Page 55 of Bond of Passion

Chapter 19

Deja felt like hell.

Turned out that sleeping on a couch while having nightmares about what the demon in the next room had done to you was not conducive to restful slumber. The dark circles beneath her eyes could be laid directly at the razor-sharp tip of Tavin’s blade.

Her phone beeped as she finished getting dressed, following another much-needed shower to wash away the dream-induced sweat. The text message from Eidolon said that Dr. Sleeva would be arriving at any moment.

Sure enough, before she could text him back, a knock sounded. There was no reason that Deja should feel dread as she trudged to the front of the house, but clearly, her brain and heart were at odds with how they felt about Tavin being with another female.

When she opened the door, she didn’t need to confirm the female’s identity. Dr. Sleeva looked like a supermodel. Tall, with wavy black hair, bronze skin, and breasts that entered the house way before the rest of her did. And did she really need to wear a semi-opaque black micro-miniskirt and a skintight tank top? Really?

“You must be Deja,” Sleeva said in a sensual drawl, holding out a manicured hand.

Deja took it, wondering how the other female could maintain such perfect long, crimson-painted nails. “I am. Sleeva, right?”

“Yes.” Sleeva looked down at their hands as they pulled apart. “Strange custom among humans, is it not? I’m so used to it that I forget I’m not bound by social convention to shake the hands of fellow demons. But,” she murmured in a voice that was pure seduction, “it does give me a chance to gauge people.”

“Really.” Abruptly feeling like she was under a microscope, Deja’s palms grew damp, and her pulse pounded. “And what did you learn about me from our brief handshake?”

Sleeva’slithe body was like liquid as she sidled closer, testing the very edge of Deja’s comfort zone. “That you need to heal.”

Gem had said something similar, and it was getting old. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, even though she did.

Sleevapenetrated Deja’s comfort zone, but she couldn’t move, tethered to her spot by muscles that relaxed more and more as the succubus got closer and closer. This was what she felt when Tavin gave her a heated look. Sexual, aroused, needy. Greedy.

So greedy.

“You are damaged inside,” Sleeva said in a silky, husky voice. “Hurt badly.”

Another step, and heat spread across Deja’s skin. “I’m working on fixing that…”

“Doctor, heal thyself?” Sleeva purred, reaching out to stroke Deja’s shoulder.

“Well, I’m a nurse, but same concept, I guess…”

Throwing back her head, the succubus laughed, a pure, seductive, deep-throated sound that made Deja’s breasts throb.

What is happening?

“I can help.” Sleeva leaned in, slowly, fluidly, until her mouth was a mere hairsbreadth from Deja’s ear. “If Tavin isn’t awake yet, I have time to ease your pain.”

Deja clenched her thighs in a futile attempt to lessen the intensifying ache between them. “But…I thought succubi could only—”

“Fuck males?” Hot breath fanned across Deja’s cheek as Sleeva spoke. “Some succubus breeds are biologically wired for male-only partners, but not all. Now, let me help you.”

Her hand cupped Deja’s breast through her borrowed Guinness T-shirt, and she gasped as a euphoric wave crashed over her. The exquisite burn knocked her so far off balance she couldn’t get her bearings. Did this particular breed of succubi secrete aphrodisiac through their breath or skin?

Her own skin became a switchboard of sensations as Sleeva pressed up against her. Sparks of pleasure ignited widespread tingles until her entire body was one giant nerve ending that demanded touch. Strokes. Licks. Bites.

“Yes,” Sleeva purred as she slid her other palm up Deja’s bare thigh. “I can hear your desire for more.”

Truly? Because Deja couldn’t hear jack shit through the thunder of her heartbeat in her ears. Well, she could hear herself panting. And footsteps.

Footsteps?

Groggily, she rolled her head toward the sound. Suddenly, the fire inside her became an inferno.

That’s what I want.