Page 5 of Lust

I turn my head away from Anthura to finally see who it is who’ll be leading us through this new nightmare. My pulse thunders in my ears, not to mention my still half stiff cock as I take in the glorious vision before me. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life has taken her place at the front of the group. Beside her, standing like bodyguards with their arms crossed over their chests, are two demons, both so huge, they dwarf the beauty in between them. Suddenly, nights with Anthura fall far from my mind. This woman, whoever she is, will be getting the full Felix Barclay charm. Especially if she’s in charge now. I’ll no longer have use for Anthura. Two birds. One fucking huge stone that I might have to bludgeon Anthura with.

The woman possesses a lithe frame, her brown skin radiating a warm pink glow under the strange lights. Her body is a masterpiece, every curve and contour carved to perfection. I already know this is the woman I’m going to spend the next few weeks with until I can get out of this hellhole. I throw Anthura back her rule book and head over to the woman, slipping in between her and everyone else. I extend my hand. “Felix Barclay at your service.”

When she looks at me, it’s like there’s no one else in the room. I can see in her eyes that it won’t take much persuasion to get her into my bed. The woman is practically drooling. There's an unmistakable spark of attraction between us, and I can almost taste the anticipation in the air. It's clear that persuading her to join me in my bed will require minimal effort. The thought excites me, amplifying the pulse of adrenaline coursing through my veins. For the first time in my life, I’ve found someone that I might want to spend more than a few torrid nights with. She’s that good looking and if the way she’s licking her lips and staring at me is anything to go by, she’ll be in my bed before the day is over. I don’t even care that both Snowflake and Angelis got through. Why should I care about anyone else when this vision is here?

“Noémi,” she drawls seductively. “Eet’s a pleasure to meet you, Felix.” Her French accent makes her even sexier. So this is the woman that Anthura lost out to. “I theenk we are all going to ‘ave some fun zese next few weeks, no?”

Fucking hell, this woman could make me come with just her voice, though I can think of other ways she can put that gorgeous mouth to use on me. My cock twitches as I imagine Noémi’s plump pink lips wrapped round it.

“Felix isn’t here to have fun,” Anthura cuts in, pushing the giant demons out of the way and giving me a hard stare. “We’re all here for the games and nothing more. Maybe we should start them, Noémi?”

Her smile barely conceals the anger bubbling beneath the surface, her sharpness cutting through the air like a knife. Without hesitation, she seizes my wrist, her grip firm, and pulls me away from Noémi. “Don’t even think about fucking her,” she hisses when we are out of earshot.

“Of course not,” I reply smoothly. Anthura must know I’m bullshitting her, but she doesn’t say another word as we sit together on one of the god-awful pink seats. Moloch hovers around behind us like he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself.

I glance back at Noémi, irritated that she’s now giving the same smile to Dade Angelis that she gave to me. I’m surprised he got through after Anthura practically blurted out that he murdered two people in the second trial. My eye tics slightly. I can’t stand the guy, but at least he doesn’t seem affected by Noémi’s stunning beauty. He’s barely looking at her. Now he’s simpering after Snowflake, he won’t be a problem. It’s pathetic how his eyes are like magnets and she’s due north. What’s worse is that she keeps looking at him. Another rush of irritation rushes through my veins. He fucking murdered two people and she still can’t keep her eyes away from him. Not that I care. She’s a murdering bitch, too. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be in this godforsaken hell hole in the first place. They’re welcome to each other. Remy is a fucking idiot to even think about dating the bitch, but then again, Remy got to Candice before I did in the final trial. That fucked my plans right up, but with Candice out of the equation, there’s more space in my bed for Noémi. As if on cue, both Remy and Candice enter the room from the stairwell. It’s clear to anyone with eyes that they slept together last night, or at least found each other this morning for a quickie, but the second he sees Snowflake, he gravitates over to her. I have really no idea what he sees in her. She’s a skinny wretch who usually dresses like she’s woken up in a dumpster. As he takes a seat to the side of her, Angelis looks like he wants to murder the pair of them. I hope he does. The fewer people in this fucked up game, the better. If he can murder that stupid bitch and, hopefully, take himself out with her, that would solve two of my most pressing problems.

“Everyone, take a seat,” Noémi says, her voice dripping with honey. “Bienvenue to ze seconde stage of ze Inferno Games. Many of you will know each ozer from ze first circle, but we've consolidated a number of towers, so zere will be people you don't know. Almost everyone here is from Purgatory, but we do 'ave a few people zat reside 'ere zat lost in zeir seconde round and will be trying again. By my count, we 'ave fifty-eight people competing to go into ze troisième circle. Each and every one of you will become amis, and maybe more zan amis. Zis is ze circle de amour after all.”

“Circle of sexual deviants, more like,” Anthura hisses under her breath. She gives me a shove. “You’ll fit right in!”

Ignoring her, I fixate on Noémi.

“Mon nom es Noémi Laurent and I'll be your guide for zis Circle. You all know 'ow ze games work. Zere will be trois trials wheech you'll 'ave to pass all of zem to proceed. My assistants Asmodée and Arch will also 'elp you.” She gestures to the two walls of muscle behind her.

“Zis tower is set out très similar to ze tower you've just left. Your rooms coincide wiz ze rooms you just vacated. Ze main restaurant is juste behind you and ees open day and night. Below us is ze entertainment level. You'll find some subtle and some not-so-subtle differences to ze level in Purgatory, but you'll still find ze Earthery and many of ze same fun things to do, plus a petite extra zat is special to our circle. You may 'ave noticed zat your clothes 'ave been replaced. We like sexy 'ere, so we've mixed zings up a leetle. Tomorrow will mark ze start of ze Second Circle's Inferno Games, but for now...” Noémi’s voice trails off, her hands clapping together with a certain flair. She pivots gracefully, directing her gaze towards Juliette Perez, who happens to be positioned directly opposite me on the other end of the sofa. “Let's play a game to get to know each ozer better. Tell me your name and your greatest desire. Your desires can be magical, mundane, wild... sexual.” Noémi‘s voice dips into a range so sensual, I could eat the woman out right here in front of everyone and not feel the slightest bit of embarrassment.

“We ‘ave no secrets ‘ere.”

“Why?” Everyone’s eyes turn to Dade. He’s like a harbinger of death, so completely out of place in the pink room. This is the first time I’ve heard him speak aloud in front of others. Trust him to question everything. Why the fuck does it matter why?

“Wizzout inteeemate knowledge of each ozer, you will not get through zis circle and my games,” Noémi explains patiently.

I’m more than intimate enough with most of the people here. Way too much in some cases. My eyes flick to who I’m paired up with and revulsion fills my senses. Anthura must think I’m fucking insane if she expects me to get intimate with that. I think I’ll take my chances with Noémi and do what that other freak Twila did in the last round. Fuck the boss to gain passage.

“No.” Dade stands and strides over to the stairwell, kicking the door before slamming it behind him. Looks like the guy finally grew some balls.

Noémi takes it in her stride. “I’ll talk to ‘im later. So, let’s start. Juliette eesn’t it?”

Juliette leans forward, showing cleavage a mountaineer could get lost in. “Hi everyone. I’m Juliette. I’d like to be railed by multiple men at once. Preferably ones who actually know what they are doing.” She’s not even looking at Noémi, but at the colossal half dressed demons beside her. Asmodée and Arch, or whatever their names are. Disgusting fucking slut.

Noémi doesn’t bat an eyelid. “Parfait! And who ees your partner?

Juliette’s nose shrivels up as she looks over to Orlin, who’s busy staring vacantly at his knees. “I came through with Orlin Moss, but I was wondering about that. Do I have to stay as his partner? I mean, can we swap for someone else?” Her eyes drift back to the demons. It’s pathetic how obvious she is.

Noémi shakes her head. “Eet's not up to me to say. ‘ades will be 'ere tomorrow wiz details of ze trois trials, ze first of which weel start zen and weel be very sexy. I do know for ze first trial you will 'ave to participate wiz your partner.”

I smirk at the look on Juliette’s face. She’s attractive, but she’s a bitch and surrounds herself with the worst scum. If she kept her mouth shut, I might have tried coming through with her.

“Oo wants to share next?”

Snowflake raises her hand, almost falling off her swing in the process. “I’m Quinn Valentine,” she says clearly. “My biggest desire is to get through this circle so I can get to my sister, who is in the Seventh Circle. That’s why I came to Hell and why I entered the competition.”

The woman sitting in a love seat beside her, gasps audibly. She’s good looking in a kind of cutesy way, with dark blonde hair that she’s currently wearing in pigtails. Next to her sits a guy who must be twice her size with muscles that could crack nuts. He’s got black hair and a beard and, despite his size, looks just as excited by the proceedings as his partner. And if the fact that they are holding hands isn’t enough to tell the world they are together, they are also wearing the most nauseating matching shirts I’ve ever had the displeasure to see. His says I COME IN PEACE and hers, in the same font, says I’M PEACE.

If they didn’t come to hell for the very reason of wearing those monstrosities, the whole fucking system is rigged.

“Belle! What about you, Peace?” Noémi asks. “What ees your favorite fantasy?”

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