“For being nice? No, darling, it’s the other way around. If you were nice, they’d think you’d already been exorcised and thank God for the change.”
She laughed, and he joined in.
“You’re probably right.” She looked down at their hands. “Do you hate your father?”
“What?”
“Your father, the demon. Do you hate him?”
Matuse considered the question, then shook his head. “Not anymore. About two hundred and fifty years ago he told me I was a huge disappointment to him. That stung for a little while, until Anuis convinced me it was a good thing.”
“Anuis? Anya’s Anuis?” She turned a confused look on him and he smiled.
“Yes.”
“Well, the veil lifts. How long does she have them for? I know it’s been more than a month.”
“She has them forever. They’re in love, and they’ve bonded, the three of them. And when they did so, Anya ceased to be mortal, and became Djinn.”
“Weird.” She didn’t pull her hand away, but he felt her stiffen, as if preparing to pull away from him. “You know, I know nothing about you, or your world. You know everything about me.”
“My name is Matuse. I was born in Lyon, France, four hundred and twenty-two years ago. I am a result of the seduction of my mother, Lynesse, by a demon named Margon. He thought he could turn her by impregnating her. He was wrong.”
“And they’re still alive?”
“They are. I haven’t seen my father in more than seventy years, though. My mother, I saw last weekend. She is a beautiful woman, and she lives in Paris.”
“Brothers and sisters?”
“My mother had no more children, but my father has spread his seed as much as he can. I have no contact with them, though. Nor do I care to.”
“Any children running around with quarter-demon blood in them?”
“None that have my quarter demon blood, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“So, in four hundred and twenty-two years, you’ve never had a child? Is it luck? Or are there little Matuses out there that you just don’t know about?”
“Djinn, both male and female, can control whether to give a child, or receive it.”
“Then how did your mother get pregnant?”
“She was in love with Margon. She still is, truth be told. And that fact is painful for her.”
“Did she know he was a demon?”
“Yes. But she thought she could change him, as Paran was changed.”
Aliya snorted. “He’s changed?”
“Oh, yes, he has changed. He’s much softer than he used to be.”
“That’s scary.”
A strained silence grew between them. Matuse waited for what he knew was coming, silently praying he would not hurt her too much with his answer.
“I don’t want to do any more. Can’t we stop with the two I’ve done? Please?”
He fastened his gaze on her blue eyes, where tears swam. Her face was swollen, and he knew that she’d cried much of the afternoon. He silently cursed Paran. He should have never left her alone. He wanted to hold her close, to let her know that he would be with her until the end of the contract.
“I’m sorry, Aliya. We have to finish all five.”
“Why?” Her voice trembled. “It’s not as if I’ve only hurt five women in my life with my words. There are probably a hundred of them I could apologize to and it still wouldn’t change things.”
“I picked the five that mattered the most,” he said. “The five that felt the sting the worst. The others dealt with your destructive actions on their own, and have mostly forgotten you.”
“But I don’t want to keep doing this. It hurts so much.”
“I know. But look how far you’ve come. You’ve let me hold your hand. That means physical contact that brings two people closer together. Maybe before it’s all over, you’ll learn to open yourself up, to reveal your true self.”
“Sex brings people closer together.”
“A person can have sex without feeling emotion. Sex is nice, yes, and sometime sex for the sake of sex is nice. But for it to be truly beautiful, you need emotion. And emotion comes from the heart, Aliya. It’s something I want to teach you. But you have to learn to let go, and to let others inside your mind. Your soul.”
“Not gonna happen.” Her words were soft, and they made him shake his head.
She pulled her hand away from his slowly, as if she’d just realized it was there. Then she hugged herself, wrapping her arms tightly across her chest and putting her hands on her back.
“Would you like to relax a little? Would you like me to fuck you?”
“Yes. Take me home.”
“No.” He placed his lips against her ear, licking the lobe gently. “I’ll take you to the Cave of Pleasure. But first, you need to think of a fantasy. Something really naughty to take your mind off the emotions you’ve felt today. This time we’ll have sex, just for the physical release. I’m holding the first one you thought about until Paran can play. But this one is just for the two of us. Think of something.”
He smiled at the image that flashed through his mind. Then he stood in front of her and held out his hand. “Your wish is my command.”
Aliya grimaced as the man in front of her took a step backwards. The elevator doors closed and she looked around in confusion. Where was she? A few seconds ago she’d been at the zoo, admiring the polar bears. And now, she was—understanding dawned and she chewed on her bottom lip.
Matuse had asked her to select a fantasy, something nasty that he could help her act out, something purely physical. Having sex in an elevator with a stranger. Someone she was totally attracted to, but had no emotional ties with. Someone who would fuck her until she came. Hard.
The bell dinged and the doors opened, the man in front of her got off, and a man got on. He pushed a button, then clasped his hands in front of him. He was wearing a business suit, a smart designer jacket over a dark blue shirt. He was as tall as Matuse, but his shoulders weren’t as wide, and his chest wasn’t as massive. His dark hair brushed his shoulders as he glanced at the numbers above the door, then shifted his gaze to Aliya.
The hair was different. The build was different. But she could see Matuse in the man’s eyes as he looked her up and down. Wetness formed between her legs when he licked his lips, then put his hand over his crotch and squeezed gently.
“Do I know you?” The accent was southern, and Aliya shook her head.
“I don’t think so. I’m…” She stopped speaking when he held up his hand.
“No names. Do you work here in the building?” He stroked his crotch. She could see his cock lengthening under the material, growing under his touch.
“Yes.”
“I thought so. I’ve seen you a few times. I thought about fucking you. Would you like that?”
He moved toward her until they were inches apart. Then he stopped, turned the other way and pulled the stop button on the control panel. The elevator jerked to a halt, and panic curled into Aliya’s stomach.
“Start it back up.” The walls felt like they were closing in on her. It was exhilarating, yet somewhat frightening.
“No.” He dropped his jacket to the ground, swiftly loosened his tie and stepped toward her. “Tell me. Would you like me to fuck you?”
“I don’t know you.” The thrill of it sent her pulse rate up. It was Matuse, yes, but yet it wasn’t him. It was a different man. A stranger.
“Let me take you,” he said, leaning toward her. “Open your dress.”
She looked down, realizing for the first time that she wore a wrap dress. She put her hand on the tie, ready to pull it. But, before she did, she glanced back at him. The desire in his eyes was fierce, and he took a step toward her. They were inches apart, his hands hovering near her breasts.
“It’s okay. Do it. You know you want to.”
“I shouldn’t.”
“I know. It’s naughty, isn’t it? Don’t you wa
nt to be naughty?” His voice was like liquid velvet, caressing her skin and leaving little goose bumps in its wake.
Aliya’s body screamed for his touch. Her nipples peaked and the wetness between her thighs turned into a flood. She felt dizzy with need. The stresses of the day floated around her: her encounter with Jacquee and the horrible memories of her treatment at the hands of her mother.
“Yes. I want to be naughty.” She grasped the tie, inhaling sharply when his hand covered hers and pulled the tie out. The dress opened easily, and she wore no bra or panties. He stared into her eyes for a few moments, his gaze caressing her gently before looking down.
“Beautiful.” He clasped his mouth onto a nipple, pulling it with his teeth and biting gently.
She shivered under his touch as he sucked her in deeper, wrapping his arms around her so she was a virtual prisoner in his strong grasp. His fingers caressed her back as he transferred his mouth to her other nipple, running his tongue across her flesh before sucking the hard bud in.
Aliya moaned and wove her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer. She looked down. The dark hair made her feel as if a stranger, rather than Matuse, suckled her breast. It added to the passion growing in her body. He nibbled her nipple, then moved back to the other one.
“Take me.” She stroked her hand down his shirt to his crotch, cupping the hardness she found there. “I want your cock inside me.”
He pushed her roughly into the wall of the elevator, lifting his lips to her neck.
“Yes. Do it hard.” She wanted the roughness, wanted to forget everything that had happened that day in the arms of this stranger, who was not really a stranger.
He nipped at her neck and she muttered encouragements. His lips never left her as his hands swiftly undid his belt and pants.
Their gazes locked and she sucked in a heavy breath. “Do it.”
He put his hands on her hips and lifted her slightly, sliding himself under her.
He entered her in one hard thrust.
She cried out. “Yes! Do it. Harder. Harder.”
He pushed up into her, pulling her down to meet each drive of his hips. His cock stroked against her G-spot with each movement and Aliya wrapped her legs and arms around him, forcing him close as he fucked her, for there could be no other word for it.
She felt impaled on him, and with each harsh shove of his cock inside her, she could feel his harsher side, the side he kept hidden from her. And heaven help her, she loved it. She raked her nails over his back, grateful for the material of his shirt when she heard him groan, praying she didn’t break the skin and hurt him. Still, though, she begged for more. Begged for it harder. And he gave it to her until they were both panting and sweating.
He stiffened and growled, his voice rumbled deep in his chest. His hands gripped her hips tighter, and with his final hard thrust, hit her G-spot in just the right place. She came with him, screaming out his name as the elevator walls disappeared.
They were standing in front of the mound of pillows in his office. He lowered her down gently, stroking her arms as she collapsed into the softness below her.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked.
“No.”
“Are you sure?” He lay next to her, trying to pull her into his arms, but she stiffened and turned her back to him. “Don’t pull away from me.”
“I’m fine. I just need a minute or two. I’m fine.”
She wanted to turn to him, to let him hold her. But she buried the feelings, knowing they would come to no good. Even if she did feel close to him, even if she did enjoy his company, and his body, he would be gone before the month was out. Better to nip the feelings in the bud before she ended up hurt.
Chapter Ten
“That look could fry bacon.”
Matuse lifted his head from the paperwork on his desk and let a smile overtake his frown.
“Makin. What are you doing here?”
“Anya sent me. She wanted me to tell you she’s ready for her part.”
Matuse nodded, then pushed the papers aside. With a grunt, he waved his hand and laughed. “Done.”
“So, you’ve been with the she-devil for a week and a half now. Have you tamed her yet?”
“Not quite. I have put some meat on her bones, though. Seven pounds to be exact.”
“Good for you. She was far too thin.” Makin sat down in a chair opposite the desk and ran his hand over his baldbhead.
“Yes, with any luck, I’ll be able to add another ten before our time is up and she’ll be healthier. It hasn’t been easy, though. She’s fought every bite, but when she gets it in her mouth, she loves it.”
Makin studied him, then nodded. “And you? Will you be healthier?”
“Physically, or mentally?”
“Either. Both.”
“I’ll be fine, thank you for asking.”
The room grew silent, and Matuse shuffled the papers again.
Makin studied him, then cleared his throat. “You know, I fell in love with my charge. I didn’t mean to, but it happened.”
“I understand that, but it won’t happen here. I care for her, yes, but what can I offer her? Nothing.”
“That’s not true. You have a lot to offer her.”
“It was easy for you, Makin. You and Anuis had a charge who was soft and accepting, who wanted to be loved. I have one that opens up just enough for me to fuck her, and that’s all. She wants sex, not love. When it’s over, she closes back down again. She’s only let me kiss her once, and she’s never kissed me.”
“Try a seduction scene. It works very well.”
“For you and Anuis it did, yes. I don’t think it would work with Aliya.”
“You never know. It could help move her case along, and who knows what could happen between the two of you.”
“Why are you smiling like that? Do you know something I don’t?” Matuse probed at Makin’s mind, then grinned. “Why you little devil. Is the baby yours, or Anuis’?”
“Both. It’s twins. We figured that was the best way to do it. The girl is mine, and the boy is Anuis’. But you know, the way we see it, the babies are ours, as in they will think of both of us as their fathers.”
“That ought to be interesting. I’m very happy for the three of you. Or should I say the five of you?”
“Anya is like a child with a new toy. She’s running around, wanting to redecorate the whole house before they arrive. She’s giddy with the prospect of being a mother.”
Matuse smiled, then looked away. “Congratulations.”
“You should try it. From what I can deduce, there could be a strong bond between you and Aliya. All you need to do is draw her out.”
“There could be, yes, but I won’t get a child on her. You know the vow I made.”
“Matuse, you overcame it.”
“Yes, but it was hard, so very hard. How can I have children knowing they will have demon blood flowing in their veins? How could I do that to the mother?”
To Aliya. She’d been through so much already. He’d wanted to believe she was just a case, but she was much more than that. He wanted to stay in her life for longer than the thirty days he had with her.
As if she’d sensed him thinking about her, he heard her call his name. There was humor in her voice and he laughed.
“Go to her,” Makin said. “And try a seduction scene. But disguise it as something else. Steal her heart, Matuse. That’s going to be the only way.”
Makin disappeared and Matuse stared at the spot where he’d sat. He knew his friend was right—the only way to get Aliya’s heart would be to steal it out from under her, and then fight her to keep it. But a regular seduction scene wouldn’t work with her. He’d have to think of something that would take her breath away, shock her into opening herself to him.
She called his name again, with a little more force this time, and he stood, an idea forming in his mind. He just had to find the right time to put it into play.
He found her in the kitchen of
her house, with pots and pans littering the counter. A heavy covering of tomato sauce lay on the stove.
“What took you so long?” Aliya shook a wooden spoon at Matuse. “I made dinner.”
“You cooked?” When she pouted, he fought back a laugh.
“Yes, I did. I’m so bored sitting around here. And since you won’t let me do my last three apologies, I have nothing else to do except watch TV. Yuck.”
“You could read a book.”
“Yes, I could. But I decided to cook instead.” She put the spoon into a large pot on the stove. Then she turned and offered it to him. “Taste.”
He took the spoon in his mouth, then pulled it out and wrinkled up his nose.
“No good?”
“Salty.” He leaned over the pot, then took the spoon from her and dipped it into the sauce, bringing out a large chunk of uncooked hamburger meat. “What is this?”
“It’s spaghetti sauce.”
He tried to control his laughter. “Darling, you’re supposed to cook the meat before you put it in the sauce.”
“You are? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“I guess I should read a cookbook. I’ve never cooked, you know. While I was working…” she paused to let the words sink in, “…I ate lunch out.”
“And what about dinner?”
“I never ate after four. If I had a business dinner, I skipped lunch.”
“And starved yourself.” He shook his head.
“Well, I’m not starving now, am I? Do you realize I’ve gained eight pounds since I met you?”
“Eight? Splendid. I thought it was only seven. Very good, darling.”
“Are you kidding me? My clothes are getting tight. I look like a cow.”
“You’re starting to look like a woman and not a stick figure. I like it.”
“Yeah, well don’t get too used to it, because when the thirty days are gone, so is the weight.”
He drew himself up and frowned. “Maybe I’ll add an addendum to the contract that allows me to monitor your weight. I would like to see another fifteen pounds on you.”
“Are you kidding me? No way.”
Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure Page 8
