Page 45 of Wicked Succubus

“You go first,” I tell Easton.

He orders shrimp with lobster, mashed potatoes, and some type of vegetable that I’m definitely not going to eat. I order the same thing with a Coke Zero. I never bothered with looking at the menu. She grabs our menus and comes back with our drinks.

“I love this place. How’d you find it?” I look around the tables, and the people who are eating or waiting for their food steal glances my way when they think I won’t notice. When Easton doesn’t answer, I look over at him.

“What’s up?” I ask, taking a piece of bread and adding the creamy butter to it. I take a bite and almost moan at how delicious it tastes.

“Oh umm . . .” He scratches the back of his head, looking down. He looks up at me again and answers, “A date brought me here.”

“You don’t have to hide it.” A look of relief crosses his face. He probably thought I’d get jealous or something. Easton is really cute, but he just doesn’t do it for me. I eat the whole piece of bread and grab another.

The food finally arrives, and I inhale it. Easton watches me in awe. The food has so much flavor. My abuelita used to make ceviche, mojarra frita, and in the summer, she would grill oysters, and we’d add lime and Tapatio. This is no Mexican food, but it’s still tasty. I’m done eating before he is.

“Wow, you really enjoyed that,” he says, his tone light and amused.

I smile, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, it was good. Reminded me of my abuelita’s cooking a little.”

He looks genuinely interested. “Tell me more about her.”

I pause, a pang of sadness mixed with fondness washing over me. “She was amazing. Strong, kind, always made the best food.”

Easton’s eyes soften. “She sounds wonderful. I’d love to hear more sometime.”

I nod, feeling a bit uncomfortable sharing this part of my life with him. I’ve told Agent Cooper that I was a shifter, and they know I’m half-human, but giving them too much information is dangerous. They can potentially use it against me one day or discover I’m lying. Vague answers are better.

“Yeah, she was the best,” I say, keeping it short and sweet. Easton doesn’t push for more, thankfully, just nods in understanding, his expression thoughtful.

He hurries up and eats his food. Easton asks, “Do you want dessert?”

I look around, taking in the display of sweets. Fuck, the desserts look delicious. One couple has a brownie with a scoop of ice cream and chocolate drizzle. Even though we just ate, it makes my mouth water.

“It looks good,” I say wistfully, “but I’m ready to dance.”

Easton grins, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Dancing it is, then. We can always come back for dessert later.”

I nod, though I’m secretly mourning the loss of that brownie. When the waitress drops off the bill, I catch a glimpse of the total and nearly faint. It’s more than a hundred dollars.

“Wow, that’s a lot for dinner,” I mutter under my breath.

Easton chuckles, pulling out his wallet. “It’s on me, don’t worry about it.” He hands the waitress his card, and I feel a mix of gratitude and awkwardness.

As we head out of the restaurant, I notice his hand trying to make contact with my back just above my butt. I move a bit faster, and his hand drops away. We get into the car. Hopefully, this time we’re headed to our destination.

“So, what kind of music do you like to dance to?” Easton asks, trying to lighten the mood.

“Anything with a good beat,” I say, smiling. “I’m not picky.”

He nods. “Great. This place has a fantastic DJ. I think you’ll love it.”

The drive to the club is filled with a mix of anticipation and awkward small talk. “So, how did you get into working with the FBI Supernatural Unit?” I ask, glancing over at Easton.

He shrugs, eyes fixed on the road. I notice his knuckles whitening as he grips the steering wheel a little too tightly.

“It’s a long story. I’ve always been interested in helping people, and this is the way I can help.”

I nod, genuinely curious. “It’s impressive, what you do. Not everyone can handle the craziness that comes with dealing with supernaturals. It’s not just the powers—it’s the unpredictability, the danger. You never really know what you’re walking into.”

Easton glances over at me, a knowing smile on his face. “Yeah, it’s definitely a challenge. Some days you’re dealing with a rogue shifter, and the next you’re trying to track down a vampire. You have to be ready for anything.”

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