by K. G. Reuss
“Two hundred years ago, the devil caught on to our little love affair. He pulled us before the throne and delivered our punishment for disobeying him. You were cast out of Hell, left to wander. Over time, your soul would’ve withered, making you lose who you were. You’d become a wraith, just a shell. And I’d lose you forever. I have no idea how you got out. All I know is you were never seen again.”
I gawked at him, fidgeting nervously over his words. The truth of them niggled at me. A flicker of his devastated face flashed in my mind, his arms bound and me screaming his name. I winced, the glimmer of memory making me hot and uncomfortable.
He took a deep breath. “I, however, wasn’t so lucky. He cursed me to live eternity as an incubus. So, I walk through the dreams of women, fucking them and stealing their souls. For two hundred years, I’ve had to touch and fuck every woman except the one I wanted. The one I love.”
His admission made my heart plummet. I asked the first question that popped into my mind. “Why didn’t you just stop?”
“If I stopped collecting souls, I would’ve faded away. Ceased to exist. I’d become the ash beneath the feet of the damned. So, I kept moving, fighting, trying to find a way back to you. I never wanted those women,” his voice was pained, his eyebrows knit together tightly as he stared back at me. “I only wanted you. I love you, Livvy. I only did what I had to do so I could get back to you. Don’t you understand? The more souls I took, the more power I absorbed. That’s what got me here, to your world.”
“What does all this mean, exactly?” I asked, staring up at him, his words a punch to my guts. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the things he’d had to do to keep existing. The thought of it made me so sick to my stomach that I had to swallow down the bile.
“The only way to break the curse is for you know what I am, what I do… and love me anyway. You have to willingly give yourself to me in every way possible: mind, body, and soul.”
Shuddering, I rose from the bed and started pacing, the knots in my stomach growing. “You’re telling me, you’ve done nothing but fuck random women for two hundred years, and the only way to break this curse is if I fuck you?”
He shook his head, frustrated. “No, you can’t just fuck me. You have to love me despite the curse. You have to see past the monster I’ve been turned into and love the demon you fell in love with the first time. If you can’t forgive me, if you can’t love me, then having sex would do nothing.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm my trembling body.
“Keep your eyes closed, Livvy,” he whispered as he closed the distance between us. I couldn’t have moved if I’d wanted to. I was rooted to the spot, knowing damn well what he was. What I was. What we’d been. And hating every single thing that had transpired over the years. We didn’t deserve this. It truly was hell.
He placed his palm against my cheek, his thumb rubbing back and forth across my lips tenderly. “Listen to my voice, Livvy. I love you. I’ve always loved you. And you used to love me. What I am now, it’s because of our love. I’ve been turned into a monster because of my love for you. I kept moving forward, despite how much I hated myself, for you. Everything I’ve done for two hundred years, I’ve done for you. When I was with those women, it was you on my mind. I made myself believe in something bigger just to get through it.”
A tear slipped from my eye at his words, my heart aching for him. For us.
“Now tell me, can you love the man beneath the monster? Can you see past the curse? Do you love me, Livvy?”
Of course, I loved him. I knew from the moment he’d entered my dream that he was mine and I was his. I knew we were bigger than the dream. We were more. I nodded my head as more tears leaked from my closed eyes. “Yes, I love you.” I sniffled, hating the devil and vowing to take him out if ever given the chance. He did this to us. I didn’t need to remember everything to know I hated that creature with every ounce of my being. I knew in my heart Van was speaking the truth. I only wished I’d have given him the chance to explain it earlier. It would’ve saved me some serious heartbreak. “I forgive you, Van. I’m so sorry I ever doubted you. Can you forgive me for walking away when I should’ve stayed and listened?”
“Oh, Livvy,” he breathed out, his fingers in my hair. “There’s nothing to forgive, baby.” His words against my lips caused me to collapse fully in his arms, wanting whatever came with him, curse and all. Opening my mouth, I let him in.
To hell with it.
Donovan
Her tongue slid into my mouth as she deepened the kiss. My eyes fluttered closed, unable to hold back the flood of emotion she was bringing on. My chest swelled, and I swore my heart tried to beat again.
When I lifted her against me, her legs wrapped around my hips, and I carried her to my bed. As I lay her down, I broke the kiss. “We have to hurry. The devil knows about us. He’s going to try and stop us. We have to break this curse if we ever want to be together.”
Her green eyes were wide with fear and tears, but she nodded. “I love you, Van. I want you for the rest of my life. I don’t see a monster when I look at you. All I see is a man who loves only me, who only wants to be with me.”
“You’re it for me, Livvy. I never want another woman as long as I exist on Earth or in Hell. You’re mine. Forever.” I pressed my lips to hers once again, devouring her mouth, body, and the love she was so willing to give me.
My hands traveled up her body, pushing her shirt up her chest until I could pull it off and throw it in the floor. Her hands tangled in my hair as I kissed my way down her jaw, neck, and over to the swell of her beautiful, full breasts. My hands cupped them and pushed them together while I kissed, licked, and nibbled on them. Slowly, I worked her bra off her shoulders and tore it from her body, earning a loud moan from her lips.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, baby. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. Missed us,” I groaned against her skin as my mouth continued to move down her body. Each kiss I planted on her sweet body was a nod to my devotion and love for her. “I only want you, Olivia. I’ve dreamed of this day for centuries. Imagining being with you again… it’s the only thing that’s kept me going all these years.” I worked her shorts down her long legs, and she kicked them to the floor.
Sitting up, she unfastened my jeans then pushed the waistband down my hips, and I sprang free, hard and standing at attention. “I love you, Van. I’m yours,” she whispered as she got to her knees and pressed her mouth to mine.
She pushed against my chest until I was falling. She coaxed me onto my back on the bed. Her hot mouth kissed lower and lower. And just when I thought she was going to stop, her hand gripped my cock as she wrapped her lips around me. Her hot mouth sucked me hard, taking me deeper and deeper. I couldn’t form words. My mouth hung open, unable to speak as my hands fisted my own hair, pulling and tugging, trying to hold back the release that was already building.
Every muscle in my body hardened, preparing for release. But she didn’t stop, and I didn’t have the willpower to make her. She slid me farther and farther into her mouth, sucking more vigorously with every inch. One hand massaged my balls, while the other squeezed my thigh with her nails digging into my flesh.
I let out a moan as my release rose to the surface, the tingling in my body making me writhe with pleasure. Hastily, I eased her off my cock, not wanting to spill myself into her mouth. I had a very special place I wanted to put that.
When she pulled away, her lips were red, swollen, and glistening. Her emerald eyes were like a raging fire that couldn’t be stopped. Just looking at her, my queen, made me grow harder. Painfully hard.
“I fucking love you, Livvy,” I whispered as I got myself to my knees and pressed my mouth to hers forcefully. I could taste a hint of myself on her tongue as it twisted with my own, and it made me want to beg for entrance. I needed to be inside her. I needed to be home. It had been so long. I was desperate. My home, my heaven was mere inches away. Just begging me to enter and cl
aim my queen once again.
Gently, I lay her back and took my place between her parted legs. My dick was hard and aching. It slid between her slick folds with ease. I rocked my hips back and forth, teasing both of us and spreading her arousal.
“I love you too, Van. Please, take me. Claim me. Make everything go away.” The tone in her voice was edged with need and desire — begging me to slide deeply inside her and never leave.
I pressed my mouth to hers one last time, my hands touching her every inch, memorizing her every curve as I positioned myself at her entrance.
“Are you sure about this, Livvy?” I asked, feeling breathless, holding myself back from plunging head first into her heat.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life, Van. I need you inside me. Please, claim me and don’t ever stop. I don’t care what happens. Don’t let him take me away from you ever again.”
My mouth smashed against hers as my hips rocked forward, sliding inside her hot, tight pussy. Finally, I was home.
Donovan
It was like I’d never left. She still fit perfectly around me, like she was made for me.
“I love you, baby. I love you so much,” I whispered over and over, peppering her face and neck with hot kisses. She groaned beneath me, her hips rising to meet mine in rhythm. My hands were on her body, touching and memorizing everything about the moment.
“Van,” she called out my name as she began to tighten around me, her nails digging into my back. I pumped into her harder, wanting to make her feel good. Wanting to make her remember everything about us.
“Oh God,” she called out, her pussy spasming so hard around my dick that I let out a gasp of pleasure at the internal embrace. Her body twisted beneath mine —quivering and a sheen of sweat blanketing it. She was growing hotter, her skin almost blistering. I fucked her harder, faster, wanting to shatter with her. My mouth captured hers in a searing kiss. She moaned as her body spasmed again with her release. Letting out a roar, I spilled myself inside her, her moans of pleasure making it that much better.
“I-I remember. I remember.” She wept as my pace slowed until I was simply inside her, unmoving. I stared down at her.
“Everything?” I ventured softly. Hopefully.
Her hand moved up and cupped my face. “Everything, Van,” she replied, a tear slipping from her eyes. “I was tortured. Cast out. I wandered until I found him. The king of purgatory. Then I made a deal with him. And now I’m here. With you. Just like he said I would be.”
I swallowed thickly as I gazed down at her, my guts clenching at her words.
“Promise me you’ll never give up on me, Van.”
“Baby, I’ll never ever give up on you.” I brushed the tear away that had slipped from her eye.
“I’m so sorry.” Her body shook beneath mine as she started to sob. I gazed down at her worriedly, my hands on either side of her face, my brows crinkled.
“What’s wrong, Livvy? What are you sorry for, baby?”
“I-I wanted to make sure it was forever, Van, because I love you. I know he needs to be stopped. And he won’t stop until he destroys us both. So… I did it. I made a pact with the purgatory king. I-I only have a little time left. He promised me time with you before-before the end.”
She’d made another deal. Another pact.
“What did you do, Livvy? What did you give him?” My eyes swept over her face worriedly. “Baby, talk to me!”
The light in her eyes began to fade. I knew that look. I’d seen that same look on every woman’s face I’d encountered for the past two hundred years.
A sad smile spilled onto her lips before she answered, “You, Van. I'm giving him you.” Her eyes slid shut, a small breath escaping her lips. I stared down at her horrified. Abe lied.
“Livvy! Olivia!” I screamed, withdrawing myself from her. I shook her, tears pouring from my eyes. “Please! Liv! Open your eyes! Baby, please! Open your eyes!”
I continued to shake her body, the terror of what was happening all too real. I pressed my mouth to hers and blew air into her lungs in a vain attempt to bring her back to me. I knew she was gone. He’d taken her back. The fucking devil had taken her away from me again.
I let out a roar of heartbroken anguish as I wept over her body.
Donovan
I had to get back to Hell. I had to save her. We’d be on even ground at least because we’d be home.
I closed my eyes, trying to find dreamscape. It always came to me right away.
“What the hell,” I gasped, my eyes snapping open. I was met with a wall of darkness. I tried again. And again. I tried for hours to get back to Hell. Nothing. Each attempt brought me closer to realizing that the gate back in had closed. I’d been the one cast out this time. And Olivia. . . she was trapped with him. Lucifer. I ground my teeth, trying once more. And again, a wall of blackness.
“No. No, no, no, no!” I screamed, putting my fist through the wall. I did it over and over again until the room looked like it was part of a demolition site. I fell back onto the bed beside my girl.
The hours passed with me weeping and cursing into the night beside Olivia’s cold body. Her lips had turned that shade of purple I hated so much. I stared down at her, running my fingers through her thick, red hair tenderly. My face was wet with the tears that wouldn’t stop coming.
She was gone from this world. I’d given her a first-class ticket right back into the pits of Hell. I wrapped my hand around her small cold one and brought it to my lips. I pressed a kiss to her hand before placing it onto her stomach. I didn’t want anyone to find her like this.
I dressed her. I drew on my own clothes. Gently, I lifted her limp body, cradling her against my chest. Under the cover of darkness, I carried her back to her house. Thankfully, her mom was working so there were no obstacles to me slipping into her house. I moved to her bedroom. With tenderness unfitting of a demon, I tucked her into bed, pulling the covers up over her. She looked like she’d fallen asleep and was simply napping, not dead.
Abe promised this wouldn’t happen. I sat on the edge of the bed beside Olivia, seething. He’d lied to me. I should’ve known. He was acting weird the last time we’d spoken. He was partly to blame for this mess. And he’d pay once I got my hands on him. I just knew he knew this would happen. He’d wanted it to happen!
But why?
Olivia’s last words repeated in my mind.
I’m giving him you.
Why would she give me to the purgatory king? Why would Abe tell me this wouldn’t happen when he knew it would? What the actual fuck was going on here?
And then it hit me. Hard. A thump in my chest. And another one. And another. A heartbeat. I had a heartbeat.
I was. . . alive? She’d traded places with me? Was that part of her pact with the purgatory king?
But how?
I’m giving him you.
I rose to my feet, understanding dawning on me. I had to die. That was the way back to Hell. Death. And on my way, I’d meet the purgatory king. Because suicides always went to purgatory. That was how she was giving me to him. He had the answers. I knew he did. The sooner I got there, the better.
I stepped back to Olivia and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her cold lips.
“I’m coming for you, baby. And this time, we’ll win.”
To Be Continued in
Sweet Nightmares: The Dreamweaver Saga
Thank you for reading Wicked Dreams. Please consider leaving your review!
About the Author
Known mostly for being strange, USA Today bestselling author K.G. Reuss knows what it takes to wear the crown of town weirdo. A cemetery creeper and ghost enthusiast, K.G. spends most of her time toeing the line between imagination and forced adulthood.
After a stint in college in Iowa, K.G. moved back to her home in Michigan to work in emergency medicine. She’s currently raising three small ghouls and is married to a vampire overlord (not really but maybe he could be someday).
&nbs
p; K.G. is the author of The Everlasting Chronicles series, Emissary of the Devil series, The Chronicles of Winterset series, The Middle Road (with co-author CM Lally) Black Falls High series and Seven Minutes in Heaven with a ridiculous amount of other series set to be released.
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Emissary of the Devil
Testimony of the Damned
The fate of the world hinges on an ambitious demon and the one woman he can't resist.
For hundreds of years, Brax has worked his way up the demonic ranks to become a crowned prince of Hell. Now, with only one final task left in his quest, the crown is within reach. When he's assigned to corrupt and collect the soul of seventeen-year-old beauty Maggie Westbrook, he's sure victory is his. But Fate has other plans.
Maggie is no ordinary woman. Part angel, she possesses a pure soul, one which is the key to starting the apocalypse. . . And to stealing Brax's heart. As irresistible passion flares between them, Brax is caught between his duty and his desire. And with another demon determined to take Maggie's soul, Brax must decide both their fates—fulfill his destiny and take the crown or risk everything to save the girl.
Trigger warning: Testimony of the Damned is a dark tale containing scenarios that may cause discomfort. Reader discretion advised. Contains cliffhanger.