Soul Survivor (13 page)

 

“S
o, what do you think?” I whispered to George after the group finished its lengthy discussion about Psalms. “Can we close this deal tonight? Because I need energy. Like, now.”

George's gaze skimmed the group to Rob, then back to me. He gave a short, sharp nod. “I'm pretty sure we can do this thing tonight.”

“Pretty sure? George, baby, I love you, but I need a sure thing. I can't even shift away this frizz right now.” I gestured to my hair, which, despite some mousse and styling, was beginning to fray at the ends.

Smoothing my locks with the palm of his hand, he pinched the ends between two fingers. “But you've got that sexy succubus-in-heat thing happening. Not many can resist.” I gave him a look, rolling my eyes, calling him on his complimentary bullshit. He shrugged. “What do you want me to say? Sure things are nonexistent in our business.”

I bumped him with an elbow. “Maybe for
you,
” I said shooting him a grin.

George and I took our sweet time returning the shoes and packing up our stuff until the only people left from our group were us and Dave and Rob.

“Rob says you're from Nevada?” Dave asked while helping me into my jacket.

“Las Vegas,” I clarified.

The surprise registered on his face before he quickly collected himself. “Wow, how . . . exciting.”

I nodded. “There are so many men and women there who need our help. George and I assist those struggling with gambling addiction and women who fall into dangerous industries.”

“Like . . .
hookers
?” He said the word as though his only experience with them was a Julia Roberts movie.

“Um, yeah. Pretty much.”

“So . . . you in town tomorrow night? Maybe we could grab a bite or something?”

I tilted my head to look into his eyes. “Oh, I could bite something for sure.”

His eyebrows shot up, eyes sparkling with mischief that had been suppressed—dormant for far too long.

On an exhale, I released my pheromone. It was so potent, I was certain George could see a fog-like substance seeping from my lips. Dave's eyes drooped and he stared at me, mouth parted. “Dave,” I whispered in my most husky voice, “would you like to drive me back to the hotel?”

He nodded, the trance-like state making the movement almost mechanical. My magic couldn't force anyone to do something they didn't already want to do. It simply made their desires stronger and more apparent. Took the subconscious and pulled it to the forefront of their minds, if you will.

My smile curved and I mimicked his nod, turning toward Rob and George. “Rob, would you mind giving George a ride back? Dave and I wanted to get to know each other a little better.”

“Sure, no problem.” Rob smiled at George with the sweetest, most unassuming glance I'd seen in a while.

“And you'll keep him company until I get back, right?”

His smile widened. “Of course . . . but, wait. Are you two staying in the same room?”

Shit
. George's smile dropped immediately into a glare. Directed straight at me. “Um, yeah. But separate beds. Our church couldn't afford two separate rooms.”

Rob nodded, his smile returning, though it didn't quite reach his eyes like it had moments before. “Yeah. Our budgets have been slashed like crazy too.”

“So, I'll see you both in a bit, right?”

“Oh, you can count on it,” George said, offering his friendliest grin.

 

I climbed into the passenger seat of Dave's giant SUV. The sort of gas-guzzling vehicle that Saetan himself wouldn't even drive. He may want to send humanity to Hell, but his goal was certainly not to destroy the environment.

“Wow . . .” I looked around the interior, noting the very polished leather and sound system. He plugged his iPod in, turning on Creed. I cringed as a grumbling singing voice blasted through the speakers. “Don't you just love these guys?” He closed his eyes swaying to the soft rock and raising a hand in the air. Barf. Don't get me wrong . . . I'm all for morality; I'm just really against terrible music.

I glanced in the passenger-side mirror, noting that my lips were a natural pink and my cheeks, perfectly flushed. My eyelashes feathered long and soft, nearly touching my eyebrows. I batted them at my reflection. My body was compensating for what my magic couldn't accomplish. Time to turn on the charm. The car purred to life and he backed out of the lot, making some inane chit chat. I didn't bother buckling up, but instead slid to the middle of the front seat, propping an elbow on his shoulder.

He shifted a glance to me before quickly diverting his gaze back to the road. “How long of a drive is it, Dave?”

“Uh, about fifteen minutes or so. Why?”

I shrugged, brushing my lips against his earlobe and running my nose down the length of his jaw. “Just determining if we need to park or not.”

“Huh? What are you—”

“Shh.” I placed a finger on his lips as the light turned green. He accelerated and I could hear his pulse quickening. I exhaled my pheromone again, and his body immediately relaxed. “You want me, Dave?” I flicked a tongue out and his stubble scraped the surface as I licked a portion of his jaw up to his ear.

He grunted a response and nodded. “Uh-huh. B-but . . .”

I suckled his earlobe, taking it mostly into my mouth and he groaned. “Just relax Dave. I promise, you won't go to Hell because of this one act.” It was a promise I knew to be true. I cupped his erection in one hand. It twitched in my palm and I squeezed once, making sure to brush against his balls through the fabric.

“Just keep driving.” My sex throbbed and ached, but that didn't matter nearly as much as getting him to come. I could live without the release of an orgasm. But I couldn't live without
his
orgasm. I positioned myself on my knees, bending at the waist so that other drivers wouldn't see what we were doing. Unzipping his pants, I smiled as his erection sprang free.

“Are you going to—Oh God!” he cried as I took him entirely in my mouth. His skin was soft and sensitive against my lips. The tiniest flicker of my tongue and his hips bucked beneath me. I deep-throated his cock and he slammed on the brakes, sending my head into the steering wheel.

“Careful up there, Dave.”

“S-sorry,” he panted. “I just—it's kind of hard to focus while you're . . . while you . . .” I ran my tongue around his balls, taking one in my mouth and sucking gently, then repeating the action on the other side. His grip on the wheel tightened and I moaned, allowing the noise to buzz against him. His head fell back on the headrest.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“Why, Dave.” I sent him a mocking smile. “Was that profanity I just heard from your lips?”

“I just . . . I'm nervous. Really nervous.”

“I know, baby,” I said, quieter. “But trust me. You'll be okay. You can still have a relationship with God and enjoy the sensual side of life.”

“How can you say that?” His eyes twitched down to me before quickly lifting back to the road. He put a hand to my hair and gently brushed a piece from my eyes.

“You just have to have some faith. Don't do this all the time, but now . . . in this moment. It is okay. And if you love the woman . . . it's even better. God doesn't punish love.”

God doesn't punish love.
The truth of Julian's words rang over and over in my head, stirring the memory from long ago.

“But . . .” He swallowed, braking at another red light. “This—us . . . it isn't love. This is just lust.”

I gripped the base of his dick firmly and licked him once more. “Do you want me to stop, Dave?” I held my pheromone in. I knew ten minutes ago that this was what he wanted—but he was entitled to change his mind. He didn't answer, but his cock held firm in my hand. If that was the only answer I needed, I would have continued with no guilt. But his sweet, boyish face was so worried. I sighed and pushed off his legs.

His hand in my hair stopped me from getting up. “No,” he said quietly.

“No?” I was genuinely surprised. “Are you sure?”

He nodded and accelerated once more, licking his lips. “Yes. I-I really want you to finish.”

“Oh, baby,” I said through a grin. “You'll be the one finishing.” His fingers entwined in my hair, twisting the strands in his fist; he gripped me firmly, the pain tingling against my scalp. I moaned with the little bit of pain, exaggerating for dramatic effect and looked up into his eyes. His hand held my head firmly in place. “Make me,” I whispered.

“What?” He shifted in the seat, the other hand's fingers twitching against the wheel.

“Make me get you off,” I said, clarifying once more. It took another moment before he fully grasped the meaning of this. And for the first time since I'd begun, a smile crept across his sweet features. He tugged my hair once more. “Oh yeah,” I cried. And finally, he pushed my head into his crotch. I opened my throat as his hard cock slid all the way to the back. He determined the speed, hand still coiled in my hair lifting and pushing my head exactly as he wanted it. He chose rough and hard, lifting his hips and plunging his dick deep in my mouth while his hand on the back of my head guided me with force. With only a few more thrusts, he spurted hot and sticky onto my tongue. I swallowed him down, the rush of his soul the best high I could ask for.

I
passed Drew and Adrienne's door on my way back to my room. A tray sat outside on the floor. An empty bottle of champagne was nestled between two plates of almost finished room-service dinner. Anger flared through my body and heated my cheeks. I had good nerve to pound on the door and scream at them both.

Instead, I took a deep, calming breath. He wasn't mine to fight for. He was barely even a friend these days. I could hold off and ask in the morning what happened. I turned to move on, when I heard a high-pitched giggle from the other side of the door. Adrienne. Her laugh was loud, uncontrolled—it almost sounded like she had during her human days. A loud thump banged against the wall and I jumped, startled.

“Oh, Drew,” she moaned, loud enough that the whole floor could have damn well heard her. “Oh yes, right like that.”

There was a grunt followed by a low, manly groan.
Drew
. I closed my eyes, knowing those noises all too well from our one night together. “My God, Adrienne. You are so beautiful.” Oh, Hell no.

Tears strangled in my throat and I froze, my blood running cold. It was exactly what he'd said to me six months earlier while we were in the throes of passion.

Before I could stop myself, my fist was against the door pounding fast and furious. The door swung open and I found myself face-to-face with a shirtless Drew. His chest heaved up and down with each deep breath.

“What?” he snapped.

Shit. What now?
“I . . . need to speak with Adrienne. About . . . the case.”

“Monica!” Adrienne ran toward me in a way that I wasn't sure whether I should steady her or duck. “Look, babe! It's Marnica!” Her words slurred and she pinched a half-empty champagne flute between two fingers. She wore Drew's button-down shirt like a nightgown and no pants. I squeezed my eyes shut. Please no . . . please don't let it have already happened....

I opened my eyes again. “Hey, Adrie—oh!” My words were lost as she pulled me in for a crushing hug, a bit of champagne sloshing out of the flute and landing on my pants.

She pulled back from the hug, trying to stare at me, but her eyes crossed, completely out of focus. She swayed, steadying herself on my shoulders and sniffed audibly once before scrunching her nose. “You had sex!” she attempted a whisper, but somehow managed to be even louder than her normal speaking voice.

I swallowed as Drew sharply inhaled to my left. “No—I, no I didn't.”

Mascara was smeared below her big, brown eyes and her hair in rough shape. “You're telling the truth,” she stated, reading my aura. Then, pointing a finger at my nose, “But you did something tonight.”

“Yeah. And you're drunk,” I said, stating the obvious, then looked to Drew for any signs that he was, too. His arms were crossed and he leaned on the door frame. Tight biceps clenched along with his jaw—he was pissed. Shit. Like,
really
pissed. His mouth tightened into a hard line and he chewed on the inside of his cheek. My eyes followed down his neck to the light sprinkling of chest hair across his pecs and down his washboard stomach. Black dress pants hung low on his waist revealing a thin happy trail and that
V
muscle just above the groin. My mouth went dry at the sight.

“Enjoying the view?” His voice was tight and I immediately forced my eyes back to his. His mouth was still set in stone, but a shimmer of humor flashed in his eyes. He liked that I was rendered speechless.

“Are you drunk, too?” I inhaled his scent, not smelling any alcohol on him. The tangy smell emanated off of Adrienne stronger than sewage.

“Maaaaahnica should join us for a drink!” Adrienne threw her hands above her head presenting the idea as if it were worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize.

“We're out. Remember? You drank the whole bottle.” Drew's face softened slightly when talking to her.

“You drank the
whole
bottle? Yourself?”

“Monica,” Drew said on a sigh, “do you really need to see Adrienne now? We're in the middle of . . . something.”

It was my turn to glare and I shot him a look. “Yes,” I snapped while grabbing Adrienne's elbow and pulling her out into the hallway. “It's important.”

“Fine.” His voice wasn't raised like mine was, but it was even more lethal that way. A soft, menacing threat. “Stay in the room for God's sake. She doesn't even have pants on.” He stepped to the side and gestured for us to enter. I did so, Adrienne clinging to my arm in an uncharacteristic hug. I shrugged her off onto the bed.

“I'm going to get some ice. You have two minutes,” he said, glaring at me.

Fuck. Never come between a man and his orgasm. My eyes trailed once more to his chest—his nipples tight in the chilly air-conditioned room.

“And you—” He pinched Adrienne's chin between two fingers, dropping a feathered kiss to her lips. “We'll pick up where we left off when I get back.” My gaze dropped to his tight ass as he bent to kiss her. His back flexed with the movement and my stomach turned. I would never again have him. His body. Or his friendship.

“Can you not control yourself, Monica? Christ,” he muttered catching me mid-stare. I glanced away, face burning.

“Of course she can't!” Adrienne cried out with a giggle. The sort of giggle that had more pain than humor in it. “She's a demon-whore!”

“Adrienne!” Drew's eyes grew wide and glanced from her to me and back again.

Oh, fuck.
“But, she is, Drew! She like, works for Saetan and everything.”

“Okay,” I said, grabbing Drew's shoulders. His skin was hot beneath my hand and I flushed at the proximity. “It's okay Drew. Really, I just need a couple of minutes.”

“Monica—she doesn't mean that. . . .”

“Oh, yes she does. But it's okay. Really. Go get some ice and I'll be gone soon.”

He glanced again at Adrienne, who was now on her back on the bed draining the last of the champagne. Giving me one last apologetic half-smile, he closed the door behind him. “You're not a—”

“Out!” Damn, I didn't want to have this conversation. I pointed a finger at the door and after a moment's hesitation, he left.

Adrienne!” I rushed over to her. “What are you doing? You can't tell him that !”

She shrugged and licked the rim of her champagne flute. “S'not like he'd believe me anyway.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose rubbing in circles just over my eyes. “Promise me . . . no more demon talk tonight, okay?”

“Fine, whatever.”

“Did you two have sex?”

Adrienne giggled and lifted up onto her elbows. “Angels make
love
, Monica.”

I groaned. I only had a minute with her. “Fine, whatever. Did you two make lo—” the word choked in my mouth. Gag me. “Nope, no, I can't say that. Did you two fuck or not?”

She giggled again and threw her head back. “Not yet,” she crooned in a singsong way.

My chest collapsed on an exhale. “Oh, thank Hell.” I closed my eyes with another deep breath. “Adrienne, you can't. Not yet. Do not do this to him.”

“You're just saying that because
you
want to sleep with him.” She folded her arms across her chest petulantly.

“No . . .” She dropped her chin to her chest giving me a chastising look. “Well, yes. Fine, I do want to sleep with him. But I won't. I promise. I kept my shit together for years with him until I thought I had lost my powers and . . . and . . .”

“. . . and he thought I had cheated.”

I nodded and the room grew silent. “I'm not the only succubus out there gunning for Drew's soul, you know? He shines with purity—he basically walks around Vegas with a giant red target on his di—er, forehead.”

All the color drained from Adrienne's face. Giant tears welled up, gathering in a pool at the bottom lower lids.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “I'm not saying this to hurt you or scare you. And maybe with more time he could be committed. But—he is human. And with a human, there's never a guarantee that he'll be one hundred percent true to you. By their very nature, humans make mistakes. Big ones sometimes . . . I think that's why we love them so much.” I swallowed as she stared past my shoulder at the wall. Her face was no longer registering emotion except for a few single tears that streamed down her cheeks. “But maybe, Adrienne. Maybe with time when he has a chance to, I don't know, to . . .”

“To get over you.” she cut me off.

Shit.
“That's not what I was saying, Adrienne.”

“But it's true, isn't it?” Her eyes turned to me, without her needing to move her head at all.

Holy Hell, this was not a conversation I wanted to be having. “Do you really want your first time with Drew . . . as an angel . . . to be when you're trashed? Think about it. This is such a bad idea.”

“It's been months for me, Monica. When I got my halo, it's not like my libido magically disappeared.”

“Oh, I know. . . .” I remembered all too well. “Just give him more time.” I would repeat this a million times until it got through to her.

“Time to get over you,” she repeated. Then, after another moment, Adrienne looked up at me, swiping away an errant tear from her cheek. “And what if he doesn't?”

My throat burned. I wanted to break down and cry, too. A bitter laugh escaped me lips. “He will.” I swallowed. “They always do.”

Her face had softened into a beautiful melancholy pout again. She was still drunk even though our conversation was a sobering one. “I'm sick of waiting.” She glared at me as though it was my fault—shit, maybe it was.

She stared at her hands, not meeting my eyes. “You promise you won't sleep with him again?”

I took a breath, hesitating before answering. I couldn't lie—she would see right through that. “I promise that . . . unless there is an extenuating circumstance, I will not have sex with Drew. And certainly not while you two are an item.”

“What in Heaven's name would an extenuating circumstance be to have sex with my boyfriend?” Damn.
Boyfriend.
That word was like a dagger in my gut.

“You'd be surprised at what comes up in our realms.” She continued staring at me with raised eyebrows. A thought struck me—and it was almost so mean, I didn't want to say it.

“What?” she asked through narrowed eyes.

I swallowed. “I would sleep with him if I thought you were going to get him irrevocably connected to you before he was ready.”

She gasped. “But, but you would steal his life!”

I nodded. “Some . . . a week, maybe. But if you fuck Drew tonight before he is ready, you'll be taking something far worse. Because in the case that he is unfaithful, you'll be marking his soul for Hell.”

“That's harsh,” she whispered.

“I know.”

“I think I need another drink.” She looked down at her champagne glass, frowning and turning it upside down, realizing it was empty.

“You are so drunk,” I laughed and gently took the empty glass from her hand, placing it on the nightstand. “Like,
really,
drunk.”

Adrienne fell back onto the bed, her arm flopping over her eyes. “I know! I couldn't let Drew drink any. So I thanked him for the thoughtful gesture and drank it myself so that there wouldn't be any left in the room for
him
.”

“Why didn't you yell at him? Scream, throw the bottle out the window?”

She sighed, still lying on the bed with her forearm covering half her face. “Because. We haven't seen much of each other lately. Tonight was supposed to be a romantic date night. I didn't want to fight.”

“Well, I have to admit, you're kind of a fun drunk.” I smirked at her and she peeked through her arm at me. “We should have done this when you were human. You could have been fun in the clubs.”

“Shut up, demon-whore,” she said through a smile of her own.

“Screw you, angel-bitch,” I laughed and swatted playfully at her leg.

After a soft knock, the door swung open and Drew entered carrying a bucket of ice and another bottle of champagne.

“Pretend to sleep,” I whispered. Adrienne nodded barely and slackened her mouth so it was hanging open.

“Who's ready for some more champa—”

I looked up at Drew and down again at Adrienne, who was doing a good job at acting passed out. Shit, maybe she really was. I shrugged at Drew. “Sorry . . . she sort of fell asleep on me. I didn't want to just leave her here like this.”

“Dammit!” he whispered, dropping the items down onto the dresser.

“You should let her sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow with the case.”

“Yeah, I know. Believe me. It's all she ever has time for.”

“It's her job.”

He raked a hand through his golden hair. “Yeah, I know.”

There was a pause while we stared at each other from across the room. Adrienne grunted and rolled over onto her stomach, shooting me a surreptitious glare as she did so. Yup, just a good actress, it seemed. I suppressed a chuckle and instead walked over to Drew. “I'll take that,” I said, grabbing the bottle of champagne. “Thanks. George and I will toast to you two.” I scrunched my nose, peering up at him through my long lashes.

“Monica,” he whispered.

I put a finger to his lips, glancing at where Adrienne lay. I had no idea what he was about to say . . . but whatever it was, I was better off not hearing it. “Go take care of your girl, Drew.” I brushed past him, shutting the door behind me and ran head first into Damien.