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F austus is a demon hotter than the flames of hell, and sometimes I wish he wouldn’t come to dinner.

With all his designer suits, fancy watches, and sexy smiles, he makes me trip over my words.

Faustus is my roommate’s father, and yes, I have a little crush on my friend’s dad. Not anything I’d act on. Mainly because he scares me more than excites me, but I won’t deny he’s an attractive man. Sex on legs and sin personified. I can appreciate how easy he is on the eyes.

But he’s not my type.

“Dinner was amazing as always, X.” Faustus’s smoky, rough voice, which probably sounds amazing during sex, cuts into my thoughts. He only uses that voice to compliment me, and I swear he does it on purpose just to watch me squirm.

“Thank you. Dave told me your favourite was strawberry shortcake, so I gave it a whirl.”

And by giving it a whirl, I mean multiple attempts at baking that found their way into the trash before I found a winner. A good spongecake is surprisingly difficult to bake .

“That’s kind of you.”

He makes a show of sliding his fork full of whipped cream into his mouth, and I look away. He laughs to himself, and if he weren’t Dave’s dad, I’d tell him to fuck off. The ego of some demons is beyond irritating.

“So, Dad, what are your plans for the rest of the night? It’s not every year you turn 549 years old.”

“Don’t say it out loud,” Faustus moans. “It makes me sound old, and I’m not.”

“You definitely don’t look a day over fifty in my books.” Charles pats his hand as Dave clears away the leftover cake.

“So, are you going out to party? What has Dave planned for you?” If I have to squirm with Faustus’s teasing, I’ll make Dave uncomfortable just because it’s his dad. Seems fair to me.

Dave whirls from the counter, eyes wide. Returning to his seat next to his father, he prepares a coffee and looks to Charles, his partner, for help. He doesn’t get any.

“Uh, nothing? I mean, did you want to go out, Dad? What do you want to do?”

Faustus, to his credit, seems genuinely uncaring about the evening plans. Perhaps he’s happy eating cake with his son, son-in-law and their awkward roommate.

“You know, I hadn’t thought about it.” He places his fork back on the plate with a final lick. Leaning back, he props an ankle on one knee before turning to Dave. “But I should go out. It’s been a long time. Do you mind being your dad’s wingman? ”

Dave sputters into his coffee as Charles laughs.

“Wingman?” Dave’s voice cracks like he just hit puberty, and I stifle a laugh. “Like to bring someone home for sex?”

Faustus grins and catches my eye. Then he winks. I suppress my smile. He loves to poke at his son whenever he can and honestly, so do I. Dave makes it so easy sometimes.

“Sure. Why not?”

Dave grumbles and looks towards Charles again. They do that mind-reading thing that only they can do, and Charles places his hand on Dave’s shoulder.

“I think Dave finds it awkward to cruise a bar with you since he has me waiting at home. Why don’t you and X go out?”

Now I sputter.

“W-What?! No. I mean. I can’t be your wingman. I’m barely a…man. And you’re… you don’t need help to get laid, Faustus.”

His booming laugh sets me at ease, but he leans across the table. Eyes twinkling and a smirk on his lips.

“You need to work on your confidence. How about this? I’ll be your wingman, then. We’ll go out, and maybe we’ll both get lucky.”

Shaking my head and sending pleading looks to Dave and Charles, I struggle to find words.

“You’re…y-you’re…a hot demon who can have anyone he wants. I’m an awkward witch. I blend into the wallpaper for fuck’s sake. They’ll flock to you—”

Faustus claps his hands together, rings clinking. “It’s settled. Go change. You and I are going out, X.”

When I don’t move, he lifts an eyebrow.

“Is there a problem?”

God dammit , he needs to put that voice away.

“I don’t drink.”

“So have a cola then.”

“I’ve nothing to wear.”

“You can borrow something from Charles.”

Faustus and I stare each other down and I’m out of excuses. With a huff, I push away from the table. “Fine. Charles? Dress me up, please.”

Together, Charles and I walk down the hall to the suite he shares with Dave. He bumps my shoulder as we walk.

“You sure you’re okay with this? He won’t force you if you’re really against it.”

Charles has been a friend since he and Dave showed up here almost a year ago. He’s the closest person I have to confide in, and he knows I have a low-key crush on Faustus. Anyone would, but when you’ve been cursed to be a virgin until you find true love, you let your imagination run away every time you meet a man like Faustus.

He’s not relationship material in any way, and I consider him a friend of sorts—just not one I want to go clubbing with.

“I know. It’s just…” Lowering my voice, I lean closer. “He’s a hot dude. You agree, right?”

Charles snorts as he motions me into his suite. Once the door is closed behind us, he releases a breath .

“X, I know. The man oozes sex and confidence, and he’s intimidating. I get it. But also, you said before that you want to meet someone. If you want to have the curse lifted, you need to find the person to do it.” He flings open the door to his closet. “Faustus will keep you safe and probably give you tips on how to give good head at the same time.”

“That’s not helping, Charles.”

He shrugs as he flips through his dress shirts.

“Probably not, but it’s the truth. Now tell me what vibe you want tonight. None of this all black shit. You don’t want to freak out anyone because they think you’re some kind of vampire freak.”

“No, I’m just a witch freak.”

“Here.” He hands me a lavender dress shirt and a pair of charcoal suit pants. “Put those on and let me see.”

I undress as Charles rifles through his closet, and I’m impressed his pants fit me so well. Maybe a little too well. Pulling at the crotch, I try to readjust, and Charles laughs behind me.

“Those pants really present your package. That’s one way to get noticed.”

Scowling, I focus on my reflection in the mirror as I button up the shirt.

“I’d prefer to be noticed for me and not what’s in my pants.”

Although I wasn’t kidding when I said I was plain. If it takes a look at what’s in my pants to draw someone’s interest, I should accept it .

“How long have you not been sleeping?”

Charles knows about the curse I carry, and while I’ve lived with him and Dave for over a year now, I’ve never told them the entire story.

“It’s been four years now.”

The anniversary of the fifth year is approaching. Not only do I miss my first love, but I long for some sense of normality again.

“Can you do me a favour?” Charles smooths out the collar of my borrowed shirt. “Have fun tonight. Pretend you have no problems. No curses. No lack of sleep. Nothing. You’re X, and you’re a sexy motherfucker looking for dick.”

Laughing at Charles, I shake my head. With the way he talks sometimes, you’d never know he used to be a priest.

“With your man’s dad at my side. Looking for dick with him might be difficult.”

He shrugs with a knowing grin.

“You just never know. Faustus might surprise you.”

“Dear God, where are we?”

“Don’t ask god. He’d never step foot in here. Too much skin…and sinning.” Faustus winks as we approach the doorman to the sketchiest-looking building in a hundred-kilometre radius.

The doorman recognizes Faustus and waves us both in.

“Okay, but really, where are we? I’ve lived here for four years, and I don’t know this place.”

It’s quiet, but a gentle thumping of music vibrates beneath our feet as Faustus leads us down a darkened hallway. When we turn the corner, the sight of two men making out greets us. Clearly exchanging hand jobs in the hallway, they pay no notice to us, and Faustus simply keeps walking.

I bump into the wall because I can’t stop staring. Faustus takes my elbow with a chuckle and sets me straight again.

We pass several doors. Some with windows and some without, and it’s with slow-motion clarity I register what this place is.

“Faustus!” I whisper-yell and he turns to me.

“Is this a sex club?”

“Well, yes. Where did you think I’d bring you? A bar on Main Street where anyone can get in?”

“Um, yeah. That’s what most people do.”

“Come now, X.” His lips tilt in a sexy smirk. “Am I most people?”

A flicker of flame behind his eyes blazes for a second before disappearing as fast as it came.

“How many people here know you’re…not human?”

“Are you worried about my safety, X? That’s so sweet.” He smirks before motioning me to follow him again. “The doorman and one bartender know. That’s only because my office holds their souls.”

Thank goodness I’m a friend of Faustus. I’m not sure I could survive making a deal with him.

“You’re probably right.” Faustus’s lips tilt in a predatory grin. “You wouldn’t be able to survive a deal with me.”

“Would you stop that? Reading minds without permission is wrong!” I huff my annoyance and glare at him. “I feel violated.”

He hums under his breath. “But it’s so useful with the right people. Besides, trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you. Dave would try to kill me if I did.” He cocks his head. “Not that he’d succeed, but he’d try.”

We’ve now reached the end of the hallway and Faustus steadies his hand on the door handle. “Ready to get lucky?”

“Can you please not talk like that?”

“Fine. Let’s go cruise for hot guys,” he mocks with a tilt of his head. “Better?”

“Marginally.”

That seems to satisfy him, and he pushes open the door. It’s not at all what I was expecting. Although, I’m not sure what I should expect? A room full of people fucking?

“This is the main room, X. You approach people here, or they approach you, and if you find someone to your taste, you make plans.”

Okay, that doesn’t seem too bad. I don’t have to have sex unless I want to. Which is also cool. I mean, I want to, but the whole curse thing is a bit of a drag.

When I was thrown from my coven and left to die, my brother added his own parting gift for my supposed betrayal to my family. A virgin you will remain until you find true love .

So not only am I cursed to be a virgin, but I’m also cursed with nightmares reliving that night and watching my best friend take his last breath in my arms.

And I can’t have casual sex. It’s been a real fun time for me. Thank god for mail-order sex toys.

Following Faustus around the perimeter of the room, he pauses at another doorway. “I thought we’d start here for the night. You like to watch, don’t you?”

For once, I don’t feel an ounce of shame over it and nod. “I do.”

I more than like it. I love it.

“Good. Have a seat and I’ll be right back.”

Entering the room as I’m told, I find an empty chair along the wall. Single people and couples dot the raised platform on similar seating, but it’s clear the people on the platform are the show.

I don’t care about the genders of those having sex. There’s literally a cornucopia of couples and more for me to watch. While I prefer watching men, I’m not opposed to watching women.

Faustus likely knows I prefer men since that’s what makes up 90% of the room. And he knows I used to spy on Dave and Charles, my roommates. In my defence, they fuck where everyone can see, so I wasn’t being creepy. Charles also enjoys knowing they can get caught. It drives Dave feral at the possibility of anyone seeing Charles, and it’s quite the erotic show if you happen upon them.

The fact that’s the extent of my sex life is rather pathetic. Well, that and all the stuff I store in a box under my bed.

I thought it would be awkward coming to a club like this—not like I had a chance to even process it until Faustus had me down the hallway and I saw the couple jerking each other off—but it’s very upscale and not at all what I would have expected.

The platform in front of me rotates—not quickly, but every few minutes, there’s a subtle turn, and I have a different angle or couple directly in front of me.

A glass clinks beside me on the small table and Faustus pulls the front of his dress pants up before taking the seat on the other side of me. He pops the button on his suit jacket and rests his foot on the opposite knee. This is no big deal for him. He surveys the room with a casual disinterest, and I wonder what he really brought me here for.

“Don’t worry, X. I won’t make you watch me do anything. That would be…what do you young ones say? Hella awkward.”

I snort with a shake of my head and sniff the drink he brought me. The sharp aroma of cherry brandy makes my mouth water.

“It would make me uncomfortable to see you naked, yes. ”

“Who said anything about naked? I just want to have someone’s lips around my cock. Happy birthday, right?”

This is hell.

Not only am I sitting in a sex club with my friend’s hot dad, but he’s now cracking jokes and talking about getting blown by a stranger in a club. This whole damn night is awkward, and I hate my friends right now.

Dave can say goodbye to chocolate chip cookies for a week after this.

Faustus grins over his glass.

“How about I leave you here for a while so it’s not awkward?” He raises a hand. “I didn’t read your mind. I’m just assuming you’ll enjoy it more if I leave.”

“It’s your birthday though.”

“It is. And I’m going to find someone to suck my dick like they need it to survive as a gift to myself. Just wait in the main room when you’re done, and I’ll find you…eventually. Tell the bartender you’re with me.” He stands with his drink and doesn’t give me a chance to respond. “Enjoy yourself, X.”

And that’s how I end up sitting in a room full of voyeurs, for I don’t know how long, but I’ve emptied my drink several times and the waiter keeps bringing me more. I should go find Faustus and end this evening. It’s pointless for me to be here.

I won’t be finding true love tonight.

Or ever.

The odds of me finding a man who loves me, believes in witches and wants to date a virgin are pretty low. Not to mention enjoy being watched. That’s quite the combination of must haves for a partner.

Some might even say it’s impossible.

The stage makes another rotation and until now, there’s only been couples or groups having sex on the platform. My new view is a solo performance. And he has all of my attention.

Leaning forward, I let my arms hang between my knees and stare at the most gorgeous man on the planet.

His black hair is wild, like he ran a hand through it wet and let it dry where it landed. One stray lock hangs on his forehead in an untamed curl. He’s not wearing any kind of suggestive clothing like others were. It’s just him in a t-shirt that he’s rucked up under his chin and a pair of ripped jeans. He’s soft in the middle, with a line of dark hair leading to where he has his hand stuffed in his pants.

The man’s cheeks flush when he notices he has my undivided attention. His tongue peeks out to lick his lips, and he seems unsure if he wants to show me what he’s hiding. Fuck, I want him to show me.

What’s the etiquette here? Can I approach him? Do I call out?

“Show me your dick and jerk off while you stare at me!”

I must project my desire well because he moves into action. He lifts his hips, sliding his jeans down his thighs. Pre-cum glistens on his belly, and he strokes himself, long and sure, while I watch.

What I wouldn’t do to help him with that .

The gorgeous man’s chest heaves and his head falls back as he loses himself in his pleasure. His free hand slides up his chest to tweak his nipples, and heat rushes to my cheeks. My cock aches for the same attention, but I’m mesmerized by the man in front of me. His hand quickens, and he lifts his head. The lusty stare of the stranger focuses on me. It’s an electrifying jolt when his gaze meets mine. For a moment, his aura flares to life around him, and my breath catches. It had a shape! The man shudders and comes, shooting thick white ropes on his stomach and chest. His aura blazes to life again before fading away quickly.

He holds my gaze with his lips parted. Perhaps to say something? Did he feel me when his aura flared like that? My heart pounds at the fleeting notion that this could be someone for me. While I can see auras on most people, they never look like that. It has to be a sign. Fuck, I want it to be a sign.

I want to ask his name. Get his number. I want to do this again. What if he’s the one?

But it’s then that Faustus returns and shatters my bubble of hope.

“Well, are you ready to go home now?”

“No, I want to—” When I look back, he’s gone. Vanished, like he’d never been there at all.

“Some wingman you are Faustus. The one man I’ve found in four years who holds a scrap of interest just vanished.”

He at least presses his lips together with regret, and I shake my head .

“Don’t. Let’s just go. Did you get your birthday blowie like you wanted?”

“Heh…I did.” Smug satisfaction colours his grin. “Made a deal too that was impossible to turn down.”

Faustus smirks, and I don’t even want to know what kind of fuckery this man gets up to on the daily.

“I don’t need details. I’m glad it went well.”

With a last glance around the room for the mystery man, I leave with a sigh.

Seems fate still hates me, after all.