Page 36 of Siren Sins
He pressed his lips into a thin line before replying. “You really think Derek wouldn’t put up cameras in the suite in Shanghai?”
The blood drained from my face. “Yeah, I found out he recorded it, but,” I swallowed, “you saw it?”
He scoffed and his damp hair fell into his face. “I got a front row seat to the live show.”
“Shit, Luke, I’m sorry.”
He smirked and ran his fingers up my arm. “It’s okay. I told you that I don’t mind sharing you.” His hand dropped. “You’re a succubus. Sex is part of your world. I couldn’t ask you to be something you’re not.” He glanced at the doorway. “You’re probably hungry. Did Sarah seem open to rekindling old flames?”
I narrowed my eyes. “No, and I don’t want to rekindle anything anyway.”
He laughed and kissed my cheek before going into the bedroom. “You may be sexy as hell, but you’re a terrible liar. Deceit is not one of your succubus skills.”
I stared after him. “Does that mean you’re offering?”
He grinned. “Only foreplay. The next time we have sex will be on my terms.”
I bit my lip and followed him. “What defines foreplay?” I followed him inside and ran my finger over his bare chest, lingered my touch down the long scar until I hit the knot of the towel around his waist.
He gripped my wrist. “Foreplay means you can want me.” His breath misted my lips and I leaned in to taste him. He pulled me hard against him so that the ridge of his erection pressed against my thigh, but evaded my lips. “Foreplay means you can’t have me.”
A red haze filtered around us as my desire bloomed to life. I’d never had anyone deny me, or tease me like this. My gaze fell to his lips. “But you saw how much power I used to get us here. My Blood Stone is weakened. It used the last of its strength to break our fall to the ocean.” I peered into his eyes, hoping I didn’t sound too desperate. “Apollo is coming back to Miami and he’s going to be coming for Sarah’s Tear of the Sea. I need to be strong enough to stop him.”
He trailed his thumb over my lower lip. “Sex between us can’t be about power or politics. When we sleep together, it’ll be because you want me, and no other reason.”
I frowned, because I did want him, but he was right. I had ulterior motives. “Then I suppose we’re at a stalemate,” I said with a touch of disdain before forcing myself to peel away from him. I swayed my hips as I walked out of the room.
His husky chuckle followed me down the hall and made my knees buckle.
Damn, was I hungry.
On the Hunt
Sonya
Luke denying me was an exciting and frustrating experience. But I was a powerful succubus and I wasn’t about to go hungry. My Blood Stone resisted as I plucked at it looking for strength and sexual nourishment.Go find a siren,it teased.Anything I have to give will be a snack. It’s time for a meal, as well as some answers.
I growled with frustration, but the sentient Blood Stone was right. The other sirens would know more about Apollo and his plans. I needed to know if he was really working with Derek and what the Incubus King had promised him before he came back to town.
Finding a siren to seduce was dangerous, but I had to admit that the idea excited me. I fed off of sexual energy and a siren fed off of sorrow unlatched in the thrall of sex. It would be possible to feed off of one another, but it was a risk. Should the siren get under my skin enough, she could lead me to the ocean. I couldn’t breathe underwater.
I purposefully left the house and stomped across the sands towards the sirens nesting on the shore. Without Apollo around to cleanup after them, a few victims still lay still on the sands. But their silhouettes hazed like a mirage in a desert. Humans walked by, enjoying a morning on the beach, unaware of the bodies strewn about them. I thought about what Sarah had said.I’ve picked up a few siren tricks.
The sirens could hide their victims from view. I marveled how remorseless they seemed for their crimes. Even if it was for survival, killing an innocent wrecked me with guilt. But the sirens didn’t seem perturbed at all. Most of them seemed sated, lazily sleeping on the sands with towels and fancy drinks. They’d be in full heat come night, but now they rested and indulged in the short burst of peace that feeding on sorrow gave them.
Frowning, I decided against approaching the sirens. Plus, the sight of lifeless bodies did wonders for killing the mood.
I veered away from the shore and headed for the siren’s bar. I wasn’t going to find what I was looking for in the broad light of day, but even Apollo’s bar thrummed with life and promised I’d learn a thing or two, if not be able to find a snack inside.
Grabbing a seat in a corner, I waved at a waitress making her rounds. “Anything to eat, sweetie?” she asked. The younger staff seemed to be exclusive to the evening shift and the older woman who smiled down at me held out a glass of orange juice.
I smiled and took the drink. “Just coffee, please. Thanks.”
I tried to listen in on the conversations humming around me that hinted with sirens’ songs, but I felt distracted. My thighs ached and my thoughts felt muddy.
You really need to get laid,my Blood Stone quipped.
I frowned and stirred the frothy orange juice with a straw. “Go away,” I hissed. “I’m trying to listen.”
