Page 14 of The Devil and His Goddess (Sinners Do It Better #2)

Harper

DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM ME, LEANED against the wall, was him —the masked demon. As always, he sported all black, and the skull mask was securely over his face with his black horns peeking out of the top. His dark-clawed hands were curled into fists as he watched me hover above Bradley, who was oblivious to the new presence in the room.

“You want this so bad,” Bradley cooed beneath me before flicking at my folds with his tongue.

The demon held up a clawed finger and waved it side-to-side. I bit my lip, and my eyes fluttered as his presence alone sent a sharp jolt of want right to my core, which Bradley hit just right for once. I gasped and bucked my hips against Bradley’s tongue, all while my heavy eyes stayed locked on the skull mask across from me.

In true Bradley fashion, his crazed mouth left where it needed to be, and I nearly sagged in defeat at the loss of the touch.

“Please,” I pleaded, though I had no idea if the word actually came out for anyone to hear or if I simply said it inside my head. I also didn’t know who I was saying it to.

Bradley—in an effort to beg him to give me what he wasn’t.

Or the demon—wanting him to somehow provide the exquisite release he did last time.

Either way, while Bradley continued his dirty talk between my legs, my desperate plea made the demon across from me straighten to his full height and take a sharp breath. His claws curled into tight fists before he closed the small distance between us, and for the first time, he lifted the mask. At least, just enough to free his lips. I barely had time to see the full pink mouth before it crushed mine.

I immediately gasped against his mouth, relishing the way those lips claimed my own. His tongue swept inside to tangle with mine as his clawed hands gripped my arms, guiding them to hold onto his own biceps.

The loud music playing throughout the house funneled into my room, which drowned out the sound of me kissing this demon. Though Bradley was so caught up in his attempt at eating me out successfully, I wasn’t sure if he would’ve even noticed.

But my god, did my pussy notice this new attention.

This demon knew what he was doing with his mouth. The way he kissed me deeply had my toes curling and my hips moving in search of sweet friction. Fire practically coated my skin, and I didn’t want anything to put the flames out. I wanted to burn in the heat of this kiss forever.

“More,” I begged against his lips, squeezing his hard arms.

“You got it, Dollface,” Bradley answered as he stroked at absolutely nothing with his tongue.

The demon chuckled quietly against my mouth, the sound getting drowned out in the party outside this room. “He’ll never get you off,” he whispered against the lobe of my ear, the sound rough, dark, and almost familiar if it wasn’t so gravelly.

His voice made goosebumps break out on my skin. I shivered as my nipples hardened and my core clenched. I was so pent up, and my pussy practically weeped for real contact.

The demon’s mouth returned to mine. He kissed me slowly this time, dragging his tongue through mine. He pulled back to nip at my lip with his teeth before diving back in for a breathy, hungry kiss. The feeling nearly made me combust, and I drug my hands up his shoulders and to the back of his still-covered neck to pull him into me, all while sinking lower onto Bradley’s tongue.

“Fuck,” Bradley gasped in slight alarm. “Too close, Doll. Can’t breathe.”

“I can’t think of a better way to die than being smothered by that sweet pussy,” the demon growled against my mouth.

My head fell back as another wave of eager desire swept through my body to settle between my thighs. I was actually getting close somehow, and it had nothing to do with what was actually occurring between my legs. This demon’s kiss alone pushed me closer and closer to blissful oblivion.

“You’ve been a bad girl,” the demon whispered into my ear, biting on the lobe before licking it slowly, much like how I’d want him to if he were the one beneath me. “So fucking naughty. I think you need to suffer and be taught a lesson.”

The demon suddenly pulled away. I had to grapple at the nearest foot pole to avoid tumbling over the edge of the bed. Bradley made strangled, muffled sounds from where I’d fallen onto his face, but I barely noticed as my demon pulled his mask back down—though not before I caught the devious smirk he wore. With his skull mask firmly in place, he disappeared in a gust of shadows.

The jarring interaction left me stunned, just as it did every time this demon paid me a visit. I still didn’t understand why he showed up in the moments he did or what he really wanted from me. More than that, I didn’t understand what lesson he wanted to teach me right now. To my knowledge, I hadn’t offended him since the last time he came. So why was he denying me my pleasure? Was it because I was hooking up with Bradley instead of him? Or was it for using Bradley as a substitute for Perseus?

There was no way the demon would know that’s what I was doing, so it had to be the former.

I was speechless and wide-eyed for only a moment. Bradley’s muffled struggle jolted me out of my stupor, and I quickly shoved my thoughts away as I climbed off of him.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologized as he sucked in air. I grabbed my discarded skirt and yanked it on. “I-I slipped.”

With my clothes back in place, I hurried to untie Bradley’s wrists from the bedposts. He pulled the blindfold off and sat up, looking over his shoulder at me with a smirk.

“All good,” he replied. “I know you probably lost control there at the end.”

It took every bit of willpower I had not to openly curl my lip in disgust. I wasn’t sure if he actually thought I got off at the end, but I didn’t care. The demon was right. I was never going to finish or get any satisfaction from this guy, which meant that pulsing need wasn’t going away. I’d just have to deal with it myself instead of using Bradley.

“I’m actually not really feeling it,” I said apologetically. I went to my door and opened it for him. “I’m sorry. I think I should just get back down to the party.”

His tanned smile fell, and his brow furrowed. “What?”

“I’m really sorry,” I repeated, picking his shirt up to hold it out for him.

His eyes swung from the shirt I held to my face then back again, and as the seconds ticked by, his nose scrunched and lips peeled back. He stomped over and snatched his shirt from my hands and snarled, “So you’re just a fucking tease? You get to get off while I get nothing ?”

My eyes widened in disbelief. Was this guy serious ?

“Look,” I started slowly, “ no one got off, okay? No offense, but it wasn’t working. Maybe you can find someone else to help you, but it won’t be me.”

He scoffed and looked me over in mock disgust. “Excuse me? You’re the one who brought me up here. You were so into it, it was near embarrassing. Now you’re trying to make like you don’t want my dick?”

He took a step toward me, and my stomach bottomed out as fear started to prick at my insides. I was a pretty small girl, and while he wasn’t the biggest guy out there, he still tripled me in size. If he wanted to take what I denied him, he easily could, especially with my rope still on the bed and a loud party raging around us.

“You need to leave,” I managed to croak, despite my tongue being weighed down with sand.

“You need to give me what I’m owed,” he fumed as he started to advance on me.

Before he could take another step in my direction, a hand appeared between us. My heart tumbled over itself when Perseus filled the doorway of my room just as his hand clasped Bradley’s throat. He yanked him out of the room and shoved him up hard against the wall across the door.

“I believe she told you to leave,” Perseus said, his deep voice dangerously low and calm. Despite his tone, his fingers tightened where they gripped Bradley’s neck.

Before I knew what I was doing, I placed my hand on Perseus’s back. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to hold onto him. But the pull to be near him, to grip the back of his shirt like a stable rock in turbulent winds, drew me to him. He glanced over his shoulder at me, and the flutter in my stomach amplified when those green eyes locked on mine. He immediately relaxed beneath my fingers, and with a final icy glare thrown at Bradley, Perseus released the man and stepped back while shielding me with his now free arm.

Bradley rubbed at his neck and glared at the two of us. “Fuck this. Her pussy isn’t worth it. I’ll get off with my girlfriend. I don’t need you.”

“Of course he has a girlfriend,” I muttered with a glare at his retreating back. “What a cheating scumbag.”

With Bradley gone, I was left alone with Perseus, the sounds of the blaring music and vibrant chatter of party-goers filling the silence between us.

He faced me. An angry edge pinched his eyes slightly, and his mouth twitched into a sardonic grin. “Some date.”

My cheeks warmed as I recalled the absurd lie I’d fed Perseus. Instead of acknowledging it, I looked around the empty hallway. “What are you doing up here?”

He looked up and down the hallway, too. “I was looking for the bathroom.”

I pursed my lips skeptically but didn’t argue. I walked across the hall, and after knocking on the door to make sure it was clear, I opened it for him. He ducked in and after a moment, he reemerged. I took a turn, cleaning myself up down below. I hated the feeling of that jackass’s spit down there. With everything all clean, I stepped back into the hall, and I wasn’t at all surprised to find Perseus leaning across the doorway, waiting on me.

“Are you stalking me, Peasant?” I asked, flipping my hair over my shoulder as I headed toward the stairs.

No way was I going to keep hanging around my bedroom with him. The temptation to pull him in there and just give into what we both wanted was too great, especially since I was still itching for release. My demon had a sick mind, leaving me hanging the way he had, and since he had been brazen enough to appear while I was with Bradley, I worried he’d make another appearance while Perseus was there. I wasn’t sure luck would be on my side, allowing me not to get caught twice in a row.

Perseus laughed behind me, the sound deep and real. It made that already warm and buzzing energy in my stomach expand to my chest. “Guilty.”

I wove through the thinning crowd on the first floor. People were either dipping out to get some sleep or pairing off to go have sex. I’d have loved to be in the latter group, but …

Since the party was winding down and I was trying hard to ignore the pull to my boss, I went to my safe haven. Though, Perseus followed me, which wasn’t necessarily helping. The home ballet studio was empty since we’d locked this room before people came over. I breathed in the freshness of the room, free of sweat, cologne, or perfume.

“Wow,” Perseus marveled as he shut the door behind him and looked around the studio.

I smiled, dragging an appreciative hand over the barre while studying the room with him. “Pretty great, right? This is my best friend’s house. Her parents made this room for her when we were in elementary school.”

“Really?” Perseus’s warm gaze drifted to the wall that housed dozens of dance recital and dance competition photos of Aiysha and I.

I joined his side, and together, we looked at the old memories.

“Look at you,” Perseus chuckled as he pointed at a photo of me when I was four. “You make an adorable duck.”

“Shut up,” I laughed and shoved him in the arm. “Was that my most esteemed role? No, but I take every routine, character, and story I do very seriously. Even back then.”

“Do you still remember the routine?”

“Sadly, yes,” I sighed.

He turned and gestured to the open floor of the dance studio. “Let’s see it then.”

I stared at him like he’d grown a second head, but he just smirked and nodded toward the center of the room again. Shaking my head at his request to see this ridiculous dance, I held my head high and performed the childish routine as if it wasn’t the most embarrassing routine to do as an adult. The arm flapping, butt shaking, clapping, and running around had Perseus nearly doubling over in laughter, yet I finished with a popped-out hip and two arms raised like the pro I was.

“Aren’t I really something?” I queried with a breathy giggle.

He straightened and clapped. “That was truly a spectacle to behold.” He glanced over his shoulder and looked over more photos. His green eyes landed on one near his waist. “This one. Do this one next.”

I placed my hands on my hips and studied the photo he’d picked. I was about thirteen and in a beautiful silver-sequined leotard and skirt. I stood beside a trophy that was nearly as tall as me. I immediately recognized that day as the one where my lyrical solo took the grand prize for the entire competition.

“Oh, I love that one,” I said to him. “I performed to a piano cover of a song called, ‘Rise.’ That routine was honestly the beginning of the dancer I am today. It was the most emotional performance I’d ever given, embodying the power of the song and dance to convey a story that had everyone in the audience too mesmerized to clap or move once it was done. The judges were even crying in front of the stage.”

I didn’t need long to remember that routine. It was such a great day, and that routine had been one of my favorite solos. But it was a lyrical with a lot of moves that my current corset and tight skirt wouldn’t allow.

“I’m not sure I can do that routine in this outfit,” I said with a gesture at my clothes.

He shrugged. “So change.”

I stared at him for a minute to see if he really wanted me to change just so he could see me do an old routine. When he continued watching me expectantly, I realized he really wanted this. He wanted to watch me dance, and he wasn’t changing his mind.

I went to the closet door in the corner. Reaching inside, I grabbed a spare black leotard, and as I faced Perseus again, I ordered softly, “Turn around.”

His heated green eyes traced my body slowly before he did as I asked. He faced the wall of photos while I stripped out of my clothes. My body prickled with hunger as my naked flesh stood so close to the object of my desire. Part of me wanted to call out to him to turn around before I redressed, but I stomped that part down, pulling on the leotard.

“Okay,” I said as I pulled on some dance shoes. “You can turn back around.”

He did as instructed, and his eyes made another sweep of my body while I pulled my hair back into a ponytail with a spare hair tie I kept on the shelf in the closet. The fire that had been in his gaze before burned brighter now, and I felt that tension all the way at my very center. Slickness coated my core, and my hardened nipples poked through the material of the leotard. He’d asked me to dance, but his attention was making it very hard to focus on said dance.

Forcing my eyes away from his, I found my place in the center of the room and got in the starting position of this dance. This particular routine started with me on my knees, and I closed my eyes, remembering the music for the lyrical dance.

As I began the routine, rising up on my knees, I found it to be like greeting an old friend. Ballet was obviously my normal, so revisiting an old routine in a different style flooded me with a sense of sweet nostalgia. I grinned through the entire routine, and when I landed my front aerial, I nearly laughed out loud from glee. I was out of practice for some of the techniques used in the routine, but that didn’t stop me from performing it with as much reverence and power as I had back then.

I finished with my arms raised in a stance of victorious strength before my lone audience. Unlike the duck routine, this one had pushed me, and I had to catch my breath as I met Perseus’s eyes. He watched me silently, a softness having replaced the sensual and teasing smile he’d previously worn.

“What?” I asked, sheepish under his gentle appraisal.

“You’re beautiful.”

My chest fell and rose hard as I worked to even out my breathing, but his words only managed to send my breath out of control again. I smiled, unable to help myself, and finally lowered my arms. “Thank you. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a routine like that. I’m just glad I still remember it.”

“Don’t stop now,” he said and gestured at me. “Keep going.”

I loved how it felt to have Perseus watch me. When he did, power and life surged through my veins as though he were my very own battery, fueling me and my body.

But dancing with him was even better.

Smirking, I held my chin higher. “How about a duet?” I closed the distance between us and grabbed his hands. He let me lead him to the center of the room where I had him face the wall of mirrors. “How quick are you at picking up choreography?”

He let out a confident snort and held my stare in the mirror. “Quicker than most.”

“Good. This should be fun then.”