Page 1 of Commanding Chaos

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ASH

The buck-naked demon glowering in my studio should have scared the bejeezus out of me. A normal witch would have called on her magic, said a prayer to the goddess, and kicked demon ass. Or attempted to, at least. He was a Prince of Hell, so I doubted his ass would be the one getting kicked, but a normal witch would have tried. A smart witch would have run.

And me? I just stood there staring, trying not to drool.

In my defense, never had I ever seen so much raw masculinity in one person. One naked person. Smooth skin, defined muscles, jewel-green eyes so mesmerizing he wouldn’t have to drag anyone to the depths of Hell. I’d follow him willingly.

I mean they. Whatever person he was trying to drag. Not me specifically.

“Ash.” My sister’s harsh voice registered at the edge of my mind like a ghostly echo. Nothing I needed to concern myself with.

Chaos’s sigil pulsed on my arm, the heat of the molten red design spreading through my body, an unnatural calmness turning my muscles to mush while bringing clarity to my thoughts. I had just exorcized a demon from my body and lived to tell the tale. Holy Hecate.

“Snap out of it, Ash!” Ember’s voice sliced through the serenity in my brain, and she latched onto the skin above my elbow, pinching and twisting at the same time.

Pain exploded down my arm, yanking me out of my quietude. “Mother plucker!” I jerked away, whirling to face her and rubbing the tender spot my dear, sweet sister had created. “What was that for?”

“You were in a trance. He’s trying to control you.”

“I’m not.” Chaos’s deep, rumbly voice drew my gaze back to the center of my studio. He stood in the middle of a circle meant to contain him, but I had a feeling if he wanted out, he could have smashed through our magic like the Kool-Aid man went through walls in the old commercials.

Instead, he crossed his arms. “You promised to release me.”

I glanced at his eyes and turned my back to him. It was the only way I could keep my gaze from locking on his nether region again. “It’s not him. It’s this stupid sigil.” I rubbed it as if I could wipe the magical ink away.

The contented growl rumbling from Chaos’s chest reminded me just how strong our connection was. Temptation to turn around and ask him what part of his body he felt me touching when I did that had my shoulders threatening to swivel, but I maintained control.

“He needs clothes.”

Ember scoffed. “He needs to be vanquished.”

“Just…” I looked at Chaos and bit my lower lip. “Can you go get him some of Dad’s pants? Anything to cover up…” I motioned to his junk, which earned me another smirk from the Prince of Hell.

“Dad was a beanpole compared to him.” She crossed her arms, shifting her weight to one leg. “His clothes won’t fit.”

“Find something stretchy. Sweatpants, or hell, even a towel to wrap around his waist. Something.” I tilted my head. “Please?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Do not release him while I’m gone.”

I drew an X over my heart. “I won’t. I promise.”

After giving Chaos the stink eye and me a warning look, she turned on her heel and headed upstairs.

“If your father’s clothes don’t fit, I could stay naked…and you could join me.” Heat flashed in his eyes, and for half a nanosecond, I considered his offer.

“Bad demon.” I shook my finger at him. “You’re not supposed to flirt with me, remember?”

He spread his hands to his sides. “I’m the naked one this time.”

“We’re even now. You’ve seen me; I’ve seen you. No more solicitations. I’m not interested.”

“Then why do you keep staring at my dick?”

I flicked my gaze to his eyes, trying to keep a neutral expression. It was hard not to stare at it, especially since it had gone from flaccid to halfway hard in a matter of seconds.

He chuckled. “Admit it. You like what you see.”

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