Page 16

SIXTEEN

Micha

There were a hundred fires for me to put out when I returned to the office. Problems with supply, shipping, graphics. All issues I had zero desire to be bothered with so many other things on my mind.

Della and her efficiency were greatly missed as the new receptionist was good for nothing other than forwarding problems to me she could’ve easily taken care of on her own.

A new assistant had been hired but was nowhere to be seen and was a glaring reminder of my failure to have Ashley fulfill that position like I’d once considered. I even went so far as to contemplate calling Karissa and forcing her to report back to work, only so I’d feel closer to the woman I was missing.

I would’ve done it, too, if Josiah wouldn’t have torn my bloody heart right out of my chest.

I was on the verge, regardless, when Stephanie finally showed up.

“You’re late,” I snapped at her. She faltered, scratching at her nose, before she clasped her hands at her waist.

“My apologies. The daycare needed?—”

Rubbing my chin, I interrupted her, “I don’t care what happened, it is your responsibility to report to work in a timely fashion. Your time management is your responsibility, not mine. Please refer to section ten, line A, of your signed contract if you need clarification on your duties.”

Her hand smoothed down her baby shit brown skirt. “Okay.”

I pinched my nose. “Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry?—”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses and you will answer me with either yes or no. If you’d like to remain employed, I recommend you say ‘yes’.” There wasn’t time for tardiness or room for laziness in this business.

“Yes,” she whispered. I raised a brow. “Yes, Sir?” She looked me dead in the eye.

After I tossed my Mont Blanc pen on my desk, I muttered, “For fuck’s sake... you’re not going to last a day.” My head was starting to hurt. Why was it so difficult for these people to honor the terms of the contract they signed?

Stephanie startled when I suddenly stood up. Who the fuck hired this mousey woman? After pouring myself a glass of straight blood, I sat back down. Her eyes widened after I took a sip. I was sure my mouth looked like I was drinking exactly what was in the bottle.

I grinned at her, and she shot out of the office. The stupid bitch was lucky the only woman I wanted to tear into was Ashley.

I picked up the desk phone and pushed the button for Belinda, the receptionist. “Trade with Stephanie, you’re being promoted. Report to my office.”

Satisfied with my solution to a problem I shouldn’t have been having in the first place, I texted Josiah the change, to which he replied with a question mark emoji making me think Della had his phone. Just as I set the device down, Belinda walked in.

“Can you solve this for us?” Twisting the laptop screen so she could see my dilemma, she leaned in for a better view.

“I don’t see why not. You want a new supplier, correct?”

“Yes. Secure one and send me the rates. Verify any legalities and forward me the information.”

She glanced at the screen again, nodding. “I think I heard some versions of product are get tied up in customs, but I’ll see what I can find for you.”

My fingers gripped my cellphone, squeezing it. “We have ways around any issues, just send me everything you come across.”

“Yes, Sir,” she replied, perfectly compliant. I knew promoting her would be an excellent decision.

“Look up lesser-known independent overseas shipping companies as well. Make a spreadsheet,” I called after her. We had a roster, but it couldn’t hurt to have more options.

“You got it,” she answered, closing the door behind her.

The rest of the day went by with a lot less pain. I let myself into my apartment, still missing my penthouse I hadn’t seen in months. It just hadn’t been convenient, with my work schedule and everything else going on, to go home. What I really needed was a vacation or some rest, but that wasn’t likely to happen.

With pleasure, I noted Lester had kept my wardrobe up to date with dry cleaning, tailoring, and new options for me to wear. But, once again, he’d attempted to insert a white shirt into my rotation. I tore it out and tossed it in the garbage bin before I chose a dark purple one to wear under a new black Stuart Hughes suit.

Lester absolutely refused to listen to me on that one matter. It’d pissed me off multiple times, and then I’d come to just accept he wouldn’t give up and I’d be throwing brand new shirts away regularly. It wasn’t a money issue, rather an inconvenient waste of time.

“How the fuck did you get in here?” I was admiring my reflection in the mirror when Kiam appeared behind me.

He laughed. “You do remember my hacking skills, do you not?”

Letting out a long sigh, I turned to face him. “You clean up pretty well.”

He was dressed almost as finely as I rather than looking like, well, the hacker he was. He even had a vest on underneath his suit jacket and his hair styled into reluctant submission. I’d gotten used to him donning Henleys and khakis for almost every occasion.

“Dickhead,” he muttered, before adding, “Don’t look at me like that. I know you and Josiah have zero inhibitions but I do.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Just admiring the goods. I wouldn’t touch you.” Kiam didn’t seem to realize the intimacy between Josiah and myself was unique, and only utilized under certain circumstances, but I wasn’t going to explain it to him.

“Then why’d you agree to go to a flesh market with me tonight?”

After I grabbed a long coat from the closet, I said, “You’re not a demon—you wouldn’t understand.”

Kiam pursed his lips. “You’ll suck on the atmosphere. Got it.”

He was really pissing me off. “If you want to choke on my cock, just let me know.”

I brushed past him, shoving my arms in the sleeves as his laughter bellowed down the hall.

* * *

As expected, we didn’t have to wait in the line of patrons that snaked down the block. The music inside the bar couldn’t be heard outdoors, but the two of us felt the vibrations. A deep, pulsating beat echoed through the surrounding structures, traveling underground and infecting everything with an undercurrent of passion and desire.

The invisible tremors snaked up my legs, rattling my ribcage and settling into my gums. It was a sensation I doubted any human not under the influence of an illegal substance could ever understand or experience the joy of.

The combination of emotions and auras, enhanced by music were an injection of pure ecstasy straight into my veins. For once, I was looking forward to the evening—and to imbibing vast amounts of spiced up ether.

With Kiam leading the way, we blew past the bouncers and hostess, leaving the latter with a glowing tablet suspended mid-air when she tried to get our attention.

The hopefuls left outdoors weren’t subtle with their jealousy or longing, leaving a hunger-inducing appetizer in the atmosphere. I ignored it. Higher quality was contained within the establishment, and I didn’t want to ruin my dinner.

“I’m going to get myself a private dance and meal,” Kiam stated, walking away after we’d entered the main room. I tucked myself in a comfortable chair at a small table wondering why I hadn’t done this sooner.

The club had been said to offer services inclined toward all tastes, so I knew Kiam would be drinking his fill, among other things. After I requested a whiskey as well as a bottle of my favored blood wine, I let myself relax and take in the sights.

Kenneth, a mid-level demon Josiah and I had dealt with once before, appeared surprised to see me but I waved him off when he attempted to engage in banal conversation. We’d be wasting each other’s time, and I wanted to relax.

Here, in this club, I’d be able to lose myself for a short amount of time. It was much needed.

The room slowly filled with people to hold a mixture of humans, demons, vampires, and even a couple angels. The owner of the club was one of the latter, though I’d never met him. From what I understood, he had ties to Fulgere and the group associated with them. Josiah and I preferred a quieter life and shunned socializing for the most part so I didn’t seek him out.

A pretty redhead had been entertaining several men on the stage, clad in a long, thin white gown. She’d gone through two humans and one angel, so far. Her next partner was a young vampire. He was shirtless, barefoot, and wore a skintight pair of leather pants.

I watched him masterfully seduce her through gentle touches and caresses, until she was practically eating out of the palm of his hand. Her heavy breathing and panting reached my ears, making me yearn for that same type of connection.

Shifting in my seat, I adjusted myself before reaching for my glass. I should’ve been here with a collared Ashley, forcing her to watch the stage before pushing her under the table and shoving my cock down her throat. Would she be horrified by what she saw on stage? Or would she fill the air around us with the heady scent of her craving? I suspected the latter.

The young vampire had torn a small gash in the woman’s neck and blood was slowly spilling down her skin, fragrancing the room with its rich coppery scent. He was between her legs, one hand up her dress, clearly pleasuring her. His other hand was fixed against her face, pressing against her mouth as she shook either in the throes of bliss, or of pain. Chances were, it was both.

Where was Josiah when I needed him? Now that he had Della, I had to wonder how our torture methods would change. He used to regularly suck my cock, or I his, to induce either debilitating fear or absolute disgust in our victims as part of our torture methods.

There were other times, as well, if a shared meal wasn’t up to par or something else happened that caused one or both of us to lose interest and we needed release.

Right now, I desperately needed a release.

Thinking of and wishing my dick were being sucked spurred me to action. There was more to be explored in the building.

I’d never been farther than the main room and I strolled down a hallway uncertain as to what I was searching for. A distraction, a soul to inhale, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that I restrained my urges and this wasn’t the ideal place with all the temptations. The only woman who would satisfy my carnal urges was an off-limits curly-haired thief until I could convince Josiah otherwise.

Retrieving his permission was likely an impossible task, with how regimented he operated but I had to try not to dwell on it because the alternative was unacceptable. Some way, somehow, no matter how long it took—she’d be mine.

Glass windows lined the corridor, separating me from me from scenes reminiscent of home. The finery the dancers wore were designed to showcase exquisite figures, with the men and women in peak physical condition while indulging all their senses. I hadn’t been back to the Second Realm since I went with Kiam and Josiah, to rescue Della. The scene before me was the closest I would come, and the familiarity was a needed comfort.

Annoyingly, the glass was spelled with magic prohibiting contact with the emotions flowing from the gyrating bodies, designed to keep the auras trapped. I was tempted to see if I could break through it, mildly drunk on a large quantity of alcohol plus the ether I’d been nonchalantly inhaling throughout my wandering.

As if I’d summoned the devil, Matthew walked into my line of view. “Do you find everything satisfactory? If you’d like a private showing, we have accommodations.”

He was holding his arm toward the end of the hall, pointing me in the direction he suggested. I’d never met the man but the stink that oozed off the creature told me all I needed to know to identify him. An icy vibration surrounded him, cool and chilling, with a sharp, ascetic flavor.

I’d heard tales of angels’ benevolence and public service, a charitable front under which they indulged in depravity, weaving spells over women and men alike to further their goals. The cover of respectability and resulting positive actions ensured their success and hid the dark underbelly lying below. They’d mastered the art of manipulation eons ago.

To me, it seemed like too much trouble, to go to such lengths for accolades. Josiah and I simply took what we wanted without the shiny fanfare, though some games were most certainly played when necessary.

Despite my irritation at the rude interference, I politely replied, “Just observing, thank you.”

As I moved past him, he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Please let me know if you need anything. I’m at your service.”

Nodding at him and wishing his meaty appendage would turn to ash, I continued on my way.

When I entered a large space, there was a sleek bar across the room and a group of booths and tables in the center. Female dancers wearing flowing paneled gowns spun in circles, dripping with gold and diamonds, dancing for patrons.

Delicate golden chains adorned their faces, designed to highlight the eyes and mouth. The pieces were weaved through their hair before gathering around their necks, dipping down, and sloping between their breasts.

The men wore similar jewelry, only it twisted around perfectly chiseled chests and abdomens, giving my own physique a run for its money. I was by no means insecure, but I would admire perfection wherever and whenever I could.

Not that I had to work at it very hard, being naturally blessed, but the vision reminded me I should probably utilize Ipomoea’s gym more often than I had been as of late.

The bartender handed me a tumbler full of whiskey and I wandered the floor, eyeing the shut doors. Out of curiosity, I paused in front of one and glanced at the keypad. A multitude of buttons lay before me and after perusing the options, I pressed one that lit up a screen.

A picture sparked to life on my right, showing the interior of the room I stood before. A luxury bedroom, with low lighting, a bed, a couch, and a pole for dancing glowed on the display.

A man was reclining on the mattress, dick in hand while he stroked it up and down, taking a moment to moisten it with spit. His shirt was unbuttoned and his pants unfastened, already lowered on his hips. He alerted to something just outside the frame while I watched, transfixed. He licked his lips with hooded eyes as his cock lengthened and hardened to steel.

With bated breath, I waited to see what had the man so enchanted. His hand picked up speed as a figure sauntered into view, a vision with long curly brown hair blocking her face and tumbling around her chest. She rolled her shoulders and dipped her legs, her hips and ass showcased in a tiny G-string, as she undulated across the room.

When she reached the pole, she gripped it and whipped her head around, her chestnut tresses fluttering about before she lifted her face to peer at the man.

Ashley .