Page 7 of Incubus with Benefits
“Hi, Mr. Kim. What’s going on?”
He let out a shaky breath. “I’m so relieved you’re okay. Someone broke in. Must’ve happened after you left for work this morning.”
I blinked. “Broke in? To my place?” Technically, I hadn’t left for work on account of the fact that I didn’t have one anymore, but now wasn’t the time to clarify.
Julian looked up from his plate, eyes sharp. I met his gaze.
“They kicked in the door,” Mr. Kim continued. “Your neighbor saw them and called the cops. We don’t know what they were after, but they cleared out before the police arrived. Your place is trashed.”
Julian mouthed, I’ll drive you.
I nodded. “Okay. I’m coming now.”
I hung up and dropped my phone into my purse, appetite gone. Julian was already moving. I watched in fascination as he molded his soulstuff, the thing all demons were made of. His horns disappeared, and his face became more human. When he was done, he stood there, looking sexy as hell in a perfectly tailored jacket. Damn! I’d never seen him like this before.
It didn’t look stuffy either, it looked smart and just this side of casual. The shirt with the top buttons undone, sans tie, added to the casual vibe.
I looked down at my way-too-short, slinky silver dress. He’d worked his demon magic, and now it was my turn.
Wrinkling my nose, I concentrated my magic on the dress, my gaze on my reflection in the full-length hallway mirror. My dress turned from sparkling silver to matte gray and elongated to just above my knees. I looked around for something to turn into a cardigan and spotted a throw tossed over his couch.
“Can I borrow this?” I asked, picking it up and marveling at how freakin’ soft it was. What the hell was this made out of? Trapped chinchilla souls?
“Sure,” he said, interest piqued.
I tossed the throw over my shoulder and worked my magic again, glad I’d already shoveled so much of the breakfast down the hatch. Magic was hungry work. The throw shrank,molding around my body until it was the world’s softest, most comfortable cardigan. I toned my magical makeup down several notches.
I took one more look in the mirror. Good, it looked like I could’ve come straight from work. “I’m not sure I want my landlord to know I’m out of a job just yet. I have the funds, but he doesn’t know that.”
“Gotcha. Smart. Let’s go.”
As I followed Julian down the stairs and into an indoor garage I hadn’t known was attached to the club, reality started to filter in. Someone had kicked in my door. They hadn’t jimmied the lock or snuck in through a window. Okay, so I was on the second floor, but still. They’d kicked in my door!
What the hell were they after? I didn’t have anything of value, so that could only mean they were looking for me.
Call it intuition, but I knew without a doubt that this was related to the spell that had knocked me out last night. Had Julian and my friends thwarted a kidnapping attempt last night? After failing to capture me, did the culprit visit my house, hoping to find me there alone and vulnerable?
Julian must’ve sensed my worry because a warm hand landed on my shoulder as he steered me away from a motorcycle and toward a stealthy-looking gray Audi RS7 with tinted windows and black leather seats.
I looked up into those gorgeous violet eyes.
“You’re safe as long as you’re with me, Lily.”
Safe was relative, but I’d take it. Especially if it came with pancakes, bacon, and those perfect abs.
But whatever was waiting for me at home, I was glad to know I wasn’t facing it alone.
Chapter 4
Julian
Westeppedoutofmy car and crossed the lot in silence, the mid-morning sun heating the cool pavement. Lily walked a step ahead, her gaze locked on the entrance to her building. I followed, scanning the building for anything out of place. Sensing nothing, I let myself focus on the tantalizing woman before me and the mesmerizing sway of her hips.
Lily had toned down her outfit so it looked like she was coming from work, except for the shoes. She still wore those sexy strappyheels from last night, and while she was banking on others not noticing, I did. How could I not when they accentuated the curve of her calves almost indecently?
Mr. Kim was already waiting inside the cramped foyer, looking tense, tired, and two seconds away from chewing someone out. In other words, exactly as I’d expect a man to look after someone kicked in one of his tenant’s doors. He was in his late fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair parted to one side.
“You’re okay. Thank goodness.”
