It was worse than the day she wandered into Cerberus’ domain. It was worse than the day my mother had died. It took everything in me not to spring into the air and go and goad Cadriel to beating the ever-hating shit out of me.
There was nothing I could do.
I knew what the portent heralded.
And I was as relieved as I was tormented by it.
“Drake?” Wren asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
I looked down at her, unable to muster even a ghost of a smile for her benefit. I hoped she’d understand.
“Bedroom,” I ordered.
She didn’t complain as I whisked her away to our room. I closed the door and locked it, ensuring no more unwelcome visitors to interrupt us. As soon as we had our privacy, I grabbed her dress and pulled her to me. Her lips found mine instantly and her hands made for my jeans button as I tried to lift her dress.
Wren laughed, but I was too focussed. I needed the feel of her around me. I needed her skin on mine. I needed to hear her moaning my name. I needed grounding. I felt like I was about to disintegrate into nothing, and she was my only anchor to creation.
We were undressed in no time. I picked her up and carried her to our bed. I threw her down and wasted no time climbing over her. She smiled up at me, her posture relaxed and easy. Her hair fanned out along the pillows. She was, put simply, perfection.
As I lowered myself over her, my heart caught.
This wasn’t right.
I couldn’t do it.
I wanted so badly to make her my wife unequivocally.
I felt like she wanted that too.
But we’d never even talk about what that meant.
“Do you know what marriage to me means, Wren?” I blurted out.
She frowned. “What do you mean.”
“Do you know what it really means? To be my wife.”
She shook her head. “I…don’t know. I think so–”
“It means different things for us.”
She was looking at me with that slightly spaced-out look I knew meant she was processing. So, I continued.
“Our marriage means I can never marry again while you live. “A rule my father enjoyed breaking, but one I would be unable to. “It leaves you free to enter into a legal human marriage. If we were to consummate our marriage, it would become legal by all laws of Hell. It would be no more than that unless…” My voice failed me.
“Unless what?” she asked, her hand running over my back comfortingly.
I pulled myself together. “Unless you freely offer me your soul.”
“Like…like some sort of pact or–?”
I shook my head. “No. But it is as binding.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I just…wanted you to have all the facts.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
I nodded curtly, not knowing what to say to that.
As she pulled me down to kiss her, I felt a little bit guilty.
I was unable to lie. But I could omit like a boss. And I’d conveniently left out the part where I would have to give her my soul in return. Telling her that would surely only result in an expectation for further explanation.
Which wasn’t going to happen.
I couldn’t risk the chance of revealing she already had mine.
Wren
When I woke up, I saw Drake watching me. I smiled as I stretched, and he ran his hand down my body.
“Morning,” I said.
“Morning.”
His voice was still… Cold wasn’t quite the right word for it. But there had been something almost…heavy about it since the day before. He’d been fine in the morning, then I’d seen him in Cerberus’ domain and it was like everything and nothing had changed. The night before had been different. No less amazing, but there was something about it that had my heart fluttering and words beginning with ‘L’ wander in to my head.
“Sleep well?” I asked as he kept looking at me.
“Enough.”
“Is everything okay?” I looked him over.
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“How much do you remember about our wedding?” he asked me.
I rolled to face him as I thought back. “I don’t know. I think I think I remember more than I actually do. I remember you left just after, though.”
He nodded. “I did.”
Something hit me. “You said your mum died?”
Drake nodded. “She did.”
“When?”
“When I was eight.”
“I’m so sorry.” I paused. “Is that why you left?”
He nodded vaguely. “It is what it is.”
“How did she die?”
He watched as he laced his fingers with mine, then breathed out heavily before looking into my eyes. “My father sent Cadriel to kill her and collect me.”
I felt my heart jerk painfully in my chest. “He…?” I breathed.
“My father’s a stickler for propriety. I was a son of Hell and, as such, I belonged there. He was more than happy to remove whatever obstacles necessary to get what he wanted.”
“And you…forgave him?”
Drake sighed. “More like I accepted the inevitable. And, back then, Dad kept a close eye on me, showering me with whatever flights of fancy he thought would buy the love of an eight-year-old boy and make up for the loss of a beloved parent.”
“Did it work?”
His thumb ran over my hand. “It worked long enough to avoid the biting sting of her loss. By the time I fully comprehended my…life, her death was worn down to a dull ache in me.”
“Do you still get to see her?”
He shook his head. “No,” he scoffed.
“Why not?”
“She was killed by Grigori. That’s like auto-entrance to Heaven in Samael’s books.”
“What does all that mean? What are Grigori? Cadriel’s Grigori, right?”
“Right.” His smile was soft. “There are two kinds of what humans consider Fallen Angels. Grigori were sent from Heaven to keep watch over Grandad’s creation. But Samyeza was always a thirsty bastard and it wasn’t long before they were consorting with humans, teaching them forbidden arts of the holy ones. They were confined to Earth until the end days for their so-called crimes, but they found their own ways to visit Hell.”
“And the other kind? Were they the ones who followed your dad?”
Drake huffed a humourless laugh. “You could say all of them followed him. It’s not really a cut and dry situation. There’s a lot of interconnecting politics going on. They’ve found themselves in two sects since, I suppose. The Grigori and… The others are the Fallen who think they can earn their way back into Heaven. Azazel leads them and he’s made it his mission to kill every Nephilim in existence. His nose couldn’t be any further up Samael’s arse. But Samyeza’s boys give him a Heaven of a fight.”
“Azazel or Samael?”
“Both, really. Samyeza’s made it his mission – aside from fucking as many humans as possible – to protect Nephilim. Azazel wants to kill them. Samyeza’s not too fussed if he takes one of Azazel’s boys out of commission in the process of protecting them.”
“Heaven and Hell are way more complicated than I realised.”
Drake smiled at me. “They are. But you won’t have to deal with any of that. When you die, you’ll just get to spend your death in paradise.”
“The wife of Lucifer’s son isn’t already bound for Hell?” I teased.
“Not technically my wife,” he whispered and the mood shifted subtly.
What was a sombre and almost emotional aura became tinged with very visceral, delicious, sexual tension. I was hyper-aware of where Drake’s hands were. I could feel his body even though it wasn’t all touching me. My heart rate increased. My breathing got slower and deeper. My whole body hummed for his touch. Even though his touch would send me home, I felt like I
needed it to keep breathing.
Whenever the subject came up, it seemed clear that I’d be leaving at some point. So maybe it was a good idea it was sooner rather than later. The longer I was in Hell, the more I felt for him and the more I was sure it was going to hurt when it inevitably came to an end – my restraint could only go so far, I knew I’d sleep with him at some point. He’d even brought it up the night before. So, why put off something we both wanted?
I trailed my fingers over his cheek. “I could be…”
I felt him tense as though he really was a part of me. He licked his bottom lip slowly as he searched my eyes. His breath seemed to have caught. His hand, his fingers still laced with mine, was still. His eyes had been red since we’d woken up, but they glowed fiercely now.
“You know what you’re asking?” he rasped.
I nodded and wriggled forward to touch my nose to his. “I do.”
As a sentence, it was simple. As a meaning, it was layered with intricacies I didn’t think even he fully understood. But we both knew what I was saying, and he didn’t need me to tell him twice.
He brought me close to him, still lying side-by-side, and looked into my eyes deeply before bringing my lips to his. It started out rather chaste and meaningful. It didn’t stay that way for long.
My knee hugged Drake’s hip, bringing us closer together. He ran his hand down it firmly, stopping only to grip my butt cheek and pull me closer.
I kissed him hard, cupping his cheek with my hand. When I nipped his lip, I felt him smile against me before he pushed me down and moved over me. He looked down at me with a truly sinful smirk, his eyes blazing red and igniting a fire deep in me. I didn’t just want him. I needed him. All of him.
I brought my leg up to hug his hip again and his smirk grew. As he settled between my legs – feeling like he was born to be there – he kissed me. It was passionate, but softer and I melted beneath him. The feeling was intensified as his hand slid between us. His felt his fingers glide over my clit and down to my opening with the promise of more that had me about to lose my mind.
“Fuck, you’re wet,” he murmured, nipping my lip.
I could only moan in response and I reached between us and took him in my hand.
“Tell me what you want,” he commanded.
“You,” I told him. “I want you.”
I was not expecting the compassion of the kiss he gave me next, but it filled me up with a warmth that stoked the raging fire in my belly.
Drake took himself from me and lined himself up. His kiss didn’t falter as he slowly slid into me with ever-deeper thrusts. He only paused when he was in to the hilt and I felt him pulsating inside me. We looked at each other for the space of a few steady heartbeats and I felt contented in a way I never had before. The rightness in it was clear to me, no matter what came next.
I took his cheek in my hand and brought his lips back to mine as I rolled my hips against him. He groaned. His hand went to my hip, coaxing my leg further up and letting him thrust deeper.
His movement was slow and steady. A pulsating rhythm that I felt deep in my soul, connecting us in the most primal way. Every long thrust intensified, tightening the coil low in my stomach. The arm that wasn’t holding him up was constantly exploring, ranging over my body like he was committing it to memory. His lips rarely left mine, but when they did it was only to cross my cheek and down to my neck, sometimes as far as my collarbone before he dragged his nose over me to kiss me passionately again.
I felt cared for. I felt understood. I felt loved.
As that coil tightened, sending little pulses of pleasure, my breathing became more ragged, my sighs became moans and our pace increased. Each thrust was as long and steady, but faster and faster until something in me snapped, spinning me into a daze of bursting sensuality and pure carnal pleasure.
Drake slowed as I caught my breath, giving me a smile that would make his father blush. But once my breath was back, the only description I had for it was he totally drilled me. Zings of electricity – aftershocks of my orgasm – shot through me pleasantly with each stroke. And when I finally thought I wasn’t going to be able to take anymore, he slowed again. His hips rolled deep and steady and I felt it all building to a crescendo once more.
His head fell to my shoulder and he let out a long, soft groan and I came again. He throbbed inside me, hot and hard. I felt an invigorating mix of totally energised and like cooked spaghetti.
“Oh, my God,” I laughed under my breath, throwing my arm over my eyes.
“Bringing up my grandfather? Sure way to kill the mood.”
I chuckled. “I’m sorry. But that was…” I blew out heavily, having no words for it.
“Oh,” he said with a cocky smirk. “You enjoyed it?”
I laughed. “I think I felt my soul leave my body at one point.” It was only partially a joke.
He buried his nose in my neck. “We can’t have that. I’ll have to try to be less than amazing next time.”
He looked up and we gazed into each other’s eyes. We both felt it. We both knew. Whatever the depth of feelings we had for each other, it was all coming to an end. Our marriage was consummated. We were officially married under the rules of Hell.
It was only a matter of how long it would be before I was sent me home.
Turns out it was sooner than I expected.
Drake
Some would call me weak for giving in. Some would say I was weak for not having her sooner.
I’d call them all arseholes and tell them to fuck right off.
It hadn’t taken long for Dad to know our marriage had been consummated. As in seconds. I was still inside her.
There was a ‘Congratulations’ banner and confetti to celebrate. Appearing over us as I kissed her, I got glitter in my hair as she laughed and covered her face with her hands.
I was dressed and flying to Dad’s throne room in moments, Wren running after me and begging me to slow down. I threw open the doors and pointed my finger at him as I landed.
“One thing!” I yelled at him as I stalked towards him. “One thing in my life. That’s all I ask. One thing that’s mine. That doesn’t have your stench all over it as you poke your bedazzled nose where it’s not wanted!”
“Ah, here’s the man of the hour,” he said, turning from whatever, he was cooking up on his Planning Table now. “Over a month of waiting? How was it?”
“None of your business!”
“Drake…” Wren said, finally catching up to me.
“Here she is!” Dad cried happily. His face fell into an exaggerated frown, he snapped his heels together, and he clapped his hands together in front of what looked like a safari suit. “Well, a deal’s a deal.”
“Wait. What?” I looked around.
“I was promised one daughter-in-law. Serenity was promised a one-way trip home. She held up her end of the bargain. It’s time I hold up mine.”
He held his hand up and I stepped forward. “Dad!”
The devil looked at me expectantly. “Yes?”
“At least let her pack her things.”
I had to be imagining the look of disappointment on his face, as momentary as it was. He sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. “Fine. Of course.”
“No! No! No!” Kyle came skidding into the room and latched himself to Wren’s legs.
Ignacio came hurtling along behind him while Truman huffed less stately than usual behind Ignacio.
“Kyle,” Dad said fondly. “We made a deal. Serenity must go home.” Here, Dad looked at me oddly, but again it was only momentary. “If she didn’t, we’d be breaking a deal. And what do we say about breaking deals?”
“Not allowed,” Kyle said sullenly, still wrapped around Wren’s legs.
“Might I offer a…negotiation, sirs?” Truman asked, stepping forward.
Dad dropped into his throne and laced his fingers over his stomach. “What have you got?”
“If Mis
s Serenity must go home, at least let us go with her, sir.”
Dad unlaced everything and sat forward. “Sorry. You… The three of you?”
Truman nodded, taking another couple of hesitant steps towards my father. Ignacio had his back. And I’m sure Kyle would have if he wasn’t busy loudly sobbing on Wren.
“Yes, sir.” Truman coughed. “Ignacio, Kyle and I.”
At the sound of his name, Kyle looked over, still sniffling and tears streaming down his little red face. “Kyle go?” he pleaded.
“The three of you would abandon your post with your master, the prince of Hell, and go to live on Earth with Serenity?” Dad asked and I could see he was almost sold.
“We’ll take care of her,” Ignacio growled.
“Drake…” Wren hissed and I looked at her.
I couldn’t quite understand what she was trying to tell me. I almost dipped into her mind, but plausible deniability is a wonderful invention.
“What say you, son?” Dad called to get my attention again.
I looked at him. “About the boys going?”
“Yes.” Dad nodded. “Do you think you can do without them for the rest of Serenity’s life?”
I did not want to think about her death so my, “Yes,” came out rather strangled.
“And you trust them on Earth? Trust they can take care of her?”
I swallowed hard. “They are loyal to Wren. They’ll take care of her as well as anyone.”
“No!” Wren cried, stumbling as she tried to walk to me with Kyle still attached to her legs. “No, I don’t–”
Dad stood up with a flourish. “Then it’s all settled. Boys, go and help Serenity pack. And get anything you might want to take with you.”
I felt the argument on the tip of my tongue. Everything in me screamed to find a way to keep her. I wanted to tell my father that the deal had changed. But if I found a way for her to stay with me, I was condemning her to millennia in Hell while her friends and family aged and died.
Damned if I do (the Damned Trilogy Book 1) Page 12