Music often plays a large part in many of my books. Whether it be characters that are involved in music, playlists that I use while writing my books, or as in the case of Dirty Deeds, inspiration for a character.

Melody is a newly created sex demon who is obsessed with AC/DC. Not unlike myself who uses AC/DC as my go to music to cure any bad mood. I love her sarcasm, her newly awakened interest in all things sexual, and her naivete in the seriousness of being a demon tasked with collecting souls.

The story opens with her having to go through a kind of job performance review. If you’ve ever sat through one of them you know how nerve wracking they are. This snippet starts at the tail end of that scene.

But before you get to the excerpt, how about a little mood music?

Excerpt:

“Melody, you have five days. Five days to meet this month’s quota, or else.” She didn’t want to know what the “or else” was. She knew for certain it would be far worse than anything she could imagine. “Do you really understand this is your final opportunity? Either you become the productive little Sex Demon you were made to be, or I’ll be forced to terminate your contract and turn you over to the gatekeeper for the appropriate eternal punishment.” He scribbled something in a folder and then slammed it shut.

She didn’t need to hear anything more. She may not want to steal the vile souls required of her, but the other option would be far worse. “Yes, sir, I understand.”

“Good girl.” His puffed up and twisted lips curved into a bit of a smile as she got up to leave. “You go on back home now and take care of business. Five days, Melody. I’m not kidding about this.”

Right. Five days to collect five souls, or I’m going to find out that hell does have more fury than a woman scorned.

Melody’s boss sent her away with a wave of his hand, hurtling her through a dense fog and rematerializing her in…water. “What the—?” She opened her eyes and found herself flat on her ass in the fountain outside her apartment building. “Hell’s bells.” She scrambled to her feet, pulling her micromini down over her exposed bottom as she did. “Harold, that is so not funny!”

“Who’s Harold, dear?” She jerked at the voice, looking up to see her neighbor Mrs. Mavis staring down her nose with a disapproving look. “Melody, what are you doing in the fountain? You’re going to catch a cold like that.”

Melody climbed out with her head high, trying not to think about her new Botticelli leather boots that were now ruined.

“It’s hot out here. I just needed to cool off.” She stepped from the fountain onto the walkway, trying to skirt her way around the nosy woman. But no, Mrs. Mavis blocked her way.

“Melody, it is not appropriate for a woman like you to go around dressed like—like that, especially after fooling around in our fountain.” Her brows drew together in a disapproving frown. “Look at yourself. You’re flashing your goods to everyone in that shirt.”

Melody glanced down and yep, sure enough with her white top soaking wet, her nipples poked at the material for all to see. Why did it have to be a big deal? It’s not like the world would end because Melody Evans’s hardened nips were visible.

“You needn’t worry, Mrs. Mavis, I’m headed home now to change.” Frustrated with the woman’s insistence on butting into her life, she wrapped her arms around her waist, effectively pulling the shirt tighter. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get dry.” She’d tried to hold the sarcasm, she really had, but her meddlesome neighbor never let up. Mrs. Mavis glared. Her face flushed red and Melody thought smoke might billow from the woman’s ears any second.

“Ooh—” Mrs. Mavis’s breath swooshed and she took two steps back. “You’re a naughty girl.” Melody stood back up, shaking her head.

“Mrs. Mavis, you have no idea.” She stepped to the left, and this time Mrs. Mavis let her pass. The annoying woman gave her a hard time every chance she got, so of course, she couldn’t resist giving a little back whenever she could. Hell, it probably gave her something to talk about at her women’s group each week. She could just hear it now.

The devil has a hold on that one. Watch out for her; she’s on the highway to hell for sure.

Melody laughed all the way back to her apartment, shaking her head and sashaying her hips. She stopped and admired her fire engine red door before going in. The neighbors had gone ballistic when she’d painted it. However, five hundred extra dollars to her landlord last month had gotten her the permission she needed to paint it any damn color she wanted. But what really chapped their uptight asses was the new pitchfork doorknocker she had added just last week. She couldn’t help herself. It was too easy.

She eased into her apartment, soaking in the heat as it flashed across her chilled skin. With a little twist of power, she turned on the stereo that sat on her dining-room table. The whole place flooded with the blaring rock and roll of AC/DC belting out “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Her heartbeat picked up, matching the tempo of the song as she removed the wet T-shirt and tossed it to the laundry pile in the corner. Her hips wiggled to the beat as she shimmied out of the tight wet skirt and added it to the pile. She kept the heat set at a comfortable one hundred and four degrees, and it warmed her while she removed her boots and peeled off her ruined thigh-highs. Ever since she became a demon, she couldn’t keep warm enough. That was one of the few things she enjoyed when making trips down there.

Naked, she danced around the room, forgetting her responsibilities and focusing on the thrumming need between her legs. Her fingers smoothed across the baby soft skin of her belly to the nest of blond curls covering her sex. She delved through the wet folds and rubbed the hood of her clit with the pad of her fingertips, arching into her hand, reaching for more friction. The music, the heat, the sensations all swirled in her head leading her down the wicked path of self-indulgence she loved so much. She kneaded her hard clit between her thumb and forefinger, rough the way she needed, and moisture flooded her pussy, coating her fingers.

Sensual energy buzzed through her blood as her climax approached. The music pounded in her veins, heightening the pleasure. With her free hand, she pinched and massaged her nipples, alternating between her breasts.

“Oh yes. Yes!” Finally.

As her body shook with a small tremor signaling the imminent explosion, a cold freezing blast struck her full force, halting her hands and sensations.

Melody, five days. Five souls. Focus.

Harold’s voice in her head brought her crashing back down. Nooo. The satisfaction her soul screamed for had been denied once again. “Aahh,” she snarled in frustration. “Harold, you are such a prick.”

Now cold and disappointed, she headed for the shower. Time to dress for the mission, get a damn soul, and get Harold off her back. While she showered, she contemplated where she would hunt for a victim today. The seven deadly sins weren’t hard to find. She lived in Charlotte, after all. And with Halloween approaching, lots of parties with costume contests, alcohol galore, and wall-to-wall potentials engaging in all sorts of depraved activities were in abundance. In fact, she’d overheard a group of people talking about a new club in town.
Hmmm. What was the name of it? Dungeon something. A new BDSM club. That ought to be interesting. Melody sat down in front of her computer to do a little search and find what she needed.

“If you want blood, you’ve got it.”

Don’t forget to follow the trail to more snippety goodness.

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