Devil Takes His Innocent

by Emma Anderson

  Before he had even finished speaking, Judge was on his phone, making the appropriate calls. Devil stood and began collecting what he needed from his office. Shoving his laptop in his bag, along with his phone and charger, he started for the office door. Judge was beside him.

  “Put some people on her. Make sure they remain with her at all times,” he added once Judge had ended his call.

  “She won’t be happy about that.”

  “I wasn’t going to tell her.”

  “There may be an issue with her work, then. I can’t see the hospital allowing our guys to secretly follow one of their nurses around. I can already hear their excuses. They’ll spout some bullshit about patient confidentiality,” Judge warned.

  “Fine, but make sure they watch her car at all times. From what I’ve read on the guy so far, I don’t think he’s likely to cause problems for her at work. But make sure you tell me straight away if I’m wrong.”

  “Do I need to ask where you’ll be?”

  “I’ll be at Gabby’s.”

  “Just remember what I told you about Nikki. Gabby all but confirmed this morning that she’s been through something bad, and those two seem close. If you scare Nikki, you’ll lose Gabby.”

  “I know, but I refuse to stop being myself as well.” With those parting words delivered, Devil headed toward his car.

  ****

  “How are you here?” Gabby asked, immediately pulling Devil into the house and out of the sun. Her misgivings over whether this man had a place in her future were forgotten and replaced with concern for his safety when she saw him getting out of his car. “It’s still daylight.”

  “You honor me with your worry, angel,” Devil replied with a killer smile. “But it’s a myth that vampires can’t go out in the sun.”

  “Really, what else is untrue?” she asked, fascinated to see whether any of the books she had read were accurate.

  “I’ll tell you over coffee.”

  “You can drink something other than blood?” Her surprise had her blurting out her question without censoring her words.

  “Yes. Now no more questions until we are comfortable on your sofa,” Devil said, chuckling. The sound had her body instantly covered with goose bumps. “Where’s your friend?”

  “Work,” she replied, heading into the kitchen and reaching up for two mugs.

  “So we have the house to ourselves?” he asked, coming up behind her, his hands wrapping around her waist.

  “I thought we were going to leave the questions until we were seated.”

  A low, sexy growl sounded in her ear right before Devil warned, “Watch that mouth, angel, otherwise you’ll be asking your questions with a sore backside.”

  Pulling the mugs down from the cupboard, she couldn’t help but groan at the imagery in her head. The idea of this man spanking her again had her panties soaked. Devil noticed also, if the low rumble and nip at her neck was any indication. If that was meant to calm her down, it failed badly.

  “Woman, I have questions to answer before we can end up back in bed. Now hurry up with the coffee so I can give you the information you need, and then we can both get naked,” Devil said before walking out of the kitchen.

  Gabby would have reprimanded him for his presumption, had she not noticed his uncomfortable gait as he walked away. It would seem that she wasn’t the only one suffering from overactive hormones. Quickly completing the task at hand, she had the coffees made in no time.

  As she moved toward the sofa where Devil was sitting, he stood. When she drew near he took the mugs from her and placed them onto the table. Turning back to face her, his hands came up to her shoulders and his gaze fell upon hers.

  “Angel, I must first draw your attention back to the night we met, if only so I can apologize for my behavior. The truth is, I now suspect I was punishing you for what I thought was your chosen profession, as well as the instant need I felt for you. I’m not one to allow control over any aspect of my life, so when your appearance had my need climbing beyond anything I had felt before, I was incensed,” Devil explained. His voice never wavered in his apology, while his eyes held her stare.

  “I spoke to Judge earlier.” Her words were halted by the growl Devil was emitting. Instead of being scared by the sound, both her excitement and curiosity grew. “Why are you growling?”

  “I am an extremely possessive man. More so it would seem when it comes to you. The idea of you talking to any other male, my brothers included, when I’m not present is a hard thing to accept.” As if to further prove his point his fingers dug into her shoulders. His hold was strong, yet not painful.

  “Well in my capacity as a nurse I speak to many people, men included. That’s one thing you’ll have to deal with if our relationship were to continue.”

  Another growl fell upon her ears. “We are mates. There is no ifs about it.”

  “That’s pretty much what Judge said,” she replied before dropping her gaze. “But how am I supposed to accept a future with someone I know nothing about?”

  “Then ask your questions.”

  “So what’s the deal with the sunlight?” she asked immediately, fearing her increasing arousal would override her need to know more about this gorgeous man.

  Instead of responding straight away, Devil pulled her down with him as he sat back on the sofa. He lifted her as if she were a rag doll onto his lap, then went about rearranging her to his liking. Her skirt restricted many positions. Finally, with her perched across his lap, he replied, “It’s untrue. Vampires love the sunlight as much as humans. It was a lie perpetrated by greed.”

  “How?”

  “Many centuries ago, in a small town just outside Paris, lived a young woman. Her older brother had betrothed her to one man, but her heart belonged to another, whom she had secretly wed. When her brother discovered her deceit, he went after the man. His family would have lost a great deal of money and respect had the arranged marriage fallen through, or so the story went,” Devil explained. The hand he was rubbing up and down her back had her relaxing into his body. “The rumors of vampires were ripe, so the brother used them and pointed the finger at his sister’s love. He suffered an affliction that kept him housebound during the day. It is one that even in current times some humans suffer, a severe allergy to the sun. Due to his difference, people believed the lies about him. Mobs stormed the man’s home during the day, while the woman was in the city with her mother. They dragged him out and staked him to the ground, leaving the sun to attack his sensitive skin. By the time the woman had returned, he had been pinned to the ground for three days. He died less than a week later in her arms. The rest of the story, while still sad, offered the woman an escape from her greedy brother. As the man’s legal widow, she inherited his great wealth. She never again spoke to her brother or those who were responsible for her husband’s death, and less than eight months after she buried the only man she had loved, she gave birth to his son.”

  Gabby had tears rolling down her face at the cruelty of people, and the suffering that poor woman had to endure at their hands. Her nursing mind had her wondering what could have been done to help the man. She sat in silence, absorbing it all, and still Devil’s comforting touch remained at her back. “Why do people have to be so cruel?”

  “That’s a question I can’t answer,” Devil replied. “And the truth is, I’m not sure I would if I could. Many things I have done, and will continue to do for protection of my family, might be considered cruel.”

  Gabby was reminded of Judge’s comment about himself, Devil, and the two other men. “Should I be worried?”

  “No, you have nothing to fear from me, but you may not like my methods when it comes to ensuring your safety,” Devil said, now holding her chin so she was looking directly at him. “I am who I am, Gabby. I’m controlling, protective of what’s mine, and I always get what I want. I’m not above using my enhanced strength to send a message to an enemy or someone who’s wronged me and mine.”

  “Do you co
nsider me yours?”

  “Of course,” he replied arrogantly.

  “Have you done anything in my name that I might not like?” The previously stoic man flinched slightly. “What?”

  “You will tell me if you hear anything from Jeffrey Harrison. I have warned him off contacting you again.”

  “That wasn’t your place.”

  “Have you not been listening to me? You are mine, and therefore it was my right and duty to deal with that man.”

  “What did you do to him?”

  Devil’s chin lifted slightly before he replied, “Nothing he didn’t deserve, and far less than what I wanted to. He’s currently in a hospital, drinking through a straw. He should count himself lucky that’s all I did to him.”

  Though this news provided her extra comfort that Nikki was safe, Gabby found herself desperately trying to remove herself from Devil’s lap, which he refused to allow. A struggle ensued. Her fisted hands began thumping his chest as angry tears rolled down her face. His fingers wrapped around her wrists, holding her hands still. She continued to struggle regardless of the restraint. He had somehow transferred one of her wrists to join the other. One of his large hands acted as a manacle. His free hand came up around her neck, pulling her face toward his.

  As soon as their lips met, the fight left her, her adrenaline feeding her now ravaging hormones. From nowhere, the unsure, inexperienced Gabby was replaced by a sultry vixen. She nipped and sucked at his lips, desperate to gain entry. Finally he opened for her. His taste blasted onto her tongue. He challenged her, demanding and expecting her compliance. Without even a word, his dominating personality had her submitting. She relaxed back into his body. Her now free hands found their way to his head, and her fingers wove themselves through his soft hair. Still their lips didn’t part.

  Gabby was too lost in the sensations to worry about what Devil was doing. She was aware of him lifting her. She vaguely heard the sound of a zipper and material ripping over the blood rushing through her ears. It wasn’t until she felt something prodding at the entrance of her pussy that realization came to her. Her underwear was gone.

  Slowly his cock pushed into her, deliciously stretching her. A hand moved to her ass, the other up the back of her t-shirt. Suddenly her breasts sprang free from their prison, her sensitive nipples catching on the underwire of her bra. Electricity shot straight to her pussy. Her need to have him in her became desperate. She tried to force her body down on to his, but his hand on her backside denied her the pleasure.

  Squeezing her ass cheeks, Devil ordered, “Patience.”

  She wanted to growl at him, but instead it came out as a long moan. His teeth began pulling on one of her nipples through her t-shirt. Each tug sent her flying higher. Light appeared behind her closed eyes. Her body trembled and her orgasm raced forward. As she floated back to earth, aftershocks continued exploding throughout her whole being, and she became aware that she was no longer on Devil’s lap. Instead he was carrying her through her tiny house, his cock now fully seated within her.

  When he came to her closed bedroom door, he tightened his hold around her back. Opening the door with his other hand, he walked straight to the bed. His hand reached for something before he gently laid Gabby on the mattress, her head landing on a pillow.

  The care he took with her had both her eyes and pussy leaking. The now all too familiar buzz began again in her lower stomach, radiating outward to touch every one of her nerve endings. She needed more of this man, and he hadn’t budged since placing her on the bed.

  Lifting her hips slightly, she allowed her body to speak for her. His body came over hers, causing her backside to return to the bed. He raised both of her legs over his shoulders before placing his hands on either side of her head. His face lowered, stopping just above hers. Her hormones ramped up their assault on her body, demanding another completion, but still he hadn’t moved within her.

  “Tell me you accept me as your mate.” She groaned in response. “I need words, angel, then I’ll give you what you want.”

  “Yes. Yes,” she screamed. “I accept you as my mate. Now move, damn it!”

  As soon as her words had left her mouth, Devil began to pound into her. At that angle, she felt every inch of him as he entered her, while his exit saw his tip scraping against the new favorite part of her body. This time as her orgasm took over, it wasn’t light that she saw but darkness. Her mind drifted, flitting aimlessly toward oblivion.

  Devil’s voice drew her back. “Open for me.”

  As she parted her lips to ask him what he wanted her to open, the answer came to her by way of an object over her mouth. Her panic lasted all of a millisecond. Something hit her tongue. It was the sweetest, most erotic thing she had ever tasted. Nothing compared to it. In her mind, if sunlight had a flavor, this was how it would taste.

  Two sharp points sank into her neck, but again she didn’t fear it. With each sharp pull on her neck, she sucked more of the magic liquid into her mouth. Impossibly so, another orgasm steamrolled through her body, sending her beyond anything she had felt before, leaving her completely at peace.

  Chapter Eight

  Devil looked down at Gabby once more. He couldn’t believe how fortunate he was to have such a sensual sex kitten for a mate. A sex kitten who was currently snoring. Throughout his long life, he had often wondered whether he deserved a mate at all. Now he had found Gabby. He knew he was nowhere near worthy enough of her good heart. In his past, he truly had lived up to the names many knew him by, Death and Devil being just a couple. He was guilty of many of the atrocities he had been accused of, and now looking down at the angel beside him, he had to wonder whether claiming her had been the worst of his crimes.

  With that simple bite, he had pulled her into his world. A world where normal rules and laws didn’t apply. To survive, a person needed to be strong-willed, unmoving and unforgiving. If someone were to steal from him, he would steal it back with interest, then ensure they never stole from him again. Instilling fear was the key to survival, and he worried how that would affect Gabby. He didn’t doubt for her safety, because he would do everything within his power to protect her. It was the effect on her sweet and generous heart that had him worried. To have anyone other than the woman lying beside him would be unacceptable to him. He vowed to ensure that the harshness of his world wouldn’t change his giving, caring Gabby.

  A low, deep rumble sounded from below the blankets. Looking at his watch, he realized that it was past dinner time. He was already failing as a mate. He hadn’t fed her. It was a lapse in judgment he intended on correcting. Pulling out his phone, he quickly made amends. Now all he had to do was rouse his sleeping beauty. Taking a leaf out of Prince Charming’s book, he bent down and placed his lips on hers. Seemingly liking her sleep, she swatted his head away.

  “Come on, it’s dinner time,” he said, chuckling. “And if I’m not mistaken, Nikki’s car just pulled up in front of the house.”

  The mention of Nikki had Gabby’s beautiful blue eyes opening wide. He couldn’t help but laugh. Her attempt at looking alert would have been effective had she continued to look straight ahead. But just as the mere sight of her affected him, he affected her. As soon as her gaze fell upon his still naked form, her eyes glazed over with arousal.

  “Stop that. I would very much like to make a good impression on your friend, and somehow I doubt having her walking into the house to you screaming would do that,” Devil chastised gently as he rolled out of bed. “Now come on, let’s go get some dinner. The Chinese should be here in about ten.”

  The mention of food had Gabby’s stomach growling loudly for the second time. Again he found himself laughing. Gabby was now lying down with the blankets over her head, muttering something about “stupid stomach.” It did nothing but increase his amusement. His mate had had him laughing more in the last few minutes than he had in the last decade. He hadn’t relaxed around anyone other than his brothers and Jewel in a very long time. Gabby was truly a gift.


  The calm created by his mate was instantly destroyed at the sound of knocking at the front door. His assumption that it was Nikki had been wrong, and it was too soon for the takeout to have arrived.

  Turning to Gabby, he asked, “Are you expecting anyone?”

  “No,” she said, sitting up, finally awake.

  “I’m assuming that isn’t Nikki.”

  “She has her own keys,” she replied, looking over at the clock on the nightstand. “And she won’t be home for a while yet.”

  “Stay here, and I’ll go and see who it is,” he instructed, pulling on his trousers.

  She scrambled off the bed. “Not a chance, buster. This is still my home. I’m going with you.”

  His concentration was momentarily disrupted as he appreciated everything there was to his mate’s body. He was one lucky man, he thought to himself. A lucky man who had better get his act together if he was going to protect Gabby.

  “Gabby,” he said in a voice that brokered only obedience. “I will answer the door and you will remain behind me at all times, until I can discern whether this person poses a threat to you or not.”

  “But—”

  “No buts, Gabby. I won’t have you placing yourself in harm’s way. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Fine, but—”

  “Again with the buts, angel. Let me put it this way, if you don’t agree, then I’ll have to tie you to this bed, and when I return from answering the door alone you will be on the receiving end of a spanking that you won’t enjoy.”

  With a huff, Gabby nodded. She finished dressing before following him out of the bedroom. As they neared the front door, Devil inhaled deeply, ensuring he had a scent to put to the name. Answering the door with one hand, his other came around behind him, holding Gabby to his back.

  “Can I help you?” he asked the man standing on his mate’s porch. His facial characteristics suggested that he was related to Jeffrey Harrison. He now had a face to the name of Gabby’s half brother.