Chapter 1

I'm a succubus. I need a powerful keeper just to stay alive. My boss, Ryan Noble, is my target, but his executive assistant specializes in cutting off every woman who throws herself at him. None of them end well.

I'm just a little succubus. I can't beat that guy, so I've been scraping by on the scraps of energy left in the air. Then one day, a succubus friend told me about object link. With that, I could eat my fill without ever touching The Boss.

So I linked myself to the boss's water cup. What my friend forgot to mention was that when he touched it, I'd feel it too. And when he drank from it, I would just...

"Mia, why is your face so red? Are you coming down with something?"

I was slumped over my desk, my face burning and my knees going weak. The boss was drinking water again. Why did he have to drink so much in one day? I should've linked myself to his pen instead. At least then I'd get a break.

I shook my head and didn't dare make a sound. I was scared what came out wouldn't be words, but some embarrassing little whimper. Succubi hate humiliating themselves too.

I'm a succubus, and humans can't resist my natural charm, so I'm basically the office favorite in the secretaries' pool. The second I looked unwell, everyone crowded around me, asking after me. Only I knew why I felt so awful. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

I just wanted a full meal, but The Boss was feeding me way too much. I could barely handle it.

"Mia Berry." The executive assistant came into the secretaries' office to call for me. Everyone else treated me well, but he was always cold and sharp with me, like I was just another one of those women trying to cling to The Boss. I did want to get close to him, sure, but I wasn't after romance. I just wanted to stay alive. The tingling stopped the second Assistant Lee spoke. The boss had let go of the cup, and I quietly let out a breath.

"Here, Assistant Lee." I raised my hand like a kid getting called on in class.

"Mr. Noble wants you."

I gave a little "oh" and followed him out. It was weird. I used to go hungry all the time, but ever since linking myself to that cup, I'd been getting called into the office every few days.

I stepped into the office. Ryan Noble wasn't like Mr. Lucas next door. Whenever I delivered something over there, that man was always signing papers or reading reports. My boss, though, had a fish tank in his office, and every time I came in, he was feeding the fish.

Even when he saw me enter, he kept sprinkling fish food between his fingers, calm and elegant. He was a full head taller than me, and the sunlight fell across his profile. My eyesight is too good. I could even make out his eyelashes when he lowered his eyes.

The boss was seriously handsome. And the energy around him smelled amazing. If I'd been allowed into his office before, I would've gone wild breathing it in. But now I was full, so I didn't need to.

"Boss, did you need me for something?"

I kept my tone nice and obedient. It wasn't super sweet, and it wasn't some cool, sultry voice either. It landed somewhere in the middle.

"I'm leaving on a business trip tomorrow. Probably half a month. Do you have any scheduling conflicts?"

Was I going on a business trip with the boss? Well, I definitely had a conflict. I was off tomorrow, and I'd planned to go shopping.

Besides charming people, my favorite hobby as a little succubus is shopping till I drop. I don't need to save up for marriage and kids. Well, okay, a husband and kids. So yeah, I spend every cent I make.

Nobody was allowed to ruin my shopping day, but if Ryan Noble left town, he definitely wouldn't bring the cup with him. Half a month? I'd starve to death. After thinking it over, I nodded.

"No conflicts. What time, Boss?"

"Just come in at your usual time."

"Okay."

"Mm."

"Okay."