Cursed Ever After by A. C. James

Cursed Ever After
    Four Erotic Paranormal Short Stories an Ever After anthology A.C. James
    This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

    Copyright © 2013, A.C. James
    (Wandering Impulse Press)

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
    or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic or mechanical.
    including photography, recording, or any information storage and
    retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

    Cover art designed by A.C. James using corset stock
    by ~Jrennie1984-stock, Sora’s Eye Stock by ~sonraneko, and male stock by vishstudio on deviantART.

    The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction,

    Westcott: Acme United Corporation
    Merriam-Webster: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

    Table of Contents
    Ruler

    Bound

    Burned
    Chained

    Eternal Ever After Preface
    Ruler

    [Arie]

        Outside the club gunfire erupted. It was probably just a gang shooting. But the cops didn’t give a rat’s ass. This part of the city was like a third-world country at war but as long as it didn’t interfere with business, we wouldn’t get involved. The Hellfire Club was situated on the South Side of Chicago. It operated as a Goth club downstairs and an underground sex club on one of the upper levels. In a world where the supernatural commingled with humans largely unbeknownst to humankind, the club provided a perfect cover. Of course, our high-class clientele and the few humans on our staff knew about our kind.
        I inhaled deeply and prayed for patience. Tessa wasn’t going to like the price increase the med tech at the blood bank required to keep us in supply. What was I supposed to do? The half-demon masquerading as a human had stood there with that twisted-as-fuck-smile and when I tried to dazzle him, he seemed completely immune to my tactics. I’d come here to report back to Tessa and it wasn’t likely she’d let this one go.
        Muttering obscenities, I walked across the black marble and Luna looked up from her post behind the bar.
        “Arie…”
        “Not now Luna.”
        She pursed her lips but didn’t respond to my mercurial mood. It was probably for the best under the circumstances. Throw in any of my primal instincts—sex, violence, blood-hunger—into the mix, and it would turn ugly for her. If not for this business with the blood bank, I’d screw her despite my preference for human partners. But for her I’d make an exception.  
        Luna had pale, luminous skin that almost matched my own and a stream of silvery beams trailed behind her. Even her hair, including her eye lashes sparkled silver. Usually she batted her eyes at me appreciatively but at the moment she just looked disgusted and I didn’t have time to deal with a pissed off faerie.
        The elevator button lit up when I pressed it and after a few moments the door slid open. I took the elevator to the third floor and made my way down the dimly lit hallway to Tessa’s office. Someone was having sex in the building. At any given time someone was screwing in the club but as I walked, the scent of arousal grew stronger, making my body tighten and my balls throb. Damnit, resistance was growing increasingly hard and painful, as my dick was at this moment.
        I brushed past the stony faced guard outside Tessa’s office. He was bigger than me, nearly as tall, and his short blond hair stood in spikes. Growling, I brought my fist up when he grabbed me with a muscled arm bearing a tribal tattoo that ran its length. My fist made contact with his jaw and he let out a curse.
        “Hell’s fucking bells, man. You can’t go in there,” he said, rubbing his