The Fire Inside

by Alice Ashes

  "I know what you're thinking, so let me explain quickly. I don't like talking about this."

  Ethan blushed even deeper. He had heard Olivia thinking about this at dinner, and she seemed like she wanted Mason to know (for a specific reason that made Ethan feel even more flustered.) She'd never ask him, but she had hoped he would tell Mason. This was way out of his comfort zone, but Olivia had been through enough. He'd do anything to make her life easier.

  "Well, if it's forced it isn't your virginity regardless, but even so, our Father never got that far. He had plans and we interrupted them. He talked about it to her, making it sound horrifying, but you got her out before he could do what he wanted."

  "As far as Jacob," Ethan continued, happy to be off the subject of the Demon Lord for a moment, "Olivia wanted to wait until they were married, and then when they did get married, she had just gotten back from the Demon Plane. She told him she needed time, and he hasn't asked since." Ethan shrugged and relaxed onto the roof, glad to have that bit over.

  Mason took another drink and was silent for a few minutes. He had so many big questions, and none of them were easy to ask.

  "Why did she shut us out?"

  Ethan paused. "Because she didn't want me to see the truth."

  Mason eyed his brother. "That's not what I meant."

  "I know." Ethan sighed. "Mason, he had her for 3 days and 2 nights. She's not a demon, she's a human. And he was...very angry with us. He vented that on her."

  Ethan grit his teeth. "She dreams about it sometimes. I saw it earlier when she was passed out."

  Mason felt like someone punched him in gut. "But that doesn't answer..."

  "She thinks she deserves it!" This was touchy territory for Ethan, his own wounds still too raw. But he tried anyway. "She thinks that she's damaged now, that she is tainted and has no worth."

  Mason opened his mouth to object, but Ethan put his hand up to stop him. "It's not rational, Mason. She's struggling, a lot. And she feels like she owes it to us to have a good life, since we risked our lives for hers."

  Ethan took another drink. "Since she feels like she can't do that, that her life is inherently flawed now...she put on a show for us at her wedding and figured with time, the distance would be normal."

  Mason was dumb struck. He couldn't process this. He had imagined it was because she was mad it took them so long to reach her, maybe that she loved Jacob so much that whatever he did, she excused it in her mind. But the fact that she had hidden herself away not to disappoint them, not to burden them. How did she think this would end?

  Ethan hesitated, but then he answered the silent question. "She figured eventually Jacob would get mad enough to kill her." His voice was thick. "And she thought that would be for the best."

  Mason couldn't breathe. His brain couldn't process this. She was supposed to be in love with Jacob. She should have been able to trust Jacob. He wanted to be the one to hold her, to help her get her life back, to keep her safe. But he gave it away to Jacob, for her happiness, for her fulfillment. And instead she suffered alone.

  Mason's eyes filled with tears that would never spill, sobs that would never break. Slowly, he swallowed them back. "How does she feel about me? Can I fix this?"

  Ethan didn't speak. Mason growled, trying to be patient. This was hard for Ethan too. "Does she know I'm in love with her?"

  When Mason looked at his brother, he saw Ethan struggle, the words literally clogging his throat. A few minutes passed, with Mason fighting hard to keep a hold on himself.

  Finally, Ethan broke the silence. "She developed feelings for you in the Abysmal Plains. She always loved you, but the same way she does me, and the others. That changed when you came for her..."

  Mason had no idea how to feel. But Ethan wasn't done. "But when you saved her, you couldn't look at her. You couldn't talk to her and..."

  Mason almost shouted, "What the hell! Ethan, I...!"

  Ethan held up a hand and Mason bit his tongue, the blood coating his mouth, in an effort not to speak the words bursting from his chest.

  Ethan wouldn't look at him. "She believes that what our father did taints her and...makes her repulsive in your eyes."

  Mason was speechless. Emotions rocked his body, made him physically shake. Guilt, elation, regret, love, pain, and most of all, a deep sadness. Ethan knew he needed to be alone to figure his head out, so he thanked him for the beer and left Mason to his thoughts, climbing back in the window and heading to the guest room.

  ---

  When Mason finally climbed down through the window of the mansion, he made a beeline for my door. He didn't knock, and he didn't pause. He flung the door open, and damn near slammed it behind him. I shot up in bed, looking around in panic, and then surprise. I saw him walking towards me, with a look of absolute determination on his face.

  I turned towards him. "Mason, what's wro...?"

  His chest slammed into me, stealing my breath away as he pulled me down in the bed, his body melting into mine. He buried his face in my hair and pulled me up against him in one swift movement, his arm immovable, hand splayed on my lower back. He left no space between us, his arms rigidly ensuring not even an inch would exist to separate us. I could hear his heart beat, fast and strong. When I finally remembered how to breathe, I inhaled his scent, felt drunk on it. His body had been shaking earlier, but not now. There was no insecurity, no doubt. He was a rock and an anchor. My head tingled as he talked into my hair.

  "You...are...not...tainted." He rumbled each word, stating a fact, no allowance for arguing. "You are not damaged, and you are not broken." His hand rubbed slow circles on my back, calming me, soothing the tattered soul within me. "My father...is a MONSTER." He swallowed hard, obviously struggling to contain his rage. "HE is tainted and HE is damaged. Jacob is a COWARD, and WEAK. But you..." His voice shook for a moment, before resuming just as strong and sure as before. "You are fucking pure. You are the brightest light I have ever seen."

  Tears filled my eyes at his words. Mason, my other best friend. Mason, my first kiss. Mason, my demon. Mason...my love? Yes. That was true. I looked down inside me and wondered, when did that happen? When did my heart change? I was so busy hiding all my pain, all my sorrow, and numbing it all that I failed to notice how my heart became his. Was he saying he loved me too? But then, why...?

  I whispered softly, "Mason, you wouldn't even look at me, when you found me in that room. How can you say those things when you couldn't bring yourself to speak to me..."

  Mason's voice cut through mine, coming out in a rush, with so much conviction that I couldn't dare doubt him.

  "BECAUSE I WAS GUILTY!" Mason yelled, his voice rasping with the effort. "He took you because of me, because of us, because you sheltered us and cared for us when we were dying and lost! I couldn't get to you for 3 god damn days! You wouldn't have been there except that we came in and fucking ruined every hope you ever had, destroyed everything, and then FAILED TO PROTECT YOU!"

  His words were tumbling out, what he had held in pouring into the air around them. "Malix, my failure! Diana, my failure! The imps, my failure! The Demon Lord, gods, even Jacob, my fucking failure!"

  He looked down at me, his eyes wild and full of sorrow, his composure lost, leaving only an untamed, desperate incubus in it's wake.

  "And now, I am here with you...knowing I'm guilty, knowing how far I have fallen and all the fuck ups I've made, and I still know, in that selfish demon blood that pumps through my veins, that I would do it all again, just for one smell of your hair, one look of your eyes. I still love you, even though I am the asshole who ruined everything."

  His voice so deep, so husky, sent chills running up my back making me shiver against him and making him groan and bite his lip. "I haven't tasted you in 2 years, Olivia. So much shit has blown through your life, most of it our fault. And I still, selfishly, hopelessly...I still want to make you fucking love me."

  His thumb moved up to trace my lip, just like the first time, and again, a heat san
k through my chest. But this time, there was no enthrallment. His green eyes flashed gold and back, but he didn't try to sway me, didn't try to manipulate me. His jaw was clenched so tight, it looked like he would break the bones. He was still, the strongest man I've ever known, starving and doing nothing to sate that hunger, even as a banquet lay before him.

  My life had been decimated more times than I could count in the past few years. I was damn near crazy right now, vulnerable, in no state whatsoever to make a good decision about what I wanted to do with this. So I stuck to the two things I knew for sure. The first, that my body was responding and craving him, something I hadn't felt ever, with anyone else. Tears were streaming down my face, I could taste them as I licked my lips. Mason shuddered when I did, shaking from the restraint, and I ran my hand through his hair hearing him growl through his teeth. I pulled his chin down, and brought my lips just a breath away from his. His eyes dilated ever further and he whined. It made me smile, just a little. I hadn't meant to, but I had caged a beast for 2 years. It was time to set him free.

  The second thing I knew for sure...

  "Thebe...I already fucking love you."

  Chapter 6: It’s Like Murder She Wrote

  "Thebe...I already fucking love you."

  She called his name. Olivia called his name and his barely leashed control on the demon within snapped at her call. Mason roared for the hundredth time tonight, but this time it was different. It held the desire of a million memories. He roared for how she smelled when she walked by him, he roared for hugs where he forced himself to let go, he roared for the hunger that ached at him. After her lips, he hadn't let the incubus out again. He fed the Rage Demon, and starved the incubus. But tonight, he would have his fill.

  He slammed his lips on hers hungry, aching, pressing every part of her to him, pinning her to the bed. Olivia moaned in his mouth and he savored it, bit her lip begging for more and getting exactly what he wanted. Slowly, he let the enthrallment build in her. He ran his hands down her curves, pushed his hands to caress her bare ribs, her stomach, her hips. Olivia arched into him and he growled, clawing lightly and hearing her moan louder.

  Mason smirked at the discovery. "Olivia..."

  She shivered at the purr, looking down to meet his eyes. He could see so much lust in those eyes, so much need. It sent a jolt through his body and he almost forgot about savoring her as long as he could in favor of taking her right...now.

  "Do you like a little pain with your pleasure?" He lightly clawed her ribs again, this time swallowing the shameless moan that burst from her at the feeling. He leaned up and ran his tongue across her ear.

  "Olivia...tell me. If you don't tell me, I won't do it..." He teased her, his breath tickling her ear, feeling her wriggle and whine underneath him.

  She started to answer, "Y-yes, Thebe, I..."

  But at the sound of his true name, he nipped her ear lobe, making her lose her voice in favor of another pleasure filled sigh. Mason wanted more, soooo much more. But first, even has he growled in frustration, he pulled back the enthrallment. Olivia still panted underneath him and she looked at him confused.

  Mason brought his forehead to rest against hers and took a shaky breath. "He told me, Olivia, that you haven't..." He blushed crimson and cleared his throat.

  "O-oh..." Olivia managed to squeak out, feeling her own cheeks grow hot.

  Mason took a breath. "After I kissed you, I just couldn't. So I...um...fuck, I suck at this..." He let out a growl of frustration.

  Olivia giggled. "Mason...Thebe..." Olivia paused long enough to hear his breath hitch when she said his true name, music to her ears. "I want you, all of you, and I want to give you all of me."

  Mason's eyes flared back gold with a vengeance, and Olivia felt the magic fill her and roll through her body again, gasping at the heat and need. One minute she was wearing her nightgown, the next it was in tatters on the floor as Mason ripped it off her body.

  "I'll buy you a new one..." he said, with a satisfied smirk. When she tried to reply, he attacked her lips and pulled her breath from her lungs. She opened her mouth to breathe, and Mason welcomed the invitation, kissing her deeper and exploring every inch of her mouth. One hand cupped her cheek while the other slowly crept up her side, before cupping her right breast. Mason listened to her whimper in pleasure before bringing his hand up to gently rub her nipple between his finger and thumb.

  "Oh Thebe..." She said his name as she buried her face in his shoulder, clinging to him as she felt the pleasure run down her body. She yelled, her voice full of lust, when he pinched her, just a little rough. He growled in reply before pulling her up on her knees and flipping her so that her back was against his chest. At some point, Mason had taken off the rest of his clothes, but Olivia had been too distracted to see it. Now, she felt his naked body pressed up against her and she groaned.

  She was drowning. "Please, please...stop teasing. Please, touch me."

  Mason brought one hand up to gently stimulate her breast, feeling her nipple peak in his palm. He slowly brought his other hand across to her stomach and steadily moved lower. He smirked and traced her ear with his tongue.

  "Well, since you asked so ni-" Mason's words died in his throat when he reached her folds, feeling her so ready, so wet. He moaned and buried his face in her shoulder. "Fuck Olivia, you're killing me..."

  As he slid his fingers into her, he felt her clench around him and she arched in pleasure. He could feel himself throb in response and he fought not to bend her over right there. Instead, he pulled his fingers out, allowing the wetness to cover the path of his finger, before making circles around her clit.

  "Oooh, Mason..." Olivia groaned, each sound blending with the next and Mason picked up the pace. Olivia could feel the pressure building, as he brought her higher and higher closer and closer. He began alternating, dipping his fingers inside her, and Olivia threw her head back.

  "Oh Mason, I'm...I'm gonna c-"

  Mason put his mouth to her ear. "Olivia...scream my name when you cum..."

  Olivia tumbled over the edge, and as she flew she screamed for him, from the most primal part of her being, "THEBE!!!"

  Mason shook from the heady jolt of power, hearing her scream, feeling her cum on his hand. But he waited, letting her come down, before laying her back and kissing her deeply. He wanted to give her a minute, he wanted to ask her one more time if she was sure. But all those thoughts faded as she reached between them and plunged her own fingers inside her. Olivia brought them out, the wetness stretching between her fingers, and rubbed him from his base to his tip. He growled, feral, needing to be inside her, right now.

  Olivia smirked at him. "What are you waiting for, demon?"

  Mason ramped up the enthrallment, to make sure she would feel only pleasure, before nudging her open, so slowly, inch by torturous inch. She rolled her head back and closed her eyes, but he wasn't having any part of that.

  He grabbed her chin, and told her to open her eyes. "Look at me, Olivia."

  He kissed her hungrily as he slid the rest of the way in. Slowly, he worked himself in and out of her, waiting, until finally she begged. "PLEASE!!!! More, faster, Thebe..."

  With a raw growl of pleasure, he slammed forward. She screamed as she arched her back, trying to pull him deeper. He pumped in and out, feeling his release building, feeling her moving towards hers with him.

  He met her eyes as he approached his peak. "Olivia...are y-you mine?"

  Her eyes looked up at him, full of love and trust. "Yes, S-Mason..."

  He was about to go and she was coming with him. "Say it."

  Olivia screamed for him again as she exploded underneath him. "I'M YOURS!"

  Hearing those words in her voice, feeling her tighten around him, Thebe slammed forward one more time before he was blown away by the rush of euphoria and energy.

  Chapter 7: Stoking the Flames

  As the morning sun harshly invaded my bedroom, I let out a groan and quickly closed my eyes.

&
nbsp; "Oh for fuck's sake..." I mumbled under my breath, turning over in the sheets so my face wasn't in line with my window. However, my eyes opened again as I rolled face first into the wall.

  (What on earth...) Oh. This was not a wall. This was a muscled chest connected to a painfully handsome, currently drooling, perfectly disheveled Mason. I was confident I had makeup raccoon eyes and a bird's nest where my hair should be and here he was all Adonis like and blissfully dozing. I tried to bring myself to be annoyed at the universe for dealing me another shitty lot, but then my eyes got distracted tracing down his chest, across his abs, skating over his happy trail, all the way down to...Oh my Lord, he was still naked. OH MY LORD, I WAS STILL NAKED.

  I launched myself from the bed wrapping myself in a bathrobe and thanking the powers that be that Mason was a heavy sleeper. Despite what happened between us last night, I needed a shower and moment to collect my thoughts before facing this day. Plodding along to the bathroom, I passed Ethan in sweatpants and a black tank headed downstairs, undoubtedly for his daily caffeine fix. Demons shouldn't even need caffeine, but woe to anyone who stood between Ethan and his coffee.