ArayasAddiction (9 page)

Chapter Seven

“It’s been four days, Araya. You’re weakening. You have to
come out with me tonight or… Fuck it. Or I’m going to tell Mother what’s going
on,” Valia said, placing her hands on her hips defiantly.

“No! Valia, you can’t tell her. I’ll be fine.” Araya tried
to convince her sister.

“I haven’t said anything yet because you’re my sister and I
love you. I know this whole thing is harder for you but I’m not going to watch
you go downhill again. It’ll be faster and more painful since you fed.”

“I’m sure it’ll pass in a day or two—” Valia cut her off.

“Tonight, Araya. You’re going out with me tonight or I’ll
tell Mother and she’ll hunt the Incubus down, collar him and drag him back
here. I’m tempted to do it myself.”

“You wouldn’t,” Araya said, alarmed.

“Try me. Get dressed. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” She
stopped short of the door and turned, flashing a playful smile. “Wear something
sexy.”

She knew Valia meant what she said. Her sister didn’t often
get so pissy. She’d have to go with her tonight. No more excuses. Unless she
wanted her mother to drag Kean back here. Which, of course, she didn’t want
that at all.

She dressed and applied a bare minimum of makeup. Her heart
wasn’t into to this. As promised, Valia returned in exactly thirty minutes.

Valia chose a club that skirted a thin spot in the veil in
Texas. Valia told her clubs that closely skirted the thin spots were her
favorites because they attracted demons as well as the more adventurous humans.
Nice variety.

As they walked to the door, Araya’s stomach knotted. She
smoothed her hands down her dress. She considered making a run for it. But no,
she could walk in the club, have a drink or five and wait for Valia to
disappear with her male of the evening. Then, Araya would get the hell out of
there.

“You look great, chick. Don’t be nervous,” Valia encouraged
and grabbed her hand. “Look. I thought maybe you’d talk to me about it but you
haven’t. Maybe you’re in denial. I don’t know. But I know you care about—”

“Stop,” Araya said. “I…” She opened her mouth to lie but
instead said, “I need to forget about that, let it go.”

Valia squeezed her hand and said, “Okay. Put a smile on your
face. You never know what the night may bring.”

The thumping music and pulsing lights assaulted her senses.
Valia dragged her along behind her, weaving through the gyrating crowd, to the
bar. She expertly maneuvered them into position to order drinks. As soon as the
bartender caught sight of Valia, he ignored the patrons who’d been there ahead
of them and made a beeline for her.

She ordered for both of them, and when the bartender
delivered their drinks he slid Valia his phone number on a napkin. She leaned
over the bar and whispered something in his ear that lit up his face as if he’d
just won the lottery. Araya supposed he had won the sexual lottery if Valia
picked him for the evening.

Valia handed her a drink and then she followed her to the
back of the club where there were fewer people gyrating and more places to sit
and relax. Valia hooked a chair with her stiletto-clad foot, pulled it out and
sat. Araya followed suit.

“Whatcha think?” Valia asked.

Araya looked around then looked back to Valia. She had to
speak loudly to project her voice over the music.

“It’s great,” she answered lamely.

Valia rolled her eyes. “Chug your drink. I’ll ask again when
you have a buzz.” She pointed to the dance floor. “If you see anything you
like, don’t be shy. I do and I’m going to dance. Be back in a minute.”

Araya watched her sister strut over to a guy, human as far
as she could tell, surrounded by three attractive women. Valia walked right up
to him, took his hand and walked him to the dance floor as the women shot her
daggers. The guy followed with no hesitation. She chuckled to herself. She’d kill
to have that kind of confidence.

Araya downed her drink then polished off Valia’s too. Screw
it. She was in a club, sitting alone, she might as well catch a buzz. Besides,
she needed a pick-me-up. She’d been feeling crappy all day, weakening again.

“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing all alone?” a male
voice asked from beside her, startling her.

She turned and looked up to see an attractive man smiling at
her. Before she could speak, he pulled out a chair and sat down next to her. He
extended his hand. “I’m Rick.”

Araya had never done the flirting in a club thing with a
random guy, but since Valia was staring at her from the dance floor, she
figured she’d put on a show. She hoped her sister would think she’d chosen
someone, be satisfied, take off with some dude and then Araya could go home.
Alone.

She took his hand and said, “I’m Araya and I’m not alone.
I’m here with my sister.”

“Ah, where is she?” Rick asked.

Araya pointed toward the dance floor. “The extreme redhead.”

Rick’s eyes almost bugged out of his head when he caught
sight of Valia. That irked even though Araya had no interest in this guy.

“Wow, two gorgeous sisters. Impressive. Wanna dance?”

Araya had only ever danced at home. Either alone in her room
or at home with Valia. She’d slow danced with Fin a few times too, but this was
not a slow dancing crowd and she hadn’t danced with Valia the way these people
were dancing. Half of them looked as though they were having sex with clothes
on.

“I’m not much of a dancer,” she said.

He stood and held his hand out to her. “It’s easy. Come on.”

She had no desire to dance with this guy. She had no desire
to do anything with this guy. Shouldn’t her
Sempire
side be making her
crave him? Or someone else? She scented him and her body wanted him
nutritionally but her mind rebuked the idea. She wasn’t complaining but found
it odd. It’d been four days since being with Kean.

Although she could scent Rick, while not totally appalling,
he couldn’t compare to Kean’s mouthwatering scent.

Kean. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. About the last
night they’d spent together. He’d offered her her fantasy and she’d reveled in
it. He’d made her feel loved. He’d made love to her. He’d made her want the
fantasy more than she had before.

She shook her head as if it would stop the incessant
thoughts of Kean and of what she’d never have. She needed a distraction and one
stood in front of her. She accepted his outstretched hand and stood. Whoa. She
wobbled when she stood. Those drinks must have been stronger than they’d
tasted. Yep, she was definitely tipsy. She’d only ever drank the wine that was
specially created with fruit from their land.

Rick pulled her to him as they began to dance to the sensual
beat of the music. He was handsome enough but she felt nothing. She closed her
eyes and let herself go. They swayed and moved to the beat. Nothing.

She conjured an image of Kean and her body instantly warmed
and she wrapped her arms around her dance partner. She imagined it was Kean’s
body molded to hers, his hands sliding down her back. Her body tingled and she
ground her hips seductively.

“Yeah baby, that’s it,” a male voice said against her ear,
startling her out of her fantasy.

She pulled back as she realized what she’d been doing. She
wanted Kean and this guy was not him. She felt sick and sad and wanted to get
the hell out of the club but Valia was still watching. She needed her sister to
believe she was accepting her new life.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Rick said.

I’m not your baby, asshole.
“I’m thirsty. I’m going
to get another drink.”

He grabbed her arm and said, “What’re you drinking? I’ll get
it.”

She shrugged out of his grip and said, “Anything fruity.”

He nodded. “Back in a minute.”

Araya went back to the table and sat. Valia was suddenly
there. She plopped down on the seat next to Araya. “So,” she asked curiously,
“how’s it going? Who’s the dude? Is he the one?”

The one.
I wish.
She forced a smile on her
face for Valia’s benefit. “He’ll do.”

Valia’s perfect pink lips formed a pout. “He’ll do? That’s
not very exciting. Especially for your first time. Well, your first time out of
the house and on your own. Someone better will come along.”

Araya doubled over, clutching her stomach. As quickly as the
pain had started, it stopped.

“Oh shit,” Valia said. “You waited too long.” She looked
around the club as if searching for something, then looked back to Araya. “I
should have insisted you come last night.”

“What the hell was that?” Araya asked, concerned.

“Stabbing pain in the stomach? And you’ve been dizzy?”

Araya nodded. “A little unsteady here and there.”

“You need a male. It’s going to get worse. The gradual
decline you experienced before was nothing compared to what you’ll experience
now. Araya, by tomorrow, you’ll be in terrible pain and be as weak as you were
before the Incubus.” Valia’s voice hitched.

The Incubus.
Araya wondered what Kean was doing right
now? Had he thought of her since he’d left? Was he in a club, such as this one,
sweeping some woman off her feet? Was he already inside her, pleasuring her
with his body?

Araya felt another stab in the gut, but it wasn’t pain from
lack of semen. She wished she didn’t care what he was doing or who. He’d simply
been a male her mother had forced to be with her. He’d played his part
wonderfully in her fantasy, but that was all it had been. A fantasy. It was
over and she needed to get used to it.

She just wanted to get the hell out of here, away from
people, away from everyone. Rick chose that minute to show up with her drink.
She leaned over and whispered in Valia’s ear. “Go ahead and take care of your
business. I’ll make do with this guy for tonight,” she lied.

Valia looked around the club again. Searching.

“Um. No. Don’t jump into it with this guy. He obviously
isn’t doing it for you.” Valia bit her lip as her eyes darted around the club
some more.

Wait. What? Valia wanted her to do this, had been badgering
her to do this. Had threatened her with her mother if she didn’t come out and
now she was pooh-poohing Araya’s
choice
of male?

Rick handed Araya her drink while quite obviously eyeballing
Valia.
Asshole
. He tried to introduce himself to Valia but she stood and
blew him off. Just like that. She bent and told Araya to chill for a few
minutes and she’d be back.

He pulled his chair right next to Araya’s, leaned in and put
his hand on her knee. Yuck. She downed her drink in one gulp.

“Whoa baby, I like the way you drink.”

She leaned forward, their faces, only inches apart. “My name
is
Araya
.”

Oh god. Her mouth began watering and her stomach clenched.
That smell. So familiar. So irresistible. She must be too far gone, her demon
nature making her think this guy was giving off Kean’s scent, making sure she
couldn’t resist, couldn’t starve herself any longer.

“Yeah but you’re my baby tonight.”

Yuck.

Before she knew what he was going to do, he reached behind
her head and pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her lips. Her stomach
churned and she pulled back from him. He didn’t seem to notice her repulsion.
“Wanna get out of here?”

Before she could tell the guy to get lost, that tangy scent
assaulted her, making her salivate. It definitely wasn’t coming from this guy.

“I see you’ve accepted your new life.”

Araya whipped her head around at the sound of the most
seductive voice she’d ever heard. Her bones melted as her eyes focused on him.
“Kean. What are you doing here?”

“Apparently interrupting,” he said and turned to leave.

Araya jumped to stop him but she swayed on her feet. “Wait.”
The room spun and her vision went fuzzy. She shouldn’t have gulped that last
drink. She tried to take another stepped forward but her legs weren’t
cooperating and she stumbled. Kean turned just in time to catch her. His hands
ignited a fire inside her.

God she wanted him. There was no denying it. Her body
demanded she throw her arms around him. Kiss him. Take him into her mouth. But
she couldn’t function properly. She’d never felt this way from drinking before.
It must be a combination of weakening and the alcohol.

He lowered her back onto the chair and she held onto the
table for support. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she slurred.

Kean looked at Araya then to the table and back at the guy.
“Not drinking tonight?” he asked.

Rick stood. He was tall, but not as tall and not as muscled
as Kean. “What’s it to you?” he asked.

Kean reached over and picked up Araya’s empty drink. He
sniffed it then swiped his finger inside the glass and sucked his finger.

Even through blurred eyes, Araya saw Kean go rigid and a
black mask drape his expression. He grabbed Rick around the neck with his free
hand.

“You drugged her?” he asked, a menacing tone in his voice.

Rick’s eyes bugged as he unsuccessfully struggled to loosen
Kean’s hold on his neck.

“Get the fuck out of here before I kill you.” Kean’s voice
was nothing but a growl. “If I ever see you again, I
will
kill you.” He
shoved Rick hard enough that he stumbled backward and fell on his ass. He
scrambled to get up and made a beeline for the door.

“He drugged me?” Araya squeaked.

Valia and Fin showed up at that moment. “Fin? What’re you
doing here?” Araya asked, confused.

“Doing your sister a favor. Are you okay?”

“She’s been drugged,” Kean announced. To her he said, “Next
time you might want to let your
meal
know up front that you’re a sure
thing.” Then he stormed away.

The scorn in his voice cut straight through her bones. She
disgusted him. What she was disgusted him. Had she not been so woozy she’d have
run after him and let him know she hadn’t been with anyone since him. That she
didn’t want anyone but him. Pointless? Maybe. But she didn’t want this to be
their last interaction.