The Fire Inside: A Heated Bad Boy Romance

by Alice Ashes

  Raphael lifted his drink towards me, a wide smile on his face. "Olivia, this juice is exquisite. Did you make this by hand? It's so delicious."

  I fixed him with an impatient glare before responding. "You are drinking out of a juice box, Raphael. You really think I not only made it, but PACKAGED it?"

  He chuckled. "Well, my dear, you are so very talented..."

  Mason interrupted, the air rushing out of him all at once, "I have three parts to my soul and I have to sacrifice one of them and if it's the rage demon I'll be angry forever and if it's the incubus I starve and if it's the human I have to go back to the demon plane and I can't come back."

  All of his breath having been spent, he took a deep inhale before returning to studying the table. Raphael glared at him. "That was possibly the least tactful way to say that which has ever been invented."

  "Shut up..." Mason murmured, but it sounded less like a threat and more like a sleepy afterthought.

  My mind whirled and my heart dropped, because the answer was obvious, even if he wanted to pretend it wasn't. Diana had won the demon war, she sat on the throne, and the boys had made their peace with her. Diana would let Mason come back to court as a noble without any qualms, her rule perfectly cemented, not to mention she felt a little beholden to the boys. After all, 4 sons of the Demon Lord and Diana were who killed the ruler, and they could have taken his throne up and left Diana with nothing, easily. No one would doubt them and their story. But every one of them acknowledged her as the ruler of the demon realm and that had made the transfer of power immensely easier than it would have been had they simply been absent all together. Mason could go there and have a life. Fall in love with someone he didn't have to lose pieces of himself for. Here, only torture would await him, constant hunger or uncontrollable rage. Both would lead to nothing but unhappiness for him. His brothers could visit him there, and he'd be back where he was able to be himself completely.

  Tears ran down my cheeks, because I knew. I knew if I loved him, I was going to be forced to live without him. It would be no life for me, not even worth sustaining. But maybe after a few years, after he moved on, I'd be able to finish what I started and just disappear. Then it would only be a little bit more anguish before nothingness. I could bear that for him, I would happily. If Ethan knew what was at stake, he would keep quiet long enough for Mason to leave. Of course, he'd then try to make sure I stayed alive, stayed sane, but that was a hurtle to deal with later. Right now, the important thing was to keep Mason from ruining his life over me.

  But how?

  No one had spoken for a long time and when I looked up, I saw that Raphael was staring right at me. Mason's head was still down, apparently lost in his own thoughts. I signaled Raphael to follow me to the backyard, before standing up and whimpering. Mason quickly sat up and tried to calm me, "Baby, it'll be alright, I promise. I'll figure it ou..." I raised my hand for him to stop. I let the tears gush down my cheeks. "Mason, I just need a minute, away from you. I just need to think without your and my feelings mixing. Just, I need to sort through it." I took a step backwards, eyes on the floor. "I'm going out back for a few minutes." I turned on my heel and headed towards the gazebo. I heard Raphael telling Mason that he would make sure I was okay, before I heard his footsteps behind me. I didn't turn, but I knew Mason was staring at my retreating form.

  When I reached the gazebo, I turned and gasped as Raphael wrapped his arms around me in a big hug. I stiffened for a moment, before a sob broke from my throat and I hugged him back as hard as I could. He made soothing noises, and I was surprised how genuine he was being, how kind. "Shhh, babygirl. I know, I know..." He held me like that for a few minutes and let me soak his shirt with tears, before he pulled back and ran his hand down my cheeks, capturing the tears. "You wanted to talk to me, sweetheart. I don't know how long we have before he can't hold it in anymore and he has to come get you. So tell me what you need." He smiled softly and reassuringly and I took a step back, forcing myself to come back together.

  I took a deep breath. "Is there any way that I can still go get my price and save him from this?"

  Raphael smiled sadly. "No, babygirl." He sighed. "I had to ask for special dispensation to have the debt treated as impossible after death instead of just letting them fulfill it in such a heinous way and that was a lot of red tape and a lot of rule breaking. I won't be able to do it again."

  I nodded, rubbing my hands up and down my arms. "I understand," I replied, sadly. "Then I need your help to make sure he makes the right choice. He needs to go back to the demon world."

  Raphael studied my face closely. "Olivia, we both know that is the price he definitely isn't picking."

  I sighed. "Which is why I need your help, Raphael. Please, help me save him from himself. I'm begging."

  I heard Mason call my name from inside the house and I looked at Raphael, my eyes pleading.

  He studied me closely, before asking me a quiet question. "He's willing to give his life for yours. Are you willing to give yours for him? Even if it means never seeing your loved ones again, even if it means losing everything that you are?"

  I answered immediately. "Without hesitation."

  Raphael nodded. "Meet me at the Pink Lady Cafe tomorrow morning, at 8am. I will give you my answer then."

  I threw my arms around him and after a gasp of surprise, he held me to his chest as if he was afraid I'd disappear. "Thank you," I whispered, breathing a small sigh of relief. His answer was so quiet I almost didn't hear it.

  "Anything for you, Babygirl..."

  Chapter 18: Flames of Discord

  The five sons of the Demon Lord sat around the dining room table in the Mansion, looking grim.

  Eric was rubbing his temples, trying to will away the pain threatening to split his head in two. "I am finding it hard to comprehend how any of these options are options at all."

  Benjamin nodded, arms crossed. "That's because they aren't."

  "Well," said Mason, teeth gritted. "They have to be, because allowing a corpse to impregnate the love of my life is not happening."

  Sounds of disgust filled the room.

  Daniel grimaced, trying to put what he needed to say tactfully. "Mason...I know how deeply you love Olivia. We love her too, and I consider her as much my sister as I consider you my brother."

  He cleared his throat and looked straight ahead, eyes unfocused. "That is why, when hearing all of the options available to you both, hers is the one which will cause the least pain in the long term."

  The look in Mason's eyes became dangerous and murderous. "...what did you just say..."

  Daniel winced, painfully aware that Mason could still best him in a fight any day and that he was making his brother very angry.

  "Just," Daniel began, "give me a moment, before you go off the deep end. What they want to do to Olivia is heinous. The ramifications of such an action on a girl in her already delicate state could be disastrous. However, I do believe that with the proper support and proper spells, her situation could be temporary. The baby could be born and adopted out within a year, the action blanked from her mind, and..."

  "No." Ethan's voice cut off his older brother's explanation icily. "We can't let that happen to her. She'll never recover."

  Daniel closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath. "Someone will lose something precious to them, there is no way to fix that. It is a year of her life or all of Mason's life. We must be logical. I hate it, I am simply trying to make the right choice, not the emotional one."

  Eric cradled his head in his hands. "He...he's not entirely wrong. Surely you can see that..."

  Mason slammed his fist on the hard wood, a crack splintering the wood across the top of the table. He was unable to speak, knowing that he was inches away from ripping out the throat of his own brother. He had to find some control, he had to, or Mason was going to kill the eldest. As Ethan stood, it was not the first nor last time he would think that Ethan was such a fucking gift to the rest of them.


  "Daniel," he said, voice even and still ice filled, "You aren't hearing me. This is not for a year. No matter what you do, even if she can't remember, she will still know what happened. She will still be raped and she will still feel violated. She can't bear it, Daniel. I've seen her mind. SHE CANNOT SURVIVE IT. It will be the rest of her life, and the rest of her life will be very, very short."

  Benjamin looked between the faces of his brothers, having never seen them so divided. "We can't let this happen to either of them! There has to be a way."

  Suddenly, Mason was laughing. His brothers' eyes fell on him in surprise and horror as Mason laughed so hard his chest burned and his body reddened. Benjamin's face scrunched up, looking stunned. "I...what...?"

  Mason stood up abruptly, his eyes wild, staring straight in front of him at nothing all. His voice was so low they had to strain to hear him. "There is no getting out of it, there is no way, none of that exists. Here's the truth, and I hope you are all listening, because I am only saying it one time..."

  Mason stopped, meeting each of his brothers' eyes. His own green eyes flashed dangerously. "No one is going to touch Olivia. I am going to pay the price. I am going to live with the consequences. And that is the end of it."

  He ground his teeth in frustration. "Now, everyone except Ethan. Get out."

  Daniel turned on him with wide eyes. "Pardon?"

  Mason growled, the threat in his voice clear. "I.said.get.out."

  Daniel face screwed up with anger and he opened his mouth to speak, but Eric placed his hand on his brother's arm. "Alright, Mason. We'll leave."

  Eric met Daniel eyes pleadingly and with a huff he stormed out of the mansion. Benjamin looked more hurt than angry, but he said nothing and followed behind Daniel. The last to leave was Eric, and after sharing a meaningful glance with Ethan, he left his brothers alone, pulling the door shut behind him.

  Ethan and Mason stood in silence as the minutes ticked away, until finally, Mason's breathing returned to normal and he slumped down into his chair. Ethan followed suit and sat across from him, head cradled in his hands.

  "So, what are you thinking you're going to choose?" asked Ethan.

  Mason sighed. "I'm not leaving her here and going back to the demon world."

  Ethan nodded slowly, taking a deep steadying breath. "I assumed that was the case."

  "And, let's face it, if I can't burn out my anger..." Mason grimaced, thinking of what could come to pass.

  "You might hurt her." Ethan finished for him. Mason nodded.

  Ethan considered the ramifications of this decision. "I don't understand why you'll always be hungry, though." He looked at Mason, trying to sort it out. "I mean, if you can consume the rage energy, then it really shouldn't be too much of a problem to let the incubus go."

  Mason shrugged. "I don't know. That's just what she said."

  Some time passed with the brothers simply sitting in companionable silence. There was nothing more to say, but there was comfort just in being together. Finally, Ethan stood.

  "I think you should go spend some time with, Olivia." He smiled sadly, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'm so sorry this is happening to you two, but I want you to know something. Olivia is amazing and beautiful and kind, but she's lucky to have you too, Mason. You are a good man, even if you don't always believe it."

  Without waiting for a reply, Ethan crossed over to the door and quietly slipped out.

  ---

  As if the day had not been long enough, I couldn't avoid bringing my husband's disappearance to the notice of the police forever. The afternoon was spent answering questions and feeling as my whole life was being picked apart. It was certainly not pleasant, but at least it was done. When Mason and I walked through the front door of the mansion, I found myself feeling jittery and restless. Mason must have felt the Same, because he suggested we order a pizza and play a gratuitously violent video game. I laughed and told him I thought cheesy goodness and killing zombies was a fantastic idea.

  A few hours and a couple hundred zombies later, I was starting to feel slightly sleepy. Knowing I had an appointment with Raphael in the morning, I nudged Mason and suggested we go to bed. Watching Mason strip off his shirt and pull on flannel pajama buttons, I was struck with a sense of gratefulness.

  My life had by all accounts been less than stellar. I had been subjected to some really horrible things, and I had made my fair share of stupid decisions (case in point: marrying Jacob.) But I did have Mason now, and that was unbelievable in and of itself. He was so special, so different, and so strong. He was also incredibly reckless and stupid, and I was still feeling a bit pissed off about his outing with Raphael.

  "Oh Masonmmmmm..." I purred, stripping off my own shirt as he froze in the process of turning down the bed and met my eyes. I smirked at him, moving my hands down to slowly unbutton and unzip my pants.

  "I dare say we'll be needing your handcuffs." I shimmied my pants off and ran my hands down my curves, knowing he was watching my every move. He took a stuttering breath before taking a step back and moving to the dresser. He came back to the bed, the cuffs hanging from one finger, and a slow smile spread across his face. I smiled back at him, but something in my eyes must have given me away because his smile faltered just a little.

  My voice was a little icy as I pointed to the bed. "Lay down in the middle."

  He cocked an eyebrow, but did as I said, lowering himself onto the blanket. I took the cuffs from him and he allowed me to move his arms up one by one, cuffing him to the bed posts with his hands above his head.

  I straddled his chest and looked down to see him smirking up at me.

  "You know these aren't going to hold me, right?" he chuckled, giving the cuffs a soft tug.

  I smiled sweetly. "Oh Thebe, I know they won't hold you. They aren't for that." I leaned down, sucking the lobe of his ear into my mouth and nibbling, before I whispered, "They're there as a reminder that if you move your hands from where I have told you to put them, the only way you will be cumming tonight is all by yourself. Just you and your right hand." I pulled back and winked and when his eyes met mine, they were filled with uncertainty and heat.

  Mason opened his mouth to speak, but I slammed my hand over his lips. "No more talking. No enthrallment until I say. I will let you know when it's time to beg, though." I saw his Adam's Apple bob as he gulped, but he stayed silent, watching me slink down his body and pull his already hard cock from his pajamas. He moaned and arched when I touched him, and I swept my fingers over the head to gather the first few beads of pre cum. His eyes were closed so he was unprepared when I slid my finger into his mouth, making him taste himself. He moaned and his cock twitched.

  I slowly stroked him, steadily building. "Why Mason," I teased. "If I don't know better, I'd think you LIKED not being in charge for once." His face flushed and as he wasn't allowed to speak, he didn't reply. I smiled down on him.

  It wasn't long before he was thrusting into my hand, and I bent down to lick across the head. He hissed and I looked up at him, my lips poised over his dick. "Something to say, Mason?"

  He didn't acknowledge me, so I stopped completely and his eyes shot open and looked down. "Baby, don't stop! I'm so close." I resumed my stroking and he groaned loudly. "Are you now?" I said with a chuckle. Watching closely, I could see his balls begin to tighten and that was the moment when I withdrew my touch completely.

  He looked down at me, eyes burning. "Baby?"

  "Tsk, tsk..." I purred. "It's not time to cum yet."

  I took a long leisurely lick up his cock, smiling when his hips thrust involuntarily. After a few more light, barely touches, I took his dick in my hand again and resumed stroking. It was only minutes later when I could see the tell tale sign of bliss building in his body. That was until, I removed my hand again. He growled in frustration and the hand cuffs groaned as he forgot himself. My hand smacked down on his chest and he stopped squirming and looked up at me. I looked down at him severely.

  "Do you want to
be inside me tonight? Hmmmm?" He nodded up at me, frustration etched into his face. "Then don't break the damn cuffs!" I huffed, giving his dick a nice sharp tug and listening to him groan at the sensation.

  By the fourth time, Mason was sweating and tossing back and forth, and almost begging.

  "Fuck Olivia, I need it, for fuck's sake. Please!" I pulled one of his balls into my mouth and hummed while I took time to consider. He squirmed and cursed, his cock impossibly hard and weeping. Licking a trail down and up one of his thighs, I kept silent and made him wait. Finally, I popped my head up to look at him. One finger gently stroked up and down the underside of his cock while I glared at him.

  "Are you going to disappear and refuse to answer your phone again?"

  "No! I promise!"

  "Are you going to ride off and make unilateral decisions that affect us both?"

  "No, I swear, I won't!"

  "Are you going to do stupid, heroic things that no one asks for and which put you at risk?"

  He groaned under me, head flailing back and forth before he slumped a little and sighed.

  "...Probably..."

  I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. He was incorrigible.

  "Well, at least you're honest." Rolling my eyes, I climbed up his body before slamming myself down, impaling my body on his cock. He moaned from deep in his throat. Without moving, I began to circle my clit, not taking my time but ramping my body up quickly, driving towards orgasm. Mason moaned each time I clenched around him, trying desperately not to move his hips. "Mason," I managed to gasp out, feeling the heat building. "Do the enthrallment."

  He didn't have to be told twice and feeling the spell rock through me, I looked down in his eyes and gasped out. "Cum with me!" Fervently, I rocked my hips, still viciously rubbing my clit and after a few minutes of gasps and sighs, we fell into a pool of molten ecstasy together.