out loud as she moved to sit on the mock Hawaiian print bed and
stare at the cheesy floral wallpaper that peeled and drooped
towards the floor.
“You’re such a pessimist.” Leviathan said as he pulled back the
curtains, letting the rest of the Australian sunset filter into their
room. They were on the fourth floor, giving them a nice
view…of the parking lot. At least they had a balcony on the
opposite side of the room, that way she could throw herself off of
it if the cops showed up.
“And you obviously know nothing about modern day police.
They have forensics and special spy gadgets. They’re going to
catch us.”
“I don’t have any DNA to leave behind and I made sure all
footage of me inside the bank was destroyed. There, will you
cease frowning?” He paused to ask and she opened her mouth to
retort until her mind processed what he said.
“You don’t have DNA? Wait demon’s don’t have genetics?”
“We have a form of genetic DNA yes, but none traceable by
humans or their technology. Now, is there anything else trivial
you’d like to know or would you like to eat something?” She
ignored the growl in her stomach and it’s bad timing and
continued to glare up at him.
“Yes, I’d like to know about your weird demon genes. It’s not
like you’ve told me anything
else
about yourself. I’m surprised
you even told me your name.” She said and he cocked a brow
down at her. “Oh wait, I do know you’re a carjacking, tent
burning, bank robbing jackass!” Leviathan ignored her rant,
moving over to the antiquated phone on one of the nightstands.
“Oh look, they have room service. How fancy.” He lifted the
phone and Kailani growled, moving to pull it from his hands and
slam it onto the receiver.
“Don’t change the subject!” She said and he cocked his head to
glare up at her from his seated position on the bed. Leviathan
rose to his full, intimidating height but still she didn’t back down.
“What do you wish to know?”
“Oh I don’t know, what’s it like in hell?” She asked and he gave
her a look.
“It’s hell. What do you think it’s like?”
“No idea, I just wanted to know if you’d give me a straight
answer. Looks like you won’t.” She continued to glare and he
moved away from her, lifting one of the trash bags full of cash
they’d non-covertly slipped into the room, and dumping its
contents on the bed.
“Alright. I’ll make you a deal. If you can count all of this in
under ten minutes I’ll answer any three questions you have,
honestly.” He said, smirking at her. Kailani rolled her eyes and
went to spread the little stacks of money out across the
bedspread.
“Lets see. Wow, someone managed to steal only American bills,”
She threw him a glance he returned with a roll of his eyes, “These
are all stacks of one hundred dollar bills, which hold one
thousand dollars per stack. There are about fifty two stacks
making it roughly fifty two thousand dollars.” She flinched at the
amount, turning to smile up at him. Leviathan frowned and she
shrugged. “Math was my favorite subject in school.”
“Ask your questions.” He growled and she grinned, giving a
whoop of victory as he returned to his seat on the bed.
“Okay first question. Where are you from?” She eased onto the
floor in front of him and folded her legs.
“Hell. Next question.”
“Leviathan that doesn’t answer anything and you know it.”
“And why not? You asked and I answered.” He watched her eyes
tighten in a glare and sighed. “It’s hell Kailani, I spend most of
my time in my natural form curled up in a cave to avoid random
fights with other demons. I only venture out to feed or to answer
my master’s summons and being as old as I am he often forgets I
exist. It’s not Disneyland, its not a vacation; It’s hell.” He told
her and she frowned.
“Natural form? And wait, how old are you exactly?” She asked,
noticing his hesitation.
“I take a human form because it is much easier to move around
the human realm wearing one. It also makes things a lot more
satisfying, like food and,” He paused to smirk down at her, “Sex.
As for my age, do you recall the term ‘Older than time’?”
“Yes…” She hedged waiting for the other foot to drop.
“I’m even older.”
“Wait, older than the phrase or older than time?” She asked and
his smirk returned.
“Both I suppose.” He said and she sighed.
“Great, I slept with someone who’s literally older than dirt.” Her
hands hit her sides as she huffed.
“Give it a rest dramatic.” He said gruffly as she blinked up at
him. “I have no age. I’ve simply always existed.”
“Always? How were you created, or born if you don’t mind me
asking?”
“I don’t know. As I said I’ve always existed. I don’t remember
the moment of my creation. Do you remember your birth?” He
asked and she shook her head.
“No. I have glimpses of what I thought it could be, but now that I
know I wasn’t born from my human parent’s it’s likely just some
memory my real parents implanted in my brain before they left
me.” She said sadly, her mouth taut as she spoke. Leviathan ran
his fingers through her hair before standing and moving to stare
out the window. “Where are you going I have two questions
left?”
“No, you don’t. You’ve asked me four questions now.”
“I did not! I only asked…” She quickly counted them on her
fingers then cursed, “Those last three don’t count.”
“Yes they do. Anything else you wish to know will have to be
bartered for.”
“Bartered for?!” She scrambled to her feet and made her way
over to where he stood, glaring up into his clear eyes that were
stained orange and red by the sunset. “That’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair.” He hooked his arm around her waist and pulled
her against his side, pressing his lips gently against hers before
growling. “You get one more question. Ask it before I change my
mind.” He said and she blinked up at him, trying to think past his
confusing kiss and her jumbled thoughts. One question? She had
a million things she wanted to know about him.
“What about merging? Tell me about that.” She said, leaping on
the question that had been burning in the back of her mind since
she’d met him. He couldn’t have made a more distasteful face,
pulling himself away from her and withdrawing to the other side
of the room.
“Why would you want to know about that?”
“Because I do. Everyone’s mentioned it lately but no one’s
explained it. Is it the same process with both angels and demons?
You’ve said it’s better than sex, what all does it entail? Tell me
something Leviathan.” She followed him and he growled
something in what sounded like Gaelic. “And tell me how you do
that! How many languages do you know? How much do you
know period?!”
“I gave you one question Kailani.” He snarled and she glared up
at him.
“Then consider them sub-questions.” He growled again, taking a
step towards the door but she grabbed the front of his shirt,
making him stop and glare down at her. “Tell me.” She watched
the muscle in his jaw twitch as he clenched and unclenched his
teeth.
“The merging…” He stopped himself, sighing as he pried her
tiny fists away from his shirt and flattened them against his chest.
“The merging is a three-step process. It begins with a physical
connection, more often than not, sex.” He held her gaze, wanting
her to know the full implication of what he was telling her. “The
second is the death of the Hellmouths mortal body, the body the
Swart Elves placed you in when they traded you for your human
counterpart if what Naomi told you was the truth. The third is as
simple as swearing fealty to the demon or angel you are merging
with. And then the merging happens. It’s like…” He paused as he
fought desperately to find the right words, “It’s like two magnets
being pulled together with such force every being in the universe
can feel it. But when they collide everything is taken from the
Hellmouth and given to the demon. All their power, their
connection to the source, everything is stolen leaving
them…Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing, Kailani. There is no term for a Hellmouth who’s
merged with a demon or an angel. You’re simply nothing. You’re
not a witch and certainly not a human.” He said and she frowned,
looking away from him.
“Oh. So this is all a waste of time.” She moved to pull away from
him but he refused to let her go, growling and forcing her to stare
up into his eyes.
“You’ll have your life back. You can masquerade as a human in
whatever form you take after your mortal body dies. You’ll be
normal again. Mostly.” He reassured her and she shook her head.
His words sounded good but could she believe them? Could she
trust that everything would just be fine after everything that had
already happened and would happen in the future? For the
hundredth time in four days she felt as if her world was caving in.
Leviathan sighed, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her
off her feet.
“What are you doing?” She heard herself ask seconds before she
was dumped onto the bed, sending stacks of bills flying
everywhere. “No! Leviathan I know that look! We are not having
sex on a pile of stolen money!” She said and he chuckled,
ignoring her protests as he proceeded to rip the button down off
her body.
“Lets see if you’re saying that once I have my head between your
legs.”
Chapter Ten
Kailani arched her back, digging her nails into the sheets
next to her head; tugging so hard they were pulled off the
mattress. She couldn’t breathe, her mouth hanging open in a
silent scream as she shook on the verge of orgasm. Leviathan was
true to his words. He’d ripped off her panties, shredding them
and discarding the fabric as if she’d never need to wear clothing
again. His mouth on her was scorching, so hot she felt as if she
were bathed in fire. He was gentle at first, his actions growing in
intensity as her moans and screams sent heat and desire coursing
through his veins. His name was ever present on her lips, an oath
she shouted towards the heavens as she was driven into a frenzy
time and time again. Leviathan chuckled against her tender flesh
as she floated back into her body.
“I don’t think I can survive that again.” Her voice trembled as she
pried her eyes open and slowly released the sheets less she shred
them. Leviathan licked his lips as he stared up at her.
“Do you want me inside of you?” He asked and she was nodding
before he could finish his sentence.
“Yes. Please.” She sounded so feeble but still her body begged
for his. It longed to feel him hard and fast and deep, touching her
in places she’d never been touched before. “Please.” She moaned,
her hands slipping up her ribs and cupping her breasts while she
writhed. Leviathan pulled his clothing from his body in record
timing as he climbed over her, hooking her legs around his waist.
His hands followed the path hers had taken, cupping her breasts
tightly while his lips and teeth teased her neck and jawline. She
could hear him growling next to her ear, his breath falling against
her fevered skin. Kailani whimpered with anticipation. She
hadn’t predicted any of this, not the slow, gentle touches or the
kisses that were overly sweet. They went against everything she
expected from Leviathan. There was no fast paced seduction his
previous actions had promised. He didn’t slam wildly into her
body like some beast. He wasn’t rough with her. He was careful
with her. Always careful. Tender like she’d known no other lover
to be. She knew it was a stupid time to cry, to even be thinking
those things but she couldn’t help the tears it brought to her eyes.
“Kailani?” She heard his deep voice rumbling next to her ear and
she moved to roll away from him, shielding her face with her
