Page 37 of Ride Me

“Private thoughts. Thoughts people don’t usually share during an orgasm. Unless you have no choice because a nosy, oversexed spirit is along for the ride.”

He lowered the wheezing Ben to the ground, releasing him with obvious reluctance.

Allegra’s shoulders slumped in relief, but tensed again when his golden glare turned her way. “I’ll kill him if he touches you again.”

“I don’t think Rousseau would like you hurting his friend.” She watched his expression turn to one of confusion. “And I know I wouldn’t.”

“He is the jealous one.”

He meant Rousseau. “But he didn’t invite Ben to join us, did he? That was you,” she reasoned. “And I know you’re not the jealous type.”

He stepped away from her, looking down at Ben, who was still clutching his neck protectively. He shook his head. “This isn’t supposed to happen.”

Allegra closed the gap between them cautiously, part of her wanting to separate him from Ben, the other wanting to soothe him. The Loa’s expression was tinged with guilt and confusion. “What isn’t supposed to happen, BD?”

Regret. Envy. Care.

She heard the answer in her head, as if he couldn’t bring himself to admit to it out loud. “Life is full of both. It’s a package deal. And Ben is your friend. So am I, if you’ll let me be.”

His stunned gaze connected with hers for a long, charged moment. “This isn’t what I wanted.”

His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed on the floor like a sack of sexy, buck naked potatoes.

“Rousseau!” Allegra fell to her knees beside him, her fingers searching his neck for a pulse. It was faint and oddly fast, but it was still there.

“That was damn promising.”

Ben’s hoarse voice brought Allegra’s head around in shock. “He almost killed you, Ben. He could have crushed your windpipe right in front of me. How is that promising?”

He crawled over to kneel beside her, his gaze dropping to the unconscious body on the hardwood floor. “I told you, this isn’t the first time we’ve shared a woman. I’ve seen BD in action enough to know that this”—he pointed toward Rousseau—“is not the norm. Bone Daddy’s MO is kinky, but fixed in its own way. He fulfills the deepest, darkest secret desires of whatever woman he’s with, gaining energy from every climax, and then he sends them off with a smile on their face and a little something extra. Some change in their lives. Like your leg.” Allegra’s hand instinctively moved to her left thigh. It was a powerful talent, being able to give a person anything, everything they wanted. The allure would be almost irresistible. Almost.

“He said it was temporary.”

“Unless he decides it isn’t.” Ben shrugged weakly. “He always gives a gift to his lovers. That part of the rumor is true. He’ll never come, but the next day you may win the lottery.”

Awareness throbbed painfully in her temples. He hadn’t come. In fact, when it looked like he might a few minutes ago, he’d seemed concerned. Scared.

Mercy. He’d asked for mercy.

It couldn’t be that simple. Rousseau’s cryptic words on the phone came back to her in a rush. “He’s never come? This is important so think hard. Have you ever heard about or seen him having an orgasm in the last seven years?”

Ben shook his head, frowning. “He can’t.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

“Rousseau told me about it one rare night when he allowed me to get him drunk. He’d started railing at his father for sticking him with a Loa who needed other people’s orgasms to survive, but never let him come.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “I thought it was strange at the time. To be honest, knowing BD, I thought it might be a secret kink of Rousseau’s, you know? Orgasm denial. Though people rarely enjoy that for more than a few hours, and even that seems excessive to me.”

That was the answer. It had to be. Rousseau couldn’t come. She rose up on her knees, gripping Ben’s shoulders excitedly. “Is there anything that can hold a Loa? Silver? Candle wax? Anything?”

Ben’s expression was wary. “Well, he isn’t a werewolf, Allegra. He’s a spirit. A strong spirit. I’m not even sure what the limits to his powers are.” He shrugged. “I don’t know, Legs. I’m not sure anyone’s ever tried to hold one. Not anyone I’ve ever heard of.”

“Not that you’ve—haven’t you ever tried to help Rousseau get rid of his spirit before now?”

He flinched as though she’d slapped him. “You have no idea what I’ve done for him. What I would do. Do you think I want him to be controlled by a Loa’s whims forever? Even a Loa like BD, who only wants to make sure he gets laid once in a while?”

Allegra glared at him until he rolled his eyes. “I know I’m defending him. I’m not immune to BD’s charm, as much as I’d like to be. He allows me in at his leisure, but he rarely lets down his guard. Until you, he’s never once lost control.”

Allegra ran a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry, Ben. I have no right to question you. Even your mother and Mambo Toussaint couldn’t help. And I’ve got no room to talk, since I haven’t been able to resist him either.”

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