Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“You know, you’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met, Gabriella Keen,” Ash whispered.
“How’s that?”
“Where would I even begin,” he replied. “First, back to mates. You see, sweet, in the supernatural world some beings are destined, chosen by the Fates, sometimes the universe itself, to be together. We call them fated mates.”
“That’s a beautiful story,” she said, not daring for a second to believe what she secretly hoped he was saying.
“It is more than story,” he replied. “One that I never dared hope for myself, but you see, I think it must be true because here you are.”
The way he gazed at her, looking her right in the eyes, told her he was being truthful.
Gabby licked her suddenly dry lips. She’d never had much luck with men.
Always settled for whatever she thought she could get and tried to make the best. But here was a guy, a ridiculously gorgeous guy, looking at her like she was a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie on a cold day.
She swallowed. Heat blossomed in her belly, moving upward and out, through her veins, to every nerve ending.
But what she was feeling was so much more than a carnal response to his overwhelming masculinity.
Her heart was pounding like she’d just run a marathon.
All throughout his speech, a voice seemed to whisper in the back of her mind.
Mate, the voice said.
Mine.
Gabby had been kissed before. Heck, she’d even had sex. But she never felt this way with any other person in her whole life. Like her entire body was on fire, watching and waiting for him to do, well, anything.
Holy cow.
Was this what desire felt like?
She moved forward in her seat, closer to him. It was as if she were drawn to Ash by some powerful, invisible force. Ash licked his lips, his whole body so very still he could’ve been stone.
Was she an idiot?
Of course, he did not reciprocate her feelings. She was a dowdy little schoolteacher, and he, well, he was this powerful, devilishly handsome Demon.
What could she possibly offer him?
Mate.
“So, uh, I take it every Judeo-Christian tradition I’d been taught to believe is completely made up? As a Sunday school teacher, this is somewhat troubling,” she said, going with the first thing that popped into her head.
Ash frowned. He seemed to consider her question before his response.
“Well, that all depends,” he said. “There are infinite planes of reality in the multiverse, Gabriella. Different creeds, belief systems, and traditions do have something to do with that. You see, it has been my experience, the more you believe in something, the more life you give it. Understand?”
“But you are a Demon, right?”
“Yes,” he replied slowly, almost hissing the word.
She saw his impossibly wide shoulders tense and took a moment to study his impressive physique.
He looked like an Olympian, a God, a Warrior, a Demon, she supposed.
With all the prowess, strength, and beauty of a professional athlete, and then some.
Yes, he was more. Like his extreme good looks were somehow enhanced simply by his being whatever it is he really was.
Demon, her mind seemed to whisper.
Mate.
Once more, Gabby marveled at how totally unafraid she was. Ash was potent, dynamic, alluring, all the above.
But a Demon?
What self-respecting Catholic raised girl would ever give in to her desires with a Demon?
This one right here, her inner voice shouted.
That’s when she finally made up her mind. Regardless of species, subspecies, creed, or whatever, Gabriella was ready to admit she wanted Ash.
He might be a Demon, but so what?
She was a Werewolf if Mim was to be believed.
Wolf.
Yes.
She shook her head, willing that inner voice to hush now. She was coming on to something big, huge, a monumental crossroads in her life. This goody goody was about to do something very, very bad. And it wasn’t because of any supernatural mixed drink, thank Eve and Aphrodite very much.
“You’re not evil,” Gabby stated, getting ready to do what she wanted.
“How do you know that?” Ash replied, his pale skin and chiseled good looks so appealing in the dim light of the living room, she could’ve cried.
“Because.” She shrugged, deciding then to fully embrace the incredible circumstances she found herself in.
Gabby moved into his personal space, building her courage as she did. Then she did something that a day ago would have been unthinkable to the curvy little schoolteacher.
She reached out, smoothing her hands across his hard chest, up and around, linking her arms around his thick neck. Gabby pressed herself close to his warm body, so close she could feel his soft breath on her face.
“If you were evil, I wouldn’t want to do this,” she whispered, breathing in the uniquely spicy masculine scent of him.
The flames of desire licked at her skin until she trembled with it. Then she kissed him. And for the first time in her life, little Gabriella Keen’s world tilted on its axis.
Ash remained impassive for all of a moment while the little minx pressed her mouth firmly to his. Then he moved fast as lightning, taking control of their first kiss.
The feel of her warm, lush body pressed willingly against him was almost too much for him to take.
Ash knew he should push her away. He knew this was not right.
He did not deserve a mate. For a few minutes there, he’d allowed himself the pleasure of looking after her, taking care of her, when Aphrodite handed the little inebriated female over to him.
“You do anything out of bounds, Asmodeus, and I will wreak my revenge on you tenfold. But since I am pretty sure she is your mate, here. Now, you take care of her. Her name is Gabriella Keen, and I believe her Wolf is going to be making an appearance soon. It is her first Change. She will need your help,” the Goddess instructed.
Oh fuck.
Oh Fuck.
OH FUCK.
Trying to defy his natural response to her was like trying to stop a tsunami with an umbrella or dampen an inferno with a thimbleful of water. Impossible.
And why should he even bother when it felt so damn good?
Because you are damned, Ash.
You almost destroyed the world once.
How could you possibly deserve her?
But even that did not stop him from wanting to explore every inch of her plush frame with his lips and hands and teeth.
Ash wanted to explore the depths of passion between her plump thighs with his tongue, to taste and swallow her juices, until she cried out in pleasure and scored his back with her fingernails.
He wanted to sink into her heat, to thrust into her core, and bring them both to an ecstatic, soul searing bliss that he’d been searching for his whole life.
The Demon of Lust wanted her. Period. And that was why he had to give her up.
Grrr.
His Demonic side did not like that idea.
Not one bit. In fact, he felt his claws protrude from his fingernails as her hot tongue boldly invaded his mouth.
Holy hell, the little schoolteacher could kiss.
Her delightfully headfirst reaction was his undoing.
She sucked on his tongue, causing that other part of him to ache and throb with need.
She raked her teeth across his lower lip, moaning into his mouth as she pressed her plush breasts even tighter against his chest.
On and on the kiss went until Ash hardly recalled moving with her until they both lay on the sofa. He smoothed the skirt of the little black dress she wore until it was up around her waist.
Her searching hands roamed his back, until she cupped his ass, and, fuck, he really almost lost it. Gabriella parted her legs, cushioning him between her thighs. She rolled her hips, flexing her molten core against his still covered cock, and his eyes rolled back.
“Ash,” she moaned his name, tilting her head to allow him access to her throat.
Fucking hell.
He was a goner.
Ash licked the long column of her neck, nibbling at her clavicle. Her skin tasted divine. That same raspberry lime scent covering her skin exploded on his tongue.
He wanted more.
He wanted it all.
“Oh yes,” she whispered, her hands in his hair as he found the zipper to her dress, parting it so he could pull it down, exposing her incredible bosoms.
The hardened nubs were like ripe berries, like fruit so pure and sweet, they should be forbidden to the likes of him. But Ash had not the will power to deny himself. He lowered his head, sucking one into his mouth, teasing and twirling the nubbin with his tongue.
Arousal sizzled like an electrical current between them. So hot and strong, his whole body was burning with it. He was out of control, and so was she. He knew it. Knew then he could never take her like this. Mindless with desire and beyond her own experience.
No.
When he did finally have her, it was going to be with her eyes wide open. His heart squeezed, beating thunderously inside of him. Ash wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep within her, but she was no quick fuck. No trifle to bang and toss aside.
Mine.
That voice inside him growled the word more forcefully this time. Followed by another even more potent word.
Mate.
Resigned to a night of suffering blue balls and cold showers, Ash slowed his kisses. Gabby moaned, lifting her glassy, lust-glazed eyes to his. He read the hurt and confusion, the lust still there.
“We have to stop now,” he told her.
“Oh, oh god! I am so sorry,” she said, pushing him off, and he eased back, refusing to allow her to continue the train of thought he could read so easily in her eyes.
“No. Listen to me. I want you. Desperately. I know you can feel that I do,” he murmured, smiling when she blushed.
“Then why are you stopping?” Gabby asked.
“Because when we do this, and we will do this, Gabriella. But when that time comes, I want you to be fully aware of the consequences,” Ash stated.
“I will not play games. Not with you, Gabriella. You’ve just discovered this world, this other part to who you are.
Let me help you navigate it. Then you can decide what it is you want. ”
“Really? You would do that for me?” she asked, bewilderment easily displayed in her gaze.
“I would do anything for you.”
And surprisingly enough, he meant it. He sat up then, helping her to rearrange her dress.
When she would’ve done it herself, he stilled her hands, placing a small kiss on her lips while he slid the zipper up, covering her beauty from his eyes.
It was the most difficult thing he’d ever had to do.
A true test of his honor, he supposed. When all he really wanted was to tear the hateful clothing off her skin and keep her in his bed where he could pleasure her nonstop for a month or two.
“That sounds interesting,” she said, grinning, and he realized he’d spoken out loud.
“You know, I’ve got the distinct feeling you’ve rendered me unguarded. I am vulnerable with you, Gabriella.”
“Is that bad?”
“It is when you are the General of the Daemonium Guard,” he muttered.
“Is that what you do? You’re some kind of warrior?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “We protect the Underworld from invasion. Patrolling the borders and keeping the soulless ones, rogues who lost themselves to the darkness, at bay is our prime directive.”
“Oh, wow. I’m just a teacher, and not even a real one right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, well, I’m sort of in between jobs. Right now, I am teaching catechism classes.”
“I see,” he replied, amused at her sudden bashfulness.
“I guess I should go home. I have class tomorrow afternoon.”
“Okay,” he said, his voice growing hoarse.
“I’ll take you.”
Ash stood up, his whole body trembling with emotion.
Was it creepy if he hid himself from sight and stayed within a reasonable distance?
Like in her backyard?
Fuck.
Yes, that was creepy. Even for him. But his chest positively ached when he thought of leaving her home.
“Ash?” her quiet voice reached him, and he spun round on his heels to look at her sweet face.
“Yes?”
“Would it be okay, that is, I don’t want to sound like a nut, but could I stay here tonight? I just feel better, here, with you,” she said the last two words so lowly he wasn’t quite sure he’d heard her correctly.
“You want to stay here?”
“I can sleep on the couch—”
“No!” he said forcefully.
“You’re right. Good grief, I can’t believe I even suggested that. I am sorry if I overstepped—”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant yes, yes, Gabby. Of course, you can stay here, but no it will not be on my couch. Come, you shall have my room.”
She would sleep in comfort, and he would stand guard over her. Even if it killed him to have her so close and not touch her.
A test of willpower maybe?
Allowing her this close tonight, only to take her back to the surface tomorrow, might just kill him.
But he would not die. No way. He had so much to look forward to with her in his life.
This was simply a test. A really fucking tough test of his willpower and desire to put her needs first. His body strained, hands itching to touch, lips wanting to kiss, and cock twitching, eager to plunder.
Fucking hell.
Asmodeus, Demon of Lust, was in for one extremely uncomfortable night. Oh well. His dick would survive, he mused. He was a soldier, after all. And better suffer with her in his home than have her leave it.
Yeah. His body would be fine being near her and keeping his hands to himself, no matter how difficult. He just didn’t know if his heart would be.
Grrr.