Kiss of a Demon King

'Because it hurt like hell.'

'I could have kissed it better.' She grinned. The wine was definitely hitting her.

'I think I like my sorceresses drunken.' It made it easier to get the puzzle pieces he needed most, for example, 'How is it that you were a virgin?'

'I was saving myself for you,' she said easily, but he was beginning to better detect her lies.

'No, you weren't.'

She shrugged. 'I claimed sanctuary on my body. It's a Sorceri covenant that holds that if I remained virginal, then no man could force me into having sex with him.'

'Like Omort?' he bit out, his horns beginning to straighten with rage.

'I don't want to speak of him tonight. And my rea­sons are my own.' She gazed at his horns, then glanced her fingers along one. 'What it's like when you start to go demonic?'

He let the subject of her virginity drop. 'I don't like it.'

'Why? Your body has so much more strength-'

'And it's diverted away from my brain. It's as if I'm burning on pure instinct, like a rabid animal. I can't think. I can't reason. Thoughts come more randomly.' He ran his hand over his jaw. 'I hear my heartbeat drumming so loudly that I can't hear a conversation nearby. And yet I can detect a leaf crackling a half a mile away. Nothing makes sense. Which is really dif­ficult for me.'

'Because you're such a slave to reason?'

'Exactly. You could be telling me something perfectly logical, but if it went counter to my instinct, my brain would discard it.' He tapped his temple to emphasize his point. 'And, Sabine, you seem to keep me on the edge of it. That's a very uneasy place to be.'

'Why do I?'

'I took you, but I didn't mark you. Which means I haven't truly claimed you. The demon in me is not

satisfied.''

'What would it be like if you marked me?'

'If I got to that state, I would be completely turned, which is rare for our kind. Once I was inside you, I'd sink my fangs into your neck, and it would stun you.'

'Stun me?'

'Some say it's to keep the female steady while the male comes in her.'

'Oh,' she said, her voice breathy. 'And if you did that to me, you would be less likely to get unreasonable?'

'It would help. But still, I feel no bond coming from you. As much as I would like you to feel more for me, I know that you don't.'

'What if I told you that I've decided to stay with your She gave him one of those tender, coaxing kisses that made him wild for her, but he forced himself to pull away.

Rydstrom knew what she was doing. Seduce the demon to that mindless state. To get him to do what she wanted. But what she didn't understand was that he expected these games from her.

And he liked them.

'Kingly Rydstrom, holding yourself off from everyone and everything,' she said softly. 'But you won't with me. I've decided to willingly go with you.'

'Have you, then? Why's that?'

'Because, lonely demon, you need me so much. And because you're my husband.'

He stifled a wince. Not her husband. But I will be. 'You say that only so I'll leave you untied.'

'Yes, I want that.' She took one of his hands and rubbed her silky cheek against the palm. 'But that doesn't mean what I'm saying isn't true.'

Her words made him again remember the dream of them sharing their lives, sharing a bed, raising a son. If she was pregnant and escaped ...

He didn't want to admit it even to himself, but part of the reason he kept her bound was because he had started to believe they might have a future. Another conflict within me. Because he couldn't keep her tied forever.

'I want to stay with you,' she murmured, her lips inches from his.

She was playing him. Rydstrom knew it. Yet that didn't mean he didn't enjoy hearing this. 'Say it again.'

'I want to be with you.'

'Again.'

'I don't want to part from you. Take me to your home, the place where you live off-plane. I'm not going to try to escape from you. I wish to remain with you.'

He stared into her eyes, needing to trust her. But he couldn't. Not yet.

'I brought you out here for another reason,' the demon said.

'What's that?' Sabine asked lazily, gazing at him. Had she been one of those women who sighed, she would have now.

His black hair was tousled, his green eyes rapt on her face. His skin was damp and sheened in the moonlight. Such a gorgeous male.

And he was surprising her again and again. His promise of protection not only for her, but also for Lanthe affected her so much. She believed he would give his life if necessary to fulfill his promise.

Regrettably, he couldn't save her from the morsus. Only two people in the universe could.

'You need to learn how to swim,' he said.

'What? No way! I panic in the water. This is the calmest I've ever been-'

'Then this is a good time to leam.' He stood to swoop her up in his arms, then waded in deeper.

'Rydstrom, no!'

'Just trust me, Sabine. All I want you to do is get used to the water. Just float.'

Maybe if she acted as if she trusted him, he might extend the courtesy? 'What do you want me to do?'

'Stretch out on my hands.' Even with her body stiff with tension, he maneuvered her easily. Soon she was lying flat on his palms. 'Let go ... trust me.' I can t.

'You can-you're already doing it.' 'I'm ... floating?'

'I'm not holding you up, just in place. That's it, just breathe easy. Good girl.' His voice was soothing, his big hands her anchor. 'Relax.'

That peculiar watery silence surrounded her. Above her, blossoms swirled in the moonlight. Her hair tickled her shoulders. He continued caressing her back, and soon she did relax.

Her lids slid closed. Peaceful. Perfect. . . .

When she opened her eyes, she found him studying her face. The possessiveness in his gaze made her breath hitch. 'My naked body is spread out before you, and you're looking at my face?'

'I'm trying to figure out how your mind works. If I can do that, then this'-he trailed his fingers between .her breasts and lower-'will always be mine to enjoy.'

'Do you really believe that?'

'I have to, Sabine.' When she shivered, he said, 'Time to go in.' After easing her back to the shoal, he helped her to her feet, then reached for the rope he'd left on the rock.

'What are you doing? You're not going to retie me?'

He snagged her wrists. 'Of course I am.'

'Why? I thought we'd come to an understanding.' He was unbending, even though she resisted. 'Ryd­strom! How long will you keep me bound like this?'

'Until I know you won't run.'

'You're bull-headed, unreasonable-'

'Cautious.'

She was livid that her plan hadn't worked. 'And now you're getting that look in your eyes! Oh, I know what's coming! If you torment me for another night, I will hate you!'

With his gaze narrowed, he nodded. 'I know how that feels, wanting to hate, drawing on it. The only thing that got me through my own rage was vowing revenge. Did you never think I'm able to be gentle with you now because my wrath is placated in other ways?'