Mark of the Sylph (Demons of Infernum, #2)

by Rosalie Lario

With a muffled curse, he flipped her onto her back quicker than she could blink. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he stared into her eyes as if he might catch a glimpse of her soul. The look on his face was deadly serious, and for one moment she thought she saw a glimmer of uncertainty.

  “You realize this changes everything, don’t you?” he asked.

  “It already has.” And it was true. Everything was different now.

  With a nod of acknowledgement, he positioned himself between her thighs. His cock nudged her entrance and she felt a split second of panic. The one time she’d done this, it hadn’t been so much fun. But then he thrust forward and the panic disappeared. He felt so good, stretching her as he filled her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her nails into his back to urge him forward.

  Sweat beaded on his forehead. He stopped, closing his eyes on a strangled curse.

  “What’s wrong?” Her voice didn’t sound like her. No, it sounded like a wanton creature, eager to take whatever she wanted.

  “You’re so tight.” He opened his eyes to lob her with a suspicious glance. “You have done this before, right?”

  “Of course.” She wasn’t doing it wrong, was she?

  Relief crossed his face.

  “Well, once.”

  “Once?” He looked down at her in disbelief.

  “I didn’t like it very much.”

  “Aw, fuck me.” He groaned, dropping his forehead to hers.

  “What’s wrong?” Didn’t he want her now that he knew she had almost no experience?

  “Nothing’s wrong.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “That’s just a lot of pressure.”

  “Oh, that’s all?” Excitement flowed through her veins. “Well, don’t worry about it. You’ve already beat my first time, hands down.”

  He laughed and on her next breath, pushed into her with a stroke that slid him all the way home. She let out a soft cry at the unfamiliar sensation of fullness. Lord, he was... One thrust of his hips and she lost all ability to think. She became one mass of sensation, rising up to meet every plunge, flexing her hips to take him in deeper.

  “Okay?” he asked on a gasp.

  “More,” she moaned, digging her nails into his hips to drive him faster. He slid almost all the way out, then back in, quickly building up to a fierce, powerful rhythm. “Please.”

  “What? Tell me what you want,” he demanded.

  What did she want? She couldn’t even think. Finally her lips formed the word she was searching for. “Harder.”

  “Fuck yeah,” he growled. He pulled away long enough to turn her onto her hands and knees, then drove into her from behind, fully seating himself in one quick stroke. She arched her back, crying out at the unexpected invasion. He didn’t give her time to adjust, just pounded in and out with a speed that had her gasping for breath. “More?”

  He’d be the death of her. “Yes!”

  With a low rumble, he dropped a hand underneath her, lightly slapping his fingers over her clit before rubbing them against it. That was enough to send her over the edge. She came with an ear-splitting shriek, only dimly aware of his low, answering groans. She fell, face forward, onto the bed and he followed, pumping his release into her with a loud, hoarse cry.

  Later, when she could finally think again, there was only one thing on her mind: What the hell?

  She’d expected good sex. No, great sex.

  But this?

  This had surpassed her expectations. In fact, it had been something else entirely.

  Chapter Eighteen

  For the third night in a row, Taeg couldn’t sleep. But this time it wasn’t because he was thinking of sex. Scratch that. He was thinking of sex. Just not of having it.

  Maya lay asleep at his side. Well, passed out was more like it. Other than his hoarse “Still alive?” and her mumbled “Yeah” they hadn’t exchanged two words before she’d conked out.

  What had happened earlier?

  He’d had sex before. Tons of it, in fact. But what he’d had with Maya wasn’t sex. It was a life-altering experience. An explosion. A fucking miracle. Every single little thing he didn’t need right now. He was in real trouble. His plans for keeping his emotional distance from her were pretty much screwed.

  Truth was, he’d come to care for Maya. Really care for her.

  One more thing to add to his plate.

  He rubbed his hands across his eyes. Right now he needed more responsibility like he needed a hole in the head. But it was too late. He’d already gone and gotten himself tied to her. He couldn’t undo that now.

  If only he could be like Dagan. Carefree. Willing and eager to boink any attractive woman who looked his way. Oh wait, he had been like that once. Hadn’t he?

  No matter which way he looked at it, he owed Maya the truth. Not only that, but he owed her his allegiance, the way she’d given him hers. Who was he to say his family’s problems were greater than her own? Once he got back from Faelan tomorrow, he’d call his contacts and see what he could find out about the maliki demons. They could split their time between that and tracking down Leviathos.

  Maya stirred and awoke, jolting up in bed. She appeared disoriented at first, then apparently remembered what had happened between them, because she pressed her lips into a shy smile. The corners of her eyes tugged upward. After a moment’s hesitation, she lay down next to him, sliding the sheet up over her breasts.

  A sense of uneasiness drifted in the air between them, leaving him confused and uncertain. He should confess. Apologize and tell her he’d fix things. But everything was so new between them. He didn’t want to drive her away just when they’d reached this new level of closeness.

  Keeping his mouth shut seemed to be the better option right now. Hell, if he could get some guys to start tracking her family’s killers tomorrow, maybe he wouldn’t have to tell her he’d initially reneged on his bargain.

  “What was it like growing up with an evil demon for a father?” Maya asked, surprising the hell out of him.

  “Why would you ask something like that?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it a lot.” She shifted onto her side to face him. “I had wonderful parents. I can’t imagine having a bad one.”

  He stayed silent for a while, trying to find the right words. “It was awful. We were possessions to him, not people. More like shiny baubles. Keegan and Ronin with their wings, me with my ability to flash, and Dagan breathing underwater. When we didn’t do what he wanted, he would beat us.”

  “Did that happen a lot?” She traced a finger along his chest, though he was pretty sure it was unconscious on her part.

  “All the time. Ronin had it worst.” Every time he thought about that, he wanted to hunt his father down in prison and beat his brains in. “He was nine or ten when our father took him, whereas the rest of us were still infants. Keegan stepped in for Ronin whenever he could.”

  “How did the four of you turn out so normal?”

  “Don’t know. Our mothers’ blood, maybe? Or maybe it was having each other.”

  She smiled, one of those genuine smiles that was so rare coming from her. “You really love them.”

  “With all my heart,” he responded simply. “And what I love, I protect.”

  The air between them grew thick. Her eyes met his, and for a moment he couldn’t look away. They were stuck in a nonverbal exchange that he didn’t even understand. Whatever it was, it left him weak and shaken and desperately in need of a drink. Then again, there were better ways to relax.

  He looked at Maya. “Did I ever tell you I can morph into air form?”

  Her cheeks turned pink and she turned away. “Yes.”

  “Remind me to show you what I can do with that.”

  “Okay,” she said breathlessly.

  “First things first, though.” He rolled onto his side facing her and ran a finger in between the curves of her breasts. “Remember those ties I used to restrain you to the bed?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was c
autious, and a little bit suspicious. With good reason.

  He glanced at her meaningfully.

  “Taeg,” she responded.

  “Come on, little slayer, live dangerously for once.” He slid one hand under the sheet, cupping her breast, and she arched her back.

  “I don’t know,” she said, but her tone made it clear her resolve was weakening.

  “Tell you what.” He gave her a soft, slow grin. “I’ll let you do me first.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sunlight filtered in through the heavy curtains, sending slivers of light dancing across the room. Maya knew it was daytime, but when in the day was a total mystery. She shifted slowly, trying not to wake Taeg, who lay asleep beside her.

  Oh boy, was she sore today. Her whole body felt limp and used, in a delicious, wanton sort of way. Yes, she was relaxed, but this wasn’t the best state to be in if she had to fight demons. Good thing she didn’t plan on killing Taeg anytime soon.

  Grinning, she arched her back into a slow stretch. Fabric tugged at her wrist. She found one of the ties still attached to it. Lord, he was so unabashedly sinful. Much of last night was a blur, but she remembered all the ways he’d insisted on taking her. And she’d gone along with his every suggestion. Who knew she was such a sexual creature?

  Stark realization slapped her in the face. She was falling for him.

  Oh shit. This wasn’t a simple case of lust. She wouldn’t have let it go this far if that had been all. No, she’d let him into her body because he’d managed to worm his way into her heart. In a handful of days she’d gone from thinking all demons were evil creatures from Hell to falling for one.

  What would her mother say?

  Somehow—somehow—she thought her mother would be happy for her. For letting someone else in. For trusting again. She might even have liked Taeg, with his easygoing attitude and zest for life. What a freeing thought.

  Now the question was, if she was falling in love with him, what was she going to do about it? That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? If there was a possibility that he returned her feelings, did that mean that they could be together? They were so different.

  She’d most certainly be giving up the chance at children if she chose to be with him. Her hand inadvertently crept to her stomach. Honestly, she never thought she’d have children. The world was too crazy and she was too focused on finding her family’s murderers. Add to that her inability to confide in other people, and it was pretty much guaranteed she’d end up old and alone with thirteen cats.

  We could always adopt.

  Listen to her. One night in the man’s arms and she was already planning out their future. Slow it down, Maya.

  A low buzz cut through the silence.

  “Taeg,” she whispered. “Your phone.”

  When he didn’t budge, she rolled to face him. He lay on his stomach, head resting on a crooked arm. She took one long moment to simply admire him. Even in sleep the toned muscles on his back showed off his power and dominance. The very things he’d demonstrated to her in depth last night. The sheet had ridden down while they slept, and it revealed the upper curve of his ass. Rounded and tight, the way a man’s rear should be. Lord, but he was drool-worthy.

  And right now, he’s with me.

  The buzz sounded again, low but insistent, jolting her out of her reverie. “Taeg.” She nudged his shoulder. “Your phone is ringing.”

  “Mmm, okay,” he mumbled, flipping onto his back. “But you have to be on top this time,” he added in a soft slur without opening his eyes.

  He thought she wanted to go another round? Sweet heavens. But when her attention shifted downward her mouth dropped open in disbelief. Asleep as he was, he was still ready for her. Heat flared between her thighs. For a moment she considered hopping on board and enjoying the ride. But then the damn phone started up again.

  Crap. Joints creaked as she crawled out of bed, searching out his phone. She found it in the side pocket of his discarded pants. “Hello?”

  There was a beat of silence before a man’s voice replied. “Where’s Taeg?”

  “Um... sleeping.” She fidgeted at the obvious indication that he lay right beside her.

  “Can you wake him? It’s Keegan.”

  “Sure.” She strode to the bed and leaned over Taeg. It took several violent shakes to awaken him.

  “Wha—?” He sat up, giving her a disgruntled look before he realized she was stark naked. Heated interest crossed his face and he reached for her.

  “Not now.” She handed him the phone. “It’s for you.”

  The grouchy look came back to his face. “Hello? Yeah... What time is it now?” He rose to his feet, unabashed in his nakedness. “Fine, I’ll head over there.”

  Disconnecting the line, he perused her once again, taking his sweet time about it. When he spoke, his voice came out a sexy rumble. “I like what you’re wearing.”

  “I’m not wearing anything.”

  “Exactly.” His lips curved into a grin and he pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her neck. He was so warm. Smelled so good. And he was ready to go, yet again.

  “What was that about?” she asked before she could lose her train of thought.

  His hands trailed down to the curves of her rear, pulling her closer. “Keegan spoke with the Council liaison earlier this morning, and figured he’d get approval for me to visit Faelan while he was at it.”

  His fingers trailed down the cleft of her backside and she shivered. “Does that mean you’re leaving now?”

  “I should,” he whispered into her ear. He touched the tip of his tongue to the outer shell of her ear before he moved in for a long, hot kiss.

  She lifted her hands to the back of his head and pulled him in deeper, unable to help herself. Crazy how the man could make her want him desperately, no matter how many times they’d already made love.

  When he slung one arm around her waist and pulled her up, sliding his other hand down her behind and between her legs, she broke away with a throaty moan. “I thought you had to go.”

  He winked at her, a naughty twinkle in his eyes. “Hell, it can wait a little longer.”

  §

  Three hours later, after convincing a reluctant Maya to let him drop her off at his brother’s apartment so she could spend the day with Brynn, Taeg found himself in Central Park. People spread out all over the great lawn and hill. The scent of flowers mixed with the aroma of hot pretzels and fried foods. Man, he loved this place.

  A large boulder lay on the perimeter of the hill, surrounded by an invisible force field. It repelled all non-Otherworlders, preventing them from seeing anything within it. That was the only way an inter-dimensional portal could exist in a place as populated as this.

  The force field made a slight sucking sound as it accepted him. Anyone happening to be looking at him would see him disappear, just like that. But knowing humans, they would probably chalk it up to the harsh glare of the sun or a strange trick of the eyes.

  He stepped out of the portal to find himself on Faelan soil. The hot, humid air practically clung to his skin like a lover’s sticky caress. Didn’t matter what time of year it was in Faelan. The weather here was always the same.

  Night had already fallen in this dimension, not that it made much of a difference where he stood right now. The Nimri region of Faelan, home to dark elves and faeries, was always foggy and stormy. Sort of like some B-movie portent of gloom and doom.

  He dug out the directions Elain had written down for him and read them before opening up a fae path and stepping into it. Too bad he couldn’t use his flashing ability to travel between dimensions.

  It took only a millisecond before he stood in front of a gray, rocky cliff. The top extended into several jagged edges that resembled the teeth of a maliki demon. Perched on flat land between two of the crooks stood a small, two-story home made from the same rock as the cliff. It looked like one good thunderstorm would be all it took to knock the structure over.


  As if on cue, a ragged thunderbolt tore through the sky, briefly illuminating the house.

  “Spooky.”

  Why hadn’t he materialized directly in front of it?

  Brows creasing, Taeg tried to flash closer, but the fae path deposited him in the same exact spot.

  “Son of a bitch.” The home and surrounding cliffside had been bespelled against travel by fae path. Looked like he was going to have to do this the old-fashioned way. He allowed himself one small shudder before he found some purchase in the rock and started his ascent. One thing was for sure—these Vivi sisters were hard to get to. Maybe that was part of the worthiness test, because as far as he could tell a person would have to be either courageous as hell or completely nuts to attempt this.

  Good thing he was one of the two.

  At least the long ascent gave him time to reflect. And as was always the case lately, it was Maya he thought of. He’d gone and done it: he’d slept with her, even after he’d repeatedly told himself to stay away. Even knowing it would complicate things in a way he didn’t need right now. Looking back on it, he’d been lost from the very beginning. She was just so... so Maya. Everything about her drove him insane.

  Though practically Taeg knew he should be kicking himself for what had happened last night—and this morning—he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Not when she made him so freaking happy.

  After a harrowing climb that included hanging on by no more than two fingers a couple of times, he finally crawled onto the narrow ledge that served as the front step to the house. Rising to his feet, he lifted the knocker, but before he could use it the door opened with a soft creak.

  He stepped inside and pushed the door shut behind him. One quick glance was all it took to confirm that the inside of the place was as creepy as the outside. The entrance opened up to a great room, with walls the same rough-hewn stone as the cliff and cobwebs covering the rickety wooden furniture. Directly ahead were wooden stairs leading to a second floor.

  Looks like the housekeeper took a decade off.

  After clearing his throat, he called, “Is anyone home?”