Page 61 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
Apollo shrugs. “I can only assume that the maker is lonely. Bored. They create beings they can observe in the world and entertain themselves with. Honestly, I don’t know. They’ve never interfered with my life once I reached your plane. I have not heard from them or experienced their gaze in over a century.”
More than a hundred years…
“I’m so sorry, Apollo,” I say, grabbing his greasy hand in mine. “Well, you’ll always have me, even when you find your mate. I’d love to still be your friend.”
His eyes glow as his gaze connects with mine. “I’m honored to call you friend. Girl friend.” He says each word with emphasis.
I laugh. “Yes, I’m a girl and your friend. And you’re my boy friend.”
He smiles softly, then seems to jolt to attention. “Are there any more movies you love? I would like to watch them.”
I glance over at my notebook and see all the checkboxes I scribbled off today and nod to myself. It’s just enough to watch a movie with my incubus boy friend.
“You know, there are a few more I think you should see,” I say, pulling the laptop closer. “Have you heard of anime?”
sixteen
Mark Can Suck it, a Marketing Strategy
Three weeks of orgasms, nailing wood planks to the floor, drafting up aesthetic designs, cleaning the pools, stabilizing their pH balance, playing with my magic, and working on my special gift for Apollo has left me a bit stir-crazy—but also feeling highly accomplished. Still, I need to get out, and it’s Saturday, so Irene won’t be working. I pull up her number and fire off a text inviting her to have dinner with me this evening.
I want to hit Mark where it hurts. I’m pretty good at marketing businesses myself, but I want an expert to bounce ideas around with me. Irene is smart, funny, and has a reason to hate the Turdleneck even more than me. It’ll make our strategy absolutely lethal.
But more than screwing over my competition, I really miss having a girlfriend. Alexis was my closest confidant for four years…
I scroll down and see the red (2) sitting over her name in my text list. The preview of the first six words makes my throat tight.
I’m so sorry. I love him.
I’m not sure how she does. Not sure what he did to be worthy of her affection. She’s so muchbetterthan him, and disappointment swells in my stomach. I scroll past the message and see a reply from Irene.
I’mSOthere! 7:30? I have to make sure my dad gets his meds at dinner around 6:30.
I smile and fire back two thumbs up withI’ll make the reservation.
Apollo and I get busy with doing a final clean sweep of the lobby to prepare for the new furniture I ordered. When six rolls around, Apollo drags me to the bedroom for one last feasting. Who am I to deny a hungry man?
I shower after and find a decent cocktail dress for the reservation at the nicest steakhouse in town, Corks. Since I’ve got the capital, and this is technically a business meeting, I’m going to wine and dine Irene to the max. She deserves it for all she’s been through, and all she does.
Apollo’s eyes rake over me from the bathroom door as I finish my makeup. “I will be undressing you later. Slowly.”
I laugh for what feels like the millionth time since coming here. “You’re going to inflate my ego, sir.”
“It deserves to be inflated,” he says, dragging his nails down the exposed skin on my back. “You are the most beautiful woman in the twelve realms.”
“All twelve, huh?” My face heats and I turn my head down, hiding in the curtain of my straightened hair.
“Don’t do that, lovely.” Apollo grabs my chin and tilts it back up until I’m looking at myself in the mirror. “Even without all these accoutrements, you’re stunning and worthy of praise.”
His attentive stare makes me squirm.
“Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome.” His smile is so genuine and full of warmth. No wonder Mark’s great-grandmother fell in love with him.
“Right, well.” I clear my throat. “Best not keep Irene and the table at Corks waiting. I’ll bring you something back!”
He smiles. “I can’t wait.”
