"Well, I won't either. As long as you're not some soul sucking demon who is going to leave me a dry, withered husk." He laughed at his own joke until he saw my face fall.
"Daniel…"
"Holy shit. On second thought, let's wait for those drinks."
Unfortunately, we didn't have to wait long, and Daniel ordered another round before she set the first glass down on the table. When she left, he started guzzling his beer. I took it as a cue to do the same, and as soon as the liquid fire hit my tongue, my eyes widened in surprise. It didn't suck. "Wow," I muttered, and stared at the half-empty glass I was holding in front of my face.
"Good?"
"That's not beer."
"Some of them are really good and have alcohol contents higher than most mixed drinks."
"Not the way I mix drinks."
He laughed. "I can imagine."
We polished our beers off without another word and the waitress brought round two and a tin bowl full of pretzel nuggets with a cup of mustard. "Ready to order, or do you need a few minutes?"
"I think we're going to stick to pretzels and beer. We ate dinner earlier."
"Sounds good! Flag me down if you need anything else." She left us staring at the buttery looking nuggets.
I reached out and gripped one between my fingers, dunked it into the sauce, and popped it into my mouth. The salt burned a little, but the taste was exquisite. What they said about demons and salt was completely true, damn television. However, it would take a lot more than the coating of a pretzel nugget to do me any harm. It was kind of like eating habanero peppers.
"Okay. Start talking, Kara."
I chewed and swallowed, washing down the nugget with the last of my beer from my first glass. Gripping the second tightly, I held it in front of me. "Where do you want me to start?"
"First thing's first. What are you?"
"A demon."
"Like snarly, bitey, horns, and wings?"
"I have horns, wings, and a tail, but I don't bite. Unless you ask me nicely…"
"You're a succubus!" He stared at me in shock. Almost as much as I was staring at him.
"Yes!" I almost dropped my beer as my eyes widened in shock "How did you know?"
"Kind of clicked. You're a stripper. You really like sex. You're beautiful, and that is almost an understatement."
I blushed at his compliment. "Thank you."
"I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. So, what was that thing the other night that attacked us?"
Shrugging, I took a sip of beer. "I think it was a vampire, but I can't be sure. Didn't get a close enough look at it."
"You're really not human." He seemed to be talking more to himself than me. "You really are a demon." He looked up at me, wide eyed, but I didn't smell any fear from him.
"Yep."
"You've fed from me. I've felt drained… In more ways than one," he added with a small bark of laughter.
"It's how I survive. I can eat food, but I don't really get anything from it."
"But never enough to harm me." He wasn't asking, he already knew the answer.
"I could if I wanted to. Fucking you to death is literally an option, but not one that I've ever used."
"Why?"
"Because I like you. A lot."
"Do you?"
"Of course. We wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation if I didn't." His question stung a little. More than I cared to admit.
"Good. I like you a lot, too." He softened the blow with a genuine grin. "What about other people?"
Forty-five years ago, when I had first come into my power…there had been an accident. I hadn't killed him, but it was close, and it had never set well with me. I swallowed nervously and nodded, not wanting to lie to Daniel. "Almost once. On accident. I couldn't control my abilities when they first manifested."
"You weren't always a succubus?"
"Yes. But for the first fifteen or twenty years, we're in our larval stage. Human in appearance and ability."
"Oh, God! Your kids…"
"Are half. Cambions, we call them. Some manifest powers, some don't. Either way, what they are separates them from those around them."
"That's why they seem so mature and smart."
I smiled at his compliment. "Yes."
"So, what else is real?"
"Just about everything you can imagine. They're all out there." I motioned toward the front windows. "Hiding. Some not so well. It's why the occasional story pops up in the news. They mostly live in big cities. It's why I chose Bickering instead of Boston. Close, but not close enough."
He let out a sigh and sat back in his side of the booth. I took another pretzel bite and swallow of beer, blinking in surprise at my now empty glass. I'd been so engrossed in our conversation, I didn't even remember drinking it. He motioned for the waitress and pointed at his empty glass.
"You're handling this quite well." Technically, I wasn't sure how the hell he was handling it. His face had become a mask of introspection, and I had no idea what he was thinking. He could be planning on dousing me in gasoline and shooting lit matches at me for all I knew.
"Kara, I saw it with my own eyes. The vampire, I mean. What you're telling me is nothing new. I even figured out what you were before you told me. It was all…sort of anticlimactic? I know I should be scared, and I know I should be freaking out, but I'm not. Does that make sense?"
"No," I lied. It really didn't make sense. He should have been screaming in fear and blabbering about checking himself into the loony bin. Maybe humans were watching too many supernatural movies. It was almost as if they were waiting for it to be real. There was only one thing I could do. I reached across the table and took his hand.
He didn't pull away. He didn't cringe. And he wasn't staring at his hand in revulsion. He had accepted what I was. He had accepted me.
Chapter 10
"Are you sure about this?" The realtor gave me an imploring look with her doe-like eyes.
Taking one last look around the studio, I nodded. After Daniel's and my discussion at the brewery the night before, I had caught sight of the dance studio across the street. The vacant, empty dance studio with stripper poles lining the front window. It was the studio that Karen had mentioned closed down due to lack of interest. In a town like Bickering, I could see it happening. But the previous studio was lacking one thing. Me. The previous owner probably had never set foot or crotch on a stripper pole in a professional manner in her life. "Yes. I'll take it."
"And I'll draw up the paperwork." She stared at the check in her hand. The check for the exact asking price. "I'll call you with a closing date."
"As soon as possible, please." The studio hadn't depleted my funds, but they were lower than they'd been in twenty-plus years. Selling the house in Orlando had just become a priority. I'd been putting it off as sort of a safety net, something to go back to in case either I or the kids found Bickering completely unbearable. Things had progressed well enough that the kids would literally have to drag me away kicking and screaming. I was happy, and I had a feeling they were, too.
"I'll shoot for Monday or Tuesday," she answered with a grin, and slipped my check inside her leather-bound notebook. "Is there anything else you wanted to look at while we're here?"
I'd seen everything, even the small studio apartment above. Unless there was a hidden cache of bondage equipment in the basement, we were done. "No. I think I'm good. Thanks, Connie." I held out my hand to the forty-something brunette real estate agent with cute lips and curvy hips.
"No. Thank you!" She motioned for the door.
Locking it up behind us, she coughed nervously as she turned around. "Are you going to uh…be offering the same kind of classes?"
"Pole dancing?"
She nodded. Almost eagerly.
It looked like I had my first customer. "Yep."
Relief washed across her face. "Oh, thank God. I had been building up my courage for months, and just as I was about to sign up…the previous
owner moved to Boston and opened up shop there. That's way too far for me, and I took it as a sign that it wasn't meant to be." She blushed cutely.
"Well, there's not much in the way of renovations. I love the interior, so I won't be changing much. Just some signage, permits, and licensing. Maybe a couple coats of paint. I hope to be open within a month."
She practically bounced with joy. "I'll be sure to let my friends know!"
"Thank you. I'll see you early next week, then?"
"You betcha! Good luck with everything!"
I smiled as she headed for her car, got in, and pulled out into the practically deserted street. Then, I sighed at the frantically waving hand in the Dunkin' Donuts window across the street. Smiling at Karen, I crossed the street without looking.
Ignoring the squealing tires, swearing, and the look of absolute horror on Karen's face in the window, I kept walking and opened the door as I relished in the happy smell of coffee as it hit my senses.
"Jesus Christ, Kara! You almost got hit."
"Meh. I had plenty of time. He was just being overdramatic," I lied. The truth was, I had agreed to help Karen with some PTA bullshit at the school after my meeting with the realtor. I'd also forgotten about that and stepped out in front of the car, hoping it would end my suffering.
"Well, be more careful! You gave that poor man two heart attacks." She frowned and slapped my arm. I let it go and didn't gut her on the spot. "Get your coffee, we need to get going."
"I bought it."
"The studio?"
"Yep." I motioned toward the register. She grabbed her coffee and drained it, tossing it in the bin and standing beside me.
"You're going to open a pole dancing class?"
"Yep."
She squealed with excitement, earning us stares from the people trying to enjoy their coffee and donuts in peace. "Sign me up!"
"I figured." I chuckled and ordered two coffees to go.
"Wait 'til the girls hear about this!"
"Well, keep it under wraps until the deal is done."
"My lips are sealed!"
Uh huh.
We grabbed our coffee, and she drove us to the school, skidding to a stop in one of the front spots. Peeling my fingers from her dashboard, I got out of the car as quickly as I could. "How many speeding tickets have you gotten?"
"This year?"
"Never mind. So, what are we here for?"
"It's a surprise!"
Groaning, I went inside.
Karen waved at Margaret at her desk. I blew her a kiss. "Seriously, Karen. What are we doing?"
She sighed. "I sort of volunteered you."
"For what?"
"The Fall Festival. We ran out of volunteers to fill all the positions, and your name might have come up…"
"Karen?"
"Yes?"
"What did you do?"
She gave me a wan smile and opened a door just past the administration offices. There were long folding tables arranged in a U shape. Principal Marshall was seated at the head of the bend and every seat was filled except for the two to his right. Karen proudly walked around the table and took the one closest to him, motioning me to take the remaining one.
"Oh good. We can finally get started," Marshall said drolly.
"Sorry we're a tad late. Traffic was horrible," Karen lied smoothly, and smiled at the people around the table. The only other face I recognized was Brady, seated at the very end of the table to my right. He gave me a smile as I sat. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce my neighbor, Kara. She's volunteered to head up the haunted house!"
"I did?"
"You did." She nodded and smiled.
I'd take it out of her hide later. And she was babysitting my kids for the rest of eternity. All I could do was narrow my eyes at her briefly before smiling uncomfortably at the rest of the people seated around the tables. "Hi."
Brady looked like he was about to piss his pants. He had covered his mouth with his hand and flashed me a sympathetic, yet amused, look.
"Well, that should be everything. Coach Drake is, as always, in charge of contracting the carnival rides." She smiled at him and clapped. "Marissa Hodgins, ticketing." She nodded her head at the blonde seated beside Brady.
I froze, recognizing the name. The bitch who had locked me in the bathroom at the soccer field. The bitch who was after Brady. Smiling, I waved at her. She had the common decency to ignore me. This is going to be fun.
She rambled off the other people in the room and their respective responsibilities. I lost interest in what Karen was saying, choosing instead to sit calmly next to her and stare daggers at Marissa. It was amusing—every time she turned back, I was there, staring at her. It was childish, I know, but she locked me in a public restroom. She was lucky I didn't nail her bleached anus to a wall.
"Well, that's everyone and everything. Let me know if you need help with anything, and let's make this the best Fall Festival in Brentworth Academy history!"
Two people clapped. I wasn't one of them.
As soon as we were done, I walked around the table to Brady, who just happened to be engrossed in a very uncomfortable looking discussion with Marissa.
"We should grab a drink tonight, to discuss it," she finished saying as I walked up behind her.
"Unfortunately, I have plans tonight," he answered, and smiled at me over her shoulder.
"I was just coming to confirm. See you at dinner tonight?" I grinned at him happily."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he answered, just as Marissa turned and saw me behind her.
"You're having dinner…with Brady Drake?" It almost sounded like she couldn't believe it.
"Yep."
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to go vomit," she said under her breath, and ducked around me.
"Bulimia is no way to reduce the size of your ass. Try squats."
Her head snapped to the side, and she outright snarled at me. "Cunt," she whispered, and walked off.
"You are what you eat, asshole." I whispered my response, but projected enough to be sure she could hear me.
Marissa flipped me off over her shoulder and left the room. I was heartbroken.
"Be careful," Brady said almost worriedly.
"Why? She gonna lock me in a bathroom again?"
"Again? Is that what happened at McKorkle Field?" He paused to cock an eyebrow at me. "Want me to say something to her?"
I couldn't help myself and laughed at his chivalry. "No. Trust me. Any problems with her, I am more than capable of taking care of myself."
"Just be careful. She has a lot of friends and can make your life a living hell."
"And I can drag her into the depths of hell, have her flesh flayed from her bones, and torture her for twenty lifetimes." I chuckled to let him know I was kidding. Kind of.
"Well, are you going to introduce me?"
Behind me was Alana, Brady's sister. I'd seen her from afar, but never been introduced. Turning, I offered her my hand. "Hi. I'm Kara."
"Dell? Rynnie's mom?"
"The one and only."
"Pleased to meet you!" She pumped my hand harder than her brother had when he'd introduced himself to me.
"Oh, don't act like you didn't know, Sis. Not like I haven't told you about her a thousand times."
"I know, but this is the first time I've put a name to the face. I mean she's been so inconspicuous. Especially in Target. You know, ducking behind displays and what not."
She wasn't being bitchy, she was teasing, and confirmed it with a smile. I liked Brady's sister.
"Well, I'm sure I'll see you around." Her touch lingered as she pulled her hand from mine and left the room. In fact, Brady and I were the last ones in the conference room.
"I think my sister likes you." He rolled his eyes, unimpressed.
"If you're worried I'm going to leave you for your sister, don't."
"I'm not, but it wouldn't be the first time."
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'd fuck her, but I wouldn't leave
you to do it."
"Uh…"
"Would that bother you?"
"No. Girl on girl is hot, just don't expect me to watch." He made a gagging noise.
I laughed. Succubae rarely had siblings, so incest wasn't a thing we ever thought about, but I could definitely see how humans would have an aversion to it. Ryn and Karl were friends, but they rarely even hugged. I shuddered at the thought of anything ever going on between them and curled my lip in distaste. "Don't worry. I won't offer."
"Won't or wouldn't?" He tilted his head at my choice of words.
"Depends on whether you'd have a problem with it." I grinned at him wickedly.
"Not at all." He gave me a quick kiss. "Gotta get to class. See you tonight?"
"Abso-friggin-lutely." I sat back on the edge of the table and smiled at him sultrily.
"Minx." He chuckled and left, just as Karen came back into the room.
"Well, that went well…"
"Karen?"
"Yes?"
"Run."
Chapter 11
"I'll have the pound-and-a-half lobster, baked potato, and some sort of veggie, I don't care which."
The blonde waitress stared at me for a moment while she processed the information. Finally, she wrote it down and looked at Daniel.
"I'll have the steak, medium, with a potato and side salad."
"Loaded?"
"Not yet." He chuckled at his own joke.
"I meant the potato, sir." She must have been new to the service industry, awkward and unsure.
"I know. I was kidding. Yes, please."
She looked back at me, biting her lower lip and trying very hard to stare at my eyes and not on my almost exposed breasts in the purple silk camisole I wore under my jacket. Carter's was rather stuffy, and I had taken off my black jacket before we even sat down. "How did you want your potato?"
"Loaded." She nodded and wrote it down, finally looking at Brady sitting next to me.
"I'll have the Cajun pasta."
"Good choice." She nodded and wrote it down, picked up the menus, and headed toward the kitchen.
"She was a little nervous," Daniel said with a small chuckle.
"Don't pick on her. She's probably new."
Succubus Soccer Mom: A Reverse Harem Tale Page 10
