Page 3 of Instructed By the Summoner
“Tell that to my boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. I broke up with him earlier, because he got it into his head that I needed him to ‘take charge.’ And he didn’t bother to talk to me about it.”
“Not everyone enjoys power play.”
For his part, Xak had always found the idea of surrendering control tempting. He’d tried not to get too attached to the idea. Submissive demons weren’t in high demand. And those who summoned them weren’t usually … gentle.
“I do,” the human said, with a shrug. “Just, not as the submissive. Boundaries are in place for a reason and he, uhm, crossed mine. That’s why…”
He trailed off, gesturing between them with a weak smile. Right. That was why he’d tried to summon an incubus and gotten stuck with Xak instead.
“Sorry,” Xak said, skin heating again. “I wish I could… I should offer to kill him for you, but I get sick around blood. I know some people? From before I dropped out. Tricksters, too, if you want to mess with him. Though I don’t know all that many. I only took a few semesters. Terrible liar.”
“And you don’t want to be an incubus.” Instead of accusing, the human sounded sympathetic.
“Iwantto. It’s the test that… I don’t want to fail out of the only thing I’ve been sort of good at.”
“Nerves?” the human asked, the words rich with understanding, a hint of a smile on his lips. “If, uhm. I might be able to– I have an idea. If you’d be open to hearing it?”
Xak had been right. That smile suited his face, and brought attention to a very appealing pair of lips. A full smile would be better, especially if it came with more pleasant emotions, ones that washed away the bitter aftertaste of hurt.
If the man’s desire already tasted so tempting, Xak could only imagine what it might be like, mingled with joy or genuine pleasure. A question he’d tuck away for later, when he was on his own and imagining this whole debacle going very differently.
“Sure,” he said, attempting a smile of his own. “I’m in no hurry to get back to filing.”
“Good to know that filing isn’t your kink.” The summoner rubbed the back of his neck, a thread of embarrassment watering down his desire. “So, uhm. We could do a Scene. If you’re comfortable with someone else being in charge. Me, I mean. It’d take the responsibility out of your hands, no need to worry aboutwhatever you’re ‘supposed’ to do. With a safe word and a go word. Go, like, ‘keep going’ and unless you used it, we’d stay at the, uh, stage we’d be at. Even if that’s kissing.”
Xak couldn’t help it. He gaped at the man. It wasn’t the offer that threw him. The humanhadsummoned him for sex. Even his attempt to keep Xak instead of summoning a proper incubus was only a little strange. Summoning was difficult and could go much more catastrophically wrong.
The human didn’t seem to mind having his energy nibbled on, but Xak felt safe assuming he didn’t wish to beactuallyeaten.
No, what confused Xak was the summoner’s attitude. That nervous discomfort. The expectation that Xak wouldrefusehim. Admittedly, Xak’s own nerves spiked, temptation mingled with those same repetitive fears.
You’ll be bad at it. You always fuck up. Theory isn’t practice.
How did he convince the man of his own enthusiasm, when his fears still beat so loudly in his chest?
“I…” He licked his lips, wings fluttering, gaze roaving over the man with open curiosity. “Yes? If you’re really willing.
“Very willing. And very into equally willing partners.”
There it was again, that hint of insecurity. Nervous or no, Xak needed to make it clear that he wanted this too. Well, as messed up as he might be about his own desirability, he wasn’tshy.
“More than,” he offered trying, and failing, to still his wings. “You’re a four course meal served by a very appealing chef.”
He gave the human a lingering once-over as he said it, gaze lingering on those thick thighs and soft-seeming lips. If it helped the man believe him, he was more than happy to leer a bit.
“And I thought only vampires could make eating someone sound sexy. Can you hold off on feeding until I say you can? I don’t like the idea of getting tired in the middle of things.”
“I can’t help tasting you, but I can refrain from,” his lips twitched up in a fang-bearing grin that he hoped came off as flirtatious, “swallowing, until you allow it.”
“Perfect.” And when the summoner smiled at him, Xak felt like he’d actually done somethingrightfor once. “I’m not into humiliation, harm, blood, or mind games. That alright?”
“My dislike of blood includes mine. And yours. I get more than enough humiliation from my professors.”
“I think that means we have terms.”
“Hellfire. I mean… Yes?”Shit, the words, the ones needed for a deal. He’d never done this before. “I accept your terms. Release me and I’ll make no claims on your soul nor seek to do anyone harm. And, you can call me Xak. If you like.”
“Hi, Xak. I’m Kai, and really glad I mispronounced that trill.”
