Some Like it Wicked

by Stacey Kennedy

  Well now, the little witch did have some strength in her sexy-as-hell body. “Ah, you mean why am I not out stealing souls and doing Satan’s work?”

  “Precisely.” She once again strode forward. “Why aren’t you doing that?”

  Perhaps he made her as curious as she made him. He regarded her, considering how to answer such an important question, and he chose his words carefully, hoping she could relate. “Just because I’m a demon doesn’t mean I have to live by rules that others set out for me.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Seriously? You woke up one day and said, ‘Hmm, I’m done with this whole soul eatin’ bit’.” At his nod, since it had been much like that, she gazed at him as if he had horns growing out of his head. “Why?”

  Along the sidewalk, a warlock approached and Zeke inclined his head in greeting before he glanced at her and shrugged. “I grew tired of creating fear and causing death.”

  Her examination of him was long and slightly awkward, then she finally asked, “So, just like that you up and quit?”

  He chuckled. “It’s not really something you can quit.”

  She gave a firm nod, now looking at him as if those horns she imagined were on fire. “Yes, well, I figured as much. So, what happened?”

  While normally he wouldn’t dive so deep into his past, he couldn’t help enjoying how she asked questions about him and wanted to know who he was. Maybe it meant she was trying to see past what scared her. He liked that thought. “My assignment brought me to a young woman in her early twenties. She wanted to make herself better, be prettier and smarter—just be more. For all of that, she was willing to sell her soul to get it.”

  He paused to let her process, but she urged him on with a wave of her hand. “And…”

  On a deep breath, he looked at the ground, avoiding her gaze. “I went to the woman, offered her the choice and she accepted. From there, it all went as it usually did and the woman received everything she asked for.” The painful memory he had held close to his heart. He never wanted to forget the impact it had on him. “But it was that woman who changed it all for me.”

  “Things changed after you stole her soul?”

  He nodded at the sidewalk. “The woman had everything anyone could have dreamed of: a powerful life, beauty and anything she could ever want.”

  “Well, that’s the point, isn’t it?” Bryanna laughed softly. “So, what’s the problem? It sounds like it all worked out for her.”

  “Sadly, it didn’t.” He glanced sideways at her and suspected the pain burned into him from the past showed on his expression, because Bryanna’s eyes saddened. “She might have had it all and had the life she dreamed of, but it didn’t give her happiness. That loneliness—emptiness—never went away.”

  Bryanna hesitated, her eyes searching his. “But why would that make you deny your demonic roots?”

  He stopped and turned to face her, drawing in a deep breath. “I’m not sure I can explain what happened that night. Why I suddenly awakened to the reality of what I’d done.” He exhaled. “But after that night, I couldn’t make the offer for the exchange anymore. To do so seemed wrong and my loyalty to Satan ceased to exist. As my punishment, Satan banished me to walk this realm forever, not realizing that was what I wanted anyway.”

  “Zeke, that’s…” her head tilted, sending those long locks over her bare arm, “incredible.”

  There, in her gaze, he witnessed confusion and a hint of sympathy. Perhaps even a little warmth in her features toward him now. That pleased him far more than anything else. “Enough about my past. Let’s get you dry.” Even if he would rather get her wet instead. With a smile, he gestured to the store behind her. “This is where you’ll want to go.”

  The sign above the old wooden door had Dragon’s Whips carved into the dark cherry wood. Bryanna’s fists clenched, as the name alone was indication enough of what this place was. Only further confirming her suspicions was the female mannequin in the window dressed in a leather bra and a string thong.

  Inhaling a harsh breath, she turned toward Zeke and narrowed her eyes on the demon who had made her heart melt a moment ago. Oh how he fooled her with his sad story and changed ways. Perhaps he had read more into her naughty thoughts of him and assumed she planned to act them out. “Where in the elements have you taken me?”

  He frowned. “A store.”

  “Yes, I see that it’s a store.” Smart ass. “But—”

  Not allowing her to finish and brushing past her, he grabbed the wrought iron handle and opened the door. “You need new clothes, so we’re getting clothes.”

  She glared at his back, wishing she could conjure the fire element to set him aflame. “I don’t know what kind of witch you think I am, but I’m not going in there.”

  Keeping the door ajar, he turned to her and cocked his head. “Why would that be?”

  “Because it’s a sex shop.” She hated that her cheeks warmed under his hard stare. “I don’t want sex toys.”

  He stared at her for a moment, dead serious, then his eyes crinkled. “I realize you’re not in the market for sex toys.” Leaning in toward her, he trailed a finger up the side of her corset. “I thought this attire suited you and that you would want to get another.” He arched an eyebrow. “Am I wrong?”

  As he withdrew his finger, she gulped. Bless the elements, she felt his touch as if his finger lingered on her bare skin and burned into her soul. “Yes, a new corset. I want that.” Without another word, since her limbs trembled and skin was flushed, she walked through the door of the shop.

  However, when she faced a room full of dildos, whips and bondage items—a sexual playground indeed—the increasing heat in her cheeks had nothing to do with Zeke’s touch, but the awkwardness of the moment.

  Not to say the naughty items appalled her, but she had always been a romantic at heart. Soft, sensual touches aroused her more than the rough stuff, even if she’d only fantasized of romance.

  Layton had always been more of a get your rocks off type of guy. He never cared if she received pleasure and simply pumped himself into her with little thought of her orgasm, only of his. It hadn’t always been that way. At first, he’d been sweet and she believed for a while that he did love her.

  Now she knew better.

  A sudden nudge on her elbow broke her away from both her shock and thoughts of a crappy ex-boyfriend. When she glanced over her shoulder, Zeke gestured toward the back the room with a gentle smile. “It’s this way.”

  Following in behind him, she passed by the salesman who stood behind the dark wood desk and the warlock smiled at her, which she returned. Turning away from him, she focused on the demon walking in front of her, pondering his intriguing past.

  Funny how she didn’t fear him anymore, but how could she? He denied his nature, even if it banished him from everything he knew. There was something to be said for a creature like that. Someone who chose his own destiny and didn’t adhere to what others told him he had to be. She found herself a little mesmerized by the strength he had to possess to make such a choice and she discovered that quality made him all the more attractive.

  Gorgeous, kindhearted and powerful—a beautiful combination.

  As she passed by a large display of butt plugs in every color and shape, she noticed another room tucked into the back corner of the store. Zeke entered first and the moment she stepped into the small square room, she gasped, “Oh my.”

  She scanned the room in a fast sweep and tried to take it all in. Rows and rows of corsets lined the walls, skirts of all lengths and fabrics, boots, shoes—she had found heaven.

  Zeke chuckled. “You can apologize any time for making me look like some pervert who planned to use sex toys on you.”

  “I’m sorry,” she exhaled, not at all hesitant to give him the respect he deserved. Besides, the corsets in the room were her primary focus. “Back home, stores like this just didn’t exist. Corsets aren’t,” she raised her fingers up and mimed quotations, “typical attire.”

/>   “Luckily for you, Charmstone doesn’t share the same view.” Striding forward to the far wall where five corsets hung on display, he approached the rack below and took a black corset with crimson accents off the hook. When he turned back to her, his eyes twinkled and he herded her toward the fitting room. “Give this one a try.”

  She laughed, unsure of his intent. Was he simply being nice and helping her pick out a new corset? Or was he choosing the corset he wanted her to wear for him? Needing to know where his thoughts lay, she asked, “Do you want me to model it for you?”

  “Precisely.” At his husky tone, she peeked up at him and she hadn’t misheard the lust in his voice; his dark eyes smoldered. Under his stare, heat flared between her thighs and she found herself growing damp, her clit hardening and rubbing against her panties.

  After she entered the fitting room—which looked much like a small closet—he propped his shoulder against the wall, folding his arms with a wicked grin on his face. As if he knew the effect he had on her and how incredibly aroused he made her with a simple look.

  With a squeeze of her thighs, she restrained her moan as her body awakened with greedy need. She’d never been so aroused in her life. Not even Layton had made her so hot. And all Zeke had done was touch her corset and give her heated glances. Perhaps that was why; Zeke was a total bad boy, even if he was a little good. Something about his naughty side made her pussy ache.

  As she stared at him, she also realized her clothes were as damp as the slick flesh between her thighs and more than uncomfortable. She turned her back to him. “Can you help me out of my corset?”

  She didn’t hear his approach, but sensed him close in on her. The warmth from his body enveloped her as he said, “Undressing you would be my pleasure, Bryanna.”

  Her breath caught in her throat as he began to unlace the ribbon. Without a doubt, this wasn’t the first time he had removed a corset. His moves weren’t hesitant or jarring, but smooth and fluid.

  In a matter of a couple minutes, Bryanna pressed her damp corset against her chest with one hand as the garment fell free from her torso. But when Zeke’s finger slid down her now bare spine, she dropped the corset to the ground.

  “You have lovely skin,” he murmured.

  His finger traced her back and she shivered, closing her eyes. A hot wave washed over her, finally pooling low in her belly.

  “Cup your breasts.”

  She snapped her eyes open, realizing he’d stopped touching her, and her knees felt weak. After a long breath to gather herself, she did as he asked. With her hands squeezing her breasts, Zeke wrapped the new corset around her front, just under her hands. While he had touched her, he also hadn’t looked at her breasts and it surprised her he didn’t try to—he was a demon, after all.

  With the same precision he had used in removing the corset, he laced her into the new one. She appreciated that he focused on the job instead of sliding his fingers over her flesh, giving her a chance to collect herself.

  What in the elements was wrong with her? Was she on the prowl for a rebound fuck? She’d never been so ready to pounce on anyone and certainly not a demon. Though with his smokin’ hot looks and heated touches, she began to forget his heritage.

  When the corset finally tightened around her waist, Zeke gave another tug, finishing with the knot at the bottom. “All set.”

  “Thank you.” Turning around, she avoided his gaze and approached the mirror against the far wall. The corset was stunning, the crimson color a beautiful contrast against the black, and her small breasts sat perfectly in the top, showing off cleavage.

  She tilted her head and she ran her hands over her corset—so exquisite. It could make someone as plain as her stand out. “What do you think?”

  Looking at Zeke in the mirror, she found him standing a little straighter and his dark eyes stared intently into hers. “Beautiful.”

  She smiled, then looked back at herself, trailing her fingers over the boning. “I know, isn’t it so beautiful?”

  A low groan sounded behind her. “Would you mind not touching yourself like that?”

  When she glanced at him in the mirror again, he was striding toward her with a hard look. She turned around just as he closed in on her, offering her a black chiffon skirt. “I need to wait outside.”

  Without so much as a second look at her, he left the fitting room and strode back to the front of the store. It was glaringly obvious this little event had aroused him as much as it did her, but that didn’t shock her. What did surprise her was what he whispered when he left.

  “It’s not the corset that’s beautiful; it’s what’s in it.”

  Chapter Three

  A couple hours later, Bryanna exited Magic Wand Real Estate, smiling and shaking a set of keys at him. “I found a place to rent on Fae Lane. Mind showing me the way?”

  Zeke didn’t mind one bit. If he had his way, this witch would be naked and beneath him sooner than later. Yet he waited for her to give him a sign more than her rosy cheeks, even if he loved causing that reaction in her. She appeared reserved and he found her innocence enchanting. Perhaps even a little tempting, since he’d enjoy tarnishing her purity.

  “Inviting me back to your house, are you?” At the deep blush of her cheeks, he chuckled. “Come on. I’ll show you the way.”

  She matched his stride and settled in next to him along the sidewalk. While she’d been dealing with finding a new home, he had returned to his house and he’d purposely left his car behind so they’d have to walk. He welcomed more time with her.

  After they crossed the street, heading west, he noticed her hand dangling near his. At the sudden urge to wrap his hand around hers, he instantly clenched his fist. That wasn’t the reaction of a demon wanting no-strings-attached sex with a witch. No, that was something he couldn’t even begin to understand, since he hardly knew her.

  He never cared about intimate contact with a woman. He only had an interest in burying himself deep inside a warm, wet pussy. He was a demon, after all. His lust was powerful and he had never denied himself, especially if it held as much strength as it did with Bryanna.

  Over the years, women had told him that he was an unselfish lover, but they were wrong. Watching them lose control under his touch fueled his power and selfish wants brought him between a woman’s silky thighs.

  Turning onto Fae Lane, he noticed the afternoon heat wave had diminished and early evening settled in. He glanced next to him and spotted Bryanna walking with her head down. He didn’t like how she hid from the world around her. “Tell me, Bryanna, this ex of yours, I suspect he doesn’t know where you’ve gone?”

  She shook her head, continuing to look at her new black boots with sexy heels as they passed over the sidewalk. “If I had no money, I doubt he’d even try to find me. But…” She hesitated, drew in a very long breath and finally looked at him with pained eyes. “I’m not quite sure what he’ll do when he finds out I’m gone.”

  Zeke stopped dead in his tracks. He had assumed she’d been mistreated in some way or another and clearly had her heart broken, considering she’d left in such a hurry with no belongings, but this he hadn’t expected. “He was with you for your money?”

  “Not at first.” She walked down the street again, gazing down at the sidewalk. “But I should have known better.”

  Zeke quickly caught up with her, pondering her statement. Why would someone only be interested in her money? Hell, he hadn’t even known her for half a day and she had him chasing after her tail. “Explain that.”

  She turned up to him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Why do you want to know?”

  “I’m curious about you,” he countered.

  She hesitated, then finally repeated, “Why?”

  He wondered if her caution around him was his demonic heritage or damage from her past. Instead of pressing that matter, he kept things light to keep her talking. “Is it a crime to want to get to know you?”

  “But I mean…” she stopped walking, loo
ked down the street ahead of her, then looked over his shoulder before she leaned in toward him, “if I tell you things, are you going to tell the whole town? How do I know I can trust you?”

  “You can’t.”

  She jerked away as if he burned her and glared. He hurried to correct her immediate response of thinking the worst of him. “What I mean to say is, from what I’ve learned of you thus far, you have no reason to trust me.” At her long look, he added, “How about this, if I break my promise to you, I’ll let you cut off a finger.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  A couple of pixies strode by them giggling and nodding a hello, which he returned before he turned back to Bryanna. “A demon always stands by his offer.” He held up his index finger and wiggled it. “You can have this one if I spread a bad word about you.”

  He offered his hand to seal his agreement, but she tilted her head and regarded him. After a short pause, she chuckled and shook his hand. “Say a word and I’ll use your finger as a stir stick for my tea.”

  “Agreed,” he replied on a firm nod. “Now tell me.”

  “Well, I grew up normally, like most witches do, but things changed on my eighteenth birthday. My parents called it growing up. In actuality, they were saying goodbye.” She sighed and walked down the sidewalk again. “When most witches get a present on their birthday, my father handed me a check. He told me that the amount was enough to fulfill his obligation to me as a parent. I haven’t seen or heard from them since.”

  Zeke was damn sure he wasn’t going to like where this story was headed, but he couldn’t hold back. “Why would you parents say goodbye to you?”

  She pointed to herself, lifting her eyebrows. “Flawed, remember?” Then she stared out in front of her and heaved another sigh. “I never knew they were embarrassed of my magic until that day.”

  Zeke’s fists tightened at his sides. Bryanna wasn’t flawed by any stretch of the imagination and he’d like to introduce his fist to anyone who said otherwise, but he doubted she’d believe him if he told her that.