Chapter 14 Izzy
IZZY
I was instantly on high alert.
“Izzy?” His voice slid through three octaves. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Fuck me,” I said at the same time, drawing out the words with fed-up exhaustion.
I wasn’t too tired to note that, in addition to his sinful body, the man now sported horns a shade of red darker than his hair.
They sprouted just above his ears, then curved back, following the contours of his head before twisting out and up a little.
Also… he had wings. Large, blood-red wings clung to his back, currently folded up.
Given the day I’d had, and how drained I was, I just accepted this new version of the man. But what I couldn’t accept was the fact that he’d been the one who’d gotten me stuck here.
I stepped in and slapped him, hard. My palm stung. I didn’t care.
“This is your fault!” I shouted in response to his initial question. “You turned me in to the supernatural authorities. Don’t deny it! Now I’m stuck here because of you.”
“No, I meant here, in my bathroom,” he said, raising a hand to his cheek.
His bathroom…? No, my bathroom.
Wait…
No…
Please God no.
A part of me had hoped he was a friend of my roommate, but… nope, my horrible luck was holding strong.
“My bathroom now. Only room left. You only have yourself to blame,” I said with a devilish grin. Though with his horns and wings, he looked far more like a devil. He just needed a tail. I checked. No tail. But that ass!
“What are you anyway?” I asked. Only after the words were out did I realize how horrible it was to ask such a thing. I’d found it so degrading when the princess had said something similar to me.
“No, forget it. I didn’t mean… I just… ugh!” I didn’t want to apologize to him, but I had to. “Sorry.”
He raised a copper eyebrow. “I suppose you wouldn’t know, would you? I’m an incubus. Well, half incubus, half salmaeri, but I don’t think you have a word for them in the human realm.” His voice was level, kind, almost soothing.
Why was he being so nice?
I wanted to hate him, but my body had different intentions, warming as my gaze dragged over his lean form. All those muscles, and that goldilocks cock hanging between his legs.
Bad body!
We’re mad at him.
Don’t you dare get flustered!
But flustered I got, warmth sweeping up from a simmering heat in my core.
“I should be the one apologizing,” he said, daring to look contrite. “I’m sorry, I had to report you to the fae council. My master is on the council, and I couldn’t risk the place of standing and prestige he’s offered me.”
His master?
Standing?
What was it with this world and the politics of power?
“Talk to me when you’ve figured out a way for me to go home,” I hissed. Though after all I’d done to convince myself of the good I could do here, I wasn’t so certain I wanted to go home anymore.
In Providence, all I’d ever be was a bartender.
Here… well, I didn’t know yet, but maybe if I studied hard, I could make a place for myself, maybe I could help people.
Still, I glared at Rook. “Please leave, I need a shower,” I growled.
He grinned. “I could join you, make you feel better?”
The sad part was, he would too, but…
“No. Go.”
He sighed and nodded, but he took his time gathering his things and sauntering out. God that ass!
No!
That’s a bad ass belonging to a bad boy. Nope, that sounded too sexy. Belonging to a jerk!
My body wasn’t so sure, taking a step to follow him before I caught myself.
Rook closed his door.
“And don’t you dare come in here while I’m in the shower!” I shouted.
Even if he had already seen me naked.
I sagged against a wall, the fight going out of me. I needed to shower now, before I collapsed.
I managed to strip and get myself into the large tub. A tub that filled a bump-out in the outside wall, which was all glass. Screw it. I didn’t care if anyone saw me. Myel had said it was one-way glass. And the view out, over the trees, to the ocean beyond was relaxing.
The rest of the bathroom was nice, but not extravagant. The doors to the rooms were between the tub and the rest of the room. Then a double vanity before a partial wall blocked the toilet at the far end of the room.
I didn’t have the strength to scrub or soap up, so I let the hot water cleanse me then staggered out. I gathered my things and closed and locked my door to the bathroom before falling into bed.
I had classes tomorrow and I wanted to be ready to face the day.
But I’d forgotten one thing…
“Izzy?” A soft voice crashed through my dreams. Dreams of Rook’s ass… and his horns, specifically holding onto those horns like handlebars while I rode his face…
“Rook?” I gasped, coming awake… to see Myel standing over me.
It was dark out.
He’d said he’d return.
“Who’s Rook?” Myel asked.
“My roommate, a jerk, don’t worry about him,” I groaned, half-asleep still.
The only light in my room came from the moon and stars outside. I’d forgotten to black out my window. By that illumination alone I could make out a new bruise on Myel’s cheek and a cut above one eye.
“You’re hurt,” I mumbled, trying to get up.
He pushed me back down softly. It didn’t take much, I was weak as a kitten. “Hush, I’m okay, I’ll heal quick enough. Just rest.”
Sounded like a great idea to me.
“Can I… join you?” he asked, tentative.
I wasn’t usually one for snuggling and this bed wasn’t big enough for two full grown people to rest comfortably without some contact. But I sighed and relented, grunting an affirmative. I wanted him there with me, or rather the bond wanted him.
He stripped and climbed in next to me. I rolled over and he fit like a glove against my back.
A soft kiss on my neck sent soothing peace through me.
“Rest,” he whispered.
And I did.
I woke the next morning — after some very steamy dreams — to my body simmering with need. My vagina was wet, my nipples erect, and my clit aching.
“I know you’re awake,” Myel said, his one arm sliding over me from behind. And where he touched, fire followed.
The bond called.