Page 184 of Bred

“Who’s going to challenge me, cupcake?”

Well, shit.

Who, indeed?

“Don’t call me that. I’m not having your baby.”

“Agree to disagree. I’ve prepared everything you’ll need at my home, but I understand if you want to pack a bag of any personal belongings.”

“I can’t just up and leave! What about my job? My life?”

“Can you honestly say you’re fulfilled?”

His question arrests me because deep down, I’m not. I thought with my family gone, my world would be all rainbows and sunshine, but something felt missing. I’m empty inside. As if sensing my inner turmoil, the Devil gives me a gentle look that belies everything known to man about the guy.

“Let me give you everything you deserve. You’ll want for nothing. I promise I can make you happy if you only give me the chance. What do you have to lose?”

He whispers the words, stepping into my personal space. An interesting scent—cologne mixed with the faint whiff of a campfire—wafts between us. Handsome and he smells good. That’s just not fair, but the Devil plays dirty.

“Come on, Natalia. Give me one night.”

Despite the contract, it feels like he’s still offering me a choice. I bite my lip. In truth, I’m so alone, it hurts. I’ve cut myself off from people around me. Only this man knows my secrets, understands me in a way no one else ever could.

“And as an added bonus to siring the future heir of Hell and being my queen, you can personally partake in the torture of the souls I hold dominion over.”

Queen?

He wants me to become the Queen of Hell?!

But that question is eclipsed when I absorb the rest of his enticement.

“Are you saying…”“Yep. I’m saying you can have your cake and eat it, too, angel. For the past ten years, your parents and older brother have been made fucking miserable, but come with me, and you can help make them even more so. The sky’s the limit. Want to have them skinned alive so they bleed to death but actually never die?”

A giggle wells up, partly from the sheer insanity of his words and partly from how sick I am because Idowant that. Levi, my mom, and my dad deserve no less. It’s because of them my younger sister is dead. She committed suicide when I was just fifteen, her a year younger.

Levi raped her over and over, and my parents knew but did nothing to stop him. They broke my sweet sister—my best friend—and took her from me. They’re monsters and being skinned alive brings me unholy relish.

“Ok.”

The Devil quirks a brow.

“Seal it with a kiss.”

CHAPTER FOUR

LUCIFER

Natalialicksherlipsas a shiver runs down her curvy frame. She stares up at me, her pupils blown, and I step in closer until our chests touch. Hers heaves at the contact, and a possessive growl rumbles from me.Mine.

Leaning down, I brush my mouth over hers in a whisper of kiss. When she doesn’t pull back, I do it again, this time applying more pressure. She meets me halfway, and I sweep my tongue over the seam of her lips, demanding entry.

She acquiesces, opening with a gasp, and I claim her, one step closer to making her mine. When she summoned me ten years ago, I knew then I wanted her. I waited impatiently for her to live her life, to heal, but with every passing year, she just seemed to dwindle more. At my side, I’ll bring her happiness.

Deepening the kiss, I transport us from her apartment to my bedroom in my castle. She’s so engrossed in our lip lock that Natalia doesn’t notice right away, but she jerks away when the backs of her knees meet my bed and buckle.

“Where are we?!”

“My room.”