Page 5 of Stalked By the Demon (Halloween Temptation #10)

I’m still reeling from the jaw-dropping sex by the time I stumble out of the corn maze and back to where my friends are waiting. Val jumps me immediately with a million questions, but all I can do is shake my head and plow forward to the car.

Leaving Bas was harder than I thought it would be. I’d been wrapped up in his arms when my phone pinged, telling me it was time to go. Bas practically pushed me out of the clearing himself, and I won’t lie, that hurt. Badly.

I should’ve known it wouldn’t last.

Resisting the urge to whimper pitifully, I press my face against the car window. The cool glass does nothing to soothe the deep ache in my heart.

Rationally, I know what I want is dumb. There’s no way I can spend the rest of my life living in a cornfield. Mom would be heartbroken if she never saw me again, not to mention I’ve got classes I can’t afford to skip.

I don’t care if it’s stupid. I want to be with Bas. Want to feel his calloused hands against mine, trace over his strange horns, and listen to the deep rumble of his voice every single day.

But Bas was adamant that I return.

“Once All Hallows’ Eve commences, the veil between the worlds will close, and I can no longer roam this plane.

I’ll still be here, but inaccessible to you.

” He petted the top of my head as he spoke.

I almost wish he hadn’t; now that I know what it feels like, I crave more.

“We will return to strangers. It’s for the best, Charlie. ”

If it’s for the best, why does it feel like I’m losing a part of myself I never knew I had?

My empty apartment feels somehow lonelier and more depressing when I step into it. Not bothering to shower, I strip off my stupid costume and crawl into bed, hugging my pillow to my chest and wishing it were Bas’ strong body wrapped around mine instead.

When I wake up the next day, last night’s events feel like a dream. The sharp ache in my ass and the bruises littering my skin are the only things that let me know all those wonderful things really did happen.

I try to go back to life as normal, but how can I?

Everything reminds me of him, from the lingering Hallowe’en decorations to even the fucking sight of the color yellow.

When I’m slumped in my 1700s history class, Professor Andino’s words floating right over my head, all I can think about is if Bas is lonely without me.

Hanging with Val and Riley makes me miss the feeling of his lips on mine. Maybe I lied before. I am jealous of her, but only a little.

Grumbling, I stuff another fry into my mouth and glare at the cafeteria table. A hand closes over mine.

“You okay, babes?” Val asks, her immaculately plucked eyebrows furrowed. “You’ve been moping since we got back.”

I try for a smile, but it falls flat. “Not really. Sorry, I’m being the worst friend right now.”

“Maybe a little. Riles, can you give us a minute? Me and Charlie need to talk.” She waves her boyfriend off with a sloppy kiss, then turns back to me. “Come on, spill. What’s with the long face?”

I hesitate, the words dying on my tongue, glancing at her. Her pretty features are contorted into worry. For me. My heart clenches. This is Val, my best friend forever, and the only person I’d trust with something like this.

So, I tell her everything. From meeting the horned stranger in the corn maze and how he saved me from Jake, to the sense of home I get from being with him. Obviously, I leave all the stuff about him being a demon out.

Not that I don’t trust her, or that I’m worried she’ll think I’m crazy. Val’s not like that. But Bas never gave me permission to tell others.

I’m not going to oust him without his knowledge.

“Wow.” Val fans herself a little when I’m done. “You were off having fun while I was scared shitless.”

“Understatement of the year. But now he’s gone, Val, and I don’t know what to do.”

She sobers up at that, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pressing our foreheads together. It’s comforting.

“It’ll work out, Charlie. You’ve just got to believe, okay? Maybe we can find him on Insta, you just tell me his name, and I’ll get to work.”

I don’t exactly think demons have social media profiles, but I feel touched all the same. “He’s a real off-the-grid guy, Val, but thank you.”

“Anything for you, babes. My nana always says to have hope that it’ll work out. These things always do.”

I really want to believe her, but every day without Bas’ touch makes me not so sure.

It’s not about the—admittedly mind-numbing—sex. Despite knowing him for only a few hours, it felt like we fit together perfectly.

Like I’m meant to be with him.

*

I wake up to the sound of the world falling apart.

And by that, I mean someone’s knocking on my apartment door so loud it reverberates through the walls. Scrambling out of bed, I throw on an extra-large Lana Del Rey tour shirt that practically engulfs me. I usually sleep naked, but I’d rather not give whoever’s at the door an eyeful.

The person knocks again. Somehow, it sounds more insistent.

“Coming!” I yell, racing to the door and flinging it open. “I swear to God if it’s you, Val, I’m going to—”

A man stands on the other side, towering over me. The first thing I notice is that he’s hot. Like, scorching hot. Long, tousled black hair tumbles over his shoulders, framing his strong jaw and sharp cheekbones. There’s an earthy warmth in his hooded brown eyes that makes my entire body tingle.

But what really gets me is the slow smile that crests over his face like the sun on the horizon. My heart stutters in my chest.

“Hello, sweet thing.” The man takes a step forward. “I’ve missed you.”

That voice… low and gravelly, the vowels rounded out in a way I’ve only ever heard from one person before. I gape at the man, trying and failing to process what the fuck is happening.

“Bas?” I stumble forward, tripping right into strong arms. The smell of fall, like earth and cinnamon and home, envelopes me. “Is that really you?”

“I’ve searched all over for you, darling.”

“Your lips…” Reverent, I thumb at his plump lower lip. “They move when you talk.”

“Believe me, it took a while to get used to the feeling.”

I don’t know which one of us moves first. One moment, I’m gaping up at him in awe, the next he’s ravishing me with his lips, tugging me impossibly closer and licking into my mouth like a hurricane.

A groan rips from my throat. I clutch at his shoulders, wanting to be so close that we fuse into one.

I’d crawl into his skin if I could. That’s how bad I need this.

He cups my ass, large hands fitting around each globe. My cock fills so fast I get lightheaded. I can feel the evidence of his own, a hard length digging into my hip, and I tangle my fingers in the long strands of his hair.

The emotions coursing through me are so overwhelming that I can’t think. It takes me a while to realize we’re practically humping in the hallway, where anyone could see us.

Blushing, I pull away and manage to drag Bas inside, slamming the door closed. He’s on me in an instant and whirls us around, pressing me into the door.

“I’m so confused right now,” I mumble against his mouth. “Your horns are gone.”

“All thanks to you. Do you remember what I told you about fated mates?” He drags our clothed dicks against each other, rendering my brain useless.

“Cheater,” I hiss, chasing the friction. “I remember. How could I forget you practically telling me that we’re not compatible?”

He cups my jaw so tenderly I might combust right here. “I was wrong, sweet thing. My presence here is proof that you were made for me, and I for you.”

“Wait for a second. You mean you turned into a human because we’re soulmates? Please tell me you’re serious because if this is all some big joke, I don’t think I can handle it.”

“It’s real, Charlie. I woke up the morning after All Hallows’ Eve in that cornfield, and it felt like a heavy chain had broken from my shoulders. For the first time in centuries, I was free. The first thing I did was search for you. It took me longer than anticipated.”

He traces the tender skin around my eyes then thumbs at my lips, parted in shock. Even though his eyes are brown now, I’d recognize that intense gaze from anywhere.

It’s real.

He’s actually here in my arms, not on the musty ground of a cornfield. I’m helpless to stop the tears from cascading down my cheeks.

Bas clicks his tongue and wipes them away. “Are these tears of joy or sadness?”

“Joy. Definitely joy.” My cock twitches, reminding me of how horny I am, and I let out a whine as I thrust against his thigh. “Want you, Bas.”

His eyes blaze, and he lets out that sexy growl that torques me all the way up. I moan when he kisses me again, his hands slipping under my shirt, and when he meets bare skin there’s another rumbling groan, before he detaches enough to tug it over my head.

I waste no time helping him tear off his clothes, and then we’re naked together in my living room. His thick cock dangles between his legs, the head dripping and red.

The urge that hit me the moment we first met, to have him in my mouth, returns with a vengeance.

Mouth watering, I start to sink to my knees, but a strong grip keeps me upright. I blink up at Bas, confused.

“Patience, sweet thing. You will get what you want soon enough.” He flashes me that rare smile again, and everything else falls away. “Where are your chambers? I want you to relax when I fill you over and over again.”

God, the words he says make me feel desperate. Gripping his wrist, I haul him to my room and slam the door shut, not waiting for even a second before pushing him onto my bed and sinking between his powerful thighs.

He makes a deep purring sound as he pets my head. His thick cock juts out proudly from a thatch of dark hair, and he grips it at the base, guiding my mouth to the spongy head.

Nerves fluttering in my stomach, I steady myself on his waist. But my anxiety dissipates as I wrap my lips around him, eyes fluttering shut at the masculine, musky taste of him on my tongue.

Bas sighs, deep and satisfied. “Good boy. That’s very good, Charlie. Take it slowly, sweet thing, we don’t want you to get hurt.”

Humming, I take his advice and start by licking his glans underneath the head, then all the way down his shaft. Urged on by his gentle petting, I suck him back into my mouth again and swallow all the way down as far as I can go.

When the tip of his cock hits the back of my throat, I gag. Bas shushes me gently and pulls me off his cock, chuckling at my slutty whine.

“Breathe, sweet thing, there you go. You were really hungry, weren’t you? Want to be fed this cock until you’re all full, don’t you?”

Oh, fuck yes.

Nodding frantically, I dive back onto his cock the second he lets me.

Bas hisses but doesn’t thrust, simply pets me until I feel like I’m floating on a cloud of sweet bliss.

I love this, just the simple closeness of it, my lover’s cock stuffing my mouth.

If this is eternity, I’ll happily take it with both hands.

But I want more. Peering up at Bas through my lashes, I try to give him my best ‘fuck me’ eyes, and he seems to get what I’m saying because he cups the back of my neck with care, hunger filling his expression.

“Are you certain?”

I frown around his cock, more than a little pleased by his fond chuckle, and barely have time to brace myself before Bas tugs me deeper onto his dick. Inch by inch, his cock fills my throat until my nose presses against the furry base.

It’s hard to breathe, but that barely registers. When he starts thrusting a little, sliding in and out of the hot passage, I can’t stop myself from moaning.

Careful to let me breathe, Bas fucks my mouth like it's a sex toy, starting slow and speeding up until he’s all I can smell, taste, feel. When he comes, it’s with a familiar grunt that sends pleasure all down my toes.

Gripping his waist, I hold on as he thrusts deep. Copious hot ropes of come spurt down my throat, and I kneel there, ignoring my lungs screaming for air as he empties himself inside me.

When I’ve milked every last drop, he pulls out and hauls me onto his lap while I gulp in deep breaths.

“You did so well.” He pets my flank, muttering sweet praises that go straight to my still-hard cock. “Such a lovely boy deserves a reward.