Chapter 12 #2
He reached for me again, slower this time, fingertips grazing my cheek. “I could…” His claws traced the line of my jaw with agonizing care. Heat prickled beneath my skin, and I looked up, unable to stop myself.
His glowing eyes flared alive, and my breath caught hard in my throat. The weight of his stare sent a shiver through me—sharp, involuntary, dangerous.
I grabbed his hand and dragged it down to the table before my body betrayed me further. “Squeeze my hand when you’re ready,” I said, quieter now.
He blinked, looking almost surprised as his eyes dropped to where our hands touched, but he didn’t pull away. He only nodded.
We continued to read in silence—him giving my hand a gentle squeeze, telling me to turn the page. I stared at our entwined fingers, his gray-toned flesh against my pale skin—demon and human.
Last night, while dancing, I experienced something dark and seductive. I remembered his lips, inches from mine, and the fire roiling in my belly.
My thoughts turned to the pages I had seen in the hedge-witch book.
Of the demon and human drawings—bodies twisted together in so many compromising positions.
I’d had sex once, with a tavern boy, but it had been harsh and fast. Hardly enjoyable.
I hadn’t sought out a repeat performance. That was three years ago now.
The figures in the image of the hedge witch book both seemed as if they were at the height of ecstasy. How might it feel to desire someone that intensely—to get lost in absolute pleasure?
I thought of the drawing that resembled Vaelor, and shut my eyes, picturing myself sitting on top of him, both of us completely bare.
The bloodied symbols of the spell glistened on his muscular chest, mingled with his sweat—the want in his gaze all-consuming as I took him inside me and rocked on him, my head slowly tipping up to the sky.
“Do you get turned on by seeing someone stab another through the heart?” Vaelor asked in a low voice.
I jumped. His jaw clenched as he gave me a disapproving glare.
“I’m sorry?”
“The book.” He dipped his chin toward it.
I cast a quick look at the page we were supposed to be reading. An image depicted one demon thrusting his blade into another demon’s torso. Crimson blood spurted from the wound.
Shit. I’d been thinking about sex with Vaelor. Someone fuck me.
I gave him a wide-eyed stare. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His eyes narrowed. “You smell… aroused.” His nostrils flared, and he glanced down between my legs before again meeting my gaze.
Demons had excellent senses of smell.
I pressed my thighs together. Gods, I could die now.
Vaelor watched me expectantly, waiting for me to answer.
“I wasn’t reading the book. I—my mind had wandered off. I was… thinking.” My cheeks were becoming warm at an alarming rate.
Vaelor’s head tilted. “Thinking?”
“Yes.”
“About…”
“Thinking about… thoughts.” My cheeks blazed.
He drew closer and slid his finger over the vulnerable skin of my throat. “Thoughts of anyone in particular?” he murmured.
Goosebumps crawled over my flesh at his caress. The insistent pulsing between my legs grew even stronger. My heart bounded in my chest, and my breaths became shallow.
“N-no.”
“Are you certain?” His voice was soft, yet held a dark edge to it.
And for an instant I considered confessing. To give in to whatever my body wanted—to see if he’d relive the need building inside me. I opened my mouth, but then looked away.
No, we weren’t having this discussion. I didn’t care what he scented on me.
It wasn’t my fault that I had stumbled on that section and they had an image that looked exactly like Vaelor to put such strange ideas in my mind.
With resolve, I reached for the book before us, vowing never to consult Spells to Unravel A Demon again.
I held the book close to my face as I sank down into my chair. “I’ll read aloud,” I said hastily, determined to keep my unruly thoughts in order.
I peeked over the top of the book at him and saw his lips twitch. I swear he was fighting a smile even while a deep heat smouldered in his eyes. “By all means, human. Read.”
I took a long breath and focused on the book in front of me, about to read. Vaelor suddenly turned away. “I will return.”
I watched, uncertain what to say as he turned and stalked from the room.
Had I offended him in some way? But he’d seemed more amused by my arousal than upset by it.
I closed off the part of me that wanted to panic, and my fingers dug into the book cover as I waited for what seemed like forever before he returned.
But only a few minutes had passed when he walked in and glanced at me, but didn’t say anything other than. “You may continue reading.”
“Is everything all right?” I asked, bewildered.
He merely nodded, his face carefully passive. “Continue.”
I had no idea why he’d left so abruptly, but relief flowed through me that it was short lived.
I opened the book and picked up where we’d left off.
“Those who die and become a part of Spiritu Malignos lose any magical abilities that they once possessed in life. However, some demons after death develop new powers over time, and they are enveloped into the spell casters and political leaders of the Spiritu Malignos nation. All other demons remain in the ranks, bound as soldiers.” I looked up at Vaelor. “Is that true?”
“Is what true?”
“Did you have a magical ability in life that you can no longer do?”
He was quiet for a long moment. “I used to be able to read the air currents, like one would read footprints on a trail, to know who had recently passed through an area. It is a rare skill among my kind.”
I bit my lip. “You probably miss it.”
He gave me an annoyed glance. “Are you trying to remind me of all you’ve taken from me?”
I flushed yet again and went back to reading out loud. Eventually, my embarrassment over everything fell away, and the hours passed smoothly and comfortably between us. At around noonday, he left to go scouting again.
This time when he disappeared out the door, though my nerves became on edge, I didn’t panic. I grabbed the book with maps of the demon kingdoms and sat down. I had to orient myself to the demon lands if I ever hoped to find Gerand.
A few hours into reading, I heard a commotion downstairs. Despite my curiosity, I knew better than to check on the noise. Let the demons work out their own issues.
Mist curled underneath the door, and Vaelor stepped into the room. The alarm on his face caused my heart to plummet and my thoughts to spiral. Had we been found? But how?
“Get up. They’re coming. I must possess you,” he said, stalking toward me.
I closed my book and rose. “Right now?”
The sound of the key in the lock drew my attention to the door. It burst open.
Vaelor gripped my face and forced me to look at him. “Give in and let me fight.”
There wasn’t time to ask questions. I nodded.
He faded as he slipped inside me.
Give yourself to me.
The sensation of his icy darkness pressing on my mind was becoming familiar, like slipping into deep water after standing too long in the heat—unnerving at first, then strangely comforting.
I give myself to you.