“Aw, come on, angel-girl. Don’t be a rude bitch. That bastard mortal you were banging can’t even compare to the sexiness that Lucian encompasses. Look at those horns. They’re perfect to clutch onto if he likes you enough to let you ride his face.” Kase chuckles at my reaction, his suggestion the absolute last thing in the universe I need crossing my mind right now. Ugh.
Dante laughs from above me and pets his fingers through Kase’s light brown hair. “Maybe you should show her some fun with y—”
“Bring the soul to me.” The guttural growling voice cuts Dante off and snaps my attention from Kase and to the towering beast nearly as tall as the vaulted ceiling of the living room. The flames dance and grow with his movements, yet he never leaves the circle. “I must see it for myself. I need to touch it.” The soul? It? Fuck. This thing is talking about me.
“No,” I whisper, my heart crashing against my ribcage. Sweat cools my skin, and my whole body trembles. The idea of the fiery beast’s clawed fingers getting within an inch of me terrifies me on a deep-seated level. He’s not just a monstrous beast. He’s evil. Dark. Demonic. Nothing good can ever come from him. “God, ple—”
Dante covers my mouth from behind at the same time the beast roars. The circle of fire burns brighter, hotter, and I try everything I can to break free. Lifting me up, Dante restrains me in front of him, carrying me toward the creature. It stomps its giant hooved feet to the floor and stretches out its humanoid hands. Long curled claws shine like onyx stones in the fire. I can’t take my eyes off the creature, traveling my gaze up the length of his body. Molten orange veins climb the beast’s muscular arms, the lava-like substance glowing just under his smooth, dark skin. The veins travel through the rest of his body, all gathering to the center of the monster’s broad chest, pulsing with power unlike anything I could’ve ever imagined.
I cringe and recoil, twisting my head to look away as the heat intensifies, burning the soles of my feet. I screech in pain, bucking and fighting, begging anyone who can hear me to help me, to make it stop.
Like some force finally gives in to answer my prayers, the burning sensation fades. A cool gust of wind licks over my heated skin, soothing the agonizing memory of the beast and fire until the spicy-sweet scent of cinnamon and chocolate engulfs me, pushing away the rotting smell permeating the living room.
“Raven Rose, your soul is far lighter and more damaged than the dark beauty your name encompasses.” The velvety rich voice hums everywhere and nowhere, caressing my ears while also filling my mind with a powerful, indescribable essence. “I expected more from you.”
It takes everything in me to open my eyes. Sucking in a breath, I flutter my lashes open and stare in shock at the startling handsome face of the man cradling me in his arms. His full lips peek from beneath his trimmed beard covering what I suspect is a sharp, angular jawline to match his nose. I rove my gaze over his features, drinking in his shaved hair the same black color as his beard. Black irises blend in with his black pupils, but despite being dark and intense, the depths of his gaze light with the warmth of the fire burning around us. Fire that I realize I can no longer feel.
“How do you know my name?” The question feels wrong coming from my lips, my body and mind feeling disconnected.
“The same way you know mine,” the man says, his lips quirking with a smile.
“Lucifer...” Fuck. I did not just say the name I think I said.
“Lucian,” he corrects, grazing his fingers along my cheek. “I’ve abandoned that cursed name long ago.” Like it matters.
“I don’t understand. I...” My voice trails off.
I never truly believed in Heaven or Hell. I never went to church. Tonight, I prayed out of desperation, like I somehow knew what I was facing. But Lucifer? Satan? The fucking devil or whatever the hell he goes by? I’m losing my mind. This can’t be real. I never thought I was a bad person. I never even cheated on a damn test.
“You have a lot of questions we don’t have time for,” Lucian says, stroking my cheek again like he can read my mind. Maybe he can. “And I have to be certain you’re the one I want.”
“Want?” My voice rises with my question.
He only smiles. “It will only take a second.”
I blink, my body tensing. “What will?”
Fire flashes in his eyes. “I’d like to touch your beautifully broken, irresistible soul.”
Chapter 4
Give Her Hell
DANTE
FOR FUCK’S SAKE.
My nuts tighten just at the thought of penetrating that sexy, beautifully broken mortal’s soul the way Lucian does. Her achingly bright essence twirls and twists as the void of darkness radiating from Lucian sinks and blends with her light in a way I haven’t felt since—I can’t even remember.
Time passes in the Earth Realm without me. All I know for certain is that I’ve seen the cycle of wars, plagues, natural disasters, and the destruction of different civilizations over and over again. Hell, I’ve been blamed for them too.
A soft moan escapes from the mortal, and she tips her head back, sending her black hair cascading toward the floor. Her hands press into Lucian’s chest like her soul wants to resist the one thing the rest of her body wants—the closeness of Lucian’s power pulsing from his heart. Power strong enough to make the saviors scatter like the pigeon-brains they are when it comes to mortals.
“This is giving me a fucking boner,” I mutter, adjusting my cock in my pants. “He’s taking his damn sweet time with her.”
“Can you blame him?” Kase stands with his arms crossed, keeping his gaze locked on Lucian and the broken soul. He whistles lowly and lifts an eyebrow. “Shit, look at her. She’s going for his horns.”
Damn.
My boner jabs harder against my zipper, threatening to poke through the tough fabric of my jeans. I shift my junk again, considering just whipping out my damn cock to rub one out. I don’t give a fuck. If Lucian gets to enjoy her hands traveling up his neck to lace her fingers around his horns, stroking them like they’re the sexiest things she’s ever seen, then I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this too.
I grab my zipper. My skin ripples in anticipation. If I don’t satiate my burning desire soon, my true body will explode free from this form. And damn it. I really fucking want what Lucian has. I yearn to feel that mortal’s body wrapped around me so much so that I step closer. He’s taking too long, and I saw her first. He has enough souls. This one should be mine.
Lucian suddenly roars as the light of the broken soul rips free from his all-consuming darkness, and the beautiful mortal throws herself back and out of the Hell circle. Before she can scramble to her feet, I charge and scoop her up, covering her mouth with my hand. Like the power of Hell still clings to her, she presses my fingers harder to her lips until she sucks my middle one into her mouth and chomps down. Fuck, do I enjoy it.
I jerk my hand away more in surprise than pain, and I flip her around and capture her with my gaze. Fire flickers in the blue-green depths of her irises before it vanishes. She blinks and gasps a few breaths, her tits pressing into my chest. Our closeness does nothing for my raging boner, and she widens her eyes as she realizes what exactly keeps space between us. Without having to hear her thoughts, I know what she plans to attack next on me. But this time, it won’t be with her pouty mouth.