me an impatient look. In as few words as possible, I recapped how I'd woken up without the energy I'd stolen the previous night. Jerome listened, looking bored.
"What'd you do last night? Bursts of shape-shifting? Rocket science? Heavy lifting?"
I didn't need him to tell me what sorts of things would burn through my energy. "I didn't do any of those things. I just slept. I did dream, though."
"Dreams only suck the life out of humans, not us," he remarked dryly. "It's what keeps Hell in business." Seeing my expression, he sighed. "It's probably nothing, Georgie. Mental exhaustion'll do it. You probably spent the whole night unconsciously wrestling with sexual temptation."
I didn't appreciate his flippant answer, but there was nothing I could do about it. I left the party, driving home at a reasonable speed limit this time. As soon as I cleared the door, I tossed that ridiculous manual to the floor. It landed with a ground-shaking thump that made my cat Aubrey puff up her tail.
"Sorry," I mumbled, scratching her black-speckled head in consolation.
Traipsing to the bedroom, I promptly dialed Seth on my cell phone.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey. You have to come over here tonight."
A pause. "Well, I could, but..."
"Oh, come on! You won't believe what I just went through. We're getting another succubus."
He paused again. "I'm not really sure how to respond to that."
"Respond by getting your ass over here. I need you."
"Thetis...I'm so close to the end here. Four chapters away. And I got this idea while we were having breakfast..."
I groaned. Cady and O'Neill had defeated me again. Before actually meeting Seth, I'd worshipped him from afar as a literary genius, reading his novels over and over. Now I knew the dark truth about being a bestselling author's girlfriend.
Hearing my silence, he reluctantly added: "But, I mean, if you really need me..."
"No, no. Don't worry about it. It's okay."
"You don't sound like it's okay. I know how women work. You say that, then you'll hold a grudge against me forever. Literally."
"No, really. It's fine. I'll be seeing you tomorrow anyway. Besides, as soon as I get out of this dress, I'm just going to pass out anyway." No way was I starting that procedural tome.
"You're wearing a dress?"
"Yup."
"You weren't wearing one earlier. What's it look like?"
I started laughing. "Ooh...are you trying to have phone sex with me?"
"Phone sex? Hardly. We haven't even had a phone first date."
"It's not that hard. You see, I tell you how the dress has a really low neckline with nothing underneath. Then, you tell me how you'll reach out and peel it off and stroke my - "
"Oh my God. No. We are not doing this."
Typical Seth. He could write sex scenes that set the page on fire or dialogue clever enough to impress even me. Make him vocalize any of it, and he choked up. He was shy around others, fearful in large groups, and much happier staying an unnoticed listener. I sympathized but sometimes had trouble really comprehending it, considering how often I became the center of attention. I liked to think he'd improved a bit since we got together, but he had a long way to go.
"It just takes practice. Here, I'll help you. Picture it. I'm getting on my knees and slowly unfastening your pants - "
"Okay, look. If you really want to go through with this, I'd be happy to, you know, go get on my computer and IM it..."
"Oh good grief. Go work on your book."
I hung up the phone and sat down on my bed. Good Lord. My weekend had taken an abrupt U-turn. Like it or not, I supposed it had been only a matter of time before a new succubus joined the ranks here. Seattle had grown significantly over the years, and I could only do so much. But a green succubus? One I had to train up? If I hadn't known such administrative decisions were out of the demon's hands, I would have accused Jerome of doing it on purpose. It was on par with his sense of humor. Why couldn't we have just gotten some antisocial pro who did her job without ever interacting with me?
And Niphon...well, that was the coup de gras. I didn't like being reminded of my past, and I didn't like him. Something told me he had it in for me, though I couldn't entirely fathom why. He'd bought my soul and recruited my eternal services. What more was there? Wait and see, a warning voice whispered