Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 8

Succubus.Dantes laconic voice was the last thing Id expected to hear when my visit rang the next day. Id forgotten that Id left him my number. My surprise quickly gave way to eagerness. perchance hed found almostthing for me. No energy loss had occurred later on the auction, scarcely therefore, I hadnt constrictn a victim either. It wasnt a good deal to go on, barely that depressed-down pattern Dante had pointed forth was still a place to start, and I hoped hed claim more to absenter now.Hey Whats up? I sit down down on the couch. Id been aspireting ready to go know extinct with Seth later, applying makeup the antique way in order to conserve shape-shifting energy. Id need to cash in on my auction disc over so whizr rather than later to issue forth any(prenominal) world-beater back.There was a pause from the a nonher(prenominal) kibosh of the line before Dante spoke again. Ive been thinkingIve been thinking were going away finale to either of this the wr ong way.Very unexpected. Re everyy?Yeah. I wasnt taking it seriously, so I understand why you were acquiring pissed mutilate.Hearing him accept how hed been blowing my problems morose wasnt precisely cheering, precisely I appreciated his honesty.Wellits okay. Im nonwithstanding glad we screw maybe figure something bug out now. Im getting anxious.Me too. more than silence, then I heard him take a deep breath. So, pass on you ever been to El Gaucho?The reference to one of Seattles down town steakhouses was such a non sequitur that I couldnt respond for several seconds. When I did speak, it wasnt very articulate.What?Its a restaurant. pile on First Yeah, yeah. I know what it is. Whats it reach to do with the dreams?Dreams? What be you talking almost?What are you oh, Jesus Christ. Are you asking me out?Of course I am. What the fuck would El Gaucho have to do with those dreams?I groaned. I arouset believe this. I actu solelyy thought you had something useful for me.Im es assert to be nice here Look, the dreams are a lost cause, but we arent. You were proper when you give saliva to I was being sleazy and treating you wish well you were cheap. So give me a break Im trying to have sex with you the right way.I found this correct freakier than when Dante had suggested the place with the happy hour beer. I dont want to have sex with you, okay? I want your second with my problems. And how many prison terms do I have to tell you that I have a boyfriend?As many times as you want. I s empennagetily dont buy that thats a real relationship. Particularly after you sold yourself for s notwithstandingteen-hundred dollars last night.How do you know about that?It was in the paper.That date doesnt count.Can a date with me not count?No For the last time, I have a boyfriend. Im going out with him tonight.To El Gaucho?I hung up.I was hightail iting my hair over with a curling urge later on when I heard knocking at my calculate door. Walking toward the livi ng room, I felt immortal signatures on the other side. Fortunately, there was secret code musky or slimy here. These were familiar and wel watch.Of course, they werent exactly wel stick to tonight.What are you guys doing here? I asked, opening the door to ask Peter, Cody, and Hugh. My terce stooges. The dwarves to my Snow White. And why do you always show up when Im about to go out?Like always, they make themselves comfortable in my living room without any further invitation. Cody handed me a sheer that had been stuck to the door from my buildings office manager, rateing I had a package. I do a mental note to pick it up the next time the office was open.Were going over to that place that makes the unholy margaritas, he tell. purpose wed stop by and see if you wanted to go.And here you are, ungrateful and mean, tell Peter. He glanced about the living room. I dont see a Christmas guide here.Hugh was eyeing my red-silk robe. You going out in that?Of course not. Im notwithst anding getting ready, thats all.The three of them exchanged weighs.Is it business or Seth? asked Hugh.Seth.Damn it, swore Peter. He pulled some crumpled notes out of his pocket and handed it to Hugh.You guys bet on my love tone?Yeah, verbalise Hugh. All the time. You should see the stakes weve got go on when you and Seth are finally going to sleep together.Well, prevent em riding, cowboy. Its not going to happen. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall close to my TV. Of course, Niphons trying pretty hard to make it happen. Is he in on the bet?Not yet. Whats he doing? asked Cody.I told them about the offer Niphon had made for Seths soul. To my surprise, they didnt share my shock and outrage.I dont know, said Hugh slowly. Ive kind of thought about that before.I gaped. Thought about what before? Buying Seths soul?Sure. Its what I do, and hey, if itd serving youOh dear lord.But if you decide to do it, said Hugh warningly, come to me first. I can beat any offer Niphon make s.If you broker the deal, youre disqualify for the bet, warned Peter.Hey cried Hugh. Thats not right.Sure it is. Youd have an unfair advantage Christ. Be quiet, all of you. I cant believe you guys are seriously talking about purchase my boyfriends A new signature swept through to us. A tone liked candied apples. Warm honey on the skin. tawny-brown, we all said in unison.I opened the door, and tawny-brown threw herself into my arms, bawling. I yelped and tried not to impinge on over.Oh, Georgina, she sobbed, mascara running in black rivers down her cheeks. Im never going to do it. Never ever ever.I tried to pull out of her Amazonian embrace. There, there, I said weakly. Im sure you will.Sniffling, she stepped away and ran a hand over her eyeball, making the mascara situation even worse. No, I cant. Ive tried and triednothing works.I glanced over at the guys. They were all looking at me expectantly, like I should be able to explain how one succubus couldnt get laid. I doubted a nyone could, though.Okay, I said at last. Calm down, and well get to the buttocks of it. But first, pull yourself together. Youre a mess.I cant, she wailed.Youre thinking like a human, I chastised. You can shape-shift that makeup mess away.No, she said more adamantly. You dont understand. I cant.I stared at her, puzzled, then I understood. It was nearly impossible to see, but a faint shimmer was fading in and out around her luggage compartment. She was having trouble holding this form. Her energy was so low that she was losing her shape-shifting power. Whoa, I said. Id never seen a succubus that severely. Id been that low once, but it had been after engaging in a major battle of shape-shifting.Tears started welling up in her eyes again. Whats going to happen? What if I run out and On and on she went.I sighed. There is a moment in every girls life when she must choose between the lesser of evils. When youre a succubus, those moments come kind of often. And right now, I had to choose. I could risk Niphon never leaving town or I could kiss Tawny.Lesser of evils.Standing on my tiptoes, I pressed my oral fissures to hers and cut off her babbling. Her lips tasted like bubble gum, probably from the lip gloss. It wasnt a big kiss or anything barely any tongue but it was enough. A surge of power poured out of me and into her. Breaking the kiss, I stepped away and looked at her. Her form had stabilized. Meanwhile, I was now down even more in my own energy, but nowhere near the low shed just experienced.Her blue eyes widened to an impossible size. Howwhat was that?A kiss, I said dryly. Something youve apparently got to l agnise about too. Seeing her still-stunned look, I shook my head. Were vessels for power and life, Tawny. Usually, it passes into our bodies, but sometimes it can be transferred out to other creatures. Succubi and incubi can share it with each other. What I just gave you should keep you going a little longer.I dont know, said Cody suddenly. I t hink you should give her some more, just to be safe.Tawny touched her lips, like she could still expression my kiss. Wow. Her form shifted, and the mascara mess vanished. Her normal, eerily perfect face reappeared.I sat down on the arm of the couch, near Peter. Okay. Now lets figure out how in the world this is even possible. What happened to Nick the auctioneer? You guys seemed pretty close last night.Well, she mumbled, staring down at her feet. That kind of fell apart.How could it fall apart? He was drooling all over youYeah, but he had to support and close up there, so we couldnt go out last night. I left without him. Today, I foreknowed to set up a date, and he said he didnt want to. That he was cool just giving the money to charity and not to bother with anything else.He said that? I asked incredulously. I eyed her suspiciously. What did you say to him beforehand?What do you mean?Did you just call and ask him out right away?Well, nowe made slight talk. Not that it did much good. He seemed kind of bored by the end.Surprise, surprise. Tawny didnt strike me as the worlds greatest conversationalist. I could only imagine what she must have babbled about to scare him off.Okay, I said, disappointed. Nick had seemed like a sure thing. Maybe you shouldnt, like, talk to them. What about the strip club calling? Did you follow up on that?She jerked her head up and looked like she powerfulness cry again. I tried They said I wasnt qualified.Even the guys couldnt digest out of this now.How can you not qualify for a job as a stripper? asked Cody.Yeah, dont you just have to take off your habiliments? asked Hugh.They said I couldnt dance, she explained.We all stared.Okay I wondered if maybe I should have read the mentors handbook after all. Lets see it.See what?You. Dancing.Tawny looked around the room in terror. Here? she squeaked. In front of all of you?If you cant take your clothes off in front of your friends, said Peter, who can you take them off in front of? I elbowed him.I cant, she whispered.Tawny, I barked. My voice held the authority of a drill sergeant. She jumped. I am not making out with you until the end of time. You want to do this, then youve got to work for it. Now, take off your clothes.Oh, said Hugh. Ive waited ten years to hear you say that to another woman.I found my stereo remote and turned it on. tainted Love started playing.I cant strip to the eightiesTawnyWith a scare look in my direction, she locomote to the center of the living room. At first, she just kind of stood there, and then, slowly, she tried to step in time to the music. I say tried because she was so off the beat, it was astonishing. I dont think I could have been that out of sync if Id tried. Finally, she gave up moving her feet at all and alone focused on her upper body, swaying her arms and torso slightly. It was the most awkward, awkward spectacle Id ever seen.At last, she decided shed danced enough and began removing her clothing. She apparently couldnt multitask, however, and gave up all pretenses of moving to the music. Instead, she stood still and started unbuttoning her zebra-print blouse. Her fingers fumbled on the third button down, and it took her almost thirty seconds to unfasten it.Stop, please stop, I said, turning off the music. Your goal is to take years off peoples lives, but not like this.Was I bad? she asked.No, I said. You were terrible.She stuck her lower lip out in a pout.Oh, come on, said Cody, ever the kindly one in our group. Thats kind of mean.Hey, Im vatical to be a teacher, not a friend.The School of Georgina is a jolty one, intoned Peter solemnly.Its not that easy, Tawny said, looking at me accusingly. If you actually are my teacher, then show me how to do it.Four faces watched me expectantly. I started to protest, then remembered that helping Tawny meant Niphon would leave Seattle that much faster. Getting up off the couch arm, I took her place in the center of the room.Okay, first off, youre w anting(p) two things. One, listen to the music and move with it. Theres a beat. Find it. die your feet and your body your whole body to it. Become part of it. Tawnys blank look told me I was getting too esoteric for her. Then, when it comes time to take off your clothes, remember that youre not doing it to be practical. Youre doing it for someone else. Make it dramatic. Make it artful.I turned the stereo on and clicked to the next track on my intermingle CD. It was Iron Man.Hey Tawny said. How come you get metal?Not even you can strip to Ozzy, scoffed Hugh.I gave him a sidelong glance. I can strip to anything, baby.I started moving. For me, there was no thought required at all. Id been a dancer since my mortal days. I loved it. There was no music. There was no me. We were the same being. My body flowed to its melody and rhythm, every one of my movements graceful and sensual. I didnt even pay attention to my friends. I just let myself get lost in the dance.I didnt have much on to begin with. I had panties and a bra underneath the robe, but I intended to leave them on. I was close to my friends but not that close. But, I made the most out of taking off the robe, permit my hands slide over my silk-covered body. I slowly untied the sash, rough drawing the experience out, and finally let it slip to the floor. I took my heels off with check deliberateness.Literally never missing a beat, I told Tawny, When youve got this down, well move onto biff dances.I moved over to where Hugh sat on the loveseat and positioned my legs so that I straddled him while barely touching him. A strippers art. I ran my fingers through my hair, my body still rippling like a ribbon.Hey, big spender, I said.He looked appreciative but more amused than anything else. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a one dollar bill.Hugh, I said. Dont insult me.With a sigh, he produced a five and tucked it underneath my bra strap.Hey, Seth, Cody suddenly said.I looked up and saw Seth standing in the doorway. When Tawny had come barreling through, Id left the door ajar. A look of comic bemusement was on his face.Hey, he said, studying me. Soyoure paying for dinner?I crawled off Hughs lap and pulled the five out of my strap. Only if you want to go to wetback Bell.Cody handed me a twenty. Make it a Red Lobster.My friends got up and moved toward the door, and I assured a distraught Tawny that Id think of something to help her. Giving up any more attempts at manually getting ready, I shape-shifted into jeans, low boots, and another cashmere sweater. A three-quarter-length gray wool come on covered it all. I grinned at Seth, who was shaking his head ruefully. Compared to the other things he knew I did, an impromptu striptease was pretty low-key.And you thought I didnt earn my keep.No comment, he said, taking hold of my hand.