Chapter 25: A Demonic Dilemma

From room to room, they traveled and talked at length about decor. Jasper had never thought about her space to such a degree. Color palettes, woods, textures, lighting, and focus points. Turns out she knew Jack shit about her own wants and desires.
She’d never been asked so many questions in her life. Favorite color, time of day, and animal preference. Was she nocturnal or more of a morning person?
Thirty minutes into their walk, Jasper was comfortable and ready for the work to begin.
“I don’t want black in here either,” Jasper said, standing in what would become her gaming room. “I want chill vibes but happy. This is where I’ll be spending the majority of my time, so I’m going for comfort. Relaxation, you know?”
Dorthy nodded, scanning the space. “Muted shades of purple, blue, and indigo.”
“Yes!” Jasper pointed at her and said, “Exactly. Blackout curtains and sexy art.”
“What you mean by sexy?” Buck asked, arms crossed and booted foot propped just so on a ratty box.
“Artistic nudes.” Jasper pinned her sights on the man and advanced. “Neons, paintings, and whatever else Dorthy can cook up. I love the female form.”
Buck scoffed, chewing his cinnamon gum. “Guess you and me got somethin’ in common.”
Jasper smirked, inches between them. She sighed and flicked his hat. Buck’s fixed attention called her bluff while his scent and soul tempted a starved succubus. He was thick on her tongue, sweet, smoky, and nutty. All things she didn’t need.
As his gold fangs gleamed, Jasper shoved both hands into her pockets. She met his molten gaze. “I fear we have too much in common, Buck.”
“I know exactly who to call,” Dorothy tapped on her phone and muttered. “No hologons. I’m thinking sconces. Straddling the hearth. Focal lighting will be perfect.”
“Rugs,” Jasper announced, snatching free of his enchantment. She spun about and sauteed towards the exit. “I want fluffy rugs. No carpet. Just area rugs and shit.”
“Perfect,” Dorthy piped from behind. “I’d love to keep the old personality of this home. Woods, sitting areas, and the sun room! What would you say to stained glass?”
“Isn’t it colorful?”
“Indeed.”
Jasper stopped on the main level and shrugged. “Whatever you think is best, I’m down for, as long as we stick to no black. No stone. And natural light down here. I want cozy, not drafty, lived-in, not sterile. I wanna feel like I’m walking into my place of peace and happiness.”
Dorthy beamed, nails clacking against her screen. “It’s been sooooo long since anyone has given me this much decorating freedom.”
Jasper leafed through Dorthy’s portfolio, loving the work. Her home was in good hands.
“I trust you, Dorthy.”
Buck grumbled, and Jasper grimaced. “What the fuck? You’ve been doing this all day.”
“You got enough, Dorthy?” Buck clipped. hands on his hips. He stared out the bay of windows and sniffed, clearly annoyed. “We gotta get going.”
“More than enough, I’d say.” Dorthy extended her palm, and Jasper shook her delicate hand once again. “You are a dream client, Jasper. It will be my pleasure to bring your vision to life. If you’d like, feel free to e-mail me pictures, art, or decor that speaks to you.”
“You’re going to get sick of me.”
“Doubtful. The more you find, the easier my job will be.”
Dorthy gathered her briefcase and purse before heading out. She cleared her throat, and Buck gave a stiff nod in return. Blood was cold and sour between them. Jasper was curious,s but it wasn’t her business.
“Glad she’s gone.” Buck shook his head, watching the woman get in her car. “She cheated on my great-grandson.”
“Ohhhhhhh.”
“Mhm.”
“It makes sense now.”
“She ain’t no good, but what do I know?”
“Why did you want her to help if—”
“She’s still family and the mother of my grandkids. Two of whom are still in school.”
Jasper wanted to speak on how his emotions faded from gray to blue to pink. He was proud and protective of his family. She found his unabashed display of love and how he wore it on his shoulder refreshing.
“You adore your grandchildren.”
“Every last one.”
Buck cracked his gum and stomped for the door. “Let’s get on.”
“Where are we off to now?”
“To see your realtor.”
Jasper winced and followed the man to his car. She thought he was joking until they pulled up to Hawke’s office ten minutes later.
“You’re serious.”
“As a god damn digger bear in spring.”
“Oh shiiiiit.” Jasper hopped out of the vehicle and kept with Buck’s pace. “You think he knew about the state of my place?”
“Yup.”
Jasper’s face heated, and the base of her horns itched. Clenching her fist,s she bit her tongue. There was no need to barge into his business and start a scene. It wasn’t that big of a deal. She didn’t want to inconvenience anyone or—
“You got three seconds to start talking!” Buck stormed into Hawke’s office and loomed. Jasper waited beside him, keeping her lips sealed.
Hawke’s big yellow eye flung to her as he dropped his phone. “What uhm—what can I—uhm, what do you need Bucko?”
Buck planted palms on Hawke’s desk and growled. Jasper’s breath hitched, and stomach caught fire. She flushed with heat and grinned as Hawke grew anxious. He was ripe with apprehension and fear.
“He’s scared,” Jasper added.
“What you scared for Hawke?”
“I—I—what can I do for you, Ms. Marrow?”
She scowled, ready to flay this man. “What can you do for me? How about you start by telling me why you let me buy that cursed fucking house?!”
“Cursed?” Hawke showcased his sweaty palms and trembled. “I don’t know nothing about a curse. That house has been—”
Buck leaped over the desk and landed in front of Hawke. He smacked the man’s ruddy cheek and kicked his chair into the file cabinet.
“You fixin’ to lie to me, boy?” Buck hiked his chin. “I can smell them tall tales. Lie again and see where it gets you.”
Hawke was a mess of fried nerves as he stammered. “Look, I don’t know who they were, but somebody left me a note!”
“A note?” Jasper queried. Bile rose to the top and bubbled.
Hawke nodded, glasses slipping down his nose. “Yeah. A note and ten thousand in cash. They told me to email you the listing directly.”
“Shit.” She cursed, rubbing her forehead. Jasper knew damn well who gave him the note. “This can’t be happening. I thought it was a normal notification from another realtor site.”
“It was, sort ot. I just sent it to you personally.”
Buck situated the tip of his boot on the chair, between Hawke’s legs. The man blanched and stuttered.
“Why was you looking to sell that haunted piece of shit anyway?”
“It’s easy money!” Hawke squeaked, eyes glittering with a promise of tears. “People love flipping houses. They love a project, but they never stay there long. In the end, I still get paid and always have a listing. But I swear, Buck, I don’t know nothing about a curse. On my Mama’s life, I didn’t know.”
It was important to note how humid the air surrounding Buck had become. Jasper sensed his roiling nature and tapped his shoulder. He shoved the chair, making Hawke yelp.
“You will give Jasper that ten grand you got. Every fuckin’ dollar, you hear me?”
“Every cent.”
Oddities persisted as he sneered. She clocked them quickly. Thorns on the pads of fingertips, the vine-like tattoos twisted and slithered beneath thin cotton.
Jasper’s interest piqued as the potted plant on Hawke’s desk wilted and died as Buck vacated the office.
“You’re an asshole,” she asserted in passing. “And I want it by Friday.”
He nodded, and she snapped her fingers, forcing the gentleman to take a nap. He wouldn’t even wake to piss. It was payback for being a creep.
Jasper exited the establishment with confidence and unstable emotions.
Buck leaned against his big old car and puffed on a pipe. It was quite the dignified sight. Where she came from, males who mattered smoked from pipes. They held themselves to a higher standard and dared not roll their own ashleaf.
“Smells good,” she said. “What is it?”
“My special batch. Dusts, powders, florals, magical minerals, and my wife’s hot honey.”
Jasper folded arms atop the roof of his gorgeous ride and observed. “I’m sorry? Did you just say—”
“I like how she settles at the back of my throat. The smoke brings out her flavor real good.”
Buck’s easy, cool response and dominance disturbed her. Jasper should have been the one in control, taking the reins and telling Buck where to go. It was quite obvious he wasn’t her usual case.
Claw clicking on metal, she observed.
His attention wasn’t coy or playful. Smoke swirled and framed his ravishing, strong features. “What’s on your mind, Jasper?”
Speaking to that would’ve been a dire mistake. One she was unwilling to make.
“You’re disgusting.”
Buck smirked. “I don’t wanna be nothing else.”
“I’m sure.” Jasper huffed and opened her own door. After slamming it shut, she fought to steady her pangs. She was famished and craving as if she hadn’t nibbled on the man for hours. Undervell gods, be with her. Buck was dense and full-bodied. His desire ripe, dripping with want. She could appease, play him well, and satisfy without touching, but the intimacy of it all scared her.
“Where are we going now?” She asked, voice rising above the loud, rumbling engine.
“The store. We gonna do a little training and see if you got what it takes.”
“For what?”
“To run shit. We need somebody who does well under pressure. Someone who can provide excellent feedback and communication, service when time calls for it.”
Buck’s eyes drifted from the road to Jasper. He held firm and switched gears. The air was taut and humid.
Jasper would not be swayed or pushed. “We talking customer service or something else?”
His smile and smoke lingered. Jasper liked every base note. Cherry, vetiver, and something unique. She snickered, knowing the undercut’s source.
One thing about Buck Sunside, he cherished and adored his wife.
This important detail, among others, rs made him the sexiest man she’d ever met.
“Thank you.”
“For?” Bucked asked, annoyed.
“Helping with Hawke. I didn’t think it was actually this bad, but—” Thinking about Trevor left her flushed and cold. “You didn’t have to, but you did.”
“Funny how you think coming to your defense was a choice. As a grown man with status, means, and might, it is my duty and honor to help those who are unable. Not that you aren’t capable, Jasper.
“It’s just, I know succubi intimately, and you, darlin’, are warm-hearted. Strange. Unlike your sisters in many ways. Hawke preyed on your goodness. That old bird is, in fact, a vulture shifter who can’t wait for some easy pickings. I ain’t gon stand for it.”
His conviction and potent lust worked against her. Jasper didn’t want this man or any other. This was the fallacy she’d repeated to herself daily. It was to keep her afloat. The hunger in his eyes was more than she could bear. Jasper set her gaze beyond the window and decided on silence.
If Jasper dared to speak another word, she’d make Buck pull the car over and bury himself between her clamped thighs.