Page 80 of Demons and Debts
Oh.
‘You mean talk about the guy I was with.’
He nods his head, looking like he’s trying not to laugh.
I sigh. I wasn’t going to go into this. ‘We only did it the one time. It’s just … I was trying to get it done.’
‘It?’
‘Well, I’d never had sex before. I was 19 and, well, everyone seemed to have done it and I thought ... I was working at a bar in Phoenix and there was a guy there and he kept looking at me. He bought me a drink. My coworkers said that meant he was interested so I took him back to my place and …’ I shrug. ‘I didn't like it. It hurt and he smelled like he’d rolled in aftershave.’ I wrinkle my nose at the thought. ‘I never knew his name. I don’t think that's odd for one night stands though. He left when he was done and I never saw him again.’
Vic doesn't say a word but there's something in his face and I try to work out what it is, hoping it's not pity.
‘It’s ok,’ I say. ‘I—’
‘Close your eyes,’ he interrupts softly.
I shut up and do as he says, hoping that this is when we get this over with because the waiting is what's killing me. Once the first time is done and I know what to expect, I hope it won't be so bad, but no one's really explained what it’s like with an incubus. Maybe I should have talked to the girls downstairs. It's probably too late to do that now ...
I crack an eye open and Vic’s still over me.
‘What are you doing?’ I ask.
He chuckles a curse. ‘It doesn't matter what I'm doing. I’m not going to hurt you. Do as you’re told.’
I close my eyes again with a snort and then his lips are on mine. Gentle. Just a light, feathering caress. My eyes snap open and I rear back because this was completely unexpected, but he doesn't do anything else. He moves back a little bit, giving me space.
‘Sorry,’ I mutter, feeling like a broken doll.
He doesn't say anything, but he gets off the bed.
‘Are you hungry?’ he asks.
I nod, glad he doesn’t seem upset, even gladder he’s not making me do anything right now.
‘Come on.’
He turns around and pads to the other side of the room and I see he’s barefoot. Something about that makes me wish he’d come back to the bed and kiss me again now that I’m expecting it. I like bedroom Vic more than office Vic, but I still jump out of bed while his back is turned and pull last night’s dress down over my ass.
Vic takes my hand and I let him pull me slowly through the hall and down the stairs to the deserted kitchen, all the while not being able to stop thinking about how weirdly right his hand feels in mine.
I errantly wonder if it’s still considered ‘the walk of shame’ if you didn’t actuallydoanything.
‘What do you want?’ he asks.
‘I'll get it,’ I say going into the pantry and rising on my tippy toes to find the cereal box that I hid from Theo on the top shelf at the back. It's still there and there's a little bit left. As I shake it, I can’t help my grin.
‘What's that look about?’ he asks.
‘I love this cereal, but Theo keeps trying to make me eat that other stuff.’
‘Yeah,’ Vic says, ‘he’s weird about it. Anyone else has a bowl and he gets pissed. The store Stan shops at hardly ever has it in stock or something.’
‘Well, I don’t like the other one you have, and he got upset that I was eating his one, so now I hide the box so I can eat it first.’
Vic, who's just taken a sip of coffee, makes a noise and chokes, bending over the sink. Coffee splutters out of his mouth as he coughs, and I realize he's laughing.
I smile and his eyes lock on mine for a second before I look away. I don't usually look into other people's eyes much as a matter of course. It always feels weird; too personal maybe, but I kind of like doing it with him.
