The Calling

FIFTEEN

PENELOPE



I covered my mouth as tears stung my eyes yet again. I held back my sobs. This couldn’t be happening. But even if it was, wasn’t it my fault? Elara didn’t know about my relationship with him until the last couple of months. And even when she found out, I lied about how long I’d been seeing him. She had no idea the length of time we had been together. I wondered if that was why she was so angry when she found out. Had she been like me? Pretending to hate him to protect herself. Had she been seeing him in secret too? I couldn’t imagine Elara being swayed by Dexter. I caught myself overreacting. I had to think rationally. Elara would never be with Dexter and she would never lie about it like I did. She was always open and honest and she hated him.

Dexter was sitting on the couch, his back to me. He hunched over and held his forehead in his hand, sighing.

“If you would just spend some time with me and Penelope, we could make things more clear.” He said.

I moved closer and I could hear a heated Elara. She was telling him that she didn’t want to spend time with him. That she just wanted her best friend back. My heart ached hearing her fight for me. I had been a terrible friend and I had so many secrets from her now. I held Dexter’s biggest secrets. I was more a part of his world now than hers and I wondered if I would ever be able to go back. But I also realized that Elara and Dexter did not have a relationship after hearing Elara on the phone. Dexter was trying to make one with her because he believed her to be his salvation.

I still felt the pain of his rejection, but I felt relieved to know that nothing had been between them before. Elara was just trying to protect me and connect with me again. I came around the corner the rest of the way and sat on the couch next to Dexter. He was surprised to see me but didn’t seem in a hurry to get off the phone.

“Elara, I just want you to meet with Penelope and I. We can explain some things.”

He nodded to the phone. Elara was quieter now and I couldn’t hear what she was saying.

“Let’s meet this Saturday. I’ll make dinner at my apartment for you and Penelope.”

My heart shattered into pieces so small I couldn’t imagine putting them back together. Elara, my best friend, was invited into the space I had never been allowed to enter, a place I had only found by sneaking and searching. My throat tightened as jealousy and pain clawed at my chest. Did she deserve this more than I did? Did he trust her more than me? I bit my lip to keep from crying, but the ache in my heart wouldn’t let up.

Dexter hung up the phone and took my hand and I could feel my body react. He was like a drug I couldn’t quit. I wanted him to touch more of me. I wanted to be lost against his skin and give over to the promised pleasure.

“I should have asked… Are you free this Saturday?” he said looking into my eyes where I could see his own lust burning.

“I am. Are you really going to ask me to help you with this?” I asked, my voice breaking.

“I can’t do this without you. She doesn’t trust me.”

I pulled my hand free of him, feeling his power over me break. Just slightly. Enough for me to try and keep my thoughts straight.

“I need some time to think Dex…” I whispered as tears streamed down my face. It’s not like I could say no. I physically couldn’t be without him for more than a few days. And that wasn’t by my choice. Even if I wanted to leave him, I couldn’t. He was my life line. And truth be told, I was madly in love with him. I loved him despite it all and even because of some of the darkest things about him. I saw his eyes flash gold and his skin lighten ever slightly. He closed his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets, standing up to move away from me.

“When is the last time you fed, Dexter?” I asked, standing with him and wrapping my arms around his waist. He pulled away from me.

“Last night with you.” He said, looking away from me.

I came to face him and reached up, cupping his cheek and making him look at me. His chin was stubbley and his dark curls fell over his glowing, golden eyes as he looked at me.

“You don’t have to hide from me.” I whispered stepping closer.

“I don’t want to hurt you anymore.” He whispered back with a broken voice.

“I’m yours. No matter what.”

I made the promise before I could overthink it. I was damned no matter what. I had made my bed with the devil and what a beautiful devil he was. I knew in that moment that it didn’t matter what he asked me to do, I would do anything for him. Anything.

His arms wrapped around me and his glamour faded away before my eyes. His short black curls began to lengthen, cascading down his shoulders in dark waves. His tan skin faded, taking on an ashen-gray hue that shimmered faintly under the dim light. With a sudden whoosh, his wings unfolded behind him, their leathery texture catching the air with a low hiss. A long, sinuous tail curled behind him, its tip twitching slightly as he moved. My breath caught as his hazel eyes glowed with a golden ring around the center, illuminating his sharp, otherworldly features. He was raw power, terrifying and beautiful all at once.

“I’m sorry I’m such a monster.” He said as he buried his face in my neck and hugged me so tightly.

“I do love you Penelope. I love you so much.” He set my body on fire as he kissed hungrily up my neck toward my mouth. Lining the bottom of my jaw as one hand slid to caress the back of my neck and the other slid down to grab my ass.

“I love you, Dexter. Always.” I whispered and captured his trailing kisses on my lips and fully gave into his power. I was his. Always would be. Mind, body, and soul.

I should have stopped him. I should have left the moment he started kissing me. But instead I was in his bed and underneath him, my hands held firmly above my head, our fingers locked and him plunging inside of me. I should have told him to take a hike and to leave me alone. But here I was screaming out his name as he took me to greater heights than I thought imaginable. His scent was consuming my nostrils and all my air for breathing.

Pleasure consumed every inch of my body. He kissed me like he could only be satiated by the taste of my tongue. His hands traced over my skin with a heat that left trails of fire in their wake. The sound of our breaths filled the room, blending with the faint hum of the city outside. His lips trailed down my face and neck and then found mine again, hungry and relentless, as if he was trying to claim every piece of me. I arched into him, every nerve ending alive, every sensation magnified. The scent of him—minty, intoxicating—flooded my senses, grounding me even as I felt like I was floating. It was overwhelming, and I didn’t care. I wanted all of him.I could feel him feeding off my lust but this time was different. I felt his power coursing through me, but instead of weakening me, it lit a fire inside of me.

Every nerve hummed with energy, every breath came easier. I realized this was what it meant to truly connect with him—to give and take in equal measure. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was being consumed. I felt like I was a part of him, as much as he was a part of me. The realization was both exhilarating and terrifying. This was the first time we had made love while he was in his true incubus form, but he wasn’t draining the life from me while he fed. I felt empowered. I wrapped my legs around him and gripped his hands tightly and shoved him upward. He rose easily and he looked down at me in shock. He stared down at me for just a moment as I held him up. We were both panting heavily and neither of us knew what to do.