Incubus

8

Chapter Eight

     Her heart fluttered desperately in her chest like a bird trapped in a cage. He loomed over her menacingly, trapping her against he counter with his tattoo covered arms. She was trapped, trapped in the warmth that radiated off him, engulfed in his woody, masculine scent. The sharp, pleasant scent of sandalwood made her dizzy. Everything about him made her head spin.

His lips brushed her ear after uttering that single fateful world-- the reason for his existence, the explanation behind everything that had happened in the past 24 hours. Magic.

Celia finally managed to gather her strength, and push him. He barely moved an inch, but he lifted his head enough for her to look into amused amber eyes. "Magic," she spoke, her fingers clenching tightly on the counter, "does not exist."

He eyed her curiously, "What of the witchcraft you practice?" He asked, "You seem so ready to discard all that which you believe in," a smirk danced upon his lips.

"This is just a dream." She answered faintly, sinking in the denial she had been floating in for so long. "All the candle fumes must have finally gotten to me," she continued on, nodding to herself convincingly. She'd practiced magic for the better part of two years but she'd never expected anything like this to happen. She'd never expected it to actually work.

"I'm going to wake up and go to work. This will all have been a crazy dream," she finished triumphantly, but he looked all too amused as she came to accept the most rational explanation for what was happening.

"Is that so?" Cain asked, chuckling in amusement as his broad chest vibrated. She was almost close enough to feel the ridges of his muscles moving ever so slightly.

"You're far too beautiful to be real," she murmured without thinking, "and since this isn't real, I can say anything I want," her eyes scanned over his sculpted face, his lips, his vibrant eyes framed by sooty lashes. Beautiful was an understatement.

The demon smirked. "Beautiful?" He repeated.

This time she couldn't contain her blush. Now she really hoped it wasn't real. Because if it somehow was, she'd die of embarrassment.

"Oh Celia," Cain brushed a string of long ash brown hair from her face, "if this wasn't real, how would you feel this?"

He leaned in, sending her heart into a frenzy. Her breaths were shallow as she waited with anticipation for her first kiss. But at the last moment, he turned his head and placed a feather like kiss on her jawbone. And another, and another, leaving a trail of fire.

She sighed softly, eyes fluttering shut as she became lost in his touch. She didn't understand the way her body was reacting, and she didn't care. She didn't want him to stop.

His lips trailed down her jaw, to her tender throat. Her legs felt equivalent to jello as he sucked on the hallow of her throat, evoking something she had never felt before. Her lower stomach was a tight ball of need, her skin was on fire. If it wasn't for his long legs holding her in place, she'd have collapsed to the floor by now.

Like Valerie.

She snapped out of her spell, jerking away from him. How could she have forgotten he was a monster? How could she let herself surrender to his touch? Guilt and shame washed over her.

No. I am stronger than this.

She abruptly brought her knee up, taking him by surprise. He groaned, releasing her for a moment and she took the opportunity to duck under his arm and and make a run for it.

Only, she didn't get very far.

She had barely made it to the door when he grabbed her by the waist, pushing her firmly against the glass door. A sharp exhalation escaped her lips upon the harsh impact. This time he held her in place, pressing her against him so she could feel every muscle.

She fought like a caged animal, writhing against him but he firmly pinned her wrists above her.

"Is that it, you like a game of chase?" He purred darkly, sending a chill through her body, "It's my favorite game to play-- and a game I never lose."

She trembled in fear.

"So when I capture you as my prey- you won't want to run. You'll be begging for me to take your innocence in the most savage way." His words electrified and terrified her.

"Enjoy the chase while it lasts Celia. You'll be mine soon."

And then he was gone. Vanished into thin air, leaving an empty space where he had been. Released from his hold, Celia's knees gave up beneath her. For a long, long time she just sat there in shock on the cold, tiled floors of the diner.