Starved for Love

by Annie Nicholas

  “Valerio.” Wifey rolled the r in his name like a purr. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. If you need someone to show you the city—”

  Herman’s hand clamped down on his wife’s. “I’m sure Val has many available chaperones.” He pointedly stared at the incubus beside me. “I’m sure he won’t need your help.”

  “No, I don’t filch.” A warm hand slid onto my thigh.

  I tossed him a questioning look. “Did Hoel ever make it home last night?” Did he not get my father’s message with the hands-off notice?

  “Yes, a little worse for wear.” His smile turned wicked for a moment.

  My stomach turned inside out. He knew Hoel fed me. The stinker told me to be quiet, then ran home and squealed to Valerio. “Could he speak?” He couldn’t have been that worn out. Come on, he was an angel, they should have some stamina.

  “He reported back fine.” He gave my thigh a squeeze bordering on painful. “Thank you for your concern about my assistant. Aren’t you wondering how I am?”

  I shoved his hand off. “I forgot my manners.”

  A shifter approached our table with a tray. “Care for some hors d’oeuvres, Master Incubus?” He bowed to Herman.

  Everyone at the table grew quiet until I couldn’t hold it anymore and giggled. “I think we’re fine. Keep up the good work.” I giggled again as he turned away to the other guests.

  Chapter Seven

  “What an odd lad.” My mom stared at the waiter. “Why did he refer to you like that, Herman?”

  I finished off my drink. “I need a refill. Nice to meet you both. Mom?” I offered her my hand. I couldn’t abandon her to a dull evening with that couple. Then again, the other wives and husbands weren’t much better. Our people didn’t marry for love. Marriage was for survival, so I wouldn’t witness too many fuzzy moments tonight. The only people with any visible sign of happy attachment were my parents.

  Now, why wouldn’t I aspire to achieve this? My family feared for me. Yes, I’d lost my mind the first time I’d fallen in love, but I learned a valuable lesson. Don’t look for such a relationship outside my race. There might be an incubus out there willing to risk his heart on me. My dad had done it with my moms. It’s not impossible.

  Valerio rose with us and offered my mother his arm and we took a few steps away from the seated couple. “So nice to see you again, Sam. I see a lot of you in Pia. Is she yours by birth?”

  She gave him her motherly smile, though for all I knew they could be the same age. We didn’t age like mortals. Once we reached maturity our clocks stopped. Most humans took my mother for my younger sister. “Yes she is, but I’m already taken.” She winked. “Remember, no filching.” As she left, she pinched his ass.

  I sighed. “I love her even more for that.”

  Valerio laughed. “Really? No jealousy?” He rubbed the spot as if it hurt, drawing my eye to his delicious ass.

  I glanced back up to catch him watching. “You’re a bad boy.” I grinned.

  “There it is. That’s the smile I’ve been looking for.” He stepped closer, gazing into my eyes. A look of longing hooded his stare. “Hoel told me you gave your consent for me to court you.” With the back of his hand, he dragged his knuckles along my upper arm.

  “What I want doesn’t matter. My father said no. You should go—go shop among the other succubi here.” I waved at the crowd behind him even as the joy surrounding my heart unraveled. Yes, I wanted him but I agreed with my father. Valerio would break me. Just the way my pulse raced at the sight of him was a sure warning sign. None of my suitors made me feel like all the oxygen on planet had leaked into outer space.

  He gazed up at the glassed-in ceiling, where the fall sunlight shone through, with a frustrated sigh before meeting my gaze once more. “I’m just asking for a chance.”

  “No, it’s more like you’re a spoiled brat and can’t take no for an answer. There’s nothing special about me, Valerio.”

  “Call me Val.”

  My sister Adele stopped as she passed by. “Dad should hire different help next time. These guys keep bowing and calling me Mistress.” She eyed the one passing us and licked her lips. “I don’t mind the Mistress part though. Think I can housebreak one?” She took the offered champagne glass from a tray. “Hello, Valerio. Nice to see you again. Trying to snag my little sister in your net?”

  “Adele.” He nodded but didn’t take her bait.

  “Behave.” I nudged her. “Dad wouldn’t let you keep a shifter, housebroken or not. They’re not pets and don’t complain to him about their behavior.”

  Her gaze cooled onto my skin. “What do you have to do with this?”

  “It’s just a little harmless fun. I was pissed—at you— and there they were all eager and waggy-tailed.” I shrugged. “I told them about a few non-existent customs.”

  “You’re such a handful.” She scowled at me, hooking her finger into the nearest waiter’s belt loop and dragged him away with her.

  A snort of laughter beside me caught me off guard. Val watched a different waiter bowing to a group of succubi. “You are trouble, Pia.” He turned to face me. I expected an expression of distaste but saw amusement and glee instead.

  The blanket around my heart suddenly tightened, choking its beat. “I have to go.” I handed him my empty glass and hurried deeper into the greenhouse until I exited out the back. Past the bushes, around the pool, I raced to the swing under the shade trees. I need air. Cool, soothing air to ease the hot blood pounding in my veins.

  I wrapped my arms around my body and flung myself onto the cushions. My parents would be upset that I ditched the party early, but once I explained why, they’d have to understand. I only had so much willpower. Closing my eyes, I tried to ignore the slight spinning sensation in my head. Those drinks were a bad idea.

  A breeze blew across the garden, carrying a tinge of musk. I took a deep breath. Maybe I should nap. When I woke, this day would be over and Val would be out of my head. I could soak in the cold pool and freeze my nether regions until the thought of males of any species was out of my system.

  “You say you’re not special but I think you’re unique.” A familiar male voice spoke close by.

  I sat up, my eyes springing open.

  Val leaned against the tree. “Your relationships with your mother and sister are—different. There doesn’t seem to be any jealousy or competition between either of you.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re a pest.”

  “I’m persistent. There’s a difference. I see how your mothers gaze at Flynn. It’s unnatural.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s love. What’s unnatural is how everyone else marries in our culture.” I waved in the direction of the party. “You’ve seen them. None of them are happy. They’re content or satisfied.”

  “Always looking for a better deal or trying to decide if they made the right decision. Thinking about who owns the most power in the relationship, and what they will do about it or with it.” He finished my commentary. “I have five wives. I’m quite aware of how those relationships work,”

  “Are you a mean person?”

  He blinked. “No.”

  “Then leave me alone. Yes, I like you, but you’re not good for me. Okay?”

  He rubbed his chin and stared at his shoes. “I don’t understand. I can offer you everything a succubus could ever want. I have money. You could buy your own home. I’d ensure your safety. No one would dare bother you.” He looked up at me, clearly confused. “What am I missing?”

  “I’m not like other succubi. I don’t need those things. My father provides them for me.”

  “Forever?”

  It was my turn to blink. “I guess.”

  “Forever is a long time. One day you’ll need a husband. Good incubi aren’t so easy to find.” He
came and sat next to me. “Some beat their wives, others ignore them until they need to feed and a few are canny enough to fool others into believing they have wealth so they can clap those wedding tattoos on a succubus’ wrists.”

  “Which one are you?”

  “None, I hope. Maybe I don’t pay enough attention, but that can run both ways. It’s hard to say who’s ignoring whom at the moment.”

  “Are any of your wives here?”

  “No, they’ll be flying to the city in a few days. I’m throwing a banquet and they need to attend. You know, show a solid front to the community. Your family’s invited.”

  I remembered one of my mothers telling me about a get-together soon. At the time, I hadn’t really cared.

  “I could arrange for you to meet them.”

  I rolled my eyes and tossed my head against the swing back. “Why don’t you schedule me an appointment to be skinned alive first?”

  His laughter touched something inside of me. I was comfortable with him. This was a terrible idea, letting him talk to me in gentle tones of whispered promises of a future.

  I twisted to gaze at his devastating profile, his lips so inviting and full of secret pleasures. “A marriage between our families would benefit everyone.”

  “Now you sound like a true succubus.” His smile turned a little sad. “Yes. Yes, it would.”

  “I’m not interested in alliances. I don’t want my marriage to be valued in dollar signs.”

  “Apparently, neither does your father, which intrigues me even more. He’d let either of your sisters come to my bed but not you. I guess my influence is not as valued as I thought.”

  “I think our genders have been so conflicted during our evolution that we forgot to develop simple things that even humans have. Trust and love. My parents love me and want to protect me.”

  “Do you think I would hurt you?”

  “Not on purpose, but then again, you’re a product of a traditional incubus family. You wouldn’t know how to not hurt me. I have to trust in my father’s judgment on this. God knows mine is all twisted.” How could I explain that a weakness could be turned into strength to a creature who used weaknesses to hunt his prey? I was young, sometimes stupid, but my naiveté had been destroyed a while ago. Val was using all his skills to lure me, like incubi did. He was good at it too.

  He tilted his head to the side. “I don’t understand.”

  Patting his knee, I rose and offered him my hand. “You wouldn’t. Come on, you’re missing your party.”

  Hand in hand, we strolled back. I wanted just a few minutes to pretend he did understand.

  He squeezed my fingers, delight dancing in his eyes. “You, me and your father should sit down after lunch and discuss this further.”

  I let that comment skim over my consciousness because my father would never agree to that. Better to soak in Val’s attention and store it in my memory so I could pull it out on rainy days when life seemed too heavy for a slight succubus’ shoulders to bear.

  The greenhouse came into view. The guests sat at the tables. I tried to release Val’s hand as we entered the building but he suddenly developed a skill akin to Krazy Glue and wouldn’t let go.

  “I can’t find him.” My father came around a bush, almost crushing me in his hurry. “There you are, Val.” His grin faded at the sight of our hands. “What is this?” Unlike most people, my father’s voice grew low and soft when angry.

  I shrank away and shook Val’s hand off as if I’d stuck my hand in muck. “I was just showing Val the pool and swing.”

  “Val is it now?” My father’s eyes narrowed.

  “It was nothing.” The last word squeaked out of my throat as it constricted.

  Daddy stepped between me and Val. They were of a similar height but where my father was light, Val was dark. A contrast of personalities as well?

  A crowd gathered at the edge of the serving area. Their scandalized whispers carried in the small room with growing excitement. Couldn’t say we ever threw a dull party.

  “Was him feeding on you yesterday nothing?” A thrum of power surrounded my father. The energy an incubus consumed could be turned into physical strength, faster healing and other useful protectorish-type things. I didn’t think Daddy was interested in lifting garden boulders today. “Do you know what you put my daughter through? I expect better control from an incubus of your experience.”

  “Control? She opened herself up to me, she fed me willingly, I never tore a drop from her.”

  “She doesn’t know better. You were her first.”

  Val leaned to glance at me with a raised eyebrow; his stare traveled over my curves in a show of possessiveness. “I didn’t know. Why didn’t you stop me?”

  Because I didn’t want to. I kept silent, pretty sure that response would make things worse.

  Stepping closer to Val, my father forced him away from me. “You don’t understand her and you will only break her. Stay away.”

  “Everyone keeps explaining how I don’t comprehend things yet no one will enlighten me on what. So I fed. It was unexpected. It rocked my socks off. I want more and I’m willing to marry her for it. It’s what our kind do.”

  I watched as everyone’s gaze shifted from them to me and prayed for the ground to swallow me whole. Did we have to hang my dirty laundry out for everyone’s enjoyment? I wrung my hands and searched for the other members of my family, but none could be seen. My people thrived on weakness and they smelled it here, waiting to see which incubus would come out on top. Dad couldn’t afford to lose face in front of them but neither could Val.

  “She won’t feed on just any kind of prey. I had to bend house rules and force her to use Hoel last night.”

  Val moved into my view, a puzzled expression on his face. “Force her?” He glanced at me. “I know you have suitors. Why not use one of them?”

  I cleared my throat. “None of them were available.”

  “Of three males, not one could service you last night?” He met my father’s glare and stood his ground. “You’re not monitoring her properly. When we first met about a possible marriage between our houses you mentioned Pia’s eating disorder. That didn’t daunt me then or now.”

  “You think you can manage her better?”

  “Yes.” Val extended his hand toward me.

  My gasp was swallowed by the crowd’s. Clenching my hands together, I pressed them to my chest. I couldn’t let Val destroy my father’s influence but agreeing to this courtship could mean my destruction instead. I stepped between them. “Let him court me?” I met my father’s gaze and pleaded.

  “Pia,” he whispered my name, with all the dread he held in his heart contained in that one word.

  “Doesn’t mean I have to marry him, right?” I whispered back and pointedly stared at the crowd. I watched as comprehension reached his eyes.

  He gave his head a weary shake before turning to the crowd. “Looks like we might be adding a son to my family.”

  The party erupted in applause.

  Val’s hands skirted around my waist as he pressed himself against me from behind. “I’ll send Hoel this evening to retrieve you for dinner at my hotel.” He pressed a tender kiss to the back of my neck and joined my father at the main table.

  Would food be served on this date or would I be the main course?

  Chapter Eight

  I stood in front of my full-length mirror and stared at the minx in the reflection. My short curls were pinned into a semblance of a French twist with a few left artfully free. Adele had done my make-up and the dark, smoky eye shadow brought out the blue in my eyes. It made me seem older and more serious. The black silk dress Rose chose oozed around my curves, outlining every inch of my body. The spaghetti straps didn’t offer any support and both my sisters threatened to burn all my bras if
I wore one tonight. The loving bitches had transformed me into a sex goddess.

  They sat on my bed, a pile of discarded outfits on the mattress behind them. Someone sniffed.

  “Rose, you promised no crying. If you start, then I will, and then Adele will have to redo my make-up.” I pulled on the straps to hide some cleavage.

  “It’s not me.” She came from behind and tugged on the short hem of the dress, exposing the flesh again.

  I glimpsed Adele wiping her eyes, a small sob escaping her. “Del?” I twisted around.

  Tears had smeared her mascara. She held me at arm’s length. “Our baby sister is going on her first real date.” She squeezed my shoulders. “Maybe you shouldn’t give it up tonight. Make him wait a little.”

  “Are you crazy?” Rose pushed Adele away. “You take him to bed and make him beg for mercy.”

  My dread returned. I wanted to make my family proud but would this courtship cost me my happiness? I could end up trapped in a loveless marriage if I wasn’t careful. “This isn’t helping.” I tried to storm from my room but the black strappy stilettos made it hard. I wobbled to the door instead. This was why I wore wedges. “Can’t I wear a different pair of shoes?”

  As one they turned. “No.”

  I descended the two flights of stairs, taking each step with care and repeating Sin’s last piece of advice—tact and grace, tact and grace.

  Hoel, escorted by my dad, came from the study. Neither appeared thrilled at my arrival.

  I pressed a kiss to my father’s cheek and looked around the empty foyer. My sisters and mothers hadn’t followed. The cowards.

  My dad leaned by my ear and whispered. “You can change your mind any time.”

  A breath hitched in my chest. He was the one who understood me the most. After Pierre had dumped me, my birth mother had told me that my father had once fallen in love with a mortal woman, long before he met any of them. Of all of my parents, he knew how much heartbreak hurt. Unlike him, I hadn’t had the strength to survive it. I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. Offering him a crooked smile, I nodded, then followed Hoel out to his car. The night had warmed from this afternoon, a hint of Indian summer in the air.