Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Gabriella stretched and met the dawn, or what passed for it in the Underworld, with a small yawn and tired eyes, blinking against the reddish orange glow streaming in from the drapes.
It was a little strange, but she was fine. In fact, she’d never slept so peacefully in her life. The silk sheets felt so good beneath her, even if they were black. A color that reminded her of sex and sin, though she’d never really indulged all that much.
They made her feel decadent and naughty.
Imagine a Sunday school teacher on black silk!
She knew full well she’d done nothing even remotely sinful, but still, it was fun to pretend.
At least, she was not alone in her desires.
Ash had wanted her too. It was sort of noble the way he’d stopped before things got out of control.
She appreciated that and was frustrated by it at the same time.
The coverlet on top of her was the same inky dark shade as the sheets. The lightweight blanket was perfect considering how warm the air was in Purgatory. She still could not believe it, but Ash had told her all about the place where he dwelled.
The Underworld was real. As were Shifters, Witches, Demons, Angels, and a myriad of other creatures. Imps too, of course.
His home was gorgeous, even though he’d called it small. Obviously, the Demon had never rented an apartment on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. This place was positively enormous by comparison.
Besides the enormous, comfortable bed, and luxurious coverings was the best bonus of all. That came in the shape of a snuggly, muscled pillow beneath her head. Gabriella could have stayed there forever. She’d felt so safe and cherished with him.
Foolish?
Maybe.
But she did not think so. She even fell asleep in Ash’s embrace. Not the least bit uncomfortable with him, which was shocking considering she’d known him all of a minute.
He was surprisingly warm to the touch. As she stirred, his arms came around her gently and he rubbed her back and nuzzled the top of her head.
So nice and cozy!
She smiled against his pale, smooth skin.
Gabriella felt chilled most of the time, always had. But being near Ash, snuggling up to him in his enormous bed, was the warmest she’d ever felt. Even if the Demon in question spent the night on the bed, on top of the blanket instead of beneath it with her. She’d refused to take his bed entirely.
“Morning,” he murmured, and she sighed.
“Good morning.”
His heart beat steadily beneath her ear and Gabriella was ridiculously happy just lying there with him, listening to the strong thump-thump thump-thump rhythm. Her mind raced with everything that happened the previous night.
Girl meets Mim for dinner. Mim spills crazy beans about Wolf inside of the girl.
Mim introduces more supernatural surprises.
Girl meets Goddess and Vampire. Goddess and Vampire set girl up with speed dating thingy in Underworld bar.
Girl gets drunk. Girl meets Demon. Girl jumps Demon and steals bed.
This was it. The moment she’d been aiming for since high school. Gabby was a total slut. Or a slut wannabe. She didn’t actually do much that would earn her that title. And all because her cutie patootie, Ash, did not want to take advantage of her.
Ever since she’d been voted Miss Goody Two Shoes of her graduating class in high school, Gabriella had attempted to shed her image. But it never worked out for her. Last night had crossed several firsts off her list.
She’d gotten drunk, made out with a virtual stranger, but stopped short of sleeping with him. Leave it to Gabby to find the one honorable Demon in the Underworld!
The irony was not lost on her.
What did a gal have to do to get a little lovin’, anyway?
Her body swelled and ached, and she felt him tense beneath her. Gabby breathed in a great, deep breath, loving the masculine scent wafting off him. Like sandalwood and something else, something dark and spicy that made her belly heat and her panties damp.
Mine.
Lick.
Nibble.
The words appeared in her mind, but she knew they were not from her. Not exactly, anyway. She felt her muscles tense and her belly quiver. She felt something pushing, scratching against her skin. Not unpleasant exactly, but strange, foreign.
Oooh.
Something was off.
Not off.
Mine.
Ours.
Mate.
Bite.
“Hey, you alright?” Ash’s concerned voice brought her eyes flashing up to his dark ones.
She’d never seen eyes like that. Not brown or gray, more like slate. Yes! That was it! His eyes glittered like slate, then they turned completely black. She wondered if that was always true when his emotions were heightened.
Did he see in black and white when they got like that?
Questions, so many questions raced through her mind, and feelings. But fear was not one of them. Never that.
“Red,” he said.
“What?”
“When I am very emotional, I see red,” he explained.
“You know, I have the distinct impression we are reading each other’s minds sometimes,” she whispered.”
“Perhaps. It happens when mates bond.”
“Mates? You started saying something yesterday,” she began, but he was already kissing her and ending the kiss far too soon.
Once more, she growled deep in her chest. This time she welcomed the rush of power that came with it, refusing to give in to the dizzying wave of lightheadedness and the twinge of pain. Darn it. She hated not feeling well.
“What is that? Why does that keep happening?” she asked and stood up.
“That is your Wolf, my sweet. She is gaining presence. Soon you will experience your first Change. It will hurt, Gabriella,” he told her, frowning as he spoke.
“Hurt?”
“Yes, and I am sorry that I cannot help with that.”
Gabby’s eyes bulged out of her head.
How the heck was she supposed to do that in one of the most crowded cities in the world?
Would someone see her?
Was she dangerous?
Would it hurt very badly?
For the first time since meeting him, panic threatened to overwhelm her. But it left just as quickly as it came when he placed both hands on her shoulders, encouraging her gaze to meet his.
“You will be safe, Gabriella. I swear it.”
She looked down, turning into him for comfort. Her vision was suddenly blurry with tears. His words soothed her. Yes, he was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger, but she felt closer to him than anyone else in the world.
Gabriella was drawn to him in ways she could not express with words. She felt she could trust him. And yes, silly as it might be, she believed his words. Ash would protect her. She knew it deep inside her heart.
Mine.
“What time is it?” she asked, trying for a calm she did not feel.
“Time is irrelevant here, but on Earth it is noon,” he replied.
“Oh my, I have to go!”
“Alright, I will take you to the portal once I have fed you.”
“No, I’m not hungr—”
Gabriella stopped, face flaming as her stomach rumbled. Yes, she was hungry. Yes, it was the typical chubby girl move. But oh well. She liked food. It was a fact she could hardly deny.
“Ernie would have prepared a feast for us by now,” he grinned, taking her hand, and stopping at the large bathroom.
He motioned for her to use the facilities first, and Gabby’s heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. No one had ever treated her with such respect and tenderness before. She could really get used to that.
“And you shall,” he whispered, kissing her hand and ushering her inside the bathroom. He closed the door reluctantly, and she leaned against it, expelling a sigh.
The bathroom was impressive in its size and tasteful extravagance. Black glass tiles and countertops with a glass door enclosed six-headed shower on one side, and a huge sunken tub on another. She really hoped she got the chance to use both.
With him.
Oh yes.
Her increasingly familiar inner voice whispered once more in her head, and she grinned. Gabriella was beginning to recognize it as part of her. Her Wolf perhaps. Anyway, she had a feeling that would come in handy.
She brushed her teeth with the spare toothbrush that appeared on the counter, used the toilet, washed her hands and face, and brushed her hair, braiding it into a neat bun at her nape.
There was nothing to be done about the wrinkled state of her dress, but she felt presentable, at least. Her complexion was clear and her blue eyes bright, despite her overindulgence the night before.
“You look beautiful,” Ash said the moment she rejoined him.
“Don’t you have to use the bathroom?” she asked.
“I used the guest one while you were in there,” he said, and held out a chair for her in the dining room.
A number of dishes covered the table. Everything smelled wonderful. There was an entire glazed ham, small roasted potatoes, Danishes, bagels, croissants, fresh fruits and cheeses, smoked lox, poached eggs, and a mountain of waffles.
“How many people are you feeding?” She gasped, astounded at the sheer amount of food.
“How do you mean?”
“Never mind,” she said, turning when she heard the clicking of Ernie’s clawed legs on the marble floors.
“Good morning, Ernie. I’m Gabby.”
The Imp looked from Gabby to Ash, and back to Gabby once more. He swallowed nervously, ducking his head as if embarrassed. A day ago she would have been creeped out by this strange creature, but she felt her heart warming to him. Ernie was actually quite sweet.
“Morning, mistress.”
“This is Gabriella, Ernie. You may call her by her name,” Ash said kindly.
“Yes, Mast—, I mean, yes, Boss,” he corrected himself.
“You see, the entire Underworld has gone through a complete change at Lucifer’s whim. I have only just returned after being away for some time, but Ernie here has been in my employ for centuries. It will take time to adjust, but we will get through it. Won’t we, Ernie?”
“Yes, M—, I mean, Boss,” he replied, placing a fresh urn of coffee on the table.
“The coffee smells wonderful, Ernie, thank you,” Gabby said to Ernie.
“Oh, the missus is to take credit for that. She roasted the beans with magic and brewed them herself!” Ernie smiled, showing three short, sharp teeth in his mouth. His face was so full of joy at her praise!
Gabby grinned and asked him to thank his wife for her, and he promised he would. Fascinating, she thought.
Ernie left to finish other duties, and Gabby was surprisingly comfortable alone with Ash.
They ate in companionable silence with the odd question here and there.
She was uncertain what would happen next.
Her time with him was ending, but he said he would help her through her Change. She wondered if he meant that.
“The portal back to Earth is just this way,” Ash said, frowning.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Ash shrugged.
“Something is bothering you.”
“Well, it’s just I hate to leave you, but I must check on the legions I oversee.”
“We both have work, Ash, that’s alright. Will I see you later, though?” Gabby asked tentatively. She did not want to seem needy, but this was a first for her. That inner voice of hers growled at the thought of leaving him, but she had things to tend to. So did he.
Would he think her desperate now?
Oh well.
Gabriella was a lot of things, but patient was not one of them. She did not play games. Her tendency toward bluntness was sometimes off putting to men, but she couldn’t help it. If she liked someone, she told them. And the truth could be said if she did not like someone as well.
“Of course,” he replied to her earlier question. “Gabriella, this is just the beginning. Once you’ve had your first Change, you will understand what I mean.”
“I don’t know why you just won’t tell me already,” she mumbled, and he laughed. The rat.
“Ah, here we are. Gabriella, allow me to introduce you to the Sphinx.”
Gabriella stuttered in her steps. There, before her, stood a massive stone and metal gateway. But that was not what had her tongue-tied. It was the equally enormous half-Lion, half-woman guarding the portal with a grin on her face that made her want to run away or point and gasp.
“Asmodeus, I welcome you to the portal. A riddle first—”
“Seriously? Do you not recognize me? I am Asmodeus. Also known as Ashmedai. I am a Prince of Hell. General of the Daemonium Guard. You, Sphinx, can save your riddles for someone lesser,” Ash hissed, flexing his wings which had suddenly made a magnificent appearance.
Gabriella’s mouth dropped open. Holy cow. It seemed her speed dating partner was something of a big shot down in the Underworld.
A general?
Was that some kind of military thing then?
Hmmm. She’d think on that later. Right then, Gabriella was preoccupied with the imposing figure he made with his wings, horns and tail filling her vision.
How imposing!
How totally hot!
And also, totally unnecessary.
Gabriella could handle herself against a riddle or two. She was a teacher, for Pete’s sake. She knew a lot of things.
“I am the Keeper of the Gate, Ash, and you can’t tell me who to challenge. I answer to Lucifer alone—”
“And who do you think I answer to? Tell me, will the Lord of the Underworld be pleased with your idiotic display?” Ash seethed, but Gabriella had seen enough. She was not about to allow this to escalate. Even if seeing him like that turned her on.
OMG!
She really was a freak.
Sigh.
“Ash,” she said, placing her hand on his elbow. “It’s fine, really. What’s your riddle?”