The Price of Possession, Dakota Brown [i have read the book a hundred times .TXT] 📗

"If Sabian can give us an edge, we might need it.Obviously, I have to leave him with you. I'm not judging, Chris. I have noground to stand on in that regard. I just know you used to like sex, and I feellike they'll probably be a step up from your usual hookups."

"I..." Was I really agreeing to this? Yeah,I was. Human trafficking, that was bad shit and demons getting in on it waseven worse than the drugs. Darius was right. We had to get this stopped. "Okay,mate. Just remember, I'm stuck with the demon because of you. You can not comeback later and try to get all righteous on me or some shit."

"Promise," Darius replied.

I glanced at Mal, who had settled back into aninterested but somewhat impassive expression, as if we weren't talking aboutusing him to help me feed an incubus. Mal glanced at me, winked, and went backto studying Sabian. Maybe he wasn't that upset about it. Come to think of it,willing hookups might be hard for a vampire to find. At least with someone whoknew what he was.

Darius took a deep breath, then slid his foot acrossthe circle, breaking the containment spell.

Sabian squealed in glee, threw his hands up, andscampered over to my side. I'd never seen a six foot something tall man scamperbefore, but he nailed it. Then he sank down next to me and wrapped his armsaround my leg, resting his head on my thigh and staring up at me adoringly.

I gaped at him, not even sure what to say.

Malak chuckled.

Darius sighed. "I'm not sure if I should beapologizing or not, Chris."

"Don't know. Looks like I'm in for a good time."

Darius actually blushed.

"Is that something a man of the cloth is supposedto promote?" I couldn't help but needle him a little. "Demons, lewdacts, leaving me with a dungeon master."

Malak sighed.

Darius gave Malak another searching look before heshook his head. "You haven't had a lot of luck with humans, maybe thedemon can change things around for you."

I almost choked. "Yeah, definitely think that'snot something a priest is supposed to say."

Darius grinned. "Hell, Price, he might be saferto let loose in Santa Fe than you are."

I could not come up with a proper retort because,maybe, just maybe, he was right. "Yeah, thanks for that, mate. So, changeof subject. Sabian..."

The demon purred, the sound going straight to mygroin. My legs nearly buckled, and I was almost grateful when Malak aborted hismove to grab me, or Darius might have gotten an eyeful.

"Could you keep that under wraps for a bit, mate?"

"Sorry," Sabian replied contritely.

"I'd make a quip about innocent eyes, but Dariusisn't nearly as pure as his profession makes him out to be." I glared at myfriend.

He shrugged, not denying it.

"Anyway, Darius, could you get some clothes for ournew friend here? I'm quite certain I have nothing in his size. Well, maybe arobe, but that's probably about it."

"Sure, Price. I'll pick a few things up. Bringthem by tomorrow afternoon?" He waggled his eyebrows.

I managed to refrain from blushing. "Hey, you'rethe one leaving me with a starving incubus."

"You want me to send him back to hell instead?"Darius asked. "If you don't want him around, I'll make him leave."

Sabian tightened his arms around my leg, but as far asI could tell, he wasn't otherwise using any of his powers on me. My personalwards would protect me from most anything that would harm me, which is how hispower before had gotten through–he'd meant no harm. I'd never put the wards tothe test against a vampire before, so I wasn't sure how effective they wouldhave been if Malak had gotten his teeth in my vein. Maybe if he'd actually beentrying to hurt me, but he hadn't been. Just caught up in the lust like me.

"Naw, guess he can stay."

Sabian let out a relieved breath.

"Malak, nice to meet you," Darius said. "She'sa handful, hope you're up for it." He headed for the stairway. "Youmight want to go upstairs first, more comfortable."

"Darius!"

He chuckled and hurried up the stairs.

"Fucker," I muttered.

We stood around in uncomfortable silence until I heardthe front door close then I glanced at Malak, not entirely sure how to proceed.

He clasped his hands together, partially avoiding mygaze, obviously not quite sure what to do next, either.

"Ms. Price…"

"Naw, mate. You had your tongue in my mouth.Think that means you can call me Chris."

"Okay," he replied, laughing. "Itypically go by Mal."

"Great."

"I should probably leave."

Damn it, I'd actually wanted him to stick around. Wasn'tgoing to force the issue, though. That certainly wasn't fair.

"Sure, if you want."

He tilted his head. "Do you want me to stay?"

I shrugged. "Hungry incubus and all, might be usefulto have you around." Sabian tightened his grip on my leg again.

Mal's eyes widened. "I'm not sure you need me ifyou have a hungry incubus."

"I'm still too close to starving," Sabianinterjected. "I could hurt Chris, or even you, if I fed directly from you."

"Well, in that case, you gotta stay." Ismiled at him.

Mal shifted on his feet and shoved his hands in hispockets. "I could," he said slowly.

"Only if you want to," I felt I had to add.

He gave me a lopsided smile. "I have noobjections per say, I'm more surprised you want me to stick around. I bite,after all."

"Ah, well, only live once, I guess. Never had avampire before."

He took a step closer, and I held my breath. Hereached out, tracing his fingers along my temple, through the shaved hair onthe side of my head and down my neck, making me shiver, speeding my heart.

"I've never had an exorcist before," hereplied softly.

"We're something else." I grinned.

"I can tell."

"I'll stay until the morning," he offered. "ThenI'll leave you with my phone number. It'll be your choice if you want to see meagain."

"What if you don't want to see me again?"

"You're the most interesting person I've met inquite some years. I'm already convinced I'd like to get to know you better."

"Even if I don't role play?" I teased.

"I'm positive I could change your mind. And whoknows, maybe Sabian would