Page 91 of Incubus
“Hey, folks. I know most of you aren’t used to live entertainment this night of the week,” Sasha said into themicrophone, his voice loud and clear inside the crowded bar, “but I’m not getting paid so they’ve made an exception. See, it’s my birthday today.”
There was a chorus of loud applause, easily roused from the inebriated patrons, to which Nathan and Jim chimed in readily.
“Yep,” Sasha smiled. “But instead of buying me a few pints and calling it good, my friends decided to force me up on stage to play for you tonight.”
Another chorus of cheers.
“I apologize in advance if I'm a little rusty.”
The first strum on the guitar was experimental, Sasha remembering the feel of his fingers on the strings, and then a gentle riff began and Sasha moved into the opening of a ballad that Nathan thought he might have caught on the radio a few times by one of those guys who, to his credit, had a voice that did some very kind justice to Old Blue Eyes.
When Sasha’s vocals poured out, the smile clear in his voice even as he sang, Nathan knew he had chosen the perfect present. The song had a sort of lounge quality that suited Sasha’s smooth voice, and it went well with the simple strums of the guitar. Nathan wasn’t oblivious to the words either, being an obvious love song. Considering the way Jim nudged him in the shoulder, he was pretty sure his brother had gotten the message too.
“He likes you,” Jim said in a mock conspiratorial whisper. “You like him too. You’re blushing, even. And you weren’t even going to tell me.”
Nathan tried his best to tune Jim out, but he knew his brother’s words were true. Nathan really cared for Sasha, which suddenly made it all seem so real instead of just some crazy thing that was happening.
Nathan needed slow, but Sasha gave him that, stealing kisses that Nathan craved more and more with each one. He was fallinginto the comfort of it, into easy, into blissful, and he realized then...that he was willing to do anything to keep it.
Chapter 35
“Ihavetohitthe bathroom,” Jim mumbled, pushing up from the table as soon as Sasha returned from performing up on stage. He was a little unsteady on his feet, but managed to make his way through the bar.
This left Nathan and Sasha alone.
Once Jim was out of sight, Sasha stood and threw on his coat, reaching for the guitar as well, now safely back in its case. “Come on,” he said to Nathan, nodding toward the exit.
Nathan was understandably puzzled. “Okay, I know Jim’s a little annoying and all when he’s drunk, but…”
A chuckle rose in Sasha’s throat and he shook his head. “We’re not ditching him. The line for the bathroom is crazy. We’ll be back before he finds the table empty. Come on. Grab Jim’s coat too so no one takes it.”
“What are we doing?” Nathan asked, though he obliged by putting on his coat and threw Jim’s over his arm to carry.
Sasha just smirked and started leading Nathan through the crowd, occasionally having to deal with people telling Sasha how good he had been up on stage. When they reached the front door they turned and headed upstairs rather than outside. Nathan had forgotten that the bar had an upper level.
There were only a few scattered couples on the roof since it was open air and winter in Chicago. The sky was large and clear above them, the stars dim due to the city lights, but still visible. Sasha led Nathan over to the empty, snow-covered bar.
As soon as Sasha set the guitar down on the countertop, he plowed Nathan back against the wooden wall. It was shadowy in the dark, but there were still people out there who could potentially see them.
“Sasha…” Nathan said warningly, but Sasha wasn’t listening. The incubus claimed his lips so hungrily, Nathan wouldn’t have been able to say anything else anyway.
Halfway into the kiss, feeling that deeply probing tongue and Sasha’s hands on either side of his face, Nathan forgot why he would ever want to tell Sasha to stop. He craved this connection, the way Sasha needed him and how their bodies fit together with hard muscle and strong holds.
“Come to my motel room,” Sasha said breathlessly when he pulled away. The hold he had on Nathan’s face dropped down to Nathan’s neck and shoulders.
“What?” Nathan couldn’t think straight, so he wondered if he had heard Sasha wrong.
Sasha smiled in the dark, his blue eyes almost ethereal—glowing. “When we get back to the motel,” he said, whispering still, hot and breathy against Nathan’s lips, “come to my room. I booked an extra one for tonight.”
“Jesus,” Nathan gasped. His mind felt hazier than any alcohol could manage, and he tried to grin in response to Sasha’s request, but he was shivering and there was nothing slow at all inasking such a thing of him. “Extra room, huh? What, you think you’re getting lucky tonight?”
A flash of white teeth responded. “Well, it is my birthday."
Nathan swallowed, hard and heavy in his throat.
“Nathan, I’m not expected anything. Well…maybe a little something. But whatever you want, whatever you’re comfortable with, that’s fine. Just come. Please,” Sasha said, his voice small despite the weight of the request.
And itwasweighty. It had been weeks again since Sasha had fed from someone.
