Love Charms (104 page)

“It stops when I find Francisco and his
mother?”

“Unless you want to make a deal to extend
it. I do recall someone not long ago declaring how much she hated a certain
demon. Am I to understand, by your current attire, you’ve changed your mind?”

“No. He’s still a rotten pig, but he
doesn’t deserve to suffer for my mistakes. I’ll fetch you those souls. But
that’s it after that. You and I are done.”

“I’ve got a cake already pre-ordered to
celebrate the event, and a pool of ladies dying to take over your position.
Have I mentioned the new dress code requires them to be pantyless?”

“Pig.”

“I prefer king of seduction.”

“Oh really?”

Oh shit. Lucifer pasted a smile on his
face as Gaia once again materialized out of nowhere, foot tapping and arms
crossed. “My dearest lady, there you are.”

“Don’t you
my lady
me, you
adulterous dog.”

“Can we discuss this later? I was having
an important discussion with my assistant.”

Ysabel narrowed her gaze. “Are you going
to release Remy from the curse?”

“No.”

Lips tight Ysabel turned to Gaia. “I’ve
got a video of him grabbing the mail girl’s ass.”

Before Lucifer could explode at Ysabel
for tattling, Gaia rounded on him. Judging by the green sparks in her eyes,
he’d once again landed in major doo-doo.

Dammit, and I just got off the bloody
couch.

Chapter
Eleven

Remy caught Ysabel coming out of
Lucifer’s office. She didn’t look pleased. As a matter of fact, her scowl
deepened when she caught sight of him. Uh-oh.

“What were you thinking, taking on my
curse like that?” she yelled.

“I couldn’t stand to see you suffer,” he
admitted. Most women would have swooned at this comment. His witch? She slugged
him in the gut.

“You had no right. It’s my burden to
bear. Not yours.”

“It’s not a big deal. We’ll catch the two
remaining souls, and it will stop. Easy as eating your pie.” But not as much
fun. He’d only suffered her curse for a few measly minutes and he was already
determined to not go through it again, however, he would keep it forever if it
kept her from suffering.

“This isn’t funny,” she growled. “What if
we can’t find the missing souls? The burning increases by a minute each day.”

“You’re worried? I knew you liked me.”

“No I don’t.”

“You know, that would be a lot more
believable if I didn’t have your claw marks embedded in my shoulders still.”

A blush was his reward, but it still
didn’t wipe the worry from her eyes.

“Remy, please stop joking for a minute.
Don’t you understand how grave this is? The pain will drive you insane if we
can’t stop it.”

Madness? Bah, he dealt with it every day.
He shrugged. “I heard you met my mother. I know all about insanity. It’s not
that bad once you beat up everyone who teases you about it.”

“Can’t you ever take anything seriously?”

“I do,” he said, instantly sober. He
pulled her into his arms, relieved she didn’t fight him. “I take you very
seriously. And I meant what I said. I can’t stand to see you suffer. I gladly
took on your curse. I would do more to keep you protected from harm.”

“But why? I don’t understand.” Her voice
trembled as she asked in a low, husky whisper. Funny how his time with her and
the disclosure of her story made him understand her better. He now knew the
bitter façade she presented to the world was a cover to hide the pain and
loneliness. A self-imposed exile because she feared to trust. Yet, he’d seen
enough of her happiness last night when they played to see how she longed for
it. Needed it.
And I will give it to her.

He cupped her face and tilted her so she
could see him as he spoke. He caught her gaze and hoped she could read what he
felt. See his sincerity. “I care for you, Ysabel.”

She shook her head, or tried to. He
wouldn’t let her budge. Falling in love, becoming vulnerable to someone again,
terrified her. Tears rolled down her cheeks, a weakness she surely hated. “No
you don’t. We had great sex. That’s it. When this is over, another pretty girl
will catch your eye and you’ll wander off.”

“I won’t.”

“Don’t lie to me,” she cried, pulling
free. “You will. You’re just like him. Fucking anything that moves. Telling me
pretty lies to get between my legs. You can stop now. I don’t believe it. I
don’t believe you.”

“Ysabel. No, it’s not like that. Listen
to me.”

But his witch fled as the choked sound of
her sobs reached him. Crushed him. All he’d wanted to do was take away her
pain, and show her happiness. Instead, by caring for her, he’d caused her even
more anguish. There had to be a way to fix this. To make her believe him.

To make her love me.

Because, despite what she thought, his
demonizing days were done. He’d done the craziest thing imaginable. He’d fallen
in love with a witch.

* * *

Ysabel ran to her suite of rooms, upset,
angry, and in fucking love. So much for trying to fool herself earlier that all
she felt for Remy was lust. It was love. Stupid, rotten, stinking love.

And for a confirmed manwhore. Didn’t that
just beat it all? Five hundred years she’d spent hating men and swearing to
never let one hurt her again. And what did she do? Fall in love with a demon
who kept doing things to soften her up. Who didn’t even have to try that hard
to make her love him.

The jerk. A jerk she didn’t understand.

He’d gotten what he wanted. They’d gone
at it like a succubus after a meal of oysters, indulging in hours of sensual
pleasure, laughter and even talk. Who would have thought he hid a brain behind
the pretty face?

A fun time was had by all. He managed to
get her, despite all her claims to the contrary, to have sex, so why continue
the charade?

Why would he take on my curse? Why would
he put himself through that agony?
Because
she didn’t believe for a minute that he cared for her. Allowing herself to
believe was foolish because when it turned out to be false, it would hurt so
much.
And I won’t allow it.

Making it to her suite of rooms, she
slammed the door shut and activated the binding spells. She wanted no
interruptions. No sexy demon barging his way in, tearing down the walls she’d
built to protect herself.

I need him out of my life before I fall
any further.
In order
for that to happen, she needed to find Francisco and his mother. Needed to send
them to hell, break the curse and get Remy out of her life for good.

The door splintered as something hit it
and Remy stalked in, six foot something of male arrogance and hotness.

Not again. Was there not a door in all of
Hell that could withstand him?

“What the hell do you think you’re
doing?” She planted herself in front of him, hands on her hips.

“I’ve decided that since acting like a
wimp and talking about my feelings didn’t work, I’m going to take a page from
my stepdad’s book.”

Ysabel took a step back as he stalked
toward her, his bristling maleness arousing. No. This had to stop. No matter
how hot he appeared, she couldn’t let herself get distracted.

“I’ll sic Felipe on you if you lay a hand
on me.”

“Good luck with that. I saw him through a
window in the garden stalking a giant rodent.”

“I’ll turn you into a toad?” She held her
hand up menacingly.

He smirked. “Go ahead, but keep in mind
when I shuck the enchantment, I am going to be even more determined.”

“Why are you doing this? I don’t want
you. Is that the problem? Is your ego so big you can’t handle a woman rejecting
you?”

“Oh, you want me alright, my sexy little
witch. Want me so bad it scares you. Well, I’ve got news for you. It scares the
fuck out of me, too. But I don’t care. When the options are settling down with
you for life and popping out little demonlings or watching you walk away, I
know what I choose.”

For a moment, she couldn’t answer, could
only gape at him as his words penetrated. Surely, she misunderstood. “What did
you say?”

“I want you as my mate.”

No misunderstanding that time. She tamped
down her elation by slapping it with the cold, hard truth. “You’ll hurt me.”

“Trust me.”

He asked too much. “I’m not the right
woman.”

“You’re all I want.”

She shook her head lest his words weave a
spell around her and make her believe. Yet despite all the warnings in her
head, hope blossomed and love warmed her. How nice it would be to allow herself
to love him. To trust him.

Sadness entered his expression at her
rejection. “I know it’s hard for you, little witch, but I promise you’ve
nothing to fear. Unless the thought of too many orgasms in a row freaks you
out.” And that quickly, he changed from pensive male to the one she’d grown to
love with the mischievous smile.

He lunged. She squealed like a little
girl and ran. Not far though.

With his ridiculously long stride, he
quickly caught her and tossed her over his shoulder. He laughed as she beat at
his broad back with her fists. “Save some of that energy for the bedroom
because you are not leaving until you admit you care for me.”

“I’ll kill you first.”

“I like a girl who’s kinky.”

“You’re impossible.”

“No, but I am horny.”

“How are we supposed to catch those souls
if we’re fooling around here?”

“Some things are more important.”

“How can having sex with me be more
important than ensuring you don’t burst into flame tomorrow?”

“I would let someone beat me with a
cat-o-nine too, if you’d just admit you like me.”

“I hate you.”

“Close. I see we’ll need to work on
that.”

Flipping her off his shoulder onto the
bed, he quickly stripped out of his clothes and covered her frame with his own,
pinning her to the mattress.  It didn’t stop her from bucking and pushing at
him. He didn’t budge, but he did clasp her hands in one of his fists and pull
them above her head.

“Will you admit you like me?”

She glared, keeping her lips clamped tight
less she inadvertently blurted out she loved him.

“Such a stubborn witch. I guess we’re
going to do this the fun way.”

Oh no. She couldn’t let him have his
sensual way. She’d melt under his determined touch and admit her affection, and
then she’d end up screwed.
I can’t give him the power to hurt me.
Yet,
what could she do to stop him?
Cast a spell on him? Call my cat to eat him?
A variety of things she could try ran through her mind, but she didn’t attempt
any of them. Not with her heart racing, her pussy throbbing, and a part of her
hoping, wistfully, that he meant what he said. It seemed his family’s insanity
was contagious because she didn’t put up a fight at all as he set about
seducing her.

He kissed her, while one hand fumbled at
the hem of her shirt. His shirt. She’d not even stopped to change when she’d
charged out of his home and headed straight to Lucifer’s office. Worry for him
overrode any modesty she owned.

Up went the fabric, inch by inch, baring
her flesh to his gaze. He stopped below her breasts as the fabric caught under
her back. Anticipation held her breath. He didn’t shred the shirt like she
expected at this snag, oh no, instead he dipped his head and placed his mouth
over her fabric covered breast. The decadent heat of it arched her back and he
took advantage, shimmying the shirt over her breasts, a slow ascent that proved
maddening. And even worse, he left the top bunched around her arms and tucked
under her head, so that when his mouth left hers and began to blaze a trail
down her torso, she couldn’t even reach to touch him. To pull him closer. Not
that the hand still gripping her wrists released her.

He held her pinned and exposed to his
ardent gaze, and stare at her he did, the smoldering look raising her nipples
into hard points while her sex warmed. Unbidden, she spread her legs to
accommodate his body. But he didn’t place himself atop her like she wanted.
Didn’t press himself against her core and rub where she ached.

Frustrated, and eager, she arched –
hips, breasts, anything to try and connect with his body. He remained out of
reach and she couldn’t stop a growl of impatience. It made him chuckle.

“Tell me, little witch.”

“Either fuck me or let me go,” she
demanded, not ready to admit anything, but too aroused to not ask for more.

“Such language. I like it,” he said with
a twinkle in his eyes. He pulled her arms down and held them fisted under her
breasts as he shuffled lower. “I am never letting you go, my impatient cougar.
And as for making love to your delectable body, I’ll do that, but not until you
tell me what I want.” He murmured the last part against her rounded tummy.

Rubbing his face, and the rough growth of
hair he’d not shaved that morn, he kissed his way down to her thigh, his breath
tickling her skin and making her hips arch. He blew on the aching space between
her thighs, and she yelled, so desperate to have him.

But he had other ideas.

“Tell me you like me.” He blew the
request across her sex, and her toes curled.

“Never.”

A flick of his tongue against her nub
made her keen. “Tell me.”

“No.” But oh, how she wanted to. Biting
her tongue though helped her keep the words at bay.

Back and forth they went, him teasing,
her denying. He got bolder with his sensual torture and as she panted, every
inch of her screaming for release, he demanded she admit her feelings.

She tried to hold on. Tried to chomp off
her tongue.
Think nasty thoughts
. Even tried to summon her magic, which
slipped through her grasp as he kept teasing her. Wracked with pleasure,
mindless with need for him, she finally blurted the words he wanted to hear.

“I love you, dammit. Are you happy now? I
don’t want to. Oh, how I wish I didn’t, but I do.”

“Oh, my sweet Ysabel.” He growled her
name as he raised himself over her. “My very own witch.”

The head of his cock unerringly found the
entrance to her sex and he thrust. One stroke, two strokes. Her aching flesh
molded to his shaft, squeezed around him. She dug her nails into his shoulders
as he released her hands. Clung to him as she rode the pinnacle of pleasure. She
cried his name when she crested, waves of bliss shuddering through her.