Starved for Love

by Annie Nicholas

  “It’s not for me. I’m worried about my suitor John. I wanted to summon him.”

  “Oh, the cutie pie with the glasses. Pia, it was just a matter of time before a little thing like him got eaten or enslaved. You just need move on, honey. Gotta go. Dinner’s arrived.” She hung up.

  I set my phone on the front entrance side table. Should I do as she suggested? Forgetting about John without even trying to find him seemed heartless and cruel. For a demon, he wasn’t half-bad.

  Even Sin tolerated him. I clicked the tip of my fingernail on my phone. Damn it, that vampire had his fingers in everything Lake City had to offer. The last thing I wanted was to ask him for more help. He would exact a price. Maybe I should ask my dad to act as a negotiator? I glanced at the study. That wouldn’t reassure him about my being able to take care of myself. I always ran to him or Sin when I had a problem. I had to stop.

  Who could I bring with me? I wasn’t stupid enough to go by myself. Negotiations were not my forte. My sisters would be the worst choice. Sin would end up owning all our asses. Cooper wouldn’t even set foot in Sin’s club, let alone his nest. I glanced at the kitchen. One of my moms? That was worse than asking my dad.

  I sighed. I could ask Val. I should ask Val, really. He’d be pissed if I went to see Sin without him. I groaned and dialed the hotel’s phone number. “Valerio Hunan’s room, please?”

  Hoel answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “It’s Pia. Is Val available?” I twirled a curl around and around my finger until the blood flow stopped to the tip.

  “Pia?”

  “Hey, do you want to meet my other suitor?”

  “Didn’t find any practitioners, huh? Neither did I.” There was a slight silence on the other end. “Why do you need to find John? He left and broke your contract. Let him be.”

  My gut clenched. “He came to my house and left a note tacked to my door. John is terrified of my father. He’d never come here unless he was desperate.”

  “Why leave the note then? Why not just disappear if he was in so much trouble?”

  “Because John’s like that. He’s attentive and gentle with me. He wanted to give me a heads-up so I wouldn’t suffer since he abandoned me.”

  “You did suffer.”

  “Oh Val, being with Sin is not suffering.” The words popped out before my brain could edit it. I bonked my fist against my forehead and grimaced. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. “I—I mean it could have been—”

  “I’ll be by to pick you up later this evening. I have a few things to attend to first.” Then he hung up on me.

  Yeah, dragging a pissed off Val with me to see Sin would make this evening that much more comfortable. I high fived myself for being the world’s biggest dumbass.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Very late that night, Val arrived at my house driving a silver Mercedes sports car. I couldn’t resist giving a little squeak of excitement at the sight. None of my suitors drove nice cars. Cooper drove a beat-up Jeep, John didn’t own a vehicle and Sin liked motorcycles.

  I hurried around to the passenger side door, as quickly as I could in stilettos, and slipped inside. Pulling the hem of my sequined dress down so it wouldn’t ride up over my ass, I sat. “How considerate of you to match the color of your car with my dress.”

  He ran a finger along my bare thigh and tried to lift the hem higher. “Very sexy.”

  “Where’s Hoel?”

  “Visiting his sister, but maybe I should have brought him along to help keep the males off you.”

  “At Sin’s club? No one touches me there.” Unless they wanted a broken bone. The bouncers had strict instructions from their boss. It was the only club I’d go to; I even sang there every Sunday night. My lame attempt at keeping a job and Sin paid me too much for it. It was my feeble attempt at independence and my father hated it.

  Val drove at breakneck speed through the countryside back to the city. “My wives have all arrived.”

  “Oh? Must be tight in your hotel suite.” I stared at the trees as we fleeted past.

  “They have their own rooms at the hotel.” He didn’t sound amused at my comment. “They want to meet you for lunch tomorrow.”

  Suddenly my dinner wasn’t sitting well in my stomach. “So soon?”

  “They’re busy females, Pia. It’s not easy to get them all together. It would be convenient if you would comply with their request.” He gave me a pleading look, mimicking my pouty face. “Please.”

  I slouched in my seat, my stomach taking a nosedive. “Fine, but they won’t like me.”

  He set his hand on my thigh and rubbed it.

  “What are they doing here if it’s so hard for them to find time for you?”

  “They are here for me. They’ve come to meet the immortal society, make pleasantries with the families, and for the banquet. Maybe we can make an official announcement that night?” He glanced at me with a raised eyebrow.

  I swallowed. “Maybe.”

  The club didn’t have valet parking, yet when Val arrived he handed his keys over to the bouncer without question.

  “I don’t know if you’re going to get your car back.” I kept glancing over my shoulder at Val’s pretty car with the hulking, muscled vampire behind the wheel.

  “I will. Sin knows we’re coming.” Val settled his arm around my waist, resting a possessive hand low on my hip.

  Only if Sin wanted him to have it back. Why did I think this was a good idea? I’d worn this outfit to please Lake City’s master vampire. I hoped to place him in a good mood before begging for a favor. He liked it when I dressed girly, though he’d never vocalized it. He didn’t have to. Actions spoke louder than words.

  From the way Val kept rubbing my ass, I guess he liked barely-there dresses too.

  We bypassed the line to enter the club and approached the entrance guarded by Sin’s men. “Not your night to sing, Pia. What’s the special occasion?”

  “I want to flaunt my new arm candy.” I ran my fingers through Val’s hair.

  His eyes widened but he didn’t complain. He gave the bouncers a sexy smirk as if daring them to say something.

  They opened the door and I heard one say, “I wouldn’t mind a piece of that candy.”

  I grinned and leaned against my handsome incubus, proud that even other men were spellbound by Val’s physique.

  The thump of punk rock pounded through the speakers and echoed in my chest. Leather-clad humans passed us, circulating through the club and the bar trying to find oblivion. Perfect prey for Sin’s nest. I didn’t sing this genre of music. I did jazz, so Sunday nights were pretty empty, except for my number one fan, who gave me the job.

  Tonight, the crush of bodies made me claustrophobic. As we crossed toward the staircase that led to Sin’s office, I curled my arms in front of my chest, afraid of what my hands might brush. A group of three women knocked into me on their way to thrash on the dance floor. The momentum sent me stumbling back.

  Val vanished in the throng of humanity.

  I rose on tiptoe but couldn’t spot him.

  “Hello, Pia.” A cold breath brushed against the nape of my neck and sent a chill down my spine.

  I spun around and frowned. “Rat.” Something about this vampire annoyed the crap out of me. The combination of arrogance, self-righteousness and the way his eyes roamed over my body every single time we met made me want to poke him with some of Sin’s less playful toys.

  “Are you hungry? Looking for someone to ride?” He trailed his fingertips down my arm. “You know I’m always there for you.”

  “How sweet, but I’m set.” I twisted to continue on my path to Sin’s office but Rat’s unnaturally strong hand grabbed my upper arm.

  “What’s the hurry? You never want to spend any time with me.” He pressed
his erection against my lower back as his hand climbed my thigh toward the high hem of my dress. “Sin has a meeting with some incubus right now. Why don’t I entertain you until he’s done?”

  My heart raced. I was stronger than humans but not vampires. He could carry me, kicking and screaming, from this bar to the alley. The only one strong enough to stop him was Sin. The things Rat would do to me would pale in comparison to what Sin would do to him if he hurt me.

  I took a deep, shaky breath and faced Rat. “I don’t sleep around. Sin is my suitor and I fuck him. You are an asshole so do the math.”

  A grin spread across his face, fangs glinting in the laser lights crisscrossing the dance floor. “I never did well in school.” He pulled me against him, his hands snaking around my ass.

  I squirmed as he guided us toward the men’s bathroom. Classy. Rat had a good grip on me. With all my might, I squeezed my leg between his thighs and sent my knee rocketing into his balls.

  Vampires were humans turned semi-demonic but they still enjoyed a few of their mortal weaknesses. Ball crushing was one of them.

  He made a high-pitched noise and tried to bend in half but I didn’t let him. A sense of pride rose in me. I’d done it. I stopped him. Vermin like Rat needed reminders that succubi were people too. Not just living fuck dolls.

  “Did you say harder, baby?” I whispered in his ear. I really couldn’t do any serious damage. Even if I rammed his testicles between his ears, they’d grow back. I put my back into it and kneed him one more time. He wouldn’t be raping anyone tonight.

  A familiar hand came down on my wrist. “Stop with the foreplay, we have a meeting to attend.” Val removed my grip from Rat’s shoulders.

  The vampire fell to his knees, grasping his package, while satisfaction curled in my stomach.

  Holding my hand this time, Val led me through the crowd to Sin’s office. Before climbing, he pressed me to the wall and buried his face into my hair. “You have a vicious streak.” His solid body leaned against me in all the right places. He pushed his knee between my thighs while nibbling my ear. “That was so hot. Remind me to reward you later.”

  I gripped a handful of his hair and yanked his head back.

  He gasped.

  “You bet.” I took his mouth, demanding entrance and claiming what I was starting to see as mine. Running my fingers through his thick, luscious hair, I hooked one leg around his hip and pulled him closer. Not an easy trick on stilettos.

  A growl vibrated in his chest before he grabbed my ass and arched into me. He all but consumed my mouth as he kissed me back. My father worried if Val was sincere. A person couldn’t fake this type of passion.

  “Let’s go back to my place.” His hot breath brushed against my ear.

  “Right now?” I groaned at the idea and the chance to finally do things with his body that I’d been fantasizing about. We’d have to stop and buy a jar of Nutella. I think I’d left a pair of handcuffs in Sin’s office that I could grab. Sin? I shook my head. We were here for John. “Shit, we can’t leave.” I’d feed off Cooper tomorrow but in another three days I needed that demon back in Lake City.

  “Your suitor has only been gone a few days. Why so worried? He’s a demon for God’s sake.”

  I caressed his face. Val wouldn’t understand, not until he met John. My demon was kind and thoughtful and very geeky, which made him a terrible at being a demon. Technically, his race lived off bad emotions like pain, sorrow and anger. John did his small part through hacking computers. He didn’t kick puppies or steal candy from children. He went after big corporations, those which he thought screwed the little man, and stole their money.

  Most of John’s loot got sent up to whichever higher-level demon claimed to own him in a given month. I couldn’t figure out what would make him run. He made his keepers lots of money, so he enjoyed a measure of protection.

  “Something’s wrong. John is a homebody. It’s not like him to leave and not call or return my messages. He’d send a text. My gut tells me he’s in trouble.” I pushed away from the wall and climbed up to Sin’s office without Val.

  Not long after, he met me at the top and grabbed my arm before I entered Sin’s office. “This isn’t love you feel for John?”

  “No, it’s friendship. There’s a fine line but it’s not love.” I never took the time to define my relationships with my suitors. Why would I? It worked. Everyone was happy. I wish Val would let it be already.

  I entered Sin’s office without knocking.

  He had a human female bent over his desk on her back. His black glare met mine as he drank from her jugular.

  “Are you going to be long? I thought you knew we were coming.” I glanced at Val behind me for confirmation.

  He stood wide-eyed, his feet rooted on the stair landing, and nodded.

  The woman writhed under Sin, letting out small mewls of ecstasy as he pounded into her. She grasped his black T-shirt with her long red nails, her legs up and around his bare hips.

  Sin swallowed and released the bite on his victim. A thin trail of blood trickled from his mouth. “Almost.” His voice sounded breathless as he grabbed the edge of his desk for better leverage.

  I closed the door and rolled my eyes at Val.

  “That doesn’t bother you?” He pointed to the office and leaned against the metal rails. “I was given the impression that you and Sin were very close.”

  “I’ve walked in on worse. It’s almost a game now.” I waved my fingers in the air. “What’s behind the door tonight? Except I don’t win any prizes.” Not always. I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest. “Who gave you that impression?” It meant Val was checking on me. I didn’t like that.

  Shrugging, he gave me a smile as innocent as a devil’s. “I have my sources.”

  Sin’s muted shouts came through the door. The demanding music masked most of it, but we heard him since we stood right outside. He was doing it on purpose to try to rile one of us up. Plain vanilla fucking on his desk didn’t get Sin off like that. After a few hundred years, regular sex would seem boring to anyone.

  “Sounds like he’s done.” Val straightened his tailored gunmetal-gray jacket.

  “Give it a second.” I sure enjoyed looking at him. All my suitors were handsome, in Sin’s case devastatingly so, but Val oozed sensuality. Smooth and self-assured, he moved like a male capable of giving any female an orgasm on contact. I made a satisfied noise deep in my throat, remembering just how good he tasted. I wanted seconds.

  Sighing, I slid my finger over the buttons of his shirt. They strained as he leaned his hands on his hips. I could imagine his fine, muscled chest flexing under the material. Damn, whenever I was around him I felt on the edge of need. Tomorrow would be day three—I shouldn’t be this horny yet.

  High-pitched cries mixed in with Sin’s shouts. The vampire was an asshole, but his pride would suffer if he didn’t make her come.

  I covered a giggle with my hand, then banged on his door. “If you’re going to make this multi-orgasmic let us know. We’ve got other things to do tonight.” I’d hold Val to his prior invitation. Speed bumps be damned, I wanted it all.

  Val laughed. “I can’t believe you did that.” He glanced behind me at the crowd.

  I rotated to face them. Some had heard me and watched us intently. I waggled my fingers. The dark covered the blush heating my cheeks. “Sometimes I forget to lower my volume.”

  His shoulders shook from silent laughter as he turned a fond gaze on me.

  The door opened and the woman came out with a large Band-Aid on her neck. Catcalls shouted from the club startled her. She smoothed her leather skirt over her thighs and sprinted down the stairs.

  Oops. That was not my intention.

  Sin stood in the doorway, greeting me with a disapproving frown.

  “Sorry.” I squeezed
past him into the office and sat in the old, overstuffed comfy seat in the corner. My regular perch when I came here.

  Sin confronted my boyfriend at the door. “Valerio, why do I owe this honor, again?” He sounded less than thrilled.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Couldn’t resist tasting my lovely Pia?” Sin sat on the edge of his desk, papers scattered all over the top, probably with other—stuff. “What would your wives say? Isn’t that considered infidelity among your kind?”

  Val eased onto the chair by the desk, crossing one long leg over his knee. He made the uncomfortable thing seem like a recliner. “Yes, it is, but my wives know about Pia. They’ve agreed to allow me to court her.”

  “Court?” The question snapped out like a whip. Sin pinned me with his glare. “One small, simple task and you get engaged?”

  “We’re not engaged!” I held up my bare wrists.

  “Might as well be. Incubi only court for one reason, Pia, and that’s to claim another wife. This isn’t a game.” Sin’s frown deepened.

  “Val came to Lake City to meet my sisters but things didn’t spark between them. Then I showed up.” The last sentence, I articulated very clearly so Sin would understand exactly who sent me there. “I’m not the one playing games.” Maybe I should have talked to Sin before arriving with Val. I could see he had questions that he wouldn’t ask in front of my boyfriend.

  A small smile twitched at his lips. “Good. Marriage might stabilize you, or drive him insane.” He faced Val. “If you came to break Pia’s blood contract then you’re wasting your time.”

  “What kind of contract?” Val dropped his relaxed state and sat straighter in the chair. “My sources didn’t tell me that. What have you done?” he asked me.

  “Don’t blame her. Flynn arranged it.” Unlike my other contracts, I could never break this one. If I did, Sin would own my father’s soul.

  “Why would your father do such a thing?” Val gave me an incredulous expression.