He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot

by Stephanie Rowe

  Gave him more.

  Nick caught her face in his hands as the light built within her, illuminating the darkest corners of her soul, bringing his essence into every crevice, every part of who she was. He opened his eyes and kissed her, even as the crescendo built. “We are one,” he whispered. “Forever.”

  She couldn’t stop the tear from trickling out of her eye. “We are one,” she agreed. But not forever. Just until she returned to Satan.

  “No.” He kissed her hard and his hands went to her hips again, moving her as he drove into her. “You will not regret this moment. You will not be sad. This is light, and this is joy, and this is what you are now.” His last words fell into her mouth as the blinding light consumed her. “Live it, Becca.”

  Her body clenched, her soul reached for his, and he was there, he was inside her, around her, holding her, caring for her, and giving her all that she’d ever wanted, and her body and spirit screamed with all that she was, and all that he was, and he clutched her to him as their bodies and souls exploded together, as one, and she gave herself to his keeping, and he to hers, and then she could think no more, holding on to him as desperately as he held her as they rode the crashing waves they’d created together.

  This time she didn’t cry when he held her afterward. She snuggled against him, smiling, still feeling just as whole and complete as when they’d been making love. “The light doesn’t leave,” she whispered against his chest.

  He kissed her hair and pulled her closer, as if that was possible. “That’s because it’s your light now. Not mine.”

  “But it is yours.” She lifted her head to frown at him. “Isn’t it?”

  He ran his fingers through her tangled hair, his gaze so soft and affectionate that she tried to memorize it so she could recall it when her life was back to normal. When she couldn’t feel what she felt now. “My life force supports you, but the light is yours.” He laid his hand on her heart. “It’s always been in you, but now it’s free.”

  She opened herself to his touch, adoring how he made her feel. “You freed it, then.”

  “Nope. You did, because you wanted to be alive.” His green eyes were serious and intense. “I just gave you the ability to do it, but you did it. It’s all you, babe.”

  She grinned, realizing as he spoke that it was true. She’d felt that light when she’d been healing Jerome, even though she hadn’t been able to complete the task, had felt that love when she’d loved Gabriel, before she’d closed herself off. But now…now she wasn’t afraid to hold back, and she knew that part was because of Nick. He’d given her the courage, and his life force had given her the ability. She twirled her fingers in the dark curls on his chest. “It’s about damned time I freed myself. I’ve been working on it for a hundred years.”

  He grinned. “When you’re immortal, one century is nothing.”

  She raised her eyebrow at him. “Only a lowly mortal would think that.” She frowned. “You are mortal, right?”

  He nodded. “I’m indestructible, but my life span is only a little longer than the average human. We lost our immortality when we broke out of hell.”

  She cocked her head. “Was it worth it?”

  He shrugged and fingered the thin gold chain around her throat. “Having never been immortal or stuck in hell, I wouldn’t know. But right now, I feel pretty damn good about where I am.”

  His voice was just gruff enough to make her heart skip. Was he serious?

  Before she could decide whether to ask, he was kissing her again, his hands running lightly over her skin, as if he was memorizing her body. Light and heat soared inside her again, and she reached out with everything she had, needing his touch, and needing to feel his skin against hers. How could she ever walk away from this? She rolled over on top of him, kissing him back, suddenly consumed by the need to be with him again. To imprint the moment on her soul forever, so she could never forget it.

  A light tap sounded on the door. “Guys, I really really hate to be the cold shower here,” Theresa called out. “But Satan’s not exactly doing that well right now. I think he might still be dying.”

  Nick stopped kissing her, and his hands stilled on her body. He lifted his head to look at her, his eyes dark with passion and intensity. “I’m not going to let you die.”

  She nodded, too overcome by the sudden urge to hold him tight to trust herself to speak. I don’t want to let go of you. Ever.

  He cocked his head as if he’d heard her words, then he kissed her again, a farewell kiss that promised more. If only they didn’t have a leader of hell to save, a sociopath to kill, and a lifeline to restore before they all died. Life. Such a pain in the butt sometimes.

  She took a deep breath, then unwrapped her body from his, climbing unsteadily to her feet, suddenly realizing how tired she felt physically. Nick grabbed the edge of the dresser and pulled himself to his feet with a groan. “God, I feel old.”

  Her elation faded. “You’re already being drained.”

  “And how do you feel? Like you could run a marathon?”

  Her soul did, but her body…“I feel like kicking back on the sofa and watching bad television for the rest of the month.”

  He nodded and put his arm around her. “My pa lasted a week supporting one Rivka. I figure Satan’s at least a double drain, so we’ve got maybe a couple of days. We need to get him liberated and get you hooked back up to him as soon as we can.” He kissed her lightly, and pulled away before she could respond, then handed her her clothes. “Let’s go save your boss from hell.”

  “He’s not my boss right now. Can I torture him before we save him?” she asked, trying to keep the tone light as she pulled her clothes back on, aware of Nick watching her, heat evident in his gaze.

  “Be my guest. Who would I be to stand in the way of a Rivka and her torture?”

  “You’re such a great guy. No wonder I like having sex with you.”

  He had started to walk toward the door, but he turned around at her words, his eyes dark. “That, my dear, was making love. Not having sex. Keep it straight.” Then he turned back around and pulled the door open, leaving her standing there stunned.

  He didn’t mean it that way, Becca.

  He couldn’t have. Could he?

  She pressed her lips together as she followed him back out to the living room. How could she go back to that dark existence? She peeked at Nick, saw the tired lines around his mouth, and knew with absolute certainty that she would return to Satan. In a heartbeat. As soon as she could. There was no question. To save Nick, she’d do it without hesitation.

  Nick stopped, staring at the floor. “Oh, shit.”

  She looked down, and her heart turned cold. Satan was motionless, ashen, and there was a steady drip of colored water off his left earlobe.

  Satan’s revival hadn’t lasted. He was dying fast, and dying now.

  Twenty-four

  Becca dropped to her knees next to Satan and laid her hands on his face. Cold. Clammy. And a little mushy. “He’s still melting.” She pulled her hands away, leaving the imprint of her fingers on his cheeks. “That can’t be good.”

  “It’s kind of gross, too.” Nick handed her a paper towel, and she wiped the Satan film off her hands.

  Theresa knelt next to him. “Maybe we should give him a sip of Mona.” She held up her vial. “I’ve still got her. I put a decoy in Justine and Derek’s condo, so they have no idea I have her.” She grinned. “I do enjoy messing with them. They’re way too uptight.”

  Becca’s heart tightened with emotion for her friend that she’d never felt before. “That is so sweet. You know the Council would throw you in the Chamber if you gave Satan a sip of Mona, and you’d offer it anyway?”

  Theresa’s amber eyes widened. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Because you’re my friend.” She felt the awe of those words when she spoke them and knew they were true. Understood what it meant, finally.

  Theresa grinned. “Really?”


  “Yeah.” She hugged Theresa, and her throat tightened when her friend’s arms went around hers. “But when I get linked to Satan again, I’ll probably be a cold bitch again, so don’t take it personally.”

  Theresa pulled back, her eyes bright. “Why do you have to be a cold bitch again? Why can’t you stay linked to Nick?”

  “Because it’s killing him. And me.”

  “Oh. He’s not much of a man if he can’t support his woman in the style she deserves, then, is he?” Theresa looked at Nick. “And to think I was so impressed ten minutes ago when you were keeping them alive. First impressions can be so deceiving.” She made a tsking sound of disappointment that had Nick raising his brows.

  “Sorry I’m so inadequate,” he said.

  “Don’t be sorry. Just be more of a man.”

  Becca grinned at the interaction. She would love to see Nick and Theresa get to know each other better. They’d be quite evenly matched, she had a feeling.

  Satan moaned and she bent over him, her heart aching just a little bit for the man who’d basically been her dad since she’d been created. The dad you hate, but the dad that will always be dad. “Satan? Can you hear me?”

  His eyes flickered open a crack. “Why do I feel like cow patty?”

  “Because Yasmine shot you with purified water bullets.”

  “In the back like a coward?” At Becca’s nod, he closed his eyes. “Cheater,” he murmured. “Useful morals. Hire her, Rivka.” He sighed, and his chest wobbled a bit with the effort, sort of like a Satan Jell-O mold. “Shot by old woman. Most embarrassing.”

  Becca frowned at the note of dismay and resignation in his voice. At the lack of ego that sustained him. This wasn’t the Satan she knew.

  “She’s a cunning lady,” Nick said. “Nothing to be ashamed of.”

  She mouthed thank you at Nick, and he nodded.

  Satan cracked his eyes again to squint at Nick. “Man-friend? Why do you look more handsome than usual?”

  Becca shot Nick a worried glance. How would Satan take it to know he was supported by a Markku? He needed to stay alive, not give up.

  Nick glanced at Becca. “You want to field this one?”

  “Yeah, I guess.” She stroked Satan’s hair, then frowned when clumps of hair stuck to her hand. She quickly brushed it off on her pants before Satan could see. Who knew what that would do to his psyche if he realized he was losing his physical beauty. No mirrors for him at the moment. “Nick is, um, using his life force to keep you alive…” She stopped at the look of utter defeat on Satan’s face. “It’s not so bad—”

  “I am not a man.” Satan’s left ear slipped off his head down the side of his neck. “I am servant to half-breed mortal Markku. Kill me, now, Rivka. I order you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll be dominating hell in no time.”

  His eyes opened again. “You do not respond to my order?”

  “Um…Nick’s supporting me, too.”

  “I am pathetic lump of cat poo. No wonder fair Iris did not succumb to my efforts.” His left ear slid off his neck and landed on the floor with a splat. “I am not man. I am not leader of hell. I am not worthy.”

  He was giving up. She looked up at Nick, her heart pounding as she felt Satan’s face soften under her touch. “We can’t let him do this, Nick. We need him to stay alive.”

  Nick flexed his jaw. “Let me try.”

  Nick knew how dangerous this moment was. If Satan died, Paige and all the Rivkas would die. And so would he and Becca, in another day or two. He shook his head as Becca scrambled back from Satan and Nick straddled the gooey leader of hell. Who would have thought there’d be a day when he was trying to save the life of the leader of hell? Now that Dani was safe…He closed his eyes for a minute, suddenly allowing himself to realize that. Emotion swept over him, and he felt his throat thicken.

  “Nick?” Becca frowned at him. “Are you okay?”

  He lifted his head. “Fine.” He bent down and grabbed the front of Satan’s shirt with both fists and hauled him to a sitting position, except that his head flopped backward like his neck was an overcooked noodle. “Get his head.”

  Becca and Theresa scooted behind him and propped up his head so he was looking at Nick. Nick growled at Satan loud enough that the leader of hell opened his eyes. “Listen, Satan, I’m in charge now, and I order you to get your act together.”

  “Too vague,” Becca said. “You need to be specific.”

  Satan grinned, his lips drooping unevenly. “Silly boy. Did you learn nothing from my favorite Rivka?”

  “I order you to live.”

  “That doesn’t work,” Becca said. “He tried that with me and the Terrors, remember? You can’t order death away.”

  He groaned with frustration, then had an idea. He bent his head close to Satan, closing his eyes against the wave of lightheadedness at the sudden movement. Keep it together, Nick. “Rosemarie is the queen of the Penhas. She has arranged to have Iris kidnapped and tossed to the male Penhas to be their sex slave for all eternity.”

  Becca’s eyes widened, and she suddenly turned her head away in a coughing fit, but Nick managed to keep a straight face as Satan’s eyes snapped open. “My Iris? Brought to orgasm by other men?”

  “Many other men. Good-looking men. Who are great at sex.”

  “No.” Satan’s voice grew stronger. “That is wrong. She cannot have sex with other men. It is only me! I kill all those men.”

  Nick shook his head. “The only way to save her is to kill Rosemarie. She’s controlling all the Penhas. If you kill her, they’ll leave Iris alone. She’ll be safe.”

  Satan nodded, the folds of his neck making a squishing sound. “It is done. I kill her. Let us go. Bring her to me.” He lifted his arm, which drooped sharply at the elbow. “I shoot her with hell fire. Most satisfying.”

  Nick grinned, relieved to see the spirit in Satan’s eyes, even if he was continuing to melt. “By coincidence, we were going to head over to her camp tonight. We’ll bring you along.”

  “Excellent.” Satan sagged back down, and Theresa and Becca helped him settle on the floor. Satan gave Nick an annoyed look. “You are bad life support. I still melt. Disconnect me.”

  Becca stood up and stepped over the pool of water around Satan’s head. “He’s too weak. He can’t support himself yet.”

  Nick’s quads were starting to ache enough that he was beginning to get worried. “I’m not generating enough life force to compensate for the seriousness of his injuries, and he’s draining me too quickly. I think he’s going to keep getting worse.”

  Becca’s eyebrows knitted in concern. “You have to cut us off, Nick. It’s the only way.”

  “No.”

  “We’re killing you, Nick. Don’t be a hero.”

  He looked at her. “I’m not trying to be a hero. I just can’t let you die.”

  She set her hands on her hips. “Well, find a way to do it! I’m not going to let you die!”

  “Kiddos.” Theresa stepped between them. “This is all very heartwarming that both of you are professing your love in such subtle ways—”

  Becca caught her breath as Nick’s eyes widened in shock. I don’t love him.

  “—but our boy here is melting pretty fast and if we have any chance of getting him into the Penha camp without dividing him up into Tupperware containers, we need to go now.”

  Becca refused to let herself dwell on Theresa’s remark about love. What did the dragon know about that subject, anyway? She was a sex addict, not a love therapist. “Let’s go, then.”

  Nick nodded. “I just have to check on my sister and make sure she’s okay. Two minutes?”

  “It’ll give us time to make Satan presentable.” Theresa squatted next to him. “You’re one lucky man that I’m the reigning beauty queen expert, Satan. If anyone can make you look good, I can.”

  But Nick didn’t leave, his mind still reeling from Theresa’s comment. Love? Between them? Impossible. Wasn’t it? He watch
ed Becca fuss over Satan, and smiled when the leader of hell preened when she told him that she was still quaking in fear from him and admired him more than any other being.

  His cold Rivka had a soft heart…and a very savvy mind.

  She looked up at him, as if she’d felt him watching her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Take off all your clothes now.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Sex fiend.” Then she went back to work, a pleased smile on her face.

  He knew why she was smiling. “Found a loophole in my order, huh?”

  “There’s always a loophole. And I’m smart enough to find it.”

  As he’d suspected. Despite the fact their life forces were one, he had no control over her, unless she wanted him to, because it wasn’t in his heart to control her. “So, if you’re so good at dodging my orders, why’d you cave so fast when I told you to tell Theresa to link Satan to me to save Paige?”

  She froze and looked up, her face wary. “You caught me off guard.”

  He shook his head, denying her excuse. “It was because my order spared you from having to choose between saving me or saving Paige.”

  She stood up. “That’s not true. I—”

  “Who would you have chosen to sacrifice, Becca?”

  She stared at him, and he saw from the expression on her face that she couldn’t have made that choice. Even though he knew she loved Paige like her own daughter, she hadn’t been able to make the decision to risk his life to save Paige’s. A deep warmth began to spread over him, and he knew what she didn’t realize.

  Becca loved him.

  A fact she would never, ever, let herself acknowledge, because of her own past.

  Unless he helped her unlock her heart.

  “Are you going to talk to your sister or what? We need to go,” Theresa interrupted.

  He reached out and trailed his fingers through Becca’s hair, and she looked up at him. “What?”

  “Nothing.” He forced himself to turn away and sprinted down the hall toward his sister. As he ran, he whispered three words under his breath. Just to see how they felt when he said them.