Tempt Me

by R. G. Alexander

  Her friends weren’t gone. They were threatening her with the one thing that could motivate her after wallowing in self-pity for the entire day. “On my way.”

  She walked past the kitchen and noticed the cold plate of eggs, the one she’d seen after he’d left. He’d made her breakfast, then followed the kind deed up by unleashing an unprovoked verbal attack that had shocked her.

  It shouldn’t have. Only a child expected to change a bad boy into Mr. Right with one night of amazing, intimate, life-altering sex. And she wasn’t a child.

  Or so she kept insisting.

  She opened the door and was instantly engulfed in a four-armed embrace. As always, their affection and concern were the perfect balm to her blue mood.

  Ive planted a loud kiss on her cheek. “Woman, you have no idea how worried we were. Is your phone broken? Didn’t you get any of our messages?”

  She’d unplugged her phone when it started to ring. “I’m sorry.” She dropped her arms and took a questioning step back. “Is something wrong? I thought you’d gone home.”

  Ive pointed at Kelly. The usually sunny blonde was glancing anxiously around the room. “Kel had one of her feelings. We don’t ignore those; you know that. When you didn’t answer any of our calls, we had to come over.”

  Angelique was surprised. She did feel a bit like her heart was breaking but she wasn’t in any danger. At least, she didn’t think so. “I’m fine. Kel, are you sure it was about me?”

  Kelly turned from her study of the room and examined Angelique from the top of her mussed curls to her slipper-clad feet. She’d hardly moved from the couch all day, too busy feeling sorry for herself to do anything else.

  Including eat, she realized when her stomach growled.

  “Yes, I’m sure. Ive?”

  “What is it, Kelly? Another feeling?”

  Kelly shook her head, her expression deadpan. “No. More fact than feeling. I think Angelique had a party without us.”

  Ive smirked, obviously catching her friend’s train of thought. “What kind of party would that be?”

  They both looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to finish their running gag. Angelique rolled her eyes. “A pity party.”

  Ive slipped her arm through Angelique’s, leading her into the living room. “You know you never have that kind of party alone, bebe. There’s planning involved. A few of your closest friends, some chocolate, some liquor . . . maybe a night of no-strings sex with the hottest man you know to blow off some steam.”

  Angelique’s smile faltered. And Kelly noticed.

  Her jaw dropped. “Unless you already had sex with the hottest man you know and then he did something to screw it up because he’s a man and that’s what they do.”

  A tear slipped down Angelique’s cheek and she laughed in surprise, wiping it quickly away. “Who needs empaths and invisible voyeurs when you have best friends?”

  Ive’s expression was compassionate and protective. “What did that nasty Gabriel do? You know how well I know the male anatomy. I can kick it or I can snip it.” She made a motion that had Angelique grin unwillingly. “Nobody is allowed to make you cry. Not on my watch.”

  For some reason, her words turned on the waterworks. Angelique hadn’t realized how much she needed her friends until they were there. She loved her family, she truly did, but she would always be the baby to them. Celestin would always fight to protect her and pat her on the head when he was proud. Her mother would always coddle her and lecture her and make excuses for her. None of them would ever share their burdens with her as if she were an equal.

  Kelly and Ive were the two people in the world who saw her for what she was now. Who would fight for her and never judge her for her mistakes. They had her back.

  “I don’t know why I’m such a mess.”

  Because you know he hates you.

  She shook her head, wishing she could remove her morbid thoughts. Wishing she could focus. “We both said it was just sex. But it wasn’t . . . He was wonderful and then he was a creep, so I told him to go.” She buried her face in her hands, her words muffled. “But he made me breakfast.”

  She could hardly hear Ive over her pounding headache. “We understand, hon.”

  “We do? I’m not sure I got any of that. I can’t even tell if she had ‘just sex’ or not.”

  Angelique lifted her head and glared at Kelly. “Yes. Great sex. The best sex in the history of the sport. Everywhere, on everything, all night long. Okay? Satisfied?”

  Kelly fanned herself. “No, but you obviously were. So why are we mad at him, again?”

  “Because she’s falling in love with him.” Ive’s melodic voice changed Kelly’s expression.

  “Oh. That makes sense.”

  It did? She was? Damn it. “Then I need to fall out right now.” She sat up straight and sniffed. “Are you two all New Orleansed out?”

  Kelly rubbed her hands together. “Never. What’s your plan?”

  Angelique looked around the apartment and sighed. “I can’t stay here anymore. I’m turning into a cliché. I say we get a hotel suite in the middle of the action and see what kind of trouble we can stir up. My treat.”

  Ive nodded, and the burnished curtain of burgundy hair shimmering in a shoulder-length bob framed her serene smile. “Sounds perfect. But I have one condition.”

  At her questioning glance Ive’s expression turned playful. “Shower, bebe. And put on something sexy so we can grab one of the brokenhearted men you’ll leave in your wake tonight.”

  Angelique smiled thankfully and got to her feet. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  She stepped into the bathroom and her smile disappeared. In her mind she could see Gabriel in the shower, washing her with gentle, loving hands. Gabriel looking down at her kneeling form, begging—no, sensually demanding—her to take more of him into her mouth.

  She studied herself in the mirror. Where was sassy, ballsy Angelique Rousseau? The one who knew she was sexy, knew she was worthy? Who was this mess in her place?

  If this was what happened when you fell in love, she now knew why she’d avoided it for this long. It was hell on your ego, it hurt a lot, and if your feelings weren’t returned? No amount of chocolate or liquor could fix that Shakespearean tragedy.

  You could make him love you. Make him need you. Like your father did.

  She would rather die. She couldn’t believe the idea had entered her mind.

  She sent herself a stern expression. Even if she knew how, she never would. If Gabriel didn’t want her, or, at least, not enough to treat her the way she deserved, she would deal with it and move on.

  There were plenty of kissable frogs around. Not many who could make her feel the way Gabriel did, but there must be one or two who could come close.

  You know that’s a lie. He’s the only one.

  For once, unfortunately, she and her gloomy inner voice were in agreement. Hell.

  She reached up to run a hand through her hair and heard a light, musical sound. Her fingers opened to reveal a silver chain with the locket she’d taken from Mambo Toussaint’s shop dangling from the end.

  The ruby gem shone beneath the fluorescent light. It was so beautiful. But she really needed to take it back to the Mambo’s.

  Strange. She hadn’t realized she’d picked it up again.

  “FASCINATING.”

  Gabriel glanced up at Emmanuel in disbelief before returning his gaze to the ex-Loa. “That’s it? I’ve told you everything. Trusted you. Let’s recap, shall we? I’m talking to and can see a grown-up non-ghosty version of the brother of your wife’s past life.” He made a face. He couldn’t believe he’d actually just said that. Again. “I’ve told you about the shadows. That they’re drawn to me. If you and my invisible buddy are to be believed, they can even enter me and turn me into a version of the Incredible Hulk of the Big Easy. Or at least a black-eyed, ironfisted wild man. Now, according to Manny, I might have the extra-special talent of unconsciously sucking up souls like a damn
ed energy vampire.” He took a deep breath, studying BD’s mysterious expression with frustration. “All of that, and fascinating is all you’ve got for me?”

  Emmanuel grumbled from his perch on the kitchen island. It was obvious he was expecting more as well. “Maybe we should have gone to the Mambo’s after all. Not sure why I thought Marcel could help.”

  BD tilted his head. “I don’t go by that name anymore. You know that. You haven’t forgotten I can hear you, have you, Manuel?”

  “Only because I want you to.”

  BD grinned with true affection. “Neat trick, little brother. Emmanuel, all grown up and alive. Well, not dead—is that what you said? Wish I could see what that looked like. Is that my old mentor’s doing?”

  Emmanuel’s jaw tightened. “No. Legba wouldn’t have done this.”

  Gabriel wasn’t sure why Emmanuel had refused to show himself. His concession to let the others hear him was all he was willing to agree to. “For now,” he’d said.

  Emmanuel made a sound of frustration. “I wasn’t told very much about why Gabe can do what he can do. Just that I had to get him to find the answers. And bring him home so he could learn to use it. I thought you might know. You were at the crossroads longer than I was. I spent most of my time . . . elsewhere.”

  BD’s expression turned thoughtful. “You know you’re just making me curious, yes?” He paused. “They never tell you anything they don’t have to. Not even when they’re trying to help. It’s just their way. And a habit you’ve obviously acquired. But I told Gabriel the truth the other day. I don’t remember everything.” He paused. “I do know I thought it was strange, even as a Loa, that the twin of a bon ange, the child of such an honored mambo, had his gifts withheld from him. But what he can do now? I’m not sure what that is. In fact, if I were still a Loa, I believe Gabriel’s ability would make me wary.”

  Wary? Gabriel’s eyebrows lowered in confusion. Loas were voodoo’s version of angels and saints. Immortal and powerful. He would make them nervous?

  A feminine voice drifted into the room. “Obtenebration.”

  “Speaking bookworm again, my love? Sounds kinky.”

  Bethany made a face at her husband as she walked into the kitchen. The moment Gabriel had started explaining what he’d been seeing, her eyes had glossed over. He’d thought she didn’t believe him. When she’d disappeared, he’d hesitated, but BD had asked him to continue. Apparently she’d been going to look something up.

  “Not that I should be helping, since he didn’t tell me all of this as soon as I let him under my roof.” Gabriel shifted guiltily at her stare. “It’s what Gabriel can do. Well, sort of.”

  She blushed. “I used to play this online role-playing game. It had vampires . . .”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes, growling when Emmanuel whacked his shoulder. “Okay, I’ll bite. What is obtenebration?”

  She sat down, a large book open in her hands. He’d gotten a glimpse of the cover. He should have known. The answers had been here all along. It had nothing to do with voodoo. No. Instead, all he needed to know could be found in a fictional game about Goth vampires.

  “In this context, it means ‘the act of darkening’ or ‘the state of being darkened.’” Bethany bit her lip. “But the, um, characters who have it can pull the darkness in and use it, manipulate it to attack or protect themselves. It’s the only reference to what you’re describing that I’ve ever heard of.”

  “The characters. From the book. About a game.”

  Emmanuel stood over Bethany’s shoulder, his eyes gleaming. “Do not disrespect her. Besides, that sounds right. Or as right as anything can. You did use it to protect yourself, aware or not, the night she found you.”

  Bethany looked up into the empty space around her, a soft smile tinged with sadness on her face. “The night you told me where to find him.”

  Gabriel saw a flash of vulnerability in Emmanuel’s expression and felt a new kinship with him. He’d lost his sister, too. Had the life he’d known taken away from him too soon. Now they were both home, both so close to what they’d wanted. Love. Family. But they were too afraid, or for some reason unable to reach out for it.

  He’d been staying away from Michelle. He told himself it was out of shame and fear he would hurt her. He’d left his mother’s house for the haven of Bethany and BD’s for the same reason. But, he admitted to himself, there was more to it than that.

  He had a hard time accepting the love the Mambo offered. He’d held on to his loss for so long, worn it like armor to shield himself from harm. Stop himself from caring about anyone enough to be hurt by them again.

  But he hadn’t gone far. Gabriel had more than enough money to buy a damn house—hell, ten houses—so why hadn’t he? Why had he pushed his way into the home of people who were practically strangers, sleeping on their narrow guest bed and running errands to stay in their good graces?

  Because he was selfish. He’d wanted to stay connected to his family. Bethany and BD were that connection. He couldn’t let himself trust he could have his family back, but he didn’t want to be alone.

  What was Emmanuel’s reason?

  Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck with his palm, thinking of Angelique again. Speaking of hurting people . . . “What about the other thing?”

  Bethany’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “You called it soul sucking. Can you be a little more specific? Maybe something like that’s in here. How does Emmanuel know you can do that? Maybe if he described what he saw . . .”

  Gabriel hesitated, and her blue eyes, so like Emmanuel’s, narrowed on him. “How does he know?” she repeated ominously.

  “Angelique has a . . . bright soul.” Emmanuel had begun pacing. “I noticed it right away.” He avoided Gabriel’s eyes. “In certain situations, it dims around him. Goes into him. I didn’t notice until this morning that he could take too much.”

  The condemnation Gabriel saw on Bethany’s face was no more than he deserved. “I didn’t know. God, do you think I would have—She said she was dizzy but I thought—”

  BD tapped the table, drawing their attention. “I don’t like that phrase, soul sucking. I like the name you found. Obtenebration. It sounds omnipotent and menacing. Good name for a superpower.”

  “We aren’t talking about superpowers, my love.” Bethany was gritting her teeth. “We’re talking about me putting Angelique in danger.” She sighed. “Because I’m an idiot. Because I hated everyone telling me to stay away from you and I thought—”

  BD reached across the table and took her hand. “No one speaks about my wife that way. Especially now.”

  Gabriel watched the silent communication between the couple. The love, so obvious even he could recognize it. BD looked at the spunky, bookish woman as though nothing else existed, and Bethany . . . She was looking at BD with an expression he’d thought Angelique had—

  No. He wouldn’t torture himself.

  “Why especially now?” Emmanuel was sitting across from him now, his attention riveted on Bethany.

  She blushed. “That’s not important.” Her eyes widened, as though an idea had suddenly come to her. “Manuel, is it only with her? Have you seen him do that with anyone else?”

  Gabriel looked on with interest, and Emmanuel shifted uncomfortably. “Not exactly,” he started. “I watched the darker energy gravitate toward him before he was entirely aware of it, and he usually had to find an outlet. Had to fight or . . . other things . . . to dissipate the darkness. This is the first time I’ve seen him interact with energy when he wasn’t . . . well, angry or drunk.”

  Bethany tilted her head and hummed under her breath. BD laughed. “She’s so cute when she does that. It usually means she’s figured something out.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I find it incredibly arousing. And I always love her ideas. Especially the ones I inspire.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “What are you thinking?”

  “In a way, he did inspire this,” Bethany said. “Babe, you told me once
there’s a difference between spirit and spirits. Or spirit and souls. You said it was something Loas and a few other beings, like Emmanuel, could see occasionally, but something humans could only feel.”

  BD lowered his long lashes, studying her through them. “Yes. Human beings have souls that come back again and again, but spirit is in and around all life, existing as energy.” His eyebrows lifted. “Or emotion.”

  Bethany beamed at him as if he’d just discovered the cure for the common cold. “Exactly.”

  Gabriel had a headache. “Can we go back to the role-playing game? That was less confusing.”

  Bethany turned in her seat, too excited to be still at her discovery. “I don’t think anything like a djab is following you, Gabriel. I think, just like your sister can see souls—ghosts—you can see spirit. The energy or emotions that are around everyone.”

  “That can’t be right.” He shook his head. “I see darkness. It’s sinister and contagious and ugly.”

  “That’s where you are. Where you’ve been and where you’ve drawn your power.” BD’s voice was soothing, and Gabriel heard the truth in it. “You closed out everything else, and maybe when you did, you blocked your ability to see it.”

  Were they saying that this was a gift he was born with? Like Michelle? If so, someone got turned around on their way to delivering it. “This is new. It only happened after I let that demon in.”

  Emmanuel, who’d been silently listening, grimaced at his words. “You didn’t let it in, Gabriel. It took you. You didn’t know how to protect yourself from something like that. Nobody could have.”

  “He’s right, Gabriel, and you know it.” Bethany laid her free hand on his arm. “And Michelle and your mother know it, too. The point is—”

  “The point is you have a superpower, like her book says.” BD interrupted his wife and waggled his eyebrows playfully.

  Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose. The man was irritatingly cheerful. “An ability that I have no idea how to use or control, or what the point of it is? One that I’ve possibly blocked part of and that drives me around the bend?”