“Hey—I handled it. That demon’s with us now.” I flashed what I hoped was a sexy smirk. “Mareth’ll be back in a minute. You want to finish what we started?”
Her eyes traveled to the bulge in my pants. For a moment I thought she was about to do just that, then she blinked and nibbled her bottom lip.
“Let’s get something to eat first,” she said. “My hands are still shaking. I need to calm down before we, ah, do anything else.”
“Gotcha.” The engine roared to life, headlights illuminating the night. This street marked the absolute edge of Christina’s neighborhood—beyond it stood strip malls and department stores galore. I’d driven this area for a while a few months ago, doing food delivery to make ends meet when the IT thing got lean. Christina didn’t need to know that, though.
“So where do you want to go?” I asked, leaning over the seat. “You figured out what you feel like yet?”
I meant it in more ways than one. Christina understood.
“Oh yeah,” she giggled, giving a start as Mareth climbed into the backseat. “I know just the place…”
“Oni’s on his way to the Academy,” Mareth said, closing the side door of the van and leaning forward in her seat. Somehow the dent the demon left hadn’t made it impossible to open and close the door, which surprised the hell out of me. “That was quite the get, Luke.”
“Yeah, and I wasn’t even trying,” I muttered. “I wonder what kinds of things I can do when I’m actually exerting myself…”
Chapter 5
Christina’s place turned out to be a greasy spoon at the intersection of an auto parts store and the local campus’s library. It was a popular hang out spot for students, gig workers, and anyone who needed caffeine and grease at all hours of the night. I liked it immediately—but I was surprised that Christina did, too.
“It’s the whole ‘satanic ritual’ thing,” she’d explained, settling into a corner booth with Mareth and me. About half of the tables were full, mostly with college students. Both of the girls sat on one side, leaving me alone on the other. “Thanks to the sacrifices I’ve made to the Prince of Darkness, I can eat whatever I want and not get fat. Which means I am getting some nachos to start with.” She picked up a laminated menu, scanning it eagerly.
“Same here,” Mareth said, bumping the blonde with a shoulder. “Succubi don’t get fat—it’s the coolest. Do you have any idea how many calories consuming mortals’ sexual energy burns?”
“Ugh, don’t get me started,” Christina said, setting down her menu. “So jealous.”
“Why would you be jealous?” I asked. “You’re both in league with Satan.”
“I’m jealous of that ass,” Christina muttered, just as a pretty brunette waitress emerged from the kitchen. She kept her curls in a stylish up-do, and the nametag pinned to one of her ample breasts said ‘MADDIE’.
“Good evening,” the waitress said, with just a hint of an accent in her voice. Her gaze flickered over each of us rapidly, already preparing to commit our drink and appetizer orders to memory. “My name’s Maddie, and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you three to start?”
“I’ll take the nachos plate,” Christina said, smiling up at the server. “And a glass of wine. Red—whatever’s open.”
“I’ll do the same,” Mareth said brightly. “Plus an order of tostadas.”
My stomach rumbled at the words. I glanced down at the menu, my vision swimming as another one of those waves of dizziness rolled over me. I had to eat something, soon.
Wait—why was I so hungry all of a sudden? I hadn’t started using my powers again, had I?
“I kinda feel like ordering one of everything,” I muttered, only half meaning it as a joke. At that moment, I felt like I could’ve torn my way through the entire list of entrees and still had room for three or four desserts. “Never mind. Give me a…”
Suddenly the waitress’s hand was on my own.
“Tell you what, sugar,” she purred, leaning so far forward that her tanned cleavage went on display. “How about you let me whip you up something special? You don’t have to worry about this—” she grabbed the menu out from under me, “-tonight. We’ll take care of you. Sound good?”
I looked into her eyes, already aware of what I was going to see. Maddie stared at me like she wanted to eat me right up—or she wanted me to eat her up.
“Uh, sure,” I grunted. “And some water, please?”
The waitress giggled. “Absolutely! I will be right back!”
She left our table, sashaying back and forth like a runway model. I couldn’t tear my eyes off her ass, not until she pushed through the cheesy saloon doors into the kitchen. They swung back and forth as she vanished, coming to a halt.
“Holy shit,” I whispered. When I looked over at Christina and Mareth, both of them wore identical grins. “I think she likes me.”
“You need food,” Mareth said, her grin refusing to fade. “A lot of it…”
Just then, a second waitress appeared at our table. This one was younger, barely the age of the college students around us. A strand of blonde hair peeked out from beneath the brim of her paper hat.
“Hi!” she giggled, looking at the three of us like we were celebrities. “Have you been seen to yet?”
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Uh, yeah,” I said, pointing at the kitchen. “Maddie’s got us…”
Disappointment flickered in her face. “Oh. I see.” I’d thought that would be it, but instead she leaned in close, her lips grazing my ear. “Well, just know that if she displeases you in any way, I will be happy to step in and fill
