by Amy Sumida
“Eyes gleaming with love, lips swollen from pleasuring me, breasts wet with my kisses, and body open to my thrusts.” Banning stared down my body with that possessive look again. “This is how I love you best, Elaria.”
I grabbed my knees and used them to pull my legs back, opening myself so my husband could drive even deeper. “Are you sure?”
Banning chuckled low, deep, and sensually. “Perhaps we should try a few different positions before I decide.”
He rose onto his knees, bringing me with him so that only my shoulders rested on the bed. My legs sprawled wide as he slammed down into me.
“This is a good look for you too.”
“But not the most comfortable,” I growled as I pushed up and launched us down like a gymnast.
Banning fell onto his back with a surprised huff, and I followed him. But then I spun and straddled him backward so that when I slid down on his shaft, he had a great view of our union and my ass. I leaned forward, exposing myself more, and Banning groaned in delight. His hands went to my hips and pulled me down on him. I ground myself against him with every motion until I was starting to tremble. Banning moved his hand between us, rubbing it along my sex, and I reciprocated by massaging his balls. While I was playing with him, he slipped his slick thumb into my ass. I screamed my way through a violent orgasm that left me in a limp collapse across his legs.
Banning maneuvered himself out from beneath me and then over me. “You liked that, did you?” He whispered in my ear as he pressed me face-down into the mattress. “Good. I was just testing the waters.”
The Blooder Prince slid back inside me, this time in that other place. I moaned as his hand eased around to the front of my sex and stayed steady. The pressure and motion of his hips rubbed me against his stationary fingers. He kept himself completely inside me, moving deeper and back again without pulling out, keeping me pressed to the silk comforter with his entire body.
“Spread your ass for me,” he panted in my ear.
I reached back and did as he asked. It made it possible for Banning to move even deeper. It was so smooth and slick that it ratcheted up my pleasure. He slipped my hair aside, and I felt his breath beating against my neck, in time with my heartbeat.
“Elaria?”
“Yes?”
I thought Banning was about to say something naughty or ask me to. This type of sex was new to my lovers and me, and they seemed to enjoy a little dirty talk along with it to make it feel even more scandalous. But Banning didn't say how much he liked the feel of me or ask me to tell him how much I liked it.
“I love you more than blood,” he whispered in my ear before he bit my throat.
I cried out with the brief pain and the zinging pleasure that followed, my body clenching into yet another orgasm when the ecstasy of his bite reached the pleasure below. Banning slipped out of me with a groan, his mouth latched firmly on my neck, sucking hard as he emptied across my back.
“And I love you more than music,” I said breathlessly.
Chapter Twelve
Three days later, I was standing before the mirror in my tower bedroom in Kyanite. I had a black dress on, slinky but tasteful. I wanted to look the part but not draw too much attention to myself. Otherwise, I would have worn red. But my dress and heels and even my jewelry were the least of my disguise. At least, they would be.
“Something mysterious,” I murmured as I thought about the way I wanted to look. “I decided against the red dress but maybe red hair would work.”
Something mysterious? Kyanite asked. I have just the thing.
The soft strumming of Sarah McLachlan's “Building a Mystery” began to sweep through the room. I smiled; it was an old favorite of mine. A song about a man who went to great lengths to be someone else; someone fashionable and desirous. Someone with an air of mystery who was also damn good in bed. I wasn't about to sleep in a church surrounded by voodoo dolls, but I could use the message in those lyrics to make me into someone else for a little while.
I swayed to the gentle music, letting my voice flow out into the rhythm. Singing about vampires and ghosts and shadows over windows, I envisioned the woman I needed to be tonight. Someone sexy and mysterious. A femme fatale; tall and lean with a cascade of auburn hair and brilliant ivy eyes. Skin like fresh cream with a youthful blush would tone down the blatant sexuality of the body.
I let the music take me and make me into someone new and when it echoed into silence, a stranger stared back at me from the mirror.
“Everlasting onyx,” Torin whispered as he walked in.
“What do you think?”
“It's disturbing.” He shivered and frowned. “Your voice coming from another woman's mouth.
“Oh, right.” I dropped my voice into a breathy purr. “Is this better?”
“Well, now you're just a stranger. So, I suppose it's a little better.”
“Don't you find me attractive, Torin,” I teased as I sashayed over to my husband. “Wouldn't you like to cheat without cheating?”
I ran my hand down Torin's chest, and he backed away with a grimace.
“No,” he said firmly. “I'm not the one in this relationship who needs variety.”
I went still, my smile freezing on my face.
“I didn't mean it like that.” Torin pulled me into a hug automatically. “I'm just saying that I have no desire to be with another woman, even if that woman is you. My brain knows you're in there but my body can't comprehend it. All it knows is that this woman is not who we want.”
“That is actually incredibly romantic,” I whispered. “And now I want to kiss you, but you probably won't enjoy it.”
Torin laughed. “I'll just close my eyes.”
In my new body, he didn't have to bend so much to reach me, but I had to guide our kiss since Torin indeed closed his eyes, and he did so long before our lips met. I laughed softly into the kiss but then that Torin-scent hit me, male and warm, and my amusement faded. I pressed my lean body against the solid curves of his muscles and sighed against his lips.
Torin abruptly pulled away.
“I'm sorry.” He held me out at arm's length. “I can't. Even with my eyes closed, it doesn't feel right. I'm getting nauseous.”
“Precious Persephone,” I whispered in wonder. “Kissing another woman makes you nauseous?”
“Don't mock me, Elaria,” Torin growled and glared at me.
“I'm not.” I held up my hands. “I'm in awe of you and a little hurt that I can't be the same way. If things had been different...”
Torin's hard expression crumbled, and he pulled me into another hug. “I don't need you to be like me, little bird. I just need you to be you.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, I'm going to let go of you because your fake body makes my skin crawl, but I love you very much.”
“I love you too, you sweet, amazing man.” I eased back from him with a smile. “I'll make this up to you later tonight.”
Torin's eyes flashed with interest. “Truly? I get you to myself tonight just because this body repels me?”
“You get me to yourself tonight because you love me so much that this body repels you,” I amended.
“I'll take that.” He grinned. “Now, I'd best get you downstairs to your date.”
“The werewolf angel?” I asked with a chuckle.
“That would be the one.” Torin shook his head as we went downstairs together.
Although Cer's security teams and informants had all been watching the Demos Family satyrs, no one had seen the nymphs get transported out of the Bazaar. The Demos Family had to have another type of beneather helping them. It didn't matter, though; we'd be getting the nymphs away from them tonight.
Lucifer waited for me in my living room with my men and Cerberus surrounding him like protective fathers inspecting their daughter's new boyfriend. Luke had spruced up his disguise; keeping the rugged werewolf but removing the five o'clock shadow and adding an expensive suit. With his dark hair slicked back,
his even darker eyes looked more sophisticated, but he still had a dangerous air about him. It was the perfect choice for meeting a crime lord. In fact, he looked as if he could be the crime lord.
And there I was, his hot dame.
“My goodness,” Lucifer whispered when he saw me. “Is that you, Elaria?”
“In the flesh; another woman's flesh.” I grinned.
“Fuck,” Slate muttered as he strode over. “Your voice coming out of this body is chilling.”
“That's what I said.” Torin chuckled as he tossed me a smug look.
“It is a bit unsettling,” Declan agreed as he looked me over. “But you look beautiful, Elaria. Well done.”
“Thank you.” I flicked back my fiery hair. “I've always wanted to try out red hair. Maybe I should dye mine.”
“No!” All of my men shouted at once.
“All right, everyone relax.” I held up my hands as Cerberus chortled.
“I think the red is lovely,” Lucifer announced as he held out his arm to me. “It matches your personality.”
“Thank you,” I said in my new voice.
“And now my mate is gone entirely,” Gage grumbled.
“I'll be back in a few hours,” I promised.
“And we'll be waiting onshore,” Cerberus promised. “You got that spell ready to communicate with us?”
“She's always with me, Cer.”
Hound dogs, RS huffed. Tell him I'm more ready for this than he is.
“She's ready,” Darc spoke before I could. “I'd kiss you goodbye, my flame, but I think I'd rather wait until I can kiss the real you hello.”
“You're all adorable,” I declared. “Okay, Luke, let's get this show on the road.”
“I assume that means that it's time to go.” Lucifer pulled me in against his chest as a pair of sparkling wings unfolded behind him. They looked strange with his loup illusion.
“Catch you all later,” I called over my shoulder as Lucifer brought down his wings, and we lifted into the air.
A shimmering haze surrounded Lucifer and me as we moved up, through the ceiling and into the Veil. In seconds, Lucifer took us to Earth, reforming us on the bank of a river. A strait, actually.
The Bosphorus Strait splits Istanbul and connects the Black Sea to the Aegean. It's a massive waterway crossed by two bridges and lined with ancient architecture including three palaces, two forts, and two towers. Lucifer had brought us into the shadows near a dock in front of one of the palaces that we had scoped out earlier. The Ottoman Imperial Palace had been renovated into a hotel and Philip was renting its dock. Because of this, several of Demos' guests had taken rooms in the hotel for the night. We had considered booking one as well but then decided against it; it would be too much trouble.
Lucifer and I stepped out of the darkness and onto a footpath then joined the crowd making their way onto the speedboats that were transporting the guests out to the yacht.
“There's Samedi,” I said as I took the lead.
We wove through the richly-dressed people, beneathers every one, and stepped up to the Baron. He stood in a casual lean on his silver walking cane. His top hat had a blood-red band around it; the one he reserved for special occasions. The band matched the vest Sam wore beneath his tailcoat. His usual cigar hung between his fingers, a thick ember dangling precariously as he raised it to his lips.
“Sam,” I said in my real voice, “it's us.”
“Elaria?” Samedi asked in shock, vibrating the ember off his cigar. He stamped it out absently.
“It's Elise tonight,” I purred in my altered voice.
Samedi chuckled as he thoroughly looked me over. “Nice. If Elise ever wants to make a few extra dollars, let me know.”
“Not likely.” I grimaced at him.
“And this is Lucifer?” Samedi shifted his penetrating stare toward Luke.
“Please, call me Luke.” Lucifer held out his hand.
“A pleasure to meet you, Luke,” Samedi drawled. “I've told Philip that I have a prospective client I want him to meet; someone referred to me by an outside source. Cerberus sent me your cover info, and I passed it on. I hope you've committed it to memory because Demos will probably ask you about your businesses.”
Cerberus had created a false identity for Luke. Or rather, his employees had. Philip Demos would doubtless research a prospective customer so we needed Luke to have a basic background that could be found online. He was Lucas Raven, Luke for short, founder of Raven Enterprises, a shady company that owned several bars and nightclubs with a large beneather clientele. Luke would be looking to increase his profits by offering Philip's products to his customers. There were specifics involving club names and locations, but I hadn't bothered to remember more than a couple. A girlfriend wouldn't be expected to know all about her boyfriend's businesses.
“I'm prepared,” Luke said confidently. “Let's get this show on the road.”
I chuckled at his mimicry of me and at the wink he gave me as he escorted me onto a speedboat with Samedi. The driver checked Samedi's invitation and his approval for two guests then waved us to some seats. A few of the other guests nodded politely to us.
As we raced across the water to the mammoth, luxury ship, I breathed deeply of the sea air and steadied myself. Salt air was the smell of home to me. One of the reasons that I'd chosen Istanbul, back when I left my parents' island for the first time, was because of its proximity to the water. After I left the Bazaar and bought my own home, I'd chosen Hawaii for the same reason. Kyanite was the first place I'd lived in that wasn't close to the sea. Although, the Sgàthan Sea was in Alexandrite, Declan's kingdom that bordered mine. I suppose that was close enough.
We reached the ship, and the speedboat driver docked us against a metal platform. Thankfully, there wasn't a ladder to climb. Instead, we strode up a set of steel steps hooked onto the side of the yacht. At the top, we were greeted by a waiter with a tray of champagne. Glasses in hand, Luke and I followed Samedi down a narrow hallway, moving with the glamorous herd into a spacious room at the front of the yacht.
The room had been built to mimic the pointed nose of the ship, with huge windows making up most of the two forward walls. A bar sat to one side and a buffet table to the other with people mingling between. After filling their tiny plates, the guests flowed out through side doors onto the deck, most of them heading to the railing in anticipation of the launch.
“Let's wait outside with the others,” Samedi suggested. “Once we get moving, I'll find Philip and introduce you.”
“That won't be necessary,” a man said as he stepped up to us. “Philip has found you.”
“Philip!” Samedi shook the man's hand. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Sam.”
I had seen Philip Demos only a handful of times before but it never ceased to amaze me how normal he looked. Oh, he was dressed like a playboy, in a handmade Kitsune suit to show off his allegiance to the Bazaar, but the body beneath the salamander silk was average. Not too tall, not too short. He had maybe an inch on my new body and a thickness around his waist that betrayed his love of fine food and his distaste for exercise. His short hair was science-teacher brown and his tan skin was too pale to be exotic. Although his legs were covered, I knew he wasn't in his satyr form; he didn't have the telltale horns on his head. Pity; a pair of cloven hooves and furry legs might have made him more interesting. As it was, the best thing Philip had going for him was a pair of pastel green eyes. Those eyes shifted first to me, flicking down my body as if he were contemplating a purchase before moving on to Luke. Thin lips twisted into a blandly welcoming smile as Philip extended his hand to my date.
“Philip Demos,” he introduced himself.
“Lucas Raven,” Lucifer followed the other man's lead. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
“I always have time for money,” Philip's smile twisted lasciviously as he slid his stare back to me, “or sex.”
I blinked at his boldness, and he chuckled as i
f it had been a joke. The rest of us smiled politely.
“This is my girlfriend, Elise,” Luke introduced us.
“Very nice to meet you, Elise.” Philip took my hand and lifted it for a kiss.
