LILITH #2
She bares her teeth, screeching so loud my eardrums pulse, but I don’t dare react.
I refuse to show weakness in front of this awful woman.
When she’s finally done with her tantrum, it’s my turn to smile widely, because her reaction just proves my point.
She knows damn well that I’m not one of Lucifer’s toys.
What he feels for me transcends any paltry emotion he’s ever had for her. For any of the women before me.
“I should kill you now.”
I raise my hands out to the side in a come get me motion. “What are you waiting for?”
She screams again, tearing at her hair like a crazy person.
“What? Afraid of what your lord might do to you?” I press my head to the bars, burning my eyes into hers. “I’m no concubine of Lucifer’s. I’m so much more. And you and I both know it.”
Her face pales and without another word, she spins on her heels and stalks from the room.
Nolda chuckles from the corner. “I’ve gotta say, Victoria, you put on one hell of a show. Nobody speaks to Lilith like that and lives. I’ve got to give credit where credit’s due. Lucifer chose a worthy adversary for Lilith.” He laughs again before leaving me alone with my wretched thoughts.
Images of Luke and Lilith being intimate invade every piece of my mind, and I want to scrub my brain of the video playing out. It’s so vivid. As vivid as Luke’s visit with me moments ago.
Lilith’s arms are tied above her head, her curvy body bare and glistening.
Luke is behind her, running his hands down the curve of her back, over the firm, round globe of her bottom.
His hand comes down over her one cheek. Lilith bites her lip, looking thoroughly aroused as Luke massages the spot he just slapped with one hand, while running the other through her heated folds.
I whimper, slamming my eyes shut, but the image is even sharper that way. My lids fly open, and a cry escapes my lips.
A tiny voice whispers that the montage is compliments of Lilith, and rage rumbles through me.
“Bitch,” I seethe.
Her shrill cackle vibrates around the room. Wherever she is, she’s enjoying a bird’s-eye view of my torment from her parting gift.
I take deep breaths, pushing the visions out of my head, focusing on the last time I was with Luke. His words wash through me and provide instant relief from the distress.
I’m in love with you.
He’s said the words. Offered to vacate the throne. Promised to go to war if necessary.
I concentrate on those words, and soon the porno that played out in my mind shifts.
I’m in Lilith’s place, hands tied above my head as Luke’s hands glide across my skin, leaving a delicious heat where his fingers once touched.
Tingles spread across my sensitive skin and wetness pools in places it has no business pooling.
I groan, throwing my head back and relishing the burn. It’s as though he’s here now, caressing my skin.
“Don’t think about her anymore,” Luke’s voice whispers, for my ears only. “I love you.”
With that thought, my eyes close and I lose myself in his touch.
* * *
* * *
Hours later, my head lies against the cell as I stare up at the grey rock ceiling. I’ve been running through an assortment of escape plans, but none of them make a lick of sense when I think on them for too long.
I’m in Hell and I haven’t a clue what waits outside of this room. Solis is gone and, outside of my strength, so are all the necessary components I’d need to navigate this hellscape.
Commotion at the door catches my attention, and what I see has me jumping to action.
“Luke! You’re here. Get me out!”
My hands are wrapped around the bars, and I shake the doors as if I can dislodge them myself.
Luke stalks toward me with an all too familiar swagger, green eyes smoldering with every step he takes. I’m so transfixed by him that my mind doesn’t compute that this is all wrong. He’s far too nonchalant given I’m stuck in a cage.
“Close your eyes.”
The familiar command has me springing into action, slamming my eyes closed and allowing whatever is to come transpire. I’m burning with need from our interactions today.
Behind my closed lids, I watch as Luke takes two final steps and is before me. Leaning down, he smashes my lips to his in a dizzying kiss. Our tongues tangle as his hands run through my hair, pulling just enough that I moan in pleasure.
Thoroughly kissed and drunk with desire, I open my eyes and freeze at the man before me.
I don’t recognize him. His towering frame makes me feel small, and those green—no, hazel—eyes shine as they wash over my body.
A strong, square jaw peppered with day-old scruff and shaggy brown, nearly black, hair completes the otherworldly package. This man is carnal without saying or doing a damn thing.
Who is he?
His tongue darts out, licking a line across his bottom lip. “We’re friends, Victoria. Call me Riv. Understand?”
One finger trails down between my heavy breasts and I suck in a breath, whimpering.
Good grief … the hold this stranger has on my body is embarrassing, but I’m too overwhelmed to think any further on it.
“Do you want me to take care of the ache?”
I dip my chin, shivering in response.
My body is on overdrive, desperate for release. A sexy grin spreads across Riv’s face, and I sigh at the sight of his dimpled cheeks.
“Please,” I beg without thinking.
He bends to his knees at my feet, looking up, grinning wider and licking his bottom lip again. When his hands trail a line down my stomach, I stiffen.
Something feels … wrong. This isn’t right. I don’t know this Riv. Where am I? My haze-filled eyes scan the room.
Hell.
“No,” I say, shaking my head and clamping my legs together. “Stop.”
My eyes fly open, and I shriek, realizing that this isn’t in my head. I’m out of the cage.
“Come on. Using me to get another girl to fall for your advances?” a deep, throaty voice calls from somewhere close by. “Lame, man. Get your own fucking skin.”
My eyes peer down, and a scream bursts through my chest at the empty eyes staring back at me. Nolda.
The mirage vanishes and Nolda appears before the cage.
“Too bad. I could’ve made you feel so good, Victoria.” He shrugs. “If you won’t give yourself to me, I’ll just have to take what I want.” His head turns to the entry. “River. Nice to see you finally made it.”
River steps into the room and my breath hitches. So the Adonis from my vision is real.
“I’ve been a little busy. Your crew has been racking up a death toll quicker than even I can work, Nolda. Why don’t you back the fuck off for a bit?”
Nolda shrugs. “My legion is hungry. Who am I to withhold food? I’m not Lucifer,” he spits.
“Yeah, well … Lucifer does so for a good reason. You’re going to kill off your food source if you don’t watch it.”
Nolda’s shoulders stiffen. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, reaper.”
“Then why the fuck am I here?” The gorgeous man looks murderous, and even Nolda shrinks under the weight of that glare.
“That’s a good question. I requested the reaper queen’s audience.”
“She sent me in her place. Apparently, whatever meeting you’ve requested isn’t that important to her.”
Nolda wants to clap back, if his red-faced glare is any indication, but he refrains, breathing in deeply and relaxing his balled fists at his sides.
“Dinner will be served in the hall. I’ll lay everything out there.” Just like Lilith had done earlier, Nolda spins and stalks from the room.
My body collapses in on itself, and tears pour down my face.
Hell is everything they warned about.
Deceptive. Depraved. Evil. Hurry, Luke. Find me.
“How long have you been here?” the man asks, pulling my attention toward him.
“I don’t know. I’ve lost track of time.” My words come out dejected and pitiful, the effect this place has already had on me not sitting right.
He chews on the inside of his cheek. “Shit’s gotten out of control,” he says, running a large, tanned hand through his tangled, unruly locks. “You should avoid sleeping if this is how it’s going to go.”
My eyes widen as the black T-shirt that molds to his chest perfectly rises, showing a sculpted stomach and a delicious V that disappears into his dark jeans.
I clear my throat, turning away from the unintentional show.
Pull yourself together, Tori.
“I’m River.”
Reaper of the Underworld. Great.
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