Page 12 of Succubus Sins
Zack offered me a devilish grin paired with a flirtatious wink. “Since when do you attend Mass?”
My lips puckered. “Funny. Look who’s talking.”
We matched each other’s glares until I decided I didn’t want to play this stupid smoldering-gaze game. He always won, anyway.
“Did Sarah put you up to this?” I asked.
“She didn’t put me up to anything. She told me about David.” He rubbed his neck and his loose shirt draped, giving me a glimpse of the perfect arch across his collarbone. “After something like that, where else would you go?”
I sighed and slunk up to Maxine’s side. “Long time no see, Sister.”
Sister Maxine narrowed her gaze and set her bony fists on her hips. “You can’t just come barging into the Lord’s house justifying your sins.” She thrust a pointed finger at the confessional. “You’re supposed to admit all wrongdoings! Not arrogantly wave them in my face!”
I perched my hands on my hips and desperately tried to ignore Zack’s crude inspection, looking me up and down and offering approving nods at my tight sweater. “Look,” I said. “Just hear me out.”
“Is it true? This…” She twirled her hands as if at a loss for words. “David…business?”
“Yes, yes. I slept with David.”
“More fornication!” Maxine bellowed and threw her hands up in disbelief.
“Hey! I had one minute left to live. That’s sixty seconds. You can’t suggest I just let myself die.”
“That’s your own fault,” she countered. “You’re more than capable of finding a husband with your looks and… skills… and not break any of the Lord’s laws. Why’d you let time run out and resort to sin?”
“Seriously? You’re going to sit there and turn a blind eye to seducing someone with supernatural gifts, as if it’s not against any of these so-called laws.”
Maxine straightened. “Who am I to question the Lord’s creations? If he created you, then you have a purpose.” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “But it’s your responsibility to keep your abilities within the law.”
Zack slipped his arm around my waist. “Don’t be so hard on her. She was just trying to be loyal to Sarah. Right, love?”
Maxine buried her face in her hands. “Homosexuality? That’s even worse!” She thrust her hands to her sides and balled them into fists. “Don’t you think there’s a reason your gifts don’t work on women?”
“Sure,” I bit out, the word bitter in my mouth. “Because I need a relationship where my mate doesn’tdie,” I sneered and wriggled out of Zack’s grasp.
“Enough bickering, ladies,” Zack said. “Let’s—hey, is that blood?” he asked, pointing to my jeans, then tugging at my sweater where my rune had started to bleed again.
Attention span of a moth…
I sighed. “Cripes. Whose side are you on?”
Zack chuckled. “You sound like Mom when you get all flustered.” He ran a finger under my chin. “It’s cute.”
“Is it David’s?” Maxine’s quavering voice asked, her eyes glued to the bloodstains on my clothes.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a vampire. The blood on my boots is just from some thugs. Unfortunately, it’s not their blood. They killed these girls and—”
Maxine turned green.
Zack chuckled. “C’mon. Don’t get her all worked up. Sheisa nun.”
“Then help me get my mom’s necklace and get out of here already!”
Maxine blinked. “If you think your mother entrusted me with that necklace just so you could—”
Zack draped an arm over Maxine’s shoulder. “Now, now. That’s why I’m here, all right? It’s either give Sonya here the necklace, or I’m going to have to get her some power another way.” He leered at me. “I believe you said it broke some law in the good book? I can survive her, you know. One night with me and—”
“Yes,” Maxine confirmed, cutting him off, then sighed as her arms hung in defeat. “Fine. Come with me.”
