Lust Read online

  “You should probably put your shirt on.” She nudged me.

  “I suppose that would make us look less conspicuous.”

  “Or at least put it in on if we’re going to spend more time in this alley. Otherwise it looks like we’re about to do unsavory things.”

  “Unsavory? I thought we already did those. Unless you want a repeat.” I raised an eyebrow.

  “As much as I want to put off talking to Levi, we need to do this.”

  “We do.” I pulled on my t-shirt. “Ready?”

  “I don’t have another choice.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  She seemed slightly surprised by my candor. I always wanted to be open and honest with her, which meant being realistic about what was happening.

  I led her around to the front of the building, keeping her hand firmly covered by mine. She squeezed my hand as we walked through the doors. I squeezed back.

  “Good evening and welcome to the Crescent City Hotel.” A bellboy I’d never seen before greeted us as we stepped into the air-conditioned lobby.

  “Thanks,” Daisy mumbled.

  He grinned at her. “If there is anything I can do to make your visit more pleasurable, please let me know.”

  “Thanks.” She looked away.

  “Really, I would be happy to help you with any of your needs.” He leaned toward her.

  “I’m fine.”

  “How about a tour of the Quarter? I get off in an hour.”

  “Sorry, not interested.”

  “Come on, I don’t bite.”

  She recoiled, and I knew she had to be thinking about the vampires.

  I put an arm around her. “You won’t be speaking to her again.”

  “Can I at least get your number?” He ignored me.

  “What part of ‘you won’t be speaking to her’ don’t you understand?” I stepped toward him.

  He moved back. “Whoa, man. It’s a free country. You don’t own her.”

  “He doesn’t own me, but we’re together. That means I’m not interested.” She turned and started walking away. I led us toward the elevator. I looked over my shoulder and glared at the bellboy one last time to make sure he got the message.

  “Thanks for the help back there.” Daisy leaned back against the wall of the elevator. “I like the whole jealous thing on you.”

  “How can you stand that attention?” I moved next to her.

  “I ignore it mostly. It wasn’t as bad before I returned to New Orleans, and then I was only focused on one thing, finding you.”

  My heart soared yet again, as it did every time she mentioned how hard she’d searched for me. It meant nothing was one sided. She’d been as affected by the long ago kiss as I was.

  I led us onto the elevator as soon as it arrived. After inserting my key, we started moving toward the basement floor of the hotel that shouldn’t have even existed.

  The elevator doors opened into darkness. There was enough light that my night vision worked, but I doubted Daisy’s had gotten that strong.

  “Don’t let go of me.” She leaned heavily into my side.

  “Not planning on it. I’m jealous, remember.”

  She laughed. “See, I knew the Allure would be good for something.”

  “We’re getting rid of it.”

  “Obviously.”

  I led us right to Levi’s office, the same office that had once been his father’s. I knocked.

  “Yes?” His familiar voice called out.

  I opened the door a crack. “Got a minute?”

  The door flew open. “You never called me back.”

  “We decided to drop by unannounced.” Daisy surprised me by talking.

  Levi laughed. “And I see you two found each other.”

  “Yes.” I tightened my hold on her. “Which is why we need your help.”

  “My help?” His eyes widened. “I don’t believe you’ve ever asked for my help, Owen.”

  “And I hope I don’t have to again, but we need it now.”

  “Come in.” He gestured for us to enter his office.

  Nothing had changed inside the surprisingly small space. The same massive wood desk took up most of the room, with two visitor chairs set in front of it. Despite his position as king, Levi’s office was one of the smallest. Still, the room was comfortable, and he’d managed to put his mark on it. The biggest ones were the pictures of his family.

  Daisy pointed to the photo of Allie. “Does she mind that you work late?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Honest.” Daisy nodded with approval.

  “She knows I only do it when I have to. I try not to bring work home.”

  “Is that possible? I mean you are the king.”

  “Someone spilled the beans I see.” He looked at me.

  “Yeah… I had no idea I’d been rude to royalty. Sorry about that.” She looked down.

  “You’re not really sorry.”

  “No.” She met his eyes again. “But I do feel for your wife.”

  “I’ll be sure to pass on the concern, but as I can’t go home until we finish talking and I send another few emails, let’s do this.” He gestured for us to take the two chairs in front of his desk before he settled into his own chair. I pulled out one chair for Daisy, and then sat down in the other.

  “I’m not sure where to start.” The story was a crazy one.

  “I’d love to know how you two found each other, but my guess is that isn’t really why you need my help.” He rested his hands on his desk. Sometimes he looked so much like his father it was eerie. He had the same powerful gaze, and he exuded the confidence and strength that came with being king.

  I went for the punch line. “The Allures are still around.”

  “What?” Levi sat up in a flash.

  “They are back.” I slightly reworded my comment.

  “Your friends.” He turned to Daisy. “That’s what they were.” Understanding crossed his face.

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Are they threatening you? Is that why you need help? You need Society protection?” Levi was sitting up watching our every move. He had moved into action mode.

  She shook her head. “Nothing that easy.”

  He caught my eye. “That would be easier?”

  “You remember how I first met her. She’d been given a paste—concocted by a local witch.”

  “Yes. I remember. Halloween night. Vampires.”

  “I believed Mayanne had gotten rid of all the effects from the paste, but she hadn’t.” I glanced over my shoulder at the closed door. “There was an Allure essence in the paste.”

  “What?” Levi startled. “How is that possible?”

  “It is...” Daisy sighed.

  “So you need help extracting it?”

  “Yes, and fast.” I put a hand on Daisy’s back. I could tell she was getting frustrated.

  “Did the Allures give you a timeline?”

  “Not exactly.” Daisy looked at me, and I nodded. “If we can’t get rid of it, I will become an Allure.”

  “Become one?” He looked between us.

  We both nodded. “And it means she will no longer feel.” A chill ran through me. “That can’t happen.” It wasn’t an option. Levi needed to know I wasn’t giving up. I’d do anything to stop the change.

  “How much time are we talking?”

  “Not long.” Daisy sighed. “I already feel the change happening. Just ask Owen, I’m a basket case. I’m not me anymore.”

  “Yes, you are.” I ran my hand up and down her back. “You are still you.” She was moody, but that didn’t mean her core personality had changed.

  “I can handle the truth, Owen. You don’t have to pretend.”

  “I’m not pretending.” She slumped down further in her chair.

  She shook her head. “Forget it then. Let’s get back to discussing the important things.”

  I took Daisy’s hand. “The only clue we have is a place called Energo. Ever hear
d of it?”

  “Energo?” he asked. “Is it a town?”

  “I have no clue. The witch said we wouldn’t find it on our maps, but it has to be on The Society ones.”

  Levi nodded. “Everything exists on our maps.” He turned back to his laptop. “Let me finish one more email, and then we can go back to my house. I have all the old documents there now.” He nodded, which meant he’d made a plan.

  Last time I’d been in town the maps were in the Society safe. I’d been banking on the process being easy. “Why did you move them?” There was no place safer than The Society chambers. The security was the best around.

  “Security reasons,” Levi was being purposely vague. I hoped it wasn’t out of a lack of trust for either of us. It was strange to be out of the loop on anything Society related, but that’s what happens when you take a break for a few months.

  “Wait, we are going back to your house?” Daisy’s eyes widened.

  “Yes.” Levi typed something on his keyboard before closing his laptop. “Is there a problem with that?”

  “You should get permission from your wife.” She pointed to Allie’s picture.

  “You are very concerned about her.” He stood up.

  “I know getting on her bad side isn’t going to help.”

  “I’ll call, but I promise she won’t care. She’ll be excited about Owen’s return.”

  “I haven’t returned,” I quickly disputed. “At least not until we fix this.” I missed my job and my friends and family, but I couldn’t even think about returning until we figured out how to stop the change.

  “I understand. We will work fast. I need you here.” Levi picked up his phone. “Give me a second.”

  We waited while he called Allie. I knew Levi was right, she wouldn’t care at all about him bringing us back. Well, not if he warned her.

  Daisy glanced around Levi’s office nervously. I squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re nervous,” I whispered, brushing my lips against her ear.

  “Just anxious to find out more.” She crossed her legs.

  “Allie is really nice.”

  “I don’t doubt that.”

  “Just know I’ll be with you the whole time.”

  “And I appreciate that.” She smiled in a forced way.

  “Because I want to be, not because I have to be.”

  “And I really appreciate that.” Her smile was more genuine this time.

  “If all else fails, we sneak off and have sex. That steadies you.”

  She hit my arm playfully. “Owen.”

  “Yes, Daisy?” I would never get tired of hearing her say my name, even if she was saying it because she was annoyed.

  “Cool it.”

  “What? You were in such a good mood after that.”

  “Of course I was. How could I not be in a good mood? You were too.”

  “As you said, how could I not be?”

  “Uh, you two done talking about sex?” Levi rubbed the back of his neck.

  I laughed, and Daisy looked horrified.

  “Don’t worry.” He touched her arm gently. “I’m getting Owen back for all the crap he gave me.”

  “Okay…” Daisy looked toward the door. “How are we getting there?”

  “Driving.” Levi spun his keys in his hand. “But by the question I assume you are a fan of flight?”

  Daisy nodded. “I am, but a car is good too.”

  I smiled. “It takes longer to drive, but we can’t fly around the city all the time.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Levi led the way back to the elevator. I took Daisy’s hand in mine. She leaned into my side. I loved knowing I brought her comfort. She may have lost confidence, but I hadn’t. We would find a way to reverse the change. I refused to accept any other outcome.

  3

  Daisy

  I stared out the window as Levi drove us up St. Charles Avenue. Despite the insanity of the situation, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beautiful homes that lined St. Charles Avenue. Complete with large front porches, many with columns and surrounded by live oak trees with hanging moss, the area was gorgeous. If the city wasn’t home to some of my worst nightmares, I would have said it was my favorite. Maybe meeting Owen there made up for all that. Or it would if I got to stay with him.

  “Is it too hot back there?” Levi glanced over his shoulder to where I sat. I’d refused to sit up front, much to Owen’s annoyance. When he’d gotten ready to slide into the back, Levi had promptly told him he wasn’t playing chauffer. Owen sat right down in the passenger seat. It was strange watching him answer to someone else. I knew Levi was king, but that didn’t make it seem any more normal.

  “No, it’s fine,” I assured him. The AC was actually so high it was making me cold.

  “Ok, just checking. You seemed hot.”

  “Can you tell that I’m sweating?”

  “Yes.” Levi smiled at me in the rearview mirror.

  “Darn heightened senses.”

  He laughed. “My guess is you have some interesting talents of your own now.”

  I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

  “But they won’t work on your boy, here.” He tapped the back of Owen’s seat.

  “I know. At least I know he likes me for me.” Otherwise I’d have been constantly worried it was all the Allure. It was still hard to believe he was that into me. Owen was the kind of guy who could have had any girl he wanted.

  “I more than like you.” Owen turned around and smiled.

  I smiled in return. Despite everything, it was nice to know my feelings were reciprocated.

  “You two need to mellow out.”

  “Like you are one to talk.” Owen stiffened.

  “And you let me have it when I did the same thing. Fair is fair.” Levi laughed. He was different than I expected. He had more of a sense of humor than he’d shown me in our first few meetings. I assumed it was because I was with Owen. That somehow moved me into the friend camp instead of unknown potential enemy. “Did you get to enjoy much of the city the last time you were here?”

  “Some, but not enough.” Even my leisurely exploration had gotten me in trouble last time.

  “Let’s get all this settled, and then we’ll give you a proper tour.” He said proper in a way that accentuated his slight southern accent. Owen’s was a little bit more pronounced—and sexier.

  “Your wife is really okay with us coming back with you?” I didn’t want to make a bad impression on the queen.

  “Yes. Surprised, but happy. She apologized in advance that she didn’t make enough dinner.”

  “We won’t take up too much of your time. We can leave and let you two enjoy the rest of the evening.”

  “We have a kid,” he said casually.

  “So?” I waited for the punch line. What was his point?

  “So how much do you think we’ll be enjoying the evening?”

  I laughed. “Good point. But don’t they go to bed soon?”

  “He should be in bed already, I’m only emphasizing that you aren’t interrupting anything.”

  “How’s the little one anyway?” Owen turned in his seat.

  “Cute and annoying at the same time.”

  “He’s only acting tough.” Owen turned around. “You should see him when he’s in dad mode.”

  I smiled. “Having kids can change a man.”

  “And a woman.” Levi laughed quietly. “Allie has changed.”

  “She’s probably much busier.” Being queen likely wasn’t all fun and games.

  “She is. Finding a work-life balance has taken her some time.”

  “Allie works?” I didn’t hide my surprise. “But she’s the queen.”

  “You don’t know Allie yet.” Owen turned to me again. “She’s slowed down on work and school since becoming a mom, but my guess is that’s temporary. When she’s dedicated to something, you had better hope you are not on the opposing side.” />
  “I’ve learned that the hard way.” Levi turned onto a beautiful tree lined street.

  I took several deep breaths. I could do this. Meeting the queen couldn’t be any worse than meeting the king, even if I’d already met him before I knew who he was.

  Owen turned around. “You okay?”

  “Fine.” I gritted my teeth. I wished he realized that asking me if I was okay made it worse. I didn’t need any more attention drawn to me.

  I looked out the window again to avoid meeting his gaze. Levi turned into a stone, circular driveway and stopped in front of a giant white house. Tall columns spanned up to both levels of the house, while large southern oaks and a magnolia tree dominated the perfectly manicured yard.

  I was so busy staring that Levi nearly gave me a heart attack when he opened my door.

  He must have noticed my shocked expression, because he laughed. “Sorry to startle you.”

  “Nice house.”

  He smiled. “Thanks.” He held out a hand. I awkwardly accepted it.

  We walked around the car, and I met up with Owen. He quickly scooped my hand up in his. Levi walked up to the wrap around porch, and we followed. Before he could get his key in the lock, the door was thrown open. A large golden retriever ran out on the porch and jumped on Levi.

  “Get down, Sally!” Levi yelled at the dog.

  “Don’t yell at her!” A brunette walked out onto the porch. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with her hair tied up in a knot on the top of her head, but she had this ethereal beauty that made it look like she would fit more on a runway than a home—even one as grand as this one. I knew at once it was the queen, Allie.

  “I wouldn’t yell if she didn’t jump up on people,” Levi grumbled.

  Allie ignored her husband and walked over to me with her hand outstretched. “You must be Daisy.”

  “Yes, hi. Nice to meet you.” I accepted her firm handshake.

  “Come right in. Sorry about the dog.” She smiled apologetically.

  “It’s fine. I grew up with two labs.”

  “Oh, those are great dogs too.” She gestured for me to walk inside.

  I listened, assuming Owen would follow us in.

  I looked around at the tall ceilings and beautifully refinished hardwood floors. “You have a lovely home.” Try amazing. I’d never been in a place quite like it before.