by Brenda Trim
“I think they’re gambling in there,” she reported without turning away from the crack.
Dante glanced in the window to the right of her. “Each of these houses must be dedicated to one type of overindulgence or another. We need to find the house of sex,” Dante suggested.
Dante was right, she thought, as she noted that the scene before her was vastly different than what she’d seen in the Second Circle. The individuals at the tables in the house were driven to play the games. This must be the addiction to gambling.
She stood straight and looked at her companions. “I’m not going to a house of sex. I’ve had enough of that, thank you very much. You go on and come back for me,” she told them.
She opened the door and walked into the house without waiting for their response. The room was large with about ten tables in the midst of various card or dice games. At least seventy-five humans and demons sat around placing bets and winning and losing money. Driven wasn’t quite right, she amended when she walked past the tables. They were obsessed with the games and didn’t even look at the newcomers. They could have come in with guns blazing and the action wouldn’t have stopped.
“This is the wrong house for us. We’ve got to move on. We need sex in order to heal and head out of this realm,” Kellen said to no one in particular. She knew he was right, but she wanted nothing more to do with that scene.
She waved her hand dismissively. “You three go ahead. I’ll wait here, out of the rain. I’ll be safe. These people aren’t going to stop their betting to focus on me,” she countered, pointing out the obvious.
She had no desire to watch Rhys walk to a room with another woman. She had never been one to ignore her instincts and that was one thing her time in Hell hadn’t changed. If she watched Rhys bed another woman, she may actually lash out. Better to remain here.
“You two go on and meet us back here in an hour. No more. And, be careful. This realm will test your willpower, but you’re going to have to stop. It can only be one time,” Rhys told Dante and Kellen, his presence a hot brand at her back that was unwavering. Turning around, she narrowed her eyes at the cambion beside her.
The three men exchanged glances before Dante and Kellen nodded and took off. “You need to feed, as well, Rhys, and I already told you I’m not interested,” she scoffed.
He challenged her statement when he ran the back of his hand gently over her cheek. “I need you, Angel. I can’t explain it, but it has to be you. My demon won’t accept another, that much was evident in the last realm when I had to endure fifteen minutes of misery with that female,” Rhys admitted unabashedly.
Shock coursed through her. How could a cambion have intercourse and not enjoy it? They were half sex-demon, their very nature was all about sex. “Are you saying that you…that you didn’t…” she let the question trail off, unable to finish it.
He grabbed her hand and led her down a hall. “I’m saying that I couldn’t even get hard unless I imagined it was you writhing on the filthy bed begging me. And, that only went so far. I wasn’t able to muster anymore for the voodoo priestess,” he said, confusion and misery written across his features.
She had no idea what that meant for a cambion, but she knew she was in deep trouble. She was already attracted to him and hearing him say he wanted no other twisted something in her chest.
Opening each door along the hall, Rhys peered in each and finally pulled her inside the third room. It was empty except for a desk and chair. She followed him inside and swallowed her nerves when he kicked the door shut. She opened her mouth to tell him no again, but closed it, saying nothing. Her mind was swimming. He had to feed, there was no way around it. And, like it or not, she didn’t want him touching another woman. A part of her wanted to be the one to fill this need of his.
She admitted she needed his touch and closeness to understand the confusion and feelings churning within her. He held her gaze for a split second then leaned down and captured her mouth in a tender kiss. It was soft and sweet and any resolve she had melted away as desire coursed through her veins. Breaking the kiss, he remained quiet as he gaged her reaction to him.
Spurred by her silence, taking that as admission, Rhys quickly stripped out of his clothing and within seconds stood naked before her. She was still too shocked by the electricity coursing through her lips to do anything but stare at his perfection.
Her eyes were drawn from the rainbow of light in his eyes to his muscular chest and further. Her gaze paralyzed on the hard, thick length of his erection. It stood out from his groin and jerked under her scrutiny.
When she was able to look away from his erection, she noted that his entire body was sleek and leanly muscled. He was a gorgeous specimen, yet she knew how deadly he was. He reminded her of a lion on the Serengeti lying peacefully in the sun, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. His bronze skin glowed in comparison to the drab, dark world around them.
Aroused beyond words yet nervous and uncertain. Her mind was at war with her body and she didn’t know which way to go.
He took the decision from her as he reached out. “We’ll take this one step at a time, Illianna. I won’t rush you and I won’t hurt you,” he promised and she nodded. He pushed his jacket off her shoulders and tugged her shirt over her head.
Instantly, she was conscious of her bare breasts and the way her nipples pebbled in the cool air. “Slow,” she whispered, as her barriers fell away with her clothing.
When there was nothing between them but heated flesh, he stepped into her and lowered his head. “I want your tongue in my mouth,” he declared boldly.
His erection was hot and hard against her stomach, making butterflies dance in her stomach. At that moment, she couldn’t deny that she wanted this demon beyond reason. She tilted her head and rose on tiptoe, knowing he needed permission. Unable to find her words, she fitted her mouth to his. His lips parted in waiting, sending electricity arching through her mouth. He pulled her into his embrace and deepened the kiss.
She moaned against his mouth when his hands ran over her wing stubs. The base of her wings was an erogenous zone when they were fully grown. Since their removal, the area had caused her nothing but pain, until Rhys touched them. He ran a gentle finger along the ridge and it felt as if he stroked between her legs. The action had her desire spiraling out of control. She lifted one leg and wrapped it around his waist, trying to get closer, needing more contact.
He licked at the seam of her mouth and the kiss became wild and demanding. His tongue coaxed her need to a fever pitch and she opened to him like a flower blooming. Their tongues tangled and he explored her mouth, making her moan. No man had ever made her feel so much with just his kiss. Rhys sparked the inner darkness she tried to deny. It stretched awake and she allowed just enough room to explore what was blossoming between the two of them.
It helped that Rhys wasn’t a mindless beast like she had feared. He was gentle and passionate and every move told her how much he wanted her. She wanted him, too. She had never craved another man more, never hungered or ached so much for one.
She longed to have him moving deep inside her while the rest of the world fell away. Reason tried to intrude, but it was impossible to stop when everything he did felt so good and made her want more. She was quickly losing all sense of herself during this encounter and that had never happened before. She’d had lovers before being kidnapped, but none had threatened her control. She’d never once come close to losing herself so completely to a man, but with this demon she was on the edge of insanity, ready to take the plunge into the unknown.
His hands traveled down her arms and skimmed her abdomen before traveling up to cup her breasts. He growled his approval into her mouth, making her insecurities melt away. She knew her breasts were small and had been grateful for that fact during her captivity, but she wanted Rhys to find her irresistible.
“Are you with me, Angel?” He said angel like a benediction and it healed her broken spirit.
“I’m with yo
u…just this one time.”
“I’ll make a deal with you,” he murmured, tweaking her nipple that was desperate for attention. Was he nuts? She was in no shape to talk agreements. She wasn’t capable of rational thought at the moment and would agree to anything to get him to continue.
His large palm grasped her entire breast, massaging as he looked at her in a way that told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her. “In exchange for getting you safely out of Hell, you will feed my demon as needed. And, I will give you countless orgasms in any way I see fit. No objections, no denial. You’re mine.”
“Wha…what?” His declaration brought back a longing she hadn’t allowed for far too long. There was a time when she dreamed of finding someone she could belong to for the rest of her life. Angels didn’t have mates that were fated to be theirs, but they did choose a mate for life. Unfortunately, since her kidnapping, she had buried that dream.
“You heard me. I give you pleasure and keep my beast fed and happy at the same time.”
She was still in a haze of desire and wanted to get back to what they had been doing, but a small amount of clarity formed in her muddled brain. “First, I’m not yours, but I’ll think about feeding your demon in exchange for getting me out of here,” she panted. Truth was, she needed Rhys. Need just in a carnal way like right now, but he was her best chance at surviving and escaping this place.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, stealing her words and claiming her mouth.
She pulled the leather tie binding his hair and ran her fingers through the silky strands. She missed her hair and the feel of it falling over her shoulders. She wondered what he thought of her bald head because she hated it. It had been a way for the demons to weaken and control her.
As if sensing her thoughts, he touched her scalp and ran his hand over it, affection obvious in every stroke. “You might not have hair on your head, but that doesn’t make you any less beautiful. It brings the focus to your stunning silver eyes and beautiful smile,” he murmured before he lowered his head and took her nipple into his mouth.
Her back arched, pressing her flesh further into his mouth. He sucked and licked her breast, bringing her close to the edge of release. It had been over a hundred years since she’d had an orgasm and it frightened her that he brought her to the precipice with such little effort. Surely, he could do this because it had been so long, she reasoned. It wasn’t because she cared about the man, she told herself.
His hand slid between her slick folds, going directly to her clit and teasing it. “So wet,” he murmured against her nipple. “So ready for me.”
She nodded frantically, more than ready for him to be deep inside her. “Yes,” she cried out, wanting more.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he informed her as he thrust one finger inside her core. Her muscles instantly clenched around the digit.
“Fuck, you are so damn sexy.” He removed his finger, making her whimper. “Don’t worry, Luscious, I’ll give you what you want.”
“Please,” she pleaded. God, she sounded pathetic, but she didn’t care. Her body wanted him beyond reason and she was prepared to beg.
He picked her up and carried her to the desk and set her on the edge. Spreading her legs wide, he trailed one finger through her curls, parting her further to his scrutiny. “I want to taste you, but that’s going to have to wait until next time. My need is too high right now,” he admitted.
She echoed that. She was going to die if he didn’t do something soon. And then he replaced his finger with something far broader. His gaze was transfixed on her female flesh as he ran the tip of his shaft along her wet folds.
She watched as he placed the spongy head to her opening and pushed inside. His size stretched her, causing sudden discomfort. He was larger than any man she’d been with and had to force his way inside her. Pain was quickly replaced by desire and her body welcomed him. He pushed in and pulled back several times until he was seated to the hilt inside her. Only then did he look away from where they were joined and to her eyes. She felt when they connected, and desire, hot and hard, claimed both of them.
Their gazes locked, he began to move in a rapid pace. Her eyes widened but he didn’t slow or pause to give her time to adjust. Need was first and foremost, building in rapid succession. Bliss was so close she could taste it.
She ran her hands up his chest and settled on his shoulders. He stretched her enough that she felt every nerve come alive. She was possessed with lust for Rhys and it scared and excited her. She could never allow herself to be with the man again. She was in danger of losing herself to him completely and that was something she wouldn’t permit.
CHAPTER NINE
Rhys had died and gone to Annwyn. He had fucked countless females in his existence, but it had never been like this for him. Illianna fit around him like a tight, hot glove. He wanted to be gentle with her, but the second he entered her welcoming body, he’d lost all control and began pounding into her with single-minded purpose.
She fed his inner beast, giving him more energy than he’d ever received from a completed sex act. Being part sex-demon, each stage of sex fed his need, but it was completion that gave him the most energy. He wondered what it would be like when he finally succumbed to her.
She bucked and writhed against him. He pulled her closer to the edge of the desk and she wrapped her legs around his waist, enclosing him fully. When her little nails dug into his shoulder he had nearly lost his seed right then and there. He had never really been into pain, but it seemed his little angel could make him enjoy anything. Her inner muscles clamped down on him, making it nearly painful as he continued to surge in and out of her.
He claimed her lips in a passionate kiss, refusing to find release without her. He reached between their bodies and strummed her clit, her carnal growl the only answer needed.
He had no idea what made him pursue her so relentlessly, but he couldn’t be with another female. He didn’t know what he would have done if she hadn’t agreed to have sex with him. Her writhing body against his was more satisfying then bedding a thousand females.
He had tried with the voodoo priestess and he hadn’t lied to Illianna when he told her he hadn’t even been able to get hard. He had panicked when the female stripped and then began playing with her body, enticing him to join her. His cock had stayed flaccid in his pants. It was only through imaging Illianna before him that he got a reaction.
That female had been all wrong, but the one beneath him now was perfect in every sense of the word. She reacted wildly to him and inflamed him to new levels. She likely didn’t realize how crazed she’d become, clawing at him and attacking his mouth. He broke their kiss, catching his breath, but she was desperate for more and latched onto his nipple.
His balls drew up and his spine tingled with warning when she bit down onto his flesh. He pinched her clit, sending her over the edge into a convulsive orgasm. He immediately followed her, his orgasm barreling through him like an inferno, burning as it surged through his body. He’d never felt pleasure so intense…or pain so great, he realized.
He glanced down, certain he had hurt her and that she’d stabbed his groin with a dagger as pain blinded him. In the next moment, he was flat on his ass shouting and cursing. The skin above his cock was bright red and rising as if struck by a hot iron. After a few seconds, a halo with horns could be seen branded into his skin.
Illianna was his Fated Mate.
It registered in his muddled mind that she had gone silent and he was the only one yelling in pain. He wondered if it hurt so much because his mark was so close to his crotch, a highly sensitive area of his body. He glanced up to find her standing by the desk, using it to brace herself as she watched him.
His eyes immediately traveled to her groin, but saw nothing. How was that possible? Supernaturals carried their mate marks on the same part of their body. She should have a halo with horns above her pubic hair, too. He stood on shaky legs and turned her head, scanning the area behin
d her left ear, where humans carried their mate marks. Nothing. He looked over every inch of her body, but found nothing.
“Stop it. What are you doing? And, what in the hell just happened with you?” she asked, fear and confusion clear in her voice.
He ran his hand through his hair, grateful for the intense pain that interrupted or they’d likely still be fucking. His arousal still demanded he take her again and Rhys was certain without the pain of mating he’d have failed his test for this circle. He wanted to glutton himself on her flesh for eternity. Without this pain, he still be inside her and acting like the gamblers in the other room.
“I have no idea how to explain this to you,” he started.
“Start by telling me what is going on,” she said tightly as she snatched her clothes from the floor.
He retrieved his own clothes and shoved his legs into the pants. “Long story short, you’re my Fated Mate,” he replied as he zipped up.
She sat in silence staring at him with his jacket hanging from her fingers. “What do you mean I’m your Fated Mate?”
“Exactly what I said. We were made for each other. I carry part of your soul and you carry a part of mine,” he explained, reaching a hand out to her.
She ignored his hand and shrugged the jacket on then began pacing the room. “That’s impossible. Angels aren’t made for anyone. We choose everything we do, including our mates. What is that brand on your…body, and, why did it appear after we had sex?”
He ran his hands through his hair and gathered it into a tail, securing it with the tie she had removed during their lovemaking. “I guarantee that we are, indeed, Fated Mates. This mark here is your mating brand. You’ve marked me as yours,” he chose his words very carefully because he had no idea why she didn’t carry his mark, but had a suspicion and didn’t like the implication one bit. He wanted her to think she had claimed him.