Page 51 of Lucifer's Redemption

Fuck, that damn lip.

Her begging and whining had me burning to do unspeakable things to her.I will have to figure out what was normal because I want to slap her ass until she obeys me.

"If you are a good girl…" Her eyes widened, and her arms dropped to her sides. Her heart immediately picked up in her chest, and her breath hitched in the back of her throat.

Bing-fucking-o. She definitely liked that.

"If you’re a good girl, I'll tell you everything you want to know and then some," I purred, extending my hand again. Uriel's hand shook as she finally let the smoothness of her palm hit my rough one. Pulling her to me, I put my hand around her waist.

Fates. I craved her body.

"Are you going to behave now?" I hummed in her ear. "Or do I have to punish you, little bunny?" The heat of my breath tickled her ear as she giggled.

Either she doesn’t think I’m serious, or the tingles are becoming too much for her little body.

As I smiled at her, she cupped her mouth with her hand, giggling silently to herself. I cocked my head in confusion, and she pointed to my mouth. "You look great when you smile. You should do it more often." She blushed.

I elongated my fangs before smiling again to see if it disturbed her. Something about the hint of fear in her eyes excited me. Gasping, she jumped up and down like it was some miracle that I could change my appearance so easily.

"Oh my! Grandma, what big teeth you have!" A snort left her nose.

Biting my lip to restrain a smirk, I returned the timeless story with a reply, "All the better to eat you with, my dear." I snarled a primal growl at her.

"Oh no! Don't eat me!" she playfully screamed. Reluctantly, she escaped my arms and ran towards the stables. She didn't even let her wings explode from her body. Instead, her dainty ballet flats hit the grass, parting each blade with the softness of her shoes. I laughed, shaking my head as I chased after her.

Seeing as how I was exceedingly fit, I could catch up to her easily, but taking my time was more fun. I couldn’t remember the last time I ran out of pure joy or playfulness. The only time I ran was to extricate some dirty soul from the pits to release my fury upon them. This was different; it caused my heart to beat in ways it never had before. It flipped in my chest, rising in my throat as her laughter permeated the entire palace grounds.

Demon servants who tended the garden rose their heads, wiping the sweat from their brows. They watched the girl who was screaming in laughter intently. Her dress whipped around her legs, and Uriel's body continued to sway in slow motion as she ran from me. I feasted upon every inch of her body as it bounced with each passing foot into the grass.

As I followed her intoxicating gardenia scent trailing from her hair brushing into the wind she created, I glimpsed Ares hanging outside the palace walls by a rope. His legs were bound by my father's thick trails of smoke, hanging upside down and bleeding from his head.

Watching me chase after my mate, Ares' hands cupped together before he screamed, "Yeah, man! Gobble her up you big, bad wolf!"

Groaning, I didn't let his rude comments deter me in my fervor to catch my new, little bunny. I would not permit her to evade me for long.

The stables were immense, several stories high, housing the most exotic of animals. They quickly came into view as I trailed my mate. The dark, wooden doors of the stable were open, revealing Father's most prized horses from battles fought long ago. Before Uriel reached the entrance, I grabbed her from behind. Her breath was heaving as I wrapped my arms securely around her body.

"I caught my little, white rabbit," I whispered in her ear. Instead of tensing at my touch, she relaxed and pooled into my arms.

"Now, will you tell me everything I want to know?" Her head twisted, permitting me to stare into those golden eyes.

"Soon," I whispered, grabbing her hand.

I led her along over fifty stalls holding horses. Today, I would take her on my finest horse, one I was gifted when I was ten years old. I had spent little time with my capricious stallion. His spirit was wild and volatile with any other handler, so he spent most of his days in the field corralling the mares for his harem. I couldn’t recall how many demons refused to tend to him, but the number continued to grow, so he remained wild unless I took care of him. I groomed him weekly and tended to his needs since I was the only one able to touch him.

Uriel continued to inspect each stall, eyes filled with wonder and innocence. Stallions, mares, and the few pegasi that were being groomed put their heads through the windows, watching Uriel with curious eyes. Uriel was a wonder, her spirit like a child who craved the world before her.

As we approached my stallion’s stall, you could hear his cries, begging to be released for the day. His hooves banged furiously against the stall doors, leaving deep impressions of his fury at being kept from his daily schedule.

"Absalom," I called. The neighing and grunting ceased abruptly as his head poked through the window of his stall.

Uriel gasped, watching his red eyes peer at her with curiosity. "He's so pretty," she cooed, walking towards him.

"Careful!" I pulled her back. "He's not exactly tame. He’s only amicable with me, but I wanted you to meet him."

As much as I wanted Uriel to ride Absalom with me, it was likely that it wouldn't happen, but one had to try. She was my mate, and surely the animal I regarded dearly would take a liking to her. Absalom stilled, his head lowered, and his snout reached for Uriel. A flick of his head beckoned her closer. My hand still clung to hers as she tentatively reached for the top of his forehead. Absalom's eyes blinked closed, feeling the touch of Uriel's hand in his forelock.

My only childhood friend, whom I sought for comfort before my anger became too great had accepted Uriel.

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