Things Forbidden

By Raquel Dove
Published by Raquel Dove for Smashwords
Copyright !" Raquel Dove
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
Than# you for downloading this free eboo#$ %lthough this is a
free boo#& it remains the 'opyrighted property of the author& and may
not be reprodu'ed& 'opied and distributed for 'ommer'ial or non(
'ommer'ial purposes$ )f you en*oyed this boo#& please en'ourage your
friends to download their own 'opy at Smashwords$'om& where they
'an also dis'over other wor#s by this author$ Than# you for your
support$
Chapter +ne

,is senses swam with an overload of her$ ,e fought the feral growl
that was rising in his throat at his own a'tions$ ,e was disgusted with
himself& even as he 'ontinued to wat'h her from behind the 'over of
trees$ )t was wrong$ -o& it was absolutely forbidden$ Taboo$ ,e 'ould
never have her$ Should never have her$ %nd yet he wanted her with
every fiber of his being$ %nd so& he 'ontinued to wat'h her$ ,e
wat'hed the thin fabri' of her shirt pool as it hit the grass beneath
her$ ,e wat'hed as the warm summer air #issed her e.posed breasts&
per#ing up her perfe't pin# nipples$ ,e wat'hed as a tiny bead of
sweat glided down her taught supple body$ ,er hands& perfe'tly
mani'ured& rea'hed for the /ipper of her *ean shorts whi'h promptly
*oined her top on the ground$ ,e felt the pressure in his pants growing
as she rea'hed ba'# to ta#e her golden hair down& giving him a
glorious view of her body$ -othing was left to his imagination& save for
the things he wanted to do with said body$ ,is hand rea'hed for the
steadily in'reasing lump in his pants& ad*usting himself to
a''ommodate the in'rease in si/e$ The simple tou'h brought a
measure of fri'tional pleasure and he found his hand lingering&
rubbing& en*oying the ele'tri'ity of his own tou'h$
,e shoo# his head& fighting with everything he had to loo# away$
-ot only was what he was doing wrong in prin'iple& but mating with a
human was stri'tly forbidden$ )t was beyond forbidden& a'tually$
0ostly for the possibility of the unholy offspring that 'ould be
produ'ed$ )t was the worst thing a being li#e himself 'ould do$ %nd a
demon lord of his stature should be far above su'h vile a'ts$ ,e
'len'hed his *aw as he tried to for'e himself to wal# away$ 1ust one
more glan'e& he told himself$ There2s no harm in *ust loo#ing$
The human woman was young& in her early twenties$ ,e 'ould tell
a lot about her simply by her s'ent$ ,er into.i'ating s'ent$ She was
single& or had at least not been tou'hed by a male for quite some
time$ She had a dog$ % small one& a 1a'# Russell$ ,e 'ould smell the
pet2s s'ent on hers& 'overing her 'lothes and every in'h of her s#in$
,e lifted his nose& inhaling deeply as a light bree/e pi'#ed up& 'arrying
the girls s'ent 'loser to him$ )t swirled around him& taunting him$ The
subtle notes of amber that tinted her s'ent were of an added pleasure
to him$ ,e 'ould hear the girl2s heartbeat$ Slow& steady& and strong$
She was a healthy 'reature& and inno'ent$ )t made his 'urrent a'tions
even more deplorable& and at the same time even harder to stop$ )f he
didn2t leave soon& he might do something he would regret& and
possibly be senten'ed to death for$
The girl2s lithe body was 'ompletely e.posed to his hungry view&
and it made him a'he with need$ She turned& tiptoeing to the edge of
the small pond& dipping one foot in to test the water$ ,e wat'hed& in a
mild hypnotia& as the deli'ate 'urve of her bottom boun'ed with every
step$ ,is body tensed& the heat pooling in his groin$ ,is hand rea'hed
for his lap& on'e again trying to ad*ust himself to a''ommodate the
added length$ ,is tongue trailed out to li'# his lips$ ,e wanted this
'reature$ ,e wasn2t sure why& he had never felt su'h an urge towards
a human before$ There was *ust something about her$ )t wasn2t the
first time he had seen her either$ She 'ame here often$ 0ore often
than a lone female should in the middle of the night$
The girl dove headfirst into the pond& disturbing the pla'id water$
She disappeared under the surfa'e for a few se'onds before finally
bobbing ba'# up for air$ She 'ame to rest on a large ro'# under the
water& her breasts bobbing *ust above the surfa'e$
,e too# a deep& steady breath& trying to subdue his urges and for'e
himself to leave$ ,e was *ust beginning to win& but the girl2s ne.t
a'tions rooted him to the spot$ She loo#ed around& as if suddenly
worried that someone might be wat'hing her$ %fter a tense moment
she de'ided she was safe in her se'lusion$ ,er small hand began to
rub the bobbing mound of flesh that was teasing the surfa'e of the
water$ ,er fingertips found the small round nipple and she rolled the
fleshy nub between her fingers& a sigh es'aping her moist lips$ ,er
other hand trailed down her stoma'h& beneath the water$ ,e 'ould see
by the rhythmi' ti'# of her bi'ep e.a'tly what she was doing$ There
was no way he 'ould leave now& no matter how bad he #new he
should$ ,e *ust had to wat'h this s'ene play out$
,e began to rub absently at the bulge in his pants& hoping to
relieve some of the pressure that had built& his eyes lo'#ed on the
magnifi'ent sight before him$ ,is attentions grew more franti' as the
soft moaning pleasures of the girl rea'hed his sensitive ears$ ,is
/ipper was threatening to 'ause serious pain and he moved to un/ip
the offending devi'e$ 1ust as he was about to release himself from the
suddenly too tight 'onfines of his pants& the girl s'reamed& wide eyed
and slapping a free hand over her e.posed breasts$ For a split se'ond
he thought she had somehow spotted him$ But when he loo#ed in the
dire'tion of her ga/e he saw the sour'e of her indignant fright$ %
greasy loo#ing male human had stepped out from the wooded area
that surrounded the pond$
3-eed a hand there& girly45 he as#ed& a si'#ly grin on his s'raggly
fa'e as he rubbed his 'rot'h$ ,e 'learly displayed his arousal to the
girl& not hiding the vile thoughts that were on his mind$
36et away from me&5 the girl shrie#ed& fear and anger swirling in
her wide blue eyes$
,uman matters were of little 'onsequen'e to a demon lord su'h as
himself$ ,e #new the best thing for him to do was wal# away from this
situation$ ,is desire had gone limp the moment he saw the filthy male
anyway$ There was no further reason for him to be here$ ,e turned to
leave as the man too# another step towards the inde'ent woman$ She
s'reamed again$
3There ain2t no one around& honey&5 his voi'e dripped li#e poison
from his lips& as his grungy hands wor#ed to untie his tattered pants$
3%in2t no one goin to save you$5
,e #new he should *ust leave$ 7hat 'ould he do anyway4 Save the
girl4 8et his presen'e be #nown to her4 )t was not right in his world$
,e had to thin# of the bigger pi'ture$ That bigger pi'ture did not
in'lude this human girl$ 9ven if she was inno'ent$ 9ven if he did en*oy
seeing her$ Smelling her$ ,er deli'ate s'ent that& as he well #new
would forever be tainted by this filthy human male2s if he had his way
with her$ That is something he 'ertainly did not want to happen$ ,e
'ould stop it from happening$ -ot be'ause he would stoop so low as to
'are about and prote't a feeble human girl$ ,e 'ould do it for his own
selfish reasons$ Be'ause he en*oyed the girl2s s'ent as it was& for
whatever reason$ That was enough self('onvin'ing for the young
demon prin'e$
)n a heartbeat the demon was standing between the humans$ ,e
'ould hear the girl2s gasp of sho'# from behind him& and felt an odd
swell of pride as he pi'#ed up the mild relief in her s'ent$ ,e didn2t
give the man before him a moment to blin# before his 'lawed hand
ripped through his rib'age& grasping the still beating heart and ripping
it out$ The man 'rumpled un'eremoniously to the ground$
,e e.pe'ted the girl to run off into the night& s'reaming at the sight
she had *ust witnessed$ )nstead& as he turned slowly around to fa'e
her& he found an odd loo# in her eyes$
3Th:than# you&5 she managed to sputter out$ ,er forehead
'reased as she too# in the sight of him$ ,e was now 'overed in blood&
but otherwise dressed in what loo#ed li#e a very e.pensive suit$ ,is
'old bla'# hair was tousled with gel and 'ontrasted sharply with his
pale white s#in$ ,is eyes were a haunting silver& and his ears were
deli'ately pointed$ 37ho are you45
,e #new he had already done too mu'h$ ,e had saved the girl& he
'ould and should *ust leave now& without a word$ But try as he might&
he 'ouldn2t stop the words from 'oming out of his mouth$
3Do you not fear me45 he as#ed& a perfe'tly groomed bla'# brow
ar'hed in disbelief$ ,e dropped the bloody heart he had been holding$
3;ou *ust saved me&5 she said matter(of(fa'tly& 37hy would ) fear
you45
,e felt a strange pin'h in his 'hest at the naivety of the girl$ )f she
#new who he was& and everything he was 'apable of& she would fear
him far more than her previous atta'#er$
37hy do you 'ome here& alone and so vulnerable45 he said& trying
to sha#e the strange hold she had on him$ ,is voi'e was steady and
'old& but held an unmista#able hint of 'on'ern behind it$
3) *ust li#e to get away&5 she said& loo#ing away& 3this is the only
pla'e that ma#es me feel at pea'e$ 7ait:how did you #now ) 'ome
here45
Before reali/ation had fully hit her& the demon lord disappeared$
The absolute last thing he wanted to do was get into an e.planatory
'onversation with a human girl that wasn2t even supposed to #now he
e.isted$ ,e breathed a heavy sigh of relief when he was far enough
away from her& and finally out from under her hypnoti/ing influen'e$
,e didn2t #now if she would ever be brave enough to visit the pond
again& but it didn2t really matter$ ,e had the girls2 s'ent lo'#ed firmly
in his mind now$ ,e would be able to find her anywhere she went$

Chapter Two


,e was surprised to see her 'ome here again$ ,e was sure their
en'ounter would have s'ared her off$ %nd yet& here she was$ Foolish
human& he thought to himself$ This is why their spe'ies was so
inferior$ She had nearly been raped& possibly #illed& and then
witnessed a 'reature ripping out a still beating heart$ +ne would thin#
it would deter a person from returning$ %nd yet& here she was$
Somewhere in the ba'# of his mind a thought registered$ ,e should
not be so 'on'erned with a human and her in'omprehensible a'tions$
But for some reason he de'ided to ignore that thought$ ,e was merely
'urious& he de'ided$
,e wat'hed her& mu'h li#e he had the last time he had seen her
here$ She was loo#ing for something$ She was loo#ing for someone$
,e 'ould have #i'#ed himself if he was any less dignified of a demon$
She was loo#ing for him$ 7hat a stupid girl$ She had seen what he
'ould do$ ,ad seen that he 'ould tear her to pie'es without a se'ond
thought$
Perhaps the girl was a maso'hist$ Perhaps the thought of danger
e.'ited her$ Perhaps he had been wrong in his original assessment of
her& in her inno'en'e$ But that was absurd$ ,e was never wrong in his
assessments$ This girl was either brave or stupid$ 1udging by
everything else he had seen of her& she was stupid$
3) #now you2re here&5 she 'alled out into the night& 3and ) #now
you2ve been wat'hing me$5
This was getting interesting& he thought$ ,e had indeed been
wat'hing her$ ,e had followed her home that night& hiding in the
shadows& moving faster than she 'ould ever see$ The girl lived in a
rough neighborhood& and she lived alone$ ,e witnessed her in dire't
danger at least three separate times on her wal# home$ ,e wondered
what made her a't so irresponsibly$ She was 'urious to him& and he
li#ed to satisfy his 'uriosity when it was piqued$ So he de'ided to
follow her& learn more about her$ )t had been about a wee# in human
time$
3Come out&5 she 'alled again& twirling around& eyes trying to see
into the dar#ness around her$
,e #new it was wrong& even as he de'ided to do it$ But there was
something about this 'onfounding 'reature that was ma#ing him a't
entirely out of 'hara'ter$ ,e mentally berated himself as he stepped
out of the bushes that were 'on'ealing him$
37hy are you following me45 she said& her fa'e for'ed into a
s'owl$ Try as she might she wasn2t truly angry with him$ 0ore *ust
'urious as to why this strange 'reature suddenly seemed to be so
atta'hed to her$
37hy do you behave so re'#lessly45 he as#ed& ignoring her
question$
3) as#ed you a question first&5 she said& putting her hands on her
hips$ ,e stepped 'loser to her& his pe'uliar features on'e again
be'oming apparent as he stepped into the moonlight that spilled into
the 'learing around the small pond$ ,is silvery eyes held her in a
tran'e that made it hard to maintain her 'omposure$ She felt a heat
growing inside her at the hunger that hid *ust beyond his stoi' ga/e$
3%nd my question should 'learly answer yours&5 he said$ ,is voi'e
was thi'# and 'reamy as it spilled from his lips$ ,e was 'alm& his steps
'al'ulated as he 'ir'led around her li#e a predator si/ing up its prey$
The intensity of his presen'e threatened to bu'#le her #nees as she
whipped her head around her& following his movements$
3So:what4 %re you prote'ting me or something45 she as#ed$
3-o&5 he s'offed& his eyes narrowing on her as he stopped 'ir'ling$
The thought of him prote'ting a human was absurd at best$ 3) am
merely 'urious$ ;our #ind is usually stupid& but you are e.'eptionally
so$5
She was ta#en aba'# by the une.pe'ted insult$ For a moment& her
mind tried to 'ontemplate a suffi'ient 'omeba'#$ But then she
reali/ed the situation she found herself in& and a 'omeba'# seemed of
very little importan'e$
30y #ind45 she said& her eyes following him as he on'e again began
'ir'ling her$ ,e was dressed impe''ably& in a suit and tie& as he was
the last time she had seen him$ There was a loo# in his eyes that told
her she should be running from him right now$ 37hat are you45
3) am 'urious&5 he said& fully aware that it in no way answered her
question$ ,e always en*oyed toying with his prey$ )t made his usually
droll wor# somewhat entertaining$ %nd now& it was ma#ing the girl2s
growing frustration with him even further entertaining$
3That2s not what ) meant&5 she said$ She for'ed her voi'e to be
harsh& her brow to be furrowed$ She wanted to sound fearless& to
sound li#e she was not terrified by the 'reature that was before her$
,er fa#e emotions 'ould never fool him& though she didn2t #now it$ ,e
'ould read every feeling that ran through her as easily as a boo#$
3) #now what you meant& girl&5 he said& suddenly standing behind
her& his words a harsh whisper in her ear$ ,is speed and sudden
pro.imity made her *ump& and she 'ursed herself for allowing a sliver
of fear to show$ % rumbling 'hu'#le e'hoed in his 'hest& 'ausing the
heat in her stoma'h to grow$ % ghostly smir# wor#ed its way onto his
fa'e before it vanished and he moved to fa'e her dire'tly$
3,ow:5 she breathed& her words failing her at his speed$ 3,ow do
you move so fast45
3;ou as# many questions&5 he said& his narrow silver eyes fo'used
on her wide blue ones$
3%nd you don2t answer any&5 she 'ountered& for'ing her fear away$
3So why do you 'ontinue to as#&5 he said$ ,e 'ould play this game
all night if that is what the girl wished$ But she would most 'ertainly
lose$ ,e was en*oying his new little toy so mu'h that he didn2t even
reali/e how off the reservation he was$ )f the wrong person 'aught him
a'tually 'onversing with this human in su'h a way there would be no
saving him$
3+#&5 she said& inspiration firing a'ross her mind$ ,e was toying
with her$ %nd he was 'learly en*oying himself$ But she was by no
means stupid& as he had so rudely put it& and she was going to show
him that by beating him at his own game$ 3) will satisfy your 'uriosity
and then you 'an leave me alone$ %s# me whatever you want and )
will answer$5
For a moment& *ust a split se'ond& he was at a loss$ +f 'ourse he
qui'#ly re'overed& stepping ba'# from the girl$ Could she possibly
mean what she had *ust said4 She must be entirely stupid to say su'h
a thing$
3;ou will satisfy my 'uriosity45 he said& a slender brow ar'hing in
interest$
3%nd then you will leave me alone45 she said with a firm nod&
hoping he would a''ept her proposal$
3<ery well&5 he said& a devilish smir# wor#ing it2s was onto his
handsome fa'e& 3) a''ept your deal& girl$5
3Fine then&5 she said$ She wanted to sigh with relief& but the
newfound 'onfiden'e that seemed to radiate from him told her she had
*ust done something very bad for herself$
3;ou do not #now what you have done& do you45 he said$ ,e
'ommen'ed his 'ir'ling of her& li'#ing his lips hungrily$ She had *ust
given him everything he 'ould have possibly wanted& and she didn2t
even #now it$
3)2m hopefully getting rid of you soon&5 she said& and although she
thought she meant it& she felt the oddest pin'h of sadness at the
thought that he a'tually would leave her alone$ She had sought him
out for a reason$ She wanted answers$
3+h& but my 'uriosity runs very deep&5 he said& his footsteps on'e
again 'oming to a halt *ust in front of her& 3and ) intend to be fully
satisfied$5

Chapter Three


,e had to give the girl some 'redit$ )n spite of the fear that
permeated her s'ent& she was maintaining her outward 'omposure
remar#ably well$ 0ost humans ran at the mere sight of him$ The
question again popped into his head$ 7as this girl 'ompletely stupid4
Perhaps she was$ But there was still something about her$ Something
that made her so different from the rest of her #ind$
37ill you *ust get on with it45 She said& for'ing herself to be strong$
The last thing she wanted was for him to thin# she was s'ared of him$
She would never give him the upper hand& even if she was absolutely
terrified$ She swallowed hard as his steps brought him 'loser to her& a
dangerous smir# on his lips$ Fleshy lips that loo#ed firm and oh so
sedu'tive$ She wondered what those lips would taste li#e$ She qui'#ly
#i'#ed herself mentally for thin#ing su'h thoughts$ -ow was definitely
not the time$
3<ery well&5 he said& noti'ing the girl2s sudden fas'ination with his
mouth and pleased to pi'# up the faint smell of arousal on'e again
mingling with her s'ent$ 3Do you tou'h yourself often4 +r has that *ust
been this past wee#45
,er mouth flopped open as her mind tried to re'on'ile the sho'# it
had *ust re'eived$ That was definitely not the type of 'uriosity she was
e.pe'ting$ She 'onsidered not answering the question& and rightly so$
That was absolutely none of his business$ But then another thought
*umped out at her$ ,ow did he even #now what she did in the priva'y
of her own home4
37hat are you a peeping tom45 she seethed at him& 'rossing her
arms over her 'hest$
3-o&5 he said flatly& his eyes narrowed in indignation$ To thin# he
would ever stoop to su'h a dastardly thing was absolutely insulting$
,owever& he wasn2t about to tell her e.a'tly how good his sense of
smell was$ 3) will be as#ing the questions& to whi'h you will reply$ %s
per our arrangement$5
%n odd 'hill ran down her spine as he said those last words$ ,is
smug e.pression told her there was more meaning behind those words
than she thought$
37hat e.a'tly do you mean& =our arrangement245 she as#ed$
3%gain& ) will be as#ing the questions&5 he said$ ,is lips 'ra'#ed
into a half smile and an ever so slightly pointed 'anine popped out&
glistening softly in the moonlight$ 3,owever& sin'e ) am in'lined to& )
will inform you of the stupidity you have demonstrated$5
3Stop 'alling me stupid&5 she said& her voi'e tinted with hurt at the
'ontinued insults& even though she tried to hide it$
3;ou a'tually offered me a deal&5 he said& a ghost of a 'hu'#le in
his voi'e$ 3)n all my years& ) have never re'eived a 'ontra't so easily$
%nd su'h a lu'rative one for myself$5
She felt the blood drain from her fa'e as his half smile spread into a
full one$ Things were starting to sound very bad for her& and the 'o'#y
grin on his fa'e 'onfirmed it$ She had to as#$ But oh how she did not
want to$ She wanted to 'url up under one of the many ro'#s that
littered the edge of the pond and die& far away from this frightening&
into.i'ating& devastatingly handsome:she mind(#i'#ed herself again$
These thoughts were entirely out of pla'e in her 'urrent situation$
37hat ='ontra't245 she as#ed& furrowing her brows in 'on'ern$
,e was entirely enthralled and amused by this 'reature$ The way
her emotions flitted through her at su'h a ne'# brea#ing speed was so
in'redibly entertaining$ ,e wondered if it was typi'al for humans to
e.perien'e their emotions in su'h a manner$ -one of the ones he had
ever dealt with were li#e this$ ,e on'e again suppressed the it'hing
thought that he shouldn2t even 'are& and definitely should not be
en*oying her the way he was$
3;ou offered me terms& girl&5 he said& 3and ) a''epted$ )t is a
binding agreement$5
3) didn2t sign anything&5 she said$ She 'rossed her arms a'ross her
'hest& her fa'e shining with self( satisfa'tion$ There was no way he
'ould hold her to anything if she didn2t sign something$
3;ou don2t have to&5 he said$ ,e instantly appeared behind her&
and on'e again reveled in the way she *er#ed at the une.pe'ted
move$ But still& she didn2t step away from him$ She stood her ground&
and in a small way he admired her for that$ She had more ba'#bone
than most males of her #ind& whi'h wasn2t e.a'tly saying a lot$
3+#& loo#&5 she said& turning around$ She 'ame nose to nose with
him& and she reali/ed a little too late that he was even more
intimidating this 'lose$ She struggled to pull the words from her
mouth& trying to muster up as mu'h 'ourage as possible$ 3) don2t have
time to stand around here all night$5
3;ou stated terms& ) verified& and we agreed&5 he said& his voi'e
'alm as he stared ba'# at her$ Their bodies were so 'lose he 'ould feel
the warmth 'oming from her supple s#in$ )t sent an odd wave of desire
over him that he qui'#ly for'ed himself to ignore$ 3;ou are now under
a binding 'ontra't to me to& as you put it& satisfy my 'uriosity$ 8u'#ily
for me& that is an e.tremely vague term$5
3That2s not a 'ontra't&5 she said& sha#ing her head$ She wanted to
step ba'#& wanted to get away from the suffo'ating tran'e he put on
her$ But she would not$ She would be stalwart in her resistan'e to him
and not show any signs of wea#ness if she 'ould help it$
3But it is&5 he replied& the smile on'e again forming on his lips$ 3)t
is a demon2s 'ontra't& girl$5
She stared blan#ly at him as his words sun# in$ ,ad he not loo#ed
the part of being entirely not human she would have laughed$ But this
was no *o#e& and the gravity of her situation was beginning to sin# in$
37hat do ) have to do45 she as#ed& her heart sin#ing into her
stoma'h with ea'h word$ She was beginning to reali/e that he wasn2t
going to be leaving her alone anytime soon$
3;ou simply have to satisfy my 'uriosity$ The 'ontra't will be
fulfilled& and you will be released from any bond&5 he said& his silver
eyes sear'hing every e.pression flashing a'ross her fa'e$
3%nd what happens if ) *ust wal# away45 she said$
3) believe you remember your unwel'omed visitor from our last
en'ounter$5 he said& an eyebrow 'o'#ed and a half smile on his lips$
3The things ) will be allowed to do to you will ma#e that loo# li#e
tame$5

Chapter Four


3%llowed45 she questioned$ For a split se'ond the upturned 'orners
of his lips flin'hed$ That was not something he had wanted to let slip&
and now that she had as#ed& he was obligated to tell her$ )t was
typi'al demon 'ontra't proto'ol$
3;es&5 he said& not letting his disappointment show through his
voi'e$ 3%s things are& ) am not allowed to harm you in any manner$5
3+h really&5 she said& her lips 'urling in a smile$ -ow she #new she
had the upper hand on him$
3,owever&5 he said& brea#ing through her momentary vi'tory& 3if
you were to brea'h our 'ontra't:5
,is words trailed off and a 'hill went straight into her bones$ She
#new she had to as#& but she #new she didn2t want to #now the
answer$ She 'ould feel her heart ra'ing in her rib'age$ She swallowed
hard$
37ha:what would happen if ) brea'hed the 'ontra't45 she as#ed$
,is eyes were 'onstantly s'anning her with su'h intensity it made her
#nees wea#$ ,e used his speed to suddenly appear behind her&
leaving barely more than a sliver of air separating them$ She was
getting used to his movements& this time she didn2t flin'h& and she
mentally gave herself a pat on the ba'#$
,e leaned into her& his lips stopping beside her ear$ ,e said
nothing& but she 'ould hear his steady breaths& 'ould feel the warm of
his e.hales on her ne'#$ % strong arm wrapped around her midse'tion&
and he pulled her tightly into his 'hest$ She 'ould feel the heat of his
body even through the layers of 'lothes that separated them$ She
su'#ed in a sharp breath and held it& waiting for him to answer her
question& or release her& or ravage her& or whatever the hell he was
planning on doing$ She *ust wanted him to stop toying with her$
3) li#e you&5 he said& his voi'e a deep whisper$ ,is response was
not at all what she had e.pe'ted$ She snapped her head ba'# to loo#
up at him& 'onfusion and surprise twirling in her big blue eyes$ ,e
hovered over her& his grip around her waist strong$ ,is lips parted and
she 'ould feel the heat of his breaths on her own lips$ ,er body tingled
in anti'ipation& the hot flush that ran over her body ma#ing her want to
melt in his arms$ ,e reveled in the overwhelming s'ent of her desire&
thoroughly pleased with her obvious attra'tion to him$ ,is eyes 'aught
hers as they teetered on the edge of a #iss$
3)t would be su'h a shame if ) had to #ill you&5 he said& his words
barely more than a mumble& but she heard them perfe'tly 'lear and it
*olted her out of her da/e$ She pulled away from him& turning around
to 'onfront him$
3>ill me45 she said$ ,e 'ould see the fright on her fa'e and it
tugged oddly at his 'hest$ ,e brushed away the feeling& allowing his
amusement to get the better of him on'e more$
3)f you brea'h our 'ontra't you will be'ome indentured to me&5 he
said& the devilishly handsome smir# spreading a'ross his fa'e& 3Brea#
the 'ontra't and you be'ome my slave$ ) 'an do with you whatever )
see fit$5
The true meaning of her thoughtless a'tions finally sun# in$ She
had in fa't& done something e.tremely stupid$ She 'ursed her re'#less
nature$ She had to find a way out of this$ There was no way she would
be indentured to a demon& and *udging by his behavior thus far he
would most li#ely try to ma#e that happen$ She needed to #now the
rules to this thing if she was going to figure a way out of it$ 0aybe
there was a loophole or something$
3+#&5 she said& lifting her 'hin& hoping to appear more 'onfident
than she a'tually was$ 3)f we have a 'ontra't& then ) am entitled to
#now all the details that pertain to it$5
3That you are&5 he said$ ,e figured she would eventually figure
that one out$ )t was the first thing most humans thought of when they
were trying to wiggle out of a 'ontra't$ ,e te'hni'ally was obligated to
answer any question as#ed that had to do with the deal that was
made$ Though& being a demon of e.'eptional e.pertise& he had
learned many ways to get around the many rules that he was held to$
,e rea'hed into his *a'#et& pulling out a rolled up pie'e of paper$ ,e
held one end& letting the other roll open$ )t fell all the way to the
ground and tumbled to her feet$ She wat'hed in sho'# as the blan#
paper lit up with letters of fire& and words were burned onto the paper$
They were tiny words& and there were a lot of them$ 3)f you would li#e
to read them& be my guest$5
7ith a *er# of his wrist the paper rolled ba'# up onto itself$ ,e held
the s'roll out to her& that same 'o'#y grin spreading on his fa'e$
3%lthough&5 he said as she rea'hed out for the paper& 3) would
suggest you hurry$ There is a time 'lause to our little 'ontra't& and as
)2ve said& ) am a very 'urious demon$5

Chapter Five


,e began to 'ir'le her again& his eyes wat'hing with a twin#le that
'ompletely unnerved her$ She had to really thin# about her ne.t
move$ This demon was tri'#y& and he was doing his best to trap her$
7hat his true intentions were& she still 'ould not dis'ern$
37hat2s your name45 she as#ed$ She wanted to #now who she was
dealing with$ % sudden dar#ness 'louded his features$
3Do not ever as# me that&5 he snapped$ There was su'h mali'e
behind his voi'e& su'h a sudden shift in his demeanor that it frightened
her$ 3;ou will never #now my name& girl$5
,e 'ould see that he had s'ared the girl$ )t was not his intention&
but that was something so guarded by every demon that to as# for it
was the most offensive thing one 'ould do$ -ot that the girl would
#now that$ ,e reali/ed she was li#ely only being 'urious$ But to learn
the name of a demon was to 'ontrol that demon$ %nd there were only
two 'reatures in e.isten'e that had ever #nown his name& his mother
and father$ ,e intended to #eep it that way$
3)$$)2m sorry&5 she said& stumbling over her words& trying to
understand what had so drasti'ally 'hanged his mood$ She did not li#e
his mirthful nature mu'h& but his angry one was downright terrifying$
She had seen what he 'ould do& and even though he had told her that
he 'ould not harm her& she still did not want to ma#e him mad$
3-ever mind that&5 he said& pushing aside the insult$ ,is features
rela.ed ba'# into a playful smir#$ 37e should get started$5
37ait&5 she said& her 'uriosity getting the better of her$ 3Don2t you
want to #now my name45
3) already #now your name& girl&5 he said& his 'hara'teristi' smir#
'rossing his lips as he drew his words out sedu'tively slow& 3?oe$5
The sound of her name on his lips made her want to melt into a
puddle on the ground$ ,e was so 'aptivating& his voi'e so smooth&
that it too# her a moment to register what he had *ust said$ ,er eyes
blin#ed in rapid su''ession as her lips flopped open li#e a fish trying to
form words$
3,ow do you #now my name45 she demanded& finally finding her
voi'e$ ,er eyes narrowed on him as she put a hand on the 'urve of
her hip$
3) li#e to #now who ) do business with&5 he said with a wave of his
hand$ ,e was so thoroughly en*oying the way her emotions ran wild in
her$ 6oing from s'ared& to 'urious& to brave all in the same breath$
That wasn2t a very satisfying answer& but ?oe #new that was all she
was going to get out of him$ She su'#ed in her bottom lip& nibbling
nervously on the edge as he 'ontinued to wat'h her with a burning
intensity$ The desire that was refle'ted in his smo#y eyes brought a
ti'#le to her stoma'h$ ,e was li#e a tiger stal#ing its prey$
%s he wat'hed her fidgeting under his steady ga/e& he ran through
his mind all the wonderful things he was going to do with this
hypnoti/ing 'reature$ ,e was going to ta#e his time& as mu'h time as
their 'ontra't would allow& learning what it was about her that had him
so enthralled$ %nd if at all possible& maneuver her into belonging to
him for the rest of eternity$ But there was something he wanted right
now that he 'ouldn2t wait any longer for$
,is eyes trained on her lips as she 'hewed on one side with her dull
human teeth$ ,is nose pi'#ed up the sudden spi#e in her arousal and
he stepped 'loser to her& 'losing the small gap between them$ The
smell mi.ed so deli'iously with the natural note of amber in her s'ent$
,e 'ould feel himself stir as she su'#ed in a nervous breath$ ,is hand
rea'hed up to feel the soft s#in of her round 'hee# with the ba'# of his
fingers$ % subtle warmth radiated from her& ma#ing him want more& so
mu'h more$ ,e 'ouldn2t hold ba'# his desires any longer$ ,is lips
'ame down& 'apturing hers in a heated fren/y$ ,e had wanted so
badly to taste her& and as his lips began to fight with hers& he was
'ertainly not disappointed$
,is fervor 'aught her slightly off guard& as did her body2s rea'tion
to him$ ,er mind s'reamed to push him away$ To stop this$ But her
body was willfully 'ompliant& heating to a feverish pit'h at his
in'reasingly rough tou'h$ The heat throbbed between her thighs as he
pulled her body tightly into his$ She 'ould feel the unnatural 'hest
mus'les beneath her palms begin to ripple as his hands roamed her
body$
9very sense he had was overta#en by her$ ,er s#in was so soft and
warm$ ,er smell was 'lean and inno'ent with the mus#y overtone of
her intense arousal$ ,er taste was the most deli'ious thing his taste
buds ever had the pleasure of e.perien'ing$ ,is fingers tangled in her
honey hair& pulling her in 'loser$ ,e felt himself harden& his
e.'itement rising even higher as the girl responded to his arousal by
pressing herself further against him$
Then he felt the 'all& pulling gently on the ba'# of his mind$ ,e
wanted to growl in irritation$ ,e wanted to ignore it& but he #new he
'ould not$ ,e had to leave the girl now& or ris# being dis'overed and
very severely reprimanded$ ,e may have a 'ontra't with her& but he
had no intention of a'tually turning it in$ )t merely allowed him to do
as he pleased with her and remain off the radar for it$ % soft moan
e'hoed in her throat& ma#ing it even harder for him to stop$ There was
nothing he wanted more out of his immortal life than to finish this
'urrent line of a'tion$ @nfortunately that would have to wait$ The 'all
was binding to all his #ind& and no one dared ignore it& not even one as
powerful as he$
3That is enough for tonight&5 he said through heavy breathes as he
pulled away from her$ ,e was pleased to see the small pout that
formed on her lips at the abrupt stop$
37ait&5 she said& snapping out of her da/e with a blin#& 3There are
more nights4 That2s not what ) signed up for$ ) want to be done with
all this now$5
3) will be seeing you soon& ?oe&5 he said a 'o'#y half smile on his
fa'e as he trailed a finger down her narrow 'hin$
,e disappeared from her sight in an instant and she released a
heavy breath& feeling the weight of his presen'e lifting$ She had to do
something about this$ There had to be some way she 'ould gain the
upper hand$ The demon had a very parti'ular way of dressing$ That
would be her starting point$

Chapter Si.


?oe2s fingers un'ons'iously dabbed at her lips as she tried her
hardest to pay attention to the le'ture$ %ll she 'ould thin# about was
the #iss$ The way his lips felt against hers& so firm and demanding$ )t
was so wrong& she #new it was& but it felt so ama/ingly good$ She
'ould feel her 'hee#s blushing as she re'alled his taste$ ,e was so
sinfully deli'ious$ The way his presen'e left her #nees feeling wea#$
The way her name sounded in his honeyed baritone of a voi'e$ She
'ould lie to anyone else& but she 'ouldn2t lie to herself$ She wanted
more of him& even though she #new he was a very bad thing to want$
30s$ Carver&5 the professor2s voi'e was stern as he 'ut into her
daydream$ 3)s there something you find more interesting45
3-o& Dr$ 8awren'e&5 ?oe said& swallowing the lump of
embarrassment in her throat as she sat up in her seat& trying to loo#
attentive$ There was& in fa't& something she found mu'h more
interesting$ 3Sorry& )2m listening$5
,e gave her a disapproving s'owl before returning to his le'ture$
?oe loo#ed down at her wat'h$ The 'lass had *ust begun& but it felt li#e
he had been droning on for hours$ She had to 'lear her mind of this
demon$ This 'lass was important and the last thing she needed was
another distra'tion$ She was definitely going to have to do something
this$ 7hen the 'lass finally ended& she made her way over to the
library$ She had some resear'h to do$

A

,e was late to the 'all& whi'h was so unli#e him$ ,e had no new
'ontra'ts& none that he intended to turn in anyway$ +n top of that& the
'oun'il had gathered$ ,e wanted to pun'h something$ ,ow 'ould he
forget about the Coun'il4 )t was that girl$ She had him so distra'ted&
he 'ouldn2t thin# of anything else$ ,e should have #nown the minute
he felt the 'all it was them& but he had let that 'ompletely slip his mind
while he was busy spying on the girl$
3Paris&5 his long time 'o(wor#er said 'oming up behind him and
pla'ing a hand on his shoulder$ 37here have you been all wee#4
Chasing down a lu'rative 'ontra't45
,e loo#ed ba'# at his friend& 1a'#son$ Paris& of 'ourse& was not his
real name$ -ot #nowing anyone2s name 'ould get a little tri'#y& so
most demons went by a ni'#name& usually based on where they were
from$ ,e was not a'tually from Paris& but he had wor#ed hard to
'ultivate that belief$ The less anybody #new about the real him the
better$ 1a'#son was originally from 0ississippi$ ,e li#ed to play the
wealthy southern gent& and loo#ed every bit the part$ ,is golden hair
was gelled and sli'#ed ba'#wards on his head& his fa'e always freshly
shaved into a tidy goatee$ ,e even fa#ed a heavy southern a''ent&
drawing out his words and dropping his vowels$
3)2ve been busy&5 he replied& trying to avoid the question$ ,e #new
he didn2t have an answer& and he was hoping his friend wouldn2t push
the issue further$
3Busy& huh45 1a'#son said with one eyebrow 'o'#ed in suspi'ion$
Paris had no delusions$ ,e #new 1a'#son didn2t believe him for one
se'ond$ They owned an ups'ale boutique of men2s 'lothing in the
downtown area together& and sin'e opening Paris had not missed a
single day$ )t was highly out of 'hara'ter for him to miss wor#$
The shop was a 'omfortable 'over story for their true identities$
They were only visible in their true forms at night& and by day they
loo#ed every bit the part of a human$ 0ost demons used this to their
advantage& amassing vast fortunes over the 'enturies that they would
live$ Paris was no e.'eption to this rule$
3) have been doing resear'h&5 he said& again hoping his friend
would let the sub*e't die$ The half(smile on 1a'#son2s fa'e told Paris he
still wasn2t buying it$ 8u'#ily& the 6rand 9lder de'ided to ta#e that
moment to enter the room& effe'tively drawing the attention away
from him and his unusual behavior$
The 6rand 9lder was the supreme authority for all demons$ ,e was
immensely powerful& but his body was getting old$ ,e was little more
than a wrin#led hus# of a man now& requiring assistan'e for even the
slightest movement$ ,e was helped up the steps of a small dais at the
far end of the meeting hall where his #ind had gathered for 'enturies$
The room was in the massive pala'e of the 6rand 9lder& in a dimension
separate from the human2s world$ ,e sat on the throne with the
Coun'il seated *ust slightly behind on either side of him$ There were
five Demon 8ords on the 'oun'il& and together with the 6rand 9lder&
they were the ruling body in the demon 'ommunity$ They made the
laws& they enfor'ed them& and they were 'onstantly fighting amongst
themselves$
% time of un'ertainty was 'oming$ The 6rand 9lder had no sons&
and only one daughter that was quite possibly the ugliest thing Paris
had ever seen$ +nly a son 'ould be'ome the ne.t 6rand 9lder& and it
was be'oming painfully obvious that no demon was willing to mate his
daughter& even if it meant be'oming the most powerful demon in
e.isten'e$ )f he passed on with no son in law to ta#e his pla'e& the
entire #ingdom would erupt into a 'haoti' power struggle$
37hile you were doing resear'h&5 1a'#son whispered& a smir# on his
fa'e that severely unnerved him& 3father 'ame by the store to tal#$5
1a'#son2s father was on the Coun'il$ Paris& although not outwardly
noti'eable& began to get very nervous$ There was something big going
on$ For the Coun'il to be assembled together with the 6rand 9lder was
unusual$ Paris 'ould tell by the grin on 1a'#son2s fa'e he would regret
spending the past wee# 'hasing his own 'uriosity and negle'ting his
responsibilities$
37ell&5 1a'#son 'ontinued& 3he a'tually 'ame by to tal# to you$ But
sin'e you were out:5
,is friend let his words trail off& unfinished& but still telling Paris that
1a'#son #new what was about to happen$ The 6rand 9lder2s daughter&
Salem& entered the room and too# a seat beside her father$ There was
another 'hair on the other side of the 6rand 9lder that was left empty$
Paris be'ame in'reasingly unsettled$
The 6rand 9lder stood& a'hingly slow& his every *oint 'ra'#ling as
he struggled to hold himself on wobbly #nees$ ,e sma'#ed his lips a
'ouple of times& loo#ing around the room of demoni' royalty that had
gathered& preparing to spea#$
30y beautiful sub*e'ts&5 he spo#e& using an unusual amount of
affe'tion towards them$ ,is hand rea'hed out for his daughter& her
pudgy fingers grabbing onto his as she stood up ne.t to him$ She was
shorter than him& even as he hun'hed over$ ,er round fa'e held
beady little eyes that darted around the room& one of them slightly
as#ew$ ,er nose sat flattened into her fa'e with a 'onstant s'run'h&
and she s'rat'hed absently at a 'luster of warts that had formed *ust
under her 'hin$ Paris had to fight the urge to 'ringe at the sight of her$
30y time is nearing an end&5 the 6rand 9lder 'ontinued& his voi'e
'hal#y and brea#ing& 3and as you all #now ) have no sons to 'arry on
my lineage$ ,owever& ) do have a daughter$ %nd she has 'hosen a
mate& who will ta#e my pla'e on'e ) go$5
,e turned to his daughter with a smile and small nod$ 9very
demon in the room held his breath& praying he was not the unlu'#y
'hosen one$ But Paris #new$ ,e 'ould see his friend out of the 'orner
of his eye& trying his best to #eep his smile hidden$ ,e apparently
found this situation hilarious$
3) 'hose&5 the demon prin'ess spo#e& revealing 'roo#ed& badly
yellowed teeth& drawing out her words in a high pit'hed whine& 38ord
Paris$5
A

This demon was upper('lass$ ?oe re'ogni/ed one of his outfits$
She had seen it through the glass of a very high end 'lothing boutique
downtown$ There were really only a handful of people that 'ould afford
things from that store& and they were all very mu'h upper('lass$ She
'ould find him there& she *ust #new it$ But finding him would be
fruitless unless she had some ammunition$ This demon was not to be
trifled with& and the ne.t time she met him& she wanted to be
prepared$
The sta'# of boo#s she was 'arrying went tumbling a'ross the
small library table as she set them down$ 9verything she 'ould find on
demons and the o''ult$ There had to be something in here that would
help her$

Chapter Seven


Paris tried as best he 'ould to maintain his 'omposure while the
spoiled demon prin'ess 'lung to his arm$ 9ven her s'ent was reviling$
)t wasn2t that be'oming the 6rand 9lder wasn2t worth a few sa'rifi'es$
+n the 'ontrary& that is pre'isely what every demon wanted& and Paris
was no different$ But he had many 'enturies left in his life& with many
opportunities to otherwise gain that power$ ,e did not thin# putting up
with Salem was a fair pri'e to pay$
3) want a big mating 'eremony&5 she said& a wide smile on her fa'e
that only served to ma#e her loo# even more hideous$ She was
'ompletely oblivious to the fa't that everyone around her despised
her$ )t wasn2t that she was too ugly to li#e$ )t wasn2t even the fa't that
she was little more than a spoiled brat$ Salem was *ust one of those
people that nobody li#ed$ ,er aura e.uded a sense of disagreeability$
,er physi'al aspe'ts only added to her so'ial downfall$
)t wasn2t a surprise that she would pi'# Paris to be her mate$ ,e
was by far the most eligible demon ba'helor$ ,is dashing good loo#s&
'ombined with his aloof poise& made him the fantasy of every Demon
8ady$ 0any of the ladies he had obliged& further propagating his
las'ivious reputation$ ,e was& in short& god2s gift to demonesses$
3%nd ) want it to be soon&5 Salem 'ontinued$ 3) don2t want to wait
long for the mating rituals$5
She wiggled her bushy brown eyebrows as she loo#ed up
suggestively at Paris$ ,e wanted to hurl$ ,is mind was going ten
different ways$ First& there was no way he was a'tually going to go
through with this$ ,e would have to thin# very 'arefully about how to
wiggle his way out of this one$ Se'ond& he was going to #ill 1a'#son$
The one demon he a'tually 'ounted as a friend& who was 'urrently
trying to 'ontain his amusement& 'ould have warned him about this$
Third& he #new he had enemies that were waiting for the right moment
to stri#e$ 0any of them were embittered mates& whose females had
found more 'omfort in Paris2 arms than theirs$ Some of them were
'hildhood enemies& made from one slight or another$ Still others were
blood feuds$ Rivalries that ran through family lines$ Paris2 parents
were no longer alive$ ,e had been an only 'hild& and had no other
family members to spea# of$ That left the bad blood of generations
squarely upon his broad shoulders$ %nd his family had a lot of bad
blood$ The sum total of all the enemies he had made at 'ourt was *ust
about every single person in attendan'e$ ,e 'ould hear the whispers
going on all around him as the 'rowd ad*usted to what had *ust
happened$
3%re you listening to me45 Salem said angrily& po#ing a fat finger
into his rib a 'ouple of times$ 37hy are you so quiet45
3) heard you&5 Paris said& loo#ing down into her tubby fa'e$ ,e
wanted to push the 'reature as far away from his person as he 'ould&
but he #new he had to be 'areful$ The 6rand 9lder was old& but he still
held all the power of the an'estors and that is something no one dared
'hallenge$ ,e would have to play this very 'arefully$ %nd if there was
one thing Paris #new& it was how to manipulate a situation$ ,e for'ed
his most 'harming smile& swallowing the rising bile$ 30y dear& you
shall have whatever you li#e$5

A

)t had ta#en her hours of reading& but she had finally found
something$ That snea#y little bastard was going down$ %t first& ?oe
had thought to find a loophole in her 'ontra't& something that she
'ould use to get out of it& or something in it that she 'ould use against
him$ But when she unrolled the s'roll to read it& she reali/ed it was in
Spanish$ That snea#y bastard$ She should have figured he had more
tri'#s up his sleeve to toy with her& but she eventually found the
perfe't thing anyway$ )t was in the oddest little boo#& no bigger than
an inde. 'ard$ She found it 'rammed between two giant te.tboo#s on
religious history and philosophy$ There was no title& or mar#ings of any
#ind on the boo#& only a worn out light green 'over with a 'ouple of
dog(eared pages$ She almost didn2t even loo# at it& but as soon as she
opened the little boo#& a smile lit her fa'e$ This was the #ey& not only
to her freedom& but to gaining the upper hand on him$ % ritual that
would reverse the terms of the 'ontra't$
?oe pulled out a pie'e of paper and a pen and began to feverishly
'opy a list of items$ 0ost of them were pe'uliar& but nothing that she
would have too mu'h trouble finding$ There was only one thing she
needed that would present a bit of a problem$ % personal belonging of
the demon$ Fortunately& she #new e.a'tly how she was going to go
about getting it$

Chapter 9ight


?oe had never felt more out of pla'e$ ,er torn *eans and worn out
bla'# tan# top 'ontrasted with the fine 'lothing that surrounded her$
She had never been in this store& though she had passed it many
times$ )t had loo#ed stuffy from the outside& despite the ultra(modern
dB'or& and now that she was inside her suspi'ions had been
'onfirmed$ She pi'#ed up the pri'e tag on a plain white& men2s dress
shirt& turning it over to 'he'# the pri'e$ She had to 'ount the /eros in
the number before gently setting the tag down and ba'#ing away from
the table of obs'enely pri'ed shirts$ )t was more money than she
made in a month$
3That is handpi'#ed 9gyptian 'otton&5 a drawn out voi'e said
behind her$ She *umped at the sudden presen'e& whirling around$
)ntense blue eyes met her from behind a handsome mas# of
smugness$ There was something about the way that he was loo#ing at
her that put her 'ompletely on edge$ She had never met him before&
she would remember him if she did& but there was an odd sense of
re'ognition on his fa'e$
3;ou loo# lost&5 he said& a thin smile on his lips$
3):um&5 ?oe sear'hed her mind for an answer$ She had
momentarily forgotten why she had 'ome in here in the first pla'e$ ,is
presen'e was overwhelming$ )t reminded her of the demon$ 3)2m
loo#ing for someone& a'tually$ % 'ustomer maybe$5
3)s that so45 the man& dressed in a 'risp white suit& said$ ,is smile
broadened& ma#ing ?oe even more un'omfortable$ 37hat is this
person2s name45
37ell& ) don2t a'tually #now&5 ?oe said& her 'hee#s heating in
embarrassment as she reali/ed how silly she must loo# to this person$
She *ust #new he was *udging her$ )t was obvious she 'ouldn2t afford
to be in this store& and it was unli#ely she a'tually #new someone that
'ould$
3Paris&5 the man said& gaining a very 'onfused loo# from the girl$
3Tall& dar#& and handsome45 he 'ontinued& his brows raised in
assumed 'orre'tness$ 3<ery snea#y45
3That2s sounds li#e him&5 ?oe said$
3) see this a lot&5 the man said& turning away from her$ ,e wal#ed
to the 'he'# 'ounter& grabbing a business 'ard from behind the des#$
3) should apologi/e for my asso'iate2s la'# of manners$ ,e 'an be
rather elusive$5
3;our asso'iate45 ?oe said 'autiously$ Could this person be a
demon as well4 ,e didn2t loo# li#e one& but then again& she only had
one e.ample to *udge by$
3Partner& to be more pre'ise&5 the man said& gesturing to the store$
,e held the 'ard out for ?oe to ta#e$ 3;ou 'an find him at this
address$5
3Than# you&5 she said as she too# the 'ard$ This was perfe't& *ust
what she needed$ % business 'ard should qualify as something
belonging to him$ She turned to leave the store& happy to get out of
there$
3) should warn you though&5 the man 'alled after her& 3he is rather
busy& what with his new fian'B and all$5

Chapter -ine


)t was hard for Paris to de'ide if he was happy or not when he felt
her summoning him$ +n the one hand he was thoroughly intrigued
that she had figured this one out so qui'#ly$ )t also gave him an
e.'use to get away from the barna'le that had atta'hed herself to
him$ But it was also e.tremely ris#y$ )f Salem de'ided to get 'urious it
'ould 'ause some serious problems for him$ Regardless& he was being
summoned& and there was no way for him to get around it$
30y dear&5 he said& 'utting Salem2s rambling$ ,e for'ed himself to
a't disappointed$ 3)2m afraid business 'alls$5
3-o&5 she said& puffing her already fat lips in a pout that did nothing
for her$ 3) want to tal# more about our mating plans$ There is so mu'h
to do$ %nd ) want to pi'# a 'a#e today$ ) want to buy a new dress for
the engagement party too:5
30y prin'ess&5 he said& for'ing ba'# his utter irritation& 3you #now )
'annot ignore the 'all$5
3Fine&5 she said with a heavy sigh$ 36o$ But 'ome ba'# qui'#ly$5
3%s fast as ) 'an&5 Paris said& flashing a handsome smir# before
disappearing$

A

37hy isn2t this wor#ing45 ?oe said as she waved the bundle of
burning herbs in the air$ 3) followed the dire'tions$5
She stu'# her nose in the small boo# that she had found the ritual
in$ She s'anned the pages of instru'tions& 'onfirming that she hadn2t
forgotten anything$ % s'owl formed on her fa'e$ She had followed it
word for word$
3Damn it&5 she huffed& dropping the boo# on the table$ ,er eyes
fell upon the rather amused loo#ing demon that had haunted her
thoughts of late$
3;ou have to give it a moment&5 Paris said with a playful smir#$
3%fter all& ) was on the other side of the 'ity$5
She noti'ed something was different about him$ % subtle
differen'e$ ,is ears were no longer gently pointed& but rounded
instead$ ,is 'anines were no longer elongated$ ,e loo#ed human$
She was so busy gaw#ing at him in surprise that she almost forgot to
finish the ritual$ She qui'#ly s'ooped the boo# ba'# up& and began
reading as best as she 'ould from the 8atin that was written on the
page$
Paris wat'hed her rather patheti' attempt with his arms 'rossed
over his 'hest$ ,e was debating on whether to have fun with her or
*ust go ahead and itemi/e all the things she had done in'orre'tly here$
She was attempting a spell to 'hange the terms of the 'ontra't$ 9ven
an e.perien'ed dar#s arts pra'titioner would have diffi'ulty pulling this
one off$ )t was 'ompletely illegal& and probably the stupidest thing she
had done thus far& but he had to give her a measure of 'redit for
trying$ ,ad she a'tually done it 'orre'tly& he would be in a fair amount
of hot water$
3;ou really are an intriguing little thing&5 he said& interrupting her
mid(senten'e of what sounded li#e a 'hi'#en garbling$ She shrugged
off his 'omment and tried to 'ontinue& her fa'e set with determination$
3%''urate pronun'iation is vital&5 he said& 'utting on'e again into
her misguided attempts$ 3;ou have already failed$5
3The 'ontra't is in Spanish&5 ?oe said with a huff& giving up on the
ritual and narrowing her eyes at him$ 3;ou are not playing fair$5
3) never said ) was going to& ?oe&5 he said& the sound of her name
dripping so sedu'tively off his lips made her heart flutter$
3) have a right to read it&5 she said& trying to gather her thoughts$
)t was so hard to 'on'entrate around him when suddenly all she 'ould
remember was the way his lips felt against hers$ ,ot and firm&
demanding her 'omplian'e$ 3)t2s all in Spanish$5
3+ops&5 Paris said with a shrug of his shoulders$ 3) write those
things in so many languages& it2s sometimes hard to #eep them
straight$5
3;ou did that on purpose&5 ?oe said& sha#ing a mani'ured inde.
finger at him$ 3That2s not fair$5
3Fair45 Paris said& his shapely brow ar'hing$ ,e stepped 'loser to
her& en*oying the way her heart rate in'reased as he drew 'loser$ ,e
'ould hear it pounding against her rib'age as she tried to be strong
before him$ 3Shall we dis'uss what it is you are doing here45
3)2m:5 she stumbled over her words& reali/ing that he had her
stu'#& again$
3) see you found that little boo#&5 Paris said$ The smir# that spread
a'ross his handsome *aw let her #now he had something to do with it$
3;ouC5 she shrie#ed& balling her fist up and stri#ing out at him$ ,e
easily dodged her with a 'hu'#le e'hoing in his 'hest$ ,e appeared
dire'tly behind her$
3?oe&5 he said& and again she 'ould feel herself getting hot with
*ust her name spo#en$ 3)2ve been doing this a very long time$5
,is nose twit'hed as he pi'#ed up the faint but unmista#able mus#
of her arousal$ ,is ego inflated to momentous proportions with the
fa't that spea#ing her name was enough to ma#e her want him$ ,e
moved& appearing *ust before her& leaving barely a spa'e between
them$ She su'#ed in a sharp breath as his rapid movements$ ,er eyes
sear'hed his fa'e with apprehension& waiting for his ne.t move$
Paris hesitated for a moment& his eyes lo'#ed on the deli'ious little
mounds of flesh he so badly wanted to assault$ ,e lifted a hand&
running the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip& reveling in the
softness of it& as he leaned in towards her$
3;ou are engaged&5 she said abruptly& snapping them both out of
the ha/e of their attra'tion$ ,e dropped his hand to his side& pulling
ba'# slightly disappointed$
37hat is this45 a nasally whine e'hoed behind ?oe& and she whirled
around to see who it was$ She 'ringed refle.ively as she 'aught a
glimpse of Salem$ 3)s this the business you had to attend to45
This was bad$ ,e had underestimated Salem2s impatien'e$ The
girl was in serious trouble now& than#s to this ill(timed little stunt of
hers$ )t was perfe'tly alright for a human to summon a demon$ But
trying to brea# a 'ontra't with means su'h as this was a serious
offense$ %nd be'ause so many tried to do it& there were 'lauses built
into the 'ontra'ts to re'tify su'h unfavorable behavior$ Paris had only
thought to have fun with the girl& to ma#e her squirm a little$ But now
Salem was involved$ The girl was about to fa'e rather severe
'onsequen'es$ ,e 'ouldn2t figure out e.a'tly why that bothered him
so mu'h& but it did$ ,e had to do something about this& and fast$
30y dear&5 he said& his demeanor suddenly shifting to his most
'harming faDade$ 3This is my newest 'lient$ ) was *ust telling her
about you$5

Chapter Ten


3)t loo#s li#e she is trying to brea# her 'ontra't&5 Salem said& seeing
the room filled with the ritual elements$ The putrid smell that poured
from her mouth as she spo#e made ?oe want to pu#e$
3This is your fian'B45 she as#ed& slapping a hand over her mouth&
not wanting to taste the sten'h$ There was disbelief in her eyes as she
loo#ed ba'# and forth between the handsome demon& Paris& and
Salem$ )t *ust didn2t ma#e any sense$ )f she didn2t have the strong
sense of being in danger she probably would have laughed at the irony
of it$
3,ow dare you insult me&5 Salem said& her tiny eyes popping with
rage$ She stomped her fat foot against the 'arpeted floor& loo#ing at
Paris with a finger pointing at ?oe$ 3Ta#e her$ She has brea'hed the
'ontra't and ) want her to pay$5
3Darling&5 Paris said& tu'#ing a 'rispy lo'# of brown hair behind
Salem2s rather large ear$ ,e was hoping to pursued her without
drawing too mu'h suspi'ion$ 3She is a very lu'rative 'ontra't for me$
)t would not be wise to do su'h a thing$5
3-ot wise45 Salem hissed& her thi'# eyebrows pulled down in
anger$ 3Consequen'es for a brea'h of 'ontra't are eternal servitude$
,ow 'ould that not be of more benefit to us than a basi' 'ontra't45
3,ey&5 ?oe said& 'rossing her arms$ She was absolutely fed up with
all this demon business$ 3) am no one2s slave$ %nd as soon as his:5
3Shut up& human&5 Paris snapped& for on'e the mirth was
'ompletely absent from his e.pression$ ,e had never been more
serious in his life$ ,e 'ould see the immediate hurt in ?oe2s eyes& but
he had to be for'eful$ She was about to bring a world of diffi'ulties to
them if she said anything more$ This entire situation was getting
rapidly out of hand$ Paris had to ta#e her& if only to shut Salem up$ ,e
would figure out a way to release her later$ For now he *ust needed to
#eep Salem quiet$ )f Paris a'tually had to turn in ?oe2s 'ontra't& there
would be more questions$ The whole agreement was made on rather
sha#y ground and if anyone dug deep enough they would find that he
didn2t a'tually have authority to ma#e the deal in the first pla'e$ First(
timers were reserved for spe'ial agents$ %nd ?oe was definitely a first(
timer$
3)f it will ma#e you happy&5 Paris said flashing his most 'harming
grin$ 37hy don2t you return4 ) will ta#e 'are of this business$5
3But ) want to see you dis'ipline her for insulting me&5 Salem said&
the natural whine in her voi'e rising even higher$ 3She needs to learn
her pla'e now$5
3) believe the sun will set soon& my dear&5 Paris said& with a glan'e
at his wat'h& 3didn2t you want to pi'# out a 'a#e for the 'eremony45
3+h yes&5 Salem said$ ,er eyes grew wide with her e.'itement as
she rubbed her hands together in anti'ipation$ She li'#ed her puffy
lips& salivating *ust thin#ing about the 'a#e$ She 'ouldn2t ris# shifting
in front of a human& even if it was for 'a#e$ 3) want a big one$
9.pensive too$5
3%nything you li#e&5 Paris said& his 'hee#s beginning to a'he from
the for'ed smile$ Salem disappeared from the room and his fa'e
dropped as he loo#ed at ?oe$
37hat was she tal#ing about45 ?oe as#ed him quietly& still stinging
from his suddenly harsh regard$ Paris 'ould feel the fear overwhelming
her every emotion and he found he did not li#e it$
3;ou do not #now what you have done&5 Paris said& his voi'e
softening signifi'antly$ ,e 'ould smell the salty tears that were on the
edge of spilling$ 31ust do as ) say& and ) may still be able to fi. this$5
3,ow 'an ) trust you45 ?oe said& near hysteria as her tears began
to flow$ 3;ou have done everything you 'an to tri'# me& sin'e the very
moment ) met you$ %ll ) wanted was to be left alone$5
Paris was 'ompletely at a loss$ ,e was used to 'rying$ 0ost of the
humans he did business tried to use it for sympathy at some point$ )t
usually had no effe't on him& but he found ?oe2s tears to be espe'ially
dis'omforting$ ,e wasn2t quite sure why& but he *ust wanted her to
stop$ -ot be'ause he found the sound or smell irritating& whi'h was
usually the 'ase with humans& but be'ause he *ust didn2t want her to
'ry$ ,e didn2t want to hear or smell her 'rying$
3) made a mista#e&5 Paris said$ )t was a phrase he never uttered&
mostly be'ause it never happened$ But he hoped it would 'alm ?oe& at
least enough to stop her 'rying$ ,e had every intention of re'tifying
this situation$ ,e had learned his lesson and he was done 'hasing his
'uriosity$ 3) will fi. this$ %nd ) will leave you alone$5
,is last words were surprisingly painful to say$ There was still so
mu'h he wanted from her$ So mu'h he wanted to finish$ ,e wanted to
taste more than *ust her soft lips$ ,e wanted to feel more than *ust a
gentle tou'h$ ,e wanted to do the one thing that was most forbidden
to his #ind$ ,e wanted it with every fiber of his being$ Faster than she
'ould even 'omprehend& he was beside her$ ,e wrapped his arm
around her& pulling her into his 'hest$
3Stop 'rying&5 he said& his voi'e little more than a hus#y whisper& 3)
will not let anything happen to you& but you need to do e.a'tly as )
say$5

Chapter 9leven


3Do you love her45 ?oe as#ed& as she wiped the tears from her
eyes$ She had 'almed down signifi'antly from her initial sho'# at
be'oming a demon2s slave$
3Do not be ridi'ulous&5 Paris said with a s'off& 3Does it loo# li#e )
love her45
37ell&5 ?oe said& 3you give her anything she whines for$5
?oe didn2t really thin# he did$ %t least& she 'ouldn2t understand
how he 'ould$ She was never one to *udge& or disli#e people based on
how they loo#ed& but this demoness was downright ugly$ They *ust did
not loo# right together$ ,e was so handsome and 'harming$ She was
*ust so off(putting in every way$ But he treated her li#e a prin'ess$ )t
didn2t ma#e any sense$
3) have to&5 Paris said$ ,e didn2t 'are to elaborate any further$ ,e
was not in the habit of e.plaining himself to anyone$
37hy did you #iss me45 ?oe as#ed& wanting to get off the sub*e't of
the spoiled demoness$ The question had been on her mind sin'e it
happened anyone& maybe he would be in'lined to answer her$
3Be'ause ) wanted to&5 Paris said$ ,e #new she was loo#ing for
more& but he had been as#ing himself the same thing$
39ven though you are engaged&5 ?oe as#ed$ She wasn2t sure if
demon relationships wor#ed the same as human ones$ The last thing
she wanted to be was a home wre'#er$ 9ven if he didn2t really love
her$
3That2s a re'ent development&5 Paris said$ 3-ow stop tal#ing$ 7e
must go$5
37here are we going45 She as#ed$
31ust be quiet&5 he said as he on'e again wrapped his arm around
her$ She blin#ed and they were suddenly not in her bedroom any
more$
3This is my home&5 Paris said& seeing her sho'# and 'onfusion at
the sudden 'hange of s'enery$ 3;ou will stay here$5
3Stay here45 she said& loo#ing around the rather si/eable
apartment$ 37here are you going45
3) thought ) said be quiet&5 he said$ ?oe 'ould see an unspo#en
pressure weighing on him$ ,e had lost all his playfulness& and
although he was hiding it very well& she 'ould tell he was 'on'erned$
38oo#& ) *ust want to #now what is going on&5 ?oe said& 3)2ll trust
you& and do what you say$ But ) *ust need to #now$5
3Brea'hing our 'ontra't as you did brings heavy 'onsequen'es&5
Paris said$ ,is eyes were fi.ed on ?oe2s as he spo#e$ 39ternal
servitude$5
3%re you really going to fi. this45 ?oe as#ed$ ,er mind was
s'reaming that there was no way she 'ould trust him$ ,e had tri'#ed
her before& after all$
3)2m going to do my best& ?oe&5 he said$ She 'ould see the
sin'erity in his eyes and it brought her a little bit of 'omfort$
3+#&5 she said& with a small nod$ 37hat do you need me to do45
31ust stay here& and try not to do anything stupid&5 he said$ ,e
disappeared before she even had time to respond$
A

,is apartment was absolutely ridi'ulous$ -o one needed that mu'h
spa'e$ ?oe roamed the empty rooms& losing 'ount after the about the
eight$ She had never seen a pla'e this big inside the 'ity$ ,is heating
and 'ooling bill alone must 'ost him a fortune$ )t had a very modern
design& 'lean but entirely uninviting$ 1ust li#e the 'lothing store he
owned$ She 'ouldn2t seem to find a pla'e to sit that didn2t ma#e her
un'omfortable& so instead she de'ided to pass the time snooping$ She
still wasn2t sure that she 'ould trust Paris$ 0aybe she 'ould find
something to hold against him& *ust in 'ase he was trying to tri'# her
yet again$
She pi'#ed her way around the massive apartment& opening
drawers and loo#ing in bo.es$ For the most part everything was
empty$ 9ven the #it'hen only had a bare fridge and dusty 'upboards$
%t the end of a hallway lined with rooms that ran off from the main
living room& she found a massive room$ )t was the most ama/ing thing
she had ever seen and she envied him more than she had ever envied
anybody in that moment$ ,e had all the 'lassi's& as well as all the
'urrent bestselling boo#s$ There were boo#s in every 'ategory of non(
fi'tion imaginable& all meti'ulously arranged on rows of boo#shelves
that filled the rather large room$ She wal#ed through the spa'e&
marveling at the sheer number of boo#s he had& wondering if he had
even opened most of them$ ,is private 'olle'tion would rival most
libraries she had been to$ )n the middle of the room was a table with a
'hair& and a small lamp$ % boo# was prominently displayed on the
table$ The 'over was old and worn& binding a thi'# sta'# of yellowed
par'hment$ ?oe ran her fingers over the bla'#& pebbled leather 'over&
reading the gold embossed letters on the front$ Demoni' Proto'ol$

Chapter Twelve


30y 8ord&5 1a'#son said& with a mo'#ing grin and an e.aggerated
bow as he saw Paris enter the shop$ 3,ow is your blushing bride45
3;ou #now )2m going to #ill you&5 Paris said& not sharing in his
friend2s amusement$ 3)t will be my first a't as 6rand 9lder$5
1a'#son 'ouldn2t hold ba'# his laughter$ )t really was the funniest
thing he had ever seen$ There wasn2t a demon alive that 'ould
stoma'h a night with the 6rand 9lder2s daughter$ %nd here was Paris&
the most desired male demon& betrothed to her$ )n truth& 1a'#son was
a bit *ealous of her$ ,e wouldn2t mind spending at least one night with
Paris$
3) always #new you were a braver demon than )&5 1a'#son said& 3)2m
loo#ing forward to the engagement party tonight$5
3) have no intention of mating her&5 Paris said& #nowing full well
what his friend2s rea'tion would be$ ,is father was on the Coun'il$ )t
was that same Coun'il that had a hand in the arrangement of the
union$ Paris wasn2t stupid$ This wasn2t *ust about the 6rand 9lder2s
spoiled daughter getting her way$ %nd it wasn2t about having an heir
either$ )t was something more than that$ There was a quiet power
struggle going on between Coun'il members& and this was simply a
manifestation of that$
3)2m going to pretend ) didn2t hear that&5 1a'#son said$
3)2m sure you are&5 Paris said$ 3But ) need to #now that you2ll be on
my side when the time 'omes$5
3;ou #now )2m always on your side& Paris&5 he said& the smile fading
momentarily from his fa'e$ 3There is no need to even as#$5
36ood&5 Paris said$ ,e wasn2t e.a'tly sure what he was going to do
yet& but whatever it was he would need someone he 'ould 'ount on$
3) had the most interesting en'ounter today&5 1a'#son said&
'hanging the sub*e't$ ,e didn2t have the greatest relationship with his
father& but the thought of having to betray him was not something he
wanted to dwell on$ ,e preferred living in blissful denial whenever he
'ould$
3)s that so45 Paris said& #nowing e.a'tly where this was going$ ,e
#new when the girl summoned him that she must have found 1a'#son$
)t happened all the time$ )t was the suit$ ,e #new they were unique&
and of the highest quality$ That2s why he wore them& and sold them$
But it was an in'onvenien'e that it seemed to help people find him
more often than he wanted$ %nd 1a'#son was far too loose lipped
about his personal information$
3% rather attra'tive human woman&5 1a'#son said& a twin#le in his
blue eyes$ 3%nd guess who she was loo#ing for$5
30y newest 'lient&5 Paris said$ ,e really did not want to get into
this$ )t wasn2t that he was afraid of 1a'#son #nowing the truth$ 1a'#son
would never betray him$ 9ven if he did 'ommit the ultimate
infra'tion$ ,e simply did not want to deal with his bothersome taunts$
9spe'ially at the moment$ ,e had far more important issues to deal
with$
3She loo#ed very new& Paris&5 1a'#son 'ontinued& even as he
sensed his friends rising irritation$ 3) don2t need to remind you of the
dangers of a 6eneral %gent turning an @ntou'hed$ ;ou did assess her&
right45
3+f 'ourse ) assessed her&5 Paris s'offed& offended at the very idea
that he would need the reminder$
3%nd you are 'ertain4 She was not @ntou'hed45 1a'#son as#ed&
pushing the sub*e't$ ,e 'ould see his friend was getting annoyed with
his line of questioning& but he #new it was ne'essary$ 1a'#son had
been there to help pi'# up the pie'es through many messes over the
'enturies$ ,e #new when his friend was doing something that 'ould
blow up in his fa'e$
3) am never wrong&5 Paris said$ ,e was 'areful with his words$
1a'#son was very good at sniffing out lies$ That was one of the reasons
he li#ed having him around& e.'ept when he was the one being
questioned$ ,e wasn2t te'hni'ally lying$ ,e had assessed her& and he
was 'orre't$ She was definitely an @ntou'hed$ ,e had #nown the
'onsequen'es at the time& and hadn2t really thought too mu'h about it
at the time$ ,is mind was o''upied with more 'arnal thoughts$ But he
was now starting to reali/e the amount of trouble he 'ould possibly be
in$ 9spe'ially if anyone de'ided to do any digging and found out this
was& in fa't& her first 'ontra't$ 6eneral %gents were stri'tly forbidden
from offering a first(time 'ontra't$ Spe'ial %gents& with a more
a''ommodating nature& were the only ones that 'ould ma#e a first
time deal$ Clients needed to be taught proto'ol$ )t was benefi'ial for
future 'ontra'ts that they understand the pro'ess$ )t a'tually wor#ed
to prevent a lot of the mista#es the girl had already made$
3She is rather attra'tive for a human&5 1a'#son said& wat'hing his
friend 'losely for a rea'tion$ )t was one thing if Paris was *ust brea#ing
the rules to gain a lu'rative 'ontra't$ Be'ause of who 1a'#son2s father
was& he #new it was not un'ommon for demons to brea# this rule$ But
if there was something more& if Paris saw the girl as more than *ust a
'lient& that meant big trouble$ 0ating between humans and demons
were 'ondemnable$ )t was unthin#able& and 1a'#son felt bad
immediately for having to as# su'h a thing of his friend$
3) suppose she is&5 Paris said$ ,e #new e.a'tly what his friend was
getting at$ 3)f you2re into humans$5
3%re you45 1a'#son as#ed him point blan#$ )t was an insult& a slap
in the fa'e$ %nd 1a'#son #new he ris#ed fa'ing Paris2 wrath$ But he
had to as# it$
3That2s a ridi'ulous question&5 Paris said& not ready to fa'e the
truth for himself$
3%nd you are avoiding the question&5 1a'#son fired ba'# at him$ ,e
wasn2t going to let this go$ ,e had to #now if Paris was about to ma#e
a terrible mista#e$
3Be'ause it is an absurd assumption&5 Paris said$ ,e maintained
his 'ool e.terior& but inside he was boiling$ ,e wanted to rip 1a'#son2s
throat out& but at the same time he #new that would be entirely
hypo'riti'al of him$ ,e had to fa'e the truth$ ,e apparently was into
humans$ This one at least$


Chapter Thirteen


3) get a new slave for a mating gift&5 Salem said& bragging to the
ladies of the 'ourt that followed 'onstantly on her heels$ She fanned
herself with the folding fan that she li#ed to 'arry with her
everywhere$ )t wasn2t that the room was hot& it was *ust she was so fat
that every room felt hot to her$ 3The stupid little thing tried to brea'h
'ontra't with Paris$5
3,ow e.'iting&5 %thena& one of her relu'tant minions& said& trying to
sound interested$ She fli'#ed a lo'# of long red hair over her shoulder$
3;ou are the envy of all the 'ourt$5
%thena shared a loo# with the other ladies& who all new that wasn2t
even 'lose to true$ -o one envied Salem for anything$ %nd if she
honestly thought that Paris was going to go through with the mating&
she was delusional$ 9veryone but her #new he was only going along so
as not to suffer the anger of the 6rand 9lder$ ,e2d almost 'ertainly
find a way to wiggle out of this$ ,e was very 'unning$ ,er mind
wandered to the night she had spent with Paris& not so long ago$ ,e
had a sala'ious reputation for a reason& and he had 'ertainly lived up
to it$ )t would be su'h a shame if he suddenly be'ame tied to su'h an
unworthy 'reature li#e Salem$
3She2s a young one too&5 Salem 'ontinued& 'heerfully unaware that
nobody really 'ared about what she was saying$
3Paris always did get the most lu'rative 'ontra'ts&5 %thena said&
doing her best to 'arry on the for'ed 'onversation$
3;es&5 Salem said& 3,e does$ ;ou really should see this one$ She is
quite e.'eptional$5
3)2m sure&5 %thena said& a far(away loo# in her eyes as thoughts of
her one glorious night with Paris o''upied her attention$
3;ou don2t believe me&5 Salem said& mista#ing the loo# for
boredom$ 3) will show her to you$5
Salem stomped a'ross the 'rowded room of demoni' royalty and
high so'iety$ %ll eyes were on her as she approa'hed her soon to be
mate with a s'owl on her fa'e$
3) want her here$ -ow&5 Salem said& putting her hands on a roll of
fat where her hips should be$ 36o get her$5
30y dear&5 Paris said& trying with all his strength to maintain his
'harm$ ,e 'ouldn2t ta#e this mu'h longer$ ,e would rather *ust off
himself than a'tually have to mate this 'reature$ ,is time was running
out to find a solution and he was beginning to reali/e death may be his
only way out$ 3) do not believe this is the pla'e for a human$5
3This is my party&5 Salem hissed at him through her gnarled teeth$
3%nd ) want her here$ -ow$5
3<ery well&5 Paris said& for'ing a smile$ 3)f that is what you wish$ )
will have her ma#e a brief appearan'e$5
3-o&5 Salem said$ 3) want her to stay$ ) want her to learn her
pla'e$ ) want her to see the magnifi'en'e of my father2s pala'e$5
37hatever you li#e&5 Paris said$ ,e wondered how the 6rand 9lder
put up with su'h a demanding 'reature for as long as he had$ )t was
absolutely e.hausting$
3%nd have her dress appropriately&5 Salem said$ 3) don2t want her
ruining my party with her plainness$5
Paris disappeared from the room before she 'ould say anything
more$ ,e really did not need to be parading an illegitimate 'ontra't
before the entire royal 'ourt& but he didn2t really have mu'h of a
'hoi'e$ ,e hoped the girl would be 'ooperative& but he #new that was
*ust wishful thin#ing$ This situation had gone from bad& to worse& to all
hell about to brea# loose$

A

,e should have e.pe'ted this$ ,e hadn2t& he didn2t #now why$ But
there she was$ )n his personal library& reading from a boo# that no
human should ever see$ Paris really wanted to be mad at himself$
7hat started out as su'h inno'ent 'uriosity had turned into a 'omplete
mess for him$
3This is a very informative boo#&5 ?oe said& a smir# on her fa'e& as
she loo#ed up at Paris$ She had learned a lot in the hours that he had
left her alone here$
3That boo# is not meant for your eyes&5 Paris said$ ,is voi'e was
firm& but still #ind$ ,e really 'ouldn2t fault her for a mista#e that he
had made$ ,e had been ma#ing a lot of mista#es lately when it 'ame
to this girl$ ,e wondered if it had anything to do with the fa't that she
was @ntou'hed$
3) 'an see why&5 ?oe said& 'ontinuing to read from it$ 3,ow2s your
fian'B45
She had meant it to be a *ab& but Paris 'ould hear the *ealousy in
her voi'e and he found it rather pleased him$
3She is demanding your presen'e&5 Paris said$ 3;ou must 'hange$5
3Change45 ?oe said& her eyebrows s'run'hing together$ 3)nto
what45
3There is a dress in the spare bedroom$ ) believe it will fit you&5
Paris said& eyeing her torn *eans paired with dingy old flip flops with
disdain$
3,ow do you #now what si/e ) wear&5 ?oe said as she stood from
the des#$ She put a balled fist on the 'urve of her hip& as she 'o'#ed
her ne'# slightly$ 3) have a unique fit$5
3)2m very familiar with the female form&5 Paris said& unable to hide
his playful smir#$
?oe2s 'hee#s burned red hot as his eyes roamed her 'urves&
devouring every perfe't swell$ ,e pulled in his bottom lip& biting it
lightly$ She thought she was going to faint from the pure sedu'tion of
the whole thing$ She too# a deep breath& pushing out the naughty
thoughts that were beginning to invade her mind$
3Fine&5 she said$ 3)2ll go try it on$ But stop loo#ing at me li#e that$5
The dress was the most gorgeous pie'e of 'lothing she had ever
seen& made of a deep blue sil#$ )t fit her perfe'tly& as Paris was so
annoyingly 'ertain it would& but she felt li#e she didn2t belong in it$ )t
was *ust too fan'y& probably 'ost a fortune& and ?oe had never been
anywhere that would require su'h a dress$ The ne'#line plunged to
her bellybutton& and a slit ran all the way to the top of her thigh& with
thin straps that ran over her shoulder$ She 'ouldn2t quite rea'h to get
the short /ipper in the ba'# that would help the dress to hug her body$
The breath almost stu'# in Paris2 throat as she emerged from the
room& holding the dress he had handpi'#ed to herself$ )t fit her even
better than he had imagined it would& and he 'ouldn2t help his desire
from rising$ She was stunning$
3) 'an2t rea'h the /ipper&5 she said& trying to avoid the hungry stare
in his eyes$
3Come here&5 he said$ She 'omplied& turning her ba'# to him so he
'ould fi. the /ipper$ ,e put his hands on her shoulders when he was
finished$ There was no way he 'ould suffi'iently prepare her for what
she was about to be brought into$ Demon so'iety was diffi'ult for even
Paris to navigate$ +ne slip up and they would eat her alive$ They were
ruthless& 'unning& and had been around for 'enturies& doing what they
did$ %lthough he had duties within the 'ourt that he 'ould not
abandon& he had done his best to distan'e himself from su'h things$
3The royal proto'ol is very stri't&5 Paris said& turning her around to
fa'e him$ 3) unfortunately don2t have time to tea'h you anything$ 1ust
stay quiet& #eep your head down& and do e.a'tly as you are told$5
37hy are you doing this45 ?oe as#ed$ ,e 'ould see the fear in her
big blue eyes& 'ould smell the fear in her aura$ ,e wished more than
anything that he 'ould ta#e that fear away$ ,e was starting to lose
faith in his own ability to re'tify this situation& the further he got into
it$
3) have to&5 he said& 3her father is more powerful than ) am able to
oppose$ ) must do as she says& for now$5
3;ou don2t want to marry her45 ?oe as#ed$ There was a small
amount of hope in her words& and Paris found it strangely endearing$
3+f 'ourse not&5 he said$ For her to even thin# su'h a thing was
absurd$ 37e have to go now$5
3+#&5 she said with a heavy breath$ 3)2m ready$5

Chapter Fourteen


There was no way ?oe 'ould have ever been prepared for what she
was thrust into$ )n the blin# of an eye& she found herself in a large
ballroom& the walls 'overed entirely in mirrors$ The room was lit with a
multitude of 'andles that seemed to float unatta'hed around the room&
li#e magi'$ The beauty of the room was marred by the hundreds of
frightening 'hara'ters that o''upied the room& all with eyes on her$
37here am )45 she as#ed in a whisper as she tried to 'alm her
rapidly in'reasing pulse$
3This is the 6rand 9lder2s pala'e&5 Paris said& 3+nly a very sele't
few humans have ever had the privilege of being here$ -one of them
lived to tell about it$5
36reat&5 ?oe said& shooting Paris an uneasy loo#$
31ust do as you are told& and you will be fine& human&5 %thena said&
'oming up beside her$ She gave Paris a 'oy smile& hoping to get his
attention$
37here is she45 Paris as#ed& noti'ing the rather pleasant absen'e
of his fian'B$
37ith her father& ) believe&5 %thena said$ She ran a hand through
?oe2s soft yellow hair& inspe'ting her$ 3She did not mention how pretty
this one was$5
?oe eyed the beautiful demoness with e.treme 'aution$ She had
even more mis'hief in her eyes than Paris& and that really made her
nervous$ She was in some hot water here& and she would definitely
need to wat'h her step$
3Than# you&5 ?oe said softly$ She did not want to ris# angering
anybody$ 0a#ing that brat Salem mad is what got her in this mess in
the first pla'e$ She would *ust 'over all her bases& and be as ni'e as
she 'ould to everyone$ ,opefully the evening would end qui'#ly$ Paris
told her he 'ouldn2t harm her& and she hoped that rule pertained to
everyone$ ,er mind began to wor# on a way to get herself out of this$
She had *ust spent hours reading a boo# about their rules$ 0ost of
them made absolutely no sense to ?oe$ But there were a few that
stood out to her& a few that she may be able to use to her advantage$
3Polite& too&5 %thena said& loo#ing at Paris with a grin$
3)ndeed&5 he said$ ,e was relieved that the girl had suddenly found
some manners& but he 'ould see her mind wor#ing feverishly& and it
seriously worried him$ The loo# she had on her fa'e was the same one
she had every time she did something stupid& whi'h was unfortunately
often$
30y dear&5 1a'#son said& ma#ing a sudden appearan'e ne.t to ?oe$
,e e.tended his hand to her in greeting$ She eyed it suspi'iously&
'ontemplating whether or not to a''ept it$
3There is no need to be so 'autious&5 1a'#son said& seeing her
hesitation& 3)f ) was going to harm you& ) would have done it by now$5
Salem made a grand re(entran'e into the ballroom& her father by
her side$ She had 'hanged her dress to one that was tighter fitting and
lower 'ut than her previous& ma#ing everyone in the room want to
re'oil in horror$
3)s she serious45 ?oe said& not meaning for the thought to a'tually
leave her head$ 9ven though she said it barely louder than a whisper&
the sensitivity of their ears meant that every demon in the room heard
her$
The demon prin'ess stomped down the 'enter of the ballroom& her
eyes set angrily on ?oe$ She rea'hed a meaty arm ba'# as far as her
limited range would allow& 'oming ba'# to sma'# her squarely on the
*aw with a loud pop$ ?oe fell to the ground& her hand rising to her
rapidly bruising 'hee# and rubbing at it softly in mild disbelief$ She
narrowed her eyes at the unruly demoness$ She2d had enough of this$
)f no one else was going to stand up to this brat& she would$ %nd she
*ust so happened to remember something she had read that would
help her$
3) 'hallenge you&5 ?oe said with as mu'h strength as she 'ould
muster$ 3) 'hallenge you Salem$5
The room was so quiet you 'ould hear a mouse 'ough$ Paris *ust
wanted to sha#e his head$ ,e #new ?oe was overdue to do something
stupid& but this was beyond stupid$ This was absolutely imbe'ili'$
Salem may be fat and slow by demon standards& but she 'ould still
tear ?oe to pie'es in a heartbeat$
37hat did you say to me& human45 Salem said& the 'orners of her
lips turning upward$ %t this point she was willing to sa'rifi'e an eternal
slave for a 'han'e to dig her 'laws into the disrespe'tful human2s soft
flesh$
3;ou heard me&5 ?oe said& determined to stand her ground despite
her growing feeling of dread$ 3+r is there so mu'h fat 'logging your
ears you 'ouldn2t45
The room erupted in hushed whispering& suppressed laughing and
astonished gasping$ Salem2s lips flopped open li#e a fish out of water
as she tried to 'omprehend the insult$ -o one had ever spo#en to her
in su'h a manner$ She was 'ompletely at a loss of how to rea't$
3This girl is my new hero&5 1a'#son said& *abbing Paris in the ribs$
,e had a feeling this evening would be entertaining& but this was far
better than he imagined$ ,e made a mental note to as# Paris where
he found this little wild 'ard$ She was quite entertaining$ There was
definitely something spe'ial about her$ But& mostly& he was *ust happy
someone finally 'alled the prin'ess on her serious weight problem$
3) heard you fine&5 Salem said& finally re'overing from the insult& 3)
*ust didn2t thin# a human 'ould sin# to the depths of su'h stupidity$5

Chapter Fifteen


?oe reali/ed immediately the gravity of her mista#e when a demon
rolled over a small 'art with a number of different weapons on it$ She
hadn2t e.a'tly #nown what the 'hallenge would be$ She *ust #new that
if she won it would release any debt that was 'urrently held over her$
%pparently she had to a'tually fight for her freedom$
3)2ll let you 'hoose your weapon first&5 Salem said& 3) want to use
my bare 'laws$ ) am going to en*oy the feeling of ripping through your
flesh$5
?oe loo#ed down at the table of shiny metal ob*e'ts& with a heavy
swallow$ She was in way over her head$ There were swords of
different styles& a spear& a ma'e& a few other things she didn2t even
#now what to 'all$ She had no idea how to use any of them$
3) don2t suppose you have a gun&5 she said& mostly wishful thin#ing
to herself$
36uns have no effe't on demons&5 Salem said& wat'hing ?oe with
wi'#ed pleasure in her shit brown eyes$ She was loo#ing forward to
putting this human in her pla'e$ )t was unfortunate that she wouldn2t
have a slave anymore& but the thought of #illing her was almost as
satisfying$ 3Choose your weapon$ Euit stalling$5
Paris loo#ed on in a mild sho'#& something that was a very foreign
feeling to him$ There was no way he 'ould let this happen$ The girl
was going to die& and it was entirely his fault$ 7ell& not entirely his
fault$ ,er stupidity played a rather large part of it& but Paris 'ould
have stopped this a long time ago$ ,e did not thin# it would play out
in quite this way$ Despite what many would thin#& demons a'tually
have a 'ons'ien'e$ They are *ust better at suppressing it than most$
But for some reason the thought of her death& and that it was at least
in part his fault& was more than his 'ons'ien'e 'ould bear$
Salem barely gave ?oe time to blin# from the time she pi'#ed up a
broad edge sword$ The demon prin'ess atta'#ed her with everything
her robust form 'ould muster$ ?oe tried as best she 'ould to defle't
the atta'#& raising her sword to blo'# the swipe of the demoness2
'laws$ She managed to blo'# to stri#e& but the for'e of it #no'#ed her
ba'#wards onto the floor$ Salem poun'ed on top of her& straddling her
torso& the for'e of her weight #no'#ing the wind out of ?oe$
The already dim light of the ballroom began to fade from ?oe2s
eyes as the breath was slowly for'ed out of her$ She had to do
something& she 'ouldn2t die li#e this$ ,er mind was too fu//y to thin#&
and the only defense she 'ould muster was to flail her arms about&
hoping to hit something$ Salem rea'hed ba'#& her ra/or sharp 'laws
e.tending in preparation to sli'e through ?oe2s flesh$
?oe slammed her eyes shut& unable to wat'h her own impending
death$ But instead of the pain of 'laws ripping through her& she felt a
'alming warmth engulf her body$ ,er eyes opened to see Salem& her
heavy brow s'run'hed in 'onfusion as a soft blue light emanated from
?oe for *ust a moment$ She 'ould feel the air 'oming ba'# into her
lungs& and her mind began to wor#$ She loo#ed around her for
something& anything$ ,er eyes fell upon the sword she had originally
'hosen& *ust in'hes from her$ 7ithout another thought& she s'ooped it
ba'# up& plunging into the 'hest of the demoness$ Salem s'ree'hed in
pain& slapping at the sword in her 'hest as blood spewed all over ?oe&
before finally #eeling over dead$ ?oe managed to squee/e out from
under the mass of dead weight$ She rose sha#ily to her feet& the sho'#
of what had *ust happened still plastered on her blood 'overed fa'e$
The ballroom e.ploded in mass 'onfusion$ This was an
unpre'edented o''urren'e$ -o human had ever a'tually #illed a
demon& mu'h less the daughter of the 6rand 9lder$ -obody #new
what happened& or how to rea't$ )t all happened so qui'#ly$
Paris #new what had happened$ ,e didn2t #now why he hadn2t
thought of it before$ There were always fail safeties in this business$
?oe& although nobody but Paris #new& was an @ntou'hed$ ,is 'ontra't
with her would never validate& and he had #nown that from the
moment he had drawn it up$ She was off limits$ -o demon would ever
have the power to physi'ally harm her& so long as she maintained her
inno'en'e$ )t only lasted a split se'ond& and he wasn2t even sure
anyone else had seen it& but the small blue light that engulfed the girl
told him all he needed to #now$ She was prote'ted by a power far
greater than any demon2s$

Chapter Si.teen


Paris used the disarray to get ?oe out of the pala'e$ ,e brought
her ba'# to his pla'e& putting a barrier in pla'e so that no one would
'ome loo#ing for them$ ,e had a new found respe't for the girl$ -ot
*ust be'ause she had done what he 'ould not$ She got him out of a
very sti'#y situation$ The demon prin'ess was dead& and there was no
way it 'ould be held against him$ The situation 'ouldn2t have turned
out more perfe't if Paris had planned it$ +f 'ourse there was now
going to be a ma*or fallout$ The 6rand 9lder2s bloodline had *ust been
ended& and he was very 'lose to dying himself$ The fight for his
position was about to begin$ The future of his people was very mu'h in
question$
3%re you really going to leave me alone now45 ?oe as#ed as she
wiped the last of the demoness2 blood from her fa'e$ She reali/ed now
*ust how sad that thought made her$ Despite everything that had
happened& she found that the demon had somehow gained a pla'e in
her heart$ There was *ust something about him that she 'ouldn2t stay
away from$ She didn2t want him to leave her alone$
3)f that is what you wish&5 Paris said& and this time his 'harm was
genuine$ ,e truly meant it too$ )f ?oe wanted to be left alone after all
of this& he didn2t blame her$ She had been through more than
someone li#e her deserved$ ,e felt a twinge of guilt& #nowing that he
was the reason for it all$
3;ou #now&5 ?oe said& trying to prolong the time she had left with
him$ She wanted to leave things on a good note with him$ )f this was
the last time she would ever see him& she wanted to say everything
that needed to be said$ 3) still remember you saved my life$ )2ll always
be than#ful$5
3?oe&5 he said$ ,is voi'e was smooth& a heavy whisper as he 'ame
'loser to her$ % grin spread a'ross his fa'e as his eyes began to
appre'iate her body on'e more$ ,is nose pi'#ed up her faint arousal
and he *ust 'ouldn2t wait any longer$ There were no more distra'tions$
There would be no more 'alls$ -othing would interrupt their time
together now$ ,e 'ould finally dis'over everything he had waited so
long to dis'over$
3Paris&5 ?oe questioned in a whisper& a lump in her throat that she
'ouldn2t seem to get rid of$ She too# in a deep breath as his hands
found her hips& his eyes lo'#ed onto hers$ ,is ga/e burned into her&
ma#ing her feel hot and 'old at the same time$ % tingling heat began
to a''umulate in her stoma'h as his lips found hers& his tou'h
surprisingly gentle$ ,e wrapped a hand in her hair& pulling her 'loser
into him& nipping lightly at her lips& 'oa.ing her to open& to let him in$
She happily 'omplied& her tongue finding his as they fought for
dominan'e$ % rumble e'hoed in his 'hest& a purr of pleasure$
?oe pulled ba'#& unsure of the strange vo'ali/ation$ She loo#ed up
at him& her eyes gla/ed over him desire& a question on her brow$ ,is
arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her ba'# into him& his
purr of desire even more intense$ The vibrations rattled through her
and she found her arousal in'reasing with the sensation$ ,is fingers
found the /ipper on her dress and he pulled it down& the sil# bloodied
gown sliding freely off her shoulders and to the floor at her feet$
,is lips 'aressed her ne'#& pausing at the 'roo# were it met her
shoulders& en*oying the shiver that ran through her$ % throaty moan
en'ouraged him to 'ontinue& and his hands grasped her thighs&
wrapping her legs around his body$ ,e pushed up against the nearest
wall& franti' to feel some pressure as he ground his hips against her$
,er fingers wor#ed to unbutton his shirt& 'areful not to mess it up&
#nowing how e.pensive it must be$ ,e 'hu'#led at her tenderness& the
gentleness of her tou'h$ ,e ripped through the fabri' of his shirt&
e.posing a wonderful view of his abnormally 'ut torso$ ?oe2s fingers
prodded the vast e.panse of mus'le& her e.'itement growing with
every firm ripple that she found$
Paris 'ontinued to e.plore her body with his lips& reveling in the
ama/ing smell of her arousal$ )t 'omplimented the sweet taste of her
s#in perfe'tly& and he was in a mild da/e$ ,e had never been so
'ompletely enti'ed by a female before$ She was absolutely perfe't in
every way& and in su'h an imperfe't way$ ,er arms sna#ed around his
ne'#$ She was uneasy& nervous& and Paris found it to be the most
eroti' thing he had ever e.perien'ed$ ,er tou'h was so timid$ ,e
wanted her to feel so mu'h more of him$ ,e grabbed one of her
hands& pla'ing it on the rapidly growing bulge in his pants as he pulled
ba'# to loo# at her$ %s she felt the desire he had for her& she bit softly
at her bottom lip& for a moment unsure$ She 'ould feel the heat
through the fine 'otton of his trousers$ ,er stoma'h did flips as she
dared to move further& unbuttoning his pants& letting fall to the
ground$ She slowly pulled down the bla'# bo.ers he wore underneath&
swallowing hard as she saw the immensity of what he had to offer$
Paris *ust wat'hed her& twit'hing in anti'ipation as she 'olle'ted
herself from the sight she had un'overed$ ,er 'hee#s were stained so
dar# he feared she would pass out from the la'# of blood to the rest of
her body$ ,is fingers lifted her 'hin& raising her eyes to his$ ,e bent
down& #issing her gently and grasping onto the swell of her bottom$ ,e
lifted her off the ground& laying her down and 'oming down on top of
her$
The 'old marble floor stung her bare s#in& raising little goose
bumps all over her flesh$ ,e pe'#ed a hot trail of #isses down her
ne'#& 'oming to rest *ust at the swell of her bosom$ Pausing& he loo#ed
up at her& a smir# on his lips and a playful glint in his eye as he saw
?oe holding her breath in anti'ipation$ ,e wouldn2t ma#e her wait
mu'h longer$
,is hands found her breasts$ 6ripping them with light pressure& he
used his thumb to fli'# gently at one per#y pin# nipple$ The other one
he found with his lips& wrapping around them and su'#ling hungrily at
it$ ?oe ar'hed her ba'#& pushing herself further into his deli'ious
tou'h$
3Paris&5 she moaned softly as she wrapped her hands in his thi'#
bla'# hair$
,e rubbed against her entran'e& pleased to see how ready she was
with only su'h minimal attentions$ ,is 'hest swelled with male pride
as she pushed ba'# against him& so eager$ ,e positioned himself&
ta#ing one last loo# into her eyes before he did the unthin#able$
Sliding into her& he hissed at the dele'table sensation that rushed
over him$ ,e had never felt anything so ama/ing in all his years$ ,er
walls 'len'hed him tightly as she tried to a''ommodate his full length$
,e pulled ba'#& entering her again as her nails dug into the flesh of his
hips& pulling him ba'# to her$ ,er hands guided his thrusts& and he
allowed her to set the tempo to her own pleasure& simply happy to
oblige her$ She bu'#ed her hips against his as her arousal grew to a
brea#ing point$ She 'ouldn2t thin# anymore& all she 'ould do was fell$
%s her walls began to 'len'h him in e'stasy& he rea'hed his brea#ing
point$ ,e 'ouldn2t hold ba'# any longer and he tore into her with
everything he had& rea'hing his release as she 'lung to him$
%s they began to 'ome down from their love indu'ed high& Paris
pulled ba'# to loo# into her shining blue eyes$ ,e was 'ertain in that
moment that his 'uriosity for her would never be satisfied$


The 9nd

+ther boo#s by Raquel DoveF
The First Boo# of Demons GThe Boo# of Demons Saga A"H
Demons %mongst @s GThe Boo# of Demons Saga AH
Things Forbidden GThe Forbidden -ovellas A"H
Crimes Forbidden GThe Forbidden -ovellas AH
Primal Temptations GTemptations -ovelette AH
,onorable Temptations GTemptations -ovelette AIH
Coming SoonF
Redemption Forbidden GThe Forbidden -ovellas AIH
Demons 7ithin GThe Boo# of Demons Saga AIH
)nno'ent Temptations GTemptations -ovelette AJH
)f you would li#e more information about future boo#s& release
dates& and sequels& visit my website at www$raqueldove$'om