Wicked Pleasure (34 page)

“Makes sense.” Conall nodded. “Then we'll just have to make sure our guests stay safe.” His expression said the archdemon didn't want to mess with him.

Holgarth and Conall left. Asima lingered for a moment.
“Don't forget that I'm bringing you a new outfit on Wednesday. Oh, and you might want to know that Ganymede and I are no longer an item. He admitted he hated the opera, thought the ballet was a bore, and wished Shakespeare would've written his ‘damned plays in English a regular guy could understand.' ”
She sniffed her displeasure.
“He was not worthy.”
She left.

Kim giggled. “God, I'm so tired I'm slaphappy.”

Brynn didn't want to leave Kim for a whole bunch of reasons. She'd be asleep before he got through listing them. “Guess I'll go back to my room. Just Ganymede and me.” He paused to let her digest what
that
would be like. “Still don't have my new bed, so it'll be another night on the couch. No way would I sleep in the bed anyway. Ganymede wants half of it, and he snores loud enough to wake Eric at noon.”

She looked amused, but she didn't say, “Hey, no problem. You can stay with me.”

He narrowed his gaze on her. Okay, no more gentle hints. “I want to stay with you tonight.” No hokey reasons, no begging.

Her smile faded, and something soft and welcoming filled her eyes. “I'd like you to stay.” Kim glanced at her watch. “No sign of your compulsion yet. If you leave, we can't keep track of the time between them.” She tried to look serious, but her laughter seeped through. “This is all in the name of scientific inquiry, of course.”

Of course. He closed the door quietly and turned off the lights.

Purple eyes gleamed in the darkness. “Hey, you guys. I can't see.”

Where had Tuesday gone? Last she recalled it'd been Monday night. Now it was Wednesday morning. She seemed to remember a blur that could've been Tuesday. There were fuzzy images of her trying to do her architect thing while Fo whined nonstop because Kim hadn't given her the diamond necklace and hadn't allowed her to off any demons.

Other than that, Tuesday had been about placating Holgarth who was so not happy about searching all of Galveston for rooms to house the Vaughns and trying to remain sane while Mr. Hot slept on her couch.

Wait, she did have one positive memory from yesterday. Brynn's last compulsion to date had occurred Tuesday morning.

Wednesday, ack! Just the thought made Kim want to roll over and cover her head with her pillow. Castle of Dark Dreams? Ha! More like the Castle of Unfulfilled Dreams. Because she knew if she stretched out her hand, Brynn's side of the bed would still be empty.

Not only that, but if she opened her eyes, she'd have to face a high-kicking chorus line of things she didn't want to do. Like refereeing the battle between Sparkle and Asima over what she'd wear today. Like doing a fantasy tonight with ordinary Vic Burton, when ordinary was no longer on her radar screen. Like dealing with all the Vaughns pouring onto the island. And like discussing things with Brynn that would be uncomfortable for both of them. Ah, for the good old days of Monday, or maybe even Tuesday.

The worst thing of all? She'd have to face another day with the knowledge she was falling in love with . . .

A demon? His compulsions were coming farther and farther apart. He didn't demonstrate the usual demonic behaviors. And the archdemon didn't exert any power over him. Of course, he could be a eudemon like Wade, but he didn't exhibit Wade's indifference to humanity.

A human? Nope. He didn't die. Not a human characteristic.

Any other recognizable nonhuman entity? Not that Kim could tell. No fangs or unusual cravings. No desire to howl at the moon.

So, she was falling in love with none of the above. Just peachy.

A sudden rattling and rustling forced her eyes open. At the same time, Fo's disgustingly cheerful voice swept away any hope she could just go back to sleep.

“Yo, Kimmie. Asima's here. She brought you lots of neat stuff.”

Kim propped herself up on her elbow and met the morning with a grumpy scowl. “It's called knocking, Asima, a pesky human ritual in which you announce your presence and your wish to enter a room. The human can then choose to yell through the door that she's not home and wants to be left alone.”

Disbelieving, she watched an equally grumpy Conall stomp into her room and dump a bunch of clothes on her bed. Without a word, he turned and left. Kim winced as he slammed the door behind him, then she shifted her attention back to Asima.

“Are we bad-tempered in the morning, hmm? You are so human, Kim. Immortals aren't a slave to the clock. I've been up for hours.”
Asima leaped onto the foot of the bed.
“Get up and see what I've brought you.”

A glance around verified that Brynn wasn't in the room. She didn't hear water running so he wasn't in the shower either. Her mood, which was already pretty low, hit bottom and settled there. Kim glanced at her travel clock on the night table. She groaned. “It's only six, Asima.”

“The Queen of All Things Sexy has risen and is seriously considering kicking your man-stealing butt all over Galveston.” Sparkle swept into the room and laid the things she'd brought on the couch.

Asima raised her nose into the air.
“Men appreciate good breeding and naturally seek me out. You can hardly blame
me
for that.”

Sparkle rolled her eyes. “Oh good grief, now we'll hear about how the Tight-Ass Fairy whacked you over the head and turned you into the Goddess of Boring Bitches.”

Ack! Kim was officially wide-awake and heading for the shower. If she came out and there were bodies, she'd dispose of them. But she'd keep the clothes.

Once in the shower, she forgot about Sparkle and Asima. Showers turned her mind to Brynn and how the water flowing over that incredible torso would bead on his nipples, slide over his abdomen, and bathe his glorious sexual package in warm . . .

Pounding on the bathroom door. “Get out here fast before these two rip each other's heads off.” Brynn's voice.

Kim's instant relief was pathetic. No matter how frustrating the last few nights had been with Brynn sleeping on her couch, it was preferable to him sleeping on his own couch. After Sparkle and Asima left, they'd have to talk.

A few minutes later she walked from the bathroom still wearing her robe—why dress when she was getting a new outfit—and prepared to be fought over like a new chew toy.

Speaking of chew toys, Brynn was looking disgustingly relaxed as he lounged in one of the armchairs, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He wore jeans, boots, and a white shirt. He was drinking coffee, and she could see he'd brought some back for her along with a doughnut. Caffeine and sugar, what better way to start the day?
How about hot sex in my bed?
No, she refused to go there until the twisted twosome had left.

She couldn't avoid Sparkle and Asima any longer. “Have you agreed on what I'll wear today?” One should always face life with a positive attitude.

“No.” A simultaneous negative blast.

Kim threw up her hands. “Look, ladies, I appreciate that both of you have taken an interest in making me the best I can be, but I have lots to do today, so let's get this show on the road.” Had she been firm enough? “And just out of curiosity, Asima, how'd you get Conall to drag all these things to my room?”

“I asked him. How else? He was going to refuse until I pointed out that if I didn't have to help you with your outfit I'd be free to follow him around.”
Asima sat beside the things Conall had dumped on the bed.
“And no offense, Kim, but my driving motivation here is to emerge triumphant over the slut queen.”

“What she means, Kim, is she couldn't screw Mede, so she wants to screw me.” Sparkle swayed over to the clothes she'd left on the couch.

Kim couldn't help but admire Sparkle. How did she manage a sexy sashay in stilettos high enough to give anyone altitude sickness? And her tight leather pants and skimpy black top made a definite statement that said,
I'm here, and I'm sexy.

“Maybe I'll go down and find Holgarth. We have demon business to discuss.” Brynn was poised to escape.

Fat chance. “I don't think even Holgarth will be up for a discussion at six in the morning. Don't you dare move from that chair. You're the only one on my side, and if you leave, I'll tell Ganymede you've missed having him around.”

“You're a cruel woman.” He stayed but looked all sulky and gorgeous. Did Brynn have any mood that made him look less than incredible? Kim didn't think so.

Sparkle made her presentation with sexual innuendoes dripping from every word. “We'll start with this little black silk camisole edged with ivory lace. It'll drive men wild trying to figure out whether you're a sexy lady in black silk or a tempting innocent in ivory lace. To go with it we have a short black leather skirt with an intriguing slit up the side. I brought you black lace panties so guys will have something interesting to see while they're playing peek a boo with the slit. Add in leather slides with tassels by Manolo Blahnik and a slouchy leather bag from Salvatore Ferragamo, and men will follow you home.”

“I plugged my ears so I wouldn't hear the dreadful details.”
Asima was lying on the bed making a big show of holding her paws over her ears.
“But I didn't have enough paws to cover my eyes. Is it my turn?”

Not even seven yet, and Kim felt weary. “Go for it.”

Asima cast flirty eyes toward Brynn.
“Would you hold up my things? I seem to be short of hands.”

Kim did a mental headshake. Flirty? How could a cat be flirty?

Brynn's expression said he'd rather be out fighting the archdemon to the death than holding up Asima's clothes. “Sure. No problem.” Liar.

He walked over to the bed and held up a top.

“You need a high-necked lace top to foster the mystique of the untouched virgin. Men are fascinated with virgins.”
Asima stared up at Brynn.
“Aren't you?”

“Fascinated.” He stared at Kim. The whites of his eyes were showing.

“I've brought a tulle-and-lace skirt to go with the top. It's swirly and girly.”
Asmia stared at Brynn until he held up the skirt.

“Hey, swirly and girly, that's me.” Kim didn't dare look at Sparkle to see how she was taking this.

“Finish the outfit off with Hermes leather lace-up espadrilles and a suede pocket satchel with leather trim from Coach, and you're ready to face the day with flair.”
She looked smugly satisfied.

Kim would have to move fast to head off a catfight of monumental proportions. “Okay, here's the deal. I love everything you guys have chosen for me, but obviously I can't wear everyone's stuff at once. So I'll pick and choose.” She didn't give Sparkle or Asima a chance to argue. “I'll wear the top Sparkle chose and Asima's skirt. I like the lace-up espadrilles, Asima, and the slouchy leather bag is nice, Sparkle.”

Sparkle and Asima glared at each other.

“By the way, where did you get all these great clothes?” Maybe Kim didn't want to know.

“We have connections.”
Asima's cat eyes turned shifty.

“Many connections.” Sparkle busied herself by gathering up the things Kim wasn't wearing.

Kim sighed. Connections. Well, at least they'd found something they could agree on. “Thanks for the outfit.”

With much hissing and mumbled complaints, Asima and Sparkle left.

“Why do you let them bother you like that?” Brynn sounded amused now that they'd left.

“For the clothes, of course.” She smiled up at him. “Hey, I'm as shallow as the next person, and great clothes make me feel good.” Fine, so she wanted to look sexy enough to entice him off that stupid couch he bedded down on each night.

“I'd love to wear pretty clothes, too, Kimmie.” Fo sounded wistful.

But before Kim's sympathy could kick in, Asima padded back into the room. She had Dirk's detector gripped in her jaws. She leaped onto the night table and dropped the detector next to Fo. “I forgot this.”

“Uh-oh.” Brynn's comment sounded ominous. “Where'd you get that, Asima? And does Dirk know?” He shook his head and then answered his own question. “Of course he doesn't.”

Asima blinked her big blue eyes.
“He didn't see me borrow it. When you're finished, I'll take it back, and he won't see that either.”
Without a backward glance, she leaped from the night table and was gone. The door eased closed behind her.

Fo vibrated with barely contained excitement. “Flip him open, Kimmie. Now.”

Brynn walked over and put his arm across Kim's shoulders, lending her his silent support. In that moment, she realized she'd be perfectly happy if he were there to lend his support for the rest of her life.

She swallowed hard. Did she mean that? Absolutely. Funny how the turning points in your life didn't always come when you expected them, like while you were hanging from a cliff by your fingertips or trying to outrun an angry rhino. Turning points crept up while you were doing something ordinary, like enjoying the warmth of a man's arm across your shoulders. And those moments changed you forever.

Okay, so standing beside a demon of sensual desire while you discussed fashion with a demon detector didn't qualify as ordinary. In fact, nothing involving Brynn would ever be normal, mainstream America. But compared to everything else she'd experienced this week, it was a pretty ho-hum moment.