Deal With the Devil Read online

  I looked at him stupidly. “I don’t understand.”

  “Put them on me,” Jude said patiently. “There’s a center strut in the middle of the headboard—you can slide the chain through there.”

  I still wasn’t getting it. “But why…how can you do, uh, what you have to do if you’re chained up?”

  A small smile flitted around the corners of his full mouth. “I’ll be able to perform, never fear. But only if you come to me.”

  “This isn’t what I meant at all,” I protested.

  “I know. But if we’re going to do this, we’ll do it my way.” He looked at me sternly. “I’ll keep my word to you on my terms. And my terms are that you chain me up. You’re going to take the lead on this one, Luz. You’re going to be completely in control.”

  For some reason his words seemed to echo in my mind. I had never thought of doing anything like this—not even in my most vivid nightmares or wildest fantasies. It seemed wrong for Jude to be the one tied down and not me, but it was also strangely appealing.

  “Go on.” Jude nodded at the cuffs, his muscular arms still stretched up over his head. “Do it, Luz.”

  Numbly, I did as he said. I crawled to the head of the bed and circled one of his wrists with a velvet-covered cuff. “You do have the key for these, don’t you?” I asked as I threaded the chain that connected the cuffs around the base of the headboard. “I mean, this would be really hard to explain if we had to call a locksmith.”

  “The key is in the top right drawer of my armoire.” He nodded at the tall, solid oak piece of furniture that looked like it had been made in Colonial times. “But you won’t have to use it until you’re done.”

  I finished clicking his other hand in place, making sure everything was secure. Then I sat back on my heels and just looked at him. Stretched out on the bed, naked as he was, he was a real treat for the eyes. There wasn’t a spare ounce of flesh on him anywhere—it was just a vast expanse of marble-white rippling muscle. His nipples stood out, two small pink nubs in the center of his broad chest, and his sculpted torso led to narrow hips and long, muscular legs. A soft trail of dark blond hair ran from his navel to his shaft.

  Looking at it, I saw that he still wasn’t aroused but neither was he completely soft either. Hmm, did he like being restrained or did he like the fact that it was me doing the restraining? Either way, I found that I didn’t feel nearly as threatened as I had earlier. What had bothered me before he was cuffed wasn’t just his cock—it was how big he was, how obviously and completely male. After what I’d been through, just being with someone so much bigger and stronger than me was scary. But with Jude restrained and unable to touch me, I felt much of my fear leak away to be replaced with just the tiniest spark of interest.

  I looked back up to his face after my leisurely visual tour. “Now what?”

  He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Now you take the lead, Luz. I am completely at your mercy.”

  “But I…” I licked my lips. “Jude, I’m not sure I can do this.”

  “Then it won’t get done. If you want me, you’ll have to take me.”

  When I was still silent he lifted his head and looked into my eyes. “I am serious. Do whatever you want to me, Luz. I’m yours.”

  I fluttered my hands helplessly. “I appreciate the offer. I just…don’t know where to start.”

  “Why not start with a kiss?”

  “That sounds nice,” I admitted, and it did. Now that he was the helpless one, I found myself remembering how much I liked to kiss him and how delicious his mouth always tasted.

  I was still near the head of the bed kneeling beside him so it was easy to lean over, my hair hanging to one side like a dark curtain, and press my lips to his. They were soft and giving and for a minute Jude didn’t even try to kiss me back. He just let me take my time exploring his mouth. Then slowly he parted his lips—an invitation. One I felt ready to accept.

  Carefully, I slipped my tongue into his mouth, lapping tentatively, tasting him as delicately as a butterfly drinking nectar from a flower. Jude held very, very still but finally I felt just the tip of his tongue brush mine. I withdrew for a minute but then came back for more.

  Jude began to kiss me back, slowly at first and then with more strength. I traced his fangs carefully, feeling their sharp points against my sensitive flesh and sucked his tongue, taking him into me. He groaned softly and I felt a surge of empowerment at the low sound. I was the one turning him on and I had the power to continue to feed his desire or to leave him wanting.

  I don’t know how long we kissed but I do know that at some point it wasn’t enough and I wanted more—wanted to explore him. Slowly, I kissed my way down the strong column of his throat, nipping playfully to make him groan again. Jude definitely liked being bitten, maybe as much as he liked biting, something I would have to keep in mind for the future.

  A part of me wondered, What future? Hadn’t I decided I would never want to see him after this was over? But somehow, I no longer felt that way—maybe because I was no longer afraid. I didn’t feel like a victim anymore. I felt strong, empowered and, from the way Jude was responding to my attentions, I was beginning to feel sexy too.

  I reached his nipples and teased the hard little nubs with my tongue. Then I looked up at him. “Do you like that?”

  His eyes were glowing softly in the dim room. “I love the feel of your sweet mouth on any part of me,” he murmured, his gaze fixed on mine.

  “What about this?” I sucked a nipple into my mouth again, nipping him sharply until he gasped.

  Jude’s eyes were half lidded now and his deep voice was hoarse when he answered. “Do as you wish, Luz. Lick, suck, or bite me—I don’t care as long as you don’t stop.”

  “I don’t want to stop,” I whispered, and to my surprise it was true. In the slow exploration of his body and the knowledge that I was utterly and completely safe with him, I had found the desire I had thought would never come back. The flame of my lust had been rekindled and though it was only a tiny spark right now, I had the feeling that with a little encouragement it could become a raging bonfire.

  “What next?” I asked Jude. I wasn’t quite ready to touch him lower yet—I needed a little more time before I could go there. But I wanted to keep the momentum building, wanted to keep feeding the flames of desire I could feel growing between us.

  “Do you feel ready to let me see you?” he asked softly. “You don’t have to if you’d rather not, but I would love to look at your beautiful body again.”

  Although earlier that evening I would rather have died than let him see me naked, it suddenly seemed like a good idea. I remembered the way I had felt the other night, before things had gone wrong. The way I had seen myself through Jude’s eyes and had known deep down that I was beautiful. I wanted that feeling—that knowledge of my own beauty—again.

  “All right,” I said, making a decision. “I think I can do that.” I sat back on my heels and reached for the hem of the red T-shirt. Then slowly, taking my time, I pulled it up and over my head, baring my body to him completely.

  Jude gave a low murmur of appreciation.

  “What?” I asked, uncertain of what he’d said.

  “Beautiful.” He smiled at me. “You’re so beautiful, Luz.”

  I felt a sudden stab of regret. “Beautiful and broken, you mean.” I crossed my arms over my bare breasts and looked down.

  “That which is broken can be fixed,” Jude said softly. “Don’t hide yourself, Luz. Let me see you.”

  Reluctantly, I let my arms fall to my side and watched his face as he drank me in. He didn’t say anything else but his expression of reverent desire made me feel beautiful as no words ever could. I’m the one who put that look on his face, I thought, loving the way it made me feel. I’m the one he wants. And I want him too.

  With that realization, I understood that letting him look at me wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel close to him, to feel his skin against mine. Slowly I lay down beside him and pres