Page 52 of Incubus with Benefits
Chapter 24
Lily
Julian’shandrestedpossessivelyon the small of my back as we walked through the hallway Upstairs to the big room at the end. It was Thursday night again, and the start to another weekend. The week had passed by so fast, and I’d been so busy with everything that had been happening that I still hadn’t figured out how to leave Julian’s home.
It didn’t help that we found Krista and her unnamed friend aroundmyplace the other day as well. Everyone, including Gigiand Penny, had agreed that staying with Julian was the best option for now. And they were probably correct.
After being MIA from Upstairs last weekend, Julian really needed to make an appearance there to stop any brewing rumors. It was crazy what people’s imagination came up with.
One of the rumors going around was that he’d been in love with one of the missing women and was mourning her loss. Another one was that he had all the missing women hidden away and was forcing them to do horrible things. Another one was that he’d fallen in love with one of the club's regulars and they were happily playing house behind closed doors.
That last one hit the nail a little too close to the head for comfort, though I was sure Julian wasn’t actually in love with me.
All heads turned as we walked into the room. It was quite late at night, and things were winding down on the dance floor below us. And those who came for something other than dancing were starting to file in.
I was acutely aware of all the eyes on me and was grateful when Gina, a face I actually knew, greeted us and waved us over like it was the most natural thing in the world.
As we marched over, I couldn’t help but feel like he was showing me off. Not subtly either. His strides were slow and deliberate, like he wanted everyone to see who’d be in his arms tonight.
I wasn’t surprised. He’d admitted it earlier, saying he planned to use me as more than just a way of tamping down the rumors.He’d warned me that he’d used me as an excuse to skip off early as well.
I was lucky I didn’t mind being the center of attention, because every pair of eyes were on us, some with envy so sharp I could practically feel it slicing through the air. I wasn’t new to attention, but this was different. This was Julian’s world, and I was the unexpected—and to some people unwanted guest.
We’d spent some time downstairs on the dance floor, and I recognized a few faces from there. But since I was wearing that super high pair of Louboutins, I couldn’t really stay on my feet for long.
Plush couches, low lighting, and the scent of jasmine and sandalwood filled the air. Gina, the source of the intoxicating fragrance, lounged on a divan like a queen with a drink that glowed faintly purple. A satyr with goat horns and legs knelt at her feet, giving her a foot massage.
All around us were other demons I didn’t recognize, all of them dangerously beautiful and promising decadent carnal delights. One of the succubi gave me a slow once-over, her smile curling with interest. Suddenly, I felt very much like a fresh piece of meat at a buffet, and judging by the way some of them licked their lips, I wasn’t wrong.
The demons weren’t the only ones on the prowl, however. There were others here too, some dressed to kill, others barely dressed at all, some humans, others not. They looked over the selection of incubi and succubi with such hunger that it was clear they were not victims, but rather very enthusiastic participants. They were here to mix and mingle and hopefully go home with oneof the sexual energy-devouring demons, or maybe even two or three.
I’d hazard a guess that many of them were single witches who replenished their magic with sex. And others were lonely and needed physical touch to help ease life’s hardships.
I recognized the blonde lady I’d seen on the camera feed, the one who’d practically draped herself over Julian. The look she gave me was anything but welcoming. I did my best to ignore her. I didn’t play games like this.
Julian guided me up onto a raised platform and toward a couch. His couch? He leaned in and brushed a kiss against my cheek. No one in the room missed the action. It was territorial and possessive, and it made my knees wobble enough that I had no choice but to sit down on the plush seat.
“I’m grabbing a drink. Stay, Vixen.”
I gave him a look. “I’m not a puppy.”
“No, you’re not. You’re more like a kitten.” He smirked, then stepped away to the bar to grab some drinks.
One of the males, tall, silver-eyed, and dressed in something so tight that it looked painted on, slid closer. His smile was slow, deliberate, and far too confident.
“You’re new,” he said, his voice velvety smooth. “What’s your name, gorgeous?”
I wasn’t here to flirt but I decided to be nice anyway and let him down gently if he got too pushy. “Lily. You?”
“I’m Rafe.” Rafe assessed me. “Actually, you look quite familiar.”
“I come by with Prax and his mate sometimes,” I said. “So you might have seen me around the club.”
“Ah yes! Of course.”
He reached for my hand, fingers brushing mine with a spark of heat that wasn’t entirely natural. I didn’t pull away, but I didn’t lean in either. I could handle this. I’d handled worse.
“Careful,” I said. “I bite.”
