Next-Door Incubus

She leaned down and grabbed the one-piece. “It’s go

“My boobs don’t just stay perky without a bra,” I said, pulling the straps back up.

“That’s why this costume has a built-in push-up bra, Sweet Cheeks.” She pouted her red lips, unclipped my bra, and pulled up the costume. When she stepped back and looked at me, she gri

I sighed and closed my eyes, letting her do whatever she wanted to do to me. She tugged on strands of my hair and clipped something heavy to my hair on each side of my head. Then, she squealed. “Oh, my gosh. He’s go

When I opened my eyes, she was holding a mirror in front of me. I gazed at myself, my eyes widening. She put horns on my head—horns. My fingers grazed against the black matte curves on my head. “You think Trevon will like this?”

She toyed with the curls in my hair. “Oh-uh, yeah, Trevon. He’ll like it, I guess.”

I gazed at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. The black latex suit showed every single curve of my body—my hips, my waist, my breasts—leaving no room for the imagination. She had painted my lips a maroon color and eyelids a smoky black.

“You’re going to be the hottest demon there.” She wiggled her brows at me and applied another coat of red lipstick. I’d probably be the only demon there.

I grabbed Maria’s lilac perfume off the counter near the sink. If I was going to go all out, I might as well finish the look. But before I could spray it, Kasey grabbed it from me. “Don’t use that. You smell too good already. He won’t be able to resist you.”

And, after giving myself one more lingering look in the mirror, I took a deep breath. I sure hoped that he was going to like it.

Trevon’s bar, Elysium Taproom, was crowded when we arrived. People were hanging around the wrap-around bar in the back which was lit with dim white lights. Others were crowded around in a tight circle in the middle of the room, dancing on each other. And the stench of alcohol was overwhelming me with bad memories of last year.

All I wanted to do was walk right back out.

But Kasey had intertwined my fingers with hers and was pulling me toward the group dancing. I pulled away, shaking my head and telling her I was going to find Trevon first. Maybe I’d dance later, when everyone was too drunk to remember me from last year.

I shuffled through the crowd, careful not to get too close to any guys that might actually be Eros dressed in a costume. Someone grabbed my hips, but I pushed him away and continued towards Trevon’s office in the back of the bar.

“Hey Dani!” Samantha, the bartender, called from behind the bar. She pushed a drink toward someone, collected money from a woman that looked like she had already had one too many, and smiled at me. “Didn’t think you’d come back after last time.”

God, everyone did remember.

“Yeah, me either.” I rubbed Mom’s necklace.

“Can I get you anything? White sangria? I know you like those.” She tossed her chocolate-colored hair over her shoulder and smiled.

“Water,” I said. “Please.”

After she poured me a glass, she slid it toward me. “Have fun tonight.”

This was going to be a long night. I could already feel it. I sipped my water and looked at her. “Do you know where Trevon is?”

She leaned against the edge of the bar, gaze lingering on my lips. “I think I saw him walk back through the crowd.”

I sca

Go find Trevon, Dani. Don’t just wait for Eros to get here.

Yet, I didn’t move. Even in a crowd of a hundred people who reeked of sweat, bad perfume, and spilt drinks, I could smell his sweet scent of ci

He shoved through the last group, and when finally he saw me, he stood still. His eyes grew wide, and he stared at me like I was the only person in the entire room.

Large, white wings hung off his back, a silver chest plate covered half of his bare chest. An angel. A seductive, sexy, si

Moments passed, and I still didn’t move. My heart was racing in my chest at the way he was staring at me.

A woman brushed her hand against the back of his neck, whispered something in his ear, and grabbed his bicep, trying to pull him to the dance floor. But he didn’t budge. Instead, he started walking forward again—each step dreadfully slow—until he was mere inches from me. I gripped the glass in my hand.

I should’ve been terrified that Trevon would appear at any moment and see me this close to Eros, but all I could think about was how I had never seen his eyes this soft. They were always fixed on me with such intent, always so intense. Never so gentle.

“Wow,” he finally said. His gaze traveled across every inch of my face. “You look… amazing.”

My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t expect a compliment from him. I expected one of his flirtatious remarks. Mom’s pendant rested in the center of my chest—its usual cool feel now burning my skin—and I had the urge to tug on it.

His fingers trailed up my jawline and grazed against the horns in my hair. “I’ve never seen someone look so good in these.”

“I-uh…” What do I say to something like that? “I’m a demon,” I said.

My cheeks burned. What the hell was that? Way to state the obvious.

He chuckled, lips curling into a tender smile. “I know. Me too.”

I took a deep breath, trying to brush off my embarrassment. “You look more like an angel to me.” He had the whole costume—except a halo on his head. My gazed traveled down his bronze abdomen to the white-skirt-like material that hung loosely off of his hips. It was so small and thin.

Don’t think about it, Dani.

But it was too late.

“Dani!” Trevon yelled from somewhere in the crowd. I snapped my head in his direction, stepped away from Eros, and sipped my water—hoping to cool off the parts of my body that were burning.

Trevon curled an arm around my waist, pulled me to him, and pecked me on the lips. “You actually came.” He smelt of booze, and his tie was off-centered.

“For you,” I said.

He took my hand, stepped back and looked me up and down. “I’m glad. You’re the sexiest witch here.”

I furrowed my brows together. “I’m not a witch.”

“She’s a demon,” Eros said, clenching his jaw.

Trevon gri

Neither Eros nor I said a word. For some odd reason, I felt offended. Did I look like a witch? Was Trevon just too drunk to even realize what I was? I smiled tensely at him and readjusted his tie. And what was with his—

“Trevon!” Samantha shouted from the bar. “Can you come here? I need your help with something?”

After quickly kissing my cheek, he disappeared through the crowd and reappeared a few moments later at the bar. Chatting with Samantha for longer than I wanted. I hoped that it wouldn’t be like this the whole night.

Eros grasped my elbow. “Come sit with me and the guys.”

“I’m here with a friend,” I said, looking for Kasey. If I spent one more minute with him, I would rip off that tiny costume and—