Page 33 of Hoofin’ It

“I’ll probably be clean of the virus in two or three days unless it managed to take hold, which I doubt.”

“I took your virginity,” she whispered in my ear, pressing against my back. “Didn’t I?”

Evil had a name, and it was Marian. Evil was also naked and far too close for my comfort, revitalizing every memory of being with her, right up until we were so exhausted we needed to stop and catch our breaths. I’d probably relive every minute in my sleep for the rest of my life.

The experience would color my future, too. She’d been everything I had dreamed of and more, and the incubus and succubus probably had something to do with that. I could easily understand how men could become hooked on the experience of being with a woman while under the influence of a sex demon.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“You wouldn’t let go of the lycanthropy issue, so I’m not letting go of the virginity issue.”

Turnabout was fair play, and I’d drawn the short straw. “However embarrassing, that’s fair. Fine. Yes, you did.”

“And there’s no competition for you.”

“I live in Chicago. They have a rather strong dislike of those who have been exposed to the lycanthropy virus.” I shrugged.

Marian wiggled closer and rubbed my arms. “I can’t wait to find out what you’ll be like when you partner your enthusiasm with experience.”

If I kept blushing, I’d rupture a blood vessel in my head. “You’re still influenced by the incubus, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little. It’s your fault.”

“How is it my fault?”

“I find clever, nice men attractive.”

While inexperienced with the mysterious ways of women, I knew if I ran for the hills, one of two things would happen. She would chase me down and kill me, or she would chase me down and have her way with me. For some reason, I couldn’t imagine her ignoring my attempt to escape her.

The part of me responsible for enjoying her on my lap wanted her to chase me, and the conclusion of the hunt didn’t matter one bit. The rest of me worried for my sanity.

“I don’t suppose we can discuss this later, after you put some clothes on?”

Marian growled and bit my shoulder hard enough I bled.

Not even the lycanthropy virus courtesy of my father could deal with Marian’s bite. I suspected the succubus’s influence had helped burn out the virus, but the cops called someone from the Center for Disease Control to confirm I hadn’t infected the undercover agent.

We both scanned clean of the lycanthropy virus, which explained why her bite wasn’t healing like I expected. I shot another glare at her, poking at the injury before an EMT slapped my hand away.

“Don’t play with it,” the man ordered before continuing to prepare a bandage.

I scowled. While she’d made me bleed, I didn’t think the bite was worth the fuss.

Marian blushed, and I liked the way her cheeks reddened. “I’m really sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

At least she had progressed from nudity to a blanket wrapped around her. Cops and FBI agents kept offering her coffee, which she guzzled as though afraid it would disappear.

I waved away her apology with my left hand so I wouldn’t earn another swat from the EMT. “If we start apologizing for every little thing, we’ll be here all night and drive your FBI friends to murder.”

I’d already gotten more than a few glares from various law enforcement personnel. I wasn’t sure if it was because they were jealous or because I was some random civilian who happened to be in the right place at the right time. I didn’t look forward to being questioned, which would happen after the EMT was convinced I wouldn’t do additional harm to myself.

I sat still while he taped a bandage into place, then grimaced when he poked the gunshot wounds below her bite. “That hurts, you know.”

“How long have those been healing?”

“I was shot yesterday. My surgeon is from here.”

“Dr. Harting?”