Holidays are Hell Devil May Care

by Sam Cheever

  Don frowned. “I’ve been so busy trying to keep her out of Abraxos’s hands I haven’t had time to do a deep dive into her stats, but she’s spent the last five years stealing expensive items from willing victims so they could defraud the insurance companies.”

  The chief scoffed. “Defrauding insurance companies? I’d make her a Seraphim for that.”

  Don laughed. “Theoretically, yes. And the other side could probably make a case to hold her and turn her to the light. But it’s definitely enough to win her a spot in an outer circle if I get her to sign the contract first.”

  “So what’s the problem?” The chief sprawled bonelessly on his throne, one hand clutching his pitchfork. He was more relaxed than Don had ever seen him. Unfortunately, Don knew why, and it made his stomach churn.

  “I kind of kept her from dying when she should have…”

  “What!” The pitchfork slammed against the floor, and the pentagram quivered open a crack, spewing sulfur fumes into the room.

  Don was really glad he’d had the foresight to stand elsewhere. “It was reflex, sir. The angel was moving toward her at the time, and I was afraid he’d grab her before I could. I took a chance that I could get her alone and let it happen where he couldn’t grab her.”

  The chief leaned forward, no longer looking relaxed. “And? Since you’re standing here alone I’m guessing she’s not dead yet?”

  Don sighed. “I left an identical piece of chocolate close by last night, and when she woke she ate it…”

  “But didn’t die?”

  “No.” He frowned. “I have no idea why.”

  The chief sat back, his dark red face folding into perplexity. “Very rarely, if a supplicant misses the initial death window, he or she dodges the bullet and continues to live.”

  Hope flared in Don’s chest, quickly followed by despair as he remembered Abraxos. “Unfortunately, the angel isn’t going to let her live. He’s already tried to take things into his own hands twice.”

  “Then you need to be the one to kill her.”

  Don gulped as blood rushed from his face. He straightened his spine in an effort to hide his reaction, but the beady black gaze of the chief judge missed nothing.

  “Don’t tell me you’re falling for the girl, PD.”

  “Okay, sir.”

  Don held the judge’s cold gaze for a long moment. Finally the scaly red devil swore. “What the hell is going on with you guys? First Damian and now you? Satan’s balls, man. Have you all forgotten the first rule?”

  “How could I forget that, sir? It’s been drummed into our heads incessantly for centuries.”

  “Well, then, why are you in the process of breaking it?”

  Don held the judge’s gaze, refusing to respond. He didn’t even want to admit to himself that he was falling in love with Valentine. He certainly wasn’t going to say the words out loud. Of course, if he were in love, he’d be thrown immediately into the fiery pits. Not that he couldn’t survive the punishment, but Valentine was still in his home. If Abraxos came back for her she’d be helpless. “Sir, I’m just being practical. The angels really want this girl. I tried to kill her last night, and she didn’t die. If I take her back to Earth --”

  “Wait! What do you mean take her back? Where is she now?”

  “In my home.”

  The judge blinked at Don for a beat. “Well, of course she didn’t die, you buffoon. She can’t die here. She doesn’t belong here yet. The Hades environs don’t even recognize her existence while she’s alive. You need to take her back to Earth and set her up again. If she eats the chocolate heart on Earth, she’ll die.”

  Don tried to hide his dismay at the news. “If I can keep her away from the angel.”

  “Well, get to it, PD Abbadon. Time’s a-wastin’.”

  Chapter Six

  Valentine stood outside Don’s home, looking out over the dry, brown countryside. The city in the distance wavered under a haze of heat, looking as parched and drained as she felt. She’d walked all over the area around his home, looking for the portal thing that had brought them from Earth. She figured if she could just find it, she could get back where she belonged and, once she was home, she’d figure out a way to hide from the two creatures who seemed to be fighting over her.

  Though, deep down inside, Valentine didn’t really want to hide from Don. She’d gotten really attached to him in the short time they’d known each other. In fact, she was surprised at how easily she’d fallen for the big, sexy alien. Maybe he was using some alien juju on her or something. Though it appeared he didn’t share her feelings, since he’d gone off and left her there alone. As soon as she had the thought she felt guilty. He’d been trying to save her. Abbadon could be dead or hurt because of her.

  Shaking off that thought because she couldn’t bear to think it, Valentine again set off in the direction she believed the portal had been. It had to be there somewhere. She’d only gone a few feet when Don stepped out of thin air and she almost walked right into him.

  He looked delicious, wearing only a soft pair of pants that drooped low on his narrow hips. He also looked shocked by her proximity.

  Valentine squealed, popped him on the chest with a fist, and then threw herself into his arms. “I thought you were dead!” Until that very moment, she hadn’t realized just how much the thought of the big, sexy alien being dead had scared her.

  He stiffened as she twined her arms around his neck. Then, with a groan of obvious need, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Valentine’s pussy contracted the moment his soft, talented lips found hers. Her body heated to flash point. His big hands skimmed over her hips, pulling her closer to the massive column of hard flesh beneath the soft pants.

  When he finally broke the kiss, it was to forge a passionate trail over her chin and down her throat. Her head fell back as he nibbled his way toward her breasts, kissing and nipping them through the soft fabric of her dress as his big hands slipped underneath and skimmed it up her thighs.

  Valentine tugged on the ties holding the soft pants at his hips and moaned as the fabric slipped downward, baring his rigid shaft to her questing fingers.

  Her fingers enclosed him and he groaned. “Damn, Val. Your hands are so soft.”

  Apparently losing patience, he grabbed the neckline of her dress and tore it down the middle to her waist. She gasped as the soft fabric split, shuddering with pleasure as warm air caressed her breasts.

  Valentine’s fingers moved reverently over the massive column of hard flesh in her hand, defining it with her touch. Don sucked in a breath as she drew a fingertip over the thick head, rubbing a silky bead of moisture over the engorged tip and then sliding down to cup his big balls beneath. “I want you to make love to me.”

  “I fully intend to, my heart.” He grabbed the two sides of the torn dress and wrenched it, ripping it the rest of the way. Flinging it aside, Don reached down and lifted her into his arms, striding quickly toward his home.

  Valentine slipped her fingers into his gorgeous golden hair and lowered her lips to his. Awareness speared through her breast. Lust roiled more tightly in her belly. And the tiny thong that was the only thing between her flesh and his was drenched with the juices from her throbbing pussy. Valentine couldn’t remember ever being so hot before.

  His delicious tongue slid through her lips to tangle and taste as the door to his house slammed inward, crashing against the wall. He didn’t even hesitate on the threshold. He strode across the large, open space toward his big bed. Valentine gave a whoop of surprised delight when he threw her onto the bed. She bounced once before he was on her, crouching with a knee on either side of her hips. “I’m really going to enjoy this, my heart. I’ve been thinking about it since the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

  Valentine gasped as his hot mouth enclosed a rigid nipple. He sucked the tingling nub until she thought she might come just from that delightful touch. Then he moved to the other nipple, submitting it to the same wonderful att
ention.

  Valentine reached for the heavy cock dangling between them. “I want you inside me.”

  “Not quite yet, my heart.” He kissed his way over her ribs, stopped to slip a teasing tongue into her belly button, and then tasted her quivering belly. Valentine’s pussy was so hot and so ready she thought the mere brush of the soft hair on his chest would take her over into release. But she clenched her teeth against it, wanting to feel him buried deep inside her body before she let go.

  But alas -- best laid plans and all -- Don had other ideas. He studied the silky thong, running a hard finger down its center. Valentine arched her back with pleasure. He licked the damp fabric, then nibbled her through it, and she cried out, her fingers digging into his scalp. Finally he pulled the silky fabric aside and his hot tongue slipped over her clean-shaven mons. Valentine sucked in a breath as pleasure spiraled, turning her muscles to butter. “Right there, yes! That feels so good.”

  Don’s hot mouth covered the hard little nub that was creating all the havoc in her body, and she cried out as he gave it a mind-numbing suck. “Oh, God! Don!” She writhed and moaned as he bathed and sucked her hungry clit and, moments later, fell screaming into the most beautiful orgasm. He wasn’t done. Before he lifted his head again, he urged her into several more knee-melting orgasms, leaving her limp and pleasantly sated.

  But as he moved up her body, his huge shaft bobbing hungrily between them, Valentine forgot all about being sated. Her body roared back to awareness, and hunger twisted in her belly again.

  He settled between her spread thighs, his big cock nudging her pleasure-drenched entrance, and looked down at her with a dark gaze. “You’re a beautiful woman, Valentine Smith. And I’ll admit you’ve gotten under my skin.”

  Feeling reckless with pleasure, Valentine shifted her hips to entice him into her body. “You’re not so bad yourself, Abbadon… alien. But let’s not think it to death. Why don’t we just enjoy it while we can?”

  Don’s smile was slow and sexy, making her pussy pulse with interest. His response was to ease himself inside her channel slowly, with exquisite care. Valentine gasped at the pain-pleasure of being stretched so tight, so deeply. But when he started to move, all thought of discomfort fled. Her body enveloped him, fitting around his hard cock as if it were custom-made. The thick, hard column scraped delightfully over the sensitive flesh of her channel, sending spirals of bliss sliding through her with every stroke.

  Despite the many orgasms Don had already given her, Valentine felt her body climbing inexorably toward another, delicious release. Only this time she planned to take him with her. Twining her arms around his neck, Valentine pulled him down for a kiss. She plundered his sexy mouth with her tongue, forgoing tender exploration for passion and heat. She consumed his mouth, rabid with need as his big cock made bold strokes of pleasure in her sexual core. Her teeth nibbled his lip, and her tongue swept out to ease the sting of the tiny bites. Her breath fanned his face as her lust built and grew into a masterpiece of need.

  Don’s slow strokes built steadily as his own passion grew. He returned her fervor, kissing her with the intensity of a man whose whole world depended on the culmination of their combined pleasure. He thrust hard, plunged deep, and his mouth consumed and ravaged.

  Valentine could feel his growing lust in the tautness of his limbs and see it in the darkening of his sexy gaze. She felt her own body rising toward release, in tune with his on the most basic level.

  As Don finally groaned out his release, his thick shaft surging inside her, Valentine bit down on his sexy bottom lip and felt her body roll over into a firestorm of sensation. The orgasm blasted through her, rocking her back with its power and stealing her breath. Her muscles tightened under the wave of pleasure, and the knot of need in her belly finally loosened, sending heat in a heavy wave through her groin and leaving her sated and boneless beneath him.

  She laughed with sheer, unadulterated joy, humbled under the power of their mating. Don laughed too, even while struggling to draw a breath. “By the serpent, that was life-changing.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?” She reached up to smooth a fingertip over a small bead of blood on his lip. “Sorry about that. I got a little carried away.”

  He grabbed her hand, sliding her finger into his mouth and sucking it hard. Her pussy pulsed once in response. “Don’t be. I enjoyed every single minute of it. In fact” -- Don rocked his hips, causing her to gasp with pleasure -- “let’s do it again.”

  Valentine clutched his beautiful ass in both hands, urging him into the dance. “And again and ag -- ahhh…”

  * * *

  Hours later, Don lay listening to Valentine’s soft humph, humph sounds as she slept. He leaned against the headboard, smiling as she snored. His heart was fuller than it had ever been. He felt like he’d waited several lifetimes for the woman sleeping beside him. But at the same time his heart was breaking. She was so full of energy. So vibrant. So wonderfully alive. Yet he would have to take that away from her. Would she be different in her soul form? Would she lose her appeal?

  Don’s immediate reaction to those questions was denial. Looking at her lying boneless, rosy-cheeked, and seemingly content beside him, he doubted she would ever lose her appeal for him. But sometimes souls didn’t take death well. Sometimes it turned them sour. His world would end if he was the cause of Valentine Smith turning sour.

  Whatever she’d done with her life, she was a bright light in the human world. A light whose loss would dim existence for those remaining behind. He frowned. He didn’t think he could do it.

  Valentine wrinkled her nose, tossing her head in her sleep. Don reached over and collected the silky strand of hair that was tickling her nose, his frown turning to a smile.

  He suddenly knew he couldn’t kill her. He knew it with the certainty of having lived for hundreds of years. He was a cynic -- a selfish, thoughtless man -- but he also knew a fire had started in his belly over the beautiful woman lying next to him, and that fire had inflamed his heart for the first time in his long, long existence.

  Decision made, Don slipped down to lie beside her, pulling her close. She snuggled against him with a happy sigh. Don kissed her shoulder, feeling drowsy now that he’d made his decision. He’d happily take the punishment he’d get for altering fate. Even if it was a decade in the fiery pits. Maybe her fate would change, and she’d live a long time before dying. He realized that meant he would lose her. But he didn’t care. He couldn’t do it.

  He couldn’t kill the woman he loved.

  * * *

  Don didn’t know how many hours had passed. He didn’t even know what had awakened him. But the window across the room pulsed with a bright light that could be only one thing. He shook Valentine’s shoulder. “Wake up, Val. We need to go.”

  She groaned, swiping at his hand as she tried to turn over and go back to sleep. Don shook her again. “He’s here, my heart. The winged one.”

  Her eyes popped open and she leapt out of bed, her head swiveling to look for the intruder. “Where? Where is he?”

  Don took a precious second to enjoy the delicious sight of her heaving bosoms before he threw her one of his shirts and dragged on a pair of pants. “He’s outside. I used my special locks on the doors, but he’ll be in here soon enough.”

  Val shoved a glossy nest of hair off her face and yawned. “Where are we going?”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her across the large space. “Emergency escape portal.” Don opened a door at the back of the house, and they walked out into a starry, cool evening. The air pulsed with the angel’s power, making the small hairs on the back of Don’s neck rise. He quickly led her toward a rusty, dented car sitting amongst the scrub behind the house and pulled open the door. It creaked loudly and Don swore. He’d been meaning to fix that.

  “Your emergency exit is an old car with no tires?”

  Don tugged her closer. “It doesn’t need tires. Get in.”

  She resisted. “Why do I get the feelin
g you aren’t coming with me?”

  The dirt behind them exploded upward as something massive landed a few yards away. Bright light burned their eyes and dust swirled. Valentine stood staring at the horrifying vision before them; she made a little sound of fear in her throat as the massive creature straightened from a crouch, focusing eyes that glowed a harsh yellow in the dim light. Abraxos was no longer bothering with his humanoid appearance; he was in full-out, celestial-being mode, his golden form glowing, robes roiling around his ankles in a self-induced wind, and massive wings throbbing above and behind. In one hand he carried a deadly looking sword, in the other, a rolled-up scroll.

  “Shit! Is that an angel?”

  “When you get back, run. Hide. Don’t waste any time. Just disappear.” Don pushed Valentine into the car and closed the door. “I’ll catch up with you as soon as I take care of this glowing turd.”

  She placed both hands on the window, her sexy gaze wide with fear. “Wait, Don, he looks danger --” The car started to tremble and, in a flash of light, Valentine disappeared.

  And a few hundred pounds of celestial grunt slammed into him.

  Chapter Seven

  Valentine landed in the living room of her apartment, blinking with confusion. Turning in a circle, she realized she was alone. Her heart pounded against her chest as she thought about Don facing off with that thing -- that glowing, be-winged monster -- all alone.

  She lifted a shaking hand to her face and dropped into the nearest chair, her knees giving way beneath her. Don’s final words played through her mind, reenergizing her. She had to move. Jumping to her feet, Valentine ran into her bedroom and grabbed her suitcase from the closet. She threw things wildly into the suitcase, praying she had everything she needed, and zipped it up. The zipper stuck halfway, a pair of fire-engine-red undies jammed in the teeth, and she tore the hell out of the panties trying to get them loose.

  Still shaking, she swore softly. Valentine threw the torn panties across the room and zipped the suitcase the rest of the way. She dressed quickly in jeans and a T-shirt and headed for the door, determined to make it out of the apartment before her roommate discovered her. She didn’t relish explaining that she was dating an alien and a rabid angel thing was trying to kill her.