by Lucinda Dark
I looked down. “How’d I get here?” What was the story the others had fabricated?
“You were attacked,” Jon answered as Beth sniffed again, pressing her tissue to her mouth and nose as if that would keep the sound of her choked crying quiet. It didn’t. Without much else to do as tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, I squeezed her hand back, hoping that would make her stop. Again, it didn’t, but she seemed to take some comfort in it at least, smiling down at me.
I awkwardly turned my attention to Jon. “What?” I played dumb.
Jon sighed, his free hand coming up as if he wanted to touch me. He hesitated, unsure, before dropping it back to his side. “One of your classmates attacked you at the dance,” he said. “Torin and Maverick found you. The girl’s been taken into custody. Apparently, she’s claiming she doesn’t remember any of it. They suspect she’s behind the murders, but um…” He paused, looking away.
Beth picked up where he had left off. “She’s been diagnosed with some sort of personality disorder,” she said. “She claimed that there was a voice in her head telling her to do bad things. The only attack she doesn’t completely remember seems to be the one on you.”
“Oh.” A voice in her head? I thought. There probably had been if she was possessed. “Where are Mav and Torin?” I looked at both of them.
They exchanged a look. “Torin stayed back to deal with the cops, but you’ll have to give a statement,” Jon said. “He’s probably at home right now. Maverick’s in the cafeteria grabbing something to eat.”
I looked at the bottom of my bed and wiggled my toes. They felt all right. “How long was I out?”
“Just last night,” Beth said.
“When can I leave?” I asked. There was that look again. I frowned. “What?”
Beth closed her eyes, her lips straining. “Social services is coming by to interview you. They’d rather you remain at the hospital until they could get someone here,” Jon said quietly.
“What?” I gaped at them. “Why?”
“We want to adopt you,” Beth blurted.
Shock startled me into silence. I stared at them. They stared at me. Jon was the first one to break the tension. It was the most I’d ever heard him speak before. “Only if you want,” he said. “When they heard about what happened, though, they wanted to send someone familiar. Someone you’d feel comfortable with. Terra is going to stop by and have a talk with you about everything that’s happened. Think of it as counseling. If you want to see a therapist after this, though, we’d completely understand and we’re footing the bill. You don’t have to worry about—”
“Why the hell would you want to adopt me?” I said, interrupting him. “I’m almost eighteen. When I hit that, you don’t have to take care of me anymore.”
Beth released my hand and pulled back, letting her back rest more firmly against her husband. “You’re ours, Barbie,” she said solemnly. “We worry for you as we worry for our own son. When we got the call that you’d been hurt”—she stopped, sucking in a sharp breath, her lips whitening—“I thought my heart would fall right out of my chest. We can’t wait any longer. We don’t want to be your foster parents. We want to be your real parents.”
No. Panic shot through me. My hands grew slick with sweat. I absently wiped them on the bed covers, clutching the white fabric to keep them from shaking. I only had one family and they were dead. I shook my head, but the words never came. My chest hurt. Being my parents wasn’t safe. It wasn’t good. And then what did that make Maverick? My brother? Their eyes darted to my heart monitor as the beeping increased.
“Why don’t we give you some time to think about it?” Jon suggested gently as he urged Beth back. “There’s no need to put so much thought into it right now. We understand it’s a lot to take in, especially after last night. We’re gonna run down and have lunch with Maverick. You don’t have to make a decision right away.”
I didn’t say anything, but that didn’t seem to matter. They both seemed to take that as their cue to leave, quietly slipping out into the hallway and shutting the door behind them. Almost as soon as they were out of sight, I reached down and tugged the electrodes on my skin away, wincing at they ripped out little baby hairs when I finally pried them off.
Flinging the covers to the side, I reached for the IV stand and tenderly felt for the floor with my toes before stepping onto the cold tiles with a sharp breath. I moved slowly in regard for how I looked. Like a wounded patient, like a fragile flower trying to find her way home. Except I had no home. I’d burned mine down, and I’d been the reason my parents were killed. I didn’t deserve a second chance.
I had no clue where I was going. All I knew was that I needed to get outside. I needed to see the sun. Not through glass windows, but with my own eyes. I needed to feel air that wasn’t recycled on my skin.
I took an elevator down to the bottom floors, thankful that it seemed my hospital gown wasn’t one of those cheap ones that billowed—but remained tightly closed all the way down the back. I didn’t feel a breeze at all. It was like wearing a big mumu. No one stopped me as I made my way past several nurse stations and to a garden area. Apparently, this wasn’t just a normal hospital, but a high class one. It was probably due to all of the wealthy families that lived in the area. That didn’t matter.
I found a path in the garden and took it, wheeling my IV stand along with irritation. I wanted nothing more than to rip it out, but honestly, I felt like my legs might collapse without it. I was panting and out of breath by the time I found a small secluded bench under the shade of a long limbed tree. I sat down, putting my head between my legs and just breathed.
I don’t know how long I sat like that, letting air infuse my lungs only to escape and refill them. It helped calm my racing heart. After a while, however, a niggling sensation at the back of my neck alerted me to the arrival of someone else. I lifted my gaze and met a pair of rich fiery brown eyes. Maverick met my gaze and held it.
“I thought you were with your parents,” I said quietly, shifting on the cold bench.
“I thought you were supposed to be in your hospital bed,” he replied.
I grimaced. “I thought I told you no hospitals.”
His gaze narrowed. “When you keep passing the fuck out after fighting supernatural creatures, you forfeit a choice.” He turned and sat. I sucked in a breath. He smelled like spring breeze shampoo. Heat skittered down my spine, making my back arch. He shot me a look but didn’t say anything and I tried to scoot just a hair’s breadth away because whatever was causing the sensation seemed to be directly tied to how close he sat to me.
“You showered?” I asked, that spring breeze scent still clogging my nose. It was all I could fucking smell. I pressed my thighs together and tilted my head to look at him out of the corner of my eyes.
“I went home and picked up some things for you,” he said. “Thought I should probably wash the blood off.”
I winced. “Yeah…” I swallowed, turning my hand over in my lap. “Probably a good idea.” A light marking drew my eyes and I sucked in a breath when I realized what it was—the mark of my new demon friend. I curled my fingers together and crossed my arms over my chest to hide it as I sat up straighter.
“You okay?” he asked.
“What? Yeah, of course, why?” I said a bit too quickly.
He eyed me. “You almost died.”
I shrugged. “Wasn’t the first time.”
He stared at me, his expression enigmatic before he finally looked away, facing forward. “I don’t like this,” he admitted after a beat.
I sighed. “Yeah, I don’t blame you,” I said, looking up into the branches of the tree as birds flitted overhead. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry—”
“I mean I don’t like me like this,” he said, interrupting me. Startled, I returned my attention to his face. Maverick’s head bowed forward. His hands clenched in his lap, fists taut and knuckles white. “I hate feeling so fucking weak. I can’t do shit to prot
ect you. Torin and you … you’re both leagues ahead of me in terms of skill.”
I frowned. “Maverick, it’s not a competition and you just—”
“No, it’s not,” he agreed, cutting me off again. “It’s more important than a fucking competition. It’s life or death, and in this arena, I’m fucked.”
“So, you’ll train more,” I said, already hating myself for saying it. But there was no going back for him. I couldn’t erase what he’d learned. With knowledge came a certain responsibility. I fucking hated that I’d done this to him. “You can’t expect to be perfect off the bat,” I continued anyway. “I wasn’t. We all lose and this? This wasn’t a loss.” We had all managed to get out with our lives. It was a fucking win.
Maverick was quiet for a moment before his head turned my way. Without thought, my gaze fell to his lips. A slow burning heat started in my belly and built, growing outward. Awareness. Need. Desire. My lips twitched. I bit down hard on the lower one. His gaze went to where my teeth sank in.
No! I wanted to scream at him. Look away. Don’t look there, you fucking idiot.
“Barbie…” I unfolded my arms and shifted uncomfortably as I lifted my gaze to Maverick’s face. Why did my name on his lips sound so good?
Because you want it to, a familiar voice taunted. Realization echoed through me. Satrina. The demon. Was she doing this to me? Oh, no, dear, this isn’t me. This is all you, she said. But I might have forgotten to mention that having a succubus inside you heightens your emotions a bit. All of your emotions. Lust especially.
Maverick’s head moved closer. I couldn’t back away. My body was frozen. My eyes widened. He paused, his gaze running over my face. When he pulled back, his eyes closed with disappointment darkening his face, I should have felt relieved but I didn’t. I felt like I was burning alive and he was the only source of water that could save me. My chest rose and fell in quick pants.
“I should let you rest before you go back inside,” he said quietly. “You don’t need…” He darted a look back at me when my hand found the sleeve of his shirt. My fingers clenched in the fabric. When the hell had I decided to touch him? I wondered.
My movements were my own and yet, they weren’t. Fingers snagged on the collar of his t-shirt and drew him closer. He didn’t resist. Why the fuck wasn’t he resisting? I cupped the back of his skull and drew his head down. His breath fanned across my lips milliseconds before his mouth was on mine.
I closed my eyes and sank into the kiss with a groan. My tongue rolled out to play with his. Sparks shot through my system, flaming a dark path through my body that lit me up inside. I clenched my hands into fists against him as the weight of one of his heavy palms settled on my waist.
More. I wanted more.
That’s it, Satrina said. Take what you want, dear. Feel him against you. Let him ravish you.
Madness. Kissing Maverick was pure madness. And in it, I fell. His mouth consumed me, ravaged my mind and destroyed all of my reservations. When he moved his hand up from my waist, strong, sure fingers, gripping my chin and holding tight, a gush of wetness slid between my legs, slicking against my thighs. This really wasn’t the time. And this certainly wasn’t the fucking place. What the fuck was I doing? I demanded of myself. But still, I couldn’t stop. It felt too fucking good.
I arched against his chest, my nipples pebbling beneath the fabric of the hospital gown. Air was no longer important. Having Maverick’s mouth on mine, though? That was priority number one.
A soft groan broke free of my lips as his jaw tensed. Maverick broke first, pulling back. My eyes opened. His stared at me in shock, his eyebrows raised, his mouth slightly gaped. I licked the taste of him off my lips. “Why would you do that?” he asked roughly.
It took longer than I cared to admit for my senses to return, but when they did, my cheeks heated and I could feel a blush crawling down my neck as well. “I-I…” I shook my head. “I don’t … know.”
His eyes narrowed on me suspiciously. “What are you trying to pull?” he demanded, pulling away from me even more.
As if I had any clue, I thought. When I remained quiet, he stood and took a step back, staring at me as if I were dangerous. Who fucking knew now? Maybe I was.
I didn’t reach for him, but still Maverick watched me, and slowly, his brows lowered, and a crease began to form between them. His lips—still wet from my kiss—parted as if he might say something, but then he stopped and shook his head. He took another step back and another and another. I forced myself to let him go, to keep my hands right where they were. To not stand up and go after him. What could I say? What could I tell him? I’m sorry the fucking sex demon I made a deal with made me do it?
Made you do it? Satrina’s laughter flitted inside my head. Oh dear, you’re going to be one of those humans, aren’t you?
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t know what she meant by that, but I couldn’t respond.
“This didn’t happen,” Maverick suddenly announced.
“What?” I blinked up at him, sure I had heard wrong.
“This,” he repeated on a growl. “Didn’t. Fucking. Happen.” With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, his wide broad shoulders tight as he stormed down the path.
Sinking my head into my hands the second he was gone, I cursed myself.
“What the fuck have I done?”
More laughter echoed and if I wasn’t sure I would’ve broken my knuckles on the concrete bench, I would’ve punched it to at least have something to take my frustrations out on.
Oh, I can tell you something you can use to take away your frustrations, Satrina offered.
“No fucking thank you,” I hissed aloud. It was as Maverick had said. Never again. It didn’t fucking happen.
I felt the ghostly sensation of a finger trailing up my spine and then a hand delving into my hair. I felt the mental tug from my new demon. It wasn’t her presence that bothered me, but the next words she whispered into my ear as if she were a dangerous lover come to impart dark wisdom.
Never say never, dear.
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About the Author
Lucinda Dark, also known as Lucy Smoke for her contemporary novels, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
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Also By Lucinda Dark / Lucy Smoke
Fantasy Series:
Barbie: The Vampire Hunter Series
Rest in Pieces
Dead Girl Walking (Coming Soon)
Ashes to Ashes (Coming Soon)
Dark Maji Series
Fortune Favors the Cruel
Blessed Be the Wicked
Twisted is the Crown
For King and Corruption (Coming Soon)
Nerys Newblood Series
Daimon
Necrosis
Resurrection (Coming Soon)
Dystopian Series:
Sky Cities Series
Heart of Tartarus
Shadow of Deception
Sword of Damage
Dogs of War (Coming Soon)
Contemporary Series:
Iris Boys Series (completed)
>
Now or Never
Power & Choice
Leap of Faith
Cross my Heart
The Break Series (completed)
Study Break
Tough Break
Spring Break
Break Series Collection
Standalones:
Expressionate
Wildest Dreams
