Page 62 of Incubus
“That’s just…awful,” Sasha said. “And I’m not just saying that because of my own body chemistry here. People need relationships. Family, friends,andlovers. No wonder he loses his cool once in a while.”
The thought of many of their problems being solved simply by Jim getting laid had Nathan laughing. “I don’t know how he stands it,” Nathan said. “Not that I can boast as crazy a number of conquests as you, I’m guessing, but I totally get where you’re coming from. Jim thinks he’s cursed, like he’ll hurt the girl he’s with or for sure have a changeling for a kid. Nothing in life is that certain.”
A small coffee-stained piece of paper fell from Nathan’s latest book, interrupting him. He handed it to Sasha.
“Perfect. Might be too late on this one judging by the date,” Sasha said as he read the note over, “but I’ll start a pile.” He tossed the paper toward the nearby coffee table, but it was so light, it floated just off the edge and landed on the carpet.
Nathan reached to pluck the paper back up, but so did Sasha. Their hands collided. Sasha apologized with a laugh as he took the paper and placed it more carefully on the coffee table, but Nathan was suddenly lost in thoughts of how ridiculously soft Sasha’s skin was for a seal. Or aman.
He shuddered, remembering the dream from last night, and all that pale, bare skin.
“Are you okay, Nate?”
Crooking his mouth up into what he hoped was a casual smirk, Nathan kept his eyes on the books. “Fine,” he said.
“Nathan. I meanreally.”
Glancing up again, Nathan found Sasha staring at him intently. The sadness was back on Sasha’s face, that haunted expression that couldn’t quite be covered up by his smiles or charm. They were sitting close on the carpet. Nathan had put himself in that position when he sat next to Sasha.
Then Sasha’s brow furrowed, as if he was trying to read Nathan’s emotions, or maybe his thoughts, and wasn’t quite sure of his findings. That was fine with Nathan, because he wasn’t sure of anything either.
Sasha’s eyes were intensely trained on Nathan's face. There was an undercurrent of heat in the look. Ofwant. Nathan physically felt hotter under Sasha's stare.
“Find anything yet?”
Nathan’s heart raced at the sound of his brother’s voice, torn between relief and...disappointment. “Possible lead,” he said, using the opportunity to pull his eyes from Sasha’s face. “We just started looking.”
“I’ll help. I can’t find anything useful in that book.”
Jim came over and plopped down beside them, looking first at the note on the coffee table before beginning to flip through books.
“I suppose we could check for anything on dark sidhe breaking out of the Veil,” Jim said. “I just want to make sure we focus on Nathan.”
“Of course,” Sasha said, veryfocusedon Nathan still, independent of his hands that reached for another book. “Nathan comes first.”
Sasha’shandsweresosoft. Nathan hadn’t forgotten that. He wondered if there was some kind of incubus healing factor against blistered and rough skin to make sure their touch was always pleasurable. Nathan couldn't deny that Sasha's touch was pleasurable, not when hands were moving gently up his thighs and a kiss accompanied the caresses just beneath his navel.
Nathan was dreaming again, lying on the same bed he had curled up on when he fell asleep. He assumed the room was the same too. It was too dark to know for sure, but he couldfeel. He could feel Sasha’s hands sliding further up his sides, while theincubus’ lips climbed his chest. He knew he couldn't blame his dream on the pheromones this time.
When Sasha reached Nathan's mouth, full lips touched his in a tender press. Nathan allowed himself to kiss back, couldn’t help it really. But he knew that in another moment the bliss he was feeling would be gone, distorted into something else. Something terrible and dark, like all of his dreams of late had ended.
Nathan didn’t want to wait for the curtain this time. He pulled away.
“Nathan?” came Sasha’s voice, whispered and worried. “What is it?”
Nathan kept his eyes clenched shut. “I’m waiting for the scary part,” he said.
Although Nathan couldn’t see Sasha, he knew the incubus smiled. “It doesn’t have to be scary, Nathan," Sasha said. "You just keep making it that way.”
There was nothing menacing or threatening in Sasha’s voice, only the trust and comfort Nathan had come to know when he was awake. Cautiously, Nathan peeked an eye open, then the other, met by the brilliant blues and perfect smile of Sasha hovering over him.
Sasha really was beautiful.
Nathan turned his head to the side, knowing he would find Jim’s bed next to his, because that was where Jim’s bed was. His brother was sleeping soundly.
“What about him?” Nathan asked.
“Don’t worry about Jim. He’s asleep.”
