Page 16 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

With surprising care, Natalya picked out the few pieces of glass still embedded in Evie’s hand. She’d clutched the shards in a panic, pushing glass into her skin. It hurt worse the more she looked at it. But Natalya’s fingers gently touching her lessened the pain somehow.

“You’re good at that,” Evie said. Natalya gave her an amused glance.

“You sound surprised.”

“I guess I am. I just assumed…”

“That a fiend can’t be careful?” Natalya smiled. It started out sincere but then turned solemn. “They’re not supposed to be. It took me a long time to learn.”

Natalya inspected the injury keenly but with no hunger. No want or craving. Just attentiveness. Evie was nervous before because a bloody injury always got the attention of vampires. It had gotten Natalya’s attention too. But she was just concerned and careful.

Natalya cleaned away the blood and applied pressure to the wound. “It isn’t deep. It’ll be healed in a few days.”

“That’s a relief. It’s harder to dance with a hand injury.”

Natalya glanced up at her, a strange look in her eyes. Evie knew that look. Judging and disapproving.

“You want to keep teaching your classes?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Evie's voice was a little sharp. People often had comments about her chosen profession. Most were ignorant, and nearly all of them unwanted.

“It’s outside the high-rise. I assumed you wouldn’t want to leave yet.”

Evie realized it wasn’t disapproval she’d seen in Natalya’s eyes. It was worry. It made her annoyance dissipate.

“I didn’t think that far,” she admitted, voice small. “I just got the job a few weeks ago. And I was excited, I guess.”

“Do you want to go?”

“I don’t know…” Evie lowered her eyes. They burned suddenly, and she rubbed them with her free hand. “It would be one thing losing the cleaning shifts, but the classes… I like teaching. I’d miss it, but it… It’s dangerous outside.”

The words hurt to say. Working in the dance studio had brought a sense of normalcy. It was a mark of independence she’d been missing for over a year. The classes were a highlight for her. Something to look forward to. Now, the thought of leaving the high-rise filled her with dread.

She almost couldn’t bear it if Stefano took this too.

“You can still go.” Natalya’s soft voice made Evie look up again, and Natalya offered a calming, strangely understanding smile. “It’s in the day hours. And nearby. We can send a guard with you to keep you safe.”

Evie was about to protest when she understood the implications of what Natalya had just said. She frowned. “How do you know when I’m working?”

Natalya looked a little impressed. “You’re quite observant, you know that? I was curious how you were doing, so I asked Lily and Blake. Though Lily was the only one who’d share anything. Blake doesn’t tattle.” Natalya scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Her words, not mine.”

That made Evie smile. Blake hadn’t been as immediately likable as Lily, but she was loyal to a fault, and Evie had come to care for her. It helped that Blake never hid how she felt about a person. If Blake didn’t like someone, she made sure they knew.

“Sounds like Blake. But I don’t know if I should go. I don’t want to put you out more than I already am.”

“You wouldn’t be.” Natalya started wrapping Evie’s hand in a bandage. “I wouldn’t make the offer if it wasn’t genuine. I’m many things, but a trickster isn’t one of them. We have enough fae to fill our quota of mischief. Sins, Flea would fill it on his own if we let him.”

Evie laughed, and Natalya’s eyes glinted at the sound.

“You have a pretty laugh.”

Evie wasn’t sure if it was consideration or chance that made Natalya look down at Evie’s hand. She was thankful for it regardless. She had a feeling the compliment had made her blush.

“Have you taught dancing before?” Natalya was finishing up the bandaging.

“I did back in New Orleans. I taught part-time and had regular shifts at a club. Some freelance gigs too. Nothing fancy, mostly pole dancing at events and stuff like that. I prefer stage work, but private dances are usually where the money is.”

“I would expect so. Men tend to burn more money if they feel they have your full attention. That’s my experience, at least.”

Natalya would know all about getting male attention, gorgeous as she was. The attention Evie had gotten, she hadn’t known what to do with. She’d never been good at selling her attraction to men as genuine. It was just part of the job. There wasn’t anything else to it.

“I tried to stick to the stage mostly,” Evie said. “Didn’t pay as well, but it paid enough. Even though it meant most of my stilettos got painted in with marker rather than replaced. You know, if they got scratched.”

“Glad to know that trick is still being used,” Natalya said with a smile. “You must be good if you’re able to teach. Ever compete?”

Evie blinked, surprised at the question.

“I was going to, actually. Started training for it a couple years ago. Probably wouldn’t have gotten very far, but I’ve wanted to try for years.

” Evie couldn’t help but chuckle at the conversation.

“These aren’t usually the questions asked about my job.

Most people think it’s awkward to talk about. ”

“Most people judge, you mean?” Natalya gave her such an inviting smile it felt almost infectious. “You smile when you talk about it. You obviously like it. There’s nothing to judge.”

“Still…” Evie wasn’t used to people paying attention to her in this way. It made her feel strange. “Weird questions.”

“Want me to ask what your stage name is instead?”

It was clearly meant to be a joke, but it hit a bit too hard. It brought up bad memories.

“I just went by Evelyn,” Evie said quietly. “Asking if you wanted an ‘Eve with Evelyn’ had a decent ring to it.”

It was how she’d approached Stefano in the Love Light. He’d been milling around, talking to the different dancers, and leaving generous tips for the girls working the stage. Evie had approached him, said her signature line, and gotten him into a private dance.

He’d asked about her family and friends. When she hadn’t wanted to respond, he tried to enthrall her and failed. She’d ended her shift early, and he followed her to Amanda’s place. Maybe if she hadn’t approached him, he would never have talked to her.

“I have experience with employment that generates awkward conversation.” Natalya’s voice pulled Evie back to the present.

Her gentle smile made her stay there. “I’ve excelled in most avenues of sex work.

Managed a brothel on the East Coast in the 30s.

Then a series of gentleman’s clubs in the 60s and an escort service a few years after that.

It wasn’t until I got to Chicago that I wanted to make something permanent. ”

Natalya’s smile turned teasing when Evie gaped at her.

“Staring is rude, darling.”

“Sorry, I just…” Evie didn’t know what she was going to say. Being a succubus, it seemed so obvious Natalya would have that sort of history, but the thought of her working at all was strange. She seemed the type to be worshiped rather than employed. “What happened in Chicago that made you stay?”

“The high-rise. I bought out the ground floor and basement a few decades ago. Before the Court of Chains set up here. The club was called Inferno back then, though my kink club below is still called the Second Circle.”

Natalya chuckled at Evie’s attempt to not look shocked.

“What can I say? I enjoy a good reference. Dante gave me an obvious one.”

“Some reference,” Evie said, laughing lightly. “Are there more Circles of Hell nearby I should know about?”

“Just my domain of Lust.” Natalya’s fingers brushed over Evie’s skin as she spoke.

Only then did Evie realize that Natalya was still touching her. She’d finished tending the wound but hadn’t taken her hand off Evie’s. And she was caressing her. Brushing her fingers against Evie’s, softly and absentmindedly. As though she didn’t realize she was doing it.

The touch was comforting. Gentle and warm. It was more than just a soothing touch, somehow. Surprisingly, Evie didn’t mind it. It made her feel calm.

Then she thought of what such a touch might be a precursor to, and a chill ran down her spine.

Natalya was a fiend. A succubus. A being of sex and desire, neither of which Evie wanted to experience. Not now, at least.

She quickly pulled her hand back. Natalya did too. It was like they’d noticed what was happening at the same time.

“Sorry, Evie.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s fine, I just…” She cleared her throat.

Her heart was racing, but it wasn’t from fear.

It was from a strange, unwelcome yearning she didn’t want to feel.

Not with all the painful memories surrounding it.

She tried to push down the feeling, telling herself it had just been conjured by Natalya’s warm touch, but it didn’t lessen.

Evie quickly stood, the chair clattering against the floor.

“I’m not even supposed to be awake.” She didn’t look at Natalya. It was too awkward to do so. “I just wanted some water and then… I should go.”

But she didn’t move. She stayed put, looking at the floor. She wanted to leave, but her legs refused to budge.

The sound of a tap turning on made Evie look up. Natalya had moved to the sink with a glass, filling it with water. She handed it to Evie. Hesitantly, she accepted it.

As she took it, her fingers brushed against Natalya’s, and a bright tingling rushed through Evie’s body. When she tended Evie’s hand, her skin had just felt warm.

She hadn’t wanted to influence Evie. She hadn’t wanted to have an effect on her. But she did anyway.

“Sleep well, Evie. I hope no more bad dreams come tonight.” Natalya started to raise her hand—as though to touch Evie again—but stopped herself. Her expression, though perfectly calm, had an underlining of worry to it. “And I’ll arrange for someone to escort you to your classes.”

Evie stood awkwardly, holding the glass. It was cold against her fingers. A stark contrast to Natalya’s warm touch.

“Thank you, Natalya. For everything.”

Then, finally, Evie was able to leave for the bedroom. But she wasn’t able to sleep. She tossed and turned and thought . About how soothing Natalya’s touch had been. How bright her eyes were, and how beautiful her smile was.

She couldn’t stop thinking . And she couldn’t stop wondering. Wondering how it would feel to lie next to Natalya. To have her touch Evie with more intention. To have Evie do the same to her.

Despite the memories haunting her, Evie couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like.