Succubus Blues CHAPTER 7

I turned and apothegm Roman sitting over in a corner of the small lobby. He looked striking in a deep green turtleneck, his dark hair brushed away from his face. He smiled at me when I caught his eye, and I walked over to sit near him.Jesus, you very are a stalker.Well, well. Arent you presumptuous. I all came for my coat.Ah. I blushed, sense of smell foolish. How long have you been waiting? nary(prenominal) too long. I actually tried the bookstore first, thinking that mightiness be a wee less stalker- ish.Its my day off. I looked d throw at the riotously colored blossoms in my arms. Thanks for the flowers. You didnt wishing to bring them to get your coat back.Roman shrugged, those blue-green eyes wreaking havoc with me. True, but I calculate they might induce you to go out for a drink tonight.So he did have other motive. Not this again Hey, if youd deprivationed to avoid this, you shouldnt have lured me in ending night. Now its too late. You might as well avoid the long , drawn-out pain and get it over with quickly. Sort of like winning off a Band-Aid. Or cutting off a limb.Wow. Who says theres no romance left in the world? In spite of my sarcasm, I found Romans easy repartee a refreshing mixture from the halting atmosphere with Seth.So, what? Does that mean you finally concede, general? Truly, youve fought a worthy battle in slip of paper me thus far.I dont go to sleep. You showed up at my home. I apparently didnt do that much eluding. When he only waited expectantly, my smile faded. I sighed, studying him and trying to figure out his motivations. Roman, you seem like a benignant guy and everything He groaned. No. Dont start that with me. Its never a good sign when a adult female says youre a nice guy It means shes getting ready to let you down easy.I shook my head. Im unless non interested in getting serious with anyone right now, thats all.Whoa, get serious? Slow down there, sister. Im not asking you to marry me or anything. I just want to go out with you sometime, maybe take care a movie, have dinner and drinks, thats it. Kiss at the end of the night if Im lucky. Hell, if that still freaks you out, well just cast hired hands.I leaned my head back against the wall, and we stayed like that a moment, each of us sizing up the other. I knew it was perfectly possible for men and women to go out on dates without automatic sex, but my dates generally didnt survive that way. My instincts drove me to seek sex out, and smell at him, I realized that urge might be strong independent of any part of succubus motif to feed. I liked the way he looked, the way he dressed, and the way he smelled. I especially liked his goofy attempt at courtship. Unfortunately, I couldnt turn off the destructive succubus absorption, even if I wanted to. It would happen of its own volition, probably strongly with him. Even the kiss he joked about would still steal some of his life-time away.I dont know anything about you, I said finally, rea lizing Id been quiet too long.He smiled lazily. What do you want to know?Well I dont know. What do you like to do? Do you even have a job? You must have lax hours to be able to hang around me all the time. altogether the time, huh? Youre being presumptuous again, but yes, I do work. I teach a couple of residential area college linguistics classes. Short of when Im there, I get to make my own hours with grading and stuff.Okay. Whats your last name?Smith.No way.Way.That hardly goes with Duke Roman. I tried to think of another appropriate screening item. How long have you lived in Seattle?A few years.Hobbies?Ive got some. He paused and cocked his head toward me when no much questions came. Anything else you want to know? Should I comprehend out my college transcripts perhaps? A full curriculum vitae and background check?I waved a hand of dismissal. I have no use for inconsequential information like that. I only need to know the really important stuff.Like?Like whats your favorite so ng?The question obviously caught him by surprise, but he recovered immediately, just as he had last night. I loved that. The last half of the Beatles Abbey Road. The last half of Abbey Road?Yeah, there are a bunch of songs, but they sort of blend into one song I cut him off with a quick gesture. Yeah, yeah, I know the album.So?So, thats a pretty good answer. I tugged at my ponytail, wondering how best to navigate this. He nearly had me. I no. Im sorry. I cant. Its just too complicated. Even the one date. Itll turn into a second date, then another, then You really do jump ahead. What if I gave the super-secret Boy Scout obligation to never bother you again afterwards one date?Youd agree to that? I asked skeptically.Sure, if thats what you want. But I dont think you will once youve spent an evening with me.A suggestive tone in his fathom did something to my stomach I hadnt felt in a very long time. Before I could amply process this, my cell phone rang.Sorry, I apologized, digg ing it out of my purse. Glancing at the Caller ID display, I accepted Codys number. Yeah?Hey, Georgina. Something weird happened tonightLord. That could mean anything from another death to gibe shaving his head. Hang on a second.I stood up and looked at Roman, juggling the vase of flowers as I did. He rose with me, looking concerned. Is everything okay?Yeah, I mean, no. I mean, I dont know. Look Roman, I need to go upstairs and take this call. I appreciate the flowers, but I just cant get involved right now. Im sorry. Its not you, its me. Honestly.He took a few steps toward me as I started to walk away. Wait. He dug in his pockets, pulled out a pen and piece of paper. Hastily he scrawled something and handed it to me. I looked down and saw a phone number.For when you change your mind.I wont.He simply smiled, inclined his head slightly, and left the lobby. I watched him only a moment before heading upstairs, anxious to hear Codys news. Once inside, I peck the flowers on my counte r and put the phone back to my ear.Still there?Yeah. Whos Roman and whyd you use the oldish its not you, its me line on him?Never mind. Whats red ink on? Is someone else dead?No no. Its just, something happened, and spear doesnt think its a big deal. Hugh said you thought there might be more going on than we think.Tell me what happened.I think we were followed last night.Cody related how, not long after leaving my place, hed kept hearing footsteps following him and Peter on the street. Whenever hed turned around, no one was there. Peter had written the matter off, as they had sense datumd no other being present.Maybe you dont know what a vampire hunter feels like.Id still have felt something. And Peter certainly would have. Maybe hes right, and I was imagining things. Or maybe it was just a regular mortal, wanting to mug us or something.I doubted that. We couldnt sense mortals the same way we could sense immortals, but one would be hard-pressed to sneak up on a vampire.Thanks fo r telling me. You did the right thing.What should I do now?A strange, anxious feeling played through me as I thought about some freak stalking Peter and Cody. Dysfunctional they might have been, but I loved them. They were the closest I had to family anymore. I couldnt let anything happen to them.What Jerome said. Be careful. Stay with others. Let me know immediately if anything happens.What about you?I thought of Erik. Im going to clear things up, once and for all.