Page 19 of Demon Touched (The Demon Syndicate #2)

Nova

D ex held out a hand for her, and she looked at it for a moment – remembering every time he’d done it before. He always gave her the option to decline and Nova had never taken that for granted.

Standing, she took his hand and let him pull her in until she stood between his legs, hands on his shoulders as she looked straight into his eyes.

“I’ll tell you, if you explain one thing to me,” she said carefully, feeling that schism in reality again. It ran up and down her spine in a warning she couldn’t ignore. “How do you know this is real?”

“Could you explain to me what you mean by that question?” he asked. “I want to be sure I understand.”

Nova threaded her fingers through his hair. It was impossible to resist the silky, soft texture of it.

“Up until I met you, I never had feelings for anyone,” she admitted. “Anger, sadness, fear, and happiness aren’t quite the same, you know? I’ve felt those and learned to ignore them when I need to get the job done, but I’m not a robot.”

“I never said you were.” Dex pulled her closer until she was sitting on his lap.

“No, but it’s something I’ve heard before.

” Nova ran her fingertip over the earrings in his ear next, trying to figure out the right words.

“Regardless, I’ve never felt whatever this is between us before, or even some version of it.

I don’t understand how it works or why. It doesn’t feel real to me – like I made it all up in my head. No other explanation makes sense.”

“Why not?” Dex’s hands rested on her ass then, fingertips digging into her. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was mad.

“I don’t know. Look at you.” Nova laughed even though she knew it would make him think she was crazy. “We barely know each other, and there’s no benefit to us being together. It’s absolutely insane and yet here I am, with a fucking boy in my room, like I’m a normal girl.”

His sharp grin reminded her that he wasn’t a normal boy and Nova wondered what it would feel like if he sank those teeth into her.

“I guarantee you I’m real,” he reassured her. “Want me to prove it?”

Her heart started pounding as she imagined everything that might involve. “I guess that depends.” She held his face and memorized the way he looked in the light from the TV, eyes glowing with divine power and hellfire.

If this was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up, and that scared her more than anything.

“I won’t hurt you,” he promised.

“I’m not afraid you’ll hurt me.” Nova smiled and kissed him softly. “I’m afraid of how you make me feel.”

Everything about him felt too perfect.

His hands in her hair made her eyes flutter closed and she breathed him in.

“It’s okay to be scared,” Dex whispered. “I’m kind of a big deal.”

Nova laughed and pushed him over until she was laying on top of him.

Somehow, he always knew what to say to ease the tension, or make it worse, depending on the situation.

His hands in her hair tightened and she inhaled sharply as the sensation made her entire body shiver.

Then Dex kissed her.

Nova lost herself in the taste of him, the softness of his lips, and the warmth of his tongue as it slipped into her mouth.

Sucking on the tip of his tongue, she dug her fingers into him, trying to hold back.

His scent was all around her and she felt safe enough to lose her fucking mind.

Dex rolled, flipping her onto her back without breaking the kiss. He pinned her wrists down to the bed and then pulled back, studying her face. “You’re all I think about anymore,” he confessed.

Then he kissed her neck, teeth grazing against her skin like he knew exactly what she wanted.

Arching into him, she tried to hold back, but he was slowly tearing her apart in the best way. His teeth sank into her skin just enough to leave a mark but not enough to bleed. Nova moaned, writhing underneath him.

The pain mixed with the gentle kiss he pressed to the mark was everything she’d imagined it would be.

“Could you leave me?” he asked, voice rumbling so much she almost couldn’t make out the words.

Nova opened her eyes and stared into Dex’s blazing eyes. Her heart was pounding so hard she knew he could hear it—feel it.

“I thought maybe I could, if it would save your life,” she whispered. “But not for my own.”

That realization was what had settled her.

The demon magic could wait. Her mission would get completed no matter what, but after it was over, she was done. Then she would figure out what it is she was really supposed to do.

But if her presence in Seattle somehow threatened his life, she would leave for good.

Dex stared down at her like he couldn’t quite believe her words. “Why would you want to save me?”

Nova bit her tongue instead of saying those damning words.

She lifted her chin and gave him a sassy look instead. “Why did you save my life?”

He glared at her, knowing there was no good answer. With her dead, his life would have been easier.

Sliding her legs up, she twisted and yanked on his wrists at the same time until he was the one on his back. Nova pinned his arms to his sides with her knees and his sharp smile should have terrified her, but she could only grin back. He looked good like this and she couldn’t help but admire him.

Dex had long arms and even with her pinning his biceps down he was able to reach up and slide his hands up her thighs until he gripped her hips.

“I don’t want you to leave, even if it’s for my own good,” he told her as he rubbed small circles on her skin with his thumb.

Nova laced her fingers through his and slammed them down until they were practically nose to nose. “I care about you too much to let anyone hurt you.”

He forced her back as he sat up, proving just how much stronger he was than her. “It would hurt me more if you left,” he growled.

One quick twist and her back was pressed against his chest. Nova found herself sitting between his legs with his arm across her chest. Dex reached for the remote with his other hand and turned on the show.

“It was just a hypothetical situation,” she muttered. “I’m not going to leave.”

Dex growled softly and slid his shoes off before kicking them off the bed. Nova stayed silent as she waited to see what he was going to do.

He shoved his feet between her legs and spread them wide in one smooth motion. Nova gasped and his hand instantly covered her mouth, immobilizing her against him.

“I need you,” he whispered in her ear, that delicious growl almost completely sub-sonic now, but she could still feel it in his chest—in her back. “But if you don’t want this…you’re going to have to stop me, because I can’t stop myself – not when it comes to you.”

She realized then that she was trembling.

Her hands gripped his arm, but she wasn’t trying to get free, she was just…holding on, for whatever he planned to do next.

“Do you want me to stop, Nova?”

She slowly shook her head so there was no way he could misinterpret her intention. “No, I don’t.” Her reply was muffled against his hand, but a certain level of tension seemed to leave him.

Dex slid his free hand down her chest, her stomach, and then yanked her belt open with such precision she gasped again. Instantly the hand over her mouth pressed down harder and she felt his lips against her ear.

“I just want you to feel good.” His words were low and teasing. “But you have to be quiet. We’re in your parents’ house after all.”

Nova took a shuddering breath as she realized what he had planned.

She could tell him to stop, and he would, but after waiting so long she couldn’t force herself to tell him no, not when it was the last fucking thing she wanted.

Their need and desperation were too potent. Nova watched as his fingers deftly flicked open the fly on her jeans and then slid the zipper down, feeling so worked up that her entire body was already trembling.

His hand pressed to her stomach and it was so large it covered the whole thing. Dex held it there for a moment before sliding his fingers under the fabric of her underwear. She held onto him for dear life, still trying to process that this was actually happening.

She was fucking nervous.

If she felt this way about him now, what would happen when they finally did something about their physical attraction?

“I can feel your heart racing,” he whispered as he tightened his grip on her mouth, leaving just enough room for her to breathe through her nose. “Tell me you want this, Nova.”

“I want this,” she whispered against his hand.

“Tell me you want me to fuck you with my fingers.” His sharp canines nibbled on her ear and she shivered, holding on for dear life.

“And then what?” she asked when he loosened his hand ever so slightly.

“After you cum for me, I’ll hold you until you fall asleep.”

His laugh was just this side of evil and she could hardly process his words, let alone how she was supposed to fall asleep after something like this.

“Say it,” he hissed.

Nova had never had someone give her orders like this before, she’d never had someone whisper such dirty things in her ear and still somehow be so ridiculously respectful.

Dex was rock hard against her ass, but he wasn’t moving – not until he had her response.

“I want you to fuck me,” she told him, the words shaky.

Dex bit down on her neck and held her in place like that. “With what?”

She closed her eyes and bit her tongue against all the ideas that came to mind.

Licking her lips, she took a deep breath. “With your fingers.”

“That’s my girl,” he murmured. His fingers dipped down even farther and she was so sensitive her entire body jolted when he slid them over her clit.

Her grip on his arm was so tight she worried she might hurt him, but Dex didn’t seem to care. His focus was on her and her alone as he dipped into her wetness. That simple touch had her lifting her hips and groaning.

Nova couldn’t figure out if she was embarrassed or not. Her reaction to him was utterly ridiculous, but she couldn’t help herself. Just the pressure of his fingers felt so good she actually whimpered.

“Shh,” he whispered, hand clamping down on her mouth. “You can scream for me next time.”

She bit her bottom lip as he slid one long, thick finger inside. Nova gripped the back of his neck with one hand and ground her ass into him to make sure she wasn’t the only one losing her fucking mind.

“ Fuck ,” he growled, spreading her legs wider. “I love knowing how badly you want me.”

All she could do was hold on and take it as he slid his finger in and out as he slowly rubbed her clit slowly with his thumb.

The anticipation and need spiked so fast she actually felt dizzy.

Then he slid in a second finger and this time she couldn’t hold back her moan.

“Fucking hell.” Dex took a deep, shuddering breath and she felt it against her neck when he exhaled.

Nova nearly came right then and there.

The way he held her made it impossible to move – impossible to do anything other than take whatever he wanted to give her and Dex increased the tempo of his strokes, pressing down on her clit with his thumb, spreading her slickness everywhere and her entire body shook.

“Yes,” he murmured. “You’re mine , Novalie, and I’m not giving you up.”

She fell apart around him like it was nothing – her screams muffled by his hand and the TV. Dex pressed his hips into her ass and she could feel how hard he was. Nova pushed back against him, wanting more, but Dex didn’t stop stroking her, he only slowed down.

“Tell me you’ll stay,” he whispered as he slid in a third finger.

The sound that came out of her wasn’t something she’d ever heard before. How was she supposed to think when an orgasm was still rippling through her?

Dex loosened his grip over her mouth and tipped her head back so he could kiss her. She moaned into his mouth as he stroked her – his tongue matching the tempo of his fingers.

“Will you stay with me?” he asked, staring into her eyes.

Nova had never seen them glow so brightly before.

“I’ll stay,” she managed, yanking him down so she could kiss him again.

Dex grinned and nibbled her lips, never once stopping as he kissed her again and again until she was breathless and panting. The pleasure was spiking again and she kissed him hard as she came.

He swallowed the sounds of her ecstasy and held her thrashing body against as he took her, legs pinning hers. Nova collapsed when he finally stopped, her entire body convulsing from the aftershocks.

Slowly and gently he released her, kissing her lips, her neck, her shoulder, and even the palm of her hand as he removed it from his neck. Dex smiled down at her like the cat who ate the canary and kissed her collarbone as he slid out from underneath her.

Nova couldn’t move. Her body was limp and relaxed and honestly in shock. No one had ever been able to make her come more than once, or so quickly.

Dex lifted up her shirt and placed his hand over the marks on her stomach. The warmth as he healed it a little bit more made her sleepy, but sleep was the last thing she wanted. Nova reached for him, but he took her wrist and kissed the inside instead of letting her pull him closer.

“I need to take a shower, and then I’ll start the show from the beginning.” Dex chuckled and kissed the mark on her stomach. “I’m pretty sure you missed most of it.”

“Whose fault is that?” But she wasn’t the least bit annoyed.

“It was definitely mine,” he said smugly.

“Need help showering?” she asked, looking pointedly at his very obvious erection that was making her fucking mouth water.

His eyes flashed and he scratched the back of his neck with a rueful smile. “No, I promised you slow, remember? And the first time I take you…well, the last thing I want is for you to be quiet.”

What an asshole.

“Hey, you wanted slow.” Dex slapped her ass hard enough it actually hurt.

Nova glared at him. “Fine but hurry up. I need one too.”

The way he looked at her nearly had her shaking all over again.

Dex leaned over her and kissed just under her earlobe. “If we were anywhere else, I’d clean you up with my tongue.”

She slapped her hand over her mouth and stared at him in shock.

He did not just say that.

Dex grinned as he stood and disappeared into the bathroom.

How was she supposed to stop thinking about that hungry, smug look on his face?