Demons Prefer Blondes (5 page)

“I am not a succubus, demon, or whatever. Do I look like I’m seeping sexual energy?” But he certainly seeped plenty of it.

Rafe’s breath teased her cheek. “Your energy was latent. Opening the chest has changed that.” His lips remained centimeters from hers.
Kiss me,
her mind urged.
What the heck?

“I know what you’re trying to do, my dear Lucia. It won’t work. It only works on humans.” He ripped himself away and turned his back to her.

Lucy exhaled a deep breath. “Oh, so you’re a demon, too?” She turned to her friend who stood still, broom in hand. “Hey, Serah, do you believe this?”

“I don’t know,” she replied as she swept up the shards of glass with her own broom. “You obviously have some powers. How do you explain what happened?” She gave Rafe a once-over. “So are you going to introduce me or what?”

Lucy sighed. “My bad. Mr. Rafael Deleon, meet my friend Serah SanGermano.”

The wannabe demon bowed. “Call me Rafe.”

Serah nodded and extended her hand in greeting. “Nice to meet you.”

He took her hand in a hearty shake. “I wish your friend here were more accepting of her condition, as you are.”

“So say I am in fact a demon,” Lucy countered. “What’ll happen to me?”

Rafe crossed his arms. “You’ll need to feed… soon.”

“I suppose since I am a suck-you-whatever, I need to suck someone’s blood?” She turned to Serah and smiled. “Give me your wrist, baby.”

Rafe rolled his eyes. “Your humor does little to help the situation. A succubus feeds on the sexual energy of men.”

“Sounds fun,” she replied with a wink. “Let’s get it on then.” Bonus if he accepts. The way her body acted, she hoped to hell he would. But sensing the hot and cold vibe this man gave off, she doubted he would. One could hope, right?

“I’m not a mortal. I will be of little use to you.” Rafe blew out an exasperated breath. “Perhaps it would be better if we discuss this in the morning.”

Lucy nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll meet you at eight a.m. at the Starbucks on A-Line Road.”

“I can’t leave you alone. You and your friend are in danger. Belial will come for you and the chest.”

“Oh please!” As much as she fought the truth, she knew something was happening. It was in her blood. It kept her alert…
wanting
. “Fine. We’ll go to my house. What about Serah?”

“She’ll have to come with us for the time being.” Rafe roved around the salon, gathering their coats. “I need something to cover the chest. When the handprint is exposed to the moonlight, it becomes a beacon. Every demon on Earth will know where we are.”

Lucy grabbed a styling cape from the back of her chair, brandishing the purple nylon as if she were a matador tempting a bull. “Voila!”

She threw the cape down, letting it drape across the chest, and turned to Serah. “Are you okay? You took quite a hit.”

Serah nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little frazzled.”

“You really think I’m a demon?”

Serah shrugged. “Something’s going on. Look at your shop.”

She did have a point. How many boxes came with a free fireworks display and light show—and a hunk with glowing silver eyes, of course?

But Lucy Gregory? A demon? What would her mom say about that? She didn’t even want to dwell on that reaction. Another thing her mom could add to her long list of disappointments.

Throwing on a coat, she heaved a sigh. “I know. I’m just trying to understand this all. Imagine if it were you?”

“I get your point, Lucy.” Serah brushed her fingers through brunette curls. “Yeah, I’d do the same. I’m such an angel, you know.”

What a bunch of bull. “Yeah, you go on and think that.”

Rafe cleared his throat. “We don’t have time for idle chitchat, women.” He scooped the chest beneath his arm as if it were a weightless feather.
Amazing.
“The longer you dawdle, the quicker Belial’s guards will find us.”

Belial? He’d mentioned that name earlier. “Who?” she asked, grabbing her friend and pulling her toward the door.

“One of the kings of Hell. There is only one higher than he,” Rafe explained as he ushered them toward the door. His hand on her back sent jolts of excitement ripping through her veins. You’d think he was the sex demon.

“Let me guess?” Lucy flashed a wry smile. “Lucifer, himself?”

She wrinkled her nose.
Hell no!
Their names sounded way too similar.
Hi! My name is Lucia. My daddy’s the Prince of Darkness.

“
He’s
not my father, is he?”

Rafe, sensing her displeasure, traced his fingers lightly across her shoulder.
Wow!
He was gentle when he wanted to be. “An unfortunate coincidence, I assure you.”

It would have been a relief if what this man said were true. She bit her tongue.
Relief? Yeah right.
“So what’s not to say this isn’t just some weird dream?”

“If it’s a dream, then how do you explain this?” Serah grabbed her arm and pinched.

Snapping her arm back, Lucy yelped. “Ouch!” Her brow furrowed, and she flashed a warning glare. “Whatever, Serah. Do that again and I’ll kick you to the underworld and back.”

“Let’s go. Now.” Rafe crossed his arms across his chest. He stood tall and formidable, his midnight hair whipping around his shoulders.

Talk about domineering. He certainly didn’t beat around the bush. In any normal circumstances, she’d buck it up and stand tall. Truth be told, it was almost three in the morning, and she was tired as hell. “Fine. Serah,” she said, turning to her friend and grabbing her arm. “Let’s go.” After all, she had a futon. After an hour on that uncomfortable contraption, Rafe would be begging to leave.

Then again, did she really want him to?

He didn’t sleep.

He sat ramrod straight in her dilapidated La-Z-Boy. It was a hand-me-down and her favorite chair. Lucy couldn’t believe her mom wanted to toss it. So what if it only opened halfway and the maroon upholstery was way beyond repairable. Leave it to an arrogant wannabe demon to steal it.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?” she asked as she plopped onto the wrought iron futon. The chest beckoned her from the middle of the living room. Her fingers itched to touch it—open it.

Rafe scraped his fingers through his gorgeous locks.
Need help?
she asked to herself.

“I don’t need to sleep.” He reached down to the lever and pulled.

Impressive! A demon who knew how to operate an easy chair. “It only opens halfway.”

Halfway between open and closed, Rafe shrugged and pulled back the lever. “These chairs are supposed to be comfortable.”

“It is to me. Wanna trade?”

Rafe narrowed his gaze. “No, thank you.”

“That’s too bad. You can do some great tricks on this futon.” She leaned against the back, pressing her chest forward. Her toes traced along the seat cushion. Was she coming on to him? It sure felt like it. Running her fingers through her hair, she threw back her head and sighed contentedly.

Rafe’s eyes sparked. “You’re coming into your time. You have to feed.”

“Can’t you feed me?” Her body throbbed and her heart thudded. Thank goodness Serah was conked out in the bedroom. This whole thing, despite the surrealism, scared Lucy. Heat seared through her as she gritted her teeth. She was alive, hungry, and needy. What was going on? “Please?”

Licking her lips, she crawled along the rose-hued, pancake-thin cushion and leaned over the futon to lock gazes. Rafe returned the gaze, his silver eyes glowing like the moon on a clear night. She smiled and batted her eyelashes like a little puppy begging for food. But she didn’t want food. She wanted something else. She reached out her hand, her fingers longing to run through his hair. “So do I need permission? Since I’m a sex demon and all?”

“Depends on the reason for the touch.”

Rafe reached out and, without a blink of an eye, grabbed her wrist and held firm. His eyes flickered like giant diamonds. Never had she seen eyes so silvery and bright. Heat crackled through her body, radiating from where he held her. If demon energy didn’t affect her, she’d be a monkey’s uncle. If they really were demons, that is. After all, didn’t demons have horns and tails? She scrunched her brow in frustration.

“Lucia,” Rafe said, his voice soft and soothing. “I know this is all foreign to you, but you need to cooperate.” His gaze remained fixed and intense, showing not even a drop of warmth. He might be certifiable, but he was a serious, brooding, drop dead sexy nutcase. Just her luck!

She extracted her wrist from Rafe’s loosening grip. “Yeah, just a little foreign,” she replied with a snide grin. “So you just expect me to accept this? Sorry, Charlie. Things don’t work that way for me.” She turned her head toward the closed bedroom door down the hallway. “If you’re trying to take advantage of someone, you’re talking to the wrong girl.” Not that Serah was naïve, but she was more accepting of the occult and that voodoo hoodoo. Lucy grinned, recalling the one time Serah convinced her to use a Ouija board. The only words that came from the
great beyond
were the words “Happy Birthday, bitch.”
Ha!

“Serah isn’t the demon. You are.” Rafe rubbed his chin and attempted to change his position in the chair. “In time, you’ll see.”

Lucy leaned against the rigid cushion of the futon. “Sure I will.” Tucking her legs beneath her, she sighed. Yeah, she knew something weird was happening. What’s not to say it wasn’t her hormones finally come to haunt her. It had been over five years since she’d had sex, and an even longer time since she’d had good sex. “So, umm, Rafie-poo, if I’m a succubus, why have I been able to survive without doing the nasty?”

“You’re only
part
succubus. There’s mortal—and immortal—energy within you.” At her blank stare, Rafe growled, deep, gravelly, and oh so sexy. “This is worse than I thought.”

“What’s so bad? I shut the box. I didn’t see any of your demon buddies come flying out.”

Rising from the chair, Rafe stalked toward her, his eyes blazing. He grabbed her shoulders and brought her eye-to-eye, his smoldering glare melting her to mush. “They don’t show themselves until the moon has completely left the Earth’s shadow. We have approximately…” He reached into the pocket of his black leather coat and pulled out an old antique watch. Thank goodness Serah was in bed. She’d be drooling all over the timepiece—if she already wasn’t drooling from Rafe’s superhuman sexiness. “Two hours.”

“Huh?”

Rafe took a deep exasperated breath. “Six in the morning. That’s when the eclipse is over. Once the Moon leaves the Earth’s reflection, they’ll have enough energy to make their presence known.” Tossing his hair to the side, he sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t know which is worse. Having the chest opened up by a legion of Infernati or having it opened by a clueless succubus.”

Oh, hell no!
He didn’t just call her clueless! Time to put her foot down! “Look here demon boy. I might be new to this whole succubus thing, but that doesn’t mean I’m clueless.”

Lucy’s gaze burned as heat filled her body. This man irritated her more than her mom! But why in the hell did she like him so much, and how come she was beginning to buy his whole sex demon story? This, of course, irritated her even more. The hairs at the back of her neck crackled and sparks formed in her eyes. Clenching her fists into tight balls, she inhaled and exhaled deep hot breaths. Like a raging bull, she supposed. Sans the nose ring, of course. She’d save that for some other demon. One who sported cloven hooves.
Try wearing a pair of Serah’s pointy toe pumps with those!
She shivered. Then again, the devil did wear Prada, right?

There she went, rambling in her own turbulent mind again. Curse Rafael Deleon. Then again, if he
truly
was a demon, wasn’t he already cursed? And if she was a demon, did that mean she was cursed, too?

As if sensing the inner turmoil, Rafe vacated the recliner and took a seat next to her on the futon. Lifting her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he locked gazes with her. His silver eyes glowed in the soft light of the floor lamp poised tall in the corner behind the futon.

“I sense your unease, Lucia. I vow to protect you. You’ve nothing to fear. Fear only makes the dark stronger.” The gentle caress of his fingertips, meant to comfort, sent bolts of every emotion she’d ever known racing through her body. Anger, joy, pain, sorrow, and lust. Especially lust. It electrified her. Made her heart burst into overdrive. Any faster and they’d need a defibrillator to bring her back.

“Rafe,” she said. She wrapped her arms around his neck and did what she’d been longing to do all night. Her fingers danced along his skin and inched closer to the prize. What was the deal with this man’s hair? Fingertips laced into sleek silky strands. With a soft whimper, she allowed his hair to cascade against her skin. She nibbled her lip and lowered her head to his shoulder, brushing her cheek against his. His stubbly chin rubbing against the softness of hers sent crackles of heated energy coursing through her. She had to kiss him. She’d be damned if she didn’t. Then again, wasn’t she already damned? Might as well go down happy.

“This shouldn’t be happening,” Rafe whispered, his breath hot against her ear. His heartbeat echoed her own as he pulled her closer to his rock-hard chest. It felt so good.

“What?” she asked, with a daring flick of her tongue along his neck. Sizzling heat raced through her, exploding in her toes. “This?” With more courage than she knew she possessed, she pulled his face to hers.

It was now or never. She straddled his hips and ground her body against his. With a devilish grin, she lowered her lips to his, reveling in the warm breath dancing along her aching skin. Breathing in the scent of exotic spice and male sexiness, she moaned. Usually Lucy would be embarrassed about acting all hot and horny for someone she just met. Right now, she didn’t care.

“Lucia…”

“Lucy. Only my mother and her cronies call me Lucia, and I’ll be damned if I let any of them ruin the mood.” She brushed her lips against his, taking in the sizzles that erupted between them.

Sucking in a deep breath, Rafe growled against her lips, the vibrations rippling through her entire body. “This is impossible,” he murmured, crushing her against him.

Her nipples tightened against her bra and T-shirt as they brushed against the hardness of his chest. Running her hands up, under his tight T-shirt, she let the electricity crackle within. She threw her head back in pleasure as she felt her arousal. Then she felt his, straining against that tight leather. Thank goodness she wasn’t the only one who was turned on. With a wide smile, she traced her finger against the firmness of his lips. Perhaps she could soften them some. “Kiss me, Rafe. You know you want to.”

“You know not what you do,” he whispered, lacing his fingers through her choppy hair. His breath teased her lips.

“Enlighten me, then.” Her hands moved down his shoulders to splay against his back. “I need an instructor to teach me the ins and outs of becoming a sex demon.” And as far as she could tell, the bulge in his pants said he’d be a very willing one, too. With a small sigh, she pressed her overheated core against his erection.

“Your need for sexual energy has clouded your judgment, Lucy. You’ll find no nourishment in lying with another demon.” Despite his stony words, he traced a long finger down her cheek.

“I just want to kiss,” she whispered. But if he wanted to do more, she wouldn’t object. She turned her head and swirled her tongue around the tip of his finger. “Please?”

Rafe groaned from deep inside his chest as he crushed her against him. She enveloped herself in the warmth of his steely chest and brought her lips to his. She wouldn’t be denied. With as much confidence as she could muster, she pressed her lips closer to his and traced her tongue along the crease. Red hot heat raced from her tongue through her entire body. What a rush!

To her utter delight, Rafe returned the kiss. Rough, yet gentle, his tongue pushed its way against her lips and swept inside her mouth. Electricity crackled in the air and rippled through their bodies. Her mouth, in total acquiescence, parted, allowing him even further access. Then again, it didn’t need that much prodding. Despite being a demon, he tasted delicious, like exotic spices and peppermint. How odd. Not wanting to dwell on demon dental hygiene, she intensified the kiss.

Her tongue snaked along his and instant friction sizzled inside their mouths. If touching the chest was the best thing ever, then this was the absolute best-est. It was like their mouths were made for each other, swirling in a delicious tango of tongues.

Screw the tango. She wanted a full-out Lambada. Rafe obviously did too—he grew harder against her. Poor pants, if he got any bigger, they would certainly split. Try to explain that to a tailor!

Taking Rafe’s lower lip into her mouth, she nibbled and sucked with more hunger than she knew she possessed. To her surprise, he wrapped his arms around her and eased her onto the futon.
Yum! A take charge kind of guy.
She wouldn’t complain.

He moved from her lips down to her neck and swirled his tongue along her ear. She shivered in intense pleasure as he nibbled and sucked.
Oh boy!
He’d found her sweet spot.

Holy hotcakes!

“If you keep doing that,” she breathed out. “I’ll need more than just a kiss.”

She allowed her hand to run down his granite-like pecs to the eight-pack that were his abs, and lower to the muscles just above his waistline. Locating the buttons on his fly, she fumbled with them. Just her luck! He wasn’t making this easy for her at all.

“Lucy,” he murmured in her ear. With dexterity, he inched his hands up under her T-shirt and swirled his fingers against her skin.
Oh dear!
Cupping her breasts through her cotton bra, he traced her nipples lightly through the fabric.

Moving back to her mouth, he devoured them with as much hunger as she felt. Her lips were a feast for his taking, and she didn’t care. He lashed his tongue within her mouth as his hips undulated against hers.

This would be more than a kiss.

Her body zinged with that knowledge. With a savagery she didn’t know she possessed, she ripped open Rafe’s fly, sending the buttons shooting in every direction. Definitely gave new meaning to button-fly. Metal buttons, to boot! Yep, she was clearly worked up.

Rafe grabbed her arms and pulled them away. “No.” His voice, despite his desire, came out firm. “We cannot.” Grasping her hands over her head, he continued the kiss. She couldn’t fault him, and this commanding role really turned her on. He lowered his mouth to hers, gently swirling his tongue against her lips. She arched her hips into his, rubbing them against his erection. He certainly knew how to prolong the effect. This was definitely what she’d been missing the last ten years of her life. She’d never felt so empowered, ever. Wrapping her legs like a giant vice around Rafe’s waist, she thrust upward. “Please.”

Whoa!
She was horny to the infinite power.

“Holy shit!”

The sound of Serah’s voice filling the room sent the heat right from her body. Lucy glanced down at Rafe’s package. It went from his big friend to his little friend in a flash. She attempted an icy glare at her friend. “Do you mind?”

Serah simply rolled her eyes. “Get a room already.”

“Kind of hard when someone’s already crashed it.” With a reluctant sigh, she pulled herself from Rafe’s embrace and sat against the hard cushion of the futon. Was this thing made in the Middle Ages? It would’ve made an excellent rack.

“So much for your demon story,” Serah said, flashing Rafe a wink. “Didn’t you say demons weren’t affected by the succubus charm?” She threw her head back in laughter. “Man, you two were stuck together like Super Glue.”