Page 56 of Incubus with Benefits
They already thought I was behind the disappearance of three witches; me acting all obsessive over another one was going to get me locked up for good. Which was exactly what they wanted.
My mind kept replaying our time together. The last words she mumbled to me at the club kept barging into my brain.
“You mean now that you’ve already shown me off.”
Was that why her mood had dipped? Was she upset that I’d crossed the line, putting a claim on her like she was mine when we’d agreed to less? But I couldn’t even deny it. That was exactly what I’d been doing. Except it wasn’t only because I didn’t want anyone else touching her; I also did it so everyone would know I wasn’t available.
I should’ve talked to her first, told her how I felt. Told her that I wanted something more with her than what we’d originally agreed on. Something I’d never wanted with anyone else before.
But I hadn’t been sure then. I hadn’t recognized it fully. How could I when I’d never felt anything like it before? I still didn’t know it for sure now, but what else could it be?
I hadn’t wanted anyone since that night a few weeks ago when we’d first danced. Lily was all I ever thought about. For someonewhose motto for centuries has been “variety was the spice of life,” that was huge. I still craved variety, but I only wanted variations of Lily.
Lily on her back. Lily on her knees. Lily riding me into oblivion.
Now I might never have the chance to tell her how I really feel. What if they fabricated evidence and pinned this all on me, and I got locked up forever? Perhaps it was for the best she didn’t know, so she could keep living her life and just remember me as that special friend she once had.
I found myself on my rooftop patio, mindlessly cleaning up one of the flower beds, and waiting for Shadow to show up. The cat had come not just the first evening around sunset, but yesterday as well.
It wasn’t my feline friend but Gina who showed up in a swirl of smoke, one of the wild vines draped over her shoulders.
“How are you holding up, buddy?”
“I’m not your buddy.”
“Oh, come on. Stop sulking.”
“You try wearing this piece of shit on your ankle and not sulk.” I stuck my foot out.
She put her hands up in surrender. “Fine. I’ll just leave you alone then and not tell you what Lily’s doing.”
I took the bait. “Whatisshe doing?”
She formed a giant mitt with her hand and placed it over my phone, which was resting on the edge of the flower bed.
“While you’re here sulking like a pussy, she’s been pulling every string she can to prove your innocence. And she’s doing it subtly enough that those on the case have no idea. She is quite a lady.”
“You’ve managed to tell me a whole lot without telling me anything.”
She laughed. “Our friendly neighborhood Roman researcher dropped by Witch’s Brew for a cup of coffee today. So did Nathan. I don’t know exactly what they’re talking about since they figured out someone was listening and booted me.” She rubbed her bottom like she’d been physically booted out, and it still hurt. “The thing is, I’ve been spending some time with Lily and she hasn’t told me any details, so this must be something they don’t want me, or you, to know about.”
I made a fist and punched the dirt in the flower bed. Hard. Oww! Damn it, I forgot I felt pain like mere mortals because of the ankle monitor too. I hated being made so completely and utterly useless.
“But you must have made quite an impression on her, because she’s more worried about clearing your name than about the magical threads wrapped around her body messing with her magic.”
Magical threads? This was the first time I’d heard about them. “What magical threads?”
There was no reply. I looked up, and Gina was gone.
I growled. It was just like her to drop a bomb like that and leave.
Chapter 26
Lily
Alfonzocalleditusingme as bait. I preferred “irresistible lure,” thank you very much. The mission was simple: make myself visible, vulnerable, and wait for the creeps behind the witch kidnappings to take notice. If we were lucky, we’d find the missing witches. If we were really lucky, they’d still be alive.
Hell. They had to be. Marissa’s energy still pulsed through the gold charm bracelet, humming against my wrist. Nathan hadwanted it, of course, since it was the last piece of her he had. But the researcher insisted I wear it, in case it helped me find Marissa, and also if things went sideways, he’d have two magical threads to follow to find me: the bracelet’s and mine.
