Heart of the Incubus

by Rosalie Lario

  “Your friends seem nice.” Genevieve took a long gulp of wine. Her second glass already, which told him she wasn’t as calm and collected as she pretended to be.

  “They’re great. We’ve been through a lot together.”

  She nodded and speared a piece of lettuce with her fork before lifting it toward her mouth. “Maya is beautiful.”

  Her tone indicated she was making a casual observation, so he replied truthfully. “Yes.”

  “Must be hard to resist a woman like that. I mean, as an incubus and all.”

  He paused in midchew and stared at her. Was she serious? Even though it didn’t sound like she intended to insult him, he couldn’t help but take it that way. “She’s my best friend’s girl.”

  “I—I know.” Her eyes widened and she lowered her utensil. “I just…I didn’t mean to imply you would do anything about it.” She flushed and took another sip of wine.

  Since she appeared embarrassed, Cresso tried to explain. “It’s true that I can’t help but notice things like that. My body is hardwired to see the opposite sex as a potential source of sustenance. But that doesn’t mean the desire to feed overtakes my brain.”

  At least, not most of the time.

  She kept her eyes firmly on her plate. “So, no matter how hungry you got, you would never…you know?”

  “Not with someone who was unavailable.” He took a deep breath. Might as well put it all out there. “I would never cheat, either, if I were in a committed relationship.”

  Genevieve’s gaze shot up at that. “You’re telling me that even though you can’t help but notice other women, you’d never fool around outside of a relationship?”

  Her dubious tone made him instantly defensive. “Of course not. I’m not an animal. I take the bonds of commitment very seriously. So did my parents.”

  Until his father had left his mother for another succubus, that was.

  “I…” Her brows furrowed, and she remained silent for several long moments. “I’m sorry. I guess I just assumed…”

  He relaxed at her apology, even while he recognized she still didn’t truly believe him. “That’s okay. I realize you don’t know a lot about my kind. You’re always welcome to ask.”

  They continued eating in silence for some time before she scrunched her nose up as if she were contemplating something.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Have you ever…been in love before?”

  Her unexpected question made his stomach clench. He dropped his fork and gave up all pretense of eating. “Yes. Once.”

  She pushed her glasses back on her face and met his gaze. “What happened?”

  Cresso debated how best to answer that question. He finally settled for the truth. “She didn’t return my feelings.”

  Genevieve snorted out a laugh. “I find that hard to believe.”

  Her innocent response sparked an answering thrum in his heart. The damn thing would never stop hoping, would it? But Genevieve had no way of knowing he was referring to her. If so, her answer would have been far different.

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” Genevieve placed her fork on her nearly empty plate and reached into her purse. “Maya and I compiled a list of possible suspects.”

  Good—she’d saved him the trouble of changing the subject. Cresso’s shoulders relaxed as he took the paper from her. He pushed his plate aside before smoothing the list out in front of him. “This is good. Excellent. But you should add Will to the list.”

  “Why? I haven’t seen anything to indicate—”

  “Trust me.” He slid the paper back across the table. “Also Dr. Summers.”

  She paused in the act of lifting her wineglass to her lips. “Dr. Summers? Why? I mean, she’s a woman, and I always got the impression she didn’t like me.”

  “Didn’t you notice the way she was staring at you in the lift? Whatever the reason, I’d say she’s jealous of you. Maybe her attitude is the result of repressed feelings, and she’s expressing those emotions in the letters.”

  “But she’s human, right?”

  He shook his head. “No, she’s a banshee.”

  Genevieve’s mouth dropped open. She plunked her glass on the table and sat back. “Banshee?”

  “A harbinger of death. I thought you knew.”

  “No.” She blinked. “You think she’s a viable suspect?”

  “Being able to predict others’ deaths isn’t a fun gift. Many banshees have been known to lose their minds.”

  She stared at him incredulously. “Then what the hell is she doing at Elcorp?”

  “If she’s there, it means she’s brilliant at something. As far as the Council is concerned, that might outweigh any potential for mental instability.” When her mouth dropped open, he added, “I’m just throwing it out there as a possibility.”

  Genevieve nodded and reached into her purse for her pen. Her hand shook as she wrote Dr. Summers’s name on the list.

  “Gen.” He reached across the space and took her trembling hand in his. When his body quivered with hunger and his allure unfurled further, he tamped it back. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Promise.”

  She took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  To his surprise, his words seemed to relax her. Or maybe the three glasses of wine she’d consumed throughout dinner had finally taken effect. Once they got in the car, she even laid her head back on the seat and closed her eyes.

  Cresso took the opportunity to study her. Damn, she was beautiful. Soft. Vulnerable. Amazing.

  What the hell was he going to do about her? Worse, what was he going to do about his need to feed soon? There was no getting around it. Too much longer without sex, and he’d die. But he couldn’t very well invite any of his regular partners to his apartment with Genevieve there, and he didn’t want to leave her alone with a stalker on the loose. Not even for a moment.

  Hell, he didn’t want anyone but her. That was the true problem.

  When they pulled up to the valet in his parking garage, he reached over to nudge her awake. “We’re here.”

  She stirred and blinked, then gave him a bright, sleepy smile. “I dozed off.”

  “That’s good.” He started to draw back, but she grasped his hand, closing her fingers around it. He froze, hit with a sudden urge to fling himself on top of her. It was so overwhelming that he feared for one moment he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. But then, by some miracle, he managed to regain control.

  Her breath came out in soft little gasps, a visible indication that his allure was affecting her. “I want to say it again. Thank you. You’ve been nice to me when you had no reason to be. I appreciate it more than you know.”

  The valet opened her door before he could respond. With one last smile, she slid out of her seat.

  Aw, hell.

  Cresso leaned his head against his seat and closed his eyes, tightening his hands on the steering wheel.

  Get your shit together, Cresso. Nothing was going to happen between them. He had to face it.

  His door opened and the valet peered inside. “Everything okay, sir?”

  “Yes.” He cleared his throat and slid out.

  When Cresso and Genevieve entered the lobby, Peter grinned at them. “Have a good evening, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Russell.” His tone indicated that he thought he knew just how good a night they’d be having.

  Jackass.

  Cresso ignored him as they walked past the lobby desk. They’d almost reached the lift when Peter called after them.

  “Beg your pardon, Dr. Russell?”

  Cresso turned at the same time as Genevieve.

  “Yes?” she said.

  “Almost forgot.”

  When Peter held up a plain brown package the size of a small appliance box, Cresso’s heart stuttered to a stop.

  No. Fuck, no.

  Peter rounded his desk with the box outstretched in his hands. “This came for you while you were out.”

  Chapter Seven

  When Genevieve saw
Peter approaching with a box in his hands, the foggy haze that she’d managed to build up over dinner and wine burst like a bubble, leaving behind a mass of quivering nerves.

  Damn it, no. Not here.

  She backed away from the proffered package at the same time Cresso stepped in front of her. A low, inhuman sound tore from his throat as he snatched the package from the porter’s hands. The porter did a double take and withdrew a few paces.

  “Where did you get that?” Cresso growled.

  “I-I…a man dropped it off. Less than an hour ago.”

  “What did he look like?” When Peter only stammered, Cresso took a step forward. “Tell me.”

  “I don’t know. A bit unusual. He was tall and scrawny, with brown hair and eyes. Kept rubbing his nose like he needed a fix or something.”

  “Did he touch anything?” Cresso demanded.

  “Wh-what?”

  “Did. He. Touch. Anything?”

  “He wore gloves…what? It’s cold outside, so I didn’t think anything of it.”

  Genevieve’s legs turned to rubber, and she stumbled over to the wall and leaned against it. Cresso glanced at her and let out a curse. He approached and took her arm, then guided her to the elevator. “I’ll be back down for that package, Peter.”

  “Ye-yes, sir,” the porter said.

  Cresso folded her into his arms just as the elevator doors started to close. “It’s going to be fine.”

  For once, she let him hold her. Her fingers snatched the soft fabric of his shirt and she buried her face in his neck, uncaring for the moment that her glasses dug into her face. Amazingly, his warm, spicy scent calmed her racing heart, soothing her out of her panic. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “We’ll find him. I promise.”

  The doors slid open and he unwound her fingers from his shirt. He kept his hand around hers, though, as he walked her to his door. Once inside, he led her into his large living room and sat her down on the off-white leather couch. “I’m getting you a drink.”

  She gave him a shaky nod. “Okay. Brandy, if you have it.”

  He retreated to the portable bar set up in one corner of the room and returned less than a minute later with a tumbler full of brandy. She accepted it gratefully and took a big swallow. The rich liquor burned its way down her throat, warming her instantly. “Thank you.”

  “I’m gonna go call Mac. You okay alone for a minute?”

  “Yes.” As long as she had some fortifying liquid to relax her.

  A shiver of awareness crept through her when Cresso bent to press a soft kiss to her forehead before leaving the room. How crazy was it that, even in a moment like this, she was so aware of her attraction to him?

  This was the first time since she’d moved to London that she wished she had someone to confide in. But even if her parents had been here, she wouldn’t have been reassured by their presence. They had never been the touchy-feely type.

  Thank God for Cresso.

  By the time he returned, less than five minutes later, she’d already finished off two-thirds of the glass. He took a seat next to her and put his arms around her. “Mac’s on his way. He’ll pick up the package and see if he can catch the guy’s trail.”

  “Okay,” she murmured against his throat. He was so warm. Between the heat of his skin and the liquor pooling in her stomach, she was beginning to feel a tad overheated. No, strike that. It wasn’t heat she felt, but desire.

  You are in serious danger, Gen.

  Yet she couldn’t bring herself to wiggle out of his grasp.

  The brandy began to work its magic, rebuilding that pleasant foggy haze. Between that and the way Cresso rocked her slightly in his arms, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. When the doorbell rang sometime later, she jolted awake. Blinking, she pulled out of Cresso’s embrace. “Oh my God, I actually fell asleep?”

  A shadow of a smile crept to his face and he smoothed a strand of hair from her mouth. “Don’t sell yourself short. It’s been a rough few days.”

  The doorbell rang again.

  “That must be Mac.” He rose and left the room. After a minute, Genevieve followed him. Ultimately, this whole thing was her problem. She needed to hear what Mac had to say.

  He stood in the foyer, speaking to Cresso in low, hushed tones. He held the opened box in his hands. Both men saw her and quieted.

  She pointed to the box. “What’s in there?”

  Cresso frowned. “Gen…”

  “I need to know.”

  Mac exchanged a glance with Cresso before answering. “It’s a skinned raccoon.”

  Raccoon. Oh, great, she rated larger mammals now. She swallowed past her nausea. “Did you catch any scent from it?”

  “Nothing. It was very clinically done. I took a screen shot of the man who dropped off the box from the lobby’s security camera.”

  “Let me see.” She moved closer and took the paper he’d withdrawn from his pocket and offered her. The man depicted on it had thin features and close-set eyes. She shook her head. “I don’t know him.”

  “Me neither,” said Cresso.

  Mac took the paper back and examined it. “He looks familiar to me. I think I’ve seen him around before. If this is the man I’m thinking of, he’s a lackey for some of the crime organizations around town. Drug addict, too, so that would explain why he kept scratching his nose.”

  “He must have been paid to drop off the box.” Cresso rubbed his hands over his face. “It’s got to be one of the other scientists.”

  Genevieve wrapped her arms around her waist. “The only people who knew I’d be here were the ones in the elevator.”

  “At least that narrows things down a bit.” Cresso turned to Mac. “There were eight people in there besides us. I’ll give you their names so you can run an investigation on each of them.”

  “Done.” Mac gave the box in his hands a slight shake. “I’ll get rid of this for you.”

  “Thanks.” Cresso looked at Genevieve. “Why don’t you pack your bag?”

  She blinked at him. “What for? You don’t think it’s safe here?”

  “I’m sure it is, but…” His hands fisted, then unclenched. “I don’t think you’ll feel safe here anymore.”

  Damn it, he was right.

  “Now that we’ve narrowed down our suspects, we should be able to identify your stalker soon. Until then, we’ll go to the hotel where Taeg and Maya are staying. I’ll feel much better knowing they’re nearby and will have our backs if we need it.”

  She took a deep, calming breath. “I’ll go get my things.”

  …

  An hour later, Cresso led Genevieve into the Four Seasons. She didn’t bother protesting the exorbitant fee he insisted on paying for a one-bedroom suite and a connecting room. Right now she wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a comfy bed.

  He held her hand as they followed the bellhop through the lush lobby, then onto the floor holding their suite. The bellhop unlocked their room with a flourish and then stepped aside for them to enter. “Where shall I set your luggage?”

  “In the bedrooms is fine,” Cresso answered.

  While the bellhop placed their luggage inside the bedrooms, Genevieve took the opportunity to examine the living area. The walls were covered in textured wallpaper that resembled straw, with dark wood wainscoting along the lower third. Across from a leather sectional were two red-and-beige-striped chairs, and in the corner nearest to the connecting room, a waist-high chest held a silver pitcher and a tea service set. Next to that was a two-person breakfast table set with elegant white linen. It was a lovely room, but small.

  How the hell was she going to be able to stay here with Cresso?

  As if he sensed her train of thought, Cresso’s allure floated around her, wrapping her in an erotic caress that thrummed at the sensitive spot between her legs. He cleared his throat, and some of the heaviness of his essence dissipated. “I’ll sleep in the connecting room, but I’ll feel better if we leave both our d
oors open.”

  The bellhop came back into the room and Cresso slipped him a bill before escorting him out the door. When he turned back to her, he said, “Why don’t you take a shower?”

  He didn’t have to suggest it twice.

  Genevieve headed into her bedroom, which contained a four-poster bed with a cream, orange, and sage comforter, a matching cream desk, and a daybed. She grabbed her set of light-blue silk pajamas, then slipped into the shower. The heat of the spray washed away some of her dazed fogginess—the remnants of the liquor she’d consumed along with the exhaustion of the past few days.

  Why is he doing all this?

  Maybe Cresso wasn’t as egotistical and single-minded as she’d thought, but he was going above and beyond simple kindness. Hiring a detective, letting her stay at his apartment, even going so far as to rent a hotel room with her. It didn’t make sense. Nobody was that nice. No one.

  So what’s his game?

  Showered and dressed, she exited the bathroom to find Cresso still in the living area. He paced back and forth in front of the curtained windows, speaking into his cell phone. Though he still wore his work clothes, he’d loosened his shirt from his slacks and undone the first few buttons. She glanced down at his now-bare feet. Figured. Even those were beautiful.

  “If we don’t find him soon, I’ll need to—” Cresso noticed her and stopped in midsentence. “I’ll call you back later.”

  He hung up and started toward her. “Feeling better?”

  “Why are you doing this?” The words came out far harsher than she’d intended.

  Cresso stopped, his brows furrowing. “What?”

  “All this.” She motioned around the room. “Being so nice to me. Staying with me, for God’s sake. It’s not anything I deserve after the way I’ve treated you.”

  His mouth pulled into a frown. “Don’t say that.”

  “It’s true. We’ve never been friends. Not even friendly. So why go out of your way to help me?”

  “Because…” He sighed and turned from her. “I couldn’t let you face this alone.”

  She wasn’t about to let that comment pass, not when she felt like she was on the verge of some great discovery. “Why not?”