Demon Slave (17 page)

The next few days were grueling. The storm
rampaged outside the shallow cave. Usually Nadua would be within
the safety of the palace during a storm like this, watching through
a reinforced window with a warm cup of tea and plenty of soft
blankets to keep her content.

Rex had come up with an ingenious way of
using the rope and many of the pelts as a sort of barricade against
the wind. It did help quite a bit.

Marik never failed to sense her
discomfort—even though at first she’d tried to hide it, not wanting
to be a burden.

She was still a bit angry with him, but she
needed his heat—this storm was unusually cold for this time of
year—and Marik’s attentiveness was starting to soften her. Whenever
the fire went low or the chill became too much, she would lean into
him, and he would obligingly wrap his arms around her, enveloping
her in his warmth.

She hated she could not do more for herself.
It made her feel weak and helpless. She, who had led a nation of
people and fought alongside her soldiers in battle.

But she was grateful to Marik and Rex. They
were both destroying her idea of what a demon was supposed to be.
Especially Rex. A bit withdrawn, and somewhat shy, he often looked
to Marik for approval, as if he were the younger of the two, but it
was revealed that they were nearly the same age. And though Marik
treated him gruffly at times, Rex continued to regard him as his
leader.

Around the fire, they would regale her with
stories of their home planet, before the Kayadon had even been a
thought in their minds. They talked about their summer heat waves
and how they would strive to keep cool.

“
After this,” Marik
declared. “I will never again wish for a freak snow
storm.”

In turn, Nadua told them about her planet.
Near where she had lived, the double suns allowed for mild weather
almost all year. And the most it ever did was rain, which created
breathtaking forests blooming with every color imaginable.

Rex gazed at her in awe. “I would like to
see that.”

She smiled at him. Their situations were
similar in some ways, but where she had only felt isolated on
Undewla, Rex actually had been. She still had people to talk to,
friends to confide in and share her time with. Rex had none of
that.

But his eyes lit up when he spoke of his
family next. Five wily older brothers and three older sisters. He
was the youngest. Out of all of them, only one had been mated, and
out of all of them, Rex knew the location of only two—one sister
and one brother.

“
At least I
had
known where they
were, before I got stuck here. Now I can’t be sure.”

Nadua sat with Marik on a small boulder that
the demons had maneuvered by the flames. Her back was pressed
against his front.

“
If you get off this
planet, will you search for them?” Nadua asked Rex.

“
If they have moved on, I
will continue to seek them out. But I’m afraid only luck will be my
guide.”

“
You think it would
difficult to find them?”

Marik’s deep voice rumbled from behind. “He
would do well to forget them. Concentrate on rebuilding his own
life.”

“
Marik!” She turned to him
and scowled.

Marik shrugged. “I’ve spent much of my life
in space, luv. And short of coming across an enchanted book with
their locations detailed, it’s nearly impossible to find any
specific person.” His tone held a hint of remorse.

“
I agree with him,” Rex
replied. “I would love to reconnect with my family, but I would
also like to start one of my own. I crave a mate and young
ones.

“
Not me,” Marik replied. “I
prefer my freedom.”

Nadua assumed “mate” to a demon must be akin
to the joining of two people.

Her brows furrowed. “You don’t want to fall
in love?”

* * *

Love?

Marik scoffed in answer.

Matehood had nothing to do with love. Cale
and Sebastian thought otherwise, but Marik believed when a demon
recognized his mate, he became trapped into an obsessive need to
claim her, whether love was involved or not. It meant leaving
oneself open to the possibility of being tied to a horrid creature.
Calic was a prime example. He still fancied himself in love with a
woman who had torn his heart out and smashed it under her heel.

Then there was Sebastian’s constant worry
and endless desire to protect Anya. Marik didn’t want to be so
responsible for another person’s well-being. Not after he had
already failed in protecting his sister, and so many others.

Suddenly, Nadua shivered in his arms and he
tightened his grip.

“
Rex, throw another log on,
would you?”

“
Thanks,” she said, as Rex
moved to obey. She burrowed her back into Marik’s chest, and he
found himself reveling in the feel of her. “I think the storm is
finally starting to wane.” Defiantly, a gust of wind whipped
against their wall of pelts. “Or maybe not.”

Nadua’s stomach continued to grumble, but
she said nothing. Her refusal to complain was both admiring and
irksome. If she would just tell him what she needed, he would find
a way to get it for her.

Hearing it too, Rex stared at him, waiting
for orders. Finally, Marik nodded. Rex pulled to his feet and
slipped behind the pelts.

“
Rex?” Nadua called after
him.

“
Just getting some more
wood while I can,” he answered.

She always protested when they left,
especially if it was to hunt. Rex had made the mistake of boasting
to her that demons could go months without sustenance. Before now,
Nadua probably hadn’t gone a day, but she was more than willing to
deny herself if it meant Rex or Marik didn’t have to leave the
cave.

Her compassion was heartening. But they had
set some traps for the elusive creatures outside, and it was time
to check them.

Marik had no doubt that if she could get all
her warmth from him alone, she wouldn’t even let them out to gather
wood. That would be fine with him. He was finding that he liked
being so close to her, even though the side effect was a painfully
hard shaft, and her scent burning a spot into his mind, possibly
for the rest of his life.

He had never spent so long with a female and
enjoyed it half as much as he was with Nadua. It made no difference
that the conditions around them were miserable.

And now he had her alone.

“
So, you didn’t answer my
question,” she pointed out.

“
Hmm?”

“
You don’t want to fall in
love?”

* * *

Marik’s tone went low. “Do you?”

She tried to call up an image of Cyrus, but
time had eroded the accuracy of her memory. “I thought I was once.”
Nadua became aware of the sudden change in Marik. He was cocooning
her in his arms, and his head dipped so his lips barely brushed the
tip of her ear, making her shudder.

“
And who was this lucky man
who almost had you?”

She thrilled at the word lucky, but
suspected he was only trying to distract her and evade the
question. But she answered, anyway. “He was a soldier. A truly
great fighter. He taught me to use a blade and shoot a bow. If
circumstances had been different, we would have wed I think.”

Marik’s arms shifted with his palms flat on
her stomach, caressing her soft skin. He spoke into her ear. “And
if you see him when you return to Evlon?”

Why were his hands so distracting? His lips
found their way to her neck and he slid them back and forth in such
a way that she had to concentrate on breathing correctly.

Her clothing suddenly felt very tight. “He
was from Undewla, and he died in battle a long time ago.” She
paused, trying not to notice how incredibly warm Marik had become
“Your turn. Wait, what are you doing?”

He was unfastening her cloak.

“
I’d rather not talk when I
finally have you to myself.” He slipped his hand into her hair and
turned her head to him. Hooded lids covered his lusty gaze. “I’d
rather be doing what we’ve both been thinking about.”

“
I haven’t been thinking
about having sex with you.”

“
What a saucy mind you
have. I was talking about a kiss, but if you have other things in
mind...” His lips descended, pressing against hers, and preventing
her outraged reply.

Rational thoughts abandoned her as his
tongue came out to taste her lips. A heady rush of adrenalin
sparked in her brain, making her dizzy with a desire for more.

He demanded entry and, with her heart
slamming, she relented. Pressing her lips firmly against his, their
tongues met. She had been daydreaming of kissing him like this
since their last encounter, but had feared he’d only wanted her
then because of his demon madness.

Now he was himself and his need was flowing
off him like water. Her body was responding in kind.

Feeling her submit completely, Marik’s hands
found the entrance of her outfit.

Nadua gasped at the first touch on her skin,
first on her stomach, and then slowly inching higher as his kiss
consumed her. Struggling to keep her wits, Nadua stammered through
breaths, “Marik...this isn’t...we can’t.”

His responding growl reverberated from his
chest and traveled down through her spine. The sound of it made her
breath hitch, and her body quiver, putting an end to her
protests.

One callused palm covered her breasts and
she couldn’t prevent herself from arcing into his touch. Another
desperate sound rumbled out of him, causing her to grow damp. Heat
rushed through her, creating a warm thrumming sensation that
rivaled the fast beat of her heart. She leaned back against him and
offered herself to his roaming hands.

His other hand slipped inside her fur cloak
and all she could do was concentrate on its slow descent.

“
Marik?” Her voice
shook.

“
What, luv? Tell me what
you need.”

The sensation of his lips on her neck shot
hot liquid to her core.

Between breaths, she said, “Rex.”

Marik stilled then pulled away, “What?”

“
He’ll be back soon, we
need to hurry.” She was suddenly aroused at the idea of being
caught.

Lips curling back into a smile, his voice
rumbled with promises. “My Faieara wants to come badly, I can
tell.”

“
Gods, yes.” Nadua melted
against him, needing this more than she realized. The way he gazed
into her eyes, she suspected they must be deeply violet, and this
time she didn’t care if he knew why.

Thick fingers found her center, making her
jerk in surprise.

He groaned when he discovered her wet.
“Later I will taste you here. When I have more time.”

Her eyes rolled back in her head, her
breathing erratic as she imagined him doing just that.
“Please.”

It’s been so long, she added to herself.

While his fingers played, his other hand
fondled her breasts, teasing the sensitive flesh of her nipples. He
took her lips again, stealing her breath with his masterful
kiss.

His slow, maddening strokes began to build a
steady pressure. Panting, she gripped the fabric of his pants. A
finger breached her entrance and the first hint of an orgasm
rippled through her. She moaned softly into his mouth.

Her hips undulate in rhythm to his movements
and her head fell back against his shoulder as she gave herself to
the moment. Marik found the spot that ripped sounds from her and he
captured her in a cage of pleasure. Her body went tense and she
screamed as it tore through her, taking her over until every cell
exploded in ecstasy.

Marik held her tight, kissing her neck and
circling her sex, until she went boneless.

“
Been dying to see that,”
he said when it was over.

Fiery heat spread through her cheeks, as
embarrassment replaced desire. No one had seen her like that in
ages. But the only thing running through her mind was what he would
feel like against her palm.

Finally, her breath returned to normal and
she turned to ask, “What about you?”

He chuckled. “I nearly came from watching
you. One touch and it’ll be over for me.”

* * *

Her wicked smile sent even more blood
rushing to his sex. Though she was as red as could be, she wasn’t
shy about breaching the waist of his pants to find him hard as
steel. They both shuddered when she gripped him hard. The way her
eyes widened, she was probably thinking he was too large for her.
And he couldn’t wait to prove her wrong.

She freed him from his trousers. Her
sapphire eyes traveled his length as her hand began moving on him
in a rhythmic motion. Sharp pleasure jolted through him like a
current of lightning. A faint smile tugged at her lips, making him
want kiss her again, but the molten color behind her heavy lids had
him mesmerized.

She looked as though she were enjoying
pleasuring him as much as he had her. The sight was more erotic
than her soft hand stroking him from root to tip.

He wasn’t lying about nearly exploding when
she had fallen apart in his arms. When her tongue darted out to
lick her lips, Marik couldn’t hold out another second.

As his seed spilled, the orgasm that raked
through him was nearly blinding. He pulled her up to kiss her hard
and demanding, delving his tongue between her lips—a warning that
next time he would be inside her when he came.

If Marik hadn’t heard Rex approaching he
would have pressed her to the floor and used his tongue on her
further. He didn’t care if Rex had to wait out there all night, but
Nadua wouldn’t like it. Nor would she like it if Rex walked in
while her hand was still absently stroking him.