Claimed by Her Demon (6 page)

Ramael answered. “The witches who own Club Darque are neutral. They just don’t like creatures entering the club and causing trouble. It will be in their best interests to get rid of the bodies. I’m sure they’ll also reassess the employment status of some of their staff, since someone had to be helping those pigs in trapping you. As for us, we’ll get you someplace safe so you can clean up, and then take you wherever you wish.”

Melinda realized that a hot shower sounded like the best thing in the world. “Does your house have running water?”

Ramael nodded. “It does.”

“Then how about we go there?”

“As you wish.”

“So,” Adrienne said, “these demons aren’t going to eat us, or tear our souls from our bodies?”

Melinda let her head fall back against the seat. “I don’t think it works that way. But no, they’re not going to hurt us.”

“Okay, good.” Adrienne snuggled against Melinda’s shoulder. The four of them were silent for the rest of the drive.

#

Her roommate looked far from impressed when they reached the abandoned farmhouse.

“Trust me,” Melinda said, “it’s better on the inside.”

The four of them carefully climbed the sagging porch steps and stepped past the fluttering crime scene tape into the front room.

“Um, this isn’t much of an improvement,” Adrienne whispered.

“Close your eyes.”

“What? Why-holy shit!”

Melinda had been ready for the bright flash of light. She waited a moment after it subsided, and then opened her eyes. Sure enough, the dilapidated room had transformed into one of opulent gentility.

Adrienne rubbed her eyes and looked around. “Whoa. What just happened?”

“Magic,” Mare said with a wink.

“I’ve charmed this place to look completely deserted,” Ramael explained. “It’s true nature isn’t revealed except by my command.”

“Beats any B&B my folks ever dragged me to.”

“Mare will give you the grand tour. Melinda, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you where you can shower.”

“You gonna be okay, A?”

“I think I can manage,” Adrienne replied.

Melinda nodded. She followed Ramael to the back of the house, and up a narrow set of staircases. They went down a short hall and stopped before a set of double doors.

“My private quarters,” he explained. “Mare usually takes the guest suite at the other end of the house.”

“He’s not going to try anything funny with Adrienne, is he?”

Ramael’s eyes glinted with good humor. “Only if she asks him to.”

“And what about me? And you?”

He unlocked the door and opened it before answering. “Enter my lair, and you just might find out.” He winked and stepped inside.

Melinda’s heart tripped before racing double-time. This man – this demon – had killed people just an hour or so before. And now he was inviting her for, what?

You know what.

She knew indeed. Ramael had always made his desire crystal clear. She knew she should run. She knew she was playing with fire, perhaps literally. From downstairs, she heard Adrienne laugh. And she knew, despite appearances and legends and lore, she knew that she’d made her decision long ago. So she stepped forward, and again, and crossed the threshold into Ramael’s suite. And then she shut the door behind her.

#

The room was gorgeous. Decadent, actually. Certainly a place well-suited for relaxation. Or seduction, depending on the mood of its host. As she took in the lush amenities, Ramael poured red liquid from a crystal decanter and handed the glass to her.

She accepted it with a half-smile. “Blood sacrifice?”

He chuckled. “Just wine, I’m afraid.”

She took a sip. Whatever it was, it tasted delicious. Fruit and flowers burst over her tongue, finishing crisp and clean when she swallowed. No wonder wine snobs were so snobby. “Mmm,” was the best response she could come up with.

Ramael sipped at a glass of his own, then cleared his throat. “I want you to know that you are safe here. It’s been a traumatic evening, and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in the slightest.”

“So you’re not trying to lower my inhibitions and take advantage of me?”

“Er, no, actually. I just wanted to calm your nerves. Wine always helps me with that.”

“So you’re calming my nerves to lower my inhibitions and take advantage of me?” She couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice.

For the first time since she’d met him, Ramael appeared to be speechless.

Melinda laughed and reached up to touch his face. “It’s okay. You don’t have to worry about me.”

He set his wineglass down and returned the gesture. “And are you worried about me?”

“Maybe just a little. Though I’m sure it will take more than me to rattle your nerves.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. You’ve got a pretty wicked uppercut, as I recall.”

She laughed and rested her head against his chest. “You kind of deserved that.”

He gently plucked the glass from her fingers and set it next to his own. That allowed him to wrap her fully in his arms. “You’re right of course. I’m just not sure that I deserve anything more from you.”

“You could try kissing me again and find out.”

He pulled back just enough to tilt her face up, and did exactly as she asked.

Just like the last time he kissed her, Melinda’s breath was taken away. Ramael may have masked his appearance, but that kiss was a perfect match. Even his tongue, forked and hot, caressed hers in a dance that felt familiar and entirely too delightful. She moaned in appreciation and clutched him harder, winding her arms around his back and clawing in.

Ramael chuckled against her mouth. “Quite the temptress.”

“Just trying to keep up.”

She kissed him again, reveling in the warmth and flavor of his mouth. He tasted like wine and cinnamon, a potent combination. Her body buzzed with need, suddenly feeling constricted, aching to be released and explored. Ramael seemed to sense her need, skimming his hands up and down her back, pressing as close against her as their clothes would allow. Then he scooped her up into his arms, causing her to yelp in surprise.

“Running away with me?”

“Only as far as the bed.”

She nuzzled his neck. “Sounds divine. Dangerous, but divine.”

He laid her gently on the softest mattress she’d ever felt, and gazed intently down at her. His eyes had turned from dark brown to the bright green she was used to.

“I don’t want to alarm you, but the farther we go, the less I’m going to be able to keep this façade up.”

She leaned up and nipped at his nose. “Does that mean your demon wants to come out and play?”

His reply sounded suspiciously like a growl.

Melinda couldn’t help but laugh, and nipped at him again. When she spoke, her voice was low and husky. “You don’t need to wear a mask around me. I already know who you are. And I’m not afraid.” Then she kissed him hard.

They sat up for a moment, and Melinda lifted her arms over her head so Ramael could lift off her t-shirt and sports bra. The cool air mingled with the heat from his body, teasing and taunting her exposed breasts. Her nipples pebbled when she felt his hands on her bare back.

Ramael pulled away and drank in the sight of her. “Exquisite,” he said. “Simply exquisite.”

She blushed, suddenly feeling shy and exposed. But then he laid her back down on the bed, and dipped his mouth to the hollow of her throat, and her shyness flew away as he feathered kisses along her neck and collarbone. Ramael worked his way down to her breasts, nuzzling her between them before taking one into his mouth.

Melinda gasped and arched her back at the touch of his tongue and scrape of his teeth on her nipple. Oh, he truly was wicked, and knew exactly how much pressure to apply, and right where to lick. Her chest positively hummed, and she threaded her fingers through his hair, not wanting his mouth to move an inch from the pleasure zone it was so expertly strumming.

While his head may have been held in place, his hands weren’t, and Ramael skimmed one of them down her body until it met the bare flesh of her thigh. He rubbed the tender skin there before gliding up under her skirt. She wore a pair of boy shorts, in case her skirt flashed what was underneath while she was on the dance floor. Ramael grasped them with one hand and tugged them smoothly down her legs.

Melinda squirmed out of them, kicking her shoes to the floor as well. She pulled his head up from her breasts so she could look into his glowing eyes.

“You all right?” he asked.

“Little eager are we?”

“Very.”

“Not that I’m complaining. But don’t I get a peek too?”

“You can have anything you want, my sweet.”

“Good.” She reached up and worked open the buttons of the shirt he was wearing. She realized that he’d changed from a homeless man to a demon to a handsome rake wearing a silk button down with dress pants. She’d have to ask how he managed that. It certainly would make her wardrobe a lot simpler if she somehow harnessed that power.

Smooth skin greeted her, and he shrugged out of the shirt. Melinda openly admired the lithe muscles that rippled with his every move. She knew this was all illusion, but she appreciated the show. And she also remembered what he’d looked like in his true form. She wondered how long the mirage would last, and what she would need to do to make him lose control.

Ramael resumed stroking her thighs, easing her legs open. Melinda’s breath hitched, and she shuddered under his ministrations. He really was good. Every time he touched her skin, sparks of pleasure fired out from the point of contact, zipping through her body and ratcheting her arousal up. She could feel her sex dampening, and it ached to be touched, filled, claimed.

“Is this okay?” he asked, nudging her thighs open a bit more.

“Oh yeah.”

“If you want me to stop-”

“Don’t you dare!”

He massaged her thighs and teased the tops of her socks, tracing the skin just beneath. She squirmed, raking her nails across his shoulders. Ramael’s eyes gleamed with hunger, and he paused in his ministrations just long enough to remove his pants and settle over top of her.

“Do you want this thing off?” Melinda couldn’t help the trembling in her voice.

“No. I rather like the idea of lifting your skirt to have my way with you.”

“Oh, sweet God.” She whimpered as he pushed the material up around her waist and settled between her open thighs. His hard cock rested on her labia. Then he slid it slowly back and forth against her. “Oh God, that feels good. So warm and hard.”

He kissed her, pulling the fingers of one hand through her hair while massaging her breast with the other. She felt him moan into her mouth. His hips pulled back. Melinda ran her hands down the muscles of his back and grasped his firm buttocks, guiding his movements as he positioned the head of his cock at her moist opening.

“I want you,” she said between kisses. “Please. I want you in me.”

She urged him forward, pulling his body into hers, and cried out in ecstasy as the head of his cock pushed up and into her vagina. Her legs wrapped around his waist, allowing him deeper inside. But Ramael was in no hurry, and eased his way inch by glorious inch, until at last he was seated fully in her.