Page 67 of Imbalance

"Thosevile menare my mates." Her eyes narrowed and her hand around my neck tightened.

My good humor evaporated, and I rolled us easily, caging her beneath me, her breath catching and eyes dilating. My fingers easily gathered her hands, removing them from my neck and pulling them above her, in an easy effort that contrasted how she was pulling against me.

"They are not your mates," I stated softly and tilted my head, this time demanding, "Tell me you know that."

"No," she growled, "I don't even know who you are—"

"Lucifer. But you may call me Luce."

Ama's eyes went round at the realization of who, exactly, I was, before she offered an eye-roll, "Okay, right, and I'm the devil himself, as well." She looked to the side, frowning, "Maybe I'm still dreaming—"

"You are not dreaming, Little Temptress," I tightened my grip on her and let her feel how hard I was as I dropped my weight slightly, "Does this feel like a dream to you?"

"Why do you call me that? It’s ridiculous," she sassed back.

“I thought that would be obvious. You are little, and you tempted me from my slumber.”

She had the audacity to roll her eyes, which made my blood boil as she glossed over my answer and asked, "Who are you really?"

"Lucifer,” I asserted.

"You are not the fucking devil—"

My magic wrapped around her almost on command, the black smoke smoothing over her skin and causing her entire body to light up in a pink flush. Her eyes widened as I tried to show her just how much power I had without overwhelming her. I leaned down and brushed my lips against her, and I was surprised to find that she kissed me back, her sweet taste making me nearly groan...before she tried to bring her knee up and hit me in the balls.

"Amare," I snapped, putting more pressure on her so she couldn't move and leveling her with a look. "Stop it."

"Fuck you,” she hissed, looking furious, "I am not going to stop, even if you are the devil."

Bold Little Temptress.

"I am the devil, let me assure you. There is noifabout it." I snapped back to a good mood so that I didn’t alarm her with the rage stewing within me, "And do you know who you are, Little Temptress?"

"Who?" She stuck her chin up, boldly, but the fear I saw in her eyes told me she had an idea and she really didn’t want me to say it out loud.

I felt pleasure course through me as I brushed my nose against hers. "The devil's mate."