Succubus Heat CHAPTER 2

I dont re each(prenominal)y have anything against Canadians. Theyre nice. genuinely nice. scarce that didnt mean I requisiteed to go curling with them, and there was al demeanors a danger that if Jerome was in the right imagination, he exp championnt decide to make this temporary assignment a permanent one.I didnt think he would, though. Underneath all the gruffness, Jerome give cared me-inasmuch as a demon could truly like anyone. Admittedly, hed liked me a little less(prenominal) since Seth had minacious my life upside conquer last fall, only when I wasnt sporting massive attitude, I think I amused Jerome. Amusing things are some in the calculate of eternity, so hope exuberanty that would be enough to ensure my job security.I left Belltownspeople and degreeed everyplace to cigaret Anne, a nonher Seattle neighborhood. I twain lived and studyed in Queen Anne, and if I was ab come forward to disappear for a p clump of ground, my mortal employer should probably know . Unfortunately, press release into fix meant facing some unpleasant things that I wasnt really in the mood for tonight.Georgina What are you doing here?Maddie Sato, the Brutus to my Caesar, came scurrying up to me as I ente inflammation Emerald urban center Books and Caf?. In Maddies defense, she hadnt cognise Seth and I were dating when theyd slept to incurher. So, it wasnt like shed wittingly stolen him from me. That didnt really change my feelings toward either of them, though.I subscribe to to see Warren, I said, suspecting I probably reeked of vodka and smoke. Is he here?She shook her head, making her sheeny black hair s musical mode. It was worn in a long, sleek name Id taught her how to do. He left about an hour ago. Didnt want to stick round for settlement.I glanced at a clock. Id barely do it in in advance they locked the doors. I tapped my foot impatiently, wondering if I should call Warren at home. Finally, I asked, You got a sec to go over some inventory st uff? Im red to be out for a few eldor maybe much.Sure, she said, smiling and showing dimples. You want me to grab Doug in like manner?Hes here?Both assistant managers closing in one night. It was a stroke of luck. I headed off to my office while she went to fetch her chum salmon Doug. My desk was organized for a change, and I found the clipboard bearing the schedule for the abutting couple of weeks. I skimmed it, relieved to see we had a full complement of staff for a change. My immortal friends didnt understand why I cared so much about this job. There had been days recently-days when I didnt want to get out of bed be give I was so depressed-that Id wondered the same thing. But the truth was, eternity was an extremely long metre, and Id spent most of my m always occupied with some activity. It was part of my nature I couldnt be idle. And some quantify- sometimes -I could get so caught up in the day-to-day personal matters of the human world that I could approximately pret end for a blink of an tenderness that I was one of them again.I dont think well need anyone to cover me, I said when I heard the office door open a few minutes later. Someonell just need to cause over my- I looked up.Maddie had returned, along with Doug, but they werent alone. Seth was with them.All the easy confidence Id shown in the store, all the brashness and bravado Id shown at the clubit all diminish up into a cold, hard knot as I looked at him. Walls slammed down around me. How could he affect me like this, particularly while wearing a Buck Rogers T-shirt? It had been three months. Why wasnt I over him? Why did I tranquillise want to cry or break something whenever I saw him?Whoa, Kincaid, said Doug, partially distracting me from my angst. He glanced at my outfit and raised an eyebrow. We interrupting your social life?I wore a knee-length black trench coat over a short red dress. My makeup was do to seductive perfection, whorish dark eyeliner and lipstick to match the d ress. Shape-shifting in the car would have been a snap, but I didnt feel like I needed to prove anything here. In fact, I considerate of reveled in my tramp look tonight.Apparently this is my social life, if Im pathetic enough to hang in on a Saturday night. I forced myself to focus on Doug and Maddie only, trying hard not to look at Seths soft, coppery cook hair or gentle eyes. Why did he have to be here of all nights? The answer he was here every night. He was an author and did his best work in coffee shops. When wed broken up, hed tested to discreetly find another and victorious into custody remote from me, but Maddie-oblivious to his reasons-had begged him to stay at the bookstores.Where are you going? asked Maddie. Is everything okay?Yeah, yeah, I said brusquely. presbyopic story.I beckoned Maddie and Doug to the clipboard, explaining again how I was beauteous sure the store would be fine without my labor, so long as they could cover the tasks I did as manager. We sket ched out a brief list of my responsibilities, like payroll and inventory, and began divvying them up.Doug tapped the list. Ive done all these before, at one time or another. Theyre no problem. Ill take the first half. He elbowed his sister. What about you? You gonna take the rest and pull your appoint here?Maddie round outd her lips. She was immensely talented but suffered from bouts of insecurity, which Id repeatedly told her was ridiculous. Shed improved a lot over the months-again, thanks to me-but still faltered. I didnt realize you did so much. I hope I can learn it all.Stop vie coy. Ill teach you, said Doug. Youll be as good as Kincaid in no time.Yeah, I said dryly. Were practically interchangeable anyway. Out of the nook of my eye, I saw Seth shift uncomfortably.The whole thing seems kind of sketchy, though, remarked Doug, tilting his head so that his black hair fell away from his face. Youre going to be gone, but youre not sure when or how long? I thought you were the r eliable one around here.Itsfamily stuff, I told them. only gotta be dealt with. Besides, now you can have a chance to be responsible. You should be thanking me, Doug. He stuck his tongue out at me.Is Warren going to be okay with it? asked Maddie, still fretting on my behalf.Let me deal with Warren, I ensure her.Doug scoffed at that, but Maddie didnt catch on. Warren, the stores marginally moral owner, had been a old sex buddy of mine. He gave me about as much energy as Dante, but he was convenient and suited my mood lately. Id stop our tryst while dating Seth but had since returned to old habits. Doug had known about my affair with Warren then and now but was tactful enough to leave me to my own choices, aside from the occasional bit of eye rolling. I suspected Seth knew what was going on too, but I didnt care. Warren wasnt going to give me any grief about taking time off. I was too good at what I did, both at work and in the bedroom.We shuffled one shift where I was supposed(p ) to have closed, and then I tossed the clipboard back on its pile, suddenly needing to get out of there as soon as possible. Alright. Thanks, team. Ill leave you to your work. moody to hit the town? asked Doug, still amused. I can join you in about a half-hour. I know a killer fellowship.I shook my head. Already hit the town. Im heading home.Loser, he called after me.Maddie wished me healthy with my mysterious time off, and then I left them, fliping done the store and exchanging greetings with my other co-workers as they scurried around with their closing tasks. Id nearly do it to the door when I heard someone call my name. I turned and saw Casey hurrying toward me. She was twenty or so and went to the University of Washington. Shed worked here almost the entire time shed been in college and was one of our best employees. So, I halt and forced a smile, my eyes straying longingly toward the door. Hey, whats up?She grinned, dark eyes sparkling. I valued to know if you were goi ng to go to my party next weekend, she said. You never answered the e-mail.I didnt remember any e-mail, but then, Id been pretty trigger-happy with the delete key lately. I didnt get it, I lied. Whats going on?Its my graduation party. This Sunday.I frowned. Its April.Im graduating early. I got all my credits blameless up, so I dont have to do spring quarter. Pretty cool, huh?Whoa, I said, actually impressed. That is cool. Math, right?Math and Latvian.Why on earth-never mind. Now was not the time to pursue why someone of Filipino heritage was examine Baltic languages. I wish I could go, but Im leaving town tomorrow for some family stuff and dont know when Ill be back. Im really sorry.Caseys face fell a little, but she told me she understood. And like Maddie, she wished me well and hoped my family disdain would be taken care of easily. That made two of us. She left me and went to finish her closing tasks.As soon as I cleared the stores door and was outdoors, I stopped and exhaled. Breezy night air washed over me. universe in Seths presence was smothering. It stirred up too much in me. Even while talking business and numbers with Doug and Maddie, most of my help had been on Seth-exactly how far away he stood from me, the way he smelled, the way his messy hair stuck up today. Everything else had been background noise compared to him.Reaching into my purse with shaking hands, I pulled out my cigarettes, desperately needing one for the walk home. Id smoke-dried for a century or so and stopped ten years ago, something Id been very towering of, even though I was immune to the effects. sieve had driven me to pick up the habit again. I felt a little bad about subjecting others to secondhand smoke, but honestly, smoking was the least of my problems right now.Fuck. I flicked the switch on my lighter and got nothing. Three more flicks produced similar results. Holding the lighter up to my ear, I shook it. Nothing. It was out of fluid. Fuck, I repeated. I only liv ed a few blocks away, but somehow, that walk was now going to be agony.Suddenly, I heard what sounded like a boot scuff around the corner of the building. Frowning, I took a few steps forward, wondering if anyone was there. This area was pretty safe, but Lower Queen Anne still had its share of vagrants. Yet, when I glanced around the corner, there was no one there.There was, however, a pack of matches lying on the ground.Kneeling down, I picked the book up and examined them. Marks Mad Martini Bar. Id been there a long time ago. It was in Upper Queen Anne, not too far away if you didnt mind trekking up the hill. It wasnt unreasonable that a pack of their matches would find their way here. What was weird was that the matches showed up right when I needed them.Behind me, I heard the stores door open. Georgina?I rose and turned sharply around. Seth.Hey, I said, hoping for blandness. The smothering feeling returned.Light from inside the store lit up his features in the twilight, and I at e up every line and weight down of his face. His eyes looked dark in the dimness, but in full light, they were chocolate-brown infused with amber. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, and his gaze wouldnt meet mine. It was painfully reminiscent of how hed been when we first met, too shy to look directly at me.I wanted to see if you were okay, he said after several awkward moments.I turned the matches over in my hand a couple of times and then placed them in my purses outer pocket. Im fine, I said, keeping my spokesperson cool and distant.Its just He relaxed slightly and gave a small, rueful laugh. When youre weak about your activities and mention family, it usually means immortal business. And immortal business always means trouble.I started to smile, then at a time squelched it. Yeah, it does, and conceptualize me, its a great one this time. Even after everything that had gone down between us, there was such a comfort and familiarity with him that I immediately wanted to la unch in and recap the story for him. I could already see us both laughing at the idea of Canadian Satanists. I could perfectly picture the way Seth would shake his head in exasperation. But it wasnt to be. I was too hurt and too proud to even allow him friendship, so I just shrugged and said, But itll work out. It always does.Yeahbut usually not without a lot of hassle. Im just worried about you, thats all.You dont have to be. Not anymore . Im not in any danger. Mostly just annoyed.He opened his mouthpiece to speak, and I knew the gesture. He wanted to argue that there was still cause for concern-but times had changed. He swallowed and let the comment go. More silence fell. I knew I should leave, but somehow, I couldnt make myself do it. He ostensibly couldnt either. Youyou look really great tonight, he said at last, still fumbling for conversation.There was a catch in his voice. He knew my looks tonight had to do with more than just my body and outfit. The energy Id stolen from s leeping with the healer wreathed me. Life and its power were irresistible to all creatures, mortal and immortal alike. Immortals could literally see that life glowing around me. To mortals, I simply looked beautiful. Unearthly. Perfect.For the interest group of politeness, I pretended he was complimenting me for normal things. Thanks. I was out with the others when all thisstuffwent down. Its kind of put a damper on my partying, though.He nodded by way of answer and shifted so that he actually made eye contact. I wished he hadnt. My heart melted inside me, and I felt a sob building in my chest. Desperate for something to do, I took out the serendipitous matches and lit the cigarette Id been holding the whole time. I took a long drag and exhaled. Seth stepped back. He wasnt a rooter of smoking. It was like I suddenly had armor.Well, I said, feeling bolder, I should go home and pack. See you around.I turned and had only taken a step when he called out to me. Georgina?I glanced back . Yeah?Do youum He faltered, and again, I was reminded of that long-ago Seth. Bittersweet feelings burned within me. Do you need someone to feed your cat?I didnt know whether to laugh or cry. No, but thanks. Codyll do it. I spoke the next words, fully shrewd theyd inflict damage. Or Dante will.Seth flinched, and somehow, I felt both joyful and sad at the same time. No problem, he said haltingly. Just thought Id, you know, check.Thanks, I said again. We held each others gazes a few more moments, and then I turned away and walked off into the night.