Read Ruby Shadows Page 25


  I liked his words—liked the feeling of power they gave me. Here he was—an incredibly powerful demon, strong enough to kill me with a single word. Yet he was making himself vulnerable to me—opening himself in a way that made me want to explore him…to know him better in every way.

  Feeling daring, I let my hand wander lower to the crotch of his black satin sleep trousers. The hard ridge of his cock was outlined against the silky fabric. I cupped it in my hand, liking the feel of its heat and hardness in my palm.

  Laish groaned softly and pressed up against my touch, giving himself to me freely, begging silently for more. And I wanted to give him more—to give him what he’d given me the night before.

  I’d never gone this far with anyone ever—it felt too dangerous, too likely to end in disaster. But Laish was no high school or college boy, so eager to get laid they would lose control at the drop of a hat. He had years of experience and maturity—I knew I could do what I liked with him and he would let me without expecting anything in return.

  Slipping my hand into the waistband of his trousers, I grasped his naked shaft in my hand.

  “Gods, Gwendolyn,” Laish murmured hoarsely. “Your little hand is so soft and warm.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” I said, a little breathlessly. I stroked his rigid length up and down, trying to fit my fingers around his thick shaft and failing. I liked the feel of him—the way he was so hot and hard and soft all at the same time. His skin was silky, like rose petals, and he throbbed in my hand, pulsing with pleasure—pleasure I was giving him.

  “Yes, the pleasure of your little hand on me is very great,” he murmured, once more answering my thought.

  “I’m glad you like it,” I said softly. “I like it too. In fact, I want to see it.” I pushed at the waistband of the black satin trousers.

  Laish lifted his lean hips obligingly and let me slide them down to his muscular thighs. His cock sprang free and for the first time I allowed myself to really look at it.

  It was big—really big but not in a disproportionate way. All the other demons I’d seen on this trip had been monstrous. Laish was just right—well, on the large side of just right, anyway.

  I took him in my hand again, liking the way he fit in my palm. I stroked him up and down, enjoying the soft groan I drew from his lips.

  “I want to make you come,” I told him, looking up at him. “Will that pay the Sin Tax, do you think?”

  “There is only one way to find out.” He thrust up into my hand. “Do as you like with me.”

  His words of submission gave me an erotic charge. I liked this—liked it a Hell of a lot. But there was something else I wanted to try.

  Lifting myself on one elbow, I bent over his sculpted torso.

  “Gwendolyn?” he murmured as I let my hair tickle him. “What are you doing?”

  “Taking you up on your offer.” I looked up and flashed him a naughty little smile. “I’m exploring you—is that all right?”

  “Of course. Do whatever you like.” His eyes glowed as he watched me.

  Still holding his gaze, I leaned down and rubbed his shaft against my cheek. It was silky and hot and I liked the way his scent was intensified here—warm cinnamon and dark spice filling my senses and made me feel drunk with need. I liked the way Laish was looking at me…liked the way his eyes were half-lidded with pleasure as I rubbed my cheek against him.

  “Mmm, I like your scent,” I told him, rubbing some more.

  “I enjoy yours as well, mon ange. I love the sweet smell of your pussy when you become aroused…as you are now.” His eyes flashed.

  I felt my cheeks burning. I knew how hot and wet I was but could he really tell? Could he really smell my arousal?

  “Of course I can,” he murmured. “All my senses are heightened—especially when you touch me. It makes me want to bury my face between your legs and kiss you…to lick your honey right from the source. I am certain you would taste as delicious as you smell.”

  His words sent a shiver of desire down my spine and my pussy throbbed in response. But I also felt a tingle of fear. Too much—too far! whispered the little voice in my brain.

  “I…I’m not ready to let you do that,” I said in a low voice. “I don’t know if I ever will be.”

  “You mean you are not ready to give up that much control. I understand.” Laish nodded. “Maybe sometime in the future.”

  I didn’t know about that but I did know his words had given me an idea.

  “I want to try something else,” I said. “I’m not ready to let you, uh, taste me but I do want to taste you. But will your…will it burn me?”

  I was thinking of the acid-like precum I’d seen dripping from the other demon’s shaft—the one Laish had killed to save me.

  He shook his head.

  “No. But you do not have to—”

  “I want to,” I said. “I’ve never…never done this before. And I always wondered.”

  “Explore to your heart’s content then, mon petite chat,” he murmured, a little smile curling the corner of his mouth.

  “I will.” Hesitantly, I pressed my mouth to the side of his shaft, just under the broad, flaring head. I parted my lips just a little and let my tongue dart out to taste him.

  Salty…spicy…wild. That was how he tasted. And I knew I wanted more.

  You shouldn’t do this. This is wrong—it’s really bad! cried the little voice in my head. But for once I ignored it. I had to pay the Sin Tax anyway, I reasoned. I might as well enjoy myself while I did it.

  Daringly, I pressed the flat of my tongue to the side of his shaft and licked upward, like I was licking an ice cream cone.

  Laish groaned and I felt his big body tense as I licked him again. Mmm, I really liked the hot, wild taste of him! But I wanted more. In the dying light of the embers, I saw a small bead of precum shining on the tip of his cock—I wanted to taste that too.

  Lifting up a little, I dragged my tongue over the broad head, capturing the little droplet and savoring it. It was salty and hot and it made me feel incredibly free and powerful to taste it.

  “Gods, Gwendolyn, your sweet mouth…” The low moan dragged from Laish’s throat only added to my heady sense of power. Oh yes, I liked being the one in charge—liked it a lot. It made me feel so hot—so amazingly turned on. My nipples were so tight they almost hurt and my pussy was pure liquid at that point. And still I wanted more.

  I took him in my hand again and began to pump up and down, letting his thick shaft slide through my fingers as I licked the broad head.

  He gave a low passionate curse as he helped me, thrusting up into my hand, meeting every stroke with one of his own.

  “Ah, Gods, Gwendolyn…so good…your little hand…your hot tongue…”

  I looked up and saw he was watching me, his eyes half-lidded with pleasure and lust. Another surge of desire coursed through me as I stroked him.

  “That’s right, baby,” I purred. “I’m going to make you come.”

  He threw back his head, every muscle in his big body straining for release.

  “Yes, take me, mon ange,” he gasped hoarsely. “Make me come…I am yours.”

  With that I felt his shaft grow even thicker and harder in my hand and then he was pulsing, pumping out a fountain of hot, white cream that coated my hand and his cock and belly. Goddess, it was everywhere but somehow I didn’t mind. I liked the way he felt, coming in my hand—liked the look of almost pained pleasure on his darkly handsome face. But most of all I liked the feeling of doing what I wanted for once instead of shying away and denying my desire.

  As well as being pleasurable, my actions had the desired effect. As Laish came, giving himself to me completely, I felt the now familiar ripple in the air around us and knew I had done it.

  I had paid the Sin Tax and broken the barrier into the fifth circle of Hell.

  * * * * *

  Laish

  It took me a while to gather myself. I confess, Gwendolyn’s soft touch and sweet ton
gue on me almost undid me. In all the long, barren, joyless years I had been condemned to Hell, I’d had countless women—I am, after all, a demon of lust. But none of them had stirred me like she did. Even the most skillful touch could not rouse me as my little witch’s innocent, inexperienced explorations did.

  As I came, giving in to the pleasure, I felt my power return. Fire is not my only source of energy and the intense emotions of longing and desire Gwendolyn was experiencing fed me as surely as my blood had fed her earlier.

  For a long moment I lay there panting, reveling in the afterglow of pleasure. Then I became aware that Gwendolyn was stirring.

  “Um…” She appeared to be looking around for something.

  “What is it, mon ange?” I was concerned that she might already be regretting her actions. But as it turned out, that was not the case—not yet, anyway.

  “I’m just looking for a cloth or something,” she confessed, sounding a bit embarrassed. “You, uh, made kind of a lot of, uh, cum and it’s sort of all over.”

  “Oh, of course…” Now that I was at full strength again, the situation was easily remedied. I took care of the matter with a wave of my hand.

  “Oh!” She looked down at her hand and then at my belly, seemingly surprised. “It’s all gone. I thought you were still recuperating.”

  “I am feeling much stronger now.” Reaching up, I drew her back down beside me. She came willingly enough and put her head on my chest. But I sensed restlessness in her—her desire had not been quenched.

  “Laish…” She twisted in my arms, pressing her thighs together restively.

  “Gwendolyn,” I replied, pulling her closer. Slowly, gauging her reaction, I slid one hand down her body. She stiffened and bit back a gasp when I tweaked her nipples gently and then gave a little moan when I came to the spot between her thighs.

  “Laish,” she protested again when I lifted her night dress and cupped her hot little cunt in my hand. But she didn’t try to pull away.

  “You’re still hungry, mon ange,” I murmured in her ear. “Why don’t you let me ease your desire as you eased mine?”

  “We shouldn’t,” she whispered breathlessly as I spread her thighs. “We…we already paid the Sin Tax.”

  “Yes, but why must everything we do be only for business?” I asked reasonably. “Why not allow me to give you pleasure just for the sake of pleasure?” I was trailing my fingers lightly over the outer lips of her sex as I spoke. Feeling her tremble at my light, teasing touch made my shaft hard all over again.

  “Because…because we should only do what we have to do.” But she didn’t sound at all certain.

  “I am not asking you to do anything we haven’t already done before,” I pointed out as I slipped my fingers into the soft, secret folds of her pussy. Gods, she was wet! Wet and hot and so ready—I wanted badly to make her come if only she would let me.

  “That…that’s the trick the Devil always uses,” she whispered. “Grams said he always says, ‘It won’t hurt to do it just once.’ And after that he says, ‘You already did it once—might as well do it again.’”

  “Well, I am a demon. But what if it is no trick? What if I simply want to bring you pleasure because I care for you?” I murmured, circling the swollen bud of her clit gently with one fingertip. The light, gentle touch seemed to make her wild. She moaned softly and bucked under my seeking fingers.

  “Laish, please…”

  “Please, what, mon ange?” I sensed she was close—her hips were moving, grinding restlessly against my hand. Taking a chance, I slipped two fingers deep inside her virgin depths and continued the gentle caress around her clit with my thumb.

  “Oh…oh!” she moaned as I filled her. “Oh, Laish…please!”

  I knew what please meant and it wasn’t that she wanted me to withdraw. Leaning down, I took her mouth in a hungry kiss, ravaging her lips and sucking her tongue as I stroked into her with my fingers. She was close…so close and I was as determined to make her come as she had been to make me lose control earlier.

  “Come for me,” I growled at last, pulling back and looking into her eyes. “Come with my name on your lips. Come as you look into my eyes and know that I want your pleasure as much as you wanted mine.” With these words, I pressed even deeper inside her, stroking hard with my thumb.

  It was what she needed to send her over the edge. Her eyes widened and her back arched and then I felt her inner walls trembling and spasming around my invading fingers.

  “Oh…Oh, Laish,” she moaned brokenly, just as I had hoped she would. Hearing my name from her lush lips and feeling her pussy clench around me made me so hard I felt as though I’d never come myself. Gods, she was lovely when she finally let go…when she finally trusted me enough to give herself completely.

  I wondered if she would ever give herself to me in another way.

  At last her quivering stopped and I withdrew my fingers. In the fading glow of the embers, they were shiny with her juices.

  “Oh, uh…” Gwendolyn still sounded breathless and a little embarrassed. “I guess you’d better do your trick and make everything all nice and neat again.”

  “I think not,” I said. “As if I would miss a chance to taste your honey.” Locking my eyes with hers, I sucked my fingers into my mouth and savored her sweet, salty flavor. It was delicious and utterly addictive. I wished I could spend hours between her legs, lapping her pussy long and slow, licking away her sweet juices and then urging her to make more. I wanted to make her come with my mouth, not just my fingers. But I sensed she was not yet ready for that.

  She was watching me wide eyed as I finished cleaning my fingers.

  “You really do like it, huh?”

  “I have told you that I do. Shall I clean you up as well?” I motioned down at her inner thighs which were still shiny with her juices.

  “Oh!” She seemed to remember she was lying there, exposed. Hastily, she started to close her legs. I put a hand on her knee to stop her.

  “Wait, Gwendolyn—only let me lick your inner thighs. I swear my tongue will not stray too far. Please?” I wanted to show her that I could be trusted…that I could be gentle. And I also wanted to get her used to the feeling of me between her thighs.

  “Well…” She bit her lip uncertainly.

  “I swear I will not taste your pussy tonight,” I told her quietly. “I only want to clean you up a little and savor your taste a bit more.”

  “I shouldn’t but…I guess if you promise only to lick my thighs…”

  “I swear it.” I was already moving down her body, nuzzling her as I went. I loved her sweet curves and the shine of firelight against her warm brown skin. Spread out on the white fur rug she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

  When at last I got between her thighs, I took things slowly. I didn’t want to spook her or put her off. Gently, slowly, I lapped her inner thighs clean. True to my word I didn’t go near her pussy, although I did pay extra attention to the crease where her leg joined her torso on each side. I knew she could feel my hot breath blowing against her sex—that was enough for now.

  My little witch was tense at first…then slowly, she relaxed. I glanced up and saw her watching me with wide eyes, taking in the slow way I was lapping her thighs. Good, I wanted her to remember this erotic picture…wanted it to be uppermost in her mind when she thought of me. Soon, very soon I meant to taste her honey right from the source but for now I must content myself with giving her a long, leisurely tongue bath.

  I cleaned her thoroughly, unwilling to stop until she made me. To my delight, my little witch lay there trembling beneath my gentle assault for a very long time before she called a halt to our activities.

  “Laish, I think I’m, uh, all cleaned up now. You can stop,” she whispered.

  “As you wish.”

  I kissed her once more on each thigh before I pulled her night dress demurely down and slid back up to hold her.

  “Thank you,” I murmured in her ear.

&nb
sp; “For what?” Her voice sounded breathless. “You’re the one who was doing all the work.”

  “Not work, pleasure,” I corrected her gently. “And I thank you for trusting me again. After all that has happened it means a great deal to me.”

  She gave an uncertain little laugh. “I’m still not sure I do, you know.”

  But I knew she did—now more than ever. And my heart swelled at the knowledge.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Gwendolyn

  “So it’s not far to the next border?” I looked out at the dismal gray sky swirling with snow.

  “Not far.” Laish seemed more like himself today. He’d made me breakfast that morning—pancakes and bacon at my request—and then conjured us both some warm clothing to wear. Clothing he promised to replace once we’d crossed the barrier and entered the City of Dis.

  Not that I was anxious to get rid of the gorgeous fur coat he’d given me. Yes, I know fur is murder but Laish had promised me it wasn’t made from any animal that lived in the Mortal Realm. Although what kind of creature lived in Hell and had such gorgeous, soft fur I had no idea.

  The coat came down to my knees and was pure white with silver tips around the collar and sleeves. I stroked it gently, loving the incredibly soft feel of it. My little white lily-moth—whom I’d finally gotten around to naming Eryn since she seemed to be with me to stay—could barely be seen on my shoulder against the whiteness.

  “You approve of my taste this time at least, I see,” Laish remarked, smiling a little as we left the hut.

  “It is beautiful,” I admitted, following him around the side to where Kurex was finishing the breakfast of hot oats Laish had conjured him. “I’ll be sorry to see it go once we cross the border.”

  “You need not lose it forever,” he remarked, patting the big horse’s nose. “I can have it sent to your home in the Mortal Realm.”

  “Where would I ever wear it?” I asked, practically. “I live in Florida, remember? We get like two semi-chilly months a year. The rest is all ninety degree heat and humidity.”