The Demon and the Succubus
Page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Praise for the novels of Cassie Ryan
“From the first erotic word to the last sensual line, Ceremony of Seduction weaves a spell around its reader and doesn’t let go.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“An incredibly creative read. If you’re looking for a sexy escape, you’ll find it here.”
—Romantic Times
“Ms. Ryan creates a bold and beautiful world . . . I highly recommend it.”
—Night Owl Romance
“An amazing journey between two worlds. Definitely a book that, once opened, won’t be closed until the final page has been read.”
—Kate Douglas
Berkley Sensation titles by Cassie Ryan
SEDUCING THE SUCCUBUS
THE DEMON AND THE SUCCUBUS
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
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Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2011 by Cassie Ryan.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
BERKLEY® SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / April 2011
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ryan, Cassie.
The demon and the succubus / Cassie Ryan.—Berkley Sensation trade pbk. ed. p. cm.
eISBN : 978-1-101-47909-4
1. Demonology—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3618.Y33D45 2011
813’.6—dc22
2010052533
http://us.penguingroup.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to my awesome agent, Paige Wheeler, and my fabulous editor, Kate Seaver, for following through on this second book in the Sisters of Darkness series. They rallied the troops to overcome obstacles and moved this project through on schedule like the wonderful professionals they are.
To my critique buddies—Erin Quinn, Jordan Summers, and Kayce Lassiter—my eternal gratitude for your help and support in getting the final touches put on this story.
As for all the friends, family, coworkers, and fans that have been there for me these last few months with cards, letters, food, labor, prayers, and positive energy for healing . . . you humble me with your loving and caring hearts. You brought food to my family, you packed our belongings and showed up with trailers and trucks to help us move, you showed up in the dark to work a yard sale, and you let me know I wasn’t alone. Thank you!
For the fabulously skilled and talented staff and volunteers at the Scottsdale Health Care Osborn Medical Center, there are no words to express my undying gratitude for all you have done for me and for my family.
Bree, my best barista friend, you truly rock, girl! What didn’t you do?
My father, David, and my sister, Amy, have shown me how truly priceless the love and support of family can be. I love you both.
Finally, my thanks and love to Jon and Darian for your love and support. Your faith in me never wavered and I could not have come half the distance without the two of you cheering me on. You are my life and I couldn’t have done any of it without you guys!
1
“Not what I expected. But a lovely prelude to our relationship.”
Sunk deep in a relaxing hot bath, Amalya glanced toward the doorway to find a stunning stranger in a very expensive Italian suit devouring her with an amused hazel gaze. Irritation and surprise warred inside her and she bit them back. “I’m sorry. Did we have an appointment, Mr.—” She remained in her reclined state with her head resting back against the bath pillow and her arms resting along the sides of the ridiculously large claw-footed tub as she waited for him to fill in the blank as she mentally reviewed her calendar.
There were no appointments for today, and the Madame hadn’t informed her of any pop-ups, which was why she’d slept in this morning and was now lounging in the tub.
After all, even succubi liked to relax on their days off.
“Levi.” His rich voice with a definitely upper-crust British accent softly echoed around the spacious bathroom as he walked forward uninvited. He grinned as he crouched and reached out to rub some strands of the long blond hair she’d pinned on top of her head in between his fingertips. “Soft and lovely.” His inflection told her he meant more than just her hair.
Surprised at the man’s bold actions, Amalya resisted the urge to define her personal space. Instead, she mentally shifted into work mode.
She cocked her head to the side and reached out to touch his hair in the same manner he had hers, smiling when he raised his brows as if she’d surprised him. His hair was soft to the touch, the color of rich milk chocolate, clean cut, but longer on the top where it fell over onto his brow. She traced one finger down his sideburns, which were worn long and ended even with the bottom of his earlobes.
He was definitely good looking, attractive with a strong jaw and rich hazel eyes that sparked with amusement.
He intrigued her.
A glowing aura of nearly white energy surrounded him like a pulsing mist. Amalya wasn’t in need of energy, having just entertained a client last night, but this man’s presence tasted human with an undertone of something exotic she couldn’t quite place. Her skin began to ache—the succubus equivalent of a stomach growl, telling her he would give her a surge of energy better than any sh
e’d had lately among the stream of humans and lower-level supernaturals. Not to mention he was interesting, and she had a feeling she would very much enjoy spending some time with this mystery man.
Everything that made it well worth working on her day off.
“So what did you expect, Mr. Levi?” she asked with a small smile.
“Levi is my given name.” His gaze devoured her face as silence fell between them as if he were trying to put his thoughts into words. “Perhaps someone older?” His lips quirked up at the edges.
A lie.
Amalya bit back a smile. Each succubus had a gift and hers was being able to discern truth from lies. Not the most powerful gift among her people, or even her three sisters, but one she’d grown to rely on over the millennia—and millennia was how long she’d lived.
From the way Levi’s eyes sparkled, he knew it.
His grin widened as he slowly stood and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. “The Madame gave me this.” He held up a black old-fashioned ladies’ fan, and a spurt of surprise threaded through Amalya that she hoped hadn’t shown on her face.
Each different color of fan represented what the client had paid for and what he expected from his time with her. A very simple tool that kept all talk of money out of the bedroom and part of a philosophy that had made Sinner’s Redemption one of the most profitable legal brothels not only in Nevada, but in the world. The black fan meant this man had paid with an open account and he had deep enough pockets to cover whatever he wished to go on inside this room or out.
“My apologies, Amalya. I’ve caught you off guard.” He bowed from the waist as if they were in Victorian England, but the intense hazel gaze that bored into hers held no apology, only delight, intrigue, and anticipation.
“Not at all,” she lied, glad most others didn’t share her gift. “I must not have received the Madame’s message to expect a client. If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll get ready.” She sat up and braced her hands on the side of the tub so she could stand.
“Don’t.” His voice sounded like more of a request than a statement and she stilled and glanced up at him.
He laid the fan aside and crouched again next to the tub, making the room feel very small as he loomed next to her. “Please don’t be angry with the Madame. She didn’t know of my arrival until just a few minutes ago, and I asked her not to disturb you.” He smiled—the first genuine smile she’d seen from him, which made him look younger and more vulnerable. Now that she’d seen the real man behind the mask, he’d never be able to fool her with his masked expressions again. “And now I’m glad she didn’t.”
Amalya sensed no danger—no special succubus talents needed. Pure female intuition honed over a long life. Not to mention that Jethro, her longtime friend and the bodyguard for Sinner’s Redemption, wouldn’t have let Levi through if he were any danger to her. She’d saved Jethro’s life years ago when a stray demon had cornered him in the alley behind Sinner’s Redemption. Amalya had been wounded in the rescue and nearly died herself, but Jethro had given his own sustenance to bring her back. Since then he’d become a trusted ally, privy to the truth about who and what she was. Jethro would take a bullet—or a demon, as was more likely—for her. And Amalya would do the same for him.
She had been in Hell’s version of Witness Protection for just over seven hundred years. She couldn’t afford to let down her guard when the demon she’d helped lock away still had plenty of contacts within the human realm and would relish the chance to torture she and her sisters for the rest of eternity.
She searched Levi’s face, finally meeting his deep hazel gaze squarely. Pure logic told her there was something more going on here than a rich playboy who wanted some time with her. “What can I do for you, Levi? Really.”
“It’s what I can do for you that brings me here.”
The truth of his cultured words hit her like a slap before he stood and took off his suit jacket. “Do you mind if I join you? It seems a shame to waste a perfectly good bath, don’t you think?”
Amalya wanted to make him explain his odd statement but figured he’d get around to it in his own time. Years of isolation from her sisters and her own kind had taught her patience.
She studied Levi and debated saying no. She’d never let anyone join her in the bath before—for her, baths weren’t sexual. A silly distinction for a succubus to make since she’d had partners in just about every other scenario, location, and position before. But there was definitely something about this man that enticed her and made her want to share even this private sanctuary with him.
She mentally shrugged and relaxed back against the tub. “By all means. There are extra towels just behind that door.”
He smiled and opened the door to her spacious walk-in closet, pulling a large green towel off the shelf and hanging it on the hook next to hers. He toed off his shoes and loosened his tie. “You know, I don’t think I’ve bathed with anyone since I was a child. Baths have always been my private thinking time.”
She smirked at the irony of his statement and raised one brow earning a short laugh from him.
“Touché. Apparently, we are very similar creatures, Amalya. And for interrupting both your day off and your private time, I promise to make it worthwhile.”
Amalya didn’t bother to censor the laugh that bubbled up from her throat. “You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
He stilled and met her gaze directly. “Yes. I have no doubt I can give you everything you need.”
She frowned at the strength of the truth in those few words. They hadn’t been said as a boast but almost as a sad fact.
Pure instinct made her add, “I have no doubt you already know I’m a succubus and everything that entails . . .” By which she meant that time spent with her would drain some of his energy.
He smiled slowly. “I’m well aware and not worried in the least, my beauty.”
A weight lifted from her and she sighed as anticipation slid through her. She hadn’t realized what a relief it would be not to have to hide what she was. Even supernaturals tended to try to forget to some extent what she was during their time together.
What would it be like to just be herself with no secrets for a while?
Fascinated by the man in front of her, Amalya allowed herself to relax as Levi continued to undress.
He draped his suit jacket and tie over the closed toilet lid before turning back to her and unbuttoning his expensive, designer shirt.
A surge of delight tripped through her. He seemed eager to be with her—not the well-known courtesan from Sinner’s Redemption, but her. Which she knew was probably only her imagination, but she held on to the sensation anyway.
Each opened button of his shirt revealed a new tantalizing glimpse of firm skin dusted with crisp, dark hairs, and Amalya, riveted in place, couldn’t seem to look away.
Arousal slid through her like fine Cognac, a slow warmth that built in intensity until her nipples hardened under the hot water and familiar slickness formed between her labia. Apparently, her body wholeheartedly agreed with her decision to suspend her day off.
When both sides of Levi’s shirt hung loose to reveal a strong line of firm, male flesh, his hands quickly moved to the button of his slacks.
Amalya tightened her fingers on the porcelain to keep from pushing out of the tub and taking over the simple task. Apparently, his quick, hurried movements weren’t even fast enough for her. She smiled and mentally chided herself for acting like a teenager in a backseat after prom.
So much for all her hard-earned patience.
Levi lowered his zipper and she found herself moistening her lower lip with her tongue as impatience snapped through her to see what was hidden underneath the fine, dark fabric.
When she glanced up into Levi’s face, he was smiling.
Heat seared into her cheeks as she realized she’d been caught staring.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed for looking, Amalya. I fully plan on returning th
e favor once you’re not hidden in all that water.” He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his slacks and slid them off along with his dark silk boxers in one fluid motion.
Amalya frowned as Levi bent over to pull the slacks off each foot, blocking her view of his newly revealed body. He was magnificent thus far, and she was impatient to know if his cock matched the rest of the package.
She huffed out a small breath of frustration, laughing at herself in the process. How long had it been since she’d been this anxious to see a man’s cock? Three thousand years? More? She couldn’t remember, which was answer enough.
Levi straightened and tossed his slacks on top of his other clothes, then slipped off his shirt and gave it the same treatment.
Amalya sucked in a breath as her gaze devoured him.
His entire body was a study in male beauty. He was fit and trim with long legs, muscular thighs, a flat stomach, and a long, thick cock that stiffened to attention under her perusal. He wasn’t circumcised, which was rare in this day and age—especially here in the United States where the bulk of her business originated, but since most of her existence had been spent during times when that practice was rare, she appreciated the fine arts of pleasuring a man with foreskin still attached.
Her mouth watered as she imagined taking his hard length between her lips and running her tongue over the taut skin while she sucked him.
As her vivid mental fantasy continued, she ran her gaze over every inch of him within her sight while Levi stepped into the water, settling his large body against the other end of the tub and tangling his legs with hers.
The water level rose to within an inch of the top edge of the tub and a large sigh escaped Levi as he relaxed back and grinned at her.