Chapter 15
The demon of Christmas is my mate.
My chest warms, and my body thrums as I look up at him.
I feel like I should be concerned that a monster from a children’s fairytale—a demon, for that matter—is my mate.
This might explain why my relationships were always complete disasters and why I never felt anything for them.
I’m shit at choosing men, so an actual demon being my mate makes a lot of sense.
“But... I’m human,” I sputter, my mind caught in a whirlwind.
“I am not one to question fate,” he says, running the back of his claws across my cheek. “And neither should you, little vixen, because not everything they give is considered a gift.”
Cocking my head to the side, I take him in; he’s so terrifyingly handsome that it makes me weak every time I look at him. He consumed my dreams and fought off my Nightmares, with flames in his eyes blazing as he watches me, warming me from the inside out.
“Why did you keep this from me all this time?” I ask. “Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
He presses his face into my hair, taking a deep breath through his nose.
“I wanted to give you the chance to live your life—to find someone who would make you happy and that wasn’t, well.
.. me. Krampus.” His voice sounds almost sad as his words tangle into my mess of curls.
“As badly as I craved you, I treated you like forbidden fruit, but you only kept ripening for me.” He leans further down, his mouth just above mine, his tongue flicking out.
“And you taste just as delicious in this realm as you do in your dreamscape—maybe even sweeter.”
My cheeks keep heating up, spreading down my neck and straight to my core, swirling wildly. “Does this happen a lot with demons? Human mates?”
He shrugs, bringing his mouth even closer to mine, our breaths mingling. “I don’t regularly converse with many of the other demons who reside in this realm besides Nick, and I certainly don’t share the details of my proclaimed mate with them, especially since I haven’t claimed you yet.”
I pull back and look up at him, frowning. "Wait. There are other demons? How do they get here? Have they been summoned, like with an Ouija board or dark magic?”
He laughs, the sound like a storm, swirling around me.
“Little vixen, there are many beings that reside in this realm and feast upon it. The veil between worlds is far thinner than you can imagine. However, I was sent by the devil himself, not summoned by a mere human looking for a thrill. Don’t believe everything you hear. ”
My cheeks flush with embarrassment as I let out a scoffed laugh.
Yes, this giant monster in front of me is a creation of Hell, but is Hell truly the desolate place it was portrayed to be by men hiding behind their sins?
Or is it actually a place of salvation where people like my parents, or eventually me, go to spend their afterlife?
“I’ll show you someday,” he says softly, brushing his lips against mine, the taste of him seeping into my mouth.
“How does this work? You and me?” The question slips from my lips as he pulls away. “Do I become a demon, too?”
He chuckles again, his eyes sparkling with joy. “You will not become a demon, but once you accept me as your mate, your soul will become bound to mine and you will live an immortal life... with me.” He pauses, as if he’s waiting for me to run the other way. “But only if this is what you want.”
The warmth in my chest spreads as I take him in, from his striking horns and hellfire eyes to his colossal hooves. This is insane, right? Not only because I’m in the presence of one of the most infamous demons, but also because I’m mated to him.
He punishes people, invading their dreams and becoming their worst nightmare. He could crush anyone just by flexing his hand, dragging them to Hell if he so desired. He’s a monster in every sense of the word... to everyone but me.
In the past few days, this very demon has given me an escape and shown me pleasure beyond my wildest dreams. And is it so wrong to want to be a monster with him? To give him everything he’s given me in return?
I look at him, and his eyes have fluttered closed, as if granting me my privacy. I slide my hands over his chest, pressing my palm against his thunderous heart until mine beats in sync. “Kryx,” I say his name like a prayer, drawing his attention back to me as his eyes flash open.
“Nicolette.” He says my name like a plea, as if he were dropping to his knees.
“I have known you for years of my life, and you have brought me the deepest pain and the greatest pleasure. I have craved you from the moment you walked into this cabin, my memories of you proving that my connection to you is real and not just another dream. My life has been nothing but betrayal and pain, one I’ve had to fight my way through, hoping I would come out on the other side.
” I sniff, tears collecting in my eyes as the truth pours from my lips.
As I delve deeper into the memories he returned to me, I realize he did more than just tie me up and fuck me; he protected me from the beasts lurking in the shadows of my mind, from the monstrous thoughts threatening to extinguish the fire within me.
He did what was necessary, only the minimum required to satisfy the list. I close my eyes tight, and tucked away in the corner of my mind, I see Kryx curling up with me on the fur rug, running his hand through my hair, watching over me as I drift to sleep.
My heart feels trapped in a vise as tears sting behind my eyes, emotion threatening to overwhelm me. “Take my heart and my soul, Kryx. Make me yours in this life and the next.”
He softly holds my face with his massive hands, his thumb wiping away a stray tear as it slips down my cheek.
“You are the other half of me, little vixen,” he breathes.
“You will never face another day of suffering or real pain, only the immense pleasures I plan to inflict on you every day from now until the end of time.”
He lowers his mouth, pulling me in for a deep, head-spinning kiss.
His wicked, forked tongue tangles with mine as he steals the breath from my lungs.
Heat pools between my legs as my body warms, his hands sliding down my back and gripping my ass, hoisting me up to him.
I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me to my room.
Not breaking the kiss, he gently lowers me onto the bed, his claws pricking me, sending a thrill up my spine. “Kryx,” I moan into his mouth, letting him taste his name on my tongue. “Claim me.”
He pulls back, his eyes brighter than I’ve ever seen them.
“I’m going to make you come on my face, and then I intend to take you slow and deep, little vixen,” he growls, his voice rough.
“And then I’m going to make you scream, letting everyone between the North Pole and Hell know who you belong to—who your mate is. ”
Heat curls in my abdomen so hot that my desire drips between my legs. He loosens the belt of my robe, baring my body to him as he licks his lips, his tongue flicking his snake bite piercings and leaving saliva in the corner of his mouth.
Swirling his tongue over the tip of my nipple, he has me arching my back and letting out a quiet moan.
He scrapes his teeth across the sensitive skin of my breast before licking away the pain.
His large hand circles my throat, guiding my head back against the mattress.
He nips, sucks, and licks across my skin, touching every part of me as if he’s never tasted me before, leaving his mark on every inch.
The cool caress of his shadows tickles my skin as they brush against me, waiting for his command as he slides down and rests his head between my legs.
His long tongue flicks out, lashing at my already throbbing clit.
The sudden contact causes me to gasp and arch my back as he guides my legs over his shoulders, gripping my ass and lifting my hips.
“As sweet as winterberry wine,” he says as he glides his tongue between my folds, teasing my entrance. “A feast waiting to be devoured.”
His tongue plunges into me, curling and hitting my G-spot, the prick of his claws sending me higher. “Kryx,” I pant as I reach down and grip his horns, trying to hold on as he continues to drive me closer to the edge.
He groans, the sound vibrating through my core. “I love how my name sounds on your tongue as your desire coats mine.”
One of his shadows brushes against my ass, pressing into me, filling me. I moan at the quick slice of pain as it takes me, causing me to grind my hips into Kryx’s face. The shadow remains still as I thrust my hips, doing all the work for it.
Kryx drags his teeth over my clit, filling my vision with the brightest stars. I scream his name as I fall into the abyss, squeezing my eyes shut as my orgasm overtakes me, drowning me in pleasure and making me gasp for air.
He slides my legs off his shoulders as he rises to his feet, unfastening his pants and letting them fall to the floor, releasing his monstrous cock.
He stands there, sliding his hand up and down his length, the dark tip dripping precum, growing more erect with each stroke.
The firelight reflects off his piercings that ascend his shaft.
I rest on my elbows and admire his magnificent form, one that could easily be mistaken for a malignant god’s.
I let my gaze drift over him, moving from his sharp, tense jaw to his broad chest and chiseled abs, down to his defined V that guides my hungry eyes to his engorged cock, each muscle flexing as he shifts on his hooves.
The electricity in the air crackles between us, surging through my body.
“You’re glorious,” I say, my imminent desire dripping like honey.
His lips curl into a Cheshire grin, revealing his teeth and reminding me of the monster beneath—my monster. “I’ll be anything you want, Nicolette. Whether it’s magnificent, deranged, spectacular, or a fucking fiend. It’s all for you.”
He drags himself back onto the bed as one of his shadows curls around and gently lifts my leg, offering it to him.
He takes it delicately in his hands, running a claw down the inside to my knee, following it with soft kisses, his lips sending a jolt to my sensitive center with every touch.
He drags his tongue from my ankle to my knee, sending a wave of heat over me.
Lowering my leg, he settles himself between them, looking over my body with hungry eyes.
His knuckles caress my center as he licks the remnants of my orgasm from his lips.
“I’m going to take you, little vixen. Finally, claim you in this realm and not just in your dreams. And I’m going to draw it out for as long as I can.
I want you to remember this night for the rest of our immortal lives. ”
I don’t think he realizes that I will remember every instance his large, powerful hands have touched me, every heated glance he’s sent my way, and every wave of pleasure he’s sent crashing over me.
He has consumed me in every way, and finally being claimed by him—as his—will become a part of who I am forever.
It will override every version of myself, both good and bad, and shape me into exactly who I’m meant to be.
His.
Kryx’s thick cock pushes at my entrance, and we moan in unison. “You’re so fucking wet for me,” he says roughly. He moves in closer, taking me inch by agonizing inch, his piercings sliding against my inner walls, hitting my G-spot and making me see stars. “Dripping.”
“Oh, God,” I cry out as he takes me to the hilt, his cock filling me and his shadow filling my ass. He holds still for a moment before slowly pulling back out, my inner walls clenching around him, begging him to stay.
He lowers his face, his expression borderline terrifying, his hand still gripping my throat and pressing his nose to mine. “Do you not remember what I told you? I am your god now. Your fucking devil,” he growls. “And you, little vixen, are my salvation. My damnation.”
I wrap my hands around his horns as he finds his rhythm, taking his sweet time with me. “Kryx, please,” I pant, pushing my feet into the mattress, grinding into him and putting some relief to my sensitive clit, but his shadows force me back down, holding me in place.
He picks up the pace, driving his cock right into my needy cunt, his piercings continuing to hit my G-spot. My entire body tingles as the fire crackles wildly at our backs, the storm outside nothing like the one in here as Kryx finally claims me as his mate.