Page 22 of Wicked Succubus

“Make sure you tip them well,” I add, knowing it’ll get a rise out of him.

His lip curls up slightly in a faint smirk. “For the amount of money I tipped them, they told me that they’ll drop their other clients if we ever need them on short notice.” I look at myself one more time, and I can feel the heat of his gaze burning a hole through my dress. When I look back, he’s already turned away. “Come on, we can’t be late.”

I walk behind him, wondering how we’re going to get to Faerie. We step into his bedroom. This is the second time I’ve been in here, and I’m wondering if we’re making a pit stop. I glance around his room, admiring its light, ocean-toned colors. Just like his eyes, everything in here reminds me of the sea.

I don’t get to examine it further because he’s pushing a bookshelf to the side and something that I can only describe as a portal shines through. What the fuck? I never thought this was possible.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell people that there’s a portal here?” I don’t actually know how many gateways to Faerie there are. It wasn’t something I was ever interested in, but now I’m more curious than ever.

“You won’t tell anyone,” Agent Cooper states matter-of-factly.

I scoff. “How do you know I’m not going to tell my friends?” I cluck my tongue.

“You don’t have friends, Zelyah,” he says bluntly.

“How do you know I don’t have friends?” I don’t know why, but the truth in his words makes me feel defensive, maybe because it hits way too close to home.

“Because they would have already tried to save you,” he replies easily.

Fuck. He has a point. “Well, how do you know I won’t tell your whole neighborhood?” I threaten weakly.

He looks at me like I’m an annoying child. “Do you want your freedom?”

“Yes.” I don’t think twice about this one.

“Well then, I know you won’t do something stupid like tell people I have a portal in my room.”

“How do you have a portal in your room? I thought there were only portals in designated areas?”

He smiles wickedly, which leaves me wondering who the hell this guy is and what makes him so important. Before I can assault him with any more questions, he grabs my hand, and I ignore the tingling feeling that shoots up my arm. It takes less than a minute for me to touch the ground again. I’m not sure what to think about going to a different realm. Agent Cooper releases me and a hollow pang hits my stomach. But the feeling is quickly forgotten as I take in the sight before me. I’ve never seen so much vibrant greenery. Emerald grass sways gently, dotted with wildflowers in every vivid color of fiery orange, sunny yellow, and royal purple. The trees form a leafy canopy overhead, branches rustling with whispered secrets.

“The stories were true. This place is beautiful,” I breathe.

“It is,” Agent Cooper agrees, the casual words confirming I spoke aloud.

Something catches my eye, but it moves too quickly for me to decipher what it is. If you look closely, it’s almost as if the trees are whispering to one another. Although beautiful, this place seems strange.

I start walking, determined to spot whatever flits at the edge of my sight. But Agent Cooper’s hand encircles my bare waist, pulling me back. At his brazen touch, heat explodes across my skin. My heart pounds, and my wet, needy heat throbs to life deep in my core. Fuck! I’m just glad he’s not a shifter, or he’d smell how instantly wet that got me. What is wrong with me? I hate this guy. Yet my traitorous body arches toward him, craving more contact. This intense attraction makes no sense. I need to get control of myself.

He brings his lips close to my ear, sending delicious shivers down my neck. “Zelyah,” His tone is seductive, and I wonder if his power to seduce with his voice is amplified because we’re in his homeland now.

“Please, call me Zel,” I say in a low voice.

“Okay, Zel, don’t ever try to walk this place by yourself. It may look beautiful, but looks are deceiving,” Agent Cooper warns.

He releases me, and I turn, gasping involuntarily. Beautiful but deceiving, just like him. His turquoise eyes shine brighter, and his skin seems smooth and flawless. His pointed fae ears are fully elongated. He looks impossibly perfect—almost irresistible.

“Zel.” Fuck, and when he talks, moisture keeps pooling between my legs. I need relief—now.

As Agent Cooper steps closer, I retreat unsteadily. His citrusy scent envelops me, and my core aches to be filled, to have him take me here among the flowers. This is a bad idea. I should’ve fought him harder to stay behind.

The sound of squeaking wheels approaches. My body tenses instinctively, ready to defend myself. I should have brought a knife. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I should’ve come armed, especially walking into a foreign place. I don’t have to sweat it too much when I see a carriage. Wait, a carriage? Yeah, that’s certainly a carriage coming our way.

As our horse-drawn ride comes to a stop in front of us, he frowns at my hesitation. I’m skeptical, and it’s not because I feel like we’re in the 1800s. Nope, it’s much bigger than that. I don’t know how I’m going to control my Succubus nature, when being a couple feet apart from Agent Cooper has my Succubus libido going into overdrive. Everything is enhanced. My Succubus wants to feed on him. He looks so damn sexy.

I need some air.

“You’re outside,” he says.

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