Page 39 of Commanding Chaos

She held me with her gaze, her bright blue eyes filled with secrets I would love to unravel. “Goodnight, Chaos.”

Perhaps, in time, I would get the chance. “Goodnight, Ash.”

14

ASH

I slept like the dead, waking on my side, in the same position as when I’d closed my eyes last night. Chaos lay beside me, utterly still, aside from the even rise and fall of his chest. I ran my hand down my side, checking my clothes. Everything was in place. Unless he’d used his magic to keep me asleep, undressed and redressed me, he’d kept his hands to himself.

I kind of wished he hadn’t.

No. No, I didn’t. I was beat, and he was respectful, and that was the way it should be. Still, the thought of a Prince of Hell ravishing me, having his way with me, made my lady parts tingle and my mouth water.

Only this Prince of Hell, though. Geez Louise, I had the hots for the very thing I was supposed to keep Salem safe from. For the thing that cursed me. Get yourself together, Ash.

But Chaos wasn’t a thing. He wasn’t some mindless demon, hell-bent on destroying our world and everyone in it. He was a person. He had feelings, opinions, a sense of humor that matched my own.

Not to mention his smoking hot body.

He’d be returning to Hell when all this was through. How bad would it be if I enjoyed him while he was here?

He lay on his side, facing me, and I hovered my hand above his shoulder, moving down to his hip. Not touching…just feeling his warmth. The tiny hairs on his skin stood on end as I passed my hand over his arm, his body reacting to mine, even in his sleep.

His face was a work of art. He had a chiseled jaw, strong cheekbones, and deep-set eyes. My fingers hovered above his cheek, and I couldn’t help myself. I brushed the tips to his soft skin, tracing them down his jaw, toward his lips.

I could still feel his mouth pressed to mine, taste the warm spice of his tongue. I moved my fingers up his face to brush a lock of dark brown hair off his forehead.

“You’re allowed to touch me, but I can’t touch you? That hardly seems fair.”

“Oh crap.” I jerked my hand away, and he opened his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

A flirtatious smile played on his lips. “I don’t mind.”

“No, no. Consent works both ways. I shouldn’t have done that.” I sat up and smoothed my shirt down my stomach.

He propped his head on his hand. “You have my consent to touch me whenever…and wherever…you please.”

Heat spread across my cheeks, no doubt turning me beet red. “I should take a shower.”

“Would you like company?”

Yes. “Not a chance.”

He returned his head to the pillow. “I’ll be here if you change your mind.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” I got up, grabbed some clean clothes, and locked myself in the bathroom.

Good goddess, I looked a mess. The pillow not only smushed my hair into a rat’s nest on one side, but it created a lovely crisscrossing pattern down my cheek. A bit of dried drool clung to my lip—good thing I didn’t try to kiss him—and my makeup looked like a five-year-old had tried to give me smokey eyes.

I brushed my teeth, detangled my hair, and stared at my raccoon mask in the mirror. With a wet washcloth, I wiped away yesterday’s makeup, which would have easily come off in the shower. What are you doing, Ash?

Tugging up my sleeve, I looked at the sigil on my arm. The mark of Chaos. The thing that made him mine. If I removed it, would I still want him this badly? Would he still want me?

I looked at the lock on the door. If I opened it, invited him in, how far would we go? All the way, if I were being honest. An image flashed in my mind of him turning from his demonic to human form. Good goddess, he was a sight to see.

Could he hold onto his human form if we did the deed, or would he transform right in the middle of it? Would I mind?

I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head. I couldn’t think like this. Not while our town had gone to shit and my sister and parents were missing. Focus, woman. I tossed my dirty clothes into the hamper and hopped into the shower, turning it as cold as I could stand it.

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