I didn’t doubt it. And honestly, I couldn’t believe Seth had gone this whole day without getting any sort of writing done. It was truly a sign of his love for me.
But then, a wistful look appeared in his eyes, one that indicated that maybe writing wasn’t the only thing on his mind. “But I’d much rather spend time with you,” he said.
A pang of guilt thudded in my chest, and suddenly, I felt bad. This was supposed to be our getaway, and here I was, blowing him off for a party. But I did want to get a feel for this case and knew there’d be other opportunities for us to hang out.
So, I let him go on his way, with promises to get in touch later tonight. As for me, I set about figuring out what to wear to this shindig. I might not respect most of the demons here, but I wanted to be respected. I wanted to look like I could actually add some value to that jury. And, yeah, I just also wanted people to think I was hot. Demons are selfish. Succubi are vain.
I’d packed lightly on this trip so I wouldn’t have to check luggage, figuring I could just shape-shift on whatever I needed. Standing in front of the mirror, I conducted my own fashion show, trying on and dismissing a dozen different combinations. As much as I would have liked for Seth to go to the party with me, I was kind of glad he wasn’t here to see me trying on more outfits than a teenage girl.
Finally, I decided on a white charmeuse trapeze dress, the kind of dress that looks like a bag on anyone except a model. I had a model’s body but still cinched the dress with a wide, black leather belt that better defined my waist. Part of my light brown hair I pulled up into a high bun, the rest I let hang down my back. I was admiring the effect of black stilettos when I decided the white was too stark. I shifted the dress red, decided that was overkill, then settled on a pale gold shade that complimented the hazel-green of my eyes.
“You should have stuck with the white one,” a gravelly voice suddenly said behind me.
“It made you look angelic.”
Chapter Four
I spun around, swallowing a yelp. Who the f**k was in my room? I peered into the darkness. There, practically blending into the corner shadows, stood Clyde.
“Holy shit,” I said, as the demon stepped forward.
He smiled. “Sorry to startle you.”
“It…it’s okay.” I forced a smile of my own, trying to play cute succubus and not act like I was freaked out that a demon—possibly a demon murderer—had materialized in my room.
Then, it hit me.
“How can you be here?” I exclaimed. “Aren’t you under arrest?” I took a step backward.
“Oh, Jesus. You didn’t break out, did you?”
Still smiling, he shook his head. “They don’t keep me behind bars, Georgina. They—”
He paused thoughtfully. “Do you go by Georgina? Or do you prefer Gina? Or Georgie maybe?”
“Georgina,” I said. Bad enough there was already one demon in the world who called me Georgie. I’d told Jerome a hundred times not to call me that, but he never listened.
Clyde nodded, pleasant and cordial. There was no sign of the angry and frustrated demon I’d seen earlier. It was like we were already at the party, making small talk.
“Okay, Georgina. As I was saying, they don’t lock me up. I’m bound to this area, though. I’ve got about a three-mile radius around this hotel that I’m confined to. I try to leave, and believe me, they know.”
“Do they cut you off from your powers too?” I asked, by no means comfortable with this situation.
“Some, not all. If you’re worried about me blowing you up or something, don’t. Aside from the fact that I can’t, it would really hurt my case if I destroyed one of the jurors.”
Fair point.
“Okay,” I said, feeling only a little better. I still had my arms crossed in a weak attempt at protection. “Then what are you doing here?”
“Just thought it’d be nice to get to know you,” he said with a shrug. “Seeing as we’ve never met. A little chat to pass the time. I was very impressed with your performance in the courtroom today. I appreciated that you didn’t ask my underwear size or my favorite color.”
Disdain replaced the last of my fear. “You having chats with all the jurors tonight?”
I swear, that grin grew almost twice as wide and was reflected in his dark eyes. “You’re too smart to be here, Georgina. You might be the only one who actually cares about how this turns out. Well, aside from me and the other two.”
I shook my head. “If you’re here to bribe me, it won’t work.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Everyone can be bribed,” he countered. “It’s how you sold your soul in the first place. It’s just a matter of finding out what you want now. The other jurors? They have plenty of things they want, things I can deliver on once I’m free and back in power.”
“So, what? They’re all on your side?”
“Depends on what Starla and Kurt offer them. Believe me, every demon on the jury who casts a vote will do it based on a bribe. The question is, which bribe will each one take?”
“That’s…horrible.”
“We work for Hell, Georgina. You want fairness, go to the other side.”
“Luis is fair.” I spoke without thinking.
Clyde tilted his head, studying me from another angle. “If you’re thinking about running to him and telling on us, forget it. He knows what’s going on, knows he can’t stop it.”
I chewed on my lower lip. I had been thinking of going to Luis.
Clyde came closer. “So, what do you want? What’ll it take to get you to acquit me?”
“I told you, I don’t want anything—nothing badly enough to free you if you’re the one who did it.”
His face hardened, a serious look crossing his features. “That’s the point. I didn’t do it, but that doesn’t mean anything out there. They want someone to hang—literally and figuratively—and they’ll take whoever’s convenient.”
He sounded sincere again, but I wasn’t fooled. Demons were superb liars.
“Please go,” I said, hoping he hadn’t been lying about being unable to hurt me. That too had been convincing. “I’m not taking your bribe.”
“You’re a succubus,” he mused. “You don’t need money—that’s what Starla’ll probably offer you, by the way. But I’m guessing you’ve got plenty of your own—or can get it from some dying old man. Kurt…he’s smart. He might offer something good. Not sure which way he’ll go. But me…let’s see. Pleasure. That’s what you want.”
I choked on a laugh. “Pleasure? Baby, do you know how often I get laid?”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Probably more than me. But that doesn’t mean you like it.”
It was true. I didn’t always like it. Sometimes the act did it for me; sometimes not. But there was one part I always liked.
“I get my life from it,” I said honestly. “And when that happens—that rush—that transfer. That’s pleasure. That’s amazing. Better than the sex.”
“But wouldn’t it be nice to experience sex that was better than the transfer?”
I stared incredulously. “You’re trying to bribe me with sex? You’re trying to bribe a succubus with sex? ” Maybe he was the killer. He was clearly deranged enough. “That’s the most—”
Clyde reached out and touched my forehead with his fingertips. I gasped at the jolt of power that shot through me.
Suddenly, I wasn’t standing in the hotel room anymore. I was in another room, a room from antiquity, on a bed covered in plump pillows and silk sheets. The silk slid against my back, and Clyde’s body slid against the bare skin on my front.
Our limbs were entwined, his mouth on mine in a kiss that was all fire. He was fire. His skin was literally hot—so, so hot. It was a demon thing. I seriously thought it would scorch mine, but my skin stayed whole and unmarred. He moved against me, bringing his mouth down and trailing more of those burning kisses down my neck. His lips found my br**sts, taking turns with each nipple. He sucked hard on them, his teeth biting in a way that danced a very thin line between pleasure and pain. For now, it just barely kept to the pleasure side.