Demigod Down Read online

  Rubbing my face against the pillow, I pushed on forcing my emotions down to the dark cervices they belonged. “The question is who masterminded the entire operation. Why and to what end?”

  “Did you leave anyone alive to ask?” Blake asked, his hands massaging my hips.

  “No.” I growled into the pillow. “I, I was so upset I just killed and killed…and killed.” I sighed.

  “What about you?” I asked changing the topic, done with my failures and that terrible situation. Logan could handle this one, it was the least he could do after forcing me to handle the nightmare of the puppet master.

  Besides, I now had the Council watchdogging the situation, unbelievable that I even had to babysit the pathetic leader of the shifter nation. I was charging Logan double for this annoyance.

  Pulling my attention back to the present, I started paying attention to Blake, “…Flame has been a nightmare, underage drinking, fighting. Not to mention security at the Centennial Compound has been lax since the majority of the protestors have turned into groupies. If I have to deal with one more obsessed fan…”

  I laughed, rolling on my side peering up at his crystal blue eyes, “Did I mention I have had to model numerous tuxes for Kass since Darren has been busy with his new business?”

  I laughed and cringed, “I forgot about the wedding.” I confided flopping back to my stomach.

  I felt Blake’s naked flesh connect to my own slick body, wiggling against him.

  “You have your own array of dresses to try on.” He whispered, spreading my legs with his solid thigh. Pushing back into him, I tilted my hips welcoming his warmth inside my tight body.

  Blake panted, arms braced below my shoulders as he slowly maneuvered his hips back before just as teasingly slowly pushing back into me. From this position, he was hitting every spot, perfectly.

  “Did I tell you how much I missed you?” he whispered in my ear, repeating the action.

  “You know I’ve never been much for talking,” I responded as he nipped at my shoulder, pushing my hips up against him.

  “I missed your smell,” Blake whispered, increasing his pace as I worked my hips against him.

  Pulling in a ragged breath, my body arched under him, while my hands made fists with his silk sheets.

  “Blake,” I whispered.

  “I missed your voice,” he continued, his body driving me mad.

  “I missed your body,” he whispered, fingers digging into my hips.

  Crying out, I pushed more forcefully against his pace.

  “But I missed your soul the most,” he finished, warming my mind and body as he pushed the pace and our bodies spiraled towards blissful climax.

  The sensations were almost too much as my body gave into him, shattering into a million pieces, screaming my release.

  Without missing a beat, Blake flipped me over, pulling me toward him once again, smiling. Panting, I pushed him gently into the bed, mounting his awaiting member.

  Sliding his massive girth inside of me once again, I couldn’t help the groan of pleasure that escaped me, head tipping back as his hands reached up to pull on my taunt nipples.

  Bracing my hands on his chest, I rotated my hips enjoying his growl of pleasure.

  We spent the night and part of the morning reconnecting. Yawning I downed the water bottle Blake handed me, giving him a sleepy smile, resting against his plush pillows.

  “You have a very satisfied smirk on those luscious lips.” He stated, climbing back into bed.

  Turning into him, I exhaled snuggling against his porcelain skin. “Ready for bed?” Blake asked teasingly.

  Yawning again, I nodded my body and soul sedated from his ministrations.

  “Thank all the Gods, you were starting to tire me out,” he replied, teasingly holding me close.

  …

  I awoke slowly, warm under the cocoon of blankets and determined to ignore my bladder’s demands for a few more peaceful moments.

  “This isn’t a good time,” Blake said growling, followed by a pregnant pause. “Olivia is here, she just got back. I am not dragging her into this mess. It’s mine.” He finished, followed by the beep of his phone, terminating the call.

  I had a moment of indecision, where I wanted to throw the covers back and stare holes in him until he relented. Softening my tense shoulders, I thought through my own list of secrets and weighed my trust for Blake. He had stood by me when the puppet master hijacked my brain, gone to fight for me when I was too weak from blood loss, and cared for me as no one ever had.

  If he needed to have his own secrets, I would respect that. I wanted my own kept back into their darkest corner never to see the light of day.

  Groaning, I battled the soft bedding down, wiggling my legs out as I crawled across the bed sitting on my bottom. Rubbing my eyes, I blearily looked up at my boyfriend.

  “Hey beautiful,” Blake smiled, turning on the charm.

  I grunted, giving him a half-smile before pushing off the bed and stumbling into the bathroom.

  Handling my necessary business, I came out from the bathroom stretching in the doorway, watching Blake’s shoulder’s tense up. He had tossed his phone into his jean pocket before turning to me, pushing up his own barriers.

  Shuffling forward, I hugged him throwing my arms around his middle and snuggling under his chin. “Something come up?” I asked my voice husky from sleep.

  His arms came around my waist and I felt the tension drain from his shoulders. “Yes,” he replied simply.

  “Want me to tag along?” I asked around a yawn.

  “Not this time,” Blake said, leaving so much unsaid.

  “Will I see you again?” I asked uncertainly.

  Pulling back, he cupped my face with his hands looking deeply into my eyes, “Yes, baby. I’ll only be gone a day at most. You can - no you will - stay here during that time,” he said, searching my eyes with a hint of desperation.

  “I don’t do dishes or laundry. You will come back to a mess,” I warned him.

  He smiled, pressing a gentle kiss against my lips, “I have maids, baby, I have maids.”

  …

  Showered, dressed, fed, and slightly more awake, I sipped my coffee waiting for my stinky SUV to come out of the car wash. Jerry, my usual driver when I was in town, was busy playing a more proactive role with Mercer at the police department.

  Watching the men and women in their red polo shirts and black pants, I chewed thoughtfully on the lid of my coffee cup. I wondered what I was going to do with myself while Blake was gone. I suppose I was overdue to catch up on my soap operas.

  My phone started ringing however as the man working on my SUV waved his red rag over his head. Raising my coffee in acknowledgement, I pulled my phone out and saw Kass’ number appear on the screen.

  “Hey missy,” I answered in a good mood.

  “It’s all ruined!” she sobbed, pulling a large choking breath.

  “Kass what are you talking about?” I asked, trading the man my receipt and a tip for my keys. He nodded, bowing slightly before moving on to the next vehicle.

  “The wedding.” She reminded me.

  “What happened?” I asked as I started my car.

  “I have no bridesmaids!” She wailed.

  “I’m here. Do you want me to come over?” I asked, steering my car toward her home.

  “Yes,” she answered quickly.

  “I’m on my way,” I reassured her, hanging up.

  Kass was one of my closest friends, one of my only friends really. We met as dancers at Kitten, the club I owned with Grams the head of the Supernatural Council. Recently she had fallen in love, gotten engaged, and pregnant by Darren, the lion shifter brother to the giant pain in my ass, Logan.

  Darren and Logan had a rocky relationship since.

  Making the quick twenty-minute drive, I pulled into the driveway of the four-bedroom and three-bathroom home. Stepping up to the chestnut door, I didn’t have a chance to use the lion door knocker before a s
obbing Kass pulled me into her arms.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, feeling her distress as my own.

  Shaking her head, she tried to speak only to have more tears flow out. “Okay. Deep breaths,” I tried instead, leading her to the living room to sit on the overstuffed couch.

  She attempted to comply, pulling in a few shaky breaths.

  “Everyone backed out,” she confided, blotting her eyes with the crumpled tissue in her hand.

  “Who?’ Why?” I realized I probably didn’t know who the rest of Kass’ friends were.

  “They said – they said it’s too dangerous to be involved with me right now, given the unrest in the shifter packs.” She stared at her trembling hands.

  “Do you want me to change their minds?” If the assholes thought they were in danger for being involved with Kass, I would show them a whole new level of “unrest.”

  “No, Olie.” She smiled slightly. “But thank you for offering.” She finished, finally able to look at me.

  “I didn’t expect you to let me.” I squeezed her shoulder sympathetically.

  Exhaling forcefully, she stared at the ceiling, “I can’t lie. It’s tempting. Putting the wedding together so quickly while trying to keep food down isn’t leaving much room for being kind.”

  “Being kind is highly overrated.” I reassured her, pulling my feet underneath me.

  “Get your feet off the couch,” she scolded me.

  I obliged as she puttered into the kitchen, leaning over the back of the couch. “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Getting you wine. And a cookie for myself.” She answered.

  “Why do I need wine?” I asked suspiciously.

  She came in with a full glass. Looking directly into my eyes, she held my gaze for a long moment. “I need you to be my maid of honor.” I should have seen that one coming.

  Forcing down the groan that wanted to break out of my throat, I took a long sip of wine instead. “You do realize I have no idea what those duties include?”

  “I do.” With a sigh, she took a bite of her cookie.

  “What I really need Olie, is someone to help me.” She took another bite of her cookie.

  “I guess I am back in town for awhile then.” I drained the wine in my glass.

  “Don’t sound so enthused.” She stated, refilling my glass.

  “It’s not that. I just don’t think this thing in Oklahoma is finished yet.” I took another long sip as memories I was trying to repress flashed in front of my eyes.

  “We have 6 weeks until the wedding, I am certain if you need to run off for a few days everything will be fine.” Kass munched on her cookie.

  I shrugged. “I guess we will find out. What is the first of my maid of honor duties?”

  “We need to find you a dress.”

  “We need Jerry for that.” I kicked my feet back on the coffee table.

  “Seriously? Were you raised in a barn?” she pushed my feet off.

  I shrugged. No, I was raised in a lab.

  Sensing my mood shift, she shook her head. “Sorry.”

  “No worries, I’m going to call Jerry.” I pulled my phone out, dialing him.

  “Well if it ain’t the long lost succubus!” he greeted me.

  “Hey Jerry. You busy?” I asked, taking another sip of wine.

  “I am at the moment, but I can make time for you.” He purred.

  Rolling my eyes, I informed him, “I need a maid of honor dress.”

  “Oh, good, lord. When did this happen?” he asked shocked.

  “Two glasses of wine ago,” I informed him, gulping down the rest of my wine.

  “Honey, that hardly seems like enough for you,” he informed me.

  “Yeah, well, what can I say. When are you available?” I asked as someone yelled for Jerry in the background.

  “Tomorrow one p.m.” he stated briskly. “I’ll pick you two up at the manor.”

  “See you tomorrow,” I said.

  “I think he hung up on me,” I stated, looking at my phone.

  Kass laughed, “You can’t blame him. Things with the local police have really picked up for him. They are even using his talents on human cold cases.”

  I shrugged, “That’s good. How are he and Mark?” I asked about Jerry’s boyfriend and right hand man to Darren.

  “Sickeningly adorable,” she said rolling her own eyes.

  “Give me all the juicy details I have missed,” I told her smiling.

  Kass and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening catching up as she showed me picture after picture online of what she envisioned the wedding to look like.

  “It all depends on the venue really, Darren and I are going this weekend to make a final decision, but I have my heart set on The Gardens,” she said, settling back against the couch.

  “They all are beautiful, but I agree that is by far the best.” I said, stretching with a yawn and checking my watch.

  “Crap! I need to get going. I want to check on Kitten tonight,” I said, standing up. “Thanks for the wine, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She laughed, “Tomorrow.” She confirmed walking me out.

  ...

  Kitten was running smoothly in my absence. No surprise there. I wasn’t a person who could be depended upon to react quickly with frequent changes happening constantly.

  Slouching in Rose’s office chair, she watched me from the corner of her eyes as she typed on the computer reminding me of Grams.

  “So, you are here why again?” she asked uncertainly her delicate frame slouching down slightly, just not as confident as Grams

  “Just checking in,” I said in her black office chair. “These are nice chairs.”

  She smiled “Thanks, I found them used at an auction. The folding chairs in here didn’t give the room the right feel.”

  I could see that. The office I had occupied had been transformed. No longer were supplies laying around in half unpacked boxes or rickety furniture supporting mounds of paperwork. Tall metal file cabinets were stacked four deep on the other side of Rose in her simple black desk and the half-finished walls were repainted a light gray with neat shelving units for the orderly supplies. Rose was doing well in this role, although she did look a little weary.

  “How are you doing?” I asked as her large jade green eyes latched onto my own.

  “Fine, why?” she asked uncertainly.

  “You look tired Rose,” I said, trying to make myself less threatening, which was totally pointless.

  She shrugged, “I need to fire some of the staff.” Her voice was hesitant.

  I shrugged. “So do it,” I answered simply.

  Rose rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t want to,” she confessed.

  I leaned forward, “Too bad.” I informed her and she slouched in her seat, sighing dejectedly and picking at her keyboard.

  “Can you at least work tonight?” Rose asked in a whine.

  “Right after you get done firing everyone.” I said pulling my chair into the corner, raising an eyebrow at her.

  She sighed resigned, “Fine.”

  Rose had a host of people she needed to fire - a line cook who hadn’t shown up in three days; a bartender who was already so drunk on her shift that I needed to help off the property, and a server who gave off the creepiest vibe.

  The server had slicked back dark hair that was plastered to his skull, and he slouched so far forward in Rose’s chair I wondered if he had back problems. The worst of it had to be his eyes, recessed into his skull - a piecing light brown that were almost attractive.

  “I – I really need the job,” he muttered unable to look at Rose, whose was trying unsuccessfully to mask the disgust she was feeling.

  “I’m sorry Joshua, but we have to let you go,” she said again firmly.

  The sudden shuddering of his shoulders had me standing as he launched over the desk at Rose. He weighed nothing as I hoisted him up by his collar, throwing him from the room and into the hallway.
<
br />   “Bad idea, kid.” I told him as he scurried up, watching me stalk him. He quickly made his way toward the exit, leering at me.

  “He won’t like this,” He hissed at me as I pushed him into the ally.

  “Can’t say I really give a fuck,” I told him, turning away and back into Kitten. I needed to find Gunther for my hair and makeup. Thankfully, the man could work small miracles with the dark circles under my eyes for my performance at Kitten.

  Turning back, I looked around the back entrance having a sudden realization of how vulnerable it was. I needed security back here - more cameras and probably a hand or eye scanner for the back door. What had I been thinking? That Kitten would be exempt from those who came after me? Foolish. I would fix that situation immediately.

  I had just plopped myself ungraciously into Gunther’s chair when Rose found me. “He’s gone?” she asked, her arms wrapped around her middle.

  “Yes. Keep security with you, if you are worried.”

  She nodded, her mind clearly preoccupied.

  “You did good Rose.” I told her as Gunther arrived and slathered foundation on my skin.

  Rose smile and shrugged slightly, “Being the boss isn’t nearly as glamorous as I thought.”

  I smiled as Gunther smeared foundation over my teeth, spitting it out. I pushed his hand away to finish the conversation and turned so Rose could see the sincerity in my eyes, “You are doing a wonderful job.”

  “Thanks Olivia,” she said, smiling genuinely. “I’ve got work to do.”

  Gunther batted my hand away. “You are the most difficult subject I have ever worked on,” he huffed. “You are saved only by your exquisite cheek bones.”

  Raising an eyebrow, I let him continue in silence. He was supremely gifted at what he did.

  …

  At Kitten, the performance that night was a tribute to the greatest of the big bands. The large stage in the center had been broken apart into numerous smaller stages for couples to dance on. Even though I was fresh from the field, I had no problem picking up on the routine as an incubus ran through the routine with this partner.