Chapter 8
I sprawl on my throne, ignoring the country-music-star-in-the-making drone on about how she wants to bring the world to its knees with her music. My thoughts are on my new bride as I stroke one of my horns. I smile as I recall how Penelope gripped them last night as she rode me, bringing us both to a mind-numbing orgasm.
It”s been a month since I took her virginity. She”s no longer ”pure” in a physical sense. I”ve fucked her in every room of the house; on the dining table, against the wall, bent over the back of the couch, in the shower.
And my kinky kitten has enjoyed every moment. Who knew my virgin bride had a dark side in the bedroom? She loves it when I”m dominant, when I take her hard and rough. So what is this part of me that wants to hold and cherish her once we”ve sated our physical needs? The part that responds to the adoration in her eyes as she comes apart on my cock and when I bring her gifts I think she”ll like?
She loves me. She hasn”t said the words, but I see it in her eyes when she looks at me, especially when I”m deep inside her. If, indeed, it is love she feels. I”m a fucking demon. I”ve never loved anyone, nor had anyone love me, so how would I know? Perhaps it”s puppy love and will fade in time.
It surprises me how much that idea bothers me. She”s everything I never knew I needed. She”s the bright star in my inky night sky. And she shines so beautifully, guiding me to her effortlessly with her warmth and joy.
I scrub a hand over my face. I need a break from The Below. I want Penelope and that want is all-consuming, but there”s only one of me, only so much I can give her and still fulfill my quota of souls for Lucifer.
“Sign here,” I say once the musician”s annoying drone finally stops, summoning the materials needed to make the trade.
The human vanishes, and instead of another human taking her place, Lucifer appears in his angel form, his alabaster wings spread wide. His smug grin causes me to grit my teeth in annoyance. I don”t need his nonsense today. My tail whips in frustration. It”s my tell, letting Lucifer know that his presence has unsettled me.
“How’s married life?” Lucifer asks in the silvery voice of an angel fallen from Heaven.
I don”t meet his gaze. “It suits me. Why?”
Lucifer clucks his tongue disapprovingly. “So touchy, Mammon. It seems your new wife has become a distraction from your duties.” He circles my throne, swiping a finger over the arm and removing a speck of dust. His gaze homes in on mine. “Your numbers are going down.”
Because my wife won’t stop going down, I think, but keep it to myself. “The humans are distracted with their holidays at the moment. The numbers always go down at this time of year.”
Lucifer”s eyes narrow, clearly not buying my excuse.
I wave my hand dismissively. It”s important that the King of Hell doesn”t know how crucial my wife has become to me. He”ll only use her as a bargaining chip. “Can we get to the point, Lucifer? I don’t have time for this.”
Any moment now, Penelope’s thoughts will turn to what she wants to try in the bedroom next. Her sexual needs reach me loud and clear since we became intimate. I”ll hear those thoughts and be drawn to her. I know this from experience. My little virgin bride has turned into a demon in the bedroom—pun intended.
But I need to find a balance. My job is to fill Hell with fresh souls, after all, but I want to spend that time with my wife, to lose myself in her as I do every time I touch her. This is all new to me, and I don”t like it, but I”m beginning to think I”ve fallen in love with my brave, feisty little kitten.
“Your absence from your throne of late has been noticed. Be careful you don’t lose your new bride before you can break her in properly,” Lucifer says, the threat inherent in his words.
“What do you mean, lose her? Why would I lose her?” I demand, trying not to let Lucifer know he”s scored a direct hit.
“Oh, you know how it is down here. Everyone looking for more power. Slip in your duties, and someone else is waiting to slide into your place. Not to mention, you”ve made enemies down here. They would love a tasty little morsel like your wife, Mammon. You”d be wise to remember that she”s nothing but a tight hole to sate your needs.”
I grit my teeth at Lucifer”s crude description, wanting to rip his inflated head from his shoulders. ”Penelope is a novelty that will wear off,” I say, forcing the words out with feigned nonchalance.
”You need to tread carefully, Mammon. You’re making a lot of mistakes.” Lucifer stands up straight, looking at his immaculate claws before returning his gaze to me, his expression and tone sinister as he says, “Don’t let me down, and don’t cause disruption in my playground, or there will be consequences.”
Assuming a bland expression, I bow my head and nod. “Yes, Lucifer.”
“I mean it, Mammon. You”ve always been my best reaper. Make sure it stays that way.” Lucifer points his right index finger at me like a naughty schoolboy before disappearing in a puff of red bubbles.
Sulfur burns my throat as I wave the red bubbles away. Better than fucking glitter, I suppose. I should be used to Lucifer’s stench by now, but it”s not something you ever become accustomed to.
I settle back on my throne, knowing it won”t be long before the next unlucky soul finds their way into my presence. This time, it”s not a greedy human but a greedy gorgon looking to take over some mafia leader’s organization.
“You do understand that if you fail as a leader, the organization will have you killed?” I ask, knowing the gorgon doesn”t have the brain cells to wipe his ass, much less run such a large criminal empire.
“Oh, no, I didn’t know that. Can’t I make that a clause in the agreement?” the gorgon asks, rubbing his hands together.
I glare at the male gorgon and his snake-covered head until he stops rubbing his hands and stands up straight.
“No, we can’t make that a clause,” I snap, my anger getting the better of me.
I would say I”m annoyed with the gorgon, but I know, deep down, that the real problem is sprawled in the bedroom of our Hell mansion, waiting for my return. The desire to go to her, bask in her, bathe in her essence, is unlike anything I”ve ever experienced, and I”m afraid I”m becoming… soft.
“Well, man, why not? It’s simple. Just write in there that they can’t kill me,” the gorgon says, hopping from one foot to the other with excitement.
“Nope, not happening. You must be capable of doing what needs to be done when signing this document. I can work my magic and cause things to happen, but you must do the rest to keep your end of the bargain.”
”I can do it. Give it here. I’ll sign,” the gorgon says eagerly.
Usually, I chuckle at this part, knowing this fresh new soul will be in Hell within the week, but I don”t get any satisfaction from the deal at all this time. The gorgon signs, getting his (short-lived) wish, and I send him back to The Above with a snap of my fingers.
The next “customer” appears in front of me, a middle-aged man with long, greasy hair and a generally unkempt appearance. He shakes and shivers with the signs of substance abuse, appearing more desperate than greedy. At least he’s an easy soul to take, albeit a weak one.
I should be reveling in the downfall of this pathetic creature, but since Penelope came along, things that intrigued me, that I loved taking part in, aren”t the same. Situations that amused me, made me laugh loudly, don”t bring the same joy.
Maybe I need to take a break from my new wife?
I rub my chest, disregarding the thought immediately. The mere idea causes my heart to ache. No, not an option. My need to have her near me is the sole reason I”ve kept her in Hell. And yes, I”m a selfish bastard. Demon, remember?
I know it”s dangerous to keep her down here because if any of the other demons discover how beautiful, sensual, and devoted she is, they’ll do their best to take her from me. They’ll do whatever it takes to wrestle my power and my bride from me.
I grip my throne hard at the thought, knowing I’ll break it if I don”t temper my strength. But it’s hard when all I can think about is my wife, her curvy little body, and her soft, delicate skin. How it reddens with desire when I leave nips and kisses on her body. How I can bruise her if I grip her a little too hard.
Her moans fill my ears as I struggle to listen to the abject human before me. I’m mildly aware that it’s taking me far too long to get his signature and that my work is slow. It’s been slow since I first sank inside her a month ago, though my tryst with my delightfully insatiable wife yesterday afternoon gave me a temporary boost, and I doubled the souls that evening when I returned to my chamber.
I need to get it together. This is embarrassing for a creature of Hell, Lucifer”s best, to be bested by a human in my bed.
An exquisite female with soft brown eyes that light up whenever she sees me.
Waiting for me…
My mouth waters and my body responds at the thought of her.
I hastily push the contract in front of the human’s face and bellow, “Sign!”
He looks at me for several seconds, almost sobering up due to my sudden temper. I calm myself and adopt a coaxing tone to remind him what he wants. Mostly riches like they all do. And he finally does what he should, signing his blood on the dotted line.
My thoughts turn from my problems instantly when an image of my bride pressed against the wall as I take her from behind fills my head. Our connection is so powerful that my cock springs to life, full and hot, the second she projects the idea.
I click my fingers and before I can blink, I”m in our bedroom. I watch as Penelope lifts her black lace nightgown, her body facing the wall, her head turned to the side. The sheer material inches up, revealing the plump curves of her naked ass.
Stalking toward her, I plant my hands on her hips. “Eager for me, little one?”
“I need you so much,” she whispers, rubbing her juicy bottom against my needy cock as I press her into the wall.
“I”m always so fucking hot for you, wife. Can”t get enough of this tight little cunt,” I growl, cupping her between her legs. ”Now take that gown off before I rip it off,” I order, trailing a taloned finger from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine. “I want you too much to wait.”
Penelope slides the straps from her shoulders, and the nightgown pools on the floor. Keeping one hand on her pussy, I squeeze her heavy breast in the other, flicking her nipple.
”Mammon, please,” she mewls, reaching behind her to palm my cock through my pants.
Releasing her briefly, I yank open my pants button, lower my zipper, and pull out my weeping dick. Grabbing her hips, I hoist my woman higher, line up my cock, and slam inside her in one brutal thrust.
”Yes! Mammon, yes!” Penelope shouts as I bottom out inside her, my spikes adding to her pleasure.
I bounce her on my cock, and within minutes, she explodes around me as I spill inside her.
I know I should still be on my throne, collecting souls for Lucifer, but that can wait because my cock is already hardening again. And Penelope needs me as much as I need her. Tired or not, with duties to fulfill or not, that need now comes first. Consequences be damned.
I rise early the next morning, leaving Penelope sleeping in our bed. I want to stay with her, breathing in her scent, but I know I can’t neglect my duties any longer. I head to my chamber and get to work.
I’ve reaped ten souls for my master when the hackles rise on the back of my neck, and I hear a familiar chuckle.
“Lucifer,” I say, trying to remain calm. Of course, he’s noticed my lapse and is here to punish me. Never mind that a few days shouldn’t erase centuries of success. “To what do I owe the pleasure again?”
He dangles a juicy clump of grapes over his mouth, letting the nectar run down his chin. “Oh, I assure you, the pleasure is mine. Not that the souls you’re snatching today fill me with much.”
I feel like I’m shrinking as his intense eyes meet mine.
“I thought you could use a little supervision today,” he continues.
“I think my track record makes it clear I don’t need a babysitter.”
Lucifer glides over to me, sliding himself half onto the left arm of my throne. Juice from his grapes drips down his leg and partially onto me. I look at him with disdain, but he ignores me. “Something tells me today is a little different. I’ve just had a visit with a certain envy demon, and he’s very intrigued by your little guest.”
I tense, then immediately force my body to relax. Play it cool, Mammon. Don”t let him see how much Penelope means to you. I’ll appear weak, and I can kiss my privileges goodbye.
“Don’t forget that you helped me secure that deal,” I remind him, putting it back on him. “I’m simply enjoying the fruits of my labor. Now, if you want souls, I need to continue my work.”
I don’t like the smirk Lucifer aims at me. “I agree wholeheartedly, Mammon. That’s why I’m here. To see you do your work. It’s been too long since I’ve watched you in action.
I grumble at the thought but know there’s no getting rid of him. I’ll have to focus somehow and forget about Penelope for now. Surely she’ll forgive me, and I can think of plenty of ways to make it up to her.
“Okay, I think we’ve done enough here for now.” Lucifer stands, and I quell the urge to say something that will get me in trouble.
I’ve made so many deals that I”ve lost count. As a demon, I don’t usually suffer from exhaustion, but mentally, I’m done. I just want to go home to my wife. She must be worried about being alone in the house. She hates it when I leave her for too long.
I allow thoughts of her to seep back in, sensing her need—not simply a physical need, but a desire for my company.
I ache for her. I long to wrap her in my arms, but Lucifer hasn’t left.
“If we’re done here?—”
Lucifer raises his hand so fast it leaves a trail of smoke, blurring his form. “Yes, we are done for the day, Mammon. You”ve done well.” His mouth curls into a wicked smirk, and I brace myself. ”But your behavior intrigues me. I want to meet this little distraction of yours. After all, she’ll be spending plenty of time down here. It’s almost like she’s one of my own.”
I repress the rage building inside me. I want to tell him she’s not his demon, not his soul, not his anything. Instead, I clear my thick, raw throat and state, “She’s my wife. And a human. You’ll scare her. Besides, you’ve looked in on us. You know what she looks like.”
I’m trying to mark my territory without starting a war with the fallen angel. But it’s taking every ounce of strength I have. I hate to admit it, but there is some truth to Lucifer’s concerns. Penelope is transforming me completely. But after so long in his service, I would think I deserve some slip-ups, some leeway…
“Well, a healthy fear of the devil is always a good motivator. And I want to meet her, not just see her. We may be dark creatures, but that doesn’t mean we don’t recognize that beauty lies beyond the surface.”
“As does hideousness,” I add through my teeth. He only smiles. “You won’t take no for an answer, will you?”
He shakes his head.
“You can come to the house but not inside today. Not unannounced to her like this.”
“Of course.” He looks shocked, as if he’s never been anything but polite in his immortal life.
I huff and roll my eyes, not hiding my disdain now that I’m technically off duty. He’s making this so hard for me, and he knows it, so he can handle a little hatred shot his way. What he’s doing is punishment enough.
I snap my fingers, and we appear on the lawn of my mansion. I’ve curated such a lovely place down here that even Penelope can tolerate being away from her world and the light for a time. Nature intertwines with the supernatural, creating a hauntingly beautiful landscape that reflects the essence of its demonic master.
Twisted trees, gargoyle guardian statues, and shadowy pathways create a place where darkness and enchantment converge. A small, moonlit pond reflects the starry sky above, its surface rippling gently with an unnatural breeze. The black roses blooming nearby are my pride, their petals velvety and deep like the blackest night, their fragrance alluring yet haunting.
But here Lucifer is, fucking up the beautifully dark landscape with the smell of sulfur and spreading his scent everywhere like a dog pissing on another”s territory.
Penelope must sense my presence because she opens the door before I can knock or call, only to recoil back into the depths of the house.
I want to smack myself as I reach into the house and pull her out in full view of Lucifer. My wife is in a long, dark dress. One of the more modest ones I’ve given her, thank goodness. But she looks like an elegant ghost, her eyes wide as a deer in headlights.
“I’m sorry to bring a guest unannounced, Penelope, but Lucifer insisted he meet you formally.” I point to my boss, who bows.
Lucifer offers his clawed hand to shake. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you. It’s not too often that living humans have a permanent residence down here or that they marry one of my top demons.”
I give Penelope a nod. She gulps and moves forward, making my chest swell with pride as she faces him with her outstretched hand. He takes it and kisses it, and while I see an unpleasant shiver rack her spine as she takes a step back, she doesn’t reveal her disgust or look away in terror. It’s no less than I expected from my courageous wife.
“Braver than I thought,” Lucifer comments, looking her up and down like he”s studying a specimen. “Well, I won”t keep you. I just wanted to see you in person and let you know I kept your husband on his throne a little longer today. I needed some extra souls.”
He vanishes with a wicked chuckle and a wink of his fiery left eye, leaving a swarm of black butterflies behind. However, these butterflies don”t flutter away gracefully like ordinary insects. Instead, they perform a comical synchronized dance routine, twirling and pirouetting in the air as if putting on a whimsical show.
Penelope watches in astonishment, a mixture of amusement and bewilderment crossing her features. The butterflies execute spins and loops, their tiny wings creating a mesmerizing display of movement against the backdrop of the dark garden.
Just when I”m sure Penelope thinks the spectacle can”t get any stranger, the butterflies suddenly transform into puffs of dark smoke, disappearing in a burst of whimsical absurdity. It”s as if they were performing one last act of mischief before vanishing into the night.
With a bemused smile, Penelope turns away from the spot where Lucifer stood moments ago. ”Did that just happen?”
I sigh. ”Yes. Lucifer is a little… eccentric. Let’s get you inside. I’ve missed you,” I tell her, not wanting to discuss it further.
She seems to agree, holding my hand tightly as she follows me inside. We shut the door, effectively shutting out Lucifer and any memory of him.
Penelope smiles up at me, her beautiful brown eyes darkening with desire. “You said you missed me. I missed you too.”
I know what she wants because it”s also what I want. I always do whenever I”m within breathing distance of my wife.
With a cocky grin, I crash my lips against hers…