The Demon & The Succubus

Excerpt:  **Unedited excerpt that appears in the back of Seducing the Succubus

           “Not what I expected.  But a lovely prelude to our relationship.”

            Sunk deep in a relaxing hot bath, Amalya glanced toward the doorway to find a stunning stranger in a very expensive Italian suit devouring her with an amused hazel gaze.  Irritation and surprise warred inside her and she bit them back.  “I’m sorry.  Did we have an appointment, Mr?”  She remained in her reclined state with her head resting back against the bath pillow and her arms resting along the sides of the ridiculously large claw footed tub as she waited for him to fill in the blank as she mentally reviewed her calendar. 

            There were no appointments for today, and the Madame hadn’t informed her of any pop ups, which was why she’d slept in this morning and was now lounging in the tub.

            After all, even succubus liked to relax on their days off.

            “Levi.”  His rich voice with a definitely upper crust British accent softly echoed around the spacious bathroom as he walked forward uninvited.  He grinned as he crouched and reached out to rub some strands of the long blond hair she’d pinned on top of her head in between his fingertips.  “Soft and lovely.”  His inflection told her he meant more than just her hair.

            Surprised at the man’s bold actions, Amalya resisted the urge to define her personal space.  Instead, she mentally shifted into work mode. 

            She cocked her head to the side and reached out to touch his hair in the same manner he had hers, smiling when he raised his brows as if she’d surprised him.  His hair was soft to the touch, the color of rich milk chocolate, clean cut, but longer on the top where it fell over onto his brow.  She traced one finger down his sideburns, which were worn long and ended even with the bottom of his earlobes. 

            He was definitely good looking, attractive with a strong jaw and rich hazel eyes that sparked with amusement. 

            He intrigued her. 

            A glowing aura of nearly white energy surrounded him like a pulsing mist.  Amalya wasn’t in need of energy, having just entertained a client last night, but this man’s presence tasted human with an undertone of something exotic she couldn’t quite place.  Her skin began to ache--the succubus equivalent of a stomach growl, telling her he would give her a surge of energy better than any she’d had lately among the stream of humans and lower level supernaturals.  Not to mention he intrigued her, and she had a feeling she would very much enjoy spending some time with this mystery man.

            Everything that made it well worth working on her day off.

            “So what did you expect...Mr. Levi?” she asked with a small smile.

            “Levi is my given name.”  His gaze devoured her face as silence fell between them as if he were trying to put his thoughts into words.  “Perhaps someone older?”  His lips quirked up at the edges. 

            A lie.

            Amalya bit back a smile.  Each succubus had a gift and hers was being able to discern truth from lies.  Not the most powerful gift among her people, or even her three sisters, but one she’d grown to rely on over the millennia¾and millennia was how long she’d lived. 

            From the way Levi’s eyes sparkled, he knew it.

            His grin widened as he slowly stood and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.  “The Madame gave me this.”  He held up a black old fashioned ladies fan, and a spurt of surprise threaded through Amalya that she hoped hadn’t shown on her face.

            Each different color of fan represented what the client had paid for, and what they expected from their time with her.  A very simple tool that kept all talk of money out of the bedroom and part of a philosophy that had made the Sinner’s Redemption one of the most profitable legal brothels not only in Nevada, but in the world.  The black fan meant this man had paid with an open account and he had deep enough pockets to cover whatever he wished to go on inside this room or out.

            “My apologies, Amalya.  I’ve caught you off guard.”  He bowed from the waist as if they were in Victorian England, but the intense hazel gaze that bored into hers held no apology, only delight, intrigue and anticipation.

            “Not at all,” she lied, glad most others didn’t share her gift.  “I must not have received the Madame’s message to expect a client.  If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll get ready.”  She sat up, and braced her hands on the side of the tub so she could stand.

            “Don’t.”  His voice sounded like more of a request than a statement and she stilled and glanced up at him.

            He laid the fan aside and crouched again next to the tub making the room feel very small as he loomed next to her.  “Please don’t be angry with the Madame, she didn’t know of my arrival until just a few minutes ago, and I asked her not to disturb you.”  He smile--the first genuine smile she’d seen from him which made him look younger and more vulnerable.  Now that she’d seen the real man behind the mask, he’d never be able to fool her with his masked expressions again.  “And now I’m glad she didn’t.”

            Amalya sensed no danger--no special succubus talents needed.  Pure female intuition honed over a long life.  Not to mention that Jethro, her longtime friend and the bodyguard for the Sinner’s Redemption wouldn’t have let Levi through if he were any danger to her. 

            Amalya had been in Hell’s version of Witness Protection for just over seven hundred years.  She couldn’t afford to let down her guard when the demon she’d helped lock away still had plenty of contacts within the human realm, and would relish the chance to torture she and her sisters for the rest of eternity.

            She searched Levi’s face, finally meeting his deep hazel gaze squarely.  Pure logic told her there was something more going on here than a rich playboy who wanted some time with her.  “What can I do for you, Levi?  Really.”

            “It’s what I can do for you that brings me here.”

            The truth of his cultured words hit her like a slap before he stood and took off his suit jacket.  “Do you mind if I join you?  It seems a shame to waste a perfectly good bath, don’t you think?”

            Amalya wanted to make him explain his odd statement, but figured he’d get around to it in his own time.  Years of isolation from her sisters and her own kind had taught her patience.

            She studied Levi and debated saying no.  She’d never let anyone join her in the bath before--for her, bath’s weren’t sexual.  A silly distinction for a succubus to make since she’d had partners in just about every other scenario, location and position before.  But there was definitely something about this man that intrigued her and made her want to share even this private sanctuary with him. 

            She mentally shrugged and relaxed back against the tub.  “By all means.  There are extra towels just behind that door.”

            He smiled and opened the door to her spacious walk in closet, pulling a large green towel off the shelf and hanging it on the hook next to hers.  He toed off his shoes and loosened his tie.  “You know, I don’t think I’ve bathed with anyone since I was a child.  Baths have always been my private thinking time.”

            She smirked at the irony of his statement and raised one brow earning a short laugh from him. 

            “Touché.  Apparently we are very similar creatures, Amalya.  And for interrupting both your day off and your private time, I promise to make it worthwhile.”

            Amalya didn’t bother to censor the laugh that bubbled up from her throat.  “You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?” 

            He stilled and met her gaze directly.  “Yes.  I have no doubt I can give you everything you need.”

            She frowned at the strength of the truth in those few words.  They hadn’t been said as a boast, but almost as a sad fact. 

            Pure instinct made her add, “I have no doubt you already know I’m a succubus and everything that entails...”  By which she meant that time spent with her would drain some of his energy.

            He smiled slowly.  “I’m well aware, and not worried in the least, my beauty.”

            A weight lifted from her and she sighed as anticipation slid through her.  She hadn’t realized what a relief it would be not to have to hide what she was.  Even supernaturals tended to try to forget to some extent what she was during their time together. 

            What would it be like to just be herself with no secrets for a while?

            Intrigued by the man in front of her, Amalya allowed herself to relax as Levi continued to undress.

            He draped his suit jacket and tie over the closed toilet lid before turning back to her and unbuttoning his expensive, designer shirt. 

            A surge of delight tripped through her.  He seemed eager to be with her¾not the well-known courtesan from the Sinner’s Redemption, but her.  Which she knew was probably only her imagination, but she held onto the sensation anyway.

            Each opened button of his shirt revealed a new tantalizing glimpse of firm skin dusted with crisp, dark hairs, and Amalya, riveted in place, couldn’t seem to look away.

            Arousal slid through her like fine Cognac, a slow warmth that built in intensity until her nipples hardened under the hot water and familiar slickness formed between her labia.  Apparently, her body wholeheartedly agreed with her decision to suspend her day off.   

            When both sides of Levi’s shirt hung loose to reveal a strong line of firm, male flesh, his hands quickly moved to the button of his slacks.

            Amalya tightened her fingers on the porcelain to keep from pushing out of the tub and taking over the simple task.  Apparently, his quick, hurried movements weren’t even fast enough for her.  She smiled and mentally chided herself for acting like a teenager in a backseat after prom. 

            So much for all her hard-earned patience.

            Levi lowered his zipper and she found herself moistening her lower lip with her tongue as impatience snapped through her to see what was hidden underneath the fine, dark fabric.

            When she glanced up into Levi’s face, he was smiling. 

            Heat seared into her cheeks as she realized she’d been caught staring.

            “There’s no need to be embarrassed for looking, Amalya.  I fully plan on returning the favor once you’re not hidden in all that water.”  He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his slacks and slid them off along with his dark silk boxers in one fluid motion. 

            Amalya frowned as Levi bent over to pull the slacks off each foot, blocking her view of his newly revealed body.  The rest of him was magnificent, and she was impatient to know if his cock matched the rest of the package.

            She huffed out a small breath of frustration, laughing at herself in the process.  How long had it been since she’d been this anxious to see a man’s cock?  Three thousand years?  More?  She couldn’t remember, which was answer enough.

            Levi straightened and tossed his slacks on top of his other clothes, then slipped off his shirt and gave it the same treatment.

            Amalya sucked in a breath as her gaze devoured him. 

            His entire body was a study in male beauty.  He was fit and trim with long legs, muscular thighs, a flat stomach and a long, thick cock that stiffened to attention under her perusal.  He wasn’t circumcised, which was rare in this day and age¾especially here in the United States where the bulk of her business came from, but since most of her existence had been spent during times when that practice was rare, she appreciated the fine arts of pleasuring a man with foreskin still attached.

            Her mouth watered as she imagined taking his hard length between her lips and running her tongue over the taut skin while she sucked him.

            As her vivid mental fantasy continued, she ran her gaze over every inch of him within her sight while Levi stepped into the water, settling his large body against the other end of the tub and tangling his legs with hers.

            The water level rose to within an inch of the top edge of the tub and a large sigh escaped Levi as he relaxed back and grinned at her.

            Suddenly self-conscious for the first time she could remember, Amalya mentally shook herself and pulled out her full work arsenal.  “You mentioned there was something you could do for me, Levi.”  She traced her toes up his inner thigh until she gently brushed against the heavy sac that hung just under his cock.  “Why don’t you show me?”

            Levi’s hazel eyes darkened to nearly black and his balls tightened against his body making a small surge of triumph snake through Amalya.  She’d hated the sensation of being off balance, she liked being the one in control when it came to sex, and she knew exactly what men wanted and how to give it to them.

            Without warning, Levi reached out and pulled her across the tub until she straddled him, his hard cock caught between them, nestled against her stomach and burning into her skin like a dark promise.  She glanced up to find herself so close to him she could see the small scar that ran just over his right eyebrow.  Her heart beat thickly inside her chest as his energy aura pulsed against her in a tempting thrum.  Before she could gather her wits and think of something seductive to say, he pulled her firmly against his chest and captured her mouth with his.

            The faint taste of warmed whiskey filled her senses as did the scent of something exotic, musky and very male. 

            Amalya melted against him as he captured her lips in a slow, but surprisingly firm caress.  His arms came around her holding her close, but rather than crushing her to him, gave the impression that she was someone to be treasured. 

            He sucked gently at her bottom lip, nibbling and teasing without breaking the sensual dance of their kiss.

            Surprised and impressed to not be the one doing the leading, Amalya sighed against his lips and laid her palms flat over the muscled male chest in front of her.

            He settled her against him more firmly, gently caging her hands between them as he explored her mouth and reactions with lips and teeth and tongue, then artfully repeated those actions that pulled an unwitting sigh, gasp or shudder from her.

            He slowly and expertly kissed her into breathlessness as she enjoyed the sensations of his mouth against hers, and his hard body beneath her.  She gave herself up to the unexpected arousal he ignited, twining her arms around his neck and spearing her fingers into his silky hair as he continued to kiss her.    

            One of his large, warm hands cupped her cheek, his thumb feathering a slow, wet line back and forth across her cheek as he thoroughly explored her mouth.  She gasped as the first wave of his strong, clean aura knifed into her, absorbing into her pores and converting into usable energy inside her. 

            Amalya closed her eyes tight against the wave of light headedness that assaulted her from the sudden influx of strong energy¾the succubus equivalent of brain freeze¾and greedily kissed him back, wanting more.

            Her pussy ached and she ground against his cock as the scent of their arousal perfumed the air around them, overpowering the strong aroma of vanilla and lavender from the bath salts.

            Levi growled low inside his throat and in a quick motion cupped her ass in one of his large hands, lifted her and impaled her.

            A long moan ripped from Amalya’s throat as her body stretched to accommodate his generous girth.  She slowly sank down on him until they were pelvis to pelvis and he filled her completely.

            Levi stilled, and Amalya appreciated the moment to allow her body to adjust.  It showed consideration for her as a person and not just a warm body to fuck¾something she didn’t often find in her profession.

            She brushed a quick kiss over his lips before she leaned back and began to move.  Not wanting to waste the exquisite full sensation he gave her, she ground against him, rubbing her clit against the crispy hairs that covered his pelvis while her sensitive nipples rasped against his chest with each movement.

            Levi’s hands gripped her hips, but he let her lead, keeping her gaze as she rode him and he hardened further inside her.

            Amalya set a slow, steady rhythm, refusing to move faster when their breathing became raspy and Levi’s fingers tightened against her hips.  She continued to move, torturing them both until the world fell away and only this one room and the two of them existed for her. 

            Curling heat of arousal snaked through her limbs as Levi’s dark gaze bored into her own.

            When the first drop of pre come leaked from Levi’s cock and came into contact with the inner walls of her pussy, a hard blast of energy surged through her and she stiffened on top of him.  Her pussy clenched around him as her body absorbed the life-giving energy he offered.

            As her borrowed power surged through her, she faltered and Levi moved his grip to her ass, guiding her to continue the same movements she’d begun, which drove her hard toward a peak that seemed to surge forward in a dizzying rush.

            The sound of his harsh breathing merged with hers inside the small room blending with the sounds of sloshing water and the rushing that sounded inside Amalya’s ears from her blood rocketing through her body.

            She tried to speed her movements, to meet the urgency of that edge that stayed just out of her reach, but Levi held her firmly, keeping the pace she’d started and torturing her until small whimpers of need spilled from her throat and she dug her nails into his shoulders in a silent protest.

            “Patience, my beauty.”  His words were a harsh rasp as he began thrusting up inside her with each movement.  A small scream of surprise ripped from her throat as the tip of his cock firmly made contact with her cervix again and again until Amalya was sure her body would break apart from the intense pleasure shooting along every nerve ending and threatening to overload her brain.

            When she was sure she couldn’t take any more, a hot surging warmth began deep inside her and spilled out into her body, seductive and enticing, until it engulfed her, blanking her mind and leaving her euphoric and boneless.

            Almost distantly she heard Levi’s soft cry of completion and felt the hot spurt of his release as he came inside her.

            Her body absorbed Levi’s essence, feeding the spreading warmth. 

            Tiny aftershocks quaked through her.  Each one equaled an ordinary orgasm, and they continued to rock through her until they blended together to become surreal in their intensity.  She lost track of time as the sweet bursts spread liquid ecstasy through her veins until she was sure she’d never be able to move again.

            When awareness returned, she was slumped against Levi’s chest, her face buried in the crook of his neck, her arms bonelessly draped over his muscled shoulders.

            She sighed against his neck and tried to make her brain cut through the fog of endorphins and the tiny aftershocks of great sex that still twitched through her whenever she moved.  The only real movement she could manage was tracing her fingers over his shoulder.  When her fingers found a metal medallion on a chain, she stilled. 

            Amalya frowned, unable to raise her head yet.  She didn’t remember him wearing a necklace when he’d undressed, but her attention had definitely been on other things.  She wasn’t surprised she’d missed it, especially since the medallion had hung down his back rather than over his chest. 

            She closed her fingers over it, tracing the etching and wondering what it said.

            When the sharp essence of her mistress, Lilith the Queen of the Succubus and Incubus, tingled against her fingertips, shock stabbed through her and she forced herself to sit up and meet Levi’s dark gaze.

            She pulled the medallion around to the front where she could see it and ice churned through her blood, chasing away the boneless euphoric sensation of just a moment ago.  The medallion was sterling silver with faded ancient Hebrew characters inscribed on it that roughly translated to the current-day equivalent of “Temptation”--fitting and ironic for a succubus. 

            However, the last place she’d seen this necklace was hanging around the neck of her queen. 

            Why did Levi have this?

            Dread pooled inside her stomach and she swallowed hard against all the horrible possibilities that flashed through her mind like a macabre old-time silent movie.

            Movement from the doorway made Amalya snap her head around to find Jethro standing in the entranceway, a fully packed duffel in his hand. 

            “Is she fully energized?”

            Fully energized?  If she were any more energized, she’d blow the roof off the entire building!            

            She glanced between the two men.  Anger and irritation snapped through her as she realized Jethro was talking to Levi and not her.  She stiffened and with as much dignity as she could maintain while still sitting impaled on Levi’s cock, she demanded, “What the hell is going on here?”

            Levi met her gaze.  “I think it’s time for the second part of what I can do for you, my beauty.”

            Amalya scrambled off Levi’s lap, not caring if she snapped off his cock in the process.  She stood at the other end of the tub, the water sluicing off her as she turned to face Jethro.  “What’s going on?”

            Her friend met her gaze squarely and she thought she saw a flash of guilt before the familiar calm mask fell across those deep blue eyes¾which definitely didn’t bode well for the situation.

            “Jethro,” she said in a low tone of warning.

            “Get dressed, Amalya,” Levi said smoothly as he stood, “and we’ll explain everything.”

            Amalya held out a hand to stop Levi’s words and stared at Jethro, piercing him with her steady gaze until he nodded.

            “Semiazas has escaped his prison.  Levi has been sent by Lilith to bring you back to her lair.”  He sighed.  “I had hoped to let you get to know him a little first, but I just received reports of two bounty demons moving this way.  One pestilence and one famine.  We have to go.  Now.”

            Amalya took several long seconds to absorb the shock of Jethro’s words. 

            She’d known this day would come.  Semiazas would either serve his entire term, and then hunt down her and her sisters, or he would escape early with the same result.  She’d had no illusions that this would end otherwise, but that didn’t make it any more terrifying.  She raised her chin as she stepped out of the tub, grabbed a towel and begin drying off in rough motions.  “My sisters?”

            “No word.”  Jethro sounded apologetic.

            “How close?”  Levi stepped out of the tub and Amalya pointedly turned away so she wouldn’t have to see his muscled body or remember what he had felt like moving inside her.

            Jethro set down the full duffle and stepped inside Amalya’s closet as he spoke.  “We’ve got maybe ten minutes, give or take.  They must have someone on the inside because we had no early warning on this.”  Anger vibrated just under the surface of his deceptively calm voice.  He came back into the bathroom holding a full set of Amalya’s casual clothes which he gently pushed into her arms.  “Get dressed quickly.”  He met her gaze for a long moment and then brushed a warm finger over her cheek before he turned to face Levi.  “Meet me at the side entrance when you’re done.”

            Amalya hurriedly dressed in the flowing skirt, tank top and white tennis shoes Jethro had chosen for her, then pulled the clips from her hair, letting her long, blond hair spill around her shoulders.  She finger brushed the tangles out as she turned to find Levi already dressed and watching her.

            “Amalya,” Levi began as he dried off.  “We needed you at full strength for the trip ahead and this was the best way to get it done quickly.”

            “It?”  Anger and embarrassment twined through her, both fighting for dominance.  She stiffened and glared up at him.  “You mean you both decided that the poor, weak succubus couldn’t be trusted with very important information that concerns her, so you took matters into your own hands to trick me into sex, supposedly for my own good?”

            Levi picked up the duffel off the floor, seemingly unaffected by her words or her anger.  “Would you thinking I paid a lot of money for the privilege of fucking you sit better than Jethro and I making sure you would be ready before we begin this very dangerous journey?”

            His reasonable tone grated against her nerves and she stared at him with all the hatred and revulsion she could muster as the full slap of betrayal surged through her.  This man had given her the best orgasm of her entire life, she’d shared her private time with him and even her real self and it had all been an act, a job assigned to him by Lilith.

            “Regardless of what you may think of me, Levi, I’m neither a fool, or a woman who is ashamed of what she is or what she does.  So fuck off.”  She started to step away and then stopped short.  “That was a freebie, however, the fuck in the tub will definitely cost you, no matter what you thought when you got into this.”

            Levi’s smug chuckle echoed gently around them.  “I have very deep pockets, my beauty.  Don’t worry about that.”

            She glanced back over her shoulder as she hurried down the hall to find Jethro.  “I never said it would cost you money, now did I?”