"Sia? C'mon Anastasia, it's thirty minutes to six; you're going to be late."
I mumbled for him to go away, hugging the blanket I'd cocooned myself in. My night consisted of weird dreams from my childhood and pole dancing werewolves. Between the two, I was more horrified by the dancing werewolves. Like really, try to picture that. Yup, not a pretty sight.
"Sia."
Only Alexander knew that I loved when people called me Sia. It was my nickname, since people surprisingly said Anastasia in so many different ways and dialects. Sia just made life nice and easy.
I wouldn’t admit that the name secretly turned me on, even more so when Alexander said it, but I think that was more just my succubus side creating those feelings of want.
I was still on the verge of sleep and didn't want to get up for my new job. The money is so tempting though. I felt Alexander tug on the blanket and I pulled back, not wanting to have my source of warmth stolen from me. "No," I whined.
"Anastasia. Fifty million dollars is on the line. You're lucky I always wake you up thirty minutes before you actually need to get up. Out of bed,” he demanded. I frowned, slowly opening my eyes to see him standing on the right side of my bed.
My tired eyes slowly scanned his muscular bare chest, and I began to wonder if he'd be a good blanket. He crossed his arms and gave me a stern look. "Don't stare at me like that. I'm not going to be your cuddle buddy."
I pouted, tugging back the blanket. "Mine."
"Up,” he countered. I was silent for five seconds, looking at the blanket before returning my eyes back to his; I noticed them grow wide and he opened his mouth. "Don't you-"
"Cuddle with me," I mumbled. His body tensed up at my command before he let go of the blanket. I rolled over, snuggling the blanket, thinking he'd go away as I locked back my power, releasing him from fulfilling my demand. I already claimed my actual prize which was the blanket.
I heard him sigh. "You're evil, you know that?"
I looked over my shoulder and frowned. "No cuddle?" I asked, trying to fight off sleep. I doubted he would oblige and as much as my body urged me to command him so he would hold me in his arms, I didn't actually want to force him.
"No,” he declared, looking slightly frustrated. We shared a look before he sighed, his shoulders sunk as he uncrossed his arms. "I really hate when you give me that sad expression. Pulls at my heartstrings."
He crawled onto the bed and I rolled over and gave him the other half of the blanket. He ruffled my hair. "Don't get mad at me if you’re running late."
"I won't," I mumbled. He pulled me into his arms. He was quiet and I had the intentions to sleep but then a thought crossed my mind. "Alexander?"
"Yes, Sia?"
"Why are we not a thing?" I inquired quietly. It was a question we would ask each other once in a while and neither of us could ever come up with a reason. I was curious if he’d give me an answer today, though I couldn't even answer my own question in my half-awake state.
"I don't know,” he whispered back as his fingers played with my short messy locks. "Do you want to date?"
"I don't know." I was unsure how to truly answer that question, which made me feel silly for even asking. "I guess I'm curious because no matter what I do to you, you never once yell at me. Sure, you get mad or huff at me for using my powers on you, but you've never told me not to use it on you with seriousness. Why?"
He was quiet and I waited patiently, fighting my body’s urge to sleep now that I was in his warm embrace. He knew that as a succubus I needed to be intimate with an individual, whether male or female. It could be as simple as a hug or as intimate as sex.
Of course with sex, it would be easier for me in the long run, reducing the craving for physical contact and intimacy, but I just couldn't do that with strangers anymore. I was far from a virgin, having enjoyed my freedom when I first moved out and established myself in the world.
I'd lived my life and enjoyed the luxury of what it was like to be a succubus, but the more sex I had, the more the fear began to grow inside me that I'd become exactly like my mother. I didn’t want to risk having a child; they would deserve more than a careless mother like mine had been. I also didn't want my child to have a father who didn't know or care about them.
Once the fear grew to the point of giving me nightmares after each sexual exchange, I gave up entirely. Since then, kissing, hugs, and cuddling were all I could do for the sake of keeping my sanity. Alexander understood that, but it wasn't fair to him in my personal opinion. I didn't want him holding up his own personal life for my sake.
"You're my best friend, right?" he questioned.
"Isn't that obvious or was that rhetorical?" I teased back.
He chuckled, the deep sound made me happy. "Pretty obvious, but I like to reassure myself. As your friend, why should I get upset over what you are? Succubi have become a rare breed now and unlike many of them who make their own mini factions of slaves and do whatever they wish with them, you’re here living in our suite making a name for yourself and just kiss random strangers here and there."
I pulled back to frown at him. He laughed. "Oh don't give me that look. You do kiss strangers sometimes, but I don't judge you for it. As a succubus, the urges are strong, right?"
"Well...ya." It was always hard to describe a succubus’ urges. It was like how pregnant woman would wake up at ungodly hours of the night for the strangest food combinations.
In my case, it would start out as a nagging thought before gradually becoming an constant craving, which if ignored long enough caused a dire need for sexual contact. If I didn't kiss strangers, I'd probably kiss Alexander every other day and if I didn't do that and ignored the warning signs, I'd basically jump the first person I saw.
Who am I kidding? I wouldn't jump anyone. I'd command them to do exactly what I wanted and make them please me for as long as I needed them until the urge was fulfilled.
"Then what kind of friend would I be to neglect that? You want a hug, you can have one. You want to kiss, you can. Even if eventually we go our separate ways or are in relationships...I'd probably still wouldn't try to stop you. When someone you care about is in need, it doesn't matter what you have to do. You just do it,” he concluded.
"What if we did get partners? I think yours would probably get mad," I pointed out.
"I'll tell them you're a succubus and could have taken me a long time ago. She'd shrug it off,” he replied.
It was my turn to laugh. "You don't know how deadly women are. We aren't like some of you men who think it's okay to have twenty side chicks."
He huffed. "I have morals, my dear. Not every man likes side chicks. What about a sideman?"
"That's not a word at all and you missed my point," I argued, slapping his chest. He pulled me into a hug before rolling onto his back so I sat right on top of him.
I grinned, sitting up to stare into his tired green eyes. I noticed the sudden glimpses of gold in them. He lifted his hand to brush against my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine.
"You'll always be important to me, Anastasia. You helped me through times when no one else wanted to look my way. My family surprisingly adores you, yet criticizes every other potential female presented to them. No matter whether we stay as best buddies or something more blossoms between us, I'll be there when you need me to. Doesn't matter if you have to kiss me senseless. At least you're a good kisser." He winked and a wide grin formed on his lips.
I mimicked his smile before leaning down to kiss him. It wasn't with romantic intention, but more of a thank you and I knew he was aware of that, having kissed him as thanks plenty of times before.
"Thank you," I whispered against his lips.
"You’re welcome, Sia. Now, are you getting up?" he asked. I glanced up at the clock on the wall above my headboard, which said it was 5:45 AM.
"Fifteen more minutes,” I protested, resting my body on top of him. The vibration of his chest made me grin.
He chuckled. "Good luck to whoever has to wake you up in the future. Maybe they'll be a night owl and you'll never have to wake up in the mornings."
"That would be a dream come true. You're still a potential candidate, bestie, so that reassures me I have a backup," I teased.
"I'm not your backup booty," Alexander argued.
I lifted up slightly to meet his amused eyes. "You so are. Backup booty, aka the man who always has my back and makes sure no one stares at my booty too long." I winked.
He rolled his eyes. "That's not how the true saying goes."
"Whatever. Same shit, now cuddle with me for thirteen minutes so I can survive this agonizing day and pray my boss isn't Lucifer in the flesh."
"Mr. Smith isn't Lucifer and you'll be fine. You've done tons of secretary jobs and you were such a pro in every single one. Remember, they were begging you for weeks to be their permanent worker," Alexander praised, wrapping his arms around me while I rested my head back on his chest.
"Yes, but you never know. What if he's an incubus?" I suggested.
"Your powers would cancel one another out," Alexander reminded.
"They would not. That only occurs when we're both on equal levels. He's older, he could be stronger," I countered.
"He's twenty-six."
"Everyone's twenty-six when you're a shifter. He could be one hundred and not look a day older than thirty. You know as shifters our aging process slows down tremendously once we hit twenty-five. Blessing and a curse,” I added.
"Blessing in this world that people have some awareness of shifter race. Humans are more accepting than you think.”
"Like how you're accepting of your succubus-vampire best friend? I can see your first step as a mage is blossoming," I teased.
"I'm going to be a mage one day, just you wait,” he declared.
I laughed. "Oh Alexander, I thought you said your magic percentage was like three percent. Even my magic is higher than yours."
"You're at ten percent,” he argued.
"Seven percent better than you," I taunted.
"You're mean." He huffed. "I'll be able to do it, just you wait. I have all the ancient texts and knowledge to be successful."
"Those ancient books look like they are going to fall apart; you got them from eBay. Not to mention you need a magic translator for half the spells in there," I commented.
"I'm learning how to read them slowly. You have to at least practice with me,” he begged.
"Why is that? I didn't volunteer to become a mage." I yawned, closing my eyes.
"Because you're my best friend. You have no choice,” he declared.
"Hmm...true. Sad...but definitely true," I mumbled, begin to doze off once again.
He tightened his arms around me, giving me a quick squeeze. "You'll be fine and I'll have my phone next to me when I sleep."
"You have work tonight?"
"Yes."
"I'll come by if I need a drink. Maybe pet Pix a few times if he passes by," I whispered.
"My bar and stage are always open to you,” he encouraged.
"No singing. Only makes people start begging for me to sing every night."
"That's because you're good and when you let yourself go and sing your heart out, it's like a spell that no one can break. I love your voice." He whispered the last part, which made me smile.
"I'll think about it." I hummed.
"Ten minutes,” he reminded.
"Ya," I muttered, already drifting off, enjoying these last minutes before the start of this three-month position.
At least this time, I dreamed of a pole dancing Alexander rather than werewolves. That was a sexy sight indeed.