He’d asked about her family and friends. When she hadn’t wanted to respond, he tried to enthrall her and failed. She’d ended her shift early, and he followed her to Amanda’s place. Maybe if she hadn’t approached him, he would never have talked to her.
“I have experience with employment that generates awkward conversation.” Natalya’s voice pulled Evie back to the present. Her gentle smile made her stay there. “I’ve excelled in mostavenues of sex work. Managed a brothel on the East Coast in the 30s. Then a series of gentleman’s clubs in the 60s and an escort service a few years after that. It wasn’t until I got to Chicago that I wanted to make something permanent.”
Natalya’s smile turned teasing when Evie gaped at her.
“Staring is rude, darling.”
“Sorry, I just…” Evie didn’t know what she was going to say. Being a succubus, it seemed so obvious Natalya would have that sort of history, but the thought of her working at all was strange. She seemed the type to be worshiped rather than employed. “What happened in Chicago that made you stay?”
“The high-rise. I bought out the ground floor and basement a few decades ago. Before the Court of Chains set up here. The club was called Inferno back then, though my kink club below is still called the Second Circle.”
Natalya chuckled at Evie’s attempt to not look shocked.
“What can I say? I enjoy a good reference. Dante gave me an obvious one.”
“Some reference,” Evie said, laughing lightly. “Are there more Circles of Hell nearby I should know about?”
“Just my domain of Lust.” Natalya’s fingers brushed over Evie’s skin as she spoke.
Only then did Evie realize that Natalya was still touching her. She’d finished tending the wound but hadn’t taken her hand off Evie’s. And she was caressing her. Brushing her fingers against Evie’s, softly and absentmindedly. As though she didn’t realize she was doing it.
The touch was comforting. Gentle and warm. It was more than just a soothing touch, somehow. Surprisingly, Evie didn’t mind it. It made her feel calm.
Then she thought of what such a touch might be a precursor to, and a chill ran down her spine.
Natalya was a fiend. A succubus. A being of sex and desire, neither of which Evie wanted to experience. Not now, at least.
She quickly pulled her hand back. Natalya did too. It was like they’d noticed what was happening at the same time.
“Sorry, Evie.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s fine, I just…” She cleared her throat. Her heart was racing, but it wasn’t from fear. It was from a strange, unwelcome yearning she didn’t want to feel. Not with all the painful memories surrounding it. She tried to push down the feeling, telling herself it had just been conjured by Natalya’s warm touch, but it didn’t lessen.
Evie quickly stood, the chair clattering against the floor.
“I’m not even supposed to be awake.” She didn’t look at Natalya. It was too awkward to do so. “I just wanted some water and then… I should go.”
But she didn’t move. She stayed put, looking at the floor. She wanted to leave, but her legs refused to budge.
The sound of a tap turning on made Evie look up. Natalya had moved to the sink with a glass, filling it with water. She handed it to Evie. Hesitantly, she accepted it.
As she took it, her fingers brushed against Natalya’s, and a bright tingling rushed through Evie’s body. When she tended Evie’s hand, her skin had just felt warm.
She hadn’t wanted to influence Evie. She hadn’t wanted to have an effect on her. But she did anyway.
“Sleep well, Evie. I hope no more bad dreams come tonight.” Natalya started to raise her hand—as though to touch Evie again—but stopped herself. Her expression, though perfectly calm, had an underlining of worry to it. “And I’ll arrange for someone to escort you to your classes.”
Evie stood awkwardly, holding the glass. It was cold against her fingers. A stark contrast to Natalya’s warm touch.
“Thank you, Natalya. For everything.”
Then, finally, Evie was able to leave for the bedroom. But she wasn’t able to sleep. She tossed and turned andthought. About how soothing Natalya’s touch had been. How bright her eyes were, and how beautiful her smile was.
She couldn’t stopthinking. And she couldn’t stop wondering. Wondering how it would feel to lie next to Natalya. To have her touch Evie with more intention. To have Evie do the same to her.
Despite the memories haunting her, Evie couldn’t help but wonder whatitwould be like.
Chapter 12
