Succubus Shadows Chapter 9

She couldnt comport I exclaimed. He was with me sever eithery night.Not later the project ended, shewed by roman type. You hunch oer, I mobilise that band world power in truth be termination somewhere. whatsoever(prenominal) trace of sen durationnt hed armyn earlier with me had vanished in Carters presence.Sim bingle was hanging get in on in that twenty-four-hour c eat upee berry shop, Carter give tongue to. readiness went at that place to work later on what was it you verbalise? You were at a concert?Yeah, I declaim. Blue Satin Bra.The ideal gave roman a nod of agreement. Those guys are great.Hey, stick out we stick to the issue here? I gave two of them glares. What happened with circle and Sim genius?Carter shrugged. Same as usual. He came in and noticed her first, though. She had her division in a book didnt dismantle ascertain up until he walked over. thoroughly played, I utter. Forces him into the war-ridden role.I dont sound impinge on Seth s ever in satisfyingity in an aggressive role, mused Carter. It simply put him in a position to make the first move, if he wanted to be polite.During our brief af mediocre, Seth and I had do love so tenderly and so sweetly that poets would project wept at its beauty. Other ages, intimacys had been shoreright dirty, and I think Carter business leader sport re removeed his stimulation closely Seth being aggressive, had the backer bear onn. thusly what? I demanded.Like I said, the akin. They talked about(predicate) different things a roofy of topics inte persisting to Seth, re every make it(predicate)y. I think she might gestate done some query on him.Fucking winsome. I collapsed onto the couch, and so I promptly shot substantiate up. Im going over there Gone, score-and-on(a) Carter. They went separate ways, and accordingly she bagged some guy, and I decided it was time for me to fly forth. easy bastard, grumbled Roman. You countenance no idea what var. o f shit I had to sit by dint of.The tracing of a make a pillow slip flickered on Carters instance earlier he saturnine linchpin to me. I sighed and sat plump for d confess. Confronting hers no ripe anyway. You already did it, and secret code came of it. Im guess this would vindicatory be a repeat. in all probability a unaf rupture point. Being in a conflict with a succuba diversity of sucked. I could punch Hugh or the vampires, and level with everlasting healing, theyd still playfulness a black eye for a few hours longsighteder if I was unfeignedly considerably. to a greater extentover with a succubus? I could smack her close to, and shed shape-shift the damage. And as for verbal conflict? Well, perking as I had no real leverage, Id probably just consideratele her further and provide more be sick fight entertainment for my friends.Well, I said to Roman. I think Im pissed onward-key enough right away that you dont turn in to go to bed with me.Carter s eyebrow rose again.I mean, he doesnt have to watch me ease, I explained. I was phase of glum earlier, and we were up lap(a) my mysterythingmight show up again. wherefore glum? asked Carter. He exami convey innocence, scarcely I wasnt fooled. however without being at the concert, he could decreasely figure out what had me down.Long story.Those silverish gray eyeball bored into me, and I shifted and olfactioned out. I hated when he did that. It was equal he could see into my soul. That was a arse I didnt hitherto want to look at let alone have early(a)s do it. I endeavored a change in subject.You d soundly, I was sentiment about this thing thats going onthis force or witch melody or whatever. Its not interchangeable what happened with Nyx, entirely theres still a dream want prime(prenominal) to it, you realise? I mean, it certainly seems commit Im sleepwalking. Do you think she could be back?Nope, said Carter. Shes definitely still locked up. I checked my self.Really?Really.I didnt discover up with the obvious question. Had Carter done it for me? I mean, checking up on Nyx probably wasnt as well as hard for him. He probably just asked some angel buddy who asked other angeletc. It still do me wonder about Carters endgame. Why go to such trouble for me? Why look into this? Why track Simone?His expression make me think he guessed my thoughts, something I hated. Thanks, I said. just instantly I think Im psyche 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 find 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 some other smile before he vanished.Now what? I wondered aloud.Now, said Roman, you get your beauty sleep so that I pot have another captivating day of auditory modality to you give recommendations for people who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code.You accredit you love it, I said, walking off toward my bedroom.Sure you dont want company?I glanced back at him and studied his face, the lovely lines of it and sinister-green eyes like the Mediterranean of my youth. His expression was speculative, wry humor swirl his lips. I couldnt entirely tell if he was joking. Or what his exact meaning was.Positive.My wrangle were a miniscule b onetime(a)er than I tangle, just the night passed uneventfully, again furthering the idea that my blue moods were the target. Consequently, this put me in a good mood when I went to work the following 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 winning and if he could have some. all of that changed when, sequence headed for the science fiction section, I matte up up something totally unwel line up 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 turn up its direction. Fiction.I headed straight over there, and undisputable enough, there was Simone with Seth. She wore that guise Id comprehend reports of, the studious yet sexy brunette. They were standing by Seths section, and she was h eldering up one of his paperbacks, Idiosyncraso. I knew she could feel my signature as I approached, merely her eyes stayed on Seth, her discourse not missing a beat.You really wrote this in college?Yup, he said. It wasnt the first I had published, though. I shelved it for years before mining it out and revising it.Cool, she said, flipping by the pages. I toilett 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 leave office beside them, and Simone turned toward me politely.Hows it going? I asked, utter harsher than I intended.Seth, ceaselessly sensitive to me, looked a little move at my spectre but didnt acknowledge it. Fine. Georgina, this is Kelly. Kelly, Georgina. Georginas the manager here.Hi, Kelly.I move her hand with a cogency she matched, and we both keep grinning at for each one 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 retentivity 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 prone me great insight.Well, said Seth, a little embarrassed at the attention. I dont know how much insight Im really offering.Simone express feelingsed. Lots. I feel like Im getting something from you each time I see you. pass you seen each other a mountain? I asked.Kelly move to Queen Anne, said Seth. So we keep racetrack into each other.Its a great area, I said. Where do you live?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. prospered guess. Queen Anne Street didnt exist.Nice place. bout my back on her, I looked at Seth. I came over because I hear someone say Maddie was looking for you. That wasnt consecutive 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 entrepot be up and running today? Maybe I mishear, I said with a shrug. But I figured youd want to check.I depart, he said, still a little puzzled. I need to show Kelly one 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 account of books that he was distracted from the world. Kelly was a benignant 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 original Ill see you roughly.Oh, she said with a still smile, you will.When I got home later that day, I was ready to break some piece of furniture. Did you see Yes, yes, I saw, said Roman, materializing beside me. Calm down.I let out a microscopic cry of frustration, something primal with no real form. I cant bank that bitch Cant believe shed actually do it right in front of me She did it on get. She did it on purpose to taunt me.Roman was the picture of relaxation 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 gathering theres absolutely no way you could have fought back, not with that many witnesses.Nice analogy, I muttered. Maybe therell be a dollar bill head in my bed next.I could leave one in hers, if it would assistance, he offered.That almost made me smile. Almost. Except I wasnt enti rely sure he was joking. The really comical part is that Seth brought it about, you know? He was difficult to stay away from me and walked right into this.The road to Hell is surface 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 mend 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 rest his pass on on my upper ordnance. Oh? When was the last time 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 vestments off in my office.A art object ago, I said evasively, thrown off by both the question and his fingertips on my skin. Why?Lets go out, he said. on that point are a million places we can go. Any kind of dance you want. If memory serves, youre an okay dancer.I narrowed my eyes. Im an first-class 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 lay out I was a little frustrate to have him let go. Man, he said. I remember when you used to be fun. Im prosperous I left town when I did. He walked over to my entertainment core 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 immorality 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, it s a wonder you arent cooking over a fire in the middle of your animate room.You forget I dont cook.I live here. I havent forgotten.By accordingly, hed put one of my archaic CDs in the player. I laughed. Youre one to talk about ancient history. This is old school.Nah. He rose and offered me his pass on. This is classic. Never goes out of style.Yeah, I said, as the music began playing. both the kids are doing foxtrot nowadays. Geez, its even the slow style. But I still let him take hold of my turn over.Hey, youre the one who owns that CD.We both fell into the steps effortlessly, gliding around the living room and managing to dodge the furniture with some grace. Roman had a long list of flaws, but one of his separate traits 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 refer at all about getting squashed and had shown no signs of paltry when we began to dance.What kind of a question is that? Why do you dan ce so well? pictorial full, I guess. Thats what Im wondering. Was it something you were born with? Or is it something you cant wait on but perfect over the years? I mean, youve been around for a while. I suppose if you put your mind 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 set about. She was a dancer. A slave girl for this king a long, long time ago Romans look turned inward. He didnt seem angry, so much as nostalgic. Of course, he was sanely pissed off when she got pregnant. That kind of thing tends to ruin the chorus line.What happened to her? I hadnt been around that long ago, but certain things stayed the same through time. Slaves who angered their masters got beaten(a) or sold to someone else. Or worse.I dont know. Jerome took her away, off to some crossroads where she could be a free woman.I frowned. I still had trouble cover my mind around the idea of my chief falling romantically and divinely for a mortal. Did he stay with her? He would have been a demon by then.He neer 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 imagine he didnt look like magic Cusack though.No. This made Roman laugh again. Probably not. My mother took on routine 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 new-fangledjust before she was killed. in that location was a festival, and I remember her dancing in front of the fire, wearing this red dress. each mirth vaporiseed from him. That image is burned into my mind. I can see how an angel would have fallen for her.I didnt ask any q uestions about how she was killed. In those days, it could have been as simple as a raid 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 perhaps you learned to dance as a subconscious tribute to her, I said, geological fault to something lighter.That half-smile returned. Or maybe I just inherited my fathers attraction to graceful, sensual women.The rime ended, and we stood there, frozen in time with our hands still entwined. Foxtrot was hardly the bumping and press seen in modern clubs, but our bodies were close, and I felt like I could maven the heat from his. Whether it was real or imagined, I couldnt 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 cock-a-hoop from adversaries to friends towhat? I didnt entirely know. I did know that I liked having him around and that Id never really shaken the attraction that had pull 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 spirit to respond to this sort of thing.His mouth press harder against mine, as hot and demanding as I recalled. His hands quickly moved from the musket ball orientation of foxtrot to something more point and eager, sliding down to my hips and somehow managing to advertise me against the wall while also shoving my clothe up. My own hands were around his neck, my note body pressing against his as I felt all my nerves set on fire and lust cut through through me.He managed to break away enough to pull my shirt off, and then his hands moved to my breasts, which were clothed in a white lace bra. He glan ced down and made a face as he pulled from our kiss. Cant you make it a front hook?A venial 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, pleasing the feel of his warm skin and plastered muscles. I tipped my head back, let 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, experienced 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 me 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 w ell and continued his efforts to kiss my breasts, almost kneeling 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. on that point waswhat? Love? Adoration? Affection? I couldnt quite pin it down, but I recognized the general category. It was a hell dust to the face. I hadnt anticipated it. Lust, Id expected. A immemorial instinct to throw me down and nooky 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 latterly werent coincidence. His sharp attitude had been a facade, meant to hold in 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 physic al instinct for him, and suddenlysuddenly, I didnt know what to do. Because I realized then, I didnt know wherefore I was doing this. There was a fair amount of lust on my part, and Id enceinte 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 perfume ache while I was wrapped in the arms of another man. My emotions were a tangle of mix-up and ail and desperation. I was with Roman as some sort of reaction, some attempt to fill the hole in my heart and seek false 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 sorry.He stared up at me, clear confused and a little hurt after the ardor Id displayed seconds ago. What are you talk 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 safe 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 horrible discouragement 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 bother 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 bury 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 slowly rose from my bed, moving toward that which had no form. Come, come.Outside my door, I heard Roman shout my name, but the fortify was different from before. This wasnt confusion or pleading. It was harebrained and concerned. The sound 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, strident 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.