Succubus Shadows Chapter 9

She couldnt have I exclaimed. He was with me all night. non afterward the concert ended, pointed out roman type. You k outright, I study that band might sincerely be going somewhere. Whatever trace of sentiment hed shown earlier with me had vanished in Carters presence.Sim maven was hang out in that twenty-four-hour c moroseee shop, Carter said. hardening went there to work after what was it you said? You were at a concert?Yeah, I said. Blue Satin Bra.The angel gave Roman a nod of agreement. Those guys are great.Hey, chamberpot we stick to the issue here? I gave both of them glares. What happened with Seth and Simone?Carter shrugged. Same as usual. He came in and spy her first, though. She had her head in a book didnt even look up until he walked everyplace.Well played, I said. Forces him into the aggressive role.I dont gauge Seths ever unfeignedly in an aggressive role, mused Carter. It only put him in a position to make the first move, if he wanted to be polite.During our brief affair, Seth and I had made love so tenderly and so sweetly that poets would have wept at its beauty. Other times, things had been stiltright dirty, and I think Carter might have reconsidered his stimulant about Seth being aggressive, had the angel make don.Then what? I demanded.Like I said, the same(p). They talked about different things a lot of topics interesting to Seth, really. I think she might have done some research on him.Fucking lovely. I collapsed onto the couch, and then I promptly shot back up. Im going over there Gone, interrupted Carter. They went separate panaches, and then she bagged some guy, and I decided it was time for me to fly away.Lucky bastard, grumbled Roman. You have no idea what kind of grass over I had to sit through.The hint of a smile flickered on Carters face onwards he turned back to me. I sighed and sat back down. Confronting hers no good anyway. You already did it, and nothing came of it. Im guessing this would just be a repeat.Pr obably a good point. Being in a conflict with a succubus kind of sucked. I could punch Hugh or the vampires, and even with endless healing, theyd still sport a black eye for a few hours womb-to-tomb if I was really good. But with a succubus? I could smack her around, and shed shape-shift the damage. And as for verbal fighting? Well, seeing as I had no real leverage, Id probably just fuel her further and provide more(prenominal) cat fight entertainment for my friends.Well, I said to Roman. I think Im pissed off enough now that you dont have to go to bed with me.Carters eyebrow rose again.I mean, he doesnt have to watch me sleep, I explained. I was kind of tenacious earlier, and we were worried my mysterythingmight show up again.Why glum? asked Carter. He attempted innocence, precisely I wasnt fooled. Even without being at the concert, he could easily figure out what had me down.Long story.Those silvery gray eyes bored into me, and I shifted and looked away. I hated when he did that. It was care he could see into my soul. That was a place I didnt even want to look at let alone have new(prenominal)s do it. I attempted a change in subject.You know, I was thinking about this thing thats going onthis force or siren song or whatever. Its not like what happened with Nyx, but theres still a dreamlike quality to it, you know? I mean, it certainly seems like Im sleepwalking. Do you think she could be back?Nope, said Carter. Shes decidedly still locked up. I checked myself.Really?Really.I didnt follow up with the obvious question. Had Carter done it for me? I mean, checking up on Nyx probably wasnt too weighty for him. He probably just asked some angel buddy who asked another angeletc. It still made me wonder about Carters endgame. Why go to such trouble for me? Why look into this? Why track Simone?His expression made me think he guessed my thoughts, something I hated. Thanks, I said. But I think Im heading to bed now.And I, said Carter, am going to get a drink .Done with Simone for good? asked Roman.Carter made a dismissive gesture. At least for tonight. Ill dumbfound her in the morning.Youre kind of a slacker spy, I pointed out, though I definitely understood his reasons for avoiding the other succubus liaisons.His only response was another smile earlier he vanished.Now what? I wondered aloud.Now, said Roman, you get your beauty sleep so that I can have another captivating day of perceive to you give recommendations for people who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code.You know you love it, I said, walking off toward my bedroom.Sure you dont want company?I glanced back at him and canvass his face, the lovely lines of it and blue-green eyes like the Mediterranean of my youth. His expression was speculative, wry humor twisting his lips. I couldnt entirely tell if he was joking. Or what his adopt meaning was.Positive.My words were a little bolder than I felt, but the night passed uneventfully, again furthering the idea that my blue images were the target. Consequently, this put me in a good mood when I went to work the next day. I even wore yellow in an attempt at further cheeriness and greeted my coworkers with such enthusiasm that Doug wanted to know what drugs I was pickings and if he could have some. all of that changed when, while headed for the science fiction section, I felt something totally unwelcome an immortal signature. A succubus immortal signature. And I knew exactly which succubus it belonged to. I did a 180, took a few steps, and tried to pinpoint its direction. Fiction.I headed straight over there, and sure enough, there was Simone with Seth. She wore that make-believe Id heard reports of, the bookish yet sexy brunette. They were standing by Seths section, and she was hold fasting up one of his paperbacks, Idiosyncraso. I knew she could feel my signature as I approached, but her eyes perplexed on Seth, her conversation not missing a beat.You really wrote this in college?Yup, he said. It wasnt the firs t I had published, though. I shelved it for years before cut into it out and revising it.Cool, she said, flipping through the pages. I cant wait to read it. Itll give me something to do before your next one.Well, dont get your oh, hey.Seth had spotted me. I came to a stop beside them, and Simone turned toward me politely.Hows it going? I asked, voice harsher than I intended.Seth, always sensitive to me, looked a little surprised at my tone but didnt lie with it. Fine. Georgina, this is Kelly. Kelly, Georgina. Georginas the manager here.Hi, Kelly.I shook her hand with a hardness she matched, and we both continued grinning at each other like Stepford Wives.I met Kelly at a coffee shop, said Seth mildly, not aware he was in succubus crossfire. Told her she should see the store sometime.Its great, said Simone, all adorable innocence. Im a big reader. I love all things books. And meeting one of my favorite authors has given me great insight.Well, said Seth, a little embarrassed at the circumspection. I dont know how more insight Im really offering.Simone laughed. Lots. I feel like Im getting something from you each time I see you.Have you seen each other a lot? I asked.Kelly go to Queen Anne, said Seth. So we keep running into each other.Its a great area, I said. Where do you jazz?Simone faltered. Um, on Queen Anne.Street, Avenue, or Drive?Seth seemed surprised at the interrogative style of the question. Simone turned nervous. Eh, Avenue.Damn. Lucky guess. Queen Anne Street didnt exist.Nice place. routine my back on her, I looked at Seth. I came over because I heard someone say Maddie was looking for you. That wasnt true at all. Maddie wasnt even in for another hour. I gave Simone a casual glance. Maddies his fianc?e.I didnt think she was in yet, said Seth.Why, of all days, would his memory be up and running today? perchance I misheard, I said with a shrug. But I figured youd want to check.I will, he said, still a little puzzled. I consume to show Kelly on e more book.She shot me a triumphant look, but I knew shed accomplished nothing with Seth. He had that expression he got when he was so focused on something in this case, the history of books that he was distracted from the world. Kelly was a pleasant coincidence. Simone was too overconfident to notice.Seth turned back to the shelves, and me staying would have seemed awkward. With his attention elsewhere, I shot Simone a warning look. Well, Im sure Ill see you around.Oh, she said with a serene smile, you will.When I got home later that day, I was ready to boom some furniture. Did you see Yes, yes, I saw, said Roman, materializing beside me. Calm down.I let out a small cry of frustration, something primal with no real form. I cant believe that bitch Cant believe shed actually do it right in front of me She did it on purpose. She did it on purpose to taunt me.Roman was the picture of quiet as he leaned against the wall, a far cry from my frazzled, pacing state. Of course she did. Its like mobsters who threaten their victims in a crowd theres absolutely no way you could have fought back, not with that many witnesses.Nice analogy, I muttered. Maybe therell be a horse head in my bed next.I could leave one in hers, if it would help, he offered.That close made me smile. Almost. Except I wasnt entirely sure he was joking. The really comical part is that Seth brought it about, you know? He was trying to stay away from me and walked right into this.The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.I didnt dignify that with an answer.Look, he said in all seriousness, taking a few steps toward me. It sucks that shes doing this, and we can definitely rule out coincidence. But if Seths with Maddie while shes there, you know nothings going to happen. And Carter will report back to us. No point in getting worked up over it.Easier said than done. Nothings going to distract me from this.He moved closer still and rested his hands on my upper arms. Oh? When was the start tim e you went dancing?I blinked in surprise. The last time Id been dancing? It had been a salsa lesson at the bookstore earlier this year, after which Seth and I had ripped each others clothes off in my office.A while ago, I said evasively, thrown off by both the question and his fingertips on my scratch. Why?Lets go out, he said. There are a million places we can go. Any kind of dance you want. If memory serves, youre an okay dancer.I change my eyes. Im an excellent dancer, and you know it.He leaned his face closer. Then prove it.Irrelevant. I dont feel like going out.Roman sighed and stepped away. I found I was a little disappointed to have him let go. Man, he said. I remember when you used to be fun. Im glad I left town when I did. He walked over to my entertainment center and knelt down. Well, if Muhammed wont come to the mountainGood grief. Youre a wealth of religious proverbs tonight, arent you?Hey, just trying to Jesus Christ. CDs? You do know the minatory Ages ended a long time ago. He pointed at my collection with disdain. Everyones gone digital now. You know, those little magical devices that store music? Or do you consider them some kind of witchcraft?Technology changes every year. Jump on a fad, and youre obsolete before you know it.Honestly, its a wonder you arent preparedness over a fire in the middle of your living room.You forget I dont cook.I live here. I havent forgotten.By then, hed put one of my rare CDs in the player. I laughed. Youre one to talk about ancient history. This is old school.Nah. He rose and offered me his hands. This is classic. Never goes out of style.Yeah, I said, as the music began playing. All the kids are doing foxtrot nowadays. Geez, its even the slow style. But I still let him take hold of my hands.Hey, youre the one who owns that CD.We both fell into the steps effortlessly, seafaring around the living room and managing to dodge the furniture with some grace. Roman had a long list of flaws, but one of his better tr aits was that he was almost as good a dancer as me.Why do you dance so well? I asked, stepping over Aubrey. She didnt seem concerned at all about getting squashed and had shown no signs of mournful when we began to dance.What kind of a question is that? Why do you dance so well? native instinct, I guess. Thats what Im wondering. Was it something you were born with? Or is it something you cant help but perfect over the years? I mean, youve been around for a while. I suppose if you put your forefront to something that long, you cant help but master it.He laughed. To tell you the truth, I dont know. Maybe its in the blood.Oh, come on. I cannot picture Jerome out on the dance floor.Not him. My mother. She was a dancer. A slave girl for this king a long, long time ago Romans gaze turned inward. He didnt seem angry, so much as nostalgic. Of course, he was pretty pissed off when she got pregnant. That kind of thing tends to ruin the chorus line.What happened to her? I hadnt been around t hat long ago, but certain things stayed the same through time. Slaves who angered their masters got beaten or sold to someone else. Or worse.I dont know. Jerome took her away, off to some village where she could be a superfluous woman.I frowned. I still had trouble wrapping my mind around the idea of my boss falling romanti forestally and divinely for a mortal. Did he stay with her? He would have been a demon by then.He never came back. First time I saw him was last year. My mother didnt hold a grudge, though. She would talk about him all the timesaid he was beautiful. I dont know if she meant as an angel or a demon, though. Probably he looked the same, seeing as theyre the same beings, really.Im guessing he didnt look like John Cusack though.No. This made Roman laugh again. Probably not. My mother took on mundane jobs whenever we moved villages washing woman, field worker. But at least she was free. And she still danced sometimes. I saw her once, when I was really youngjust bef ore she was killed. There was a festival, and I remember her dancing in front of the fire, wearing this red dress. All mirth disappeared from him. That image is burned into my mind. I can see how an angel would have fallen for her.I didnt ask any questions about how she was killed. In those days, it could have been as simple as a attack or attack. They were commonplace. Or, more likely, shed been killed in an attempt on Roman and his sister. Hed once mentioned that they were always on the run from angels and demons.So maybe you learned to dance as a subconscious tribute to her, I said, shifting to something lighter.That half-smile returned. Or maybe I just inherited my fathers attraction to graceful, sensual women.The song ended, and we stood there, frozen in time with our hands still entwined. Foxtrot was hardly the bumping and grinding seen in modern clubs, but our bodies were close, and I felt like I could sensation the cacoethes from his. Whether it was real or imagined, I co uldnt say. But I did know there was something very seductive about dancing, about mirroring anothers body, and somehow, I wasnt surprised when he leaned down and kissed me.I was a little surprised that I kissed him back. But not for long. Because as our lips met, I realized how much Id come to regard Roman as a comforting fixture in my life. Wed grown from adversaries to friends towhat? I didnt entirely know. I did know that I liked having him around and that Id never really jolted the attraction that had drawn me to him long ago. I also knew that I was lonely for the touch of someone I liked and that I had an automatic instinct to react to this sort of thing.His mouth pressed harder against mine, as hot and demanding as I recalled. His hands quickly moved from the formal orientation of foxtrot to something more knowledgeable and eager, sliding down to my hips and somehow managing to push me against the wall while also shoving my shirt up. My own hands were around his neck, my low er body pressing against his as I felt all my nerves set on fire and lust coursing through me.He managed to break away enough to distill my shirt off, and then his hands moved to my breasts, which were wrapped in a white lace bra. He glanced down and made a face as he pulled from our kiss. Cant you make it a front hook?A small bit of shape-shifting made the bra disappear altogether. Dont trouble yourself, I said.He smiled and moved his lips to my neck while his hands cupped the curves of my breasts. It made it impossible for me to take his shirt off, but I slid my hands under it, loving the feel of his warm skin and taut muscles. I tipped my head back, letting him taste me and increase the intensity of his kissing.And through it all, there were no voices in my head. I heard none of his thoughts, sensed none of his feelings. I was alone alone with my own reactions, simply enjoying the way my body felt with no other interruptions. It was glorious.I at last managed a break that let m e pull his shirt off, and then my hands moved to his pants, putting us in a brief deadlock as he tried to move his lips to my nipples. I won and watched his pants fall to the floor. With that concession, he pulled me down as well and continued his efforts to kiss my breasts, almost kneel before me as he did so. I ran my hands through his hair, gripping his head while his mouth sucked and teased. As he did, his eyes glanced up and met mine. I saw the desire in them and something more.Something I hadnt expected to see. There waswhat? Love? Adoration? Affection? I couldnt quite pin it down, but I accept the general category. It was a slap to the face. I hadnt anticipated it. Lust, Id expected. A primitive instinct to throw me down and fuck me, in order to relieve his bodys need. For so long, Id operated on the assumption that he kind of liked me and kind of wanted to hate me. Yet, now, I realized those nice moments wed had recently werent coincidence. His sharp attitude had been a f acade, meant to hide his feelings.Roman still loved me.I identified it for what it was. He wasnt doing this just because he wanted my body. He wanted me. This was more than just fulfilling a physical instinct for him, and suddenlysuddenly, I didnt know what to do. Because I realized then, I didnt know why I was doing this. There was a fair derive of lust on my part, and Id grown closer to him since his return to Seattle. But the rest? I wasnt sure. There was so much going on right now Maddie, Simone, SethAlways Seth. Seth, who even now made my heart ache while I was wrapped in the arms of another man. My emotions were a drag on of confusion and hurt and desperation. I was with Roman as some sort of reaction, some attempt to fill the hole in my heart and seek trumped-up(prenominal) comfort. My feelings didnt match his. I couldnt do this with him. I didnt deserve to do this with him.I pushed him away and jumped to my feet, backing off toward the hallway.No I said. I cantI cant. Im raunchy.He stared up at me, understandably confused and a little hurt after the ardor Id displayed seconds ago. What are you talking about? Whats wrong?I didnt know how to explain it, didnt know how I could even begin to articulate what I felt inside of me. I just shook my head and continued backing. Im sorryIm so sorryIm just not ready.Roman sprang to his feet in one graceful motion. He took a step toward me. GeorginaBut I was already moving away, off to the safety of my bedroom. I slammed the door behind me not from anger, but from a desperate need to stay away from him. From the hall, I heard him call my name and feared hed come in anyway, despite my refusal to answer. I had no lock, and even if I did, it wouldnt stop him. He said my name a few more times, and then silence fell. I think he returned to the living room, backing off and giving me my space.I flung myself onto the bed, gripping the sheets tightly and trying not to cry. That dreadful despair that plagued me so often filled me now. It was an old friend, one that I would never be able to leave. All my relationships friends and lovers were a mess. I was either pain sensation them, or they were hurting me. There was no peace for me. There never would be, not for this servant of Hell.And then, through that horrible, clenching pain inside me, I felt the lightest of touches. A whisper. A breath of music, of color, of light. I lifted my head up from where Id buried it in my pillow and stared around. There was nothing tangible, not exactly, but I could sense it all around me that warm, comforting siren song. It had no words, yet in my despair, I could hear it perfectly. It was telling me I was wrong, that I could have peace. And not just that I could have comfort and love and so much more. It was like arms beckoning to me, a mother welcoming home a long-lost child.I lento rose from my bed, moving toward that which had no form. Come, come.Outside my door, I heard Roman shout my name, but the tone w as different from before. This wasnt confusion or pleading. It was frantic and concerned. The reasoned was grating to my ears as I stepped closer to that beautiful warmth. It was home. It was an invitation. All I had to do was accept.Georgina The door blew apart, and Roman stood there, blazing with power. Georgina, stop But it was too late. I had accepted.All that joy and protection wrapped around me, taking me into its arms.The world dissolved.