Ruby Shadows Read online

  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