different. It looked like her, sounded like her, smelled like her...the only difference was that this Camille was horny and throwing herself at him. He wished the real Camille would try that. Maybe then he could have the prize she was dangling without the inevitable consequences.
Seth eyed his watch. Ten minutes until the pizza was done and thirteen hours until the sunrise that would force the demon back to Hell. He considered hitting her with another tranquilizer, but that wasn’t safe for Camille. They all had side effects, and he didn’t want to do anything he didn’t absolutely have to. He just needed to be strong and treat this like any other job.
Seth turned to look back at the cage. Camille’s lacy, pale pink and red bra was lying on the floor in front of his chair. A moment later, her blouse and skirt followed. He tried not to look beyond the bars. She was going to be naked and he wasn’t sure he could take that.
The television suddenly started flipped channels, landing on one of the satellite music stations. The slow sound of tribal drums filled the room with an erotic, rhythmic beat. He could no longer resist a peek. He could see her naked body sway in time to the music. Her delicious curves called to him from across the room. The demon was relentless in her pursuit.
He shouldn’t look back. Sodom and Gomorrah taught him that much. He needed to put an end to it.
Seth stalked across the room and unplugged the television. He didn’t look at her as he returned to the kitchen in silence. Instead, he braced his arms on the kitchen countertop and closed his eyes. He took several deep breaths, concentrating on the flow of air into his lungs and out, like he did when he needed to center his consciousness and contact Michael. With each rush of air he expelled, he hoped the intoxication of the succubus would go out with it.
By the time the pizza was finished, he almost felt normal again.
Seth threw two slices onto a paper plate and one slice onto another. He carried both with him back to the folding chair, kicking her clothes back toward the cell. He didn’t look inside. Instead, he sat down and immediately began eating.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Camille trying to get his attention. She was still completely nude, writhing around on the floor. She let out the occasional moan of pleasure as her deft hands moved from place to place, begging him to look up and get an eyeful of her pornographic display.
Seth resisted the urge to throw dollars at her. She was working harder than most of the exotic dancers he’d seen in his years. But he wasn’t about to look.
" Do you want some pizza? " he offered. " I’m sur e your host is starving by now. "
The movement and pleasurable cries stopped at once. Camille drew up onto her knees and gripped the bars of the cage to get a better look at his plate. " Her s tomach is empty, yes. It aches. " She took a deep breath. " Pizza ? Is that what I smell? "
" Yep. " Seth risked a glance at her now that she wasn’t playing the sex kitten. She was still nude, but now the display was more like a tasteful statue than a girls’ revue. " It’s got cheese, tomato sauce, spicy sausage...don’t they have pizza in Hell? "
Camille chuckled and sat back on her heels. " Despite reports that it’s just some big, flame-kissed orgy down there, I can assure you it’s not. We don’t have any of the things we once enjoyed in Heaven or on Earth. Why do you think we risk what we do to come here? " Her rose eyes scanned his face, but he wasn’t sure what for. " Will you really give me some? "
" On a few conditions. "
Camille sighed and pulled away from the cage bars. " Like? "
" For one, put your clothes back on. "
Seth noted her hesitation. He took a big bite, closing his eyes and groaning in pleasure at the flavors and gooey cheese rolling around in his mouth. He cracked one eyelid open just enough to spy Camille as she started tugging her clothing back on.
" There, "
Richard Ellis Preston Jr.