Page 22 of Thicker than Blood
His nervous energy vibrates through him, spurring me to ease his discomfort. I ring a bell on the table beside me and instantly three incubi slither their way through the crowd, appearing before me filled with excited energy.
“Friends, we have a guest. Please soothe him.”
Zanis, the elder of the three, surveys Geordi before dropping to his knees. Geordi scoots back slightly but otherwise makes no effort to get away. Zanis, sensing Geordi’s anxiety, rubs a warm hand over Geordi’s leg.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
With deft fingers, he removes Geordi’s shoes as the other two, Laith and Binx, move behind Geordi. The three of them begin to massage Geordi, instantly relaxing him as they exude their pheromones into a heavy fog around us.
Geordi gazes at me with heavy eyelids and a dopey smile, and I raise my glass to him. Zanis’s fingers move up his thighs, but that seems to agitate the mortal, which Zanis can feel, so he quickly moves back to his feet and calves.
“Would you like more?” I ask.
Geordi blinks slowly a few times before his brow creases. “What do you mean?”
“You can have anything you want here. Any desire or pleasure you seek.”
“Do you mean sex?”
“I do. I see three creatures who would love to take you apart right now if you wish it. There’s no rule about incubi.”
His pulse speeds up as his scent heightens. Ooh, he’s so curious.
“No, thank you.” He clears his throat. “I’m good for now.”
Zanis rises on his knees, stretching his torso slightly so he’s face-to-face with Geordi. He tickles under Geordi’s chin with his long fingers. “If you ever change your mind, Elias can summon us.”
“Thank you.”
The three disappear into the crowd, leaving us alone again. I find myself very curious about Geordi. No one who’s visited here has ever turned down an evening with the incubi. Interesting.
“I have a potentially intrusive question for you, Geordi.”
He turns to me, wide-eyed but open. “Sure. I’ll decide if I answer it.”
I smirk. I do enjoy a bit of spice. “How do you define your sexuality?”
He blinks rapidly as he sucks in a breath. “Um, I’m gay. You?”
“I’m whatever interests me. When you’ve been alive as long as I have, you find the need for boxes and labels is unnecessary. I do prefer the company of men though.”
Geordi clears his throat. “Cool. Good. I mean, yeah, same.” He laughs, but it sounds a bit like he’s choking. “Why do you ask?”
“You turned down the incubi. No one ever does. Sex with an incubus is a mind-blowing experience.”
“I prefer to be in a relationship of some kind. At least a few dates first. I’m not really a casual sex kind of guy.”
“How quaint.”
“Quaint?”
“Aren’t you the least bit tempted?”
“Sure, but I have a lot of self-control. The best outcomes come from proper research and preparation.”
“Is that so?”
He nods earnestly. “Spontaneity leads to trouble in most cases.”