Authors: Jocelyn Dex
ArayasAddiction (11 page)
Araya was shocked by his admission and also elated.
“I didn’t kiss him. He kissed me and it made me sick.”
His brow furrowed. “Araya, are you sure you’re not suffering
addiction? How often do
Sempires
need to feed?”
“Every two or three days,” she sighed.
“If you weren’t with anyone after me that means it’s been
four days for you. Wouldn’t your demon have driven you to feed?”
“You know I don’t want that.” She lowered her eyes. “Except
with you.”
“As much as it makes me happy to hear that, it doesn’t make
sense. I’m not an expert on your species but I thought once initiated, the need
would drive you to do what you need to do. Unless you’re addicted to an
Incubus.”
Damn him. Why couldn’t he let it go?
“Araya?” he urged when she didn’t answer right away.
“I might have been
driven
. I don’t know.” She
shuddered.
“So you’re sure you’re not addicted? Especially after
tonight?”
“Kean, honestly, I don’t know but the reason I didn’t want
anyone else, is because…” She couldn’t believe the next words that came out of
her mouth. “I’m in love with you,” she finished.
His sharp intake of breath made her envious because
currently she couldn’t breathe. Her lungs froze as she’d said those words. Her
heart might have stopped beating too.
He gawked at her for what seemed like an eternity, then
finally smiled and kissed her. A soul-scorching, mind-scrambling kiss.
When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Stay with me, Araya. I know the risk to you is great, but we’ll be in the same
boat because I believe I’m addicted to you. To your touch, to your scent, to
your smile, to your strength, to your mind. I haven’t been able to think about
another woman since being with you. For an Incubus, even only an eighth
Incubus, that’s impressive.”
Finally, she breathed. He felt more for her than she thought
possible. It wasn’t a confession of love, and that saddened her, but it was
probably for the best as the situation hadn’t changed. She was what she was and
the day would come that he’d be away for too long and she’d turn to another.
But wait, if she did become addicted to him she wouldn’t be
able to. Of course, then she’d suffer horrible pain and eventually die. Neither
of the scenarios was ideal.
I’m in love with you.
Emotion welled up inside him
when she’d said those words. He’d heard it from other women when they were in
the heat of passion, but he’d never heard it from someone who meant it, and he
knew she did. He could feel it in her touch and see it in her eyes.
This beautiful, sweet, sexy
Sempire
loved him and he
wasn’t letting her go.
Ever
.
He could see the conflict in her eyes now and wanted to put
her at ease.
“Araya, I know your concerns but I have no intention of ever
being away from you long enough to make you suffer. It would make me suffer
too.” He brushed a light kiss on her lips.
“But what if it’s unavoidable?” she asked, fear shining in
her golden eyes.
“I’m not letting you go because of a what if.”
“But you might tire of me after a while. It’s not as if
you’re in love with me,” her voice cracked and she looked away from him.
“What?” He grasped her chin and turned her face toward him.
“I told you I loved you four days ago.”
“Yes, but you were only pretending.”
“I thought I was. I thought I was playing out the love
fantasy for you, because I felt guilty and wanted to give you something special
to remember. But as soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew I wasn’t
pretending. It felt so right. Yeah, I’d been trying to lie to myself, trying to
convince myself it was all for your benefit. But
that
was the lie.
Araya, I’m seventy-three years old and I have
never
said those words to
another woman. Never thought I would. So when I say it to you, please believe
me.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
“Oh my god. You’re seventy-three? You’re way too old for
me,” she said, sounding horrified.
That was
not
the reaction he expected. Shit. For a
demon, seventy-three was nothing. He’d never thought twice about his age until
this moment. He didn’t look older than thirty and wouldn’t for many years to
come.
Araya chose that moment to burst out laughing. “You should see
the look on your face,” she choked out through the laughter.
She was teasing him.
Little shit.
He hadn’t paid much
attention to her ass during their love making but he’d remedy that right now.
He sat up and pulled her across his lap, face down.
“What are you doing?” she squealed, still laughing at him.
“This old demon is going to give this young demon a spanking
for laughing at her elder, that’s what,” he said as he popped her on her
deliciously round ass cheek.
“Ow!” she wailed.
“That’s what you get for joking during my confession of
love.”
He turned her over and pulled her up so that she sat across
his lap and his lips met hers in an urgent kiss.
“Stay with me, Araya. Let me love you. Always.”
“Always,” she murmured against his lips.
* * * * *
Araya awoke curled into Kean’s warm body, his arms wrapped
around her. For the first time in her life, she looked forward to her future. A
future with someone she loved, who loved her in return. She didn’t fool herself
into thinking everything would be perfect, that there wouldn’t be obstacles
along the way, but together they would make it work.
She stroked his arm and he kissed the back of her head. She
rolled over to face him and he treated her to a sleepy, sensual smile.
“Morning,” he said as he brushed a stray lock of hair from
her face.
“Morning,” she returned. “I was afraid to wake up and find
out last night was a dream.”
“It was,” he said. “A dream we’ll be living together. Let’s
dream some more right now,” his lips lifted in a wicked grin as his hand
caressed seductively down her body.
Kean growled as the doorbell rang.
“Expecting someone?” Araya asked, disappointment lacing her
voice.
“No, ignore it,” he said as his fingers slid between her
legs making her shiver.
They both jerked upright as banging rang through the room,
sounding as if someone was attempting to break down the front door.
“What the fuck?” Kean said. He scrambled from the bed and
stormed to a large black dresser and pulled out a pair of black gym shorts
pulling them on quickly.
Araya followed him out of bed, worried at the banging going
on. It sounded serious. Kean sucked in a breath as his gaze fell on her
nakedness.
“I’m going to kill the person responsible for making me wait
to touch you,” he growled. He fumbled through another drawer and pulled out a
deep green t-shirt and tossed it to her.
She pulled it over her head. It bagged on her and fell to
just above her knees, but she liked the idea of wearing something of his. It
was somehow intimate.
The banging continued as she followed him through the foyer
to the front door. He peered through the peephole and groaned.
“Unbelievable,” he ground out as he unlocked and yanked the
door open.
“Morning, Incubus! We were about to break down your door,”
Valia announced happily.
She pushed past him, Fin right behind her carrying two large
bags over his shoulders and what the hell? A deformed dog bounded in behind
them. Crooked eyes, lopsided ears and misshapen body.
“Nice shirt.” Valia said winking at Araya. “So give me the
tour.”
Before Kean could ask what was wrong with the poor dog, it
transformed into Kiberry. “It’s a shifter?” he asked no one in particular.
Araya answered as she leaned forward to rub the beast’s
furry head. “He,” she corrected him again. “And yeah, he’s still learning. He
hasn’t quite gotten the hang of it yet.”
“No shit,” Kean said.
“Valia, Fin, what are you doing here?” Araya asked
bewildered.
“I’m checking on my little sister. You look good, happy. So,
I guess his,” she pointed at Kean, “insides are safe.”
“Insides?” Araya asked.
“Never mind.” She grinned at Kean. “Hey Fin, looks like we
can use bag number two.” She walked past them as if she owned the place.
“Where’s a table? Ah, here we go,” she said as she found the dining area. Araya
hadn’t noticed the shiny black table and six matching chairs last night. She
realized
she
needed a tour of Kean’s—
their
—home.
Their home
. The thought warmed her.
Fin joined Valia at the table and set one bag on the floor
and emptied the contents of the other on the table. A scrumptious looking
platter of blueberries and mango—Araya’s favorites—and pineapple and
kiwi—Valia’s favorites—made her stomach growl. Next came four plastic cups with
lids, containing what she knew to be Fin’s specialty fruit smoothies made with
nothing more than ice and the freshest fruit from their gardens. Araya would
miss that, but supposed she could visit and gather fruit any time.
“This is for us,” he told Kean and lifted the lid on the
last platter. It contained steak, eggs, biscuits and blueberry pancakes.
“What is all this?” Kean asked, a bewildered look on his
face.
“Geez, Incubus,” Valia rolled her eyes at him, “it’s called
breakfast. Everyone sit down. Let’s eat.”
Kean arched an eyebrow at Araya and she shrugged then stood
on her tiptoes to brush a light kiss on his lips before sitting down.
“This looks fantastic,” Kean said, “but you could have
called first. I had other plans for breakfast.”
Araya felt her face flame.
Valia laughed and said, “I bet you did.”
“So what’s in the other bag?” Araya asked.
“Various sharp instruments,” Fin answered cryptically.
She didn’t miss the grin Fin and Valia shared.
Everyone piled their plates high with food and Kiberry made
a huffing, grumbling sound and pawed at Kean’s leg.
“Uh, what does it—
he
want?” Kean asked.
“Incubus, I’m beginning to wonder about your intelligence
level. He wants food,” Valia informed him in her ever so
not
charming
way.
Kean pulled off a piece of blueberry pancake and tossed it.
The beast snatched it out of the air and swallowed it whole. He’d think with
teeth like those, the beast might bother to chew a little.
Valia said, “Tell us about last night. How’d it go? I see
Araya looks good and,” she snickered, “nourished.”
Araya choked on her mango slice. “Valia!”
“What? You do.” Her eyes widened innocently.
Araya wasn’t sure how Valia or her mother would take the
news of her having a monogamous relationship, living with one man, part Incubus
nonetheless. She didn’t have the words to express it at the moment and was
grateful Kean apparently did.
Kean swallowed a forkful of eggs then announced to Valia and
Fin, “Araya and I will be getting married. That’s how it went. Does that work
for you?” He didn’t give her time to answer. “Good. Because I love her and she
loves me, and I won’t allow anyone or anything to stand in the way of that.”
Valia’s mouth dropped open. Fin’s mouth dropped open.
Kiberry pawed at Kean’s leg. Araya’s heart seized.
“Married?” Araya squeaked.
“Of course.” Kean took her hands in his. “I thought you
understood that when I asked you to stay with me always. You will marry me
won’t you?”
Araya felt the tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.
She couldn’t believe this was happening. “Yes, I will.”
Valia finally found her voice. “Holy shit. You’ll probably
be the first
Sempire
in the history of time to get
married.
Wow!
Mom’s going to freak.”
“Congratulations,” Fin offered looking genuinely happy for
them. “I’d be happy to cater the wedding.”
“I’d like to send your mother a fruit basket to thank her
for abducting me,” Kean said, smiling at Araya.
Laughter broke out around the table.
“Hey, if I’m going to be visiting my sister here, you’re
going to have to let her add some color to this place. It’s nice, but all this
black is depressing. And how much land do you have here? You need some fruit
trees,” Valia announced.
“We have fifty acres at our disposal. We’ll contact a
landscaper today.” He turned to Araya and took her hands in his. “You request
anything you want and we’ll have them get started on a fruit garden right away.
This is your home now as much as mine.”
Araya’s heart filled with more happiness than she’d ever
known.
Her home. Their home.
Life was good and would only get better.
About Jocelyn Dex
Jocelyn was born in Iowa and currently resides in Texas. Her
preferred vacation locations are islands with sandy beaches, palm trees,
iguanas, and unfettered views of clear, blue-green water.
She shares her home with her very own 6'4" alpha male
and varying numbers of spoiled cats and dogs. Teaching one of her dogs to file
his own nails is one of her all-time favorite accomplishments.
Jocelyn loves to paint, loves to read, and loves to write
sizzling erotic romance about yummy demons that would make your momma blush.
Jocelyn welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Araya’s Addiction
ISBN 9781419943959
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Araya’s Addition Copyright © 2013 Jocelyn Dex
Edited by Briana St. James
Cover design by Syneca
Photo: Totti/Fotolia.lcom
Electronic book publication January 2013
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