Succubs on Top Page 0,14

all day. I can pull it up for you. "

I held up a hand. "No, please. I believe you. The bitch must fall, okay? If I had a sword, I'd tap your shoulders and send you off with my blessings."

He lay down beside me. "Well, why don't you take a front-row seat then? Come to the party with me. I'm sure no one would mind if Mitch brought his sister."

"Party on the Eastside? My blessing only goes so far."

"Oh, come on. Admit it. You have a perverse desire to meet her in the flesh. Besides, it's been a while since you've seen me in action. You might pick up on a few things. Get some pointers."

Laughing, I rolled over on my side to better study him. "Like I need pointers from you."

He rolled to his side as well, smirking. "Yeah? Then prove it. Let's go out tonight. Let's go hunting."

My smile diminished. "What?"

"Just like the old days. We'll find some club, work up a sweat, then tag respective fixes for the night."

Bittersweet memories flashed into my brain, recalling the French cabarets of the nineteenth century. Bastien and I would go out in fine form, separate, and meet back in the morning to laugh and brag about our conquests. The game no longer held much appeal.

"I don't do that anymore. I told you that."

"Yeah, but you've still got to survive."

"I am surviving. I got a fix just a couple days ago. I'm set for a while. "

Bastien scowled. "A few days ago? Bleh. This writer guy's making you boring. "

"Hey, it has nothing to do with him. It's my choice."

"Sure."

"What's with the tone?"

"Not sure. I mean, I thought the whole writer-dating thing was amusing at first - even if he seems kind of dull and will probably only end up causing you pain. But now I'm starting to think it's indicative of a larger issue with you. I mean, there's the whole nice guy hang-up to begin with. Then you're, what? An assistant manager at a bookstore? Not to mention the fact that you have a cat."

Aubrey glared, and so did I. "There's nothing wrong with having a cat. And Seth isn't dull."

"I suppose you'd know better. He just didn't really strike me as much, that's all. If you wanted to obsess about a mortal, I could find you a better one."

"I don't want a better one. I mean, there is no better one. I want him."

"Suit yourself. You're just becoming ordinary, that's all. You used to be extraordinary."

"Ouch. All this because I won't go out with you tonight?"

Bastien shrugged.

"Okay then. We'll go. But no victim for me."

"Fair enough."

We went down to a club in Pioneer Square, both of us groomed to the kind of sexy, beautiful perfection that only an incubus and a succubus could achieve. I had pulled my hair up in messy, sex-kitten glory and wore a baby blue tank top with a V-neck that almost went to my belly button. The opening was covered in very sheer lace and made wearing a bra utterly pointless. So I didn't.

The tension between us evaporated as we hit the dance floor. The rhythm pulsed through me, the movement and sweat intoxicating. Bastien and I danced together for a while, both of us aware of the admirers we drew, even in a packed room like this. Physical attraction was about so much more than just superficial appearance. It was about eye contact, outgoingness, and movement too. Incubi and succubi learn this early on, and the good ones move with a grace few mortals can match. I, who had danced well before becoming a succubus, knew I was among the best when it came to body language. Watching us was irresistible. A turn-on in itself.

After a while, we split up. The results of the succubus game distressed me sometimes, but the game itself was fun. Very fun. I moved from partner to partner, thriving on the effect I created, on the desire I could see mounting in those whose bodies mine toyed with. It was why, despite my frequent bitching, I had given up my mortal soul for this vocation.

I confess, that the thought of going home with someone grew tantalizing, my body warming to the idea of someone's hands upon me, but then I thought about Seth and his determined adherence to the arrangement we'd entered into. No. No superfluous victims for me tonight. I could be good. I wanted to be good. I'd wait until I actually needed a recharge.

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