Quietly slipping out of the room, the woman tried to stem her flow of tears. She knew she was doing the right thing. In the end it would cause her less heartache to leave now, but why did it have to be so hard? Why did it have to hurt so much? Thinking back on the night before she knew it was because this time had been different. He had been different…

She’d met him at a nightclub for the wealthy. All the major business tycoons went there, as well as their wives. It was the lifestyle of the rich and famous so to speak, and one of her favorite haunts. She had a job to do, and she preferred to deal with those who could act like a gentleman if it suited them. Shaking her head sadly, she wondered what the younger generation saw in the crude males she had been unfortunate enough to meet. Dressed for seduction, she had been sitting at the bar when he entered the room. She knew how she looked to the men there, and she was confident in her ability to snare any one she chose. The glow of the lights turned her satin evening gown to a brilliant crimson. In stark contrast, her skin was a pale ivory unmarred by any blemish. If she so wished, she could crush the marital bliss of any couple there with the beckoning wave of a finger. A feline smile spread across her features as she assessed her prey.

The evening was progressing, and she needed to make her decision. There were the happily married couples, or what she liked to think of as forbidden fruits. It was so tempting to destroy the happy bubble they lived under. Then there were the unhappily married couples, those who came together under a pretense of joy, only to search out their next affair. Lastly, there were the bachelors, those men there to relax, have a good time, and perhaps a casual fling. The latter two were easier to manipulate, and tonight she had no real reason to wreck a marriage.

While she pondered her decision, the bartender set a glass of champagne in front of her. With a nod he indicated the man who had just sat down several places away. Raising her glass in a silent toast, she took a sip of the sparkling beverage. Picking up his own glass he headed towards her. It looked as if the fates had chosen for her.

“Cade,” he said as he sat beside her. His deep voice seemed to reverberate.

“Lily,” she answered with a lilting laugh. Her catlike green eyes sparkled in amusement. The heady thrill of the chase already coursed through her veins. It was like a drug, toxic in its potency.

The night slowly progressed according to her plans. They discussed numerous topics that often turned into laughing debates. He conceded to her “irrefutable logic” as he called it, with a grace she’d never seen. Most men she met hated to be bested by a woman, especially one they had just met. Somehow they ended up at a table for two, dining on an expensive seven-course meal. Not that he couldn’t afford it. If he didn’t have money, he wouldn’t even have been there.

After the meal, Cade led her out to the dance floor. The band began to play a slow song, and the singer’s voice faded into the background. Lily’s gown plunged to the waist leaving her entire back bare. On the occasion, even she was unsure how it stayed up. As he pulled her close she could feel the heat emanating from him. The warmth of his hand seemed to burn her back, contrasting with the cool air in the room.

She knew something was wrong. The situation was spinning rapidly out of control. Perhaps the wine was doing this, but wine shouldn’t affect her. It had never affected her before tonight. What was it about this man? Was it his coal black hair, or his silver grey eyes filled with laughter? Perhaps it was his height? In his arms she felt protected and cherished. She knew without a doubt she should not feel this way. He should be no more than another man she was going to seduce, nothing but another job.

The best thing to do would be to leave now. Perhaps she could go to a different club. If she stayed with Cade, she could do irreparable harm. The decision must be made now. With a defiance born of unfamiliar feelings, she laid her head on his shoulder, giving herself over to the experience. Sensing her surrender, he pulled her closer and swept her around the floor.

As the music ended, they gradually stopped moving. Looking up, she saw a familiar gleam in his gaze. It was a gleam she had provoked in countless mean before him. However, his gaze contained a tender softness that had never been present before. What was this electric emotion that sparked between them? It wasn’t love. Such a foolish emotion did not exist, and if it did, she was not susceptible.

“Lily,” his voice was soft as he watched her closely. “I don’t know what has happened tonight, but I am loath to let this evening end. My driver awaits me outside. If you would accompany me home, or even if I could drop you off somewhere…” Slowly he trailed off, looking slightly unsure of himself.

At the look on his face, Lily could feel herself giving in. he was worried about inviting her. They both knew what would invariable happen if she went home with him. She really ought to say something to let him know it was OK. He must know by now. Her clothing said it all. Yet here he was treating her as if she were a glass figurine capable of shattering. Where had the charismatic man gone? The man who had flirted and laughed at dinner? She wanted so badly to say something, but she couldn’t bear to have him look at her and see nothing but a promiscuous whore, even if a wealthy one.

“I’d love to come with you,” she said quietly. Placing her hand in his, she met his silvered gaze with her green one. Her eyes said it all. In a single look she told him she had done this before, but this time she was making a choice. With a smile, he returned to the charming, self-assured man she had dined with.

“Then we should be going,” he said. Twining his fingers with hers, they headed out the door to the waiting limousine. Holding a hand up to stop the chauffeur, he opened the door and gave a bow.

“Your carriage awaits, milady.” A laugh bubbled in her throat as she accepted his assistance. After closing her door, he walked to the opposite side and climbed in the door held by the immaculately dressed chauffeur. As the car started, a tinted window rose to separate them from their driver. With a push of a button a small refrigerator opened and he poured her another glass of champagne.

The ride seemed to be both long and short. They talked and laughed as they had at dinner, but there was still something different. When the limousine pulled to a stop, she could feel a tension in the air. She couldn't back down now, even if she had wanted to. The others didn't have to know. This would be her secret.

Cade climbed out and headed around to open her door. As she exited her door, she was swept up to be cradled in his arms. The laughter bubbled forth.

"You know," she began with a smile. "I do have legs that work."

"Yes, I know. But I much prefer it this way," he said with a purely mischievious laugh. His eyes sparkled with humor and she gasped as he pretended to drop her. Hurriedly she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her fingers unerringly found their way into the hair at the nape of his neck. It was feathery soft as she ran her fingers through it. Almost instantly his eyes darkened to a molten silver as the heat returned.

Carefully balancing her, Cade managed to open the door. After turning to bid the chauffer goodnight, he closed the door behind him and headed up the stairs. At the top of the stairs he headed straight down the hall to a room at the end. The colors in the room were all luxurious jeweled tones. Hunter greens, midnight blues, and deep burgundies were everywhere. The colors hinted at the man Lily had already begun to guess existed. While he lived a luxurious life, he was not ostentatiously extravagant. However, the colors indictaed a zest for life, and a sense of fun. This was not a man who let his business life drag him down to hide behind austere blacks and subdued greys.

For the first time she could remember, Lily felt unsure of herself. This was no simple seduction. In fact, she could no longer tell who was doing the seducing. She had fallen under his spell as surely as any man had fallen to her. When she glanced up at his face, she realized he had been watching her perusal of his room. Giving in to the overwhelming urge, she tipped her head up and gave him a light kiss.

Carefully he set her feet down on the floor. She, however, was not ready to let go. Keeping her arms around his neck, she leaned into the warmth of his embrace. He was so tall that if she hadn't been wearing heels, she would have been on tip-toe. For the longest time, they simply stood there. Her light to his dark in the middle of the room. Neither of them spoke until finally he lowered his mouth to meet hers.

Lily allowed herself to get lost in the moment. She wanted nothing to mar the memory of the night. She was going against everything she had ever known. She would likely pay dearly, especially if the others found out. She shivered at the caress of the cold air as her satin gown slithered to the floor. There could be no turning back.

As the two lay twined together in the bed, Lily knew she had been wrong. Love did exist, and she had fallen prey. She lay curled with her back to his chest. Her head rested on his arm while the other lay across her waist, holding her close. She could tell from his breath feathering her neck that he too was awake. Carefully he shifted.

"Lily," he whispered softly. "Something happened tonight. I found something I thought never to find. I have fallen in love with you Lily." It was all she could do not to gasp at his declaration. She would not cry. She would not allow it.

"I too," she said quietly. "In a single night I fell to love." At the forlorn tone in her voice he tugged her closer to his warm and muscled body.

"I promise I'll love you forever," he murmured into her silky blonde hair. His voice sounded husky with emotion as if he were about to cry as well. She had never known a man who cried. Most thought it below them. "Please say you'll stay with me. We'll have a lifetime together." The emotion was so thick in the air it was almost palpable. She could barely bring herself to speak.

"A lifetime," she said on a soft sigh. "I will love you forever as well," she promised. Not wanting to think of the ramifications of that promise, she cocooned herself in the blankets and his arms. Gradually, she felt Cade's breathing slow to a steady rhythm indicating that he had fallen asleep. If only things could be so easy for her.

She carefully eased out of the bed, making sure that she didn't wake him. Looking down on his sleeping face she felt her heart wrench at what she was about to do. On silent feet she padded to where her gown lay abandoned on the floor. A shudder ran through her from the chill seeping into her skin from the loss of contact. Hurriedly she dressed, not wishing to take more time than necessary. If she gave it too much thought, she knew she would never be able to go through with it.

Once she was dressed, she started towards the door. Looking back over her shoulder, she stared longingly at the indentation she had left in the bed. With a small shake of her head she tip-toed back to the bed to gaze at his face one last time. If she could just imprint the memory of his features into her mind. Whisper soft, she pressed her fingers to her lips, then touched them to his. He stirred slightly but didn't wake.

"I promise to love you forever," she murmured. Turning to leave she felt an unfamiliar sting behind her eyes. As she reached the door she looked back one last time. "But forever may not be long enough." Giving in to the tears that threatened to spill she walked out the door, closing it softly behind her. As she headed down the stairs she thought about the promises they had exchanged that night. He might love her forever, but forever to a human was next to nothing to her kind. Indeed she would love him forever, and she knew that she could no longer fulfill her duties as a succubus. She longed to stay with him, but the heartache would be much worse if she did. To spend the inconsequential lifetime of a human body with him, only to lose him in the end. She couldn't take that kind of pain. To an enchanting demon, forever would never be long enough.

Author's Note

This story is sort of a side story to my main work right now Fallen Angels. It is also a first for me. With this tale I branched out from my usual fluffy happy go lucky love stories into the realm of sensual seduction. I hope I did an OK job and I hope you all like it. I was inspired by the song "Forever May Not Be Long Enough" from The Mummy Returns, in case anybody is wondering. I may be writing a few more connected short stories, and if you have any questions I promise they will get answered one way or another.