Page 32 of Incubus

I tried to twist from behind Roth so I could pummel the smile off the demon’s face. I was more than ready to take down this asshole.

“We only seek passage to the catacombs, Voltaire.” Roth backed up until he had me pinned between his body and the wall. Eventually, I stopped struggling. But only for the moment. I still intended to get my point across to the pleasure demon that I wasn’t here as his plaything.

“You come on my turf and bring a tantalizing tidbit like that but won’t offer her to me?” The demon had stopped trying to get at me and stood nose to nose with Roth.

I calculated whether I could slip out from behind him and summon my bow from the ether. One glance to the rage demon peering in from the outer door told me that I wouldn’t have enough time to take them both down before they were on top of me.

“Coming here was a mistake. We’ll just be leaving.” Roth took my arm and pushed me back toward the rage demon at the door.

“Not so fast, Roth.” The pleasure demon’s offhand tone hid a not so subtle warning. “You can’t waltz in here and enjoy the ambience without giving something in return.”

“You aren’t touching Lilah.” A cold blast radiated from Roth.

“Lilah, is it?” The demon rolled the word around on his studded tongue. “I’m sure there’s something you can offer. That sweet piece of ass would do perfectly.”

I’d had enough of the “stay behind me” routine and didn’t appreciate being talked about like a piece of meat. “I’ll punch your lights out, you son of a bitch. How’s that for an offer?” I fought to free myself from between Roth and the wall.

“You’re just encouraging him.” Roth spun and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me against his chest. His scent enveloped me, shooting warmth through all the places that needed to remain cold.

Voltaire watched Roth’s actions with obvious interest. I twisted my head around so I could see him. Of course, he was eyeing my ass like it was a drink of water and he was a dying man in the desert.

After a moment of intense standoff, the demon purred, “If you won’t give me something, then you can show me something.”

Been there, done that, saw the Oracle.

“We’ll be going now.” Roth pushed past Full Metal Jacket, dragging me behind him, only to find the hulking Rannok blocking the exit.

“Like I said, someone has to pay.” The pleasure demon leered at me as the tension ramped up a notch. Roth’s eyes locked with Voltaire’s. Both males were coiled tightly, a promise of violence about to begin.

The pleasure demon was the first to back down. He simply held his hands out, palms up. “Listen, I don’t need any more violence up in here tonight, though I wouldn’t mind it, of course. So, this one time, I’ll make you a deal.”

“Oh, yeah, what’s that?”

“I won’t hurt her, though I’d really, really like to.” Voltaire licked his lips, or more accurately, the metal loops that held his lips captive. “But you will.”

Another blast of cold from Roth, but this time it was straight from the Arctic Circle. Even the “performers” stopped what they were doing to watch the scene.

“We play along, and you’ll grant us safe passage to and from the catacombs?” Roth grated out.

I craned my neck back and stared at him. “Hang on a second. I think I just hallucinated. You’re not actually agreeing to this?”

“Safe passage, yes.” Voltaire nodded and waved the vampires back to their prey. The witch moaned when she was bitten again. I wasn’t about to join her as the M in the S&M sandwich. No way was I going to be trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey just so Roth could tell me something he could have already told me in the safety of his home.

But the stark set of Roth’s jaw told me he’d made up his mind. A slight tilt of his head sealed the deal with the demon. Son of a bitch.

“Let me go!” I began fighting against Roth’s rock-hard chest, but his grip tightened on me as I thrashed.

“Now that’s more like it.” Voltaire’s eyes grew hooded.

Before I knew it, Roth had gathered my hair behind my head and wrapped it around his fist. I yelped with surprise before raking my nails down his neck.

“Yes.” The demon motioned for the bloodied nymph to come over. She knelt in front of him and took his metallic length into her mouth. “Watch me, little immortal.” His eyes burned through me.

“Goddamnit, Roth, if you—” But when I’d turned back to him, Roth was gone. The ember-eyed incubus had taken his place. He yanked my head back with a smile and wrenched my left arm behind me, pressing my body hard into his. I shuddered involuntarily, feeling a desire that seemed entirely out of place in the current circumstances. He eyed my lips.

“If you try it, I’ll bite you.” I bared my teeth.

“That’s it, my fiery Lilah.” Voltaire’s gaze bored into me, but I wouldn’t look at him. Couldn’t watch what the god of heavy metal was doing to the poor nymph. Besides, I had my own problems.

Roth gave another strong pull on my hair, making me arch into him as he slanted his mouth over mine. That first bit of contact was like fire in my veins, but I wasn’t going to give in. I bit his lower lip, drawing blood, but that made him kiss me even harder, with more need. I wriggled against him, the crushing strength of his chest maddening. His lips were hot and firm. I felt as if someone had pranked me and put jelly where my knees were supposed to be.

I stopped fighting him, heat blooming inside me. Something different than I’d ever felt before. His tongue probed my lips, wickedly flicking and licking them. And, gods help me, I opened my mouth for him.

He angled his head, deepening the kiss and brushing me with the sheen of shadow on his cheeks. His grip on my hair relaxed, and I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. The heat of his tongue stroking mine made my thighs feel like they were on fire, and I opened my legs just enough so he could press his hard length against me. I would have gasped with pleasure if my mouth weren’t otherwise engaged. I was branded by his lips, the possessiveness of this kiss.

When he moaned low in his throat, a sound full of the deepest desire, I knew I was lost.

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