A Very Demon Christmas [Demon Hunters 1] (15 page)

As she turned to face him, the tiny loss of a few hours evaporated. Sheer wonder stole her thoughts. Where there had been a dusting of chest hair, a kite-shaped layer of downy plumage grew. She reached out, barely touching the delicate blue feathers. “You're changing."

He pulled her closer. “Keep stroking."

Obeying his order, she murmured, “You are transitioning."

"A couple more feathers aren't exactly wings, but thanks for the thought.” He kissed her hair, her forehead, and then her nose.

When he covered her mouth, his massive erection bumped her belly, his crown welling with excitement. Wriggling closer, Holly threaded one arm behind him and lightly rubbed his sensitive shoulder blade.

Next thing she knew, both of her wrists were pinned over her head, and Colin loomed over her, scowling. “No unauthorized touching my hot spots, baby."

"Yes, Master.”
At least until you're not paying attention.

"Damn right,” he growled. “Time to get some more water into you along with something to eat, then a good soak for both of us in that roomy tub of yours."

Following him out of the bedroom, she stopped to grab a cozy plush terry robe, slip it on, and shove her feet into her fuzzy slippers.

The moment she rounded the corner from the hall, she saw Colin. Wearing nothing but her red chef's apron, he handed her an open liter of bottled water. “Drink now."

She obliged him, and he nodded approval. “The robe can stay until after you've eaten."

Privately, she thought they needed to negotiate the rules for their Master/slave relationship. Then she reminded herself that all she'd wanted for Christmas was a Dom to call her own. Her heart swelled with happiness. Negotiations could wait a tiny bit longer, since she was still parched and near starving.

Colin surprised her by ushering her to her dining table where he'd arranged pretty place settings using her blue willow and the forest green Christmas linens. A white poinsettia was centered between the china and two sparkling crystal water goblets that were definitely not hers. “When did you do all this?"

He filled the glasses with more bottled water, then held a chair for her. “While you slept."

After scooting her closer, he gathered both plates, placed another kiss on her nose, and then crossed to the kitchen.

In no time he was back, carrying generous helpings of a decadent quiche. Accompanying the savory dish were perfectly peeled mandarin orange segments with fresh mint garnish.

She waited until he was seated before taking a bite of the warm pastry concoction. The buttery crust melted on her tongue. Her lashes lowered so she could concentrate as the exquisite bouquet of flavor made love to her taste buds. By the third bite, she'd changed her mind about negotiations. Considering that Colin was devastatingly handsome, an amazing lover, and a gourmet chef, she could overlook a little bossiness.

After brunch, Colin cleaned up and then steered her to the bathroom. Hot water trickled into the steam of her oversize tub. The bath appealed to something deep inside her almost as much as Colin did. She shed the robe and slippers and purred with pleasure as the silky water lapped like hundreds of tiny kisses all over her skin.

"The look on your face is worth a cover charge, water baby,” he growled.

Holly loved his deep, possessive voice. Yes, he was more than a little bossy, but he was also her irresistible Master.

Once Colin joined her in the soaking tub, he pulled her onto his lap, and she went willingly.

Draping her arms over his back, he warned, “No rubbing."

"Yes, Master.” She hoped his command didn't extend to him rubbing against her.

He bent to suck and gently bite her soft nipples. Soon the pink tips were taut with need and sending urgent signals to her pussy. Just when she was on the edge of rubbing rebelliously against the much too tempting erection resting against her belly—a mere tilt of her hips away from where she needed that luscious length—Colin lifted her out of the bath. He set her on the tub's wide rim.

"Put your legs over my shoulders."

Bossy, but an undeniably wonderful command, another one she was happy to obey, especially when he nuzzled apart her tender slit.

Prepared for a long session of erotic torture, Holly deliberately relaxed her inner thighs and trusted Colin's strong hands to hold her bottom in place for his tongue lashing—to keep her safe.

With a few talented laps, her intention to enjoy a slow trip to glory vanished, and she forgot all about his no-rubbing rule.

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Holly had deliberately disobeyed Colin's last order. He pinched her perfect butt, and she stayed still for a couple of seconds. He listened to her desperate whimpers, inhaled her delicious scent, and lapped up her minty cocoa-flavored cream. She was all he wanted for Christmas or any other day with or without pretty red rope.

He didn't care if the little slave rebelled. He wanted her to shatter, grinding against his mouth. Then he wanted her to fly apart bucking against his pubic plumage. And then... How the fuck was he even going to let her go?

Slamming the lid on that particular pit of guilt and despair, he flicked the edge of his tongue across her quivering clit and worked a thumb into the slick heat of her cunt. She jerked against the dual assault with a moan. Flutters of erotic bliss massaged his tongue, and a gush of sweet cream dampened his palm.

Instead of lowering her to his aching cock, he softened his lashes to gentle laps and kept her release going until she mewled with distress he couldn't ignore. Slowly he lowered her into the hot water, settling her on his thighs.

Soft hands framed his face. “What made you so sad?"

"How close I came to losing you.” He gave her a half-truth to avoid a more serious probe.

"That wasn't your fault. You saved my life."

Yeah, I'm a real hero.
If he hadn't dragged her into his treacherous demon world, she would never have been in danger. She would have lived her whole life without his mark and without demon sign. But he'd changed her, and there was no way for him to undo the damage he'd done. Now he was terrified he couldn't keep her safe enough.

He kept his mouth shut about his guilt and fear like the greedy bastard he was and simply absorbed the welcome weight of her curves on his lap, the innocent trust of her arms around his neck, and the sweetness of her mouth as it softened for his kiss.

Before long, he forgot about her overstimulated swollen folds and plunged his monster cock into the tight glove of her sheath, filling her, stretching her satin cunt until he was buried balls-deep. Her feminine muscles contracted and eased around him and her cream spilled—a hot silky lube that coated his achingly hard rod. Too late to count as considerate, he growled, “You okay?"

"Yes, more, please, Master.” Holly's panted plea eased his growing fear and guilt that he'd hurt her again.

Without the snare of her pain holding him back, he pounded into her until he felt the telltale flutters of her core as she tightened and loosened, and then tightened again and again around the hungry ache of his erection.

When she screamed her release, his climax erupted, splashing her womb with his cum and pushing him off the edge. He soared with her in a perfect trip for two—a flight to paradise.

The beauty and power of their simultaneous release left him breathless. Wordless, he clung to Holly for long seconds. Too soon, his lungs eased back from bellows mode. He pressed a kiss to her hair, gathered her in his arms, and stepped out of the tub. Because this was the last time, he took his time patting her dry and then swathed her in a dry towel. He let the tub drain, did a quick rubdown, and wrapped the damp towel over his hips. Then he scooped her up and carried her back to bed.

After removing her towel and tucking her in, he did the hardest thing he'd ever done. He stepped away from Holly.

She yawned and snuggled under the covers, already half asleep. “I can't believe I'm already so tired,” she murmured. “Come back to bed."

"Got to take care of a couple of things.”
Great exit line—real smooth.

She turned over, propped her elbows, and met his eyes with narrow slits of suspicion. “You're leaving for good?"

"I'm leaving because that's the only way to protect you, baby."

What kind of stupid male logic is that?
Holly bounced out of bed and if Colin hadn't already looked completely miserable and if she hadn't sensed the depth of his sadness, she definitely would've punched him. She snatched his robe from under her pillow, wrapping herself in silk and steely determination.

Colin dressed quickly, refusing to even meet her gaze.

Her confidence faltered. Maybe everything he'd said was a lie, and he was sad because he'd wasted too much of his precious time making her feel special. Then she shook her head. He was bonded to her. She would have sensed a lie if he hadn't told her the truth.

So why would he leave?

Belinda's explanation of what the mating bond meant for a male echoed in her head.
"A mated male needs his female—her touch, her voice, her scent. Everything about her grounds him and keeps him sane. Without her influence, his connection to honor, society, and life crumbles."

Leaving her was the demon equivalent of signing his own death warrant. Yet he was definitely leaving.

He shrugged into his leather coat and hoisted his gear bag, heading for the door without a backward glance.

She held the front of the robe together and trailed him to her front door. His hand was already on the knob when she finally found her voice. “I never thought you were a coward."

"I'm doing what I have to do to protect you,” he countered with so much quiet, utter conviction her hopes sank.

Then her temper rose.
How dare he throw away his life?

"Running away protects me? From what? From loneliness? From heartbreak? From the only Master I will ever love?” She blinked furiously to keep angry tears from falling.

Colin didn't turn, didn't speak, but he didn't leave.

"You can't protect me from every danger. No one can. You have to believe that I will be careful—that I won't take unnecessary risks. You have to trust me the way I trust you with my body and my life."

He turned toward her, and her heart lodged in her throat. She swallowed hard. “Besides, who could keep me safer than you? And I'll protect your heart, because I will love you forever."

His gear bag clunked to the floor, and he stalked toward her.

She'd told him exactly how she felt. What was the worst thing that could happen? He might punish her, which would be unbearably arousing, or he might reject her. Horrible as that would be, she wouldn't be worse off than she was right now. At least she'd know she'd done everything possible to change his completely unreasonable dominant male demon mind.

For long moments, she held her breath, blinking back the tears that continued to threaten, while he stood and just stared at her. His dark eyes gave no clue as to what he was thinking, and she sensed no emotion from him at all.

Slowly his arms opened wide.

Tears of relief spilled, rolling down her cheeks. She stepped into the shelter of his embrace and covered his dear face with damp kisses.

Colin thumbed away her tears. “I'm yours, baby."

"Just that easy?” A watery laugh bubbled out of her.

He folded her into his arms. “Yeah, easy. Leaving you was killing me."

"You need me.” Holly's mouth curved in delight at the Master of her heart.

"Need doesn't begin to cover what I feel for you. You're the reason I breathe, the reason my heart beats. You are my life—my mate."

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When I'm not writing dangerously sexy stories, I'm gardening, walking the dog, or sleeping. Or, if it's too cold and wet to garden, then I'm scouring the house, reading good books, or watching movies.

For more about Evanne, visit her Web site at evannelorraine.com.