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“Not a chance,” he said, sounding way too pleased with himself. “Frame-worthy.”
“Seriously.”
He chuckled, low. “Relax. It’s not leaving this phone.”
I pressed harder into him. “You’re unbelievable.”
“And still alive. Which means you didn’t drain me dry.” He tipped his head back against the couch. “One point in your favor.”
“That’s the bar?” My voice cracked. “Not committing homicide during my first time having sex?”
“For our kind, that’s a decent bar. Also, probably the hottest thing you’ve ever said.” He sobered a little and smiled. “I have enough power that you won’t kill me. Knock me out maybe. For a few days. Weeks, if you get enthusiastic while your powers settle.”
“Powers,” I echoed, brain lagging. “Settle.”
“Your body just figured out what it is,” he said. “It’s catching up. You’re running hot. That static you feel? That’s your magic waking up and trying to decide which way is up.”
I sat there in his lap, blanket half over us, breathing hard and staring at my own demon-glow-y eyes on his screen.
“Succubus,” I repeated weakly.
“Succubus,” he confirmed. “Sex-fed. Energy draining.”
“What happens now?” I asked.
“Now,” he said, “your powers settle. You get stronger. Hungrier. Things that used to ignore you will start to notice you. And I make very sure nothing with bad intentions gets close enough to find out what you taste like.”
“That is a horrifying sentence,” I said.
He laughed again, quieter. “You asked.”
I took a breath. Then another. My pulse started to come down from the clouds, the static under my skin easing from sharp to a soft hum.
“Hey,” I said, surprising myself with how steady it came out.
“Yeah.”
“You’re really sure about this?” I asked. “About . . . what I am?”
“There’s a short list of things I trust tonight, Little Flower.”
I waited.
“One,” he said. “You’re a demon. A succubus. Your powers woke up because your body finally got what it needed.”
My face went nuclear.
“Two,” he said, ignoring me, “you are mine.”
“We’re going to have to talk about what ‘mine’ means.”
His mouth curved under the mask. “We will,” he said. “When you’re not buzzing like a live wire.”
He shifted a little and winced.
“You good?” I asked.
“This is me not passing out,” he said dryly. “So yes. Which, by the way, is impressive on your part.”
