The Sleeping

THE SLEEPING STELLA AND AUDRA PRICE

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THE SLEEPING Copyright © STELLA AND AUDRA PRICE, 2007 Cover art by BEVERLY MAXWELL Edited by STELLA AND AUDRA PRICE

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This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental. All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever with out written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Stella and Audra Price

The purple sky was heavy with glittering stars this night, a gift to the Incubus from the Celo court. On any given night, the Afterverse sky was just a swirl of purples and blues, no stars shone because theirs was a dead dimension. But this evening, after the Celo king, Aldinach, wove his magic, the sky shone brightly with pinpoints of light. It was a true weaving, what they call it when the Celo, or illusion demon, use their magic, on the largest scale. Aldinach assured the gathering courts that it would last the remainder of the night, and that everyone should enjoy its beauty and splendor. Alabaster found it pretty, but not worthy of such fanfare. There was other more beautiful and dangerous things lurking about this evening, things she was indeed most interested in. The Incubus ball for the Sleeping, what humans called the winter season, was in full swing. This year, there were no couples being presented to the courts, no Royal pairs ready to start their existence as a 1

The Sleeping couple. It saddened Baster. Years before she had been one of those couples, with Moniack, to be presented to the courts, the same night her sister, Queen Camions and The incubus Heir, Asmodeus were presented. Funny, how things change and stay the same. She was indeed part of an Incubus union now, but it had nothing to do with Moniack. No, her lover, and the man that would have been her husband, fled to her sister, with whom he was lost in love. Baster didn't much mind; after all, she wasn't really in love with Moni. When Asmodeus found out about Cam, that she had a lover, and that it was the man who was supposed to marry her sister, who just happened to be his best friend, he took Baster as a royal concubine to get back at both his queen and his friend. Amos was nothing if not petty. So, tonight's ball was like any other for her; she would dance, she would flirt, and not one man would touch her for fear of enraging Asmodeus. Little did they know he hadn't touched her in years. If she was topside she would have withered by now. The lack of energy, pure sexual energy, that wasn't flowing to her was lethal, but she was a harem girl, one left unattended, she lived with the energy pulsating around her in the Incubus court. It sustained her, but it wasn't a real feed. It was a truly lonely existence, seeing few except at 2

Stella and Audra Price the balls. Amos like to keep up the airs that she was well and satisfied, and hidden away too exhausted to do much other than serve his needs. Truth of the matter, Amos was pining for his queen, the one Succubus he could truly love, and the one he most hated. Baster didn't care for politics, she was looking for something special. Determined to enjoy herself this night, in order to do that, well, she'd have to find the right kind of guy. She was beautiful enough, in her corseted ball gown, the skirts layered like the harem girl she was, and very sheer. It was silver, the color of the incubus court, with white and blue brocade and lace throughout. She felt the princess she truly was, but now to snag a prince. She looked around and smirked. It seemed one was trying to snag her, if the signals he was throwing out were any indication. He was young, part of the new crop of demons growing up in the Afterverse. She had seen him before, with the Conglacio princes, and assumed he was either one of them, or their personal guard. He had gorgeous dark hair, liquid brown eyes with hints of blue, very unique. He was large and lean and he exuded sex on an unnatural scale for a Conglacio. She was sure he wasn't Incubus, because she would've met him by now. But damn if his gaze wasn't truly piercing and discerning. Her 3

The Sleeping breath hitched as he watched her, her body reacting to his gaze. Whoever he was, he was indeed undressing her with his eyes. She blushed, realizing she'd been without the touch of another demon for far too long. Screw it, she thought as she moved around the dance floor. Amos be damned if this young pup decided to make an approach. She moved to the buffet and got a glass of champagne. It was cold and perfect and gave her just enough courage. She drank it down quickly as the dancing started, hoping he would indeed ask her to waltz. Her only real interaction with anyone not of the incubus courts was at the balls, and she valued these times greatly. She danced with a few men during the cotillions and waltz, and danced one with Amos as well, mostly for show. The stranger watched her the entire time. He caught her eye as she twirled around the dance floor, his gaze, those molten brown eyes were easy to pick out anywhere on the floor. She ended her last dance and excused herself to the adjoining hall, to freshen up. She smiled at her nieces, Lila and Iris, and looked to see Fiona, her third niece at the punch table talking with her father. She took the time to look around and didn't see her watcher, as she was calling him, anywhere. He probably got bored with the game or he found another indiscretion to suit him. She 4

Stella and Audra Price sighed and walked the length of the ballroom to the hallway and was about halfway through, surely far enough that the din of the ballroom had died down, when she noticed she wasn't the only one in the hallway. Her watcher stood not 20 feet from her, leaning against the wall. He smirked at her from his position in the darkness, “Have you lost your way little lamb?” She looked at him curiously. “Not at all. I live here; I know exactly where I am, and where I was going.” “Well then darling, you must show me around.” He smiled charmingly at her, then closed the emptiness between them in four short strides with his long legs. She gave him a smirk. “Are you going to tell me who you are?” “Well I could, but it's much more fun to have you guessing.” She wrinkled up her nose. “I don't like guessing games. Why, oh strangest of strangers where you watching me all night?” She decided to be blunt and to the point, after all nothing got done pussyfooting around. He smiled calmly, “Well, nothing else sparked my interest.” He lifted a lock of her hair, “But you are a captivating creature.” He dropped the hair, letting it fall back in place. 5

The Sleeping She smiled. “I thank you. You do know who I am though right? I'm off limits,” she said bitterly, trying not to let the truth eat at her. “Well, the way I see it, you don't look like you're off limits. You've been eyeing me up all night princess; it would be a shame not to give you a taste of what you so desire.” He shrugged, “Besides, it's not like I'll be telling old Amos.” She laughed. “Ah, the cavalier youth.” She walked around him and looked him up and down. He was beyond sexy, the body making the most perfect vision in his tuxedo, his fingers long and cultured. She noticed the brand on the inside of his wrist, but couldn't make out what house he was from. She smiled, responding to his statement. “And I was responding to your own heated gaze. You really shouldn't be so upfront with your intentions. I've been able to read them on your face all night.” He cocked his head to the side. “And what might they be princess?” She eluded the question. “One doesn't look at a woman like a drowning man with no intention. And I'm a succubus, darling; I can taste the sex coming off you.” Indeed she could. She'd been able to feel it, just below the surface, lurking and waiting. 6

Stella and Audra Price “Oh, I assure you, I am not drowning.” He wet his bottom lip with his tongue before leaning in to whisper, low in her ear, “And I can give you much more than a meager taste, isn't that what you want Succubus? A true feed?” She shivered. He was very good at seduction, if he was an incubus... She looked up at him through thick lashes. “Is that what you're offering? Is that it?” she trailed a fingertip down his chest and felt the fine definition of his muscles and licked her lips. “What else would I offer? Your master may turn a blind eye for a night or two, but I'm not in the business of starting wars.” He smirked. “Nor am I willing to be martyred for the sake of a fair lady's grace.” She smiled. He wasn't looking for forever, he was looking for now. She could handle that, and goddamn it had been a long time since she had felt another's touch. She stepped closer to him and licked her lips, letting her tongue linger a little longer then was suitable. “You going to tell me your name? Moaning 'stranger' is hardly suitable.” He smirked, “Call me Drake, and I prefer screaming to moaning. Think you can remember that?” She shuddered. His voice was like a sinful chocolate, god if she wasn't insanely attracted to the guy. “Drake? I 7

The Sleeping like, dark, dangerous. So, you have a script for this seduction?” “Well, I was planning on just feeling it out.” As he spoke he placed his large hands on her hips squeezing them and pulled her closer to him. “But if you're working to a script, by all means do carry on,” he mocked lightly. She laughed. “It's been my experience that younger demons do work from a template,” she said as she breathed his scent in. He was heady. A potent mixture of discreet sin and violence, and damn if that wasn't sexy to her. She moved a bit closer and rolled her hips in his hands. This was the guy that you look for in the back alley. The one to fuck you down to sweats and shivers without thinking twice about it. “Oh, and you have much...experience in younger demons?” his grip on her hips tightened, a violence still barely surfacing. It was a complete turn on. “No, not recently, they are usually rash and impulsive. And they think they get out of training and their cock masters. So no, I don't deal with them much.” “Well, in that case I should go. I'd hate to seem, rash and impulsive.” He chuckled, making no move to leave or let her go. She looked at him. “Oh? Not going to prove me wrong?” 8

Stella and Audra Price He smiled down at her. “Oh, I have nothing to prove.” “Shame. Then maybe you should go, unless of course he's got something to prove?” she said as she reached and cupped his erection through his pants and squeezed. He growled, “I'm sure you can feel the size of him, you tell me what we have to prove.” She whimpered. “Just cuz you got it doesn't mean you know what you're doing with it.” He picked her up, and slammed her into the wall his body and erection pressing against her. “I don't like challenges, pet... I tend to take them the wrong way. Now why don't you show me to a room or I'll fuck you out here in the hallway, like a whore.” He growled in her ear. “And that's not how I envision this evening finishing. Take me to a place where I can give you that good, deep, feeding that you crave.” She moaned. He liked to play rough, and damn if it wasn't exhilarating. She smirked. “Third door on the left.” He paused, pressing himself into her for a second before carrying her into the room she'd mentioned and dropping her onto the bed, shutting the door behind them. “So, I've been wondering all night, how well you suck cock... I think it's only fair that you satisfy my curiosity.” Smirking he undid the buttons to his pants and pushed 9

The Sleeping them to his knees, releasing himself to her view. “Think you can get it all down that pretty little throat of yours?” She smirked. Oh fucking A! Thank you! Now if his skills match his bravado I'll be well and sated this night. She crawled to the side of the bed and licked her lips. “A girl can try.” She moved closer to him and grabbed his hips, and licked his length from base to tip and groaned. He tastes so good. She slipped him into her waiting mouth and moaned at the feel of him, slowly slipping him down her throat. He groaned, “Oh yeah...that's better love. Get it all down baby.” He gently stroked her hair, running his fingers through it. She worked him at a moderate pace, enjoying the feeling of his length in her mouth, down her throat. She whimpered and sobbed around him, it had been way too long for her. He felt like cold steel, his large body giving off energy. He was full of sexual energy, and soon, she would be too. He wrapped his hands in her long hair and used his grasp to guide her faster and deeper. “Oh I knew I was right about you, dirty little bitch.” He panted. She moaned. He was indeed going to be fun. Baster let Drake guide her mouth on his considerable length, loving the submissive feeling of just allowing the man to take pleasure. She could feel his energies. They were 10

Stella and Audra Price indeed peaking, flowing off him and into her, enveloping her in their cloying essence. The onslaught was making her wet, and she squirmed on the bed. This was good. He unzipped her dress, with one hand, still guiding her head with the other. It slipped off her bare shoulders and pooled around her naked body. She was completely naked to him, and glad she wore the zipper corset. She looked up to him and whimpered. He growled unable to give her any other warning, as he came hard into her waiting mouth. She moaned as he came down her throat, whimpering as she drank in his energy as well as his essence. He leaned on her panting hard, “Oh, very good... I love being right.” She pulled off him and giggled. “Are you right often?” He grinned, “More often that not...but then there always that odd time I'm wrong.” “Well, I'm glad this time wasn't one of those odd times.” She looked down at her veritable state of undress. “So? Drake? Are you going to join me on the bed or what?” “Of course.” He laid himself on the bed and patted the space next to him, letting his eyes wander over her body. She giggled and crawled over to him. “These clothes 11

The Sleeping of yours have got to go,” she said when she sidled up to him. “You won't hear me complaining love... not all night.” She smiled and straddled him quickly working the buttons of his shirt open and exposing his devastatingly attractive body. She had to keep her mouth closed so she wouldn't drool. He was by far one of the finest specimens she'd ever seen. She smirked. “Damn if you're not a wet dream Drake,” she murmured against his skin as she kissed down his chest. She was partially fed now, his energies making her succubus nature peak, and she reveled at the slight power rush. She would have more soon, and she knew it. He leered confidently up at her. “You're not so bad yourself.” “Yeah I know that, I'm a succubus; have you ever seen an ugly succubus?” He thought about it for a few moments, “You know, I don't think I have.” “There's a reason for that,” she said against his groin as she nuzzled him and pushed his pants down the rest of the way, then pulled his shoes and socks off, and finally the pants now puddled at his ankles. “You are well and magnificent.” 12

Stella and Audra Price “Well, I do try.” “Something tells me you don't have to. So, you have me all to yourself and no one is looking for us, at least I don't think so. What do you plan to do with me love?” “Well, I was hardly thinking on a candle lit meal for two.” He reached up and pulled her into a suffocatingly deep kiss. “Romance is out. And that's fine, believe me. So?” He took her hand and placed it on his once again rock hard cock. “So...what do you think?” She whimpered and smiled. “Show me what you got Drake. I can take it.” “Like I wasn't going to anyway.” He laughed and lifted her, slowly inching her down his cock. “Oh it has been a while for you pet...” She felt him stretching her and moaned, his body filling hers deliciously. “Well it's been a long while since someone of your…caliber.” She grinned down at him at her choice of words. He licked his lower lip. “Well, I'm going to take it a little slower...I'd hate to hurt you,” he said as he bucked hard up into her. She screamed and shuddered. “Oh fucking god.” “Name's Drake...but tonight you may call me god.” He sat up pushing her down on the bed and pumped 13

The Sleeping deeply into her. She sobbed and came hard minutes later, he was indeed very, very talented. “Fuck! Drake!” she screamed as he worked her body into sweet bliss. He smirked down at her, keeping a good grip on her body as he pounded deep into her. He was relentless, bringing her again and again, her body now tight like a string, and so, so sensitive. She let him use her, loved his strong hands on her body, his hard cock pounding her. “God, you love that, don't you? You're not so fucking tight now are you?” She shook her head and sobbed closing her eyes and arching to meet him. He growled and pulled out of her heat as he roughly turned her around leaving her exposed. He slapped the back of her thighs lightly. “You are so pretty.” She shivered, missing his heat and squirmed. He knelt behind her and pulled her back onto him. She hissed. “Oh fuck baby.” “Oh fuck is right baby.” He pushed her neck and shoulders down onto the bed. He rotated hard up into her. She whimpered and licked her lips, enjoying the friction and the naughty little move he was doing. His grip on her tightened and his speed increased as he pounded down into her. 14

Stella and Audra Price “Oh fuck Drake I'm close!” She screamed into the pillow and clawed at the bedclothes. He came with her panting hard as he held her down on the bed. She was boneless, floating and sated as she drank him in, panting. It was so pure... So damn pure. “God baby...” she said, power drunk and giggling. “You're a feast.” “Well, I always deliver on my promises.” He smirked down at her “You deliver alright. If it was food, I'd be a bloated mess, none too pretty. So? You're close with the Conglacio princes aren't you?” “I am, my brother's good friends with Casha.” He lay back on the bed, closing his eyes. She cuddled up to him and nipped at his chest. She knew the Conglacio crown price, Cassiel, Casha for short, and realized who Drake's brother must be. “Oscar?” Oscar was indeed friends with Casha, quite possibly the heir's best friend and confidante in his own race. “Yeah, that's the one. He's the good one.” She giggled. “He is but you're much better,” she said as she snuggled next to him and played with his happy trail idly. “Well of that, I don't think that there's any doubt.” “I was his tutor. Whoever was yours, I gotta thank her.” She giggled and looked up to him and winked. “You 15

The Sleeping are well…fantastic.” “Thanks... so, you tutored him?” he asked laughing. She nodded. “Yep. Cam got Cash, I got Oscar.” She remembered the night in question. Where Drake was upfront aggression, Oscar was sneaky about it. One minute he was sweet and romantic, the next he was riding her doggie style and spanking her. One thing no other prince could touch that was truly Oscar though, he cornered the market on talking dirty. Drake would have to bone up on that to surpass his brother there. “Wow, I just didn't think that repressed bastard was capable of having sex. He's rather up tight.” She laughed. “Oscar? You sure we are talking about the right Oscar? “ He frowned at her. “Maybe not. There's bound to be others, with the same name.” “Nope, only once Oscar I know that's Conglacio.” She giggled and kissed his nipple. “Trust me your brother isn't what he seems.” “Sure, whatever.” He answered, shaking his head. She shrugged and smiled at him. He smiled brightly at her. “Well it's been fun and all, but I better get going.” “Figured it was like you to fuck and run.” She crawled up his body and pulled him into a world-ending kiss. “You're fantastic. If you ever get the urge...” She 16

Stella and Audra Price trailed off and bit his bottom lip. “Oh, I know just where to go.” He patted her bare ass, letting his hand linger. Then he stood and began to dress himself. She lingered and watched him, his strong back, the way his muscles rippled as he moved. “Why do I get the feeling you were holding back with me Drake?” He raised an eyebrow and grinned savagely. “Me? Because I was.” He answered simply. “I'd hate to get my nuts cut off just because I left a mark.” She laughed. “Very true.” And a damn shame. Every demoness liked a little rough and tumble, and she figured Drake was the type to go above and beyond the call of duty. It was a shame she would probably never find out. She got to her knees and moved closer to him, grabbing him by the shoulders and kissing him thoroughly. “You're great kid.” “And you're not all that bad for a woman your age.” He smiled and winked as he pulled away from her. She laughed and shook her head, then turned and smiled. “Thanks for an amusing evening.” “Yeah, it's been a real experience.” He winked again and left the room. She shook her head and stretched, realizing that she indeed needed a good long soak. Amos wouldn't miss her, and she knew the night was already 17

The Sleeping coming to an end. She looked around the room once last time and opened herself to soaking in the dregs of energy that were still floating around the room. She was sated, and full, and she hadn't felt better in ages. She blinked out of the bedroom after the energy dissipated, materializing in her own. She walked out on her terrace and saw the stars in the sky start to blink out. The ball of the Sleeping was over, and she was more than satisfied.

The End

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About the Authors: Dark. Devious. Sensual, sinister and startling. These are the words used to describe the wild worlds of Stella and Audra Price. New to the literary scene, these up and coming talented writers are the next phase in literary evolution. Their stories are fresh, imaginative and break the boundaries and social mores of the romance genre, while adding sizzle and new life into the urban fantasy realm. Writing in a number of other genres, they have proven that just because it's dark and off the beaten path those who went before them have tramped, doesn't mean it has to be wrong. First published in Ebook in April 2006 with PHAZE publishing for their short story Wishes, the sisters quickly found acclaim in the next few months with their weresnakes series and their enticing and alternate world Eververse. With over ten books and publications to their credit, a slew of interviews, awards and nominations, and a few print books on the horizon, the sisters are well on their way to being the next big thing.

Other available titles by Stella and Audra Price: Lady Luck, Phaze Fantasies Vol 2, Phaze_ Sugar and Sin, Tease Publishing Silk and Steel, Tease Publishing Wishes, Phaze Glamour, Phaze Gifts, Phaze Fire in His Eyes, Tease Publishing Deep Water, Tease Publishing The Soft Edge of Midnight, Siren Publishing Hot Rio Nights, Tease Publishing