Page 29

Chapter 28

Pesky Feelings

Jemma

I woke, warm, and comfortable, and rested. Wan sunlight made a valiant attempt to shine through a layer of grey, drizzly clouds. Raindrops pattered against the window, keeping time with the rumbling snore beside me.

Oh .

I snatched my glasses from the bedside table, peering across the bed. There he was. No longer red and glowing, he was back in his human disguise. There was no sign of a pair of horns or the tail that I’d dreamed naughty things about last night.

But unmistakeably, undeniably, Satan Junior was asleep in my bed.

I felt a pang of disappointment at the loss of the devil version of SJ, but even in his human form, he was … sigh … so perfect. With his chiselled abs, and bulging biceps, and … bulging other parts as well.

The sexy bastard.

The thoughtful bastard, who had made light for me when I was frightened in the dark. Who had listened when I wanted to vomit out my trauma. Who, if my hazy memories were correct from our sleepy conversation late last night, felt trapped in his role in all of this. Felt trapped by the expectations of his family.

I knew that feeling all too well.

Here was a bastard who had taken me to a restaurant where I got a close-up view of art I never thought I’d ever get a chance to see. Who sat me down to a meal of the most delicious food. Yes, it had been basically poison to me … but he had apologised so earnestly after. And I genuinely believed he hadn’t been aware of how bad it would be for me.

He was a bastard who had let me win our little battle last night, even though technically he could have claimed victory and ended our war over my soul.

Perhaps he wasn’t such a bastard after all?

I slipped from the bed and headed for the bathroom. My pain from the night before had faded to practically nothing. I’d have to be careful with what I ate today—nothing that could irritate my tender stomach, but otherwise, fingers crossed, I’d gotten it all out last night.

I peed, brushed my teeth, and wrangled my hair into something less bird’s nest-y. In the laundry, I fed a bemused-looking Luci but didn’t let her out of the cage.

Perhaps last night’s plan would still work this morning? He was, after all, almost naked in my bed—half the work was done for me. And his devil dick had been quite insistent last night when my body was tucked up against his.

I’d felt so tiny in his arms. And yet so very cosy and warm. And if he wasn’t trying to steal my soul, I could get very used to falling asleep like that.

But I couldn’t think about how he made me feel!

If I could only get out of this with my soul intact and belonging to me once more—that was my priority. That was my mission. And shagging my way out of it still felt like the best course of action.

Besides, seducing him wouldn’t exactly be a hardship … I mean, in human form, he was divine. And in his devil body?

Well, I’d climb that like a tree.

I paused at the bedroom door, just watching him. The covers were shucked down to his hips, his chest rising and falling evenly. One arm lolled off the side of the bed, loosely grasping a book. A book with a red devil on the cover.

I chuckled, climbing onto the bed. So, the big devil hadn’t been able to contain his curiosity in the night, had he?

Huh. I hadn’t even woken when he left to seek out the book I’d told him about. Which was super weird. I was a very light sleeper. And when something triggered my memories of my parents, I usually tossed and turned all night.

Was it possible that I felt safe with him?

That was stupid of me.

But is it, though? that little voice insisted.

I ignored the voice as I tugged the covers over me and nestled into the crook of his splayed arm. He rolled towards me, the book thunking to the ground, his arms enveloping me, his nose in my hair.

“Hello, Mouse,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. My stomach fluttered at the roughness of his voice, at the warmth of his embrace.

Uh oh. The fluttery feelings were moving higher, too.

Nope. That was not allowed. Mission. Priority. That was all I would allow myself to think about.

“No horny devil this morning?” I managed, my throat suddenly tight with nerves.

“Hmmm, I don’t know about that.” He tucked me against him, and … oh ! There was the horny devil, prodding me in the backside!

“I meant, horned devil. As in, with the pointy things on your head, and the glowing and the … the tail …” I swallowed, remembering the things dream SJ had done to me with that tail last night.

Heat pooled between my thighs.

“It’s harder to hold that form in the human realm, I’ve found. I must put conscious energy into it. It probably wore off while I was sleeping.” He reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I hope you didn’t wake in the dark …”

I rolled towards him, not wanting to go down that conversation path right now. I needed to keep this … seductive. “I slept very … deeply. I had some interesting dreams, too.” I smiled coyly up at him. “Let’s just say, your devilish attributes were very much the stars of the show.”

His cheeks went pink, which only made that heat low in my belly burst into flames. Unfortunately, it also had those flutters moving closer and closer to my chest.

No, no, no!

“Do you really find monsters as … stirring … as you claim to?” he asked, an adorably confused crease between his eyebrows.

Do not start thinking of him as adorable! I admonished myself.

Too late , the little voice retorted.

“Uh, you have seen my book collection, right?” I tried for a withering tone, but my voice was trembling.

“But … that’s fiction, it’s not the same.” His head tilted to the side, regarding me in a way that had me blushing.

You’re better than fiction , the naughty voice purred. And it was right. The warm hardness of his chest against my boobs … and the warm hardness lower down that was jabbing at my hip … all of that was very much superior to a fictitious character.

“Tell me what you love about your monster pornography,” he rumbled persuasively, his breath hot against my cheek. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin, and I dug my fingers into his biceps as if to ground me.

“Romance,” I breathed. I felt like he could very easily make me float away on a horny cloud. “It’s monster romance . And, well, the males, they …” I bit my lip, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “They always know how to make a woman come.”

His lips parted, his eyes sparkling. “Do they now? And is that not the case with real-life males?”

I’m sure you’d know how to .

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance, even as I pressed my thighs together to try and quench the ache between them. It did nothing.

Damn sexy devil with his sultry voice and his big hard …

“Men in the real world often aren’t all that interested in putting the effort in. At least, not consistently.” I leaned my head against his bicep, tilting my face to look at him. “The males in my books want to please their woman. Multiple times. They’ll go above and beyond to please her. They’re verging on obsessed—like she’s the only female in the world for them.”

His eyes widened slightly, and he cleared his throat. “So, these males can do no wrong in the eyes of their women?”

I giggled. “Oh, they very often get it wrong. It’s called a third-act breakup.”

“A third … what?” His bewilderment was so endearing.

And there was that fluttering right at the base of my ribcage. He was working his way into my …

“It’s a very polarising trope in the romance novel world,” I explained hurriedly before that silly thought could take hold. “Some sort of argument, or misunderstanding, happens—generally the male’s fault—close to the end of the story, that ends their relationship.”

“Forgive me,” he muttered, “but that doesn’t sound very … romantic. I thought these books were supposed to have a happy ending.” His fingers flexed on my waist. I wanted to press into that touch, but I forced myself to stay still.

“Oh, they do end happily!” I squeaked. His lips quirked up at the corners. I tried not to melt. “But it’s the journey back to happiness that’s the fun part. In my books, the males really know how to grovel. A third-act breakup can be satisfying, in my opinion, if the male fucks up big time and then makes the grandest grovelling gesture to make it up to her.”

“And … the monsters do this? In your books?”

I nodded, my own lips curving into a smile. “Oh, they’re the experts at it. And then, of course, there’s the trick dicks.”

His chuckle was low, sinful. It made my pussy clench. I bit back a gasp.

“I believe you’ve mentioned those before. In fact, that conversation is permanently etched into my brain, Mouse. Please, enlighten me on the types of … tricks … these monsters of yours have up their sleeves.”

“Well,” I began coyly, pressing one finger to the dip in his collarbone and sliding it downwards. It was time to up the seduction.

And darn it, I really liked touching him. Really, really liked it.

My finger met the ripples of his abs, and he was suddenly very still. Only one part of him was moving, pulsing in his undies. “They might … vibrate, or … have ridges designed solely for her pleasure. Or they might have an extra appendage that grinds against her clit when he’s inside her.”

A low growl erupted from his chest. “And, how would one of these … beings … begin a tryst with their small human female? When her size is not exactly compatible with a monster appendage.”

I barely dared to breathe as I gazed up at him from under my lashes. “Well, they would prepare their female with many, many orgasms, first, to ensure she was?—”

His mouth, hot and insistent on mine, stole my words. His hands tangled in my hair, his thumbs caressed my cheeks, knocking my glasses askew. But I didn’t care because this was the sort of kiss that made everything else fade into insignificance.

I opened to him with a hungry desperation that should have shocked me because it had absolutely nothing to do with my plan. But his tongue lashing against mine robbed me of all thought, of everything but how incredible it felt. How incredible he felt.

He licked into my mouth, gripping the nape of my neck and angling me to deepen the kiss. I clutched at his arms, nipped his bottom lip, and squeaked when his hands slid down my back with startling speed to grip my butt, flipping me until I was on top of him, my legs either side of his hips, and his … oh my goodness, his very hard, very large dick, pulsing against the parts of me that were aching for it.

He broke away from my mouth, his fingers toying with the bottom of my sleep tank. “Mouse, are you well?”

“Very,” I gasped. “So, so well!” My eyes slid closed as his thumbs caressed the bare skin on my belly. “Never better, in fact!”

“And you want this?” The barely concealed hope in his tone had me melting.

“So much!” Too much, maybe.

“Good,” he growled, and my tank top was tugged up and off my body. My boobs bounced free, and his dick jerked against my core. “Because I have been dreaming the dirtiest things about these nipples.”

His eyes, dark with lust, raked over my bare chest, his palms slipping up, cupping the weight of my breasts. His thumbs grazed over my nipples, and a low moan erupted from me as I arched into his hot touch.

“These perfect breasts were meant to be savoured,” he murmured reverently, kneading the flesh gently, pinching one nipple, then the other. I gasped, my belly dipped, and I couldn’t help but rock myself against his insistent erection as he fondled me.

And then his lips closed around one peak, and I cried out, throwing my head back to give him better access. He sucked that nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling, his teeth grazing. He strummed the other with his fingers until I was writhing against his shaft, wishing there were no layers of clothing between my aching pussy and the thing that I knew would ruin me with pleasure.

“Even better than I imagined,” he growled against my nipple, then moved to the other, attending to it in the same devouring manner. My pussy pulsed. I was certain my underwear was completely soaked, and still he tasted, nipped and licked and suckled.

“If you keep that up, I’m going to …” I rocked against his dick, my fingers clawing at his abs.

“Do it, Mouse. Take your pleasure.” His head dipped to my nipple again, his hands cupping my butt, grinding me against his length. He growled into my flesh, his teeth grazing the underside of my boob, his hips jerking to give me more pressure on my aching clit.

“Need you … inside me!” I begged, arching back but unable to stop rubbing my pussy against him.

“Not yet,” he muttered. “You wouldn’t be able to take me.”

Oh God, he was better than every filthy monster fantasy I’d ever had, and he wasn’t even in his monster form! I was about to orgasm through layers of clothing from the way he moved me against his big, pulsing shaft.

“Come for me, Jemma. Please!” he grated. His eyes had gone black with lust, and I was overcome. I gripped his neck and kissed him, tangling my tongue with his as heat and aching built in my core, spreading outwards in a deliciously inexorable rush.

I cried out into his mouth as the coiling pleasure sprang free, zooming out along every nerve in my body. My pussy clenched emptily, soaking through my pyjama bottoms as I spasmed helplessly on top of him.

“Yes, that’s a good girl, Mouse,” he rasped, his fingers so tight on my butt I was certain I was going to bruise.

When the pulsing began to subside, I fell limply against his chest. His hands slid from my butt up my back, tugging my sweaty hair away from my cheeks.

“Look at you, all flushed and perfect.”

I managed a lazy grin. “When do I get to return the favour?” I wiggled against his extremely hard shaft, then squeaked. “Holy Hell! I didn’t realise dry humping could leave me this sensitive!”

He chuckled, but his jaw was tight. “I am … you do not need to?—”

“But I want to!” I insisted, summoning up some strength into my jelly-like limbs and sliding down his body. And oh. Oh. There was so much of him his jocks could not contain it. Just looking at the glistening, swollen crown and a good portion of shaft protruding from his underwear had my own arousal spiking again. It was so thick! No wonder he’d been telling me that I wouldn’t be able to …

But I desperately wanted to try.

I wanted him .

This wasn’t just about shagging my way out of our contract. Not anymore. This was very much about enjoying this pleasure. Of sharing pleasure. Of giving him pleasure.

My mouth watered, and my fingers dug into the waistband of his jocks, ready to tug them off, to reveal all of him, when he gripped me under the arms, and I was tossed to the bed, the breath gusting from my lungs as I landed on my back.

He loomed over me. “You are not ready yet, Mouse. I believe you mentioned something about females needing many, many orgasms from their monster before …” His mouth descended, kissing hot brands across my collarbone, my chest.

“That was only for sex, you silly devil!” I panted, pressing my breasts up, hoping he’d put his mouth on them again. “I don’t need multiple orgasms to suck your cock.”

The rumble that vibrated from his chest through my body almost had me coming again as he found my mouth with his, flicking and teasing my tongue, his body hot and hard and perfect over me.

“Hearing the word cock come out of your pretty little mouth is fast becoming my favourite thing in the world,” he murmured against my lips. I grinned, tugging him down onto me, wrapping my legs around his hips—well, as much as I could in any case, big, sexy brute that he was.

“Please, SJ,” I purred, nipping his earlobe. His shaft jerked against my still pulsing core. “Let me wrap my lips around your enormous cock.”

“You really are a little minx, aren’t you?” He grazed his teeth along my jaw, making me shiver. “But I’m not done playing with you, yet.”

And then he distracted me from everything else with another of those wicked, languid kisses, taking my mouth so possessively. His tongue stroking mine was so sinfully good that I could do nothing but dig my fingers into his waist and be ravished by his talented mouth.

“I could do nothing but kiss these plump lips of yours, Mouse, and I’d walk away satisfied,” he muttered, leaning back, his thumb tracing my kiss-swollen mouth.

“Well, I wouldn’t,” I grouched petulantly. A deep chuckle erupted from him, his eyes back to twinkling merrily. As if my orgasm had sated his own needs.

As if my pleasure was more important than his own.

Oh my God. I couldn’t even deny it. The flutter was in my chest now. Which meant this game, where my soul was the prize, had suddenly become much more dangerous. Because maybe there was something more here to lose …

Well, that was a terrifying thought.

His smirk slipped, his eyes searching my face. Could he tell the turmoil I’d suddenly found myself in?

“Mouse? Are you feeling ill?”

I hurriedly shook my head. “Not at all,” I squeaked, desperately plastering a grin on my face, hoping it would mask my sudden swell of emotions.

He saw right through me, rolling off me and onto his back with a sigh. “I think I’ve overstayed my welcome.”

“No!” I squawked, sitting bolt upright, straightening my glasses. His eyes darted to my boobs, and he pinched the bridge of his nose, even as his dick swelled further. The jocks were doing nothing to contain the hard length, and I ached with the need to touch him, to kiss him there, to … to have that inside me.

But the simple fact that I needed it so badly was the exact reason I really should just let him leave. Shagging him to get my soul back only worked if pesky feelings didn’t get involved.

And I thought it might … maybe … possibly … be a little too late for me on that front.

Shit.

He turned to sit on the side of the bed, his broad back to me. “I really must return to Hell, Mouse,” he grated. “If for no other reason than I have no clothes to wear aside from this completely useless undergarment.”

He stood stiffly, shaking his head as he marched towards the bathroom. I scrambled out of bed, wincing at how tender I was despite not even getting to properly ride that enormous appendage of his.

My heart was racing as I snatched up my tank top and struggled into it while scurrying after him. My throat felt hot and dry and … oh my God, was I panicking?

I was panicking.

“Hey, maybe you could just go back and get yourself some clothes, and then … I don’t know … hang out here? You can even bring the Hell Hounds! Luci would love a play date!”

He froze in the doorway of the bathroom, and I crashed into his solid, immovable back. I stumbled backwards, a hysterical laugh bursting out of me. “Gosh, that just reminded me of that first day we met. I swear, SJ, if you turn around right now and there’s a giant box of donuts in your hand …”

Instead, he bent, scooped up his ruined clothes, and turned to me. In his hand was a neon pink disc. My hand clapped over my mouth.

“Is that …?” I mumbled through my fingers. The disc pulsed like a strobe light at a disco. My eyes snapped to his. He stared back, lips tight, jaw ticking, eyes stony grey. He didn’t need to answer. I knew what it was.

“Why is it … so bright?”

“Because I’m very good at making you miserable.”

“SJ …” I whispered, my hand falling from my mouth to my sternum, pressing against the sudden ache there. His gaze dropped to the Soul Token, and he fisted it in his big palm, his knuckles going white. “You know, this morning, you made me the opposite of miserable. And last night, too.”

“Last night I made you so sick you could barely stand!” he rasped, his face pale.

“Accidentally!” I shot back. “And you apologised to me, which no man has ever done before! And you … you listened.” My voice broke a little on that last word, and the Soul Token between us flashed blinding white for a second before going back to fluorescent pink.

“Mouse … I am trying to steal your soul. And when I’m not, I’m having thoughts about you that are so … indecent, I … I must go.”

He manoeuvred around me, heading for the living room.

I dove in the opposite direction. Following a mad whim, I scampered back into the bedroom and scooped up the Devious Devil book.

“Oh my … well, good morning!”

And now Ezra was home! I stifled a groan, racing for the living room.

SJ stood in the centre of the room, clutching the ruins of his clothes to his crotch. Two spots of pink blazed high on his cheeks, and he turned to me, his eyes a silent plea.

My heart stumbled in my chest.

“Morning Ezra, I didn’t expect you home so early!” My voice sounded ridiculously, falsely bright. Ezra turned to me, his grin cheeky, his eyebrows waggling.

A lump popped up in my throat. I knew what he was thinking—that SJ and I had been about to make the most of having the house to ourselves by christening the living room.

I almost wished he’d caught us about to do that, rather than the reality …

“Please, don’t mind me, I’ll just … grab some old clothes and get out of your way. Humphrey teaches a Monday pottery class, and I’m tagging along. We’re going to learn how to throw a vase today.” He smirked lewdly at me, and I wanted to shriek with laughter, recalling our little euphemisms about vases and stems.

But all that happened was my eyes got very hot. I blinked rapidly. No crying, Jemma! Especially not when I could feel the intensity of SJ’s gaze, hot and possessive and all the things that I wanted it to be, but desperately shouldn’t want from him.

“Please don’t hurry on my account.” SJ’s tone was suave, but there was a tightness lurking under it. “I really must be going.”

“Like that ?” Ezra asked in disbelief, his eyes dropping to the tatters of SJ’s clothes and what was very evident beneath them, and then quickly flicking away, his own cheeks heating.

“I … I must take my leave. It was nice to meet you … Ezra, isn’t it?” SJ muttered, gave a curt nod, then strode for the door without waiting for a reply. Ezra’s eyes fell on SJ’s muscular backside, and a tiny squeak erupted from him.

I wanted to snarl, ‘Mine!’ like some crazed beast from my books, but instead, I scuttled past my flustered roommate and leapt between the door and the equally flustered devil trying to escape.

I shoved the book against his solid chest, setting my jaw, ready for a fight. “I want you to finish reading it!”

SJ peered down at my determined expression, and a ghost of a smile flitted over his features before his mouth settled back into a frown. “Alright, Mouse. I will suffer through your monster pornography.”

A spluttering sound erupted behind us. I turned to glare at Ezra, who, having apparently tried to cool down all his excitement over my mostly naked, fake boyfriend slash soul-stealing devil slash giant softie with a glass of water, had spat it all over the kitchen floor.

“Let’s talk in the hallway,” I muttered, reaching behind me for the doorknob. My boob brushed his ribs, and he sucked in a breath. I gritted my teeth. We could be in bed right now, my boobs brushing whatever part of his body he so desired.

Instead, I was having heart flutters, and he was … what was he doing? Escaping?

The hallway was musty with mildew, the smell made stronger by the rainy day. Once the door was closed, SJ immediately raised a hand, conjuring that shimmery tunnel that was one of his portals.

“You’re just going to leave?” I demanded, crossing my arms.

“Your second task is complete. There is no need for me to remain here,” he muttered, but his head tilted towards me, and his eyes searched my face. There was something in his expression that had my stomach doing backflips.

“When will I see you again?”

He inhaled sharply, then cocked one eyebrow, his mouth hooking up at one corner. “Are you so impatient for your next task, Mouse?”

If it means seeing you again …

What on earth was wrong with me?

“You could just … visit me, you know … on completely untask-related business.”

“And what business might that be?” The hint of teasing in his tone gave me a spark of hope.

The sort where I’m bouncing on that big, thick cock? I thought savagely. His eyes darkened as if he could read my thoughts.

I cleared my throat. “Well … you’ll have to return my book!” I crowed, pointing at the offending item. “And I’ll be expecting a full book report. I’ll have a quiz prepared and everything—so you better pay proper attention to detail.”

His lips parted sultrily. “Oh, Mouse, I’ll be at full attention the whole way through.”

I choked on a breath. He was talking about what I thought he was talking about, wasn’t he?

While I tried desperately to summon the wits to question him, the portal whirled and expanded to SJ’s size. He turned to step through it.

I surged forwards, grabbing his arm and tugging him to face me.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” I breathed. His eyebrow quirked. “You haven’t kissed your fake lover farewell … like a good boy.”

Was I playing with fire? Probably. I mean, he was a devil. He literally lived with the fires of Hell as his central heating.

“As you wish,” he murmured, and he snaked his hand around me, his broad, warm palm pressing into the small of my back, pulling me against him.

His lips were the opposite of the demanding kisses I’d received earlier. But the soft, sweet way he moulded his mouth to mine, moved against mine … I could get addicted to that sort of kiss.

But before I had a chance to really melt into him, he pulled back, his eyes shuttered, giving nothing away.

“Until next time,” he mumbled and stepped through the portal while I tried not to collapse into a swooning heap on the crappy hallway carpet.

I stared at the spot where the portal had been long after it disappeared. My fingers traced the still-damp patch on my lips where his mouth had just been.

With a sigh and a nauseous tickle in my stomach that had absolutely nothing to do with gluten and everything to do with a certain glowing devil man who should not be worming his way into my … my heart, damn him … I returned to the apartment.

“Holy skimpy black jocks, Jem!” Ezra squealed, almost making me leap out of my skin. “He’s divine! That whole interaction was giving Mr Darcy all wet from his little dip in the lake at Pemberley vibes! Completely underdressed but still manages to use his manners like a gentleman. And the way he fills out those undies!” He gasped dramatically. “And his clothing! What did you two get up to, shredding his clothes like that? Have you corrupted poor Mr Draco Darcy-Malfoy with your monster pornography?”

I tried to smile, but I couldn’t get my mouth to work properly. Ezra clocked my expression, and his face went from delighted to concerned so fast it could have been comical.

“Jem, what’s wrong?”

I sighed, my bottom lip wobbling. “Everything!” I collapsed onto the lounge, my feet no longer able to hold me up a second longer.

“Are we being a little melodramatic?” Ezra asked carefully.

“Not even slightly! Ez, I think I’m falling for him!” I snatched up a cushion, hugging it to my chest. But that didn’t help. My heart was thrumming with new vigour. I pressed my face into the cushion and muffled a scream.

The lounge dipped beside me, and Ezra stroked my hair. “Isn’t that the whole point, though? You meet someone, you have chemistry, you get to know them, you rip their clothes to shreds in a night of passion … you fall for them. That’s the end goal in all of this, isn’t it?”

“Not when they’re trying to steal your soul, it isn’t!” I blurted.

It felt like all the air was sucked out of the room. I clapped my hand to my stupid, oversharing mouth while Ezra’s eyes went so wide, I was sure the whites were showing all the way around.

“What did you just say?” he whispered.

“Nothing!” I babbled, leaping up and escaping to the laundry, where a bemused Luci was demanding free-range time. With shaking hands, I unlatched the cage as a shadow appeared in the doorway behind me.

“Jem, I swear you just said … did you just say he’s trying to steal your soul?”

I scooped Luci out, apologising silently for using her as a buffer, as I stood and pushed past Ezra, popping her down on the lounge.

“I’ve got loads of costumes to make today!” I grabbed my yarn basket from the floor, depositing it on the lounge, too. I very studiously kept my back to Ezra, who I just knew was standing right behind me, waiting for me to spill the beans. “Sooooo much crocheting to do! Honestly, I’m just super busy!”

“Jem.” His tone stopped me in my tracks. “I think you need to start from the beginning. And tell me the truth—all of it.”