Demon's Mark: The Complete Series

by Nora Ash

  “Do you really need to concentrate to fuck?” The far-away voice took on a clear note of sarcasm.

  “Kesh, if you don’t shut the fuck up, I’ll beat you until you do!”

  Despite the deep need pulsing between her thighs and Kain’s dark snarl sending pleasurable shivers through her, enough reality filtered through the darkness surrounding her to make her understand that Kesh was about to see them fuck. Again. Selma whimpered, wishing he would go away.

  “Shh,. little one.” Kain’s voice turned soft again. Intimate.

  Warmth brushed over her abdomen and down her legs, spreading them, and then the heavy pressure of his hips settled in between her thighs. All thoughts of anything other than Kain evaporated.

  Yes, yes!

  Burning expectation swept through her lethargic body, priming her for what she knew would follow at any moment—what she needed more than air, even in her halfway unconscious state.

  Thick, hard flesh pushed in between her legs, spreading her lower lips obscenely wide. If she had had the strength she would have cried out the moment he thrust in, filling her to bursting. Instead, she could only groan into the darkness as his heat claimed her in one long, slow push.

  He was so unbelievably big that even in her weak state her pussy clutched desperately at his girth and every nerve ending screamed from the violent pressure.

  “Fuck!” His growl was low and rich, marking the moment he bottomed out in her tight sheath.

  “Selma ….”

  No sound followed her hoarsely whispered name—only the spine-breakingly intense sensation of his hips drawing back and the thick cock and primed ridges rubbing deeply at every deliciously hyper aware spot inside of her. She may not be able to feel most of her body, but she certainly felt him and the places his scorching flesh made her come alive with his touch.

  It was almost too much, despite her mark making her pussy weep and open for his punishing girth. When they had mated before she had been fully in her body and capable of squirming and screaming as he pummeled her into oblivion. This time, all she could do was lie there and take it, her focus solely and completely on the sensation of his grueling length pushing into her reluctant opening over and over.

  “Feel me, my love,” her mate gasped from the empty space above her. “I got you. Just feel me.”

  Just feel him? She could do little else! But behind the violent stretch and her pussy’s desperate grip on him was something else—something more. It almost felt as if every thrust into her core brought life with it, as if the pleasure of his presence inside of her anchored her fleeting conscience to her slowly wakening body. Where his skin brushed against hers she felt her presence of mind slowly return, and every thrust into her very core produced shock waves of pure pleasure.

  Selma floated in the suspended state of semi consciousness, unable to grasp any sense of time in the darkness. There was only the full, slick thrusts of Kain’s body as he brought her back from the brink of something she wasn’t sure she could have found her way back from on her own.

  Soon, her pelvis was straining against the intrusion in an increasingly urgent search for just a little more, just that final thrust—!

  “Yes!”

  She screamed the word in her mind as her lover roared it out, following through with a hot flood of liquid deep between her legs. It filled her up with the heat of the sun, spreading warmth through every cell in her body, as if spring had suddenly set in after a long, cold winter.

  “You risked your life to get me. You little fool.”

  Selma hummed quietly at the tender yet scolding whisper, enjoying the sensation of her mate’s hot breath against her ear. Her arms were still heavy and lethargic, but at least she could feel them again. With some effort she lifted them up and wrapped them around his torso, knowing her caress would soothe him as much as the heavy press of his body against hers soothed her.

  “Can you move yet, my beautiful? We need to get to safer quarters.”

  She frowned at his question. Safer quarters? She felt safe and warm in the protective cocoon of his heat. Why would they need—?

  The memory of the Queen’s residence snapped back with unpleasant force.

  They were still not safe.

  The shock of adrenaline that followed the thought of still being in enemy territory made her eyes open wide and her fingers dig into Kain’s strong sides.

  Faint daylight filtered in to replace the darkness she’d floated in for unknown hours, suggesting it was just on the cusp of dawn. She didn’t have time to reflect more on what that meant for how long she’d been out, because in the next moment her eyes managed to focus on the man resting between her thighs.

  Blackish red scales covered his naked body, long, black horns sprung from his skull, and though his angular features were eerily familiar, they were also those of a monster.

  Selma screamed, reflexively hitting at the beast on top of her as panic took over.

  The unwavering knowledge and trust of who she had just made love to was replaced with years of terror as she saw her worst nightmare come to life and felt his brutal girth still lodged deep inside of her.

  “Get off, get off, get the fuck off me!”

  With a grunt of surprise the demon obeyed, moving swiftly and easily to lift off her still flailing body. He only paused to pull out of her swollen pussy, gently dislodging himself from her flesh despite her attempts to kick him.

  “Selma ….” It was a deep rumble from the back of his throat, and his eyebrows were knitted in either concern or frustration.

  The second he was out of her body she scurried backwards, only stopping when metal hit her back and shoulders. The car door. She was on the back seat of an SUV, and the demon had pulled back far enough that he was now crouched outside of the opposite door, giving her space.

  “Calm her down, Kain. It’s just the mark’s effect wearing off. Your baby must have needed that infusion of power to be strong enough to protect her from it.”

  The calm voice came from somewhere behind the demon hovering by the open door.

  Someone else snorted in amusement, and movement outside the car windows made her huddle up into a tighter ball as fear tightened her throat.

  “Well, that is some seriously awkward timing. Could you hurry this up? We need to get moving, and her scent is driving me crazy.”

  “Shut up, Kesh,” the demon who’d mounted her growled over his shoulder, before turning back to her, his features smoothing from the scowl he’d leveled at the other.

  “Selma, listen to my voice. It’s just me—it’s Kain. You know me, little one. Close your eyes and just listen.”

  Despite her fear, his suggestion made her stare at him in shock. Close her eyes? He must be insane.

  Yet the moment’s pause gave logic time to rear its head. Despite what he looked like, this was Kain. Kain.

  Reluctantly, she let her eyelids flutter closed.

  A soft, rich humming made her heart rate drop almost instantly.

  “It’s just me, baby,” Kain’s deep voice called softly through the unwavering sound of his calming hum. “It’s Kain, your mate. I told you this would happen, remember? There’s nothing to be afraid of, I promise you. Our son is just fighting the mark for you. You know I would never hurt you.”

  Selma breathed deeply as her fear slowly subsided. When she couldn’t see him there was little doubt in her mind that this was the man she’d been longing for ever since she’d met him. His voice rumbled richly from his chest, cooing and soothing as if she were a wild animal. As always, trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

  “Let me smell you, please,” she croaked. His smell was her favorite thing about him, and if she could focus on that along with his voice, then maybe she could accept this.

  The car seat dipped when his heavy weight entered, and then heat radiated against her face and body. He was close, but not reaching for her.

  She leaned forward, slowly, and breathed in.

  Warm, heady
musk caressed her senses and allowed calm to filter through her system, and settle her frazzled nerves.

  Yes, this was Kain. This was the man who’d risked everything for her.

  Selma’s palms found his bare chest of their own accord, stroking carefully over his scaled flesh. It didn’t feel much different than when she’d seen his human illusion—maybe a bit tougher, but still warm and smooth. Her hands continued upwards, touching his face gently. It also seemed pretty much the same, if not more chiseled. Only when she let her fingertips slide up to his coiled horns did things start to feel out of place

  They were smooth under her careful exploration, and sharply pointed at the ends.

  It doesn’t matter—it’s still Kain, she silently insisted, even as her hands trembled at the feel of something so unreal on the crown of her lover’s head.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes again.

  Kain looked up at her, worry marring his demonic features.

  “Are you okay?”

  "Okay" was probably a pretty strong term for what she was feeling, but Selma nodded nonetheless. At least she didn’t feel like her heart was about to burst from her chest like a frightened bunny’s.

  “That’s good. Will you let me wrap this blanket around you and pick you up? We really do need to get out of here—we still have some ways to go before we get to the helicopter, and the Queen’s subjects may very well decide to give chase. I’d rather not have another confrontation out here.”

  He was still talking to her as if she were a scared little bird, but her frazzled nerves appreciated the effort. The soothing noises went a long way towards helping her keep calm enough to let him cover her naked body in a thick blanket pulled from the back of the car.

  When he lifted her out of the car like a child and carried her around to the front seat, she saw two other demons standing by the vehicle. It looked like all members of Kain’s family had made it out relatively unscathed, though she had little recollection of events after the light had burst from her body at the threat to Kain’s life.

  Both males turned their gaze away when Kain growled low and threateningly, clearly staking his claim.

  As if that was necessary, after screwing her on the back seat while they were apparently just hanging around, waiting for them to be done.

  Fucking demons and their lack of propriety.

  She knew Kain had initiated the sex because she had needed his seed, but while there were plenty of other things to feel uncomfortable about—such as everyone suddenly looking like the monsters she’d spent her entire life fearing—she was not exactly pleased with yet another group of demons having seen and heard her in such an intimate moment.

  As she sat on Kain’s lap, the SUV taking them further and further away from the danger, and her mate’s hand rubbed slow circles on her belly, Selma gave up on trying to make sense of the creatures who had filled her world from the moment she was born. They were not human, and even when she gave birth and her mark would once again blind her to their otherness, they would never be human. It didn’t stop her from knowing, despite the unease in her stomach at her lover’s current look, that she belonged here, with him.

  Perhaps Bealith was right. Perhaps it was her fate to bring love to the demon who had her in his arms, as well as to the one growing in her womb.

  Even if the thought scared her.

  * * *

  “You know what will happen the moment this gets out!” Kain threaded a hand through his hair in agitation as he stared at his father. “A Breeder with power? Someone will try to kill her. I won’t allow it! I’d rather let Naharan get away with treason than put Selma in anymore danger.”

  Kirigan lightly tapped at the glass of bourbon in his hand. “Nothing you do will stop this from getting out. We left way too many of the Queen’s subjects alive for this not to spread like wildfire. We’re better off nipping it in the bud and facing the royal family head on.”

  “You mean confront them? Publicly?” Kesh cocked an eyebrow in surprise. “That will lead to—”

  “A coup.” Kirigan smiled wryly, though it didn’t touch his black eyes. Nothing ever did anymore. “We have one of the Stones of Power, and your mate killed the reigning Queen. She does have a legitimate claim to the throne, despite being a Breeder rather than a demon.”

  “You are mad. I am not bringing her to Europe, and I have no desire to challenge the royal family in their own territory. We may have one Stone, and I am sure we will have supporters once we divulge Naharan’s treason, but they have the other two Stones of Power, and it’s their home,” Kain said. As much as he wanted to tear the Prince limb from limb, it wasn’t worth risking his mate’s life over. “All I want is to find somewhere safe to bring up my family.”

  “That’s the point. Nowhere is safe, until we have dealt with the threat of the traitorous royal family.” Despite the nature of the topic, Kirigan’s tone remained calm. “You will never find a safe place for that girl, unless you seize the power over those who would think to harm her.”

  “Fuck!” Kain slapped his palm against the nearest wall in frustration hard enough for the structure to shake. He was right. His insane monster of a father was right. Unless he established himself at the very top of the food chain, they would always live in risk. If they seized control of the demon world, not only would they annihilate the threat of Naharan—they would also curb the fear of a Breeder with power by making her Queen, thus establishing her in a position of authority. Even if that would cause an uproar, especially among the females.

  “We don’t have to go to Europe,” Kesh said, his brow wrinkled in thought. “We make our claim here. We find Naharan and make his crimes public. Then execute him and claim dominion over the Northern Americas in the process. If the rest of the Royal family objects they will come to our territory, and we will have the advantage. Or, they give up control of the New World and we still accomplish what we set out to do.”

  “It is a good plan,” Kirigan agreed. “If you truly care for the Breeder’s safety, you will do this, Kain.”

  Kain grimaced. “I will think on it. When I return I will let you know what I’ve decided.” Without waiting for further instructions from his family he turned and walked out of the library.

  As a Lord he had always had a natural inclination towards leadership and domination, but he had never had any desire to rule more than his assigned city. After Selma … well shit, he’d hardly had time to adjust to having not only a mate but also a child on the way, but he knew every fiber of his being longed to be with her—to create a future with her.

  Ruling a continent was not on his priority list.

  However, he could see no other way to ensure her safety. Even without her disturbing powers, he would need to kill Naharan to ensure the snake never tried to touch her again, and killing a royal … well, that meant war.

  He hadn’t had time to talk to her yet, to try and figure out where the fuck the destructive light within her came from. Though he would have preferred to keep her in his arms, he had needed to discuss their next move with his brother and father, and Selma was clearly still more than a little unsettled at their demonic form. So instead of keeping her by his side where she belonged, he had locked her in his old room to give her a little peace.

  A peace he now had to break. She deserved to know what was happening, and … he would need to mate her again.

  As much as his cock appreciated that prospect, his heart twisted unpleasantly in his chest. The pure horror in her eyes when she woke up and saw his true face would haunt him for an eternity, and knowing he would have to mount her repeatedly while she was still able to see him like this caused dread to nestle in his gut.

  Yet he would do it, to save her life, even if it would cause irreparable damage to their fledgling relationship. Even if she would never be able to return his love after being made to mate with a monster.

  Kain paused in front of his bedroom door and raised a hand to rap the wooden surface with a knuckle, alerting the woman w
ithin of his presence.

  “Kain?”

  His name in her sweet voice made him smile softly, even if she did sound wary.

  “Yeah. Can I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  When he opened the door he saw her sitting on the wide four-poster bed with her legs folded up underneath her, looking as lovely as ever.

  She drew in a deep breath at the sight of him, her brown eyes widening slightly, but at least she didn’t cower or scream, nor did she look away.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m okay.” Selma gave him a weak smile, and he could see the tired lines already marking her pretty face again. Not being bred and seeded while he had been captured had taken its toll on her newly pregnant body.

  “You should have let Kesh mount you. He told me you refused him.” He frowned at the thought of another man on top of her, but he had sent her to his brother with the expectation that she would belong to Kesh forever more. He hadn’t expected to make it out alive, and knew that despite his instinctive rage at the mere thought, she would have been in much better condition if his brother had fulfilled his duties between her thighs.

  She flushed at his comment. “Yeah well, I wasn’t about to have sex with anyone else, especially not your brother.”

  His possessive nature purred at her statement, but he knew he had to make her see sense, should the need for her to accept another demon ever occur again.

  “Should something happen to me again, you need to allow it. Your life is more valuable to me than anything else. And, if I die, I would want Kesh to provide for you.”

  Selma frowned, clearly unhappy with the direction of the talk. “Nothing more will happen to you. Promise me.”

  The sore thing in his chest—the place that connected him to her beyond anything he could ever have imagined—spasmed at her demand. Perhaps her need to see him safe was borne from a place of realizing he would always provide her and their child with safety, but it nevertheless warmed his very core to know that she wished for him to stay alive. And with her.