Page 68 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
“So, you do sleep?” I ask.
He kisses my neck and mumbles in confirmation.
“But…I thought you were the mountain?”
He takes a deep breath. “I am. But I can pour my focus into this vessel, like possessing it. I lose awareness of what I am. I am this body when I’m close to you.”
I think about the necklace hidden in my purse that I’ve been working on for him, but now’s not quite the right time. I don’t want him to come with me to Silver Mountain. I don’t know if he can. I bet Mark’s great-grandmother put protections in place against the other creatures like him, and who knows what else is out there?
Soon, though. I want to show him soon. And see if it’ll actually work.
“Well, you can keep dreaming. I need to get up,” I say, extricating myself from his hold.
He pulls the white sheet against his chest and pouts at me. I laugh at the sheer audacity of an incubus pouting.
He smiles. “You’re going to the other hot spring today?”
I nod. “How could you tell?”
“You’re nervous. Nothing makes you nervous but Mark, and your mother.”
I give him a quick smile and head for the bathroom. “Well, fortunately, Mark isn’t there on Sundays.”
I shower and pack my swimsuit in my backpack, along with a towel, notepad, and pen, then head to the door. Apollo stops me before I leave, grabbing my wrist.
He looks at me with desperate eyes and a pinched brow. “Don’t fall under his spell.”
The only spell I’m under is yours.
I cup his cheek. “Fall for Turdleneck? Yeah, right.”
He holds my hand to his face and closes his eyes.
“I’m not going to let him turn me against you,” I say. “You’re my incubus.”
He smirks. “And you’re my witch.”
“And we have a deal. My thriving business for your freedom.” The words remind us of the boundaries of our relationship and Apollo releases my hand.
“Yes, of course.”
I grab my backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“I’ll be waiting for you,” he says with a soft smile.
“Me too!”Charlie chimes in from the counter.
Apollo chuckles. “Maybe I’ll take him for a dip.”
“Yay!”
I grin, happy the boys are keeping each other company.
“Be safe,” Apollo says, his eyes serious again.
I feel the urge to lean back in the door and kiss him, promise him that everything is fine and I can take care of myself because I’m a freakin’ witch.
But I don’t.
