Page 6 of Oh No! There’s an Incubus in my Hot Spring (Getting Cozy with Demons #1)

six

Fluffle Kerfuffle

“ W hat the fuck is that!” I scream as a sphere of fluff with fangs flies at me from the corner of the room.

“A dust bunny,” Apollo says again, louder.

“Those aren’t real things!” I say, whipping my trash bag full of curtains through the air and smacking the thing.

It doesn’t seem to weigh much, and my hit sends it hurtling toward the wall. It lands with a smack and explodes into a cloud of gray.

“Oh, no, now you’ve done it,” Apollo says in a grave tone.

“Done what?” I shriek, holding my improvised weapon high.

A chorus of grunts comes from the walls, as if the creatures are bleeding through from every angle. A puffball flies at me from the ceiling, and I whip my bag around, smacking it down to the floor. It too explodes into a cloud of dust, and the grunts get louder. Angrier.

“You should probably stop killing them,” he warns.

“They should probably stop attacking me!” I scream.

He comes to my side and grabs the trash bag. I’m reluctant to release my only weapon, but the calm, amused look in his eyes convinces me I’m safe enough to let it go, so I do. He tosses the bag toward the corner where I spotted the first one.

The top opens when it hits and a plume of white shoots into the air. Little balls of fuzz descend on the bag and tear into it with those ravenously sharp teeth. I grab Apollo’s arm and am not ashamed to say I hide behind him a little. Wow, he’s warm, and muscly. My fingers drum along his bicep, detecting the subtle shift in the texture of his skin over the glowing tattoo. It’s smoother, like crystal, but still soft and pliable like skin.

When the monsters finish their…meal, nothing is left. Not the bag, not the curtains, and not a speck of dust. The creatures are bigger now, five of them, and they bounce through the room, their bodies absorbing the dust everywhere they touch down.

I hide behind Apollo a little more.

“There’s no reason to be afraid,” he says with a soft chuckle.

“I killed two of them,” I whisper. “And I saw what they did to those curtains.”

“They don’t like meat,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and tucking me against his side.

Being sheltered under his arm sends a wave of relaxation through me. I’m simultaneously alarmed and annoyed at that revelation. He shouldn’t feel safe. I’ve only just met him. Also, I don’t need a magical incubus man with ripped biceps and washboard abs to make me feel safe. I can obviously take care of myself. I did kill two dust bunnies, after all.

“Just because they won’t eat me doesn’t mean they won’t kill me,” I say, watching their every move.

The bunnies hop along, absorbing their fallen comrades and searching for scraps of dust. When the air is clear and the floor is clean, they retreat just as quickly as they came, disappearing into the walls.

Well, that was the weirdest fucking thing that’s ever happened to me.

No, getting jump-scared by an incubus who demands my pleasure to join our souls still takes the cake.

“What was that, and don’t say dust bunnies again. I want to know what they are,” I say, stepping out from under Apollo’s arm.

“This place is magical and so it attracts magical beings. They’re dust bunnies. They eat dust.”

I purse my lips. “How do we make them leave?”

He shrugs. “When there’s nothing left to eat, they’ll move on.”

“So, get this place cleaned up is what you’re telling me?”

“Or you could let them clean for you.”

My eyes narrow on him. “That wasn’t your magic, was it?”

“You always think I’m trying to trick you,” he says with a mischievous smile.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I say, tapping my foot.

“No, they’re not my magic. I’m very nearly incorporeal as it is. I couldn’t spend the energy on manifesting something as complex as a dust bunny.”

The sun peeks through the slats in the plywood window covering and lights up the red carpet.

“Why don’t we break for breakfast? Do you eat food?” I ask.

“I can, but it doesn’t sustain me like it does you.”

I scrunch up my face as I realize what I need to do. “What do you need to be able to stay corporeal all day?”

His eyes travel the length of my body. “I would need a good deal of your pleasure. Perhaps not an orgasm, but more than from a back massage, or a happy memory.”

I gnaw on my lower lip. “Okay. What…um…what can we do?”

He takes a measured step closer to me. “What do you like?”

I swallow thickly, my heart pounding. “I dunno. Normal sexy stuff.”

His eyes glimmer like water in the sun. Gravity seems to shift, pulling me toward him until my hands are resting on his chest.

“May I touch you?” he asks, lifting his hand to my face.

“If I tell you to stop, will you?”

“Immediately.”

I take a shaky breath. “Okay. You can touch me.”

His fingers are soft against my cheek, almost tickling, as he drags them back to my ear and down to my chin. I shiver, my thundering heart pumping harder still.

“Your anticipation is palpable,” he murmurs, pulling his fingers over my lips.

“What does it feel like?” I ask.

The rise and fall of his chest is heavy, steady, and I feel the thrum of his heart under my right hand. It’s beating just as fast as mine.

He grips my chin, turning my face away as he leans down to my neck. His nose grazes my pulse-point, sending a surge of desire through my body. My nipples harden and the muscles of my core clench.

His low voice caresses my skin. “It’s like smelling the most delicious meal, knowing you’re about to feast. I could devour you for eternity.”

I’ve never been talked to or touched like this, with reverence. Even if it’s just the energy my pleasure feeds him, he’s treating me like I’m so much more, and for right now, I want to live in the fantasy a little longer. After all, who in this world gets to say they’ve been pleasured by an incubus?

His fangs tease my earlobe. “Come sit down with me.” It’s one part question, with an underline of command. I feel like I’m losing control, but in the best sort of way. A way that’s as thrilling as it is terrifying.

I move with him as he lures me toward the little dining room table, now spectacularly clean thanks to the dust bunnies. His tail loops the leg of a chair and pulls it out. He sits, dragging me down with him onto his lap, and it’s the most fluid, graceful movement I’ve ever experienced with so much heat in my veins.

One hand slides down to my ass and he tucks me against his groin, while the other traces the skin over my clavicle.

“Here?” he asks, our faces inches apart.

I nod, my eyes heavy-lidded.

He leans down and my hands flex on his shoulders. His soft, silver hair feathers my cheek as his lips explore. They’re warm and smooth, like flower petals stroking my skin. Each kiss is gentle at first, testing, and I melt into him with a sigh.

“That’s my witch,” he whispers against my neck.

I never knew how much I could like being claimed, that I could crave the idea of being someone’s something. Being his witch, right now, feels like the best of all the sins.

His mouth opens on the next kiss and he sucks, teasing my skin with his teeth. I rock my hips mindlessly against him, and he groans, his hand flexing on my ass. His tongue smooths over the hollow of my neck and then he nips me. I suck in a gasp, reflexively tensing my thighs on either side of him.

With teeth that sharp he could easily rip out my throat…and there’s something so dangerously delicious about that thought. He wouldn’t—I’m pretty sure—but he could .

I lift my chin as he pushes his way to the other side of my neck, showing it even more attention with rough strokes of his tongue and lustful bites. A moan slips from between my lips as I rock against him. He firmly grips my ass in one hand and thrusts up to meet me. His thick erection is so hot I can feel it through our pants, feel the need and the yearning. The thought of his desire has my muscles tensing. My core aches, and slickness coats my panties.

I rock against him harder, grabbing his other hand at my waist and guiding it to my breast. He grumbles something in a language I don’t know and licks all the way up to my chin. Then his lips are descending on mine. Panic grips me and I jerk back as my brain roars loudly, “ Kisses are for couples !”

His sparkling eyes search mine for answers as he pants hungrily.

“I—I’m sorry. Not there,” I say, just as breathless.

The corner of his mouth lifts in a half-smile. “Understood.”

He moves very slowly as he kisses next to my lips, the sensation at war with my rational mind. He kisses down my jaw and his thumb flicks over my nipple at the same time. I gasp, arching my back as his mouth teases my neck, his hand squeezes my ass, and his fingers play with my breast.

Within seconds the adrenaline has cleared and I’m back in the fantasy moment of having my body pleasured by a creature not of this plane. I drag my hands up his shoulders and dive into his silky hair.

“My witch. My feast. Exquisite.” He murmurs his approval and grinds me down on his lap, spreading more of the slickness from my opening to my clit.

His praise loosens the reins of my rational mind a little more, and the crazy girl fists his hair, tugging as I whisper, “More. Harder.”

His tail slithers around my waist and flicks my other nipple. His open-mouthed kisses turn to sucking bites that sting in the best way. We grind on each other and groan, both of us giving, both of us taking. My slippery panties and his hard cock provide the perfect stimulation, pleasure welling up inside me.

I flex and keen, increasing the pace. Apollo matches my speed, wrapping his arm tight against my lower back. My skin flushes with heat as every thought coils down into my center, anticipating my release, desperate for it.

He pinches my nipple hard, and I gasp. “There. Apollo, more.”

Ravenous hunger overtakes the being between my thighs. He sucks my neck and pinches harder, tugging and twisting through the fabric of my shirt. The tight need in my center unfurls, setting my body ablaze with the heat of orgasm. I lean against him as my movements get jerky and he takes over.

“So good,” he groans. “Your bliss is fire and I gladly burn to bear witness.”

My mind goes blank from the intensity of my release and his words. I lean on him harder and wait for things to stop being so fuzzy. After a few moments, I shudder and come back into myself. “That was…nice.”

“Just nice?” he asks, amusement clear in his tone as he plants soft kisses against my very wet neck.

My bones are melting.

“Really nice.”

He chuckles. “Either I’ve robbed you of your vocabulary or I’ll have to strive to do better next time.”

“Better might kill me.”

“I can almost guarantee it won’t.”

My mother’s ringtone blares through the room and I jump with a yelp.

Oh, gods, I’m sitting in the lap of a demon, post orgasm. She’s going to hear it in my voice. She’s going to ask what’s wrong. Tired, I’m just tired.

“Sylvia.” Apollo says my name in a calm, deep tone as he grips my chin and turns my face to his. “You do not need to fear the apps.”

It’s so ridiculous I have to laugh.

He smiles. “Did I say something uninformed?”

“It’s my mother,” I say.

“How do you know?” he asks, helping me up from the chair.

“The song it’s playing.”

I walk awkwardly, trying to unstick myself from my underwear, and snatch the phone off the charger.

“Hey, Mom—”

“Why didn’t you text me last night? What happened?”

Should I tell her the truth?

“When I got here the water was so inviting I had to go for a dip, and then I sort of lost track of time and then passed out.”

Nailed it.

She tsks. “Were you drinking?”

“Yeah, I had like half a bottle of red.”

“Don’t you know that alcohol in high temperatures thins your blood so much you can lose consciousness? You’re a hot spring owner now. You need to know these things!”

Yep. Awesome.

“Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking,” I say, running my hand through my hair as I pace.

“It’s a miracle you didn’t drown.”

No, it was a demon.

“I didn’t pass out in the water,” I say, hoping to assuage some of her fear.

“So, the place is nice, then?” she asks.

“I didn’t say that . It needs a lot of work, but there’s so much potential here. I’m really happy.”

“What if it’s too much work for you? What if you call Jason to come help?”

I grit my teeth. “That’s not going to happen.”

“But, sweetheart, you’ve never done this before. It’s a big thing, and I just don’t want to see you fail.”

Crazy-girl is screaming from her prison, jumping on the bars and hooting like a mad monkey ready to fling fiery poops.

“Well, then you better let me go so I can get back to it,” I say, hoping she can’t hear just how angry I am.

“Hija,” she whines, then pauses for a good few seconds, waiting for me to placate her.

My silence speaks volumes.

“All right. Okay. I hope you have a productive day.”

“Thanks, Mom, I hope you have a good one, too. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She hangs up and I turn to the counter, setting my phone down with much less force than I want to. I lean on the dark granite and fight down the nasty emotions building in me.

Apollo’s hands fall on my shoulders. “May I?”

“Sure,” I whisper, and he begins to massage. The muscles are tight, bunched up next to my ears.

“I have done this before,” I whisper, wishing I’d said it to her.

“Tell me,” Apollo says, not pausing the massage.

I shake my head at the audacity. “I’ve been consulting businesses for years. I built my own business from the ground up. I’ve networked with contractors and overseen renovations and gotten my hands plenty filthy helping some of my less well-off clients out. I’ve done this . I can do this .”

Apollo’s chest is warm against my back. “I knew the moment you stepped through the door that you would save this place from antiquity.”

I glance over my shoulder, trying to gauge the expression on his face. He’s calm, with a hint of amusement, and all sparkle in his icy eyes. “How did you know?”

“I was like a moth called to the moon. I followed you through the halls, absorbing your aura. I felt your determination, your stubbornness, your fire. Even now when your closest relative tried to pull you low, you stood your ground. Your confidence wavered, but you didn’t back down.”

How can this demon I’ve known for less than twenty-four hours see me better than my ex of five years? A facade to get my pleasure or no, he’s the nicest guy to ever make me orgasm, and he didn’t even need to get me naked.

I can’t just let this poor guy be trapped here forever. I need to come up with a plan to help him…

My shoulders finally fall away, and I take a deep breath, resolved. “Thank you, Apollo.”

“You’re very welcome, Sylvia.”

I twist my head side to side, popping it, and then roll my shoulders as I turn to him. “PB&Js, then it’s back to work.”

I collapse onto my blow-up mattress, freshly showered, barely fed, and fully exhausted. We replaced the boards on the windows with cling film, scrubbed the walls some more—to which Apollo said if I’d just use magic, we could replace the damaged material much easier, sigh —and cleared out the owner’s office behind the reception stand. There’s a huge pile of junk sitting outside the main hall that I need to have removed, my showerhead is pretty gross, the wall outlets are all blown—yay, powerbank—the cling film is really loud because of all the wind, and I doubt I’m going to be able to fall asleep.

Fuck.

“Do you want another massage?” Apollo asks from his chair next to the fireplace.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say no.”

He’s up in a second, kneeling beside my blow-up mattress, and his eagerness makes me laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, his hands kneading into my back.

“You,” I mumble into my pillow, imagining him as a golden retriever, just so happy to please his witch.

“Why?” His hands don’t falter, finding just the right spot to make me moan.

And that’s what he wants. My moans. My pleasure.

He doesn’t actually care about me. He just wants to feed from me. And I’m using him. I’m letting him massage me and make me come. I’m letting him help me get this place in order with the promise that I’ll find a way to free him without bonding my soul to his.

“I guess it’s not funny,” I say, turning my head away. “Never mind.”

“Don’t dismay, Slyvia. We can do this,” he says, misreading the shift in my emotions.

I sit up, the knot in my gut driving me from exhaustion. “I won’t leave you here. I will figure out a way to free you.”

He pushes me back to the bed. “Without magic, that seems very unlikely. But I will serve you nonetheless, as the master of this place, and me.”

“I promise I’ll figure it out,” I say. “I don’t break my promises.”

His hands seem to melt into my back as he works my muscles. “I believe you. Sleep now. You need rest.”

I drift, my mind relaxing and my thoughts releasing. My eyes close and I think no more on the problems of ancient hot springs, incoming moving trucks, or incubus demons I need to free.

“Sylvia, rest now.” His soft whisper leads me into sleep, and I let him take me.

“My Sylvia.”