Seduce

by Jennifer Snyder

  I chuckled, my thumbs clacking across my cell screen.

  That he is, but it doesn’t cancel out how long he made me wait or the crap I had to put up with while waiting, either. ~ Kenna

  “Um, excuse me, miss?” a sultry, male voice called out to me.

  My eyes darted to find whom it belonged to. An incredibly sexy, tall, dark-haired guy stood a few feet from me at a urinal.

  I couldn’t move. A hot flush crept across my cheeks. I had walked into the men’s restroom. How does that even happen?

  “Yes?” I knew I should leave, that I should head straight out the door without looking back, but my legs were rooted in place.

  He smirked as he situated himself back into his pants and zipped them up. The sound of his movement echoed through the tiled room. “I think you have the wrong restroom.”

  “I-I think you’re right.” I spun on my heel, ready to bolt from the embarrassment of the situation.

  My face, neck, and ears grew impossibly hot as I gripped the handle to the door and pulled. It didn’t budge. I pulled again, harder this time, but it was still closed solid. A hand appeared on the door as a presence pressed against my back. My nose filled with the masculine scent of his cologne as the warmth from his body lapped at the backs of my knees.

  “I think you’re supposed to push.” His voice teased the back of my neck as he opened the door in front of us.

  “Oh, right.” My teeth sank into my bottom lip as my embarrassment continued to redden my face. Why the hell was there a handle then?

  I darted across the little hall as soon as the door opened wide enough for me to slip through, and pulled open the door marked for women. My heels clicked against the tile at a pace that matched my erratic heartbeat as I made my way to the sink. Glancing in the mirror, I took in my disheveled eyes and red-as-a-tomato cheeks. I placed a hand over my heart and willed it to simmer down while I inhaled a few slow, measured breaths. As if my night hadn’t been bad enough already, now I could add walking into the wrong restroom and making a complete idiot of myself in front of the hottest guy I had seen in forever to the damn list. Fan-freaking-tastic.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Once I managed to gather myself in the women’s restroom, I headed back to the bar in search of Dex. While I was glad he had shown up, I still wasn’t sure if this night was salvageable. It seemed to be getting worse by the minute.

  Dex was sitting at the bar, talking to the demon that had been crude with me earlier, when I walked up. I smoothed my fingertips across my forehead, and straightened my back before continuing toward them, ready to take on anything the revolting incubus tossed my way.

  As I slipped onto my stool, I glanced at the two. They had been in the middle of a conversation when I walked up. “I hope you’re not taking pickup lessons from that one. He has quite a few things to learn before he goes around dishing out any tips for others, that’s for damn sure.”

  Dex burst into a fit of laughter. It was loud and rough, exactly the way I expected it to sound. “Who said I needed any? He was tellin’ me how spunky you were earlier, and I think you just proved him right.”

  “Spunky?” I took a sip of my whiskey sour. “If that’s what uninterested is called nowadays, then I guess, yeah, he nailed it.”

  Was Dex planning on talking to this guy all night, because I wasn’t? As soon as this drink was gone, so was I. I was ready for this night to end.

  “Dang, that was a blow.” Dex winced. He turned his attention to the demon. “You said I would have my work cut out for me with this one, and I think you were right.”

  I leaned against the bar and flashed them both my best go-to-hell look as I took another sip of my drink.

  “I wasn’t lying, man.” The incubus grinned. “Have a good night, you two. I’m outta here.”

  “See ya,” Dex mumbled to him before he spun to face me. I didn’t acknowledge the guy as he walked away. I’d spoken to him all I cared to for the night, or ever. “So, what did he say to get you all riled up? I’m curious now.”

  “What gave you the impression he got me all riled up?” I crossed my legs and tried to calm my nerves. I was still stuck on the fact that I’d been standing in the men’s room, texting Sage, while the most attractive guy I’d seen in forever peed a few feet away. Not to mention the door incident that followed. What kind of an idiot can’t open a freaking door?

  “The way your body tensed when you sat down and realized I was talkin’ to him.” Dex took a swig of his beer, but his eyes remained on me. “I don’t have to see auras to know what people are feelin’. I go by body language, sweetheart.”

  “For the record, I can’t see anything specific about anyone in this restaurant besides what they are. Seeing emotions is only something I can do with human men.” I pressed my lips into a thin line before continuing. “He used some of the worst pickup lines I’ve ever heard while I was waiting for you to show up.”

  “Pickup lines, huh? Like what?” Obviously my words had snagged his attention. He leaned against the bar top, as though he was ready for me to tell him a story.

  “If you’re feeling down, I can surely feel you up, was one of them.”

  His head tipped back, and he laughed. It was the same throaty, gruff sound from earlier, the one that seemed so genuine to who he was. “That’s a classic!”

  A small smile pulled at the corners of my lips. “Classic, huh? I thought it was pretty lame.”

  “No way. You just don’t know how to appreciate a good pickup line when you hear one.” His grin widened as a boyish gleam entered his eyes and he leaned forward. “Were there anymore?”

  I glanced at the ceiling while trying to remember the last one. “That dress looks great on you…as a matter of fact, so would I,” I quoted, bringing my stare back to his.

  “Man, I should have gotten his number! That dude was freakin’ hilarious!”

  I shook my head and chuckled. When I repeated them, they did sound funny. Maybe I had been too hard on the guy. Nah, he hadn’t said them to be funny; he’d said them to get into my panties and that was just sick.

  “No way. Those were corny,” I insisted as I took another sip of my drink.

  “No, this is corny: I’m no weatherman, but you can expect more than a few inches tonight, darlin’.”

  I arched a brow and stared him down. My seriousness didn’t last long though, because my head tipped back as laughter erupted from me. “Yes, oh my God, that iscorny.”

  “You liked that one, huh? How about this one: I think it’s time I tell you what people are sayin’ behind your back…Nice ass.” He wiggled his brows in a suggestive manner.

  My stomach tightened, I was laughing so hard. “Okay, now that was good.”

  “I could go on and on, but I won’t.” He scratched the back of his neck and met my stare. “Don’t think I’m an idiot. I don’t put them to use. I just think they’re hilarious. Same with yo mama jokes. They get me every time.”

  The way he said yo mama in his southern draw had be laughing all over again. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  “So, now that we’ve shared a few laughs, at what seems like borderin’ on my expense, maybe we should get the logistics out of the way.”

  I fought to contain myself. “Logistics, like what?”

  “Basic questions, I guess. Isn’t that how these blind dates work?” He took another swig of his beer, his eyes never leaving me.

  I shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. This is my first.”

  “Ditto.” He smoothed his hands along his thighs. “So, are you a student? You look like the studious type. Plus, I bet that would be one hell of a buffet every day for you.” A lopsided grin hung on his face.

  “No, I’m not a student.” I had been, but I wasn’t anymore. Not after my awakening at least.

  Being able to see the aura of every male within your line of sight was not as awesome as it sounded. It definitely had taken some time to get used to this whole succubus thing. Even now, a little ove
r a year later, I still had issues and preferred to hole up in my apartment alone most nights rather than be out on the town or at a club surrounded by people. Hence, the reason I was here. Sage insisted it wasn’t normal to be so damn solitary all the time. While I wasn’t solitary all the time—I did have to feed every now and then, which meant I dated, for lack of a better word—I could still see her point.

  “There’s something we have in common.” He toasted his beer to me before taking another swig. “I’ll add it to the list.”

  I put my drink to my lips. “List?”

  “Yeah, the list of things we have in common. We’re both supernatural. We’re both twenty-two. We both are friends with Sage. Neither of us is in college. And we both agreed to this date tonight with the hopes of having a good time, right?” There was a husky tone embedded within his last sentence. I caught the double meaning.

  Tonight wasn’t about Sage setting me up with someone; it was all about her getting me laid. My eyes widened, and I brought my drink to my lips, hoping to hidemy epiphany.

  Dex leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and pinned me in place with his stare. “Your turn to ask me somethin’, sweetheart.” He winked, and I got the distinct impression he knew I was feeling pretty damn out of my element right now.

  Flabbergasted, the realization that Sage had set me up for a booty call blind date had me freaking flabbergasted. I could feel the blood rushing to my face as I tried to think of something, anything, to ask him, but my mind was drawing a blank. Considering I found myself on a new date at least two to three times a month for food related purposes, I should have been able to come up with something off the top of my head, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t. This entire night was throwing me off.

  “Come on, toss somethin’ my way. You should have a rolodex of questions stashed inside that pretty little head of yours, considerin’ all the dates I’m sure you go on weekly.”

  “Wow, that wasn’t an unnecessarily harsh jab.” Even if it was true.

  I had resorted to stalling with sarcasm. Wonderful. This would be a perfect time for the hostess to take us to our table.

  Dex grinned, but didn’t speak. He obviously knew I was covering up my discomfort with fake annoyance.

  “Do you have a job?” Relief surged through me. I’d finally thought of a normal question to ask.

  “I work at Estelle’s, off Chandler Street. I’m one of the cooks.” He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against the bar top behind him. “What about you?”

  Hmm, he was a kitchen boy. I wondered if he was an actual chef or just someone’s bitch who chopped up veggies when they were told.

  “I bartend at Club Spark.” Yeah, my job title didn’t sound so glamorous either. Guess I had no room to judge.

  “Oh yeah, Sage mentioned somethin’ about that.” He nodded. “That’s a nice place. I know she really enjoys workin’ there.”

  “It is. I’ve been there for over a year now and still enjoy it, most nights.” I shifted my stare to the hostess, wondering when she would seat us. She was on the phone and hurriedly flipping through her agenda on the podium in front of her. There had to be an open table by now. My eyes scanned the restaurant, searching for one, but instead, I spotted the gorgeous guy from in the men’s room. He was seated at a table in the center of the restaurant across from a woman. I skipped her over and took a moment to soak in everything about him, including his midnight blue aura and his crisp suit. For whatever reason, I hadn’t noticed he was a vampire when I witnessed him peeing earlier. His dark hair was clean-cut, making him appear sophisticated and sexy as hell. His face was baby smooth, and if I had to guess, I would say he was in his early twenties, but considering what he was, I could be off by many years.

  The woman he was with grew animated, drawing my attention to her. She was picture-perfect with alabaster skin and dark red hair. I couldn’t see her face, but what I could make out of her, she looked perfectly poised and manicured. She was just the type I expected the suave eye candy across from her to date. Her dress was a dark blue that made it hard for me to tell where her aura ended and the dress she wore began, but it seemed to be made for her.

  “Are you new to the city?” Dex leaned forward, managing to block my view of the striking vampire couple.

  I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and shook my head, embarrassed I had allowed myself to become so absorbed with the couple when I should have been holding a conversation with him. “No. Well, not really.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He flashed me a lopsided grin that was actually adorable because it accentuated his dimples, which I hadn’t noticed before.

  I took another sip of my drink and then licked my lips, enjoying the way the sour tang tainted them. “I lived in Bell Ridge before. It’s just a little outside Newvale.”

  Dex nodded. “I’ve been there before. It’s nice.”

  “Oh yeah?” I don’t know why I was surprised; a lot of people traveled to Bell Ridge when they wanted time away from the hustle of the city.

  “Actually, there’s a group of us that run there from time to time durin’ the moons when we want distance from the measly city parks and scraps of woods. I love it there.The woods are incredible.”

  “Yeah, they are.” That was one thing I missed about Bell Ridge—other than the comfort that always seemed to ooze from the little tucked-away town. When you lived in the middle of the city, a single tree on a tiny patch of grass with a handful of flowers sprinkled around it was about as woodsy as it got. “So, is that where you prefer to run wild on nights like that? Or do you have a favorite place elsewhere?”

  The hint of a smile twisted at the corners of his lips, as though he had found humor in my question, and I wondered if I was being too candid by asking. Then I remembered how blunt he had been right off the get-go, and I didn’t feel so bad.

  “I prefer the mountains. There are a few little towns in Western, N.C. I tend to frequent, when I can get away to do so.” He leaned into me and dropped his voice. “Gotta have space to run, hunt, and lick myself, you know?”

  I arched a brow, wondering if I’d heard him right. “What?”

  Dex’s head tipped back, and he laughed. It was robust, hearty, and contagious, same as the others before. “I’m just messin’ with you. God, you should have seen the look on your face.”

  Humorous, I could tolerate this side of him. Lord knows I had needed a good laugh. I shook my head and then downed the remainder of my drink before opening my mouth to speak again. The hostess appeared before I could respond.

  “Would either of you care to order another drink before I show you to your table?” She had a high-pitched voice that would bother me in large doses. From the pink tint of her aura, I knew what she was right away—fairy. I knew Mystic was a restaurant for supernaturals only, but now that I had noticed so many fairies working here, I wondered if it happened to be fairy owned.

  “Yeah, I think I will.” Dex motioned to the bartender while keeping his eyes trained on me. “What about you? Can I buy you another glass of whatever that was?”

  “No, I’m good, but thanks.” I set my empty glass on the counter.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

  “That was my second, and two is my limit.” I wanted to mention he shouldn’t have kept me waiting for so long, but didn’t. That would be a little too catty of me.

  “Okay. Sorry I kept you waitin’ on me, by the way.”

  “It’s fine.” Because it was, he’d been forgiven.

  After Dex ordered another beer, we followed our hostess away from the bar. The moment I realized we were about to walk past the sharply dressed guy from the bathroom, my heart began to palpitate, and I felt my face flush through ten shades of red again. No one ever got to me like this; I was a succubus for crying out loud. I made men feel this way and women envious. What was it about this sexy vampire that incited these feelings in me?

  Keeping my head trained as though I was looking fo
rward, I allowed my eyes to wonder over to his table as we got closer. The second my eyes settled on him he glanced up, as though he could feel my eyes on him, and our gazes met. I twisted my lips into a small smile, even though I felt my stomach pinch with nerves from the sudden eye contact and my face flush even hotter.

  I had never been a shy girl, but this guy held the power to make me feel self-conscious. I realized then it was something in the intensity of his stare. Channeling some inner confidence, I refused to look away, eye contact had always been something I enjoyed and this moment was no different than any other. As I reminded myself of this, I noticed a slight curve to his lips, one that made me think he was amused by my defiance to be the one to break eye contact first. Satisfaction rippled through me.

  Always having been a stickler for noticing a person’s eye color, I took the moment to zero in on his. They were a strange gray-blue that almost held violet qualities from this distance, making him seem mysterious and allusive. The desire to get a closer look, so I could take in all the finer details of them, was nearly overwhelming.

  My body collided with something hard. I realized all too late our hostess had paused and I had just smacked right into her from behind.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “Sorry,” I whispered to the hostesswithout looking at her directly. I stepped around her and heard Dex laughing. Apparently, he had witnessed my little mishap.

  “It’s all right.” She appeared to be fighting back a laugh as she slipped two laminated menus in front of us. “Your server will be Clio. She’ll be with you in a moment.”

  “Thanks.” Dex coughed into his hand a few times, and I could tell he was struggling hard to gain control of his laughter.

  Once I had situated myself in our booth, I counted to five while pretending to glance at the menu before I cast my eyes in the direction of the sexy-as-sin vampire once more. I wanted to see if he happened to notice my little mishap. When I saw that he seemed to be in a deep discussion with his date, I relaxed.