Page 28 of Magic and Mayhem

When we break apart, I don’t step back. Instead, I stare into his silver-rimmed eyes and cup his cheek.

“You called me yours out there. Can you tell me what you meant by that?”

This feeling in my chest says that I already know the answer. The way he came to my defense, putting himself between me and potential danger like a beast on a mission. It made the heat that coursed through me on stage feel like child’s play.

I’ve never been with a man before, let alone a demon larger than any man I have ever met. I’ve only ever had a handful of orgasms while hiding in my little room, and they were just because I wanted to explore my body, never solely for pleasure.

But on that stage,thatwas for pleasure. I want to know why he did it. And then I want him to do it again.

“You’re mine, Ev.” His clawed finger runs over the mark on my arm, the one that burns with intensity when he touches it. “In all the ways that matter.”

“You don’t have any other marks like this,” I note,scanning his arms and torso and finding him bare. “Why?”

“These are special. Made only between a demon and someone he cares for outside of their deal. I only have one. I will only ever have one.”

He presses on the center of the five pointed star on my flesh and a jolt of electricity lights up my entire body. “Eryx,” I breathe.

“Say my name again, Love.”

He makes the move again and I lean against him, feeling his arousal against my stomach. “Don’t stop.”

If I could pinpoint the moment that made me want this demon, it would definitely be when he shifted. And now as I cling to Eryx’s strong form, I realize that this might be insane, but I can’t stop myself.

My arms reach up to wind around his neck, and he lifts me seamlessly so that my legs wrap around him.

Eryx walks us over to the bed, lying me down and staring into my eyes. But then he shifts back into his human form.

I move under him, shaking my head. “Why did you do that?”

“I…” He looks down at his body, then to me. “I thought this would be easier for you. You’re so…small.”

Okay, wow. Moment ruined.

Moving until I can crawl off of the bed, Eryx stares at me.

“I don’t know what it is about me that made you think I can’t handle you in your true form, but that’s far from the truth. I’ve been clear since the moment I saw you. What you are doesn’t scare me. So maybe stop trying to protect me from the monster I asked to kill for me. I chose you for a reason.”

He sits up, shifting his arousal that is clearly digging into his pants.

“Well excuse me, Ev. I just figured that the human who didn’t want to change in front of me might wish for me to take this slow.”

I run a hand through my hair, pacing. This isn’t how I imagined my first time. In fact, I never really did imagine it unless I was reading a romance book. And even then, I didn’t think it would ever really be in the cards for me.

But now that it’s happening, I feel restless. I know that I want something real, something true. And it doesn’t feel right to even touch him in his human form, much less have sex with him in it.

“I may have needed your protection because the man who hurt me has too many followers for me to take on alone, but I amnota fragile thing.”

He tilts his head, assessing. “I beg to differ.”

Rage coils inside of me. “You know what, Eryx? Go fuck yourself.”

Both of us are stunned by my words, but then Eryx shifts back into the purple demon I’m coming to adore.

He prowls towards me with an air of violence surrounding him that speaks of all the sinful things he wants to do to me. Of all the things Iwanthim to do to me.

Eryx laughs, his abs drawing my attention until my gaze follows the powerful V that leads down to the bulge in his pants. “Right now, Ev? In front of you? Or can I get some privacy first?”

I scoff at him. “Privacy is just an illusion, remember?”

---