The Ring

Chapter 4: Jaerinn

Honestly, when I jump after Clara, I expect to bounce off and get thrown back into the alley. But I discorporate anyway as I leap and shockingly, astoundingly, pass through with her, landing in the human world without form.

A moment of panic nearly has me back peddling into the portal, but she's already turning the corner and I know if I lose sight of her, I lose my ring.

It doesn't belong in the human world at all. Especially while not firmly attached to my own appendage. I need to get it back before something horrific happens. Like my brothers find out. Or worse. My father.

For someone who just wrenched their ankle in an alley, Clara sets a pretty peppy pace. And then doubles it. By the time we reach a multi-level building, she's flat out running. It's a good thing I'm incorporeal at this point, because it doesn't matter how fast she runs, I can keep pace. Not that I couldn't have easily outpaced her in my physical form. I mean. She's a tiny, unathletic human. I'm a sex god. Ha.

Inside her dinky flat, she slams the door and locks it like an entire pack of hellhounds is on her tail and I check the windows to make sure she hasn't been followed. She's clearly scared out of her wits, but I think I would have noticed if anyone followed her. It's been my observation that humans have an uncanny sense about these sorts of things, so I reach out with my own senses. What if my father or brothers did find out and followed us? Anxiety worms through my gut. But I don't sense anyone, supernatural or human, snooping around the vicinity.

A ringing clunk grabs my attention. She's put it down. On a table. And she's walking away! Sweet Asmodeus this is my lucky day. I'll just—but as soon as I reach for it, she whirls back and snatches it up, cradling it to her chest.

Fuck. If I were physical, I would have collapsed. I can practically feel her small, warm hands wrapped around the ring. If she had any idea of what she held in those perfect little fingers...

A very nearly corporeal tug at my attention makes me look back to see she got the damned thing in her mouth again. Asmodeus, what is she doing?

It takes my entire focus to keep from materializing right in front of her because her mouth... No... her tongue is...

I dissipate my structure to fight the siren song of the ring which is doing its damnedest to draw me out right now. Wave after wave of intense energy surges through me and it takes every ounce of focus not to give in. Not to drop right in front of her, tendrils of lust encompassing and overwhelming her until she's screaming my name and begging for more.

Despite my best efforts, I surround her, taking in her essence; the scent of parchment and chocolate; the softness of her hair and skin. My immateriality engulfs her, and she stands frozen, eyes far away and glassy, her lips and tongue grazing the planes and edges of the ring like it's my own flesh.

I groan and her eyes focus. She frowns and pulls the ring from her mouth, now covered in saliva and I know it's not the only thing wet right now.

With great effort, I withdraw from her. I can't pull back too far, though. I've realized by now why I'm even here; the only reason I could even cross through the portal in the first place. I'm tied to the ring. As long as she has it, she has me.