Good Intentions (7 page)

His heart was pounding at her words. “I wouldn’t want you having sex with other guys,” he said. “How fair is that?” Her naked shoulders shrugged. “I wouldn’t take as much enjoyment from them now, anyway,” she said. “You’ve definitely changed my perspective. But I hope you don’t mind if I might flirt a bit now and again. It might be very useful to us both.” “I never thought of myself as the jealous type,” Alex thought out slowly, “but I don’t really want to share you with other men.” “Then don’t. Everyone has boundaries. Only one of us is master here.” Her hip nudged against his. A new smile spread across her face. “But don’t you dare tel me you don’t want me to play with other women. We both know you better than that.” He couldn’t help but share her smile. “As long as you’l share,” Alex grinned back before he kissed her. She trembled in pleasure, lying against him. “As you wish, master,” she whispered. “Wow,” he breathed again, stroking her hair and her back. “I barely know you.” “You need only know so much,” she shrugged. “Yeah, but… I mean, where are you from? How old are you, real y? What makes you happy besides sex? Hurts you? Anything.” Lorelei’s expression grew thoughtful. “There are things mortals are not meant to know,” she began. “I would tel you, but the knowledge would endanger you spiritual y. Even for al you have already seen, precious little about the actual nature of the divine or…otherworldly matters has been shown to you. Your faith, for instance, is still a matter of faith. I can tel you that God and the Devil exist, but you would still be taking my word for it. You might be surprised how little relevance formal religion has in the grand scheme of things. But it means I can only tel you so much about myself,” she shrugged.

Alex nodded. “Whatever you can tel .” “You may not like it al . Many things in my past you would find quite ugly, even horrifying. I would hate to see a change in the way you look at me.” “Then we’l cal it the past and move on. And I can’t imagine being any more inclined to think well of you or blow off things that bother me than right here and now,” he grinned. “You’re awfully beautiful and naked and pleasantly positioned.” “I suppose I can appreciate that,” she chuckled. “I am…old. I was centuries old even as I watched the Romans demolish the Second Temple in Jerusalem.” “Wow.” Distant thoughts clouded her eyes, but she banished them a moment later. “It was a memorable day. I have not always been in this world, but of anything else I really cannot tel you much. I have spoken many languages, been to many lands. I have brought down peasants and popes, shoguns, celebrities, kings and queens.” “Queens?” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Yes. More men than women, but many women. None of them nice people, mind you,” she added. “The world does not miss them, or would not if the truth about them was known.” “Oh. I guess I should’ve thought of this before,” Alex said sheepishly. He had somehow disregarded the potential complications from just how many partners she had been through. naturally, now that it was too late, he was a little scared. “Should I be, um, wearing a condom?” Laughter erupted from his companion. “No, Alex, no,” she managed finally. “Though yes, I imagine were things different you might be a bit late in asking. No. As I said, you may enjoy me freely. You need not worry about me carrying disease or becoming with child. In fact,” she added with a sultry tone, “as long as you’re regularly having me, you can forget about such concerns with other women as well . Nor will they feel the need to worry about such details.”

She let that sink in, then leaned forward to kiss him lightly before continuing the discussion. “There are many sorts of demons. Most are made to torment or to corrupt. I am born to punish and enact retribution. That does not make me especially nice, but it is part of hell ’s purpose to ensure that the wicked eventually suffer. You will spread neither disease nor unwanted children while you are with me. A succubus is meant to bring a prey’s earthly sins to an end, not to spread them further…not that I’l be ending you. “You ask what pleases me. Obviously I hunger endlessly for sex. But I’ve never had a partner I genuinely liked. It’s pleasant. I’m rather coming to enjoy…friendship, as well .” The admission hung in the air as they looked at one another. finally, Alex broke the silence. “At least I know who to ask for help with my history assignments now.” “You wish. There are matters of which I know much, but for most of history humanity’s perspective has been rather narrow. My experience only makes for certain exceptions. I remember well the politicking of certain Medici sons, but don’t ask me to tel you what was going on in Russia at the time. It was irrelevant to me. It’s only in recent decades that I have myself become more broadly educated.” “But you speak Russian?” “Da.” “Russian women are hot,” he teased. “Many of them.” “You said shoguns? You’ve been to Japan?” “Hai,” Lorelei smiled. “That wasn’t weird? I would think a white woman would stand out a bit there at that time.”

“I can change my appearance rather dramatically as needed, though it costs me power. Before last night, it would have been no problem. Tonight I could manage it once, perhaps twice now that your lusts have restored a small measure of power. But I have a very long way to go before I am what I was before.” “I think I’m going to enjoy helping you recover.” “We both will . That I can promise. I know my appearance pleases you greatly…or even immensely,” she said with just enough arrogance to be charming, “but if you’d like me to look differently…?” “No. hell no. I want this face and this body to stay.” “Done,” Lorelei nodded. “What I don’t understand is…why sex?” Lorelei tilted her head curiously. “I’m sorry?” “You said you only sleep with men who are already damned, right?” “Well ,” the succubus grinned playful y, tracing a finger down his chest, “in the past tense, yes. Not now.” “But you’re so incredible. I guess what I don’t understand is that if someone is so awful, why’s he get to die while in bed with you? Shouldn’t it be a rougher end?” “Ah. Unfortunately, this gets to those issues that mortals are not entirely meant to understand. But I suppose I could make at least some sense of this for you,” Lorelei mused thoughtful y, considering her words. “For most mortals, sin and virtue come and go. Very few people are entirely good or entirely bad. Even you. Yet redemption can be found even for the gravely wicked, given opportunity and motivation. The mortals that I am set upon are already several steps along the way to hell for their various misdeeds. There is enough chance that they might turn from that path, though, that hell would prefer to adjust the odds in its favor. I lay with mortals to ensure that

they meet that final punishment. Some deaths are simply a matter of nature—disease, accidents. Other deaths are something of a statement on who a person truly is. Dying with me typically states nothing but selfishness. “I should also note that there is far less pleasure than desperation in the end. They al have the moment to regret their choices. Not that you will have to worry about that, master,” Lorelei smiled disarmingly. “So I’m not gonna wind up like them?” Alex asked. “I have no interest in al owing that,” Lorelei shook her head, her smile becoming sweet. “You have expressly wished against it. And corrupting you would rather ruin your flavor.” “Did you enjoy it?” he asked quietly. The question surprised her, and left her face darkened. “I should be reluctant to answer that,” Lorelei murmured. “There is so much, Alex, that you would find deeply troubling. I fear a wedge might be driven between us. But no. I have not enjoyed my purpose for a long time. I found pleasure in the act. Satisfaction. I learned to lose myself in the sensations that my body enjoyed, but to say that I liked what I was…no. I have not. Not in nine hundred years.” “Sounds kind of specific. What happened?” “His name was Malik. I was his fourth wife. He might have saved Antioch from the Crusaders, even at the very end. He was a warrior of great ability and charisma. Yet he died in bed with me.” Lorelei’s gaze seemed very far away for a long moment. “He was a cruel man. Very cruel. Greedy, cal ous, vain. Not a king or a lord, but the truly important people rarely are. Had he gotten out of bed, he might have ral ied defenders and fought back even as the city fell .” She shrugged. “Instead, he could not resist me. You ask if he deserved to die in my bed, but I would say that he didn’t deserve to die on his feet.” Alex watched her face quietly. There was more to be said there, but he realized the conversation was starting to bring down the mood. He wanted to know more, but… “Not really a very romantic topic, huh?” “No,” Lorelei said, shaking her head and smiling self-consciously. “It reminds me of an important issue, though. I am

bound to protect you, but in this state I would not be very capable in a physical confrontation. I am ordinarily stronger than any mortal, and far more durable, but as I said, I am diminished. We will have to work hard before I am recovered enough for that.” “Can’t say I get into a lot of fights.” “Good. But be aware that once such beings as I enter a mortal’s life, there is often a tendency for others to appear. You may well be in for a life far from ordinary.” “We’l just have to keep a low profile, then.” “Agreed.” “So, any other abilities that you’d like to tel me about?” “I need very little in the way of sleep, and food is a simple indulgence. As long as we are bound, I can share some degree of this. You will need very little rest tonight. In the morning, you won’t be tired.” “Just well -fucked?” “Yes. You are unique in this. I am made to run a lover ragged unto death.” “That makes me feel special.” “More than you know,” she grinned. “You know I can conceal myself. It can work for both of us if necessary. This takes a little effort on my part. The more I recover, the easier it will be for me. Yet even at my best, it is still wiser and more practical to find clothing than conjure it.” “Oh. Hrm. well , I could spare money for clothes, but I hadn’t really thought about finances.” She chuckled again, and reached down to place a finger over his lips. “I have resources of my own. I could elaborate,

but as I suggested, a few surprises for later might be nice.” He looked at her with a suspicious smile, and she simply added, “You need not live in your mother’s home much longer.” “Good. I think we’re gonna need a bigger bed,” Alex chuckled. “There is that. As I said, I have resources. You may not need the paycheck for much longer, but I think you’l find it worthwhile to stay on at your job for a short time.” “Guess I’l take your word for that,” Alex said. “Tomorrow’s not a work day, though. School day.” “Ah. Yes. You ask al this about me, but tel me so little about yourself.” “Well … I’m kind of a geek, I work as a file clerk in a law firm and I go to community college. I have plenty of friends, and some of them are dorks, but at our age that’s probably not a shock. My dating life sucks…or at least it did before now.” “Why?” “I don’t know,” Alex frowned. “A lot of girls I’ve liked already had boyfriends. Others just weren’t interested. I guess I’m not their type. I’ve been feeling pretty unattractive lately.” Lorelei frowned. “You won’t have that problem any longer, master. Yet even if we were not so bound, I would not say that you had reason to feel that way.” Alex just shrugged. “Anyway, what you see is pretty much what you get. What else do you want to know?” “I would very much like to know why you would not lay with me before now,” she said. “Was it really just your moral qualms with slavery? I thought my desires were clear enough.” “They were.”

“And you don’t have a girlfriend or lover to whom you owe monogamy.” “Not for lack of trying,” he admitted. “Then why?” “I guess,” Alex began, then trailed off. “This is kind of embarrassing.” He saw no judgment in her eyes, only curiosity. “I guess you could say I was saving myself for love? I thought that’s what you were supposed to do? I mean, unless you’re some brain-dead horndog guy with no respect for women, and I’d rather be more than that.” Lorelei inhaled deeply, a satisfied smile coming across her face. She nodded. “I see. You’re also ready to risk your life for the sake of strangers. Are you so idealistic in al things?” “Well , maybe not about every little thing, but this? Yeah.” “I hope this night hasn’t disappointed you, Alex.” “No. hell , no. I’m going to want a lot of nights like this.” She leaned in closely to kiss him again. Her lips were soft and soothing and her kiss went deep. “I also hope that you feel friendship is good enough for a first time.” “I’m not complaining,” he whispered back. She sat up against him. “A great respect for women, hm? And no father in the house. Has it always been just you and your mother?” “For a long while now, yeah. Dad cheated on Mom. A lot. When she found out about it, she found out that it’d been going on a long time. Co-workers, bar floosies, hookers. Married women. It hurt her a lot. They divorced when I was in grade school. Honestly, I don’t hear much from him anymore beyond a generic card at Christmas.”

“Ah. This explains much. You do not wish to become your father.” “No,” Alex admitted. “I’m terrified of it.” “You will not. Put that fear aside, Alex. If you have made anything clear to me, it is that you have a good soul and tremendous strength of will . I suspect there is much more of your mother in you than your father.” “Maybe, but…if I can trust you, will you help me make sure I don’t wind up like that?” Lorelei looked at him for a long moment, and nodded. “As you wish, master,” she said. “But again, you have little to worry about.” “You’ve been talking about me being with other women. Lots of other women.” “There’s a difference between adultery and enjoying dal iances when you have no such commitments,” Lorelei shrugged. “There are also relationships that are knowingly more open.” “I guess. Like I said, though, I just don’t want to hurt anyone.” “As you wish,” Lorelei nodded. Wicked affection spread through her smile again. “Now…tel me about Molly and Onyx.” Chapter 5

Very Naughty Things

“Sleep, master,” Lorelei whispered into Alex’s ear. “Sleep, and I will be here when you awaken. Sleep.” His eyes fluttered closed, and a moment later his breath became steady and easy. “Dream of that which brings you joy,” she added with a soft murmur. After a long moment, she disengaged from him, stood and stretched. The succubus looked at him silently, blankly, finally shaking herself. This was utter madness. Completely out of control. There was his peaceful face sleeping in the darkness. It had been an act of will to get up off of him and let him sleep. She hadn’t lied—not directly—and couldn’t if she wanted to, but there was no reason to hide it. He felt better than any mortal ever had. Better than things not of this Earth. He was vastly more pleasant than her previous two masters. So much that it was almost frightening. Lorelei had spent an eternity dodging the attention of those who ruled her, doing her best to stay at arm’s length and only grudgingly responding to a summons. She despised herself for that obedience. Hated the way her body responded to her master’s touch, yet couldn’t resist. It was part of what she was. Now she wanted to goad this new, mortal, simple man into taking advantage of it. She, too, wanted to be friends. More than friends. “‘ Abashed, the Devil stood,’” Lorelei mused aloud. For a second time, she shook herself. She still hungered for him, but her hunger typically lasted until she had vanquished a partner. That wouldn’t be happening here. Perhaps she’d just have to get used to being satisfied only while making lo— No. Servicing him. Let’s not get carried away with this. There is sorcery at work. I should have realized the ritual wasn’t fullly complete, she thought bitterly. I knew I could make more mischief. Push these boundaries further. Perhaps broken free…though to what end? She looked down at him again, feeling a need through her center and through every limb to wake him and continue