laugh.'
Her eyes misted, and she quickly returned their conversation to the demons. Before she cried like a baby in front of him. 'I think they like each other.'
'I think they love each other.' He sobered, frowned. 'I'm speaking the truth,' he said, 'yet I'm not in any pain.'
No, he wasn't. 'Are you...happy about that? That you can speak truthfully, I mean.'
'Hell, yes.'
Thank the gods. She would've hated herself if she'd beseeched him to do this and he ended up regretting it.
Grinning, Gideon peered down at her with adoration in his eyes. 'I have so much I want to tell you, and I was so afraid I'd lose you before I had the chance. I love you. You're so beautiful.'
Hearing him speak his mind was odd, and at first, she found herself trying to decipher his meaning.
'I admire your strength and courage and want to spend my life with you. I want you to marry me for real this time. I want to have babies with you.'
'Like Steel,' she couldn't help but whisper.
'Like our darling Steel,' he said, and they shared a tender look. And yet, his grin faded and his expression tensed. 'How do you feel about me, Scarlet? I have to know.'
And she could deny him nothing. 'I shouldn't tell you. I just... You're my weakness. You can be used against me, and have, time and time again, and you've been hurt for it.'
'I'm your weakness?' His grin returned, a leisurely lifting of his lips.
Her pulsed fluttered as she nodded. She was treading on thin ice—with cleats. 'Yes, and as long as we're together, you're in danger. Which makes me a selfish bitch for wanting to be with you anyway, but...'
'You can't help yourself.'
Another nod. 'I want you to know that I—I like...I—'
He pressed a finger against her mouth, silencing her. 'All that matters right now is that we want each other. We'll figure everything else out later. Right now, my darling girl, I'm going to romance the hell out of you like I've been craving.'
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
GIDEON PRESSED his lips against Scarlet's and savored her sudden intake of breath, as if she was breathing him in, savoring him as he was doing to her. Some part of him—his cock—wanted to rush, to get inside her as quickly as he could so that they would be joined, one being. And damn, it felt like forever had passed since he'd last enjoyed her. But he was determined to take his time. To make this sensual assault last. To do everything he hadn't done last time.
Like lick every single one of her tattoos. Like watch her lick every single one of his. Besides, he needed to prove he had some skills in this arena. Last time, he'd come from a single thrust; his manhood was at stake now. He could last, damn it, and he would.
After their tongues rolled and thrust for minutes, hours, after he had no more air in his lungs, he lifted his head and peered down at this woman he so loved. 'Can you not— Sorry.' He had to get used to telling the truth. 'I mean, can you take us somewhere else? A daydream?' Away from the moaning, writhing demons beside them.
'Yes,' she replied softly.
'Do it. Please.'
Her gaze pulled from him and circled their surroundings. A moment later, the bed they lay upon seemed to be whisked out of the bedroom where the two demons were locked in a live porno, and to a tranquil beach with glistening white sand. Crystalline water washed onto the shore, and birds soared overhead, singing softly.
'I've always wanted to lounge on a beach and watch the sun set with you,' Scarlet said with a blush. 'Movies don't compare, do they?'
Such a simple desire, but so telling. She'd been born in a prison, with walls always closing her in. Then, after her possession, she'd lost her ability to walk during daylight hours. And even though the times she slept varied, she was never really free to do what she wanted, at any time she wanted. Now, she craved what everyone else took for granted. What he took for granted.
'It's lovely,' he replied, then rasped straight into her ear, 'Though not as lovely as you.'
'Hey,' she snapped, pushing at his chest. 'You just called me...lovely.' She shook her head, frown vanishing. 'Sorry. I'm not used to you telling the truth. I'd almost rather you called me ugly.'
'Ugly, ugly, ugly,' he whispered now, cupping her jaw and forcing her to look up at him. 'There's no woman uglier, no woman I crave less....'
She licked her lips, and it was a full-on invitation.
'Now you're asking for it, angel.' He dipped his head and once again claimed her mouth, their tongues playing together, her decadent flavor consuming all his senses. Driving him wild. Don't rush...
Her arms began to wrap around his waist, but he stopped her.
'Wait.' He gripped the hem of her T-shirt and pulled the material over her head. That soft fall of hair tumbled to her bare shoulders. Gorgeous pale skin, a lacy black bra. 'Now you can hold me.'
Their lips met yet again, and she wrapped those strong arms around him, fingers dabbling at the waist of his pants before gliding up his back, massaging his muscles. Her hands were callused from holding blade hilts, and created the most erotic friction.
Heat sparked through his bloodstream, warming him up, urging him on. Slow. But maybe he could speed this up a little. He unhooked her bra and cast the garment aside, exposing her dazzling breasts.
With a moan, Gideon tore his own shirt off. He moaned again when his flesh met Scarlet's. Fan-freaking- tastic. Her nipples were hard little pearls of pleasure. Oh, yes, she was asking for it.
More. He worked at her pants. Lucky fabric, having been so close to her. Soon he had the leather off, along with her panties, leaving her completely bare, and his gaze ate her up. She didn't try to cover herself and didn't blush. She bit her lower lip and undulated her hips, letting him know how much his scrutiny aroused her. Hell, it aroused him. She was magnificent. All that creamy skin, lean legs, flat stomach, small, firm breasts with the rose- tinted nipples and elegantly curved shoulders.
'Wet for me?' he asked roughly.
'Yes.'
'Let me see.'
She blinked up at him, suddenly unsure. 'But I...I thought I was in charge in this area, so shouldn't I—'
'We'll take turns. Right now, I'm in charge. Let me see.'
Without hesitation, she parted her thighs, giving him a peek into heaven. Her pink folds were damp, hiding the sweetest spot he'd ever had the privilege to see. His gaze moved, latching onto the colorful butterfly tattooed nearby, and his mouth watered.
Lucky tattoo.
Lucky me. Gideon bent down and traced his tongue along the wings, riding the length of her inner thigh. Goose bumps broke out over Scarlet's limbs. Her fingers tangled in his hair, her nails digging into his scalp. He licked and sucked and nibbled that brand, paying it proper homage, as it was one of the reasons they were together right now.
'Yes,' she groaned. 'Yes.'
Though he wanted to fall into her and eat her up, consuming every drop of her, he palmed her hips and flipped her over. She gasped, looked at him over her shoulder, expression confused.
'The others need a little attention, too,' he explained. Then, starting at the top, he worked his way down her back, kissing every single tattoo she possessed. TO PART IS TO DIE he laved until he was panting. Sweating. Hurting.
He didn't stop there. Couldn't. He paid her ass equal attention, nibbling on those sweet cheeks and tonguing the crease between bottom and leg, all the while teasing that moist, waiting sex by blowing and humming but never
