Pixie Dust (Pixie Dust Chronicles 1)

Dumbfounded, I replied, “What? What do you have to be sorry for? Christ, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I swear Vance, I was not planning this when I asked you to come inside. I just didn’t want to be alone with that horrible image stuck in my head.” I clumsily adjusted my clothing as I sat up.

His face was flushed. I couldn’t tell if he was turned on or embarrassed. “Look Karli, I need to go. I’m sorry, but I have to get out of here before we do something we’ll regret in the morning. You were emotional, and I took advantage of you. I really am sorry.” He hesitated as he reached my front door, making me think that he was about to change his mind. He walked over to my kitchen and grabbed a notepad from the fridge. “I’m writing my cell number on here. Call me anytime, day or night, okay? I mean, if you remember any more details that could be relevant to the case.”

The case. Right. Message received loud and clear. I quickly masked my disappointment and nodded in agreement as he walked out the door. What the hell just happened?

**********************

Moments later, I was standing under the spray of a hot shower just letting the water beat down on my tired muscles. Yeah, this was definitely what I needed. I could feel the tension slowly easing its way out of my body. I started thinking about my confusing encounter with Vance. I touched my lips which were still swollen from his kisses. I lingered on the memory of him working his way down my body with his mouth, while he was simultaneously working his way up with his hand.

Closing my eyes, I thought about how I felt right before he reached the juncture of my thighs. I needed him more in that moment than anything else in my life. I could imagine him now, touching me, being in this tub with me. Slowing stroking my center with his thumb, working that little nerve bundle into a frenzy. I could feel his finger inside of me, frantically moving up and down. The pressure of beautiful release was building as he rubbed my clit faster and faster until I cried out his name in pleasure.

Feeling delightfully satiated, I opened my eyes only to realize I was alone. Wow, could I be any more pathetic tonight? Frustrated, I turned off the water and dried off haphazardly. I stomped into my bedroom, flopped into bed, and threw the covers over my head with a groan.

I woke around noon with a start, remembering something from last night. Chad was at the bar and he and Leslie were pretty friendly. How could I forget that? I ran into the kitchen to grab Vance’s number off my fridge. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my phone and dialed.

“Hello, Karli?” He answered on the first ring.

“How did you know it was me?” Why I am blushing?

“I programmed your number into my phone last night….. in case I needed to reach you about the investigation. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I remembered something about last night though. A guy I know, Chad, was with Leslie right around midnight. I was thinking that he might have some more details for you about where she went after she disappeared.”

“That’s great!” He replied. “Any information I can get will help me. I just got off the phone with Forensics. Preliminary tests show that it was a demon that attacked her, but they don’t know what kind yet.”

A demon? Oh, this isn’t good. “Um, when will they know?”

“I don’t know for sure.” He answered. “I’m guessing a day or two if all goes well. Why do you ask?”

“Well, Chad’s a demon, but I really don’t think he’s capable of something like this.”

“How well do you know this guy?” His voice was tinted with jealousy if I wasn’t mistaken. Or maybe I was just hoping that he was jealous.

“Uh, pretty well. We were together for over two years.” I admitted shamefully.

He cleared his throat. “What kind of demon is he? Did he ever d

isplay any violent behavior while you were together?”

“He’s a Zorak demon…. half actually. His mom was human, or so he said. He isn’t exactly the most trustworthy guy. I’d even go as far as saying he’s a compulsive liar. I’ve never seen him get angry about anything though. He’s quite the opposite. He’s very ah……friendly with others if you catch my drift.”

“Well regardless,” he replied, “I need to speak with him. Every demon is a suspect at this point. He very well may be the last person to see her alive. Can I get his number?”

“Um, not from me you can’t. He had to change his number after we broke up and I never got the new one.”

“He had to?”

“Yeah, I may have accidentally given it to every drag queen I could find, promising them a good time.” I confessed.

He pondered that for a moment. It sounded like he was trying not to laugh. “Okay…well what’s this guy’s last name? Do you know where he works or lives? What about any establishments that he might frequent?”

“His last name is O’Brien. He moved recently, but I don’t know where exactly. He doesn’t work because he doesn’t need to. He’s a trust fund baby. I’ve heard rumors that he likes to spend a lot of time at that new club over on Tropicana. I think it’s called Voyeur-Gasm or something sleazy like that.”

“Yeah, I know the place. Actually, your new boss owns it. I spoke with him last night and he agreed to meet me there this evening. His office is located in the back of the club. Look Karli, I think it might be a good idea if you came with me.”

“What? Why?” I asked.

“Because I’m hoping to kill two birds with one stone. I need to talk with Leo about the investigation but I might as well take a look around for Chad while I’m there.”