Good Intentions 3: Personal Demons (55 page)

“That may be for the best,” said Lorelei, seated across from Nguyen. “I confess I worried you would feel differently.”

“Nope.” Nguyen shook her head with wide eyes. “If it’s outside the reach of U.S. law and you’re the only one to tell us about it, there’s not much point in getting more than a brief statement. We don’t have legal or diplomatic agreements to honor, so the hell with it.” Then she winced. “Pun not intended. Sorry.”

“Forgiven, regardless,” said Lorelei. “Go on.”

“We’ve got more than enough going on here to keep us busy. The other factions of sorcerers are interesting, too, but we’re still taking a pass. Without clear evidence of a serious crime and a likelihood of successful prosecution or some other compelling outcome, there’s no reason to expose our task force to them. Hell seems like a step further along on that logic. Besides, we should let you get some rest and sort out your immediate living situation.” 

Soot and bullet holes still marred the walls. The chairs they sat in were borrowed from other rooms, as the originals from the table set now lay in a pile of burnt pieces against the corner. Most of the light came from outside, streaming through the thick double-layer of plastic sheets taped up over the destroyed windows and balcony door.

“We’re certainly interested in hearing more,” put in Agent Bridger, seated beside Nguyen. “It could help fill out our, um, general occult…knowledge…base…” His voice trailed off as a fourth person sank down at the table in the chair beside Lorelei.

Alex said nothing. His black hair was still wet. The shower and change of clothes relieved much of his discomfort, but they couldn’t do anything about his exhaustion. Without danger to life and limb to keep the adrenaline pumping or an angel close at hand to alleviate his fatigue, his sleepless and stressful weekend rapidly caught up to him.

He’d nearly fallen asleep under the shower nozzle. Other stresses still plagued him, too. He stared off into the corner with bloodshot eyes. At this point, Alex couldn’t muster up a single fuck to give about Bridger’s ploy for more time with Lorelei.

Her hand slipped into his. Alex looked to Nguyen. “Hey. Thanks for the break.”

“No problem. It’s better to get separate statements, anyway. How are you feeling?”

“I haven’t been this tired since Vietnam,” said the young man.

His declaration got a smile out of the agent. “We’re about finished with Lorelei. We can get out of your hair unless you had any other questions.”

“I don’t remember. Wait. I told you about the guys that tried to blow me up with a drone strike, right?”

“You did. To be honest, I’m not sure what we can do about that, or if we should do anything at all. We don’t need to interact with whatever military nonsense may or may not be going on overseas. If it was a military op, they probably don’t want to hear from us. If it wasn’t the Army, we’ve got no way to notify anyone without busting our own operations open for the military. Did you want to press charges?”

His attention almost wandered off during her explanation. By the time she finished, Alex had his head propped up on one hand. His eyes turned to the pile of debris shoved into the corner off behind Nguyen. Amid the wreckage of furniture and other debris in the pile sat a burnt backpack.

His earlier prediction held true. He definitely wouldn’t get that book report done on time now, nor would he be making it to classes today. Instead, he got to start his second week of classes at the U with an absence in each class and a library fine for a destroyed book.

“I suppose all this top secret stuff means I can’t get a note from the FBI explaining how domestic terrorists blew up my homework, right?” Alex grumbled.

“I’m afraid not,” answered Nguyen. “Sorry about that. We’ll do what we can to help out with any legal troubles with the building, though. You’ll have a written statement from us holding that none of this was your fault.”

“Thank you. I suspect we can manage the rest on our own if you’ll take care of any local police issues,” said Lorelei.

“Absolutely. We can’t promise they won’t hold some suspicions, though. Same goes for the media.”

“I have other ways to handle that if it becomes a problem.”

Nguyen’s lips tightened. “Right. In that case, we should probably be going. We need to get to this other site up in the mountains. Lanier’s there with a few other agents right now.”

Alex remained behind as Lorelei walked the agents to the door, unable to muster much more than a bleary goodbye wave. They had come to the rescue with legal and physical protection one couldn’t buy with money or magic. There would be no crime scene canvassing of the apartment, nor would local police have a hand in the scene across the street. Lawsuits for damages to the building would face daunting hurdles. He recognized distant thoughts of genuine gratitude for their support and trust, but the rest of his exhausted mind and body desperately wanted them the fuck out of his home—or what was left of it, anyway.

After her farewell, Nguyen headed for the elevator. Bridger lingered at the door. “I didn’t know if you’d lost this in the chaos,” he said quietly. He handed Lorelei a business card. “We’ll be in town for a few days at least, so if you need anything… or if you just want to get a drink?”

She glanced down at the card before giving him a gentle smile. “Thank you, but I don’t know if this is a good opportunity. Ask me next time.” With a polite nod, she closed the door. Back at the table in the dining room, her lover all but stared off into space.

“Listen, if you wanna spend some time with Agent Obvious while he’s here, it’s fine,” Alex croaked. “I’m not gonna freak out.”

The statement surprised her, but his delivery provided her first laugh since her return. “Such warmth and sincerity,” she observed.

“What? It’s cool. We talked about this. Equal rules. I’m not worried. Whatever.”

“You don’t sound cool. You sound cranky.”

“I do?” Alex blinked up at her with dry eyes. “Ugh. Guess that makes sense.”

“I could do something about that, if you’d like,” she said, her voice dropping to softer tones.

“Oh god would you? I don’t want to be cranky.”

“You want to be asleep, which is why I ask first.”

“No, I don’t. I want to talk to you.” He took her hand. “Shit was crazy. You were different earlier. You changed somehow, and now you seem distant.”

Her smile faded. “I am changed, yes. I had to take drastic measures to resolve the danger to our friends, and to us. This victory was not without cost—specifically a cost to us. My distance is out of caution and… honesty. We are not what we once were.”

Alex sat up a little straighter, but said nothing. His fatigue took a backseat to his concern. He waited and listened for her to go on.

“I fear I have robbed you of your input in a decision that should have been for the both of us.” She kissed the palm of his hand, then touched his cheek with her fingertips. “After we destroyed Baal, you asked if his crown could have freed me from you. Do you remember? I told you yes, a crown of Hell severs all bonds.”

“You took the crown,” said Alex. He’d known that for hours, of course. In his exhaustion, the implications hadn’t sunk in. “Are you okay? You said it was gone now, but…?”

“I am fine, Alex. In many ways, I am better than I have ever been. For the first time in my life, I am free. The chains of servitude are gone. I no longer have any master.”

His tired eyes lit up. “Lorelei, that’s awesome! Why do you seem sad?”

“Alex, you are still the victim of my curse,” she said. “The crown freed me from servitude, but it made me no less a succubus. In this, we are still bound. Whatever lingers of the ritual bond we share with Rachel, I cannot yet say, but we know any compulsion of obedience from that spell did not last.

“I know the depth of your love. I know you never wished mastery upon me, yet I also know we both took pleasure in the intimacy of it. The bond of servitude also offered some measure of security between us, and now it is gone. The dynamics of our relationship have changed…and you had no say in the matter.”

“It’s still
our
relationship, right?” he asked. “It’s still what we decide to make it?”

“Alex…” Her voice fell almost to a fearful whisper. “Do you trust me?”

“With my life,” he said.

Lorelei leaned in with the fingers of both hands along his jaw as she kissed him. He stroked her hair and pulled her close. Longing and desire quickly outweighed his fatigue. The succubus couldn’t rejuvenate him as an angel could, but she made it all too easy not to care. Alex fully understood the difference, and the consequences. He also meant what he said about trust.

The kiss offered him the love and intimacy he’d wanted ever since parting from her on Friday night. His lips grew hungry as he leaned in further, wanting to gather his lover into his lap. She pulled back. A taunting grin replaced the regret and apology he’d seen before. “You’ve always said you were uncomfortable being the master, but the reality never confronted us until now. I had to know you truly wanted this before anything might unfairly influence you.”

“That’s considerate,” he smirked. “I always meant what I said.” Then he paused. “Not sure if we’re gonna miss the kinky side of it, though.”

“Indeed. We’ll have to experiment.”

“Good idea. I think I hear a bed calling us. Seems like the only part of our place that didn’t get shot up or blown up.”

“Mmm. I love your confidence, but I believe you’re misinterpreting that call,” said Lorelei. “You’re exhausted.”

“Not for you. I can manage. Besides, we both like it when you’re in the driver’s seat.”

Her taunting grin only widened. “Then I promise I’ll be gentle.” She held her hands out to guide him from the chair.

The two walked to their bedroom hand in hand, closing the door behind them before falling into another hungry kiss. They stayed together as they walked toward the bed, losing the technique of their kiss to lips unable to fight back smiles.

Once upon a time, Alex wondered if Lorelei might be too invested in elegance and endless passion to find anything funny about sex. Some people felt humor spoiled the moment. Not everyone could laugh in bed.

Thankfully, Lorelei didn’t have that problem.

The back of his leg bumped against the mattresses. He nearly tripped, but Lorelei caught him. She held him up, looked him deeply in the eyes and whispered, “
Sleep
.”

Alex held out long enough to see the grin on her face before he fell back onto the bed.

* * *

Soft whimpers and heavy breathing lured him back to consciousness. The motion of the bed gently nudged him awake. His eyes opened to a dark night outside the window. Familiar gasps and whimpers softly filled the dim bedroom.

He rolled over toward the center of the bed. Comfortable sheets slid across his skin, confirming the loss of his clothes. He found two more occupants in the bed who were just as naked, though neither of them laid under the sheets.

Rachel had Lorelei on her back. The angel teased and kissed one beautiful breast. She crouched between Lorelei’s spread legs, clearly providing intimate attention at her center with one hand while propping herself up with the other. Lorelei stroked her lover’s hair, shoulders, and back, but otherwise gave in to Rachel’s favors without the teasing arrogance or play at dominance that sometimes marked their time in bed. Something about this seemed urgent for the both of them. Given what they’d been through, it made perfect sense.

“Mmh. My love,” Lorelei breathed. Her head turned against the pillow to face him. One arm reached out. Her eyes only opened halfway. She knew he didn’t want to pull her out of this state.

Rachel beckoned to him, too. “Good. You’re awake.” Her lips stayed so near to flesh that her every breath fell across an erect nipple. He saw her wink before she returned to her task, saying, “You can help me out with this.”

Alex moved in along Lorelei’s side, slipping up against her body too low for Lorelei to reach for a kiss. He caressed her naked skin from shoulder and neck to the inside of her thighs, careful not to disturb Rachel. Lorelei surrendered to them both, gratefully accepting their touch. She purred with delight at the attention of a loving tongue and kneading hand against each sensitive breast.

Long teasing eventually turned to other desires. Rachel caught his eye and winked again. He nodded. The angel went high. Alex slid down low. He knelt into place as Rachel crawled away to kiss their lover on the mouth and to offer him room. Beautiful legs spread a little wider to accommodate the change.

The first licks of his tongue barely touched the wet sex before him. Lorelei moaned into Rachel’s kiss, reaching down to stroke Alex on the back of the head and wordlessly beg him not to drag this out. She’d already been thoroughly teased before he awoke. Alex obeyed with a full kiss and a probing tongue, forcing her to writhe with pleasure against the angel looming over her.

Going down on Lorelei enthralled him as always. The taste of her and the thrill of her scent seduced him every time. Yet before Alex stretched out for some long and indulgent service, Rachel swung one leg over his head to straddle the succubus. The angel seemed intent on kissing Lorelei right through the pillow and kept a little elevation to do it.