Page 3 of Signed in Incubus

After a moment, she took my hand.

“You still haven’t told me your name,” I said as we started to dance around her living room, trying to avoid the myriad obstacles in our way.

She must’ve just moved in because almost everything was still in boxes, and while the coffee table was technically next to the couch, neither piece of furniture was in the right place in the room unless diagonally was how she’d intended it to go. If so, that would be quite avant-garde. Somehow, I doubted it.

“I’m Penny. Short for Penelope. But no one calls me that except for my parents, and I hate it.” She pressed her lips in a firm line as if she’d said too much.

“I think Penelope is a very pretty name. But I’ll call you Penny if you prefer.”

Penny tripped over a box and gasped as she lost her footing. That wouldn’t do. I caught her, then willed myself to be extra light so that I lifted off the ground, carrying her up with me.

She squeaked and clung to me as her foot felt around for a floor that wasn’t there.

“Don’t worry, I won’t drop you.” I held her a little tighter and bent my head to brush the shell of her ear with my lips. “Unless it’s into bed. And even then, only if you beg me to.”

She shuddered, and her arms pebbled into gooseflesh. I chased away the tiny bumps with my palms and inhaled the lust that filled the air between us. She wasn’t immune to my charms; this much was obvious.

“Maybe I am due for some fun,” she said. “But I’m not begging…yet.”

She was a lot more relaxed now and let me lead her around the room. Her body molded to mine, fitting there perfectly, so supple and tempting, as we swayed to the music. By the end of the song, she was smiling. The look suited her. I resolved to make her smile more.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice sincere. “I didn’t realize how much I needed that…but I did.” She was lightly flushed, the pink in her cheeks glowing with radiance. Her eyes sparkled, and her arms were still wrapped around my neck when her tongue darted out to moisten her lips a moment before she quickly tugged me down and kissed me. It was only a light touch, the barest feathery peck, but that didn’t stop the jolt of awareness shooting through me.

She must’ve felt it too, because she inhaled sharply and froze for the briefest of moments before pulling away. A low growl escaped my lips, and I caught her mouth again in a deep, claiming kiss as I pulled her tight against my body.

There was only her momentary gasp of surprise before need and pleasure flooded us. She moaned softly into my mouth, the sound almost a purr. I tangled my tongue with hers, sliding and stroking. She tasted mildly of the wine she had imbibed, mixed with her own addictive flavor: exotic vanilla, straight from a tropical orchid, mixed with the freshest alpine strawberries.

Then, as if freeing herself from a spell, she stiffened. I didn’t stop her when she pulled away and took a step back, a flustered look on her face. I had that effect on women…and sometimes men, too. It was part of my incubus magic.

Her shoulders drooped. “We really shouldn’t. This”—she waved vaguely to the spot where I’d appeared earlier— “was a mistake.”

“You weren’t looking for the man of your dreams? Iampretty dreamy.”

“Yes…I mean…no.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “I didn’t know you’d show upright away. I just thought I’d meet someone soon. And besides, I fucked up the spell, and it sent you. No offense, but I really don’t think you’re the one.”

“None taken. I don’t think so either. I’m here to be merry, not to marry.”

That was when I noticed the tingling. It was there for only a split second before it was gone. But it was enough to alert me.

I looked down at my wrist and saw the delicate silver strand that had settled there like gossamer. It led straight to my little witch, who had stepped away from me and was disappearing into the kitchen. Unlike the heavy magical chains that had bound meto the old wizard and his family before, this one didn’t have any unwieldy magic preventing me from puffing into smoke or shape-shifting. It also didn’t feel ominous.

Penny returned with a little handheld vacuum and went to clean up the salt on the floor.

“No broomstick?”

“Honestly, this is easier.”

“The salt wouldn’t have been able to contain me anyway. Just like your wards couldn’t keep me out.”

“Yeah—what’s up with that? I know I’m not a particularly powerful witch, but the wards should have at least delayed you while you fought your way in. But my wards are still intact, which means you never did that.”

“I didn’t have to. By using the summons, you invited me in. It’s part of the magic of the spell. I can’t very well wine and dine you unless I’m here, right? The spell trumps any magical wards and other protection you have in place.”

“Ohhh. That makes sense. In that case, I’m glad the fuck-up brought you and not a meaner demon. Thanks, Prax, for the dance.” Her eyes flitted back and forth uncertainly. “Say… Did you want some more wine? Or maybe we can order in food?” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t have much else to offer you. I haven’t even found the coffee yet. I found the coffeemaker, though that’s not much good on its own.”

Aww. My little witch was trying to ask me to stay!

I was about to ask her if she wanted to go out on a proper date when I heard the summons jangling in my head. This one sounded a lot less fun than the one that had brought me here, but it was work, so I had no choice; I had to accept it. I sighed inwardly. The date would have to wait for another time.

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