Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2)

by Kiersten Fay

  Was that disappointment in her tone?

  “I promise.” He turned his back to her.

  Nadua snorted. “Like your last promise?” The memory of him yelling that she would never see Ava again still stung. Was that why she was doing this? To punish him?

  He gave her his profile. “I never promised you would see Ava again. I promised to try and make it happen. And I still will, Nadua, but I can’t guarantee it. I can’t see what will happen in the future.” With that he turned his head away from her, giving her free reign to study his bare back, smooth and tan, and just as ripped with muscle as his front.

  He couldn’t see the future, but she could—every so often—and she was reminded of the first vision of him, red-eyed and tearing through a wall of men.

  Her brows knit together. Before, he’d been angry with her for trying to run, but nothing like in that vision. His gentleness when he’d stroked her to orgasm, and the desperate way he had held her in the cavern after she’d nearly fallen, was all too confusing in comparison. Once again she cursed her lack of control with her ability.

  “Are you getting in or not?”

  “I’m getting in. Don’t move.”

  There was no way she was giving this up, even if he had insisted on watching. The notion had actually thrilled her, but Marik gave in much easier than she would have guessed.

  It was probably better this way. They had been too intimate already. She didn’t really know Marik, and her cryptic visions were only adding to the mystery.

  * * *

  With every sound of Nadua peeling off her clothes and stepping into the water, Marik couldn’t help visualizing what she might look like with the lantern’s dancing light caressing her silky skin, her fiery red hair damp and clinging to the soft curve of her breasts.

  When she groaned with contentment, his shaft jerked and he had to stifle one of his own.

  Not being able to scent her down here made him incredibly uneasy. If she disappeared, he wouldn’t know unless he stole a look. And that would surely piss her off, though it would no doubt make his day. He’d never wanted to break a promise so badly in his life.

  “How’s the water?” he asked, to get her talking.

  “Perfect,” she replied in a deeply sexy voice, which made him harder still.

  Damn it. Why didn’t she want him in there with her? He’d proven he would do nothing to hurt her, hadn’t he? Although that was his fear, he knew she worried about it too. With her, he’d been gentle, had restrained his desire while badly wanting to settle her under him and shove inside her, until they both screamed with ecstasy.

  The thing that was most surprising to Marik was that he hadn’t blacked out while she’d given him the most powerful orgasm he’d ever experienced—with only her hand. It made him wonder if being with her for a night might be different than his past experiences.

  Again he thought that maybe it had something to do with her gift, that he had remained himself during the height of pleasure. He had been eased by her presence from the beginning. Perhaps that was her talent.

  Or maybe her gift was something else altogether.

  At first, he thought they’d only gotten lucky with the sinkhole. But if Nadua hadn’t called out like she had, he would have been well in the middle of it. Only now did he recall that she’d yelled his name before there had been any hint of a problem.

  His teeth gnashed together at the memory. While watching Nadua dangle on the edge, Marik’s heart had wrenched in a way he’d never felt before. Neither the arena nor any of his other masters had been able to inspire the crippling dread of that moment.

  He told himself that it was for Anya’s sake that he’d been so alarmed for her safety. But for whose sake was it when, later, he had to forcibly release her from his relieved embrace? It had resulted in a rush of anxiety that was only appeased when she allowed him to take her hand. An anxiety that was returning now with her out of sight.

  Marik was grateful when she found the soap. The sounds of water calmed him, but it did nothing to hinder the images running though his mind, keeping him hard as steel.

  “I can’t believe this has been here the whole time,” she practically moaned.

  His cock jerked once more and he shifted in his pants. More water sounds resonated, as if she lifted it to drip over her body, and it was trickling through all the crevices where his tongue should be.

  Mine.

  Marik mentally shook himself.

  The sudden thought reminded him of the comment Rex had made in their first meeting. Marik had been ready to tear his throat out for the way he’d been looking at Nadua. But in Demonish, Rex had said, “Easy friend, I would never encroach on your mate.”

  At first, Marik had been flabbergasted. After brief consideration, Marik had informed him that Nadua wasn’t his mate. Rex’s response had been, “Are you sure?”

  How could he not be sure? Demons were supposed to be able to scent their mates instantly, from miles away. Rex should know that. Sure, Nadua was getting under his skin in a bad way, but that was only because he’d gone without a woman for so long. As he always did.

  Breaking him from his thoughts, Marik noticed Nadua had gone quiet. Unthinking, he turned to make sure she was still there. She shrieked, shielding herself with her arms and ducking into the water.

  “You looked!”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you...I thought—”

  “What? That I left? Where would I go? You’re standing by both exits.”

  “I didn’t see anything,” he lied. His painfully stiff shaft was punishing him for it. Had she just been about to...? Surely her hand wasn’t... “Make some noise or something, so I know you’re still there.”

  “I-I was just...wondering about your scars.”

  Marik went tense. How could he have forgotten his own marred body? He contemplated putting his shirt back on, but because he hadn’t perceived any kind of distaste in her tone, he decided to leave it off.

  “Could you tell me about them?”

  “No.” He tried not to growl the word.

  How would she react knowing what he’d been forced to do? She’d be disgusted.

  When Nadua went silent again, he almost turned. He needed the expression of her eyes to give away her thoughts.

  Instead, he changed the subject. “How about we talk about your abilities?”

  Still, she said nothing.

  “Nadua?”

  He heard movement in the water again. It sounded as though she were getting out.

  You can turn around now,” she said.

  But when he did, he regretted it. She was perched at the edge of the pool, dripping wet, with only a thin cloth wrapped around her to conceal her otherwise naked body. Did she realize how revealing it was? He swallowed hard.

  Soaked crimson locks fell heavily over her shoulders. She tucked a thick strand behind her ear. “I left the soap over there for you.”

  He didn’t look where she pointed; an explosion couldn’t have ripped his eyes from her. Not when her nipples beaded through the cloth so perfectly. Droplets of water rolling over the soft skin of her thighs claimed his attention next.

  Nadua remained still, allowing him to drink in the sight of her. When he was finally able to drag his eyes back to hers, he found they had gone violet. He clenched his fists, struggling to control his need.

  Her heated expression relentlessly traveled his body. If he didn’t put an end to this, they both might regret what happened next. Unfortunately, his actions were no longer his own. His lust had quickly overpowered his common sense.

  As she watched his every move with heavy lids, he found himself undoing his pants to show her just what she was doing to him. She licked her lips.

  With the last of his restraint, he offered a reprieve. “Do you want to turn around?”

  Liquid lavender swirled in the depths of her irises, and she gave the slightest shake of her head. Marik let the fabric slide free of his grip. Her breath hitched, and her throat w
orked hard as swallowed. The softest shade of pink filled her cheeks.

  Entering the warm pool, Marik crossed to her. To his delight, she didn’t back away when he found a slender ankle dangling under the water. He traced his way up to her thigh. Her body shuttered. He kissed one knee and used his other hand to pull her leg to the side. She offered no resistance.

  Lightly touching, he kissed his way up the skin of her inner thigh. Nadua’s breath caught. The sweet scent of her desire claimed his mind, demanding he continue.

  Pushing the cloth aside, he swiped out with his tongue and was instantly addicted. Nadua softly gasped as her head lolled at that simple caress. Needing more, Marik pulled her closer to the edge of the pool and took her with his mouth, delving through her soft folds.

  Leaning back on her elbow, Nadua ran her fingers through his hair and boldly lifted one leg over his shoulder as if to keep him in place.

  As if he would go anywhere.

  Marik gripped the thigh resting on his shoulder, keeping her in place.

  Her moans echoed off the walls, encouraging him as well as tormenting him. He needed to be inside her. But when he met the spot that made her cover a scream of pleasure, he did not relent. Unable to hold herself up, Nadua’s back found the stony ground. Her hands lay at her sides, digging into the soil.

  When she came, her back bowed and she sucked in one long hard breath, obviously trying to temper her passion. Marik didn’t like that. He wanted her to scream until all of Undewla could hear how he pleasured her.

  “Of all the things I’ve missed, that would be the greatest,” she breathed, sitting up.

  “I’m not done with you yet.” Marik’s voice sounded far too husky to be his.

  She didn’t argue when he found her waist and lifted her, cloth and all, back into the pool. Her intense gaze held him captive as his body came in contact with hers. Hesitantly, her slender hands came to his chest, and she rested them there for a moment before allowing them to roam his skin with palpable curiosity. In the water, the tan cloth danced free of her body, leaving her open to him. It was driving him wild.

  The top was still tightly wound around her chest—a problem soon remedied.

  * * *

  “You make me crazed,” he whispered as he pressed his hard erection against her.

  Nadua must be a little mad herself, because she couldn’t bring herself to stop this. Her body ached for him.

  Watching him while she bathed had been a bad idea. She wasn’t sure if he knew it, but his muscles would flex every-so-often and the movement had fascinated her. The combination of being naked while he stood sentinel, and her hands roaming her body with the sweet smelling soap, had aroused her beyond comprehension.

  She’d just been about to release the tension when he’d broken his promise and turned on her. Embarrassment at what he’d almost caught her doing stamped out any anger she should have felt.

  Getting out of the water was supposed to break the spell, but his eyes grew dark, filled with such promises of pleasure. She knew he could deliver, and her need had turned urgent.

  Nadua couldn’t explain it, but the moment her desire hit, he’d changed. He became a predator. And now he had her in his grips. One arm held her around the waist, caged against his body. The other was caressing the soft flesh of her thigh that he had pinned high against his hip. His skin was both hard and soft at the same time. The masculine scent that was distinctly his filled her head.

  As if testing, his hand came up to grip the edge of the cloth wrapped around her upper body. Her breath was coming hard, her heart blasting within her. But she didn’t protest when he gave a tug and the material came loose. His eyes dipped to her breasts, half buried under the water. She shuddered under his riveted scrutiny.

  Her head lolled as he tenderly cupped her. She fit perfectly in his palm. And still, he held her tight. As if she would try to get away.

  Never.

  Just when she was ready to let out a moan, he swallowed it with a kiss. So warm and soft, his lips were gentle, yet powerful.

  She remembered there was nothing between them now. Nothing to stop him from taking her at any moment. But he hesitated, continuing to kiss and pet her with such light touches.

  She traced her fingers down his thick arms and back, trying to keep steady, while memorizing the feel of his warm flesh. The smell of a man’s desire.

  Intoxicating.

  Why was he not inside her already?

  She began undulating her hips, briefly wondering if tempting a demon like this was wise. After all the stories of their terrible brutality, she shouldn’t be practically begging him to take her. But Marik wasn’t like that. She was sure of it.

  Mostly.

  In any case, she was about to find out. Lust was rolling of him in waves, and her own desire was like a drug causing her brain to focus only on one thing.

  Satisfaction.

  As she moved her hips again, a deep rumbling emerged from within him. But instead of going wild like she expected, he stopped, and pushed her away. Nadua’s back met the warm ledge of the pool. For a moment, he held her in place as he gathered his breath with his eyes closed.

  “What are you doing?” She was still panting from his attention. The pleasure had been a shock to her body, bringing it back to life.

  At first, he said nothing. She waited, feeling he needed a moment. The stark look he gave her made her heart lurch.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” His grating voice told her he was on the verge of losing control.

  “You won’t hurt me, Marik.” She reached for him, but he put more distance between them.

  “I could. I have before.” He seemed to shake a memory away.

  Have what? Hurt her? Hurt another? But if he were anything like the demons in the stories, wouldn’t he have hurt her from day one? And he wouldn’t stop himself now, when he so obviously wanted to keep going.

  “I don’t believe that.” The vision of him maddened and bloodthirsty circled her mind, but she pushed it away. She didn’t believe he would ever harm her. There had to be something more that the vision wasn’t showing her.

  To Nadua’s relief, he stayed where he was as she slowly moved toward him, though he was flexing those magnificent muscles again. As if she might scare him away, she lightly brushed her lips against his. To her delight, his softened and molded to hers.

  She whispered, “Marik, I need you.”

  With a groan, he was on her, kissing her with renewed fervor. She found herself once again backed up to the edge of the pool. Her legs wrapped around his waist so tightly that he would have to peel her off him to get away. His strong hand gripped her backside, kneading the soft flesh.

  She could feel the tip of him near her entrance and pulled him closer with her legs. A noise that sounded partly defeated and partly triumphant reverberated through him.

  He slipped into her.

  Gasping, Nadua gripped his shoulders, nails digging in hard. She wasn’t used to being filled so thoroughly and he didn’t give her a chance to grow accustom to his size before he started thrusting his hips.

  Through gritted teeth, she said, “Marik, wait. Give me a second. It’s been...a while.”

  He stilled, growing rigid. His head shook as if clearing it and he squeezed her ass hard, but she found she liked it. After a moment longer, she rolled her hips, and he began moving again.

  Blissful fire crashed through her core, up through her spine, materializing as a deep moan. Arching her back, she rocked her hips again, straining to take more of him. Sensing what she wanted, he gave one hard thrust and she cried out from the pleasure.

  The water around them broke into tiny waves that licked at her breasts and arms, as Marik continued to move in and out of her. It was surprisingly erotic.

  He buried his head in the crook of her neck and teased the sensitive flesh there with his tongue and teeth. She shuddered. Then she felt the tiniest of bites, and an orgasm the size of Undewla itself exploded through her every cell. H
er head fell back while the waves repeatedly assaulted her. All she could do was cling to Marik to keep from slipping under the water from the power of it.

  Both his hands were gripping her hips, holding her in place as his body pounded furiously. His head flew back with a roar as his seed began to spill. The sound of their heavy breaths bounced off the cavern walls. When he eased up, his eyes were dazed.

  They slowly cleared.

  She felt something was wrong even before his expression grew confused.

  He seemed to note her nudity with surprise, as well as their closeness. “Did we just...Shit. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “What?”

  Dread blanketed his features the moment he fixated on her neck. He lifted a hand to move her chin and hissed in a breath. Then he let go of her and backed away so swiftly that she dipped under the water before she was able to right herself.

  She spat out a mouthful of water and muttered, “Well, that was romantic.”

  He was already out of the pool and, for some reason, thumping his head against the hard wall.

  She watched for a moment, confused. “What is the matter with you?”

  “I blacked out. I don’t remember doing it. I’m...so sorry, Nadua.”

  His cryptic words spiked fear in her. What was he sorry for? It was only sex. Mind-bending sex that shattered every erotic dream she’d ever dared to have.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  He just gave her a pitying glance. “Get out of the water. Get dressed.”

  The clipped order and the abrupt way he’d left her—as if she’d suddenly become diseased—transformed her chagrin into something more like fury. “What do you mean you blacked out?”

  “I mean I don’t remember most of what we just did. I don’t remember...biting you.”

  “You don’t remember?” she said in a flat tone. “It happened two seconds ago.”

  It was the most amazing, overwhelming...And his bite? My gods, he could come back and bite her again right now, even with how pissed she was becoming.

  She touched the mark on her neck and figured it should at least feel tender, but it didn’t. Was that what this was about?