Dancing With the Devil

by Cate Masters

  He searched her eyes, knowing too well her meaning.

  “What about after all this?” she asked.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “When I return from the Underworld safe and sound, yet still a granddaughter of the Prince of Darkness, then what? Will I ever see you again?”

  Bodie had no answer. He’d never leave her side; he never had. He’d certainly be able to see her, well enough to torture him for the rest of his existence. But would he be confined to the other realm after completing this task? “I don’t know.”

  On tiptoe, she pressed closer. “Can’t you stand up for yourself?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  She eased down. “So you don’t want to be with me. Not the way I want to be with you.”

  “I didn’t say that.” He couldn’t, without lying.

  “Wow. Are you sure you’re not the Ruling Angel of Cryptic?”

  Rules bound him to silence. He ached to tell her everything. “It may be one of my subtitles.” He quirked his lips, fairly certain it didn’t resemble the smile he intended.

  “Sooo funny. You may have missed your calling as a standup comedian.”

  “No, I wouldn’t be successful at it.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I don’t care what others think.”

  “Obviously,” she said on a sigh.

  “Except you. You know that, Lily.”

  “I don’t know anything anymore.” She toed a pebble, turning to walk away, but then whirled into his arms.

  He cradled her, his cheek against her hair. “It will be fine. You’ll go on this journey of self-discovery. Have a brief visit with your family in the Underworld, then realize they’re better left underground. And you’ll return to your life, surreal as it may be.” And I will return to you.

  So long as he didn’t lose her to the family who wanted only to ensnare her in their web of deception.

  ***

  On the return ride, Bodie’s back was stiffer than usual. Maybe he was resisting Lily’s hug, because she held tighter than usual. She wanted to go home, but the thought of not being able to see him, touch him… She closed her eyes and curled against him. Stay with me.

  His muscles hardened further. Through his shirt, she felt them move beneath his skin as he downshifted and steered onto her street, coming to a stop in front of her building.

  She held on until he rested his hands atop hers.

  “We’re here,” he said softly over his shoulder.

  Getting off the bike pained her. He’d become part of her, a necessity of daily life. How could she let him leave?

  “Come inside with me.”

  “I shouldn’t.”

  “What if someone’s hiding in there? Or left a trap of some kind?”

  His half-smile told her he knew what she was doing. “All right. I’ll make sure no one’s lying in wait.”

  He swung his leg over the bike and rose beside her, his height a formidable presence as he stood closer than necessary. So he doesn’t want to leave. A small triumph, but important. At least he’d suffer as much as she would while they were apart.

  All too aware of him, she led the way inside. Her key fumbled in the lock.

  “Let me.” His hand closed around hers.

  She fought the temptation to turn and fold herself into his arms. Instead, she surrendered the keys and forced herself not to look at him, waiting silently until the door swung open, then stepped inside.

  The loft appeared strange to her, no longer an abode of safety. Her own home, and she didn’t feel at home here.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Everything’s wrong. Everything’s changed.” All her coping mechanisms failed. She’d have to develop an entirely new set to navigate this uncharted territory.

  He slipped his arms around her.

  Lily glanced over Bodie’s shoulder at the wall clock, a Regulator that chimed. Her adopted mother Jean had given it to her, to “mind the time.” Ironic, given her new situation.

  Two o’clock. Despite the overcast sky, she knew by the light it was afternoon. “What day is it?” She hated to ask. Better to spend her time with him concentrating on other things.

  Bodie’s fingers traced her spine. “In this time zone, it’s Friday.”

  She gasped. “I’ve been gone a week?” Or longer?

  “No, your dinner date was last night.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  His smug smile said otherwise. Not impossible, not in this new reality. But then, weird was the new norm. Nothing should take her by surprise.

  Lily’s mind whirled. “I have to work tonight.” Now that seemed impossible, returning to the humdrum existence as if her world hadn’t turned on its axis and dumped its suitcase of secrets at her feet.

  He rubbed her back, probably intending it to be a gesture of comfort. It dissolved her last show of resolve.

  She threw herself against his chest. “I need you with me.”

  He tensed. “Lily…”

  She gripped tighter. He expelled a long breath, and rounded into the embrace, head buried in her hair. For long moments, they held each other.

  Hard to be content with a simple hug, but Lily willed herself not to do more. Until his hands wandered down her back. Inside the space between her jeans and tee, probing until fingers met skin.

  This was no longer just a hug. Did he want more? She shifted enough to look at him, searching his face for the answer.

  Furrowed brows, eyes squeezed against the pain of what he’d endure if he went through with it. The longing as he looked at her lips made her rise on tiptoe, yearning to feel his mouth against hers again.

  How terrible could his superiors be? They couldn’t punish him for loving her. Wasn’t that what angels were supposed to do?

  She caressed his cheek, then his jaw, and reached around his neck. Her shallow breaths mingled with his as she drew herself up, so slowly, desperate for him not to push her away.

  Still and hard as Michelangelo’s David, Bodie stayed silent, though the torture showed plain in his face. When she reached her lips for his to close the last tiny gap, he flinched back. She clenched her embrace to a viselike grip and whispered, “Bodie.”

  It released something in him. With a slow blink, the pain vanished, his features smoothed. His soft moan signaled surrender, and he relaxed. Then his mouth crashed upon hers.

  Momentary surprise, then a flood of need, and she gave herself over to his full unleashing of passion. Intense yearning swept through her, heightening her awareness of every touch, every part of him. Her body responded to each caress with a shudder, an ache driving her to demand more.

  Her mouth captured bits of skin, tasting and exploring, down his neck to his chest, her hands lifted his shirt to expose more skin. “I want you, Bodie. All of you.”

  ***

  “I want you, too, Lily.” God help him. Her kisses reduced him to a wanton mass of need. Only she could relieve this terrible yearning, the torture of unfulfilled desire screaming for her alone.

  So easy, and no one will know. Each touch, and he lost another bit of himself to her. Her fingers inside his tee shirt, inching it upward. Her lips on his chest… light nips at his nipples… He braced against the rush of heat to his groin, the roar in his ears that deafened all rational argument. The flame of desire licking every nerve.

  Flames that will burn you, Bodiel. Prove to be your ultimate destruction. A moan of anguish escaped as the last remnant of reason pierced his brain.

  “I can’t.” His arms ached from the effort of holding her away from him, rather than enfolding her in an embrace. “I’m so sorry. I can’t.”

  She strained against his grip, pressing toward him. “No, Bodie. Please.”

  “Lily.” His harsh voice grated his senses, snapping them back to reality. “No.”

  At the finality in his voice, his hands registered the tremor running through her. She stared as if in shock.

  “Fine
.” She jerked her arms from his grasp. Hair fell across her face, but not enough to cover the quiver in her lip.

  “You know I want to.”

  The heat in her wide eyes flashed brighter, to anger. “Do you.”

  Not a question; she doubted him? His motives? “More than anything.”

  “Well, apparently not more than anything.”

  He could almost hear her bitter thoughts: not his precious angel status. His wings. His ruling over the Sixth Heaven.

  “I’d willingly sacrifice everything I have for you. But then I wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

  “Maybe I don’t want you to protect me.”

  “Don’t.” Her lashing out cut him as sure as any blade.

  “I have never relied on anyone, Bodie. And if you can’t be with me on equal terms, you should leave. Now.”

  Equal? Did she not know she surpassed him in nearly every way? Part angel, part goddess – even if her goddess relation lived in the Underworld. Lily would discover her secret strengths, strengths even his superiors hadn’t guessed.

  Perhaps she didn’t need him as much as he’d like to believe. Nonetheless, he’d guard her with every weapon in his arsenal.

  “Be well.” He strode to the door and jogged down the stairs to his Harley, not daring to check whether she watched from the window. Her body sent silent invitations to his, and he couldn’t afford to lose anymore of his defenses.

  ***

  Men packed into Polaris like rats to a landfill. As Lily twisted her body around the pole, their whistles and cheers filled her with disgust, as if she existed solely for their entertainment. They ogled the body that Bodie had just consecrated with his own. Well, almost. Still, she’d never see herself the same way again after today. It gave her a new inner strength. Enough to block their leers from her consciousness.

  She finished her performance and sauntered off stage, oblivious to them. Time to face Demi and demand time off. Something she’d never requested, so the woman had better not give her grief.

  She didn’t bother to put on a robe before knocking. At Demi’s call to enter, Lily did so, and stood in front of the desk.

  “Lily, so good to see you.” Demi flashed a smile before returning to the computer. “Let me save this file, and I’ll be right with you.”

  Lily shifted on her stilettos. Strange Demi kept the office the same as her predecessor. No personal effects. Not even a photo. Had she no loved ones?

  With a final click of the mouse, Demi said, “There. All done.” As she turned, her smile faltered. “Have a seat, dear. No one should have to put up with those heels any longer than necessary.”

  “I’m fine.” Short and sweet, that’s how she wanted this to go.

  “Please,” Demi entreated her with a gesture. “What’s on your mind? Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, why?” Wrong question. Never open the door to an inquisition.

  “You seem nervous.”

  “I’m not. I need to use some of my accumulated time.”

  “You’re going on vacation?”

  “In a way.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  You don’t need to. “I’m still waiting for a phone call to tell me exactly when, and then I need to visit my family. More of an obligation than pleasure.”

  Fear tightened Demi’s face. “Oh.” Her hands fluttered across the papers scattered on her desk. “I hope it’s a good thing. Is it very far?”

  What’s with the interrogation? “A little.” Inaccessible except through death, usually, but she’d leave that out of the discussion.

  Demi’s smile looked as plastic as a mannequin’s until she noticed Lily wore the necklace. Strange how she seemed to relax then.

  Lily fingered the pendant.

  An aura appeared around Demi. The woman literally radiated love. Toward Lily.

  Whoa. Not what Lily expected by a long shot. “I hope it’s not a problem. I’d give more notice if I could. It’s rather urgent. I mean, it’s urgent I leave as soon as I get the call.”

  “Is it?” Flustered, Demi visibly composed herself. “I hope everything’s all right.”

  “It will be.” She’d make sure of it.

  “Do you need anything?”

  Weirder and weirder. “No.” Lily rose. “I appreciate the offer.”

  “How long will you be away?” Fear returned to Demi’s eyes.

  Great question. After her time with Bodie in the Ante-realm, she had no idea whether time passed the same loopy way down under. “I’m not sure. No longer than a week, I hope.”

  Demi nodded. “If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

  Had she unintentionally made it seem like a death in the family? Not a possibility, with hers. “I’ll let you know as soon as I know more. I hope it doesn’t throw off the schedule too much.”

  “We’ll manage. You focus on what you have to do. Don’t worry about anything here.”

  Why did Lily have the strange sense that Demi knew what Lily was about to do? And that it worried her?

  Her curt nod sufficed as a response. Lily backed to the door and fled to the dressing room.

  “Hey, nice show.” Keb strolled toward her.

  God, it seemed months since she’d seen him. “Hey you. How’ve you been?”

  He knit his brows, yet smiled. “Since yesterday? Fine. Are you all right?”

  Nice, idiot. “Yeah. Long day, I guess.” The music blasted from the outer room. “Oops, Bryn’s almost finished. Gotta go.”

  “Any plans later? Want to go clubbing?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Another date?”

  Just spending time with my newfound family. Not that she wanted to play on the Triple Sixers team. She just wanted to get to know them.

  She ached to tell Keb goodbye. It might be the last time she’d see him. “Sort of.”

  “Lucky girl. Have fun.”

  The idea never occurred to her. Was it possible to have fun in the Underworld?

  Two more performances, and then home to pack. She’d find out soon enough. Too bad she’d never be able to tell Keb about it.

  It would be so easy to call Bodie, run into his arms and stay there.

  Then what?

  No, she had to know about Persephone, and especially Hades. Had to make sure he didn’t harm anyone she cared about.

  Besides, if she ignored them, they’d always be lurking around, showing up at inconvenient times, insinuating themselves into her life as if entitled to ruin it.

  No, she had to deal with them. Then figure out what to do.

  Lily gave everything she had to her final dance. It might be her last one at Polaris. As she swirled, bent and arched, she couldn’t help but wonder whether she had any other family besides Persephone and Hades. A sister, maybe? She’d always sensed the presence of someone, like a missing limb, there but intangible, out of reach.

  The dilemma of Zeveriah worried her. So what if her family promised her to him; their deal meant nothing to her.

  Did it?

  Yes, he could appear very attractive, if she didn’t view him through the prism of the pendant. It lent new meaning to the phrase bad boy, in the extreme definition.

  She’d never had a family, not in the true sense. Maybe she’d develop an uneasy kinship with them. So long as she didn’t develop horns too.

  Chapter Seven

  “Elistair. Bring Veronica to me.” Zeveriah’s knee jiggled beneath his desk.

  The servant appraised him. “Again, sir?”

  “Yes, again,” Zev snapped. “And do it now.”

  Who the hell was Elistair to question him? Normally, Zev appreciated his servant’s subversive warnings, delivered from a cool-headed perspective, a concern for his master’s well being. This intrusion grated on Zev. Of course, Elistair likely reported his actions to Hades. Most underlings did, whether to get in Hades’ good graces or make themselves appear more loyal to the Prince, it mattered nothing.

  Zev couldn
’t stop if he wanted to. He found it too easy to imagine the servant girl as Lily. It stoked his desire, made him crazy with want. So crazy, sometimes he wanted to slip his hands around Lily’s throat and choke the life from her. Then she’d fly to the Underworld, with no Get Out of Hell Free card. Stuck here for eternity, Lily would beg him to make her his.

  The way it should be, as Hades well knew. And Zev wouldn’t allow his future wife – The Destined One or not – to punish his concubines as Persephone had. Oh no. He’d keep his mate on a tight leash. Mm, maybe literally.

  The click of the latch acted as a switch to his libido. He leapt from the chair and strode toward Veronica. At the sight of her, his cock had leapt up, too.

  She glided to the center of the room and waited, head bowed.

  He dragged his gaze up her shapely legs, bared to the thigh, where a black skirt barely covered it. Beneath the sheerest black blouse he’d ever seen, she wore a black demi-bra, cut low to tease.

  Jealousy tore through him. Who else had seen her? “That will be all, Elistair. See that no one disturbs me.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  Ha, if the manservant only knew. Very good indeed. Zev’s tongue touched his lip in anticipation.

  At Elistair’s exit, Veronica’s gaze slid up, though she made no other movement. A wicked gleam lit her eyes.

  Zev strolled around her. “I hope you weren’t busy.”

  Her gaze followed him. “Never too busy for you, my lord.”

  Good answer. “When did you put on this outfit?”

  “Do you like it?”

  Close to her face, he barked, “That’s not what I asked.”

  With hard blinks, she blurted, “As soon as Elistair arrived. I hurried so you wouldn’t have to wait.”

  Another good answer. She deserved a reward. “What would you like to do today?”

  “Anything you’d like.”

  At least the girl knew how to beg. And how to please him. She’d proven herself a fast learner, and eager.

  “Dance for me.” Like Lily dances.

  Veronica whirled, studying him as she bent to arch her arms over to one side, then the other. She round up to her full height, extended a gracefully bent leg, and marched like a ballerina, legs scissoring closer, arms swirling around him. Teasing him with the lightest of touches. On tiptoe,d she craned a leg beneath his rear and arching backward.