Descent: A Trenton Investigations Novella

by Felicia Beasley

  She didn’t move.

  She brushed her lips against my neck. It left me cold. I pushed her off, and she stumbled back like a discarded rag doll.

  She clutched her stomach, trying to staunch the blood loss.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, tears building up in her eyes.

  I was starting to think Wes had been right.

  “Can you stand?” I asked, trying to keep my voice soft.

  I wanted to flee, leave her here dying in the streets.

  I hated myself for the weakness. Damian would have never turned his back on someone in need. He probably wouldn’t have stabbed her either.

  He was everything that was good in the world, and I was just a disappointment to his memory.

  Flora didn’t move.

  I bent down and grabbed her by the arms, doing my best to lift her to her feet. Her knees buckled, and she slumped against me.

  I scooped her into my arms, thankful for the drops of demon blood inside me that gave me the strength to lift a one hundred and ten-pound body.

  Her hot blood soaked through my shirt as I carried her out of the alley. She nuzzled my neck, her breaths shaky. This time she kept her tongue in her mouth.

  We left the sentinels behind. There would be an inquiry, and the streets would be crawling with more of those bastards as they searched for those responsible.

  I was going to have to close shop for a few days until the heat passed. It wasn’t that my business was illegal or anything. It just attracted attention.

  Between the sentinels, demons and killer siren in my arms, I’d had enough attention for a lifetime.

  Chapter 13

  My first aid skills are minimal at best, so while we waited for my more knowledgeable friend to arrive, Flora pressed a cloth against the wound. The once white towel was now stained crimson. No way was I getting that stain out.

  We didn’t speak, but I watched her closely, alert for any sign that she’d revert to instinct and suck me dry. I’d never seen anything like what she had done in that alley.

  I didn’t want to send her back to Sheol, to her vile master. But unleashing her here could have disastrous results. I was screwed either way. Damn Killian for even getting me involved.

  A knock on my office door distracted me. I walked over and opened it. Standing in the doorway with a boyish smile on his face was Peter Cole, one of the M.E.’s at North Memorial Hospital.

  I’d known the man before his hair had gone gray. He had worked with my brother on several cases before and now helped me on the rare occasion I swallowed my pride and asked.

  He was human.

  “What mess have you gotten yourself into now?” he asked, sounding like an exasperated father.

  “You know me. Never could keep my nose clean.”

  I let him in and didn’t need to say anything once he saw Flora.

  “Can I do anything for the pain, dear?” he asked in a warm voice.

  Flora shook her head. “Pain is an old friend.”

  “Some friends are meant to be abandoned.”

  I watched Peter tend to her wound, my hand grasping Gladys’ hilt, looking for any sign she was going to go apeshit again. She seemed in control at the moment, but no way was I going to lower my guard.

  Peter meant too much to me.

  I chewed my lip as I continued to weigh my options. There had to be a third one that I just couldn’t see yet.

  My office door opened again, and Wes strolled in, whistling. I envied the carefree attitude.

  He stopped in his tracks as soon as he saw Flora.

  “Who stabbed her?” he asked, casually.

  Flora’s eyes caught mine before she looked away. “It was necessary,” she said.

  Wes raised an eyebrow at me. “What happened?”

  “Sentinels.”

  I had no desire to hash out any details right now. Not in front of Peter and not in front of Flora.

  Wes frowned. “Are you all right?”

  I shrugged. My arm where the bullet had grazed ached. But it was a mosquito bite compared to a magical blade in the gut. “No worse for wear. Flora is the one who got hurt.”

  He didn’t believe me. I could see it in his eyes, but he didn’t push. Not yet.

  Wes trusted people even less than I did. And he definitely didn’t trust Peter. Sometimes I wondered if it was jealousy. Damian and Peter had been very close.

  I decided right then and there never to tell Wes how close Flora had come to killing me. He was too protective, and I was unsure how he would react.

  “Is there anything I need to do?” Wes asked.

  I knew what he was implying, but I didn’t want him anywhere near that crime scene. Flora had left enough DNA where they would know it was a demon attack. Tracing it to Flora specifically would be difficult. We were probably safe from retaliation. Maybe.

  Maybe I should start praying.

  Wes grabbed my arm and pulled me into the corner. “We’ve got a problem, don’t we?” he whispered.

  “Did you find a place for her to go?”

  His eyes narrowed. “How many bodies will it take for you to open your eyes?”

  “So we send her back to Sheol with a red bow and reap the benefits of a satisfied customer?” My blood pressure rose. “Fuck that, Wes. I can’t do it.”

  “You’re okay with letting innocents die?” Wes asked.

  I swallowed, wanting to argue, but unable to come up with the words. If she hurt anyone else, their blood would be on my conscience.

  “Wes is right, Lex. I’m a danger if I don’t go back,” Flora said.

  Peter was done. Flora put on the clean shirt I had gotten for her. She still looked pale. Her hand was pressed against Peter’s chest.

  She needed to feed. I wasn’t about to let her feed on either Peter or Wes.

  “I want everything ready to go, Wes. She leaves ASAP.”

  I pulled Flora off of Peter and toward the back room. It was my turn to take one for the team.

  I only got a few feet to the door when Wes rushed ahead of me to block the path.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked with all the authority of a brother.

  Or boyfriend.

  “She needs to feed.”

  Wes shook his head. “I’ll take care of it.”

  I scoffed. “Why do you get two rounds?”

  Peter cleared his throat. “My work here is done.”

  Peter tipped his imaginary hat in my direction and scurried from the office like he had a hitman on his ass. I hadn’t gotten the chance to thank him.

  “Move, Wes.”

  Wes stood his ground. “What is with you? It’s not like you’re partial to women or demons.”

  “It’s not about me.”

  His gaze was on Flora. There was no mistaking the desire, the need. “Then let me do this. Trust me. I’ll enjoy it more.”

  He wasn’t sacrificing himself to protect me. This wouldn’t be a sacrifice. The thought of them dirtying my sheets for the second time in less than 24 hours made my stomach lurch.

  I swallowed the bile in my mouth. “Yeah, that’s the problem.”

  He scoffed. “Jealous?”

  “It’s concern, you asshole. You know that shit is addictive.”

  They said once you go succubus, you don’t go back.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, so I guess we’re at an impasse.” He crossed his arms over his chest, straining the fabric against the muscles in his arms.

  Wes had always been stubborn. But I was the boss. It was only my name on the door.

  Flora sighed, breaking the tension between an unmovable object and unstoppable force.

  “Do I get any say in this?”

  Wes smiled at her like a cat about to snack on a canary. He brought his hands to her shoulders, pulling her in close to his body. “What’s your preference?”

  Flora’s body tensed. She licked her lips but looked away from him, to me.

  “I don’t want to hurt either of
you.”

  She pushed away from Wes and reached out to stroke my cheek. “Especially you.”

  A chill went down my spine and not the pleasant kind. My throat tightened, and I looked away. “You need to feed before you lose control again.”

  “Again?” Wes’ voice had a threatening tone, like a man ready to do violence. At that moment I was less worried for him than for Flora.

  I risked a glance at him. His eyes held a blizzard as he looked at the two of us. I had to avert my gaze. Looking at Flora was safer.

  She looked down, her black hair falling into her face, trying to hide the pain. “I need to return to my master.” She sniffled. “He’ll make sure I can’t hurt anyone else.”

  The submissive succubus thing was throwing me off. Ask me before I had met her and I’d tell you it was an act. But with Flora, I couldn’t be sure. I swallowed down my anxiety as I reached to grasp her arm.

  “I won’t let you hurt anyone either.”

  She lifted her face, and we stared at each for a long minute, establishing a sort of trust. She nodded.

  “Get out of our way, Wes.”

  He shook his head again. “Not happening.”

  My face reddened, and I wanted to smack him. “Fuck you. You don’t get to dictate what I do. I’m not a child.” I paused, letting my words soak in. “I’m not your girlfriend either.”

  His hands clenched into fists, and he breathed heavily through his nose. “I don’t give a shit who you fuck. She’s mine.”

  The possessiveness in his voice made my world come crashing down around me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak. His words weren’t coming from a place of addiction. He cared for her.

  I wanted to tell him off, hurt him with my words like he’d just eviscerated me with his.

  I didn’t have to because Flora spoke up.

  “I’m not your property, Wes.” There was a cutting edge to her voice.

  “She chose me.” I stuck out my chin, trying to look like the victor. Inside I wanted to hide. Despite my bravado, I had no desire to fall into bed with her. She wasn’t my type.

  Plus she scared the shit out of me still.

  The only thing worse than surrendering to the siren was letting Wes take care of her instead.

  He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. “We do this together.”

  My mouth dropped right along with my stomach. “We… what?”

  “Together, we can make sure neither of us gets hurt.”

  “You’re going to watch?”

  I didn’t like that idea at all.

  He gave me a wicked smile. “Not damn likely.”

  He had to be bluffing. There were lines in our professional life. Those lines included not having a threesome with a succubus.

  “And if I don’t want to share?” I was proud that I kept my voice steady.

  “You can back out, sweetheart.”

  Time to call his bluff then.

  “Nah. Just didn’t want you to end up feeling left out.”

  He licked his lips, a dangerous glint in his blue eyes. “Don’t worry about me, babe. I always get mine.”

  Chapter 14

  Stepping over the threshold of my room behind Wes with Flora trailing behind me felt like one of those pivotal moments. You know, one of those where there is a distinct before and after.

  Before the threesome and after.

  I could still back out. By the body language Wes was throwing out, I guessed he still wanted me to.

  “We need some ground rules,” I said before shutting the door.

  Wes rolled his eyes. “Rules take the fun out of things.” There was no desire in his face, only barely restrained disgust.

  “No touching.”

  “Kinda hard to do this without hands.”

  “No, I mean you don’t touch me.”

  He looked relieved. “Damian would kill me anyway.”

  I faced Flora who was staring at the both of us, an amused smile on her red lips. “Do you want me to step out so you two can have the room alone?”

  I shook my head and focused on her. Maybe if I ignored him, I’d forget he was there.

  She glided over to me and grasped my hands in hers. Her skin was even hotter than mine. My stomach churned.

  “Stand over in the corner, Wes,” she demanded. “Until you are needed.”

  I didn’t look to see if he obeyed, keeping my eyes on the demon. My bravery deserted me. I barely had more experience than a virgin prom queen on prom night. My heart ached suddenly, as it often did when I thought of Lucas. I was so out of my element it wasn’t funny.

  “Will you allow me to use a bit of Charm to soothe your nerves?” Flora asked. She must have sensed my apprehension.

  I swallowed. I’d seen what she could do with her Charm. She could easily incapacitate Wes and me before we could do anything to stop her. But she’d asked first which meant she was in control. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could continue without it.

  I nodded. “Be careful.”

  Tendrils of desire wrapped around my body like a warm blanket on a cold winter night, turning nervousness into need.

  She leaned in, breath caressing the sensitive skin on my neck. “Trust me.”

  That was asking a lot. Almost too much.

  But she was hurting because of me. I couldn’t deny that I felt the need to protect her. I might not want her sexually, but I did want to help her.

  Her fingertips glided down my bare arms. My senses heightened. I sucked in a deep breath and stifled a moan. Inches from my mouth, her lips hovered, waiting for permission.

  I closed my eyes and surrendered.

  She undressed me with delicate fingers and gentle kisses. My skin was fire, and I shook from anticipation.

  I never opened my eyes as she led me to lay down on my bed. The musk of sweat and sex and brimstone still clung to the sheets. It only heightened my lust.

  I lost myself in the sensations of her tongue, my mind wandering to another lover’s gentle kiss.

  Lucas hadn’t been any more experienced than me, but as we had blundered our way through exploring each other’s bodies, we’d achieved oneness.

  Being with Flora in no way even got close to that. Tears came unbidden to my eyes, and I choked down a sob. Her Charm intensified and I drowned in it. The sooner this was over, the better.

  Physical pleasure and emotional pain wracked through my body. I needed to stop thinking about Lucas. Somehow.

  A grunt from Wes caused my eyes to open.

  He stared down at me from behind Flora, still dressed but definitely participating.

  A different kind of shiver went through my body at his intense gaze, and Lucas fled from my mind.

  I remained captured by the snare in his look.

  Doubt crept into my mind.

  He ignored the succubus he penetrated, his focus on me. He didn’t touch me; he didn’t need to.

  It wasn’t Flora’s mouth on my body. It was his.

  It wasn’t Flora that ignited a need in my soul that overcame everything else.

  I needed him. Needed him more than I’d ever needed anyone. Even Lucas.

  At this moment, both of our defenses stripped bare. There was no guilt, no fear, no hesitation.

  I was his; I’d always be his.

  Crescendos of pleasure raced through my body. I let go of everything but this moment, this shared, forbidden moment with someone I loved.

  With a final grunt, Wes’ release followed mine like one domino after another.

  The pain in his expression as I watched him fight with himself reminded me that he would never be mine.

  The moment ended, and I felt hollower than I had when I had stood over the grave of my first love.

  Chapter 15

  I laid back against the pillows, breathing fast. Flora collapsed next to me, still drinking the remnants of our sexual energy. Wes quickly zipped up his pants and fled from the room.

  My breathing returned to normal. Flora propped onto her e
lbow, pale blue eyes studying me, faintly glowing.

  “I caused you pain,” she murmured.

  I shook my head. “It wasn’t you.”

  She brushed a tendril of hair stuck to my face. “You are remarkable, Lex Trenton.”

  Her touch was no longer sexual, rather comforting. “Don’t ever let someone diminish that.”

  Things had changed between us. She was no longer someone I needed to protect to assuage my guilt. She was a friend. I had very few friends.

  “Not even Wes,” she said.

  Her words were like a knife through my kidney.

  I pulled myself up and dressed. Reality was catching up to me quick, and I swallowed down the rising guilt knowing it would do nothing more than make things worse.

  I left the room. Wes was at his desk, sorting papers and rearranging pens. He didn’t look up at me.

  “So on a scale of 1 to 10, how bad of an idea was that?” I joked.

  His frown deepened. “How about we never tell Damian that happened? I’d like to live to see my twenty-fourth birthday.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.” I raised my fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

  He finally looked up at me, amusement back in his face. “You’d have made a horrible scout.”

  “You would have done worse.”

  He laughed, and for a moment I felt like things would be all right between us.

  Flora walked in. There was a smile on Wes’ lips when he looked at her.

  I was forgotten.

  I cleared my throat. “Did your contact come through?” I asked, trying to sound professional and unaffected.

  He sighed. “Yeah. There’s a place in the mountains she can go. Secluded. Off the grid.”

  Flora shook her head. “I can’t. What if I lose control again?”

  Wes walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. He stroked her hair and breathed in deep. “You can learn to control it.”

  “You didn’t see what I did to them.”

  I shivered. I wasn’t sure which killing had been worse. “They were wicked men. They wanted to hurt you.”

  Flora’s eyes found mine, intense and possessive. “They wanted to hurt you.”