Chapter One Hundred One

Charles and I had our lips locked. The last time I was that close to a man, blood was shed. Where was my demon/incubus now? I moved Charles to where I had seen the shadow to give Desmond a clearer view of our mouth action.

Bam!

I heard a bang on the wall close to where we were kissing. My sweet plan of revenge was working. My lips spread into a cheeky smile against Charles’s mouth.

To force my sneaky ex-demon lover into making his presence known more strongly, I pushed and pinned Charles against the wall exactly the way Desmond used to do it to me and slid my tongue deep into his mouth. The kiss was too passionate for two people who had just met.

I wasn’t thinking about the after-effects of going to town on a stranger’s tongue. All I cared about was causing Desmond gut-wrenching pain as a start for lying to me. I wanted him to squeal with pain and interfere physically in my make out session with a new man.

Charles was initially too taken aback to participate, but now I could feel his mouth move and passionately kiss me back. His hands also warmed my back and felt the curves of my waist.

All I got was a bang on the wall for digesting that man’s tongue. Had Desmond learned to control his anger at the most unexpected and unwanted time? Too bad for him because I was determined to break his newfound peace. His rest was forbidden until I could restore order to the chaos he had created in my heart.

I grabbed Charles’s hands, moving them down my round butt and clashing my lips even harder against his lips. He immediately took the bait and squeezed both my firm and plump cheeks.

That kind of heat was only reserved for Desmond and me. At that point, an extreme reaction from him was inevitable.

Smash!

I heard the sound of dropped glass that time. Someone was uncomfortable and pissed to catch us in a steamy moment.

Charles must have heard it too because he couldn’t be faster to push me away.

“Cassidy!” The voice belonged to someone I was not expecting. I wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it to avoid facing that person.

My sister and brother were standing behind tiny pieces of glass scattered on the floor. Someone had dropped a glass in sheer shock and horror. Their judging eyes made me more uncomfortable than I was during the deed.

“We should leave. I don’t want to bleach my eyes,” Derrick mocked and left, taking Mia with him.

How could I make a joke of myself in front of my family? My duty was to distract the Astors. Giving a tongue bath to their nephew wasn’t part of the job description. I had no excuse to give to my siblings for hooking up with someone related to Benedict Astor except the truth.

I was so sure it was Desmond. What about the shadow and the bang on the wall? Was I imagining things? A regular demon must be behind it because if it were truly him, he would have revealed himself by now. Did I put on a show for nothing?

Charles coughed mischievously. I looked at him and felt awful for leading him on.

“Well, that was something.” He smacked his lips together. “It’s the first time I have done that with someone I have barely exchanged a few sentences with. Still, I found it very enjoyable. What were you trying to check, by the way?”

“Sorry. I don’t know why I did that. You mentioned my ex-boyfriend, and something clicked in my mind. I wanted to check if I would feel chemistry with someone else so soon.”

“And? What are the results of this test?”

“I liked it,” I told an outright lie.

Charles’s fervent smile conveyed his excitement. “The feelings are mutual. I feel honored to be your first kiss after a toxic relationship. I couldn’t be more glad to be here today to run into a striking woman like you.”

Even though I felt horrible, I had to lie to him. I needed the Astors’ guest on my side. What if he was the only reason they hadn’t killed us that day? Psychotic killers can be very respectful of their loved ones.

The air around us had become so awkward. Charles was wordlessly flirting with me through his eyes.

“Do you want to start another test?” he asked.

Mentally, I rolled my eyes at myself thrice. Why did I have to shove my tongue so deep in his mouth? A closed-mouth kiss would have sufficed. Now, I needed to deal with the consequences of turning on a man.

“Not really.” I shook my head with a plastic smile. “We are already running late for dinner. And I am not sure how I feel about continuing this. Can we pretend like this never happened for a while? We can pick this up later if we both feel a strong connection by the end of the evening.”

“Sure. I am fine with however you feel comfortable,” Charles spoke gentlemanly.

“Let’s go then.” I took his hand and moved forward along with him. It was an awkward journey to the stairs. Neither of us had said a word. “Say something. Tell me, what brings you here today? Are you from somewhere around here?” I asked to break the ice.

“Huh?” Charles scratched his head and adjusted his shoulder-length golden hair. “Sorry. Can you repeat yourself? I didn’t hear a word you just said.”

“Where were you lost in your thoughts? Were you thinking about an old flame?” I jested.

Charles giggled, biting his lower lip. “Would it make you uncomfortable to know that you’re the only thing on my mind now?”

“I see!” My cheeks flushed.

“I hope I am not coming off as a creep or a teenage boy who can’t stop mentioning one kiss,” he said, noticing my discomfort.

“Of course not. Please speak your mind. I know it’s unfair to expect a man to act completely normal seconds after making out with him.”

“Whoever left you or let you go is a fool. Putting aside the fact that you’re an amazing kisser, you’re also smart and empathic,” Charles spoke with fervor.

Our kiss was enjoyable only for him. I had felt numb against his mouth. It lacked the passion, warmth, and plain bliss Desmond created in my mouth. All I could think about was how jealous it would make my demon. I had done everything right, but nothing could invest me in that lip lock.

“Thank you. Are you close with Benedict Astor?” I changed the subject.

“In a way, I am. Though, I have spent the majority of my life studying in Europe. Uncle Benedict and I meet each time I am back in the country, which is an annual thing,” Charles answered.

The nephew only saw him once a year. He must not know anything about his uncle’s Satanic activities. I had a feeling Charles was trustworthy.

We made it to the stairs. Uncle Benedict was waiting for us at the very bottom. He raised his wine glass and smiled at us as we descended the stairs.

Everything was going according to plan. Once Mia safely reaches Lily, the maid, we would have all the proof to send our relatives to jail. Demonic entities would break them out of prison, but they couldn’t finish the entire police force to make them innocent once again.

Continuous high-pitched screams reverberated in the hall, making us freeze on the spot. It belonged to a woman and was coming from the upper floor.