Koivu (Demons After Dark Book Three)

by Laurie Olerich

  Koivu curled his fingers around her delicate jaw and studied her expression. Was she really into it? Her eyes were glazed with desire; her mouth soft and parted in invitation. Her breath came in short pants. She was ready. Cupping a bare breast with one hand and wedging his other hand between her legs, he got to work. Her greedy pussy clutched at his two fingers so he added a third and gave them a little twist. Her throaty gasp was all the confirmation he needed. “Mmm, I think you’re ready. Feel good?”

  She clung to his neck, body undulating over his fingers, moaning happily, “Oh, yeah. Feels amazing . . .”

  “Hold that thought.” Koivu sat down on the loveseat and freed his cock. She dropped to her knees, but he had other ideas. “Wait a minute, baby.” He pulled his cock out of her mouth and said, “Get up here and put your pretty ass up in the air.”

  Since the loveseat was small and the office crowded, it took some maneuvering and laughter, but they got her into position. She lay with her face in his lap and her legs hanging over the arm of the loveseat. Derick squatted and shoved her skirt up to her waist before dragging off a ridiculous black thong. It took him a minute to get her ass exactly where he wanted it for best access.

  “Are we good now? I’ve got to work in the morning,” she teased with her tongue dancing across Koivu’s belly button. “You’re way overcomplicating this.”

  “Smart ass,” Koivu teased as he aimed his cock at her pouty little mouth. She gave it a long leisurely lick and flicked it playfully until he shoved it inside. Her muttered protests tickled, but he didn’t let her go. She glared up at him, brown eyes gleaming with humor and probably a little booze, and he brushed her damp and curling bangs back with a gentle stroke. “Ah, Natalia, you look so good with my dick in your mouth.”

  She bit him with a cheeky wink and burst out laughing when he yelped. “Have some respect!” she cried with her mouth full of cock and her breasts splayed across his thighs.

  He adored women like her. She reminded him of female demons: playful, fun, willing to do what felt good without bringing in moral baggage. “I respect the fuck out of you right now. When you’re done here, I’m gonna spread your legs and respect your pussy until you beg for mercy.”

  Natalia opened her mouth to comment again, but he was done playing games. “Focus, baby.” With one hand locked in her hair, he moved her mouth over him while Derick worked her pussy from behind.

  It wasn’t the best blow job ever. She was having trouble balancing and focusing and scraped him a few times. She bit him when Derick got her off. Using her hair as a joystick, he got her full attention until she swallowed his offering. Since he was such a good friend, he got up and eased her onto her back for Derick to have his turn. She was still sighing with orgasm when Derick crawled between her legs and gave her something to scream about. Watching Derick fuck her wasn’t the most erotic thing ever, but it got him stiff again. By the time she was done praising god, and Derick had grunted his climax, Koivu was ripping open the condom wrapper with his teeth. He didn’t give her time to catch her breath. Fingering her swollen clit and paying homage to her dusky nipples, he got her juiced up until she was writhing in search of another O.

  She propped herself onto her elbows and cocked her head, her hair hung like a curtain over her cheek. “You gonna fuck me with that big ass banana or what?” Her lips twitched and she cut her eyes to Derick. “No offense.”

  Derick snickered and said roughly, “None taken, but we’re not done yet.”

  “Greedy little thing, aren’t you?” Koivu positioned her onto her knees and sank balls deep from behind. When she let out a keening cry of real pleasure, he felt a little bit smug and shot Derick a smirk. Derick flipped him off.

  Clutching her hips with both hands, he took his time, enjoying the tight, wet heat of her pussy clutching at his cock with every thrust. While he was busy fucking her, Derick sat down so she could blow him. Watching her head bob up and down, her mouth swallowing Derick’s thick dick was fucking erotic as hell, but watching his bright yellow cock disappear inside her, with her round, tight ass moving up and down? Hot as fuck!

  Twenty minutes later, she rolled over and dragged her nails over Derick’s abs with a dreamy smile on her glistening lips. “Can we do that again?”

  He and Derick exchanged a wicked smile before he asked, “How do you feel about anal, baby?”

  Chapter 2: Sacrifice

  Hell, three months earlier:

  Lucifer’s most trusted advisor, Carrick, materialized just inside a thick copse of trees and cast his eyes on the open grass that led to the Cave of Souls. Darkness fell early and heavily here. This part of Styx Valley was the least visited by residents and tourists alike. Well north of the calmer recreational areas, the river cut deeply into the rugged stone to form dangerous canyons and cave systems. The current was unpredictable at best and catastrophic at worst. Only the most insane adrenaline junkies met the river’s challenges here. He knew of several young demons who’d given their lives, and several more that had somehow beaten it. One of those thrill seekers waited for him now. In a few short hours, he would wish the river had swallowed him whole.

  Wary of being followed, he scanned the open space before venturing from the shadows. Several seconds later he slipped into the cave and began his preparations. He was only partly finished when he heard footsteps crunching on the fine gravel. The sound stopped just inside the entrance.

  “Come in, Tai-rin. I’ve been waiting for you.” He didn’t bother to look up from his preparations. The assassin didn’t warrant the respect.

  Tai-rin hesitated, his hearts pounding in his barrel chest. Carrick heard the elite enforcer’s sharp intake of breath. He continued his work but tilted his head so he could look at Tai-rin’s face. He hid his fear well. The demon’s eyes glittered with his usual icy coldness, but the tiniest of tremors ran over his claws.

  He nodded respectfully, but demanded boldly, “Why did you summon me, Carrick? I was on my way to my next target. I thought we were on a precise timetable. This delay will make me late.”

  Carrick made one last adjustment to the circle and got smoothly to his feet. He waved a hand and another demon stepped out of the shadows behind Tai-rin.

  Tai-rin immediately drew his sword, his snarling voice dropping dangerously low, “What’s this?”

  Carrick smiled coldly and said, “I’m afraid I no longer have a need for your services. You’ve been replaced by a competent enforcer.”

  Tai-rin protested vehemently, “What are you talking about? I killed the target!”

  Carrick stalked forward, his fury beginning to bubble beneath the surface. “You idiot! Koivu is not dead! He was supposed to be the first—the first! Not only is he alive, he’s now been warned and will be even more difficult to kill. On top of that, the sacrifices will be out of order and I have to scramble to set things right.” He gave a nod. “Hakin, disarm him.”

  Hakin disarmed Tai-rin but not without a fight. The two enforcers went at each other with the brutal strength and vicious battle skills they were known for. When he got tired of watching, Carrick simply walked up behind them and thrust a thin needle into Tai-rin’s spine. The enforcer froze and sank to his knees, paralyzed.

  “The leader will not accept failure. Your mistake must be rectified to preserve the timetable.” To Hakin, Carrick said, “Bring him to the circle and spread him as I instructed you.”

  Tai-rin’s eyes bugged with fear as the purpose of the circle became clear. Unable to struggle, his terror showed in the panicked, hoarse grunts that escaped his throat.

  “The paralysis is only temporary, my friend. It will wear off very soon. Unfortunately, it won’t wear off completely until after you’re dead. The good news is you won’t miss the show. The toxin will keep your brain wide awake while your body’s carved up for the greater good.”

  Tai-rin grunted in terror; his eyes rolled frantically in their sockets. The rest of his body lay limp and pliable. Perfect for a practice sacrifice.
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br />   He stood back while Hakin dragged Tai-rin across the cave, stripped him naked, and then carefully positioned him in the center of a circle drawn in the dirt. Once he was laid out, Carrick strolled over to study his work. He crouched near Tai-rin’s head and said pleasantly, “Not only did you fail to kill the exiled decani, you failed to perform the sacrifice as I had instructed. You were sloppy, and now the timetable is at risk.” He patted Tai-rin’s naked shoulder and continued lightly, “Now I have to train someone new. Hakin, come closer. It’s time to practice what I’ve taught you.”

  He wiped his hands on his robe, handed his new enforcer a short athame, and withdrew a second, longer athame from his waist. “You’ll need both of these.”

  Tai-rin was foaming at the mouth now, but there was no hope for him. No mercy. He had failed and failure could not be tolerated. The earth must be cleansed. Must be purified. It was preordained. It was written in stone. The Day of Reckoning could not come to pass without the sacrifices.

  He ignored Tai-rin completely as he walked Hakin through the ritual. When he finished the lesson, he stressed, “Remember, you must perform each step and speak the words of the spell exactly as I do. There can be no variations! This is an ancient ritual and as with all old magic, the cadence and inflections are as critical as the words themselves. You must focus entirely on the sacrifice. No distractions. Understand?”

  Hakin nodded and said, “Yes, Carrick, I understand. I will not let you down.”

  He studied Hakin for a moment. The enforcer came highly recommended by another member of the Da’vinRa’. He descended from the appropriate bloodlines; his loyalty confirmed. He swore his oath to the leader months earlier. Carrick did not know this demon, but familiarity was not a luxury he had now. The leader would skin him alive if they did not make up the time they’d lost with the botched attack on Koivu. This assassin would have to do.

  “You have one chance to practice the ritual. Tai-rin has volunteered to help. Take care to do it properly or I’ll replace you.” He kicked the soles of Tai-rin’s feet and ordered brusquely, “Drain him completely.”

  Brooklyn, present day:

  Koivu jogged across the Brooklyn Bridge well before the sun could turn the neighborhood into a sauna that rivaled Mt. Akanni’s hot springs. Brooklyn in the fall didn’t feel much cooler than Brooklyn in the summer. It was hot and muggy either way. Despite the sweat running down his chest, he didn’t mind the heat. He was used to hot climates and exercising in it helped keep his body in fighting condition. When he got back to Hell, he had to be ready for the grueling training he’d need to do in order to get back in the cage. There was no way he was walking away from his fucking title without a fight. His soul might be stuck in a new body, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fight in Hell’s Fury again. This human body wasn’t as massive as his demon form, but it was close enough and he could still pull off the Killer Koivu takedown he’d made famous. Correction—he could pull off the move IF he got his friggin’ shoulder fixed.

  “Koivu!”

  He didn’t bother to slow his pace, but flashed a smile and returned the brunette’s friendly wave. Sammi? Laura? Lisa? Fuck, he couldn’t keep track of their names.

  “Come by later!” she shouted from the sagging wooden porch. “We’re having a party!”

  “Maybe!” he hollered and kept jogging.

  The late season warmth meant the six college girls who shared the shitty little corner house were still sunbathing topless in their tiny patch of backyard. Nothing wrong with that. He appreciated tan breasts of all sizes. The endless summer called for cold beer and slippery sex. Sammi, or maybe Lisa, liked him enough to keep inviting him back. Who was he to say no to fun and games? He’d already gotten laid three times this week. Those girls were crazy. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear they were female demons. Maybe that’s why his shoulder was sore? Huh. Something to think about.

  The Saturday morning trash truck was beginning its rounds by the time he trotted past the animal shelter and headed into the rundown industrial park where he slept. The soft crunch of gravel reminded him of the winding trails he’d once run along the River Styx. Of course the colorless rocks couldn’t compare to the shimmering onyx pebbles that cloaked the shore of the mystical river. The stench of rotting garbage couldn’t compete with the sweet, smoky perfume that floated through Styx Valley. One day he’d see the rolling hills and crystal clear river again. It was home.

  Expat Security was a temporary haven while he cleared his name. It would never be home. It was ugly and cold. Unwelcoming. The dingy white buildings blended into the overcast sky and grayish river. The only shot of color was Dylan’s daisies clinging to life in their crumbling concrete flower beds. The yellow and white flowers were scraggly and wilted now, but she refused to dig them up. She insisted they had a few more months to live. Vanek’s girl was a trip, but he liked her spirit. She was good people, as humans liked to say. She was kind and accepting. She and Lainey were doing their best to keep him from losing his shit along with the strength of his dominant fighting arm. Having women around who he wasn’t fucking was a new experience. Women as friends? Platonic—as in, without benefits? He’d heard this was possible, but he’d never imagined it would happen to him. Back home, he had dudes for friends and women for entertainment. He wasn’t a dick about it. He loved women for what they offered. He appreciated their beauty, their softness, their gentleness, and especially their capacity to give and receive pleasure. Yeah, that. All night. Every night. He was all about enjoying any and every kind of pleasure he could get his hands, or his body, on.

  Bouncing on the balls of his feet, he stretched his arms above his head and winced at the familiar pain. Damn and hell! Fuck! He automatically adjusted his right arm to force it into a slow, controlled movement. Rotating his shoulder carefully now, he fixed his eyes between the buildings and ran through the physical therapy routine that the highly entertaining Dr. Glass prescribed for him.

  Micki Glass. That woman was wound up like a spring. He shouldn’t mess with her, but damn, it was impossible not to. She either turned bright red or chastised him in her prim and proper professional voice like he was a four year old. He liked watching the heat rush across her ivory skin much better than he liked her talking down to him, but he knew he deserved it so he couldn’t blame her. He was a dick for taking his frustration out on her. He just couldn’t help it. His mouth opened and words jumped out before he could stop them. Lainey said he had no filter. That was probably true, but that was how he was made. He wasn’t capable of tact. Maybe he’d make it up to her when they were done getting him back into fighting shape. Dinner? Flowers? Doggy style? Gritting his teeth against the tugging pain, he finished the reps and swung his arms to loosen them up. He wouldn’t be wrestling anyone to the ground anytime soon.

  “Hey, man, we need you in ops. Sid’s got news,” Derick hollered from the glass entrance door. His usually serious face was even more shuttered this morning. That wasn’t a good sign. Since they’d been topside, Sid’s news was occasionally good, but lately, mostly shitty. Judging by the bleak light in his buddy’s eyes, this was of the shitty variety.

  “What’s up?” he asked while he wiped his face with the tail of a bleached out t-shirt.

  Derick shook his head and replied, “You need to see it first. Hurry your ass up. Nash isn’t good.”

  “Great.” Derick’s response banished all thoughts of the pretty ginger-haired doctor. Koivu followed him with a brick of dread settling in his gut. If Nash wasn’t good, things were bad. The boss kept his emotions in check most of the time. Bad things happened when he didn’t. Derick’s warning sent a trickle of real fear along his spine.

  The ops center normally buzzed with conversation and background music, so the strained silence that greeted them was another bad sign. A set of gruesome images on the big flat screen held everyone riveted. Benn and Sid were huddled behind Sid’s computer. Wrapped in a blanket of fury, Nash kept himself apart from them. His face was
pointed at the screen, but his narrowed eyes were seeing something else entirely. The brick of dread swelled until it threatened to choke Koivu.

  “Who is it?” he asked quietly. There was no good answer.

  Nash hadn’t said a word since Koivu entered the room. His cheekbones tightened along with his jaw. “It’s Baun.” He spit the words through tight lips. “Fuck!” Whirling around, he slammed his fist into the wall, once, twice, and once again before pressing his forehead against it and panting for control. His glittering eyes promised bloody vengeance; the thin veneer of humanity cracked within his fragile human body. The snarl coming from deep in his chest raised the hair on the back of Koivu’s neck. Everyone stepped back.

  Baun. Koivu’s throat tightened up, but he swallowed the grief until he could speak without any weakness showing through. “What happened?”

  Sid’s scruffy face was set in a mask of shock and pain, his voice thready with emotion when he replied, “He was killed with an athame.” With a click of the mouse, he brought up another window that was filled with a close-up image of the transporter’s corpse. A hard-faced, stocky teenager with closely-shaved black hair and teardrop tats on his cheek stared back at them with gummy eyeballs. The naked body was placed spread-eagle in the center of a painted sigil. The heel of each foot rested precisely on the border. One hand lay palm up with the fingertips extended to graze the nearest lines of an inner circle. The other hand was missing. The bloodied stump had been placed over the man’s crotch. His genitals were missing. The pool of blood was so large he appeared to be floating in it.

  “Holy Lucifer,” Koivu murmured under his breath, wishing his words could conjure the archangel. Their friend had died horribly, needlessly. Did Lucifer know? What was he doing about this senseless murder? The rage he’d been keeping down reared its ugly head, threatening to turn into a full-blown monster.