Starved For Love (17 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Day two of my cycle

The next morning I rolled over and found an unconscious Sin next to me. A note was taped to the headboard, which instructed me to use his car, go home and get my shit together. I squinted at the bottom of the note where he scrawled something almost illegible. Oh, the ice cream worked great. We’d do that next time I came over.

Okay, I had something to look forward to. Not. I pulled a black T-shirt on with a Jolly Roger on the front from his drawers and belted it like a dress. Familiar with the layout of the nest and with the shifter guards paid to watch the place during the day, I made my way to the garage.

Sin owned a few cars. Ever since I rolled his Mercedes, he made me drive his old Mustang. It started like a dream each time, though. I’d had a lot of time to think last night. Too much.

Each of my suitors appealed to me in different ways. John had a sharp wit that always made me laugh, Cooper’s gentle, caring nature nurtured my soul and Sin’s strength gave me safety. What did Valerio Hunan have to offer me? In a matter of days he’d taken over my life. Stomped right in, commandeered the wheel from my hands and directed me straight into hell. He also gave me everything my suitors did, all rolled up into one hot incubus.

I’d never find someone else this compatible. He had jealousy issues, which I wasn’t sure how to deal with, but he was always game to play with me. Not once had he tried to hold me back. Hell, he was the one who initiated things with Cooper. He even hinted at bigger, better things we could do together, and not just in bed.

Why did I have to say
love
? Even mortal men run at that word. Val probably had less of a defense mechanism to use than humans when faced with this dilemma. Our people didn’t consider love important. Most of them, anyway. My family was an enigma.

As soon as I pulled into my parents’ driveway the door opened.

Margie, my quietest mother, waited in the opening, a shawl around her shoulders and a steaming cup of coffee in her hands.

I ran my hands over my makeshift dress and crossed the driveway on tiptoes, the cold morning air hurrying my steps inside. I didn’t know what to say to her. Not after my performance last night.

She handed me the cup of coffee. “I’m glad you didn’t keep us waiting all day.”

My shoulders drooped as the weight of my guilt settled on them. I took a long swig of the coffee before following her into the kitchen. Sam and Estelle both sat at the table. A half-eaten plate of muffins sat between them. “Moms.” I nodded to them, steeling myself for harsh words.

“Pia, sit down.” Estelle pointed to the chair across from them. She eyed my clothing, distaste in her gaze, but didn’t say anything about it.

I did as I was told and set my coffee between us. Folding my hands in my lap, I waited. My guts twisted.

My moms glanced at each other as if trying to decide who would go first. Usually, when they were angry they’d yell on top of each other.

“Sweetie,” my birth mom, Sam, started, “what’s going on?”

“Val broke our courtship last night. His wives told him I’m too young to marry and he agreed.” It was the simplest answer. Maybe if God smiled down on me, I would get away with it, but, being descended from demons, I didn’t think God would be so kind.

“That’s nonsense. I married your father when I was your age.” Estelle waved her hands as if dismissing class. “Is he pussy whipped?”

“Mom!” My teeth rattled as my jaw hit the floor.

“Well, is he? There’s no other way to say it.” A bright pink flushed her cheeks and she hid behind her coffee.

Margie laughed in silence, and her body shook with the effort.

I grinned. “I don’t think so.”

“Then there has to be some other excuse for him to break things between you.” Sam leaned her chin in her hands.

My grin faded. “He wanted to announce our engagement at the banquet.”

They glanced at each other, confusion obvious in their expressions.

“I said it was too soon. We’d just met.” I pleaded to them with my hands.

“Well, it’s just the next step in a courtship. It doesn’t mean we’d be booking a reception hall next week.” Estelle set her cup on the table hard, sloshing some coffee over the edge. “Engagements can be broken. Engagement bands slip right off—they’re not like removing marriage tattoos.”

“But I—I mean, I didn’t…” At the time I didn’t know if I loved Val. Now, I knew for sure I did. Had I made a naïve mistake in refusing the engagement? Maybe I
was
too young. “He doesn’t love me.”

Their confusion vanished. Finally, someone understood. I ran to the wrong person last night when I went home with Sin. I should have returned with the moms.

“Love isn’t an easy thing, Pia.” Margie sat next to me and wrapped her arm around my back. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Most succubi don’t choose that path. It’s a rough road to travel when you have to have other partners besides the incubus you love. Me and Sam were lucky because Estelle and Flynn had already decided what they wanted when they started this family.”

“With Val, I’d be coming in behind, as sixth wife.” I stared into my coffee. No visions of my future enlightened me though.

“Neither of your sisters have chosen this path either. It’s easier to focus on other things to detract from relationships.” Margie smoothed my crazy curled hair. I never took the time to tame it this morning.

“Like careers and feeding from strangers.” I was beginning to understand Val’s wives a little. They didn’t want someone with my family background rocking their boat. If Val and I fell in love, where would that leave them? Would he want their love as well? Not a fair trade for most succubi.

I shook my head. “None of this matters. We’re through. I’m sorry I acted like a jerk last night.”

Estelle patted my hand. “It’s okay, honey. It’s genetic. You get it from your father, just like your hair.”

I laughed and finished my coffee.

Sam looked from me to her sister wives. “But she loves him.”

They both grew quiet and stared at me.

I cleared my throat. “Why would you say that?” The last thing I needed was for my family to go into DEFCON 1 because of my heartbreak again.

“That look on your face before you kissed him last night. I’ve seen it before on your other mothers and I’ve probably worn it myself.”

Margie hugged me tighter. “Honey, if that’s true then the rules change. Tell us the truth.”

I hung my head. I’d cried enough over Val. I wasn’t a weak college girl anymore. “Yes.”

None of them said anything. They waited.

“I only realized it when I lost him.” I had great timing.

“And you’re just going to give up?” Margie asked.

Her question echoed something Sin had said last night. He told me I should fight for what I wanted. I’d shoved the suggestion away since it came from a soulless asshole but my moms…they knew everything.

My eyes burned as I glanced at them. “What am I supposed to do? March over there and twist his arm until he takes me back?”

“For starters, I’d suggest a change of clothes.” Estelle raised an eyebrow at the Jolly Rogers grinning at her from my chest. “I doubt wearing Zur-Sin’s T-shirt will please him.”

“Or the fact you took off with that awful vampire,” Sam added.

“Just be yourself.”

I twisted in my chair to see who spoke and saw my dad.

He cleared his throat. “Any of those muffins mine?” He joined us that the table, his crazy curls as much a mess as mine.

Sam’s hand strayed to straighten them absentmindedly like she did to mine. This was what I wanted in a marriage—breakfast with messy hair, comradely atmosphere, and well, being a family. That’s what I brought to the marriage table for Val and his wives. I could make them into a family.

I shivered at the idea. Cecile would kick and scream the whole way. If Val gave me the chance to try, I’d take her on and
make
the bitch like me. Rising to my feet, I nodded to my parents. “Thank you, I have a lot of work ahead of me if I’m going to make this right.”

“We’ll be right behind you, sweetie.” Sam grinned, a spark of mischief in her eyes. Something I’d inherited from her.

I raced to my room, not wanting to give myself a moment to think and chicken out. Courage was a fickle friend and it would vanish the second I turned my back. I dressed in a worn pair of jeans, the pink blouse hanging on my closet doorknob, and sneakers.

Since driving Sin’s car was just as bad as wearing his clothes, I decided to take my own. Locating my keys proved an exercise of frustration though, but with a little help from the parents, I found them where they’re supposed to be, on the hanger in the foyer. I jumped in my VW Bug and drove to Val’s hotel.

Chapter Twenty-Six

I drove toward the underground parking lot of the Roxy hotel, where Val stayed, but as I passed the front door, I spotted him with Cecile, exiting the building followed by Hoel. My heart seized and I slammed on the brakes. With squealing tires, I pulled out of traffic and parked by the curb, running it over with my front wheel.

They wouldn’t get away. I wouldn’t waste the courage I’d been building all morning. Jumping out of the car, I tossed my keys to a grinning Hoel.

He nodded. “Good morning, Ms. Blyton.”

Val had his arm around a wide-eyed Cecile. She clung to her purse as if it were a shield. “Are you out of your mind?” She pointed to my Bug. “You could have caused an accident.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the street. “But I didn’t.” Hands on my hips, I blocked their path. “Neither of you are going anywhere until we talk.”

Cecile looked down her nose. “I have a plane to catch and I don’t have time for your drama.”

Val’s gaze met mine. A storm of emotions battled in his eyes and I couldn’t tell if he wanted to yell at me or kiss me.

I advanced on her. “Are you threatened by me?” She might be too snooty for a drop-down, hair-pulling fight but I was
stewing
for one. She was a bully and she’d almost chased me away.

She poked me in the shoulder with her finger. “You have nothing to threaten me with.” Her cool eyes began to smoke.

“I respect your position as his wife and that you should have input in his marriages but, Cecile, none of you live together. Why do you care so much? Your family is powerful and wealthy. Do you really need more? I can make Val happy. Doesn’t that make any difference?”

She stepped into my personal space, eyes narrowed and serpentine. “Power is fleeting and a family has to protect its assets.”

“We could spend the rest of our lives easily avoiding each other. I don’t plan on leaving Lake City. Val travels to visit all of you at present so that won’t change.”

The flinch in her expression was so minute I almost missed it. “He says you want him to live with you.”

I blinked. “
That’
s the problem?” Rubbing my forehead, I tried to ease a growing headache. All this time she’d been harping on business and my lack of advantages and it truly was a ruse, but not like my mothers had explained. “You’re jealous?”

Cecile turned her face from me as if checking traffic. “Of course not, but Val would have to make his base of operations in this city. Our family runs smoothly. You and your unnatural ideas will—”

“Cause speed bumps?” Val suggested.

“Yes, exactly.” Cecile nodded and finally met my gaze.

“I’m marrying your husband. There’s no law stating any of you can stop us.” With a growl born from my demon heritage, I jumped and pulled her into my embrace. I wanted to frighten her, but to win this fight, I had to change the rules and show Cecile there were other options for us. I gave her a hug. Wrapping my arms around her, I squeezed tight.

Val grabbed me by the waist and pulled me off Cecile. “Here comes Hoel with the car. Let him take you to the airport while I deal with Pia.” Val blew her a kiss then dragged me toward the hotel entrance.

She smoothed the front of her jacket as if wiping my cooties off. “Valerio, you promised to accompany me.” She turned a deadly glare my way. I’d have been toasted if looks could fry.

I struggled in his strong arms, both pissed off and turned on at the same time. “Let me go.” I offered the bitch an olive branch and she had the nerve to not even acknowledge it. What was her problem?

Val chuckled and held me tighter. “I know, Cecile. I could set the wildcat loose if you’d like. It would be amusing.”

She blanched and hurried to the car door Hoel held for her.

“Cecile, wait!” I called to her. Elbowing Val, I whispered to him, “You have to trust me to work things out with them.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she met my gaze.

“I’d never let him ignore any of you. Sister wives have to stick together.”

“Let’s take this inside,
sweetie
.” Val grabbed my upper arm and towed me into the lobby. The place was empty for a Sunday morning with only the lady at the desk present as a witness.

“Let go!” I ripped my arm out of his grasp, then nodded to the startled lady.

“This way.” Val herded me into a private alcove away from the woman’s prying eyes. “Pia…”

I spun on him and jabbed my finger into his solid chest. “I won’t let you chase me away.” I attempted to loom but failed. Instead, I only drew myself closer. “You are special to me and that scares you but I’m going to win you over.” His wives had created a small divide between us. I’d stretched myself across it like a bridge but he had to take the next step.

He breathed heavily, his gaze eating me up. “I am beginning to understand what you want from me.” He grabbed my shoulders, shoving me against the wall.

Our lips met in a tumult of anger and passion, our kiss was a raging war of flesh and desire. His mouth ravaged mine as he slipped his hands under my blouse to caress my waist.

Sandwiched, I couldn’t move except to buck against him as a surge of raw longing crashed over my body.

Val heaved away, combing his fingers through his hair. “What is it about you, Pia? You drive me nuts.”

On tiptoe, I leaned against him and continued our kiss. I hadn’t lied. He wouldn’t escape from me. I’d decided to fight for what I wanted.

He wrapped his arms around me and held on as if he’d never let me go. Deepening our embrace, he slowed the pace until I melted against him. He broke it off again. “My place. Now.” Without waiting for my response, he took my hand and pulled me to the elevators.

Once inside, he propelled me into the corner and snarled as he tore open my blouse. Buttons plinked against the walls.

“Val.” My voice had grown husky.

He was on me, starved for my touch. His hands roamed over my body, not able to decide where to rest. The buttons on my jeans didn’t prove to be difficult to undo as he popped them open with a flick of his wrist.

“There are cameras.” I tried to point to one but he pinned my arm against the wall.

“I’m going to fuck you so hard,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ll have to call nine-one-one to revive you after.”

My knees turned into water. “Promise.” He’d been playing so hard to get. I wouldn’t take no for answer this time.

The elevator door slid open. Val hooked a finger in my jeans and led me into his suite, straight to his bedroom where he deposited me on the bed.

I propped myself on my elbows. “Undress for me.”

He stopped mid-stride and raised an eyebrow. A pleased, sensual smile spread across his face as he undid the buttons of his dress shirt.

“Slowly.” I sucked in a breath as he reached his six-pack abs and followed my instructions.

His heated gaze never left mine as he took his sweet time to bare his flesh. Once dressed only in his briefs, he approached the bed and knelt on one knee. “Would you like a closer look?”

Would I
. Scooting near, I leaned in as he exposed the tip of his cock. A drop of dew glistened. Before he could move, I swiped my tongue and caught it.

A breath hissed between his lips. I didn’t need to be psychic to read his next thoughts as he exposed the rest of his cock.

My sex was wet and slick with heat. I hadn’t expected this intense ardor from him. He rocketed my libido off the charts. Slipping him in my mouth, I worked him deep until my lips wrapped around the base of his shaft. The salty, masculine flavor of him coated my tongue.

He watched me with insanely hungry eyes and moaned as I slid him out of my mouth, leaving a trail of wet flesh. “More.” Taking the bottoms of my jeans, he pulled them off my hips, tossing me onto my back.

I’d never seen Val like this. Always calm and in control, never lacking in playfulness—this Val was a stranger to me. It excited me.

His hands gripped my hips and I whimpered in anticipation but he merely ran them down my legs, raising one ankle to his mouth where he bit down not too gently.

I blinked, startled at both the sharp pain and the pulse of desire that shot through me. I arched my back and let the sensation wash over me.

With a flash of his hand, he grasped my thong and popped the seams off my hips. He spread my legs wider as he knelt between them.

“Val?” I writhed at the thought of him above me, staring at my presented pussy. The thought was delicious and I couldn’t stop from fixating on it.

One of his fingers slid between my nether lips, hot and drenched.

A small moan escaped me. With just one touch, he reduced me to his slave. My sex clenched and I rolled my hips trying to coax that finger to slide deeper, to fondle those parts inside me that craved release.

“Don’t move.” His words came out sharp as a whip, his breath as ragged and short as mine.

My muscles quivered as I restrained them—by sheer willpower I’d never known I’d possessed—as he ran his finger along the sensitive line of my pussy again.

In anticipation, I held my breath. And waited. Then nothing. I released the air in my lungs and shivered. The muscles in my womb contracted.

With a thumb he touched one side of my nether lips, the other pushed the opposite side, spreading me open for his pleasure. Val bent and blew a cool breath over my heat.

A sob burst from my mouth at the sudden tormenting delight.

He descended upon me, using his tongue to lap at my aching passion, driving it higher.

My breath exploded, a keening moan, filled with pleading, the only way I could free my exaltation. I was on the verge of spontaneous combustion.

With a confident finger, Val slipped through my wet sex and circled my clit. He echoed the motion with his tongue. Lick after lick, he tasted me with wild, urgent fervor. When he flicked my bud, my body quivered and I cried out, unable to articulate words anymore.

I was so close. The primal succubus part of my brain had taken over and I wouldn’t beg Val to stop
. Please, don’t ever stop.

When his fingers caressed my folds again, I bucked. The force of my desire overrode his earlier command.

He withdrew, rubbing his thumb on the inside of my thigh as if contemplating what torture to use on me next.

Soft gasping noises escaped my throat. He’d been telling me the truth on our first date. He didn’t need a box of toys.

Then his thumb pressed inside my needy entrance and he scraped his nails along my ass. The sudden shift of stimulation sent a shock wave of brutal rapture through my body. I arched into him.

But before I could shatter into a thousand pieces, he removed his thumb.

My orgasm scattered and a whimper of disappointment left my lips. Torture. Was he punishing me?

Without touching my skin, he unsnapped the front of my bra.

My breasts tumbled free.

“Raise your arms over your head.” He still knelt between my thighs, his dark gaze scalding my flesh. Long moments passed in which Val only watched the rise and fall of my chest. Then his strong palm caressed my breast, plumping it in his grasp only to let it fall and bounce. “You’re mine now.” His voice had grown harsh with desire. “You may have suitors and contracts to fulfill but you belong to
me
.”

He lay over my body, pressing me into the bed. His hand grasped my wrists together over my head. “I set you free but you came back to
me
but I won’t go any further until I have a commitment from you.”

“Yes,” I spoke it without hesitation. Love was a journey and we’d begun.

A smile spread across his face. “You’ll marry me?”

“Of course I will.”

His devouring kiss was the only warning I received before he plunged to the hilt, driving his hard cock inside my pussy.

I needed it so bad and it was so sudden that I screamed as he pounded his hips against mine. My legs wrapped around him, holding him close. The size of him burned. Perks of an incubus. But, oh God, it was a good perk. I sobbed as he grasped my hips, pushing deeper into me—so deep I experienced the same initial burn.

He was forcing my body to take all of him but I was so wet and so turned on that I welcomed every thick inch. My muscles clenched around his hard cock, building toward my climax. He thrust again.

Shivers ran over my limbs. “Valerio.” I wanted to touch him, to stroke him, to dig my nails into his firm ass.

All this time, he’d been kissing me like I was his last breath of air. He pulled away and stared into my eyes then released my hands. “Show me how to make love.”

My heart stopped. Nervous jitters ran up my spine. It had been so long. Did I remember how? I cupped his face between my hands and scattered gentle kisses on him, starting with his thick eyelashes, to the tip of his nose, then over the bottom of his sensual lips.

He moaned and rolled us over so I sat on top, giving me control.

Such a confident, beautiful male, yet tonight he showed me his vulnerability. Something I hadn’t been aware existed until now. “You belong to me now,” I whispered against his lips as I began a gentle rhythm. Caressing his sculpted chest, I traced the outline of his muscles. “You might have wives and a demanding business but
I
was set free and I came back for
you
.”

A small gasp escaped him as he arched his back. “Yes.” His hands clasped my hips, guiding me up and down his huge cock.

I licked along his jaw and nibbled his earlobe. “Say it.”

“I’m yours.” He answered without hesitation.

I blinked away the sudden tears threatening to spill over and took his mouth with mine. Brushing my tongue along his, I passed slow, lingering swipes, taking my time to live in the moment, to experience the turning point in our relationship and burn it into my memory forever. No matter what the future may bring, I would have this moment to pull out and cherish.

The energy I stored within my belly surged and I opened myself to Val, inviting him to feed. I wanted to care for him and give all I had. I could feed again tomorrow.

Linked together, the energy flowed and my pace grew more demanding. My shivers of need grew into quakes. I choked on a cry.