Good Intentions (48 page)

Heart Cemetery chapel. Yet he couldn’t shake the terrible feeling that it would al come crashing down on someone’s head. If it were just his head, that would be bad enough. If it was someone else’s…he couldn’t live with that. How far could this go before he’d have to dial it back? How could one know when to slow down the party before it was too late? When does success spin out of control to become disaster? He glanced up to see if Professor Lyons was still there. This might be the abstract question to ask a philosophy teacher about. There had to be books on it somewhere. But the professor was already moving out the door. Alex sighed. He threw on his leather jacket, picked up his helmet and books, and headed out to his next class. Riding to school had been a good thing, he decided. He’d taken Lorelei’s car home to retrieve his bike, since Taylor was perfectly happy to give Lorelei a ride home after “borrowing” her for the rest of the morning. The motorcycle wasn’t as comfortable as Lorelei’s Lexus, but that seemed to be the point. She constantly showered him with luxury: money, fine food, honeymoon suites and gorgeous women. It was really starting to make him feel uneasy. He couldn’t figure out why, though, and wished he knew someone he could talk to about it. Leaves crunched under his feet as he walked. He didn’t even really think about it, but it was that time of year already. Summer had been hanging in there a week ago, but then, autumn often hit Seattle rather suddenly. Some time over the weekend, the groundskeepers had gathered al the leaves into large piles just off the sidewalks. Alex had an idle thought that it probably wasn’t a good idea to have al these piles of leaves out where college students were bound to make a mess of them. Money and luxury meant as much to Lorelei as dried leaves. She had said as much in the car. “Hey, sexy thing!” someone cal ed. Alex genuinely thought the cal was for someone else, but he looked up anyway. Rachel came running at him, leaping upon Alex so fast that he barely had time to drop his books and hold his helmet out of the way. She had both legs up off the ground and her hands hooked onto his shoulders as he fell backward into the giant pile of leaves behind him.

He didn’t really have time to regain his bearings before she was kissing him. The fall had hurt for a moment, but the kiss robbed him of any feeling of pain, or fear, or trepidation. Her touch and her kiss were overwhelming. “Hi,” Rachel grinned finally, still keeping him pinned to the ground. “Wow. Um. Hi, Rachel,” he said, unable to keep from grinning back. He’d never been tackled to the ground by a beautiful girl before. “How are you?” “Better now.” Her lips locked with his again. The helmet fell out of his hands. He put his arms around her and held her tight. The nearness of her stirred as much desire as Alex had ever felt for anyone. She could clearly tel ; as he stiffened, she pul ed back from her kiss and beamed. “Much better to get a reception like this,” she said, wiggling against him. Alex blinked. Her smile was breathtaking. It was hard to think of anything but the swel of affection and longing for her that overtook him and the absolutely amazing feeling of her touch. It was, he realized, a lot like Lorelei’s hold over him, both wonderful and irresistible. The comparison shifted the gears of his brain. He tried to concentrate. The last thing he wanted was for her to be hurt or resentful over some misunderstanding. “Rachel,” he said, “things have…um…” She put a hand on the side of his head to turn it and expose his neck. She kissed it, and then his ear, then his neck again. It left him gasping in wonder. “Wow,” he breathed. “That’s…oh wow. Rachel. Wait. I have to tel you. Lorelei.” She turned his head back to face her. Her smile was undiminished. In fact, it seemed to brighten. “I know everything,” she said with barely-contained excitement. Then she turned his head the other way and started on this untouched ear and side of his neck. Alex gasped again. “You know?” Rachel giggled, releasing his head so he could turn to face her. “She loves you. You love her. You’re in love together. Really in love. It’s the most beautiful fucking thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve hardly taken my eyes off of you since Friday

night.” It was then that Alex noticed. “You’ve got your wings back?” he blinked. She kissed him again. There were sparks. Fireworks. He didn’t really have a word for it, nor did he need one. Rachel’s kiss was like nothing else. She hadn’t even come off of his face when she whispered, still partly chewing on his lips, “Thanks to you. And her. Mostly you.” A shudder went through him. She was every bit as exciting as Lorelei. Beyond that, he couldn’t possibly make comparisons. That was fine, though. Comparisons would inevitably be cheap. “How…” he gasped, “What’d I do?” “The impossible,” she said before she licked and ravenously kissed his lips again. Alex kissed back. He couldn’t get enough, either. His heart was pounding and his body was starting to tremble. Just a moment ago, he’d been thinking about how he’d been having too much of a good thing, but now… …now there was another heart in the mix. One he cared about deeply. Rachel’s kiss robbed him of worry, but not of concern. His fears were still there, but while she was with him, they were muted. He was at peace. But the thoughts were still there. “Rachel,” he fought to say, “there are others. My life’s a mess.” “Your life’s fucking awesome,” Rachel countered, not letting up in her assault of kisses and licks and nibbles al over his face and neck. “I’ve seen everything.” “Everything?” “I’m al better now. I can see you al the time,” Rachel said. It should’ve been alarming to him, but it felt entirely good. This was his guardian angel. She was supposed to see. He understood that without even thinking about it. “I saw you with Onyx before Lorelei got back to you. After that…after the restaurant, I could see everything. I saw you together. I saw you with Jocelyn. With Taylor. I almost walked in and took her up on it yesterday when she said I should fuck you. You have no idea how hard it was to resist taking you for myself.”

“I’m worried that this is al too much.” “I don’t think you’ve had nearly enough. I see you. I know you. Your girlfriend and I have already talked. I know how you feel about me. You know Lorelei’s okay with it. Don’t you dare tel me you don’t have room in your life for me,” she whispered into his ear hungrily. “I want to. So much. But I don’t want to hurt you.” “You’re not going to hurt me,” Rachel grinned. “We’re going to make each other very happy.” “How can you be so sure?” “Because I know you, Alex. Maybe better than you know yourself.” Her eyes seemed a bit sad for a moment, full of longing. “I wish I could tel you everything I know, but I can’t. Al those things that mortals aren’t meant to know. But if you can trust me,” she said, running her fingers through his hair, “I promise you we are going to be happy together.” Despite his troubles, he grinned back. “That’s kinda creepy.” “I know. Can’t be helped. I’m not staring at you while you sleep or anything, ‘cause that’s just retarded. still , it’s like Taylor said. I’m a total stalker,” she admitted cheerful y. “But I’m the sexiest stalker ever, and you love it and you know it.” “That’s even creepier,” Alex chuckled. Then he blinked. “You really watched us?” Rachel trailed kisses up and down his neck and the sides of his face as she spoke. “I saw everything and heard everything. I’l keep your secrets. I’l protect you. I’m your angel. Your devoted…vigilant…naughty…horny angel.” *

“That’s not who I saw,” Onyx said in slow awe. She and Molly looked on with wide eyes at Alex and the blonde in white crawling on top of him. There was a janitor yelling at them both to get up off of the pile of leaves. He stood two feet away from them, seeing only an ordinary if very pretty blonde girl cuddling with a guy in a leather jacket. Yet the couple appeared to be utterly oblivious to the poor janitor. “Well , the book said a succubus could shapechange,” Molly suggested. She, too, was more or less stunned by what she saw. Like Onyx, she could read auras and see things that were supernaturally concealed. It was al just a matter of practicing the right enchantments. Unlike Onyx, though, this was her first direct observation. “The woman I saw had a tail but no wings. This chick’s got wings but no tail.” “Pretty wings,” Molly noted. “They look really happy together,” Onyx murmured. “Yeah, but he’s worried. I can’t read her aura, though. It’s too bright.” “You think that’s weird?” “I don’t know. I’ve never seen a chick with invisible wings and an aura this bright before.” “Maybe it’s that bright to make it hard to read?” “Maybe. Like you said, they seem happy. But he also seems worried.” “He worries. He does that. I think that’s normal,” Onyx thought aloud. She still hadn’t taken her eyes off the blonde as she made out in the big pile of leaves with the only guy Onyx had ever gone to bed with. Onyx didn’t want to feel jealous; she knew he had someone else. So did she, obviously. Even seeing him with her shouldn’t have been a bother. But to see him rol ing around with someone that beautiful…

“Can you be that happy and still be worried?” “You are whenever we’re figuring out the bil s together,” Onyx shrugged. “He was really happy while he was with me, too. I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about her. They’re getting up. Think we should fol ow?” “Yeah,” Molly nodded. “This is really weird.” * “Y’know, I’ve never been to his house before,” Taylor thought aloud. She sat behind the wheel of her car as Lorelei retrieved her keys. They were parked just outside the entrance to the building. “I knew it was here, because Drew lives right over there and I’ve been to his place before, but…huh. Weird.” The succubus smiled wickedly. “How long would it take you to get from here to your next class?” “Oh no,” Taylor said with unconvincing reluctance. “I couldn’t. This has been crazy and wonderful already, I just…” There was a hand on her leg. Taylor looked down at it. That shapely, perfect woman’s hand slid up her leg toward her crotch. “What possible reason do you have to deny yourself, Taylor?” Lorelei asked. “You’ve already been so good to me,” Taylor mumbled. Her eyes slowly closed. “And I have been happy to be of service,” Lorelei whispered into her ear. “I am made for this, Taylor. It is no inconvenience. Alex offered me to you.” “Mmmhh. He told you?” Taylor’s words were almost dreamy.

Lorelei tilted her head curiously. “Told me what?” The fingers of Lorelei’s hand brushed up against the material of her jeans between her legs. It caused a little gasp. “That I could borrow you sometime.” Lorelei’s grin became a broad, hungry smile. “No, he did not. I only meant this morning. Did he say when you might ‘borrow’ me?” “No,” Taylor shook her head. She held Lorelei’s wrist with one hand to make sure it wouldn’t go anywhere. “He just offered and promised not to ask questions.” “This is very intriguing. Taylor, are you sure you wouldn’t like to come inside and discuss this?” “Does discussing…involve being naked?” “Al the best discussions in that home do,” the succubus chuckled. “Okay,” Taylor surrendered. When they got out of the car, she felt a bit more in control of herself, but she was still entirely happy to come along. There was something admirable about the way Alex put aside these pleasures to go to class. Admirable, and praiseworthy, and downright sil y. She shared Lorelei’s smile as the older woman punched in the security code at the main gate, then led her to the elevator. They had been alone in the honeymoon suite for two very active, very intimate hours already before they had left. Yet here Taylor was, sticking around for more. “He gave you keys already?” Taylor asked absently. “I may have found a spare key and had a copy made while he was at schoollearlier this week,” Lorelei shrugged. “I suppose he overlooked the issue when he left today with his keys.” She cast Taylor a glance. “You should be warned that I am a demon and am prone to al sorts of mischief.” “You’re not using some sort of sexy mind control on me right now, are you?” Taylor asked as they came to Alex’s door. She didn’t sound like she’d be al that mad about it.

Lorelei drew her inside to close the door behind her. “I will confess to having calmed you so that you might hear me out a couple of times,” she said. With the door shut, Lorelei drew close, putting one arm around her while the other trailed up Taylor’s leg. “But I’m not exactly capable of mind control. In fact, I’ve hardly used anything that could be cal ed magic on you at al .” Taylor gasped, melting in her arms. “You don’t cal this magic?” “Not at al ,” Lorelei whispered into Taylor’s ear. She unfastened Taylor’s pants and slipped her hand inside. “But I’l also confess to tasting your desires. I know you want to have other men.” “Oh.” “Is this what you would like my help with?” “Ye-yes,” Taylor managed. Her breath was hot against Lorelei’s neck. “Alex said you could…help me…keep things, um…consequence-free?” “I could,” Lorelei smiled. “Of al my love’s friends, you are easily my favorite.” “God, I’m getting so dirty.” “Ssshhh. Think nothing of it. Just between us girls.” Lorelei’s touch continued to roam. “I can help you find and properly prepare a couple of attractive young men deserving of a night or two as your devoted toys. We can even ensure they won’t rightly remember your identity as they go their separate ways with smiles on their faces.” “You could be there with me?” “Yes, though I will not betray Alex’s wishes. I can be there for you, but you’l have to remember that the rest of the entertainment is there only for you, too.” “Seems kind of…unfair…oh wow…”

“Alex is young yet. I am his first real love. In ten or twenty years, he may well be ready to slacken my leash a little more with regards to other— Ooohhh!” Lorelei tensed, suddenly pressing in bodily on Taylor. The younger woman blinked, realizing that she was now providing some measure of support for the succubus in their embrace. “Alex,” Lorelei whispered hoarsely against Taylor’s shoulder. “Oh, my love.” The nearest place to sit by the door was the stairs. Taylor helped Lorelei down. “What is it? Is something wrong?” “No,” Lorelei breathed, her gaze seeming very far away. “Something wonderful.” “Huh. Is it always this good for you?” Taylor giggled. “Not always,” Lorelei gasped. Not ever, she thought, but there was no reason to be tactless. “This is just… unexpected. I need…” Lorelei whispered hoarsely, then shook her head. “Alex is fine. More than fine. Taylor, I must ask a favor of you.” “Anything.” “I need to clear my head. Would you…come upstairs and indulge me for a while in what you have learned this weekend? I fear I may be very selfish with you.” “I don’t know,” Taylor teased. “Might have to twist my arm a little on that.” * “What’s wrong?” Rachel asked. She sat across from Alex at a small table in the crowded campus cafeteria. She had a milkshake. He had a hamburger and fries, which he was eating quickly. They had spent most of his break between classes kissing in a pile of leaves. His next class wouldn’t be long in coming.