Page 47 of Signed in Incubus

I also had an interview with the EA. But I asked just as many questions as they did, and in the end, I agreed with Mateo. It just wasn’t something I was interested in doing, especially since theywere looking for something full-time. The only thing I was ready to commit to full-time was Penny.

After the auction, I planned on asking her to help me invest the earnings so it would always be making more for us, even when we were off exploring the world. This was another reason I encouraged her to focus on her business; she could take it on the road if she needed to.

I took the stairs up to our new apartment two at a time, even though I could just as easily have floated up to the door. Tonight was the Curio Collectors’ Dinner & Auction, and I had something special for her from my stash. I couldn’t wait to see her in it.

She wasn’t in the living room, where several spell books were scattered on the coffee table. She wasn’t in her office, either.

I nudged open the bedroom door and stepped inside. Penny stood in front of the mirror, already in her dress for the event.

Her smile lit up the room like a ray of sunshine as she twirled in place, letting the skirt swirl around her legs. “What do you think?”

She was a vision of pure elegance, that’s what I thought. Her dress fit her to a tee, highlighting every dip and curve on her beautiful body, drawing my eye to the places I yearned to explore. The scattering of crystal embellishments on the skirt glinted in the late afternoon sun streaming in from the windows. Their reflections danced across our bedroom wall, giving the whole room an ethereal feel.

She’d already done her hair and makeup, too. Two streaks of blue framed her face, contrasting with the rest of her dark hair. It was different but suited her very well. Part of her hair was swept up in an intricate ’do while the rest cascaded down her back, a wavy, shiny waterfall. Her makeup was done impeccably and tastefully, and showed off her delicate bone structure.

But it wasn't the makeup, hair, or even the dress that caught and held my attention prisoner. It was the way she practically glowed. All the stress and heartbreak that had dulled her eyes when I first met her were gone. Happy energy radiated from her instead, and that was infinitely sexier.

“Ravishing,” I murmured. Penny was beautiful even in sweatpants and t-shirts, but I liked her like this too. “I can’t wait to peel it off you later tonight.”

“Oh, is that so?” She backed her ass right up against me and met my gaze in the mirror.

I slid a hand around her waist. “Or I can do it now if you like.”

She wriggled out of my arms. “Don’t you dare!” She waved a hand at her face. “This isn’t magic. I’m not reapplying all this again.”

I sent her my best devilish grin. “Did I ever tell you why I like real makeup better than magic illusion?”

“No. Why?”

I pulled her back into my arms and cupped her breasts in my palms, giving them a squeeze. “Because with real makeup, yourmascara smudges around your eyes when we fuck, and your lipstick gets all over my cock. Illusion doesn’t do that.”

She inhaled sharply. “Ooh, you’re bad!” She danced away again, slapping away my hands. “Afterthe auction. Then you can mess up my hair and makeup all you want.”

I laughed. “Deal.”

When I’d first decided to go to the event, my sole reason had been to meet possible buyers for future sales and to get a feel for the players in the market. But now, I just wanted to spend a nice evening out with Penny.

“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted. “Excited, but nervous. It will be my first time at an event like this as myself, and not just as ‘Senator Davis’s daughter’. I can just be me. Wear what I want, say what I want. Is it stupid that a little part of me still worries that my family is going to judge me, even though I’ve already made the decision to be true to myself?”

I reached out to touch the blue strand that framed her face. I was glad she’d decided to keep her highlights for the event. She had been worried it wouldn’t be “proper,” but I loved how they looked on her and told her so.

“Not at all. And anyone who says anything negative about your choices tonight is fucking blind. You're going to be the most beautiful woman there.” They might also get a private meeting with my fist. I didn’t tell her that part.

She grinned. “You always know the right thing to say. Thanks.”

“Honestly, gorgeous, I’m the one who won’t belong tonight.” Collecting art and artifacts was a pastime for either the rich and privileged or for scholarly types. Your average Tom, Dick, and Harry didn’t bid tens of thousands of dollars on centuries-old curiosities.

“No way! Some of the rarities on auction are yours, remember? You’ll fit in perfectly. They’ll just think you’re some eccentric rich dude. Trust me, they’re all a little weird.”

“Was that your way of callingmeweird?”

“Yup!” she giggled. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. But seriously, some of the strangest people I’ve met in my life have been filthy rich. It’s like they’re so rich they don't know how to act like a normal human being. You’re not awkward like that. You’re charming.”

Well, that was a part of my natural talent as an incubus. But the only person I wanted to charm the panties off tonight was already standing right in front of me.

“I have something to finish off your outfit,” I said.

I dug into my pocket and brought out a diamond necklace I’d found the other day in my collection. The pendant was supposed to be reminiscent of a dragon’s tooth but was actually shaped more like a shark’s, and that had reminded me of her fondness for sharks.

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