Page 27 of Incubus with Benefits
I couldn’t stay with Julian forever, even if he offered to let me.
And to be honest, I was glad to be getting home. There was a lot for me to clean up, and I had a busy day ahead.
Chapter 13
Julian
Lilywouldn’tletmein when we got to her place. She stood in the doorway, door mostly closed, blocking me from entering her home or from even seeing it. “It’s still a huge mess. And I don’t even have any tea or coffee to offer to be a good host.”
I leaned against the wall, amused. “I’m not here for refreshments. I’m here for you. Do you need help setting up the cameras?”
Several tiny security cameras had shown up at my door bright and early yesterday morning via rush courier, and I’d been confused since I hadn’t ordered them, until Lily had told me she’d ordered them the day before. She’d sent them to my place since they needed a signature.
She waved me off. “Cameras are easy. I’ll get them up and connected to the magical wards in no time. I’ll be fine.”
It was probably for the best since I’d actually never set up anything like that before. Everything at my place and Delerium was set up by Nathan.
Still, part of me wanted her to stay close, which was new. Normally, I kept my hookups confined to the club’s private rooms and vanished before the sheets cooled.
“And Penny’s coming over soon to help with the wards,” she added, still guarding the threshold like I was about to sneak in.
It was for the best. I was already confused enough about how I felt. Instead, I stepped into her space, wrapped my arms around her, and claimed her mouth one last time.
She gasped, but I didn’t give her time to think. My lips crushed hers, demanding, devouring. Her fingers fisted in the soulstuff making up my shirt, pulling me closer, and I groaned when her body melted against mine. Her soft moan sent heat straight through me, and I angled her head to kiss her deeper, harder. Her knees buckled, and I held her tighter, refusing to let her fall.
When I finally pulled back, she was flushed, panting, lips swollen and eyes wide with need.
Then I was hurrying down her steps before I could change my mind and march into her home uninvited anyway.
I drove home with her taste still on my lips and my thoughts in a full-blown riot. She was driving me wild. Was it a spell? Or maybe that natural charm talent of hers. But then again, I didn’t feel any active magic influencing me.
I’d been with plenty of women—men too—but none of them ever lingered in my thoughts like this. None of them made me want to turn around and knock on the door just to see her face again. It wasn’t supposed to feel like this. I didn’t do attachment. I didn’t do longing. And yet, here I was, wondering what the hell she’d done to me.
And then there was that reaction when I saw Steven sniffing around her, hovering too close, talking like he had a right to her time, her attention, her space. I’d nearly lost it. Every instinct I had screamed, “Mine!” even though I had no claim on her. Hell, I didn’t want a mate!
But that didn’t stop the possessiveness from roaring to life. I wanted to take off his arm just to make it very clear that she wasn’t his to manipulate or charm. Who the hell did he think he was? And what kind of sleaze ball dangles a job like a carrot to control someone?
Lily was far too good for the likes of him. Hell, she was too good forme.
But then he’d let his magic show, and I was suddenly unsure about everything. He clearly came from a magical line. And hehad more to offer Lily than I did. All I had was a bad reputation and good sex.
Once my car was parked safely in its spot and I’d dropped my phone and wallet in my apartment, I phased through the floor and into the club. It was Monday. We wouldn’t open again until Thursday. But the cameras were always rolling.
I headed straight for the security room, bypassing the bar, the stage, and the lingering scent of last weekend’s chaos. I had a head full of questions that needed answers.
The first thing I did was pull up the footage Lily flagged from Friday night. She’d said something felt off, and she was right; there was a chunk of video missing. Just a clean slice of nothing where a shadowy figure in black had passed through the hallway.
I went through every video from the weekend, this time without Nathan’s commentary.
I trusted the guy; he was my head of security, after all, and had been for almost a decade. But with Marissa’s family pointing fingers the way they were, I wasn’t sure he had his head on straight regarding all of this. He was beyond stressed from it all. The guy had a daughter from another relationship, and the cops had shown up at his house just as his ex had dropped Molly off.
She was now kicking up a fuss and trying to spin it so he’d lose shared custody. The bitch was mean and would use anything to hurt him.
It didn’t take long to spot the same shadowy figure again. This time, it was on Friday night. He appeared twice in front of thecamera outside the hallway leading to the security room. He wore the same clothes, but tonight, he had a bandana over his face. Frustrating, because we made it clear that bandanas and masks were not allowed in the club to keep our other patrons safe.
Nathan had pulled me aside on Friday, a scowl on his face. He’d thought Lily was working with the cops or maybe Marissa’s family, trying to pin something on him. It explained why he’d been cold with her, but come on—he’d watched the same footage. He had to have seen this.
Suspicion gnawed at me. Without Delerium, Nathan would be out of a job and probably out of options. Could he be hiding evidence to protect the club? To protect himself? Or was he complicit in this?
