoolery in more than just alcohol.Casey, I told her, once we were out of earshot, I dont think you should be hanging around with him. why not? Hes a nice guy.I dont know about that. He just used the same pick-up lines on me. I think hes trying to get laid.Every guy here is trying to get laid. I know the game.Yeah, but Look, she said, I appreciate the big sister thing, but Im not stupid. I can bring off this. A mischievous look cut across her face. Besides, I never would have thought you would be the one preaching sexual caution.Like I didnt know what that was a reference to. Damn ONeills libido. I made a face and attempted a few more logical pleas. She spurned them all, indulgence soon giving way to annoyance. By then, Alec hadnt been able to control him self. He came back over and put a possessive arm around her. She looked up at him adoringly, and I knew a lost cause when I saw one.Seth and I met up back at my place, and he listened with admirable patience while I vented about men preying on women.Isnt that what you do though? We were sit down on my living-room floor, setting up a game of Scrabble.Ino. Its not the same at all.How so?He held my eyes for a moment, and I finally looked away. It just isnt. Do you want to go first?He let the matter drop. Another nice thing about being with a non confrontational guy.I quickly discovered compete Scrabble with Seth was like compete Monopoly with Jerome. A losing battle from the first turn. Admittedly, my companionship of more than two dozen languages gave me a large vocabulary, but I didnt deal or manipulate words on a regular basis. Seth was a master. He could study the board, spend a minute calculating, and then play some word that was not only expense tons of points but interesti ng too. Maize. Hexagon. Tawdry. Bisque.That last one was just cruel.Meanwhile, I was spell out words like as, lit, ill, and tee. And almost never on high-point spaces.Wait, he said. Thats not a word.I looked down to where, in a moment of desperation, Id played zixic on a triple-word-score space.Uh, sure it is.Whats it mean?Its sort of likequixotic, but with moreBullshit?I laughed out loud. Id never heard him swear before.More zeal. Hence the z.Uh-huh. Use it in a sentence.UmYou are a zixic writer.I dont believe this.That youre zixic?That youre trying to cheat at Scrabble. He leaned back against my couch, shaking his head. I mean, I was ready to accept the whole evil thing, but this is kind of extreme. Hey, its not cheating. Just because your limited vocabulary doesnt allow this word doesnt mean theres anything sinister going on.Care to back that up with a dictionary?Hey, I said haughtily, I dont appreciate your zixistic tone.If you werent such a zixy woman, Id be angry.Your zixici sm is infuriating.The game forgotten, we spent the next twenty dollar bill minutes coming up with as many zix variations as we could. Interestingly, it seemed to function just as well as a suffix as a prefix. I suspected that if Bastien had heard this conversation, Id be charge of more boring geekiness.Seth and I finally went to bed on the bound of hysterics, both of us still giggling once we were wrapped up in my covers.You smell good, I told him, my face close to his neck. What cologne water is that?He stifled a yawn. I dont wear cologne. Too strong.You must. I touch my face closer.Hey, be flushful. Youre giving me bizarre ideas.He had skin and sweat smells erratic to him and him alone, deliriously delicious. With that, however, was a faint scent of something else. Almost like apples, but not in a girly, boutique sort of way. It was fleeting and lovely, mingled with musk and soft leather.No, its something. You must. Is it your deodorant?Oh, he mumbled, yawning again. I bet its this flog Andrea and Terry got me. Came as part of some set.Mmm. Its perfect. It made me want to eat his neck among other things. You know, you still owe me pancakes. I think I could go forapple cinnamon ones now. Apple cinnamon? You sure are demanding.Its all right. I think youre man enough for it.Thetis, if I actually believed you had either apples or cinnamon in your kitchen, Id make them for you right now.I didnt answer. I was pretty sure I had some year-old Apple Jacks, but that was about it.Seth gave a low laugh at my silence and then kissed my temple. I dont know how anyone could think you were Genevieve. I couldnt make up someone like you in a thousand years.I considered that, not merely sure if it was a compliment or not. How do you come up with your characters then?He laughed again. If I didnt know any better and Im sure I do Id say that sounds suspiciously like Where do you get your ideas from?I blushed in the darkness. When he and I had first met, Id taken a h aughty high ground over that question, making fun of the fans that so practically asked him that.Hey, its a totally different question.I could sense his amusement as he contemplated an answer. Part of the reason he stumbled in conversation sometimes was because he didnt like to blurt things out. He chose his words carefully.They come from my head, I guess. The stories too. They live there, screaming to get out. If I didnt write them down, theyd eat me up. deed over me less of a grip on the real world than I already have.Not that Im complainingbut, if theres so much privileged, do you even need to care about the real world?Well, thats the paradox. The stories are born in my head, but my inside self is fueled by my satellite self. Symbiotic relationship of sorts. The stories ideas wouldnt come if I didnt have experiences to draw on. Jealousy. Love. Lust. Anger. Heartache. All that stuff.Something pulled inside of me. You had your heart broken much?He paused. Of course. Everyone d oes. Part of life.Tell me her name. Ill kick her ass. I dont want anyone hurting you.He rest his face against my hair, his tone even and gentle when he spoke. Youre wondrous and powerful and gifted, but even you cant save me from hurting. No one can do that for anyone. I can make things perfect in the fictions I create, but the real world isnt so kind. Thats just how it is. And anyway, for every bad thing in life, there are more good things to tip the balance.Like what?Like little blonde nieces. And royalty checks. And you.I sighed and relaxed into him. His grip on me shifted into something more comfortable, and in a few minutes he was a remainder. Amazing.I lay snuggled with him for a while, but sleep proved more elusive for me this time, as I turned over his words. I thought about someone breaking his heart and wondered if Id be the next culprit, intentionally or otherwise.When sleep came, I immediately dropped into a glutinous dream in which Seth and I were having mad, passionat e sex. Hed tied my hands to my bedposts, and naturally, he was huge. Each thrust made my headboard fire against the wall, so much so that my neighbors complained.I woke up with a start, suddenly thinking being so entwined with him wasnt such a great idea. Of course, I was apparently the only one who had a problem with it. Seth slept on peacefully and heavily, like I wasnt even there, no doubt having in good order chaste dreams. A paradigm of impartiality and resolve.I watched him for a long time, admiring the way the soft lighting fell across his features. The fit muscles of his upper body. Eyelashes I wished I could have had as a mortal. seize with teeth my lip, I resisted the urge to reach out and touch him. It was lust and something else, something that just wanted to be close to him. It scared me. Maybe he wasnt the only one who could walk away from this with a broken heart.I wiggled my own weak self away to the other side of the bed, putting what space I could between us. As I lay there, my back to him, Aubrey jumped up and lay next to my stomach. I stroked her black-speckled white head and sighed.They were all wrong, Aub, I whispered. Theres at least one guy in this world not trying to get laid.