ArayasAddiction (6 page)

Chapter Five

Araya awoke thinking her bed had never felt warmer and more
comfortable than it did right now. She tried to stretch her arms above her head
but couldn’t. She jerked sideways when she realized Kean’s arm was wrapped tight
around her.
Oh crap.
The memories slammed into her brain.
Kean
.
Damn
him!

Araya had successfully avoided her demon nature for almost
thirty years. Yeah, she’d have been dead soon but at least she wouldn’t have to
face a lifestyle she abhorred. A slave to her cravings, desires. Then he’d come
along and screwed it all up. She’d trusted him. Stupid? Obviously. But there
had been something about him she’d liked. She enjoyed his company. He was fun,
made her laugh.

She’d thought he understood and respected her reasons. But
wait, he was a human, so he would have thought she was making up the
Sempire
story anyway. Which meant, there wasn’t even anything admirable about what he’d
done. He didn’t know or believe his semen would actually
fix
her
condition, save her. So, he was as bad as the rest of the men. A freaking
whore. And he’d made
her
a whore.

Rage overtook her mind.
Bastard!
She flung Kean’s arm
off her and punched him square in the face as she jumped from the bed.

He groaned and brought his hand to his cheek. “What the
fuck,” he yelped.

“You bastard.” She stomped to her closet and grabbed a fresh
robe, belting it closed dramatically. “You made me like you. I felt sorry for
you being here. Kidnapped, my ass. You and my mother planned this out perfectly
didn’t you? You’re probably both so proud of yourselves.”

Kean got out of the bed and grabbed a blue robe off the
floor. Where the hell had he gotten that? Her mother, no doubt.
Bitch.

“
Araya, I’m sorry.” He had the decency to look
ashamed. “I decided I didn’t like the idea of you dying.”

“What?” she shrieked. “You liar. You didn’t believe the
story I told you. Why would you? You’re just like the rest of them. You wanted
sex. A blowjob. Whatever. You forced me to do something I didn’t want. I hope
you’re happy with yourself because you make me sick. You have condemned me to a
life I don’t want.”

Kean stormed toward her looking pissed. She tried to take a
step back but he grabbed her by the shoulders. “Araya, I don’t have to be
locked in a room with a woman and tie her up to get sex. A blowjob. Whatever.”
He mimicked her words. “I am sorry for your situation. But I did not force you
to do anything. I encouraged you because I wanted to save you and myself.”

His voice lowered taking on a seductive tone. “You wanted my
cock in your mouth. You asked for a taste and you loved it. Look at what it’s
done for you. Have you seen yourself? How do you feel?”

It pissed her off that she felt her face burn at his blunt
words. It pissed her off more that he was right. Had he held out she would have
begged him for a taste. Of course, if he hadn’t been masturbating and she
hadn’t been tied, she wouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place.

And she did feel great. She couldn’t remember ever feeling
so alive and full of energy in her life. She pushed at his chest and he let go
of her arms and stepped back.

She stormed to the bathroom and gasped at her reflection in
the mirror. Her hair shone as though made of spun silk, her eyes sparkled as if
infused by flecks of golden glitter. The dark circles under her eyes had
disappeared, her complexion young and rosy. She’d never looked so good, not
even before she’d begun weakening.

She’d have been excited, in awe, if she didn’t know what she
had to do to continue feeling and looking so great. But she did know and it
stripped away any excitement she might have enjoyed.

She turned away from the mirror and found Kean staring at
her from the doorway.

“Amazing transformation, don’t ya think?” Kean asked and
smiled at her.

“I need you out of my sight. You betrayed me. You used me.
You’re a whore like the rest. You got what you wanted so just go away.”

“Araya,” his voice lowered, gentled, “I may qualify as a
whore and possibly a betrayer but I did not
use
you. I offered you what
you needed and you accepted.”

“You say that but there is no way you actually believed
your—your,” she sputtered, “
semen
would help me. And why aren’t you
freaking out that it did?”

Kean shrugged. “I knew what you were before you told me. I’m
not…” He paused and shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not exactly human.”

Araya felt her mouth drop open and her eyes bug. “What the
hell are you then?”

“You may not like it.” She only glared at him until he
continued. “I’m an eighth Incubus.”

“No. You. Are. Not. My mother wouldn’t. She couldn’t.” Her
face burned and not from embarrassment but from pure anger. Her mother surely
wouldn’t lock her in a room with a freaking Incubus. No way. No freaking way.
One thing drilled into a young
Sempire’s
brain—stay the hell away from
Incubi.

That explained why she scented him so well. Why he smelled
so incredibly irresistible. Why she had
needed
to taste him. Couldn’t
resist. Why even in her anger, the thought of the taste of him, shit, the mere
sight of him had her craving more.

It also explained Kiberry’s appearance. He never visited her
when humans were around. Damn, even Kiberry had sensed the demon in Kean. If
only she had, she would have locked herself in the bathroom or shoved him off
the balcony. Something, anything to keep him away from her.

Damn her mother. What if she was already addicted to him?
She’d be in worse shape than she had been before. At least, if she’d given in
to a human, she could move on. But now, now she might be dependent on him. Him
only. Forever.

But wasn’t that what she wanted? To find one male she could
be with? Yeah, she wanted it but she needed love to go with it. Kean didn’t
love her. He didn’t care about saving her either. He wanted to get away from
her and did what he had to do to make it happen. What the hell had her mother
been thinking bringing a freaking Incubus into their house? Her room?

She pushed past him and stomped to the intercom. She slammed
her fist on the button. She didn’t wait for the voice on the other end to
acknowledge her. As soon as she heard the click, she demanded, “I want to see
my mother
right now.”

Talith swept into the room ten minutes later, escorted by
one of her guards. Her face lit up as she gazed upon Araya. “You look
wonderful,” Talith exclaimed as she rushed to embrace her daughter.

Araya stepped back and held her hands out keeping her mother
at bay.

“You locked me in a room with an Incubus? Do you hate me
that much, Mother?”

Talith blanched at Araya’s words and shot Kean a look. “Hate
you? I love you, dear. I’ve been trying desperately to save your life.”

“By addicting me to an Incubus?” Araya shrieked.

“He’s only part Incubus. Weak.” Kean growled but Talith
continued as if he weren’t in the room. “It’s highly unlikely you’ll develop
addiction to him after a few feedings.”

Araya felt her face twist in anger. “A few? There will be no
more. I want him out of here. Now.”

“Dear, look at yourself. Listen to yourself. You are
beautiful, strengthened. Fiery. You are a
Sempire
and you’ve already had
sex with him once. Why not again? Was he no good?”

Araya spared Kean a glance. He looked ready to explode.

“I didn’t have sex with him,” she gritted out.

Her mother looked surprised then smiled. “Ah you… Well,
then, good for you, dear. I expected the
mixed-breed
to seduce your
virginity from you.”

“Don’t you dare look pleased. You know how I feel about
this. And don’t say
mixed-breed
with a sneer.
I’m
a freaking
mixed-breed
.”

Talith visibly hardened. “Araya, yes you are half human. But
the
Sempire
half will take over mostly wiping out any human in you. We’ve
been over this. It’s those uptight human notions that have you wanting love,
marriage, monogamy. Once you’ve fully embraced your demon nature, these things
will no longer matter to you. You will accept and thrive on your sexual
encounters. You will crave new partners, new semen to energize you.”

Araya snorted. “I put up with you locking me in my room and
locking men in here with me. It would all have been over soon anyway. But for
you to have brought an Incubus to me… What if, Mother?”

Talith cut her off. “
If
addiction occurs, it should
be short-lived. If not short-lived, then the Incubus stays. Simple as that.”

Kean spoke up. “I did what you asked. She’s healthy. I’ll
not be a prisoner forever.”

Araya wanted to punch him again.
Bastard
. He knew
what she was and he knew the possible complications and he’d done it anyway.
But he hadn’t been interested at first. Was it possible he wasn’t in on this
from the beginning? Was it possible he had been kidnapped? It wouldn’t change
what he’d done but it would make him slightly less of a bastard.
Slightly.

“How did you find an Incubus?” Araya asked.

“At a nightclub. As I found the other males. Why?” Talith
asked.

“So you set out looking for a human and accidentally found
an Incubus?” Araya hoped that was the case. It would make her mother slightly
less despicable.
Slightly.

Talith’s gaze faltered a second.

“Mother?” Araya demanded.

“If you must know, I’d been searching for an Incubus for a
week. What I found was even better. Him. A mixed-breed Incubus. Diluted blood,
diluted semen, therefore reducing the risks of addiction but making him much
more alluring than any human or other suitable-demon.”

“You’re evil,” Araya spat at her mother.

Talith looked hurt but quickly recovered. “I love you. I
have done what needed to be done. I will not apologize for saving my daughter’s
life.” With that she strode from the room. Her guard followed and locked the
door behind them.

“I want him out of here.” Araya yelled at the closed door.
When there was no reply, she stalked to the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of
wine and took it to the balcony, popping the top and drinking directly from the
bottle. She couldn’t remember ever being so angry in her life.

* * * * *

Kean figured it best to give Araya some space. What a
personality change. He wasn’t ashamed to admit her fiery spunk turned him on.
Shit who was he kidding? Everything about his little half-demon turned him on.
Stopping short, he realized she wasn’t
his
little half-demon. What was
happening to him? He was beginning to think she might be as dangerous to him as
he was to her. He really needed to get the fuck outta Dodge.

How the hell was he supposed to do that though? Talith
wanted them to… Wait. Talith had assumed they’d had sex. Holy shit. It didn’t
really help his cause but information was information. So,
Sempires
weren’t required to ingest semen for it to work its magic on them. No, he
couldn’t see how that helped him any but it sure was interesting. Not something
he knew.

He hated that Araya was so pissed at him. He hadn’t come
into this trying to hurt her. Hell, he’d been forced into the situation and had
fully intended to hold out. He understood why she’d doubt that though.

Shit. He’d tied her up and jacked off in front of her face.
Yeah, no mystery as to why she had the wrong idea.

Hearing the door open, he spun around to see a blazing
redhead flounce into the room. Wow. Skin-tight, red satin pants hugged her long
legs. The shiny black stilettos adorning her feet making her legs look longer.
A black sequined halter top barely covered her plump tits and exposed a
bellybutton that sported dangling black and red gems. The extreme red of her
hair almost matched the bright pants she wore. Her eyes shone of gold similar
to Araya’s.

“Whoa!” she exclaimed and eyed him up and down. “No wonder
Mom hid you from me and Fin insisted I sneak up here. You are fucking hot.” She
drew in an exaggerated breath. “And you smell delicious.” She frowned then and
closed the distance between them, getting right up in his face. She inhaled
deeply again. He saw her pupils dilate and he took a step back.

“Your scent is…” Her eyes widened and she jumped back from
him. “What are you?”

Shit. Another fucking Sempire to deal with.
“I’m
Kean. You?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She pouted. “I’m Valia. Now
what
are you?”

“Can’t you tell?”

To his surprise she burst out laughing and slapped her hands
on her thighs. “Mom saddled her daughter with an Incubus? Holy shit. That is
insane.
”
After doubling over with laughter, she said, “Okay, well, that’s different.
Where’s my sister?”

Ah, he should have known by the eyes they were related. The
long, wavy hair was the same too, only very dramatic differences in color.

“She’s getting drunk on the balcony.”

“Fantastic. Think I’ll join her,” she paused and looked at
him thoughtfully, “unless you were about to
join
her.”

She winked at him. He winked back. “No, I think she’d as
soon push me off the balcony as look at me right now.”

Valia considered this a moment. “Mom told me Araya was doing
well but wouldn’t say anything else. She was pretty bitchy. I take it Araya’s
pissed she gave in. No biggie. She’ll get over it soon enough. I can’t wait for
her to hit the clubs with me.”

* * * * *

Araya had already downed half the bottle of wine. She stood,
looking over the balcony wall, fuming with anger, wishing she had simply jumped
over the side and ended it quickly six months ago. But she couldn’t do it then
and wouldn’t do it now.