“I love you,” she said, smothering his face with kisses. “I don’t deserve you, but I love you. Does that make me a bad person?”
“No. You’re not a bad person, Autumn. I wouldn’t say you don’t deserve me, but even if you didn’t, hell, we’re all only human right?”
“Not me,” said Autumn, ruffling his hair. “I’m a succubus, remember?”
He laughed until she smothered his lips with her own.
Epilogue
CRAWLEY’S FINGERS DANCED over the strings as she furiously plucked out the solo to “Freebird.” A few feet away on the small stage, Phil grinned as he tickled the ivory keys before him, taking genuine pleasure in her performance. Rex furiously pounded the drums while Sven held the mike stand in two hands, nodding his blond head and tapping his long feet to the rhythm.
Out in the crowded bar, Steve moved past the densely packed patrons, holding two bottles of beer up over his shoulders so they would not be spilled. He skirted around a woman vomiting on the floor, crouched low to avoid an errant limb that was flung up in his path, and finally dashed up the stairs to the balcony overlooking the dance floor.
Autumn smiled at him, seated at a table near the railing, the same seat they had occupied months before. She leaned past a man who had apparently been hitting on her and waved.
“Hi, sugar!” she said cheerfully as he approached. She turned to face the slender hipster who was still leaning on their table. “Still think he’s not enough of a man for me?”
The little man swallowed nervously and licked his lips. Steve stared down at him from narrowed eyes, nearly a foot and a half taller than the man. Knots of muscle played over Steve’s forearms as he clenched his fists.
“Boo!”
The little man jumped nearly a foot. He scampered away from the couple, not giving a backward glance.
“Thanks, sugar. He left no cliché untrampled.”
“Not a problem.”
“Crawley’s got them hooked.” She gestured to the stage below.
“She’s got Phil hooked.”
“No doubt. Just like I’m hooked on you.”
“Now who sounds like a pussy?” he said, taking a long pull on his beer.
Autumn’s brows rose high over her widened brown eyes. She slapped her palm on the bottom of the bottle. Steve spilled it onto his shirt, foam rushing out of his mouth.
“That’s our word,” she said. “You can’t say it!”
Steve laughed even as he sputtered, setting the half full bottle back on the table.
“You’re a pain in the ass!” His smile belied his words.
“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Their lips met across the table in a passionate display that revolted some, delighted others, but that everyone envied.
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without my awesome editing team. Thanks, Sean and Colleen! I’d also like to thank Omnific for taking a chance on this decidedly nontraditional romance novel, when so many other publishers passed on it. Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the late, great Robert Asprin, whose Myth Adventures series taught me to love novels more than.
Why are you reading this crap? Turn the page already!
About the Author
Christopher Scott Wagoner: Strange visitor from another world! Jettisoned from his planet at an early age, he was adopted by a kindly midwestern couple and taught to fight for truth, justice, and the Native American way!
When he’s not busy saving the Galaxy, Chris finds time to pen fiction novels. Forever Autumn is his first book without dragons in it. He is rumored to enjoy professional wrestling, cartoons, and jokes that fall on the “offensive” side. Unsubstantiated accusations that he used to teach preschool have never been confirmed by him, but he has a lot of pee stories.
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