by Bliss Devlin
Andras gave her an unreadable look. "Stephen Jadikira."
"Stephen Jadikira," Katie repeated, in disbelief. "The Stephen Jadikira? Founder of Minoan Systems? The guy who was the sole sponsor of the yacht that won last year's Americas Cup? And he's your uncle?" She flopped back down on his pillow. "Does everybody in your family look like a fucking Italian supermodel?"
Andras laughed. "If it makes you feel better, he's not actually a blood relation, just an old family friend. Amanda and I grew up calling him Uncle Jadi, and the name just stuck."
Vélos. Andras Vélos. Katie suddenly realized she knew exactly who his parents were, and felt stupid for not having figured it out sooner.
She sighed, feeling suddenly depressed. "Dude, you are so out of my league," she murmured, under her breath.
Abruptly, she wanted to leave and curl up in her own bed, in her own shabby but homey apartment.
Of course, her fucking sex god also had fucking super-hearing. As she tried to slither out of his bed, he caught her arm. "Katie. Wait."
Well, she couldn't go anywhere while he was holding on, so she stayed where she was.
"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable," Andras said, quietly. "I love spending time with you. You are beautiful, extremely smart, extremely sexy, and you make me laugh. I haven't felt much like laughing since Yoshiko died. You make me feel alive. Please don't let my family scare you off."
"I really like spending time with you, too, and I wasn't kidding about the sex god part. I just—" she stopped speaking, not sure how to say the next part.
"Do you want keep our relationship casual for now?" he asked, with uncanny perception. "Continue to see each other, but hold off on the whole 'meet each other's friends and family' step?"
"If you don't mind, just for a little while?" Katy asked, relieved.
"It's a deal." Andras loosened his grip, and slid his hand down to hers. Lifting it to his lips, he kissed her palm with the casual grace that she admired. "Would you like to have dinner on Tuesday?"
"I'd love to, if you let me treat you this time," Katy replied. "How about steak?"
"Sounds great." He released her, and she went in search of her underwear.
When would he finally fuck her? She just knew it would blow her mind when he did...
* * *
"I think she knows, or is beginning to suspect." Andras said, after Katie had departed. His loft felt strangely empty without her vivacious presence, so he had turned on some music and phoned Amanda.
"Has she pierced the glamour yet?" his sister asked. "You know that's one of the signs of a philtata."
"I—don't know," Andras, thinking back over the evening's events. "There was a moment I thought so, but she didn't say anything, so I'm not sure."
"Or maybe she saw beyond the veil, and accepted you." Amanda sighed. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if she knew what you truly were, and still wanted you? Couldn't you arrange for a little accident? Maybe forget to veil yourself in a glamour the next time you're together in private?"
"You have always been the most dreadful romantic," Andras said, disturbed by the fact that Amanda's crazy suggestion had actually sounded tempting for a moment or two. "You know I can't afford to take that kind of chance. It's the oldest rule we have—no Child of Lilith is allowed to voluntarily unveil before a mortal, unless they've agreed to be bound as a philtatos or philtata."
"Well, then, for your sake, I hope she can unveil you on her own, and that she finds your true form acceptable."
So many things that could yet go wrong in his plans to make Katie his own... Now it was his turn to sigh. "Good night, little sister."
4. Katie Breaks the Rules
These are starvation rations, Amanda thought, as she crouched over the bed and stared down at the young man asleep beneath her gaze.
She tried not to feel bitter at the thought of the feast her brother was no doubt enjoying at this very moment. Katie's aura, warm and glowing and above all, strong, promised that rare nourishment that only a born philtata could provide.
And here she was, sneaking around a darkened studio apartment that smelled faintly of stale French fries and garlic.
A trash can stood near the kitchen alcove, heaped to overflowing with used take-out boxes, and empty chip bags and soda cans were scattered around the couch, which faced an enormous flat-screen television. An expensive bicycle leaned against another wall, and various electronics, all of the newest and costliest type, were stacked carelessly on the kitchen counter and the coffee table.
Amanda yanked her attention back to her chosen prey.
She had used her powers to ensure that he would not awaken at an inconvenient time, but in truth, it had scarcely seemed necessary. Like most of the other young people employed in this city, he was terminally sleep-deprived.
Which also affected his sexual energy. Amanda scowled down at the faint golden nimbus at his groin. It was but a faint, flickering luminescence, especially when compared to how Katie blazed now that Andras had awakened her appetites...
No, damn it! She was supposed to be happy for Andras' good fortune.
Amanda took a deep, centering breath. Hovering her hand over her victim's groin, she breathed a Word of Power, drawing forth his desires, hoping to kindle that faint light into something she could absorb and use.
In the morning, he would remember nothing. He might even awaken feeling refreshed after a full night's sleep.
Whereas, she would still be hungry, having supped on the equivalent of thin gruel.
This was no way for a succubus to live.
* * *
Katie had just returned from her desk after yet another meeting, when her phone rang. She glanced at it, and felt a joyous flutter in her chest. Andras.
Calling instead of texting, for a change.
It was ridiculous to feel so happy—and so nuts about a guy—but she couldn't help herself. He was indeed the Sex God, and considering that he had yet to actually fuck her, she'd just spent the last two weeks having the best sex of her life.
"Hey, handsome," she said warmly. She knew she was grinning like an idiot, but couldn't help herself.
"Hello, beautiful girl," Andras said, his voice low and intimate.
Then he hesitated, and Katie felt a stirring of apprehension. He wasn't normally at a loss for words, and since it was already unusual for him to call her during work hours rather than text her...
"Remember that big merger deal that my bank been trying to finalize with Xīngwàng Bank in Shanghai?"
"Yeah?" she asked, hesitantly.
His sigh was audible over the phone. "The deal's gone sideways, and the Board of Directors wants me in Shanghai ASAP to see if I can rescue the negotiations. I'm the only executive who's fluent in Chinese."
"I didn't know you spoke Chinese," Katie said lamely. "Um, when are you leaving?"
"They have me booked on the 8:00 p.m. flight," Andras said. "Tonight."
"Boy, your bosses really weren't kidding about the 'ASAP' part, were they?" Katie bit her lip. "I guess I'll cancel our reservation at Arriba Perú."
"I was really looking forward to seeing you tonight, Katie," Andras sounded sincerely regretful.
"And I had an evil plan to feed you Pisco Sours until you were too drunk to resist getting naked with me," Katie said, and was gratified when Andras chuckled. She added: "But I'd still really like to see you. Can I pick up some takeout and drive you to the airport?"
Andras was silent. Katie nervously added, "If you don't mind riding in my shitty little car?"
"Sorry, I was distracted—this boarding pass doesn't want to print," Andras said. "That's a really kind offer, and I'd love to, if you don't mind the inconvenience of heading out to the airport during rush hour,"
"How long will you be gone?" Katie asked, wistfully.
"I honestly don't know. Best case, three days. Worst case—who knows," he sighed. "It's going to make packing my suitcase a real challenge."
"I'll miss you," Katie blurte
d.
"I'll miss you, too." Andras went silent again for a few moments. When he spoke again, his voice sounded serious. "Katie, my sister—is she all right? I haven't seen her for a while, but the last time we talked, she said she wasn't feeling well."
Katie frowned, thinking. Come to think of it, Amanda had been strangely subdued for the past few days. "I think she's been kind of under the weather," she told Andras. "Definitely not her usual self. Maybe she's come down with the Mar—with that flu that's going around?"
Someone in the office had nicknamed the illness the Martian Death Flu, and the name had stuck.
"The Martian Death Flu?" Andras asked. Apparently the nickname was getting around, if even the bankers were using it now. "I admit I'm a little worried. Could you—could you maybe keep an eye on her for me?"
"Sure," Katie replied. "So, international flight. You want to be there around six?"
"That would be best."
"Great!" she said, brightly. "I'll pick you up at your place around five. Hope you don't mind takeout from Taqueria Azteca."
"I look forward to hand-feeding you while you drive," he said, dryly. But damn if it still didn't sound sexy! "Thank you, love. I'll see you at five."
Katie put down her phone and stared blankly at its cheerful icons. He called me love!
She felt a happy smile stretch her mouth.
Thank you, love.
It was almost enough to make up for the fact that he was going to be out of town for an unknown length of time.
* * *
Three days stretched into four, then five. Then it was a week, and pretty soon, another week.
Katie woke every morning to find affectionate, flirty texts waiting for her. She did her best to return the favor throughout the work day, so that Andras would wake up in faraway Shanghai and know she'd been thinking about him and missing him.
In the late afternoon, her work day overlapped with breakfast time in Shanghai, and Katie was usually able to chat with Andras in real time for fifteen or twenty minutes before he headed into his first meeting of the day.
Each day, he asked: Are you keeping your promise to me?
And each day, she replied with a truthful, Yes, sir.
But the longer he was gone, the harder it became to refrain from getting a little relief from her long-unused vibrator. It was funny—she'd gone for such a long time without regular orgasms, and now, suddenly, she couldn't get enough of them.
Or get enough of Andras, with his almost-magical ability to sense exactly what she needed sexually, even when she didn't know it herself.
* * *
Amanda watched Katie's sexual frustration build in Andras' absence, a task made easier by Katie's anxious surveillance. Damn my busybody brother, he must have said something to the girl.
And how cruel was that, to ensure that Amanda was continually taunted by something she couldn't have, a rich feast dangling just out of reach?
Amanda knew about her twin's rules for his new lover, of course—almost all incubi and succubae used a variant of them to ensure proper levels of sexual energy in their human companions.
After the third week, she could tell Katie was approaching real discomfort. Her aura, usually a pleasing electrum blaze, was ripening like a peach with the red blush of sexual deprivation.
She would be so responsive now to a kiss, a touch, just the merest suggestion of Amanda's power...No, better not.
As if summoned by Amanda's hungry thoughts, Katie appeared at her office door.
* * *
Oh, man, Amanda looks terrible, Katie thought. No wonder Andras was worried about her.
She had been noticing the usually-energetic Director of Marketing looking more and more tired. Today, she looked just about ready to fall over, and the way she was sitting—
Normally, Amanda had perfect posture when sitting at the computer. In fact, Julie, the office ergonomic specialist, often used Amanda as an example of The Right Way to Sit.
But not today. The red-haired woman's shoulders drooped. In fact, she was actually slouching in her chair.
Katie looked around furtively, kind of hoping that Julie was lurking nearby. She did that, hoping to catch you committing an "ergo-sin" by resting your wrists on the keyboard, or moving the mouse in the wrong way.
Julie would totally plotz if she saw Amanda the Good Example slouching in front of her computer, resting her entire forearm on the desk to use the mouse.
But there was something else, something weird in the periphery of her vision. Katie blinked, sure that her eyes were playing tricks on her. Just for an instant, she had seen what looked like wings...
...it was just like those weird moments she'd been having sporadically while in bed with Andras.
God, I hope I'm not going nuts, thought Katie. It's bad enough that I've turned into some kind of kinky sex fiend.
On impulse, she decided not to bug Amanda with her question about the Bellow! prototypes. She could email Jeff the sales guy, instead. In fact, he was probably a better person to talk to about the client's feedback.
"Hey, Amanda. I was thinking of running over to Tong's to grab a chicken salad for lunch. Wanna join me?"
It would probably do Amanda a world of good to get away from the office for a while and have a healthy—well, semi-healthy meal, if you ignored the crunchy fried white things topping the salad, and the deliciously creamy spicy peanut sauce dressing which probably had a thousand high-carb calories.
"I'm afraid I already have lunch plans," Amanda said, wanly.
At Katie's disappointed look, she added, making an obvious effort to smile, "But I was wondering whether you'd like to get together for brunch tomorrow? My place? I'll make us mimosas and omelets, and then I want to hear all about how things are going with my brother."
"Sure!" Katie said, both surprised and pleased. "I'd love to! Can I bring anything? There's a farmer's market on Saturday mornings, just around the corner from me. I could pick up some strawberries or something. "
"That would be lovely. How does ten o'clock sound?"
"Great! See you then!" If nothing else, she'd make sure that Amanda ate a decent meal.
* * *
With a cheery wave, Katie strode away.
What was I thinking, to invite the girl over and feed her champagne? Amanda watched those long legs moving away. She knew perfectly well what she was thinking.
She was thinking that her powers were at a dangerously-low ebb, and that she was having difficulties maintaining her glamour.
She was thinking that sex with someone who knew her and cared about her would be more nourishing than feeding on a hundred anonymous sleepers.
She tried to tell herself that probably nothing would happen.
Or, if it did, she would only take one climax from Katie.
Surely Andras wouldn't mind just one? It would be a mercy to the girl to give her a little relief...and I'm so very hungry...
* * *
"Italian? How many languages do the two of you speak?"
Amanda's house was a gorgeous, lovingly-restored Victorian with the most amazing redwood floors, lots of Persian carpets in rich, vivid colors, and molded plaster ceilings to die for.
Brunch had been wonderful, the promised omelets supplemented by light, crispy Belgian waffles served with brandied maple syrup, and complemented by Katie's fresh strawberries, gourmet coffee, and the promised mimosas, made from fresh-squeezed orange juice and a generous amount of real French champagne.
Truth be told, Katie was feeling more than a little tipsy as she followed Amanda from the breakfast nook to her living room, which was furnished with a surprisingly-comfortable antique loveseat and wing armchairs.
With them came a tray with an insulated coffeepot, the half-empty bottle of champagne, a pitcher of orange juice, and the last of the strawberries, which were organic, ridiculously expensive, and meltingly sweet.
There followed a few minutes of refilling cups and glasses.
Katie was a little su
rprised when Amanda sat herself down on the loveseat next to her, almost close enough to touch. As she had promised Andras, Katie had been watching Amanda for any signs of illness. Nothing seemed obvious, except for the fact that Amanda seemed exhausted...drained somehow, her usual brisk energy dulled.
"About twelve," replied Amanda. "Plus ancient Greek and Latin."
"Wow! I'm impressed. I struggled through four years of Spanish in high school, and it was hard."
Amanda laughed. "My parents relocated every few years while Andras and I were growing up, so it was a matter of survival more than anything else. We quickly figured out that we had to learn the local language if we wanted to make friends."
"Military family? Mormon missionaries?" Katie probed, though with a last name as famous as Vélos, Amanda probably thought she was a moron for not having figured it out yet. "C'mon, Amanda. You and Andras never mention your parents, not even to complain about them. I'm dying of curiosity."
"None of the above." Amanda relaxed against the back of the sofa, her arm pressing against Katie's, and took another sip of her coffee. "Our parents were—well, I guess the best way to describe them would be that they started out as political activists, then later on, they founded a fairly successful business importing herbs and spices."
Hah. Spice and herb imports was one way to describe Vélos Enterprises, but it wasn't the first term that Katie would have chosen to describe the hugely successful "natural pharmaceuticals" company. But it did let her know that Amanda wanted to keep her family connections on the down-low.
"So we moved around a lot."
"Are your parents still alive?" This was an honest question. Aphrodisios and Psyche Vélos had never been celebrities, not in the kind of way that led paparazzi stalking them. They never made the evening news, and they didn't even have a Wikipedia entry, though their company did.
Amanda looked surprised by his question. "Of course! I mean, yes. They visited us when Andras and I first moved here. They always liked Yoshiko, and I think they were worried about Andras after she died."
She stopped speaking, her expressing suddenly somber, and fiddled with her coffee cup. "He worried me when he abruptly quit his job in Los Angeles right after her funeral and relocated here on a whim. That kind of impulsiveness wasn't like him at all—in the past, I was always the one who would get sick of a place and decide to move on, and he always followed me, sooner or later. That's one reason I'm so glad that you seem to have hit it off."
