Page 38 of Incubus (The Incubus Saga #1)

Sasha turned his touch into gentle rubbing, massaging Nathan’s hand. “I deserved it. I can get kind of intense. One of the many reasons I used to work alone. Sometimes it’s easier when someone isn’t there to yell at you for being an idiot.” Sasha scooted even closer. “But I like this better.”

“Haha…” That uncomfortable laugh found its way out of Nathan like it hadn’t since Sasha first hit on him. Time was inching toward four in the morning and Nathan was not in his right mind to deal with what was happening between them. He also really needed Sasha to stop rubbing his hand.

“I know it's a heavy thing to say, but...I think we’re going to have to kill him,” Sasha said, not needing to elaborate on who he meant.

“Would it weird you out if I said ‘ good’ ?”

“Not at all," Sasha said seriously. "You've never had a real opportunity to fight back without risking your brother, but the game is different now. With Jim's powers and me along for the ride, Gabriel is only going to keep coming harder. He wants Jim dead. Maybe wants me dead now too."

"Neither of those is going to happen," Nathan said. "Not on my watch.”

“Your watch, huh?” Sasha repeated, grinning sideways at Nathan while he finally released his hand. He nudged Nathan in the shoulder and Nathan took a moment to notice that the once foot between them had become pretty much nothing. “I sincerely hope you don’t think of me too much like a brother.”

That uncomfortable laugh tumbled out of Nathan again.

“Uhh…I wouldn't say that,” he said. "You don't happen to know anything about Gabriel we could use, do you?

Any background? I haven't had much chance to ask for his life story while we've been running from him in fear of being shot every few months. "

Sasha mulled that over. "I don't know if there's anything that would help us.

I just know he was born into a family of seals, raised to hunt fae because they're purists, a carrier family like you and Jim but hell-bent on making sure that the fae part of their bloodline dies out.

They're especially harsh on family members who try and marry someone from another carrier family.

The risk of creating a changeling is too great. "

"So that's why he's so gung-ho about Jim," Nathan said.

"I still can't believe you know him. It's like you've been moving parallel to us half our lives and our paths just never crossed.

I'd get all sappy with crap about you joining up with us being fated, but I hate that kind of stuff.

I'm in control of my own life, not some invisible hand of destiny. "

"I can understand that," Sasha said. "So...what exactly did this psychic tell you about me? Besides me being the person who can help you."

"Oh." Nathan looked forward into the dark of the room, not sure how much to share, but at this point it seemed silly to keep anything from Sasha. "You came up as part of the Devil card actually."

"The Devil card?"

"Well, the traditional picture does have horns and wings. Kind of looks like you.”

Sasha laughed.

"Wade said...that the card represented both the person who could help me, and the enemy.

Whoever he is, he's all those traditional things about the card that you aren't. The Devil .

Some evil son of a bitch sidhe who owns my soul.

Wade said I had to find you to save myself, but I have to find him eventually, too.

You don't...also know Wade, do you?" Nathan asked with a sudden sense of dread.

“No," Sasha said humorously. "No psychics named Wade.”

“Just checking.”

“I wish the circumstances were different, but I’m glad she pointed you in my direction.”

When Sasha smiled, Nathan allowed the subtle movement of the incubus’ hand on top of his.

Their eyes met and Nathan thought, I can do this.

It’s just a damn hand . They had kissed, after all.

They had really kissed, no bet, no pheromones.

And if Jim hadn’t come in with Alex and a warning of Gabriel, Nathan might have…

Jesus .

Then Sasha’s hand was moving, lacing their fingers together tightly, all the while with blue eyes staring hungrily back at Nathan.

“Bed?” Nathan croaked, tearing his hand away as if the touch burned. “I mean…we should probably…sleep. Yeah. Sleep…would be good.”

Sasha’s eyes shone with a little disappointment, but he said, “You can have it,” reminding Nathan that they hadn't bothered the front desk for an extra cot. “I’ve slept on worse than a motel room floor.” Sasha started to get up, but Nathan grabbed his arm to stop him.

“No. You have it,” Nathan said. “Not that I…I just mean…you. You have this bed, and I’ll…I’ll just shove Sleeping Beauty over. Wouldn’t be the first time we shared. Besides, none of us deserve the floor after tonight.”

“Okay. We should probably hit the hay then.”

Nathan tried to make a point of not watching Sasha shrug out of his clothing, but it wasn't easy. He didn’t really want to rummage for a clean T-shirt to sleep in, so he stuck to his boxers and moved for the other bed as soon as he was undressed.

His pulse pumped hot knowing that Sasha’s eyes were probably following him.

“God, what a day,” Nathan said aloud, giving Jim a good—but careful—shove to the other side of the bed. As expected, his brother didn’t even twitch. Nathan climbed under the covers since Jim was sprawled on top of them, and tried not to think too hard.

Then it hit him.

“Day. Shit . It’s the same damn day,” Nathan groaned up at the ceiling. “Shoot me in the head.”

Laughter filtered over from Sasha’s side of the room. “No,” he said simply.

“Spoil sport.”

Again, Sasha laughed. “The movie was fun,” he said, completely offhand and casual. “We should do it again sometime.”

Shoot me in the head .

“Goodnight, Nathan.”

“Yeah. Goodnight,” Nathan said, but he knew that when he woke up in the morning, he would still have absolutely no idea what he was doing.