
A Total-E-Bound Publication
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The Devil Made Me Do It
ISBN # 978-1-906811-09-9
©Copyright Alysha Ellis 2008
Cover Art by Anne Cain ©Copyright August 2008
Edited by Janice Bennett
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author's imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2008 by Total-E-Bound Publishing 1 The Corner, Faldingworth Road, Spridlington, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 2DE, UK.
Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning.
THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
Alysha Ellis
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Armani: Giorgio Armani S.P.A.
Chanel: Chanel, Inc.
Prada: Prada S.A.
"Shame on you for looking at such filth."
Jess looked from the book in her hand to the pursed lips and disapproving frown of the woman who'd spoken. She looked back at the thin volume again. She still didn't get the connection.
The woman, clearly irritated by Jess' confusion, stabbed a rigid finger towards the cover. "Would you want your mother to know you read such vile stuff? That picture alone would make any mother weep."
Jess couldn't argue with her. The gorgeous hunk, with the rippling pecs, awesome six pack and his shorts pulled down almost but not quite far enough, damn near made her weep as well. Especially since the only excitement she had in her life at the moment came from books like these and looking at pictures of naked men on the internet.
And now some self-appointed moral crusader wanted to take even that away from her.
Jess fought against the urge to put the book back on the shelf and pretend she hadn't been really interested in it anyway. Why did people feel obligated to try to make her ashamed of perfectly legitimate choices? Through tight lips she recited her mantra, "This is a book shop, this book is for sale and I am a mature adult who has the means and the time to read what I want."
Wishing she had the courage to ignore the woman's disapproval and hold the book with its cover displayed for all to see, Jess turned away and slunk to the checkout.
By the time she stalked down the side street to the car park she was furious, at both herself and the interfering do-gooder. No one was around to hear her, so she gave in to her anger and muttered her list of complaints aloud.
"I am so sick of holier-than-thou types telling me what to do and what to think. I am sick of everyone telling me if it's enjoyable, it must be evil. All I'm trying to do is to enjoy my life. If that makes me a wicked woman, then I guess I'm going to Hell. Why can't I read sexy books, eat too much chocolate, drink too much wine and screw my brains out with a man who really appreciates hot, sweaty, raunchy sex, without someone telling me I should feel guilty about it?" She stopped and thought for a moment. "To do that last one I'd actually need a man, which I don't happen to have at the moment." Her shoulders slumped. "I admit it, I'm desperate. I'd be prepared to get down and dirty with the Devil himself if he'd devote a few hours to my personal pleasure and make me come, screaming."
"Okay. I can do that. Let's go."
Jess spun around. Her heart pounded painfully and she cursed her lack of awareness, even though it was broad daylight. The man standing before her was tall and powerfully built, looking like one of the models on the covers of the books she loved. Jess couldn't believe he'd been able to get so close without her noticing.
"Leave me alone."
Her voice was a lot shakier than she wanted it to be. It certainly didn't intimidate the stranger. He didn't back off an inch.
"Hell, no. You said you'd get down and dirty with the Devil. It sounded good to me. So here I am."
Jess started to back slowly away. "You're crazy. Beat it."
The man stepped closer. "Jess, you're frustrated, angry and bored. You want hot, sweaty, raunchy, guilt-free sex. You want a real man, not something on the internet, and you are definitely over sex with your vibrator. I can fix all that."
"How do you know that? How do you know my name?"
"I know everything about you. I can give you everything you want."
His voice was velvety, deep and seductive. He had the face of a fallen angel. The heavy lidded smoulder of his dark eyes promised all manner of sensuous delights. He didn't look or sound like a lunatic or a serial killer. He looked like the embodiment of every one of Jess' wildest desires.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
His eyes never left her face. "The Devil, of course."
She looked at his perfect body, at his beautifully shaped head covered in smooth, glossy, black hair. "Aren't you supposed to have," Jess wiggled her hands above her head, "you know, horns?"
"Do I look like a cow to you?" The Devil let out a frustrated sigh and cast a glance skywards. "I blame Up There's PR people. I have told them, over and over, if they're going to try to turn people away from the old religions, the least they could do is get it right. 'The Devil is horny', not 'The Devil is horned'. But is anyone ever told that? No! Everyone expects to see sharp pointy things sticking out of my head. You have no idea how bad it is for my image." He folded his arms, looking sexier than any human being had a right to be.
Jess dragged her thoughts back from all the places the idea of him being horny had taken her. "And the tail?"
He smirked and looked decidedly smug. "Oh well, the tail. Parents use stories about me to scare children. They can't say 'The Devil is hung like a stallion'. They like to keep things G-rated and they certainly don't want their little darlings to suffer penis envy. Better to use a metaphor. A fairly accurate one really."
His grin was truly evil, but somehow it didn't scare Jess. It just gave her a brief flare of delicious heat.
She stood mesmerised as he stepped closer and ran his fingers up her thigh. He cupped his hand over her mound and squeezed. "You know what you want. Don't be afraid to take it. I can make you come, screaming. I can make you come in a lot of ways. All we need to do is get down to it."
"Down to it?"
One finger unerringly sought out her clit through her clothes and pulsated there. "Oh yeah, we're going straight to Hell."
Jess went rigid with shock. She tried to ignore the fire spreading out from his wicked finger. "I, um, I, er, I don't think I want to go to Hell."
The Devil stroked harder. "Of course you do. Just for a while. A little holiday." He whispered in her ear, "You don't want to go to heaven. It's really dull up there. All those super-virtuous types doing nothing but sitting around looking pure and singing and playing boring elevator music on the harp. We can have much more fun than that."
Jess stopped trying to resist. She was getting pretty close to heaven right at that moment. Still she managed to gasp out, "But isn't Hell, well, hell?"
Without bothering to answer, the Devil bit Jess' neck. At the same time, his fingers intensified their intoxicating pace. A net of heat, hunger and need wound itself tightly between her legs. Her knees sagged apart. He plundered deeper and harder. The throb of orgasm pulsed through her body, loosening her muscles and leaving them trembling. Only the strength of the arm at her back and the hand still curved at the apex of her thighs stopped her from collapsing at his feet. Every bit of energy drained from her body, momentarily taking caution, common sense and doubt with it.
The Devil raised his head and looked at her. "It's all just bad press. Come with me and see for yourself. We can continue with this here." He looked up and down the street. "But while the chance of public exposure adds a delightful element of risk to a quick fuck, I can do so much better on home territory. Give into temptation. You'll burn in Hell and love every minute of it."
While Jess was trying to get her sex-soaked brain to remember why that would be a bad idea, she noticed someone standing a few yards away at the end of the street. One look confirmed it was the woman from the bookstore. The outraged expression on her face made it clear she knew what had been happening only moments before. Jess felt her face begin to flame.
The Devil whispered something in Jess' ear, bent and dragged Jess' panties down and off. He held them up to his nose, breathed in deeply, smiled, then handed them to Jess. He whispered once more and gave her a little nudge. Jess tossed the panties at the feet of the outraged woman.
The woman gave a horrified gasp. Her mouth opened and closed, highlighting her unfortunate resemblance to a stranded carp.
Jess held her hands up apologetically and called, "The Devil made me do it," just before she and the Devil disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"A puff of smoke? Isn't that a bit clichéd?" Jess tried to peer up at the Devil, but he had her clasped too tightly to his chest. Not that she was complaining. It was a very nice chest.
"People like that think in clichés." His grip loosened a little. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to crush you." Through clenched teeth, he added, "All I want to do is to get people to embrace the sensuous side of themselves. To remove the stupid prejudice against pleasure. When I meet a woman like that, so grim and so judgmental, I can't help but play to her preconceptions. Must be the devil in me." He gave a slightly strained laugh. "I don't want to waste time talking about her. I'd much rather concentrate on getting a bit of the devil in you."
"Yes." Jess' voice was shaky and she wasn't sure exactly what she was saying yes to.
"So we have a deal. I take you on a tour of Hell and teach you how to unlock your sensuality."
"What...what do I have to do? What's my side of the bargain?"
A wicked smile played about his lips. "You just have to...enjoy it."
He let Jess go. Deprived of his support and heat, she flopped backwards onto a bed covered in rich golds and reds. It looked and felt totally luxurious.
The Devil took one long stride to the foot of the bed and, leaning forward, grasped Jess' ankles in his hands. In an instant he spread her legs apart and fastened each foot into loops attached to the intricately wrought metal of the bed frame.
He grasped her wrists and tied them together and looped the tie over the bed head.
The bonds were fastened before Jess had time to react or escape. Her heartbeat raced as adrenalin flooded her system. It cleared the lust-induced fog from her brain. She faced the cold, terrifying reality of what she'd done. She'd let the Devil take her to Hell. All the risks that she'd taken in her life didn't add up to the sheer overwhelming magnitude of the stupidity of this one.
The blood drained from her face. Icy shivers of dread raced up and down her spine.
The Devil stood at the end of the bed and watched her. His ethereally beautiful face was a mask, hiding his thoughts, making it impossible to judge his intentions. She was bound, helpless and vulnerable, defenceless against anything he chose to do to her. Her eyes turned beseechingly towards him and begged. "Please, don't hurt me."
The Devil shook his head. "You still don't get it, do you? I don't want to hurt you. It's all about pleasure. Guilt free, come-your-brains-out pleasure."
She was too afraid to believe him. "Then why have you tied me up? If it's really all about pleasure, you wouldn't need to. I won't run away."
"No, but you might let your inhibitions interfere. This way, you can't. All the control is mine. I like it that way. You will too. Believe me, once we've eradicated your fears and expectations of good behaviour, you'll be free to explore all the pleasures Hell has to offer."
The thick honey of his voice soothed her fear and replaced it with the warmth of renewed desire. Jess turned and twisted to free herself from the restraints that kept her from touching him.
The Devil watched her with his arms folded. "You can't get away, but I don't mind you trying. I like to watch."
With her panties on the street where she'd thrown them, Jess suddenly realised from the Devil's position at the end of the bed he could see straight up between her legs. Every one of her muscles tightened.
He must have known where her thoughts had gone and smiled at her. "Yes. It's very sexy. Kind of kinky too, you with your skirt on and your sweet little pussy peeking out at me." He moved in closer. "And it's no use pretending you're not getting turned on. I can see the colour deepening. Such a dark, passionate pink."
He breathed in deeply. "The perfume of your arousal is beautiful."
He reached out and pushed her skirt up to her waist. "I want to look at you."
He folded his arms and simply stared at the feast spread before him. His concentration appeared to be absolute. At first Jess squirmed with discomfort, but the intensity of his gaze was a fire, spreading and burning its way through her body. She could feel a warm flood glistening and spreading over her pussy, making it swell and pulse. She tried to squeeze her legs together, whether to protect herself from his eyes or to relieve the aching need, she didn't know. The restraints held firm.
His dark voice commanded, "Don't fight it. Don't resist it. Enjoy it. Tell me what you feel."
"I feel embarrassed. Uncomfortable."
He drew one finger across her forehead and lightly tapped her temple. "Forget what you've been conditioned to believe. Switch off your mind and let your body speak. Listen to what it is telling you. Concentrate on your needs. On your desire."
She stilled and, for perhaps the first time in her life, concentrated only on what she was feeling, on how her body responded to sexual stimulation. She felt the tight tingle as her nipples hardened. Felt the electric buzz along her nerves, sizzling down to some deep, internal throbbing and pulsing point. Felt the swelling of her clit as it engorged. Felt the muscles of her vagina clench and flex with the need to be filled. Knew there was a hunger building, yearning to be fed.
The Devil leaned over her, his voice low and insistent. "Tell me, Jess. Tell me what you need."
The answer came from a place deep inside, visceral and primitive. "I need you to touch me. Please. Your fingers, your tongue, your cock, anything."
His hands smoothed a glowing path over her body. Her clothes melted away in their wake.
He lowered his lips to her breast, sucking at the nipple, swirling and rasping his tongue around it. Sensation flashed along her nerves like a spark on a line of gunpowder.
He moved his head to her other breast, and flames ignited in every cell of her body. His tongue, hot and wet, tantalised and teased as it licked its way down the line of her stomach to where a neat, waxed strip of hair framed her sex.
He paused, torturing her. She felt the heated flood of moisture trickle down between her legs. Her vagina twitched and pulsed, making her writhe, desperate for relief. Still he waited until she whispered incoherent pleas, begging for his touch to send her over the edge.
In one sudden move he closed his mouth over her clitoris and plunged two fingers deep into her pussy. He sucked fiercely on the tight knot while pushing hard from inside her.
Her orgasm struck so hard and fast, she levitated an inch or two off the bed, her heart beat echoing in her ears. Her quiet moan vibrated in harmony with the last waves of her release.
She slumped down, boneless and replete. The restraints still held her in position. She slowly opened her eyes. The Devil was making no move to untie her.
"We're not finished yet. That was just a teaser."
Jess nodded warily. "Okay. But if you untie me, I can participate too."
"When you have learned enough, you'll get your turn. But until I say differently, it's going to be this way."
He tore off his clothes as he spoke, causing Jess to gasp. His cock was huge. Hard. Thick. Ridged with veins. Her breath hitched. The head of it appeared to glow with its own heat and power. It twitched under her gaze then released one glistening drop of pre-cum. His hand straddled its base, thumb thrusting down one side, his long fingers cradling his balls on the other. The pressure he applied made his cock thrust out.
Jess instinctively tried to close her legs. The ankle ropes stayed taut, keeping them wide apart.
Her lips trembled. She wanted to shut her eyes but couldn't. She flicked her gaze upwards, but it never quite reached his face. Her attention was caught by his wide shoulders and the smooth bulge of muscle curving into his arm in a rounded arc. Jess' tongue curled with longing to trace the drop of sweat that trickled along the path of a single vein arrowing downwards like a flesh-covered cord.
Her eyes followed the bend of his elbow to the shaded, shallow valley created by the twin bunches of muscles in his forearm. A meandering delta of veins drew her eyes inevitably back to where they had started. His large, square hands stroked up and down his cock, tempting her beyond reason, beyond fear.
"You can take it, Jess. Imagine the feel of it. Long and hot and thick. Inside you, stretching you, reaching places no one has reached before."
Her entire body twitched as she did as he commanded and let her imagination work. Once again, desire flared. She could almost feel the searing sting of ecstasy of such a magnificent cock, pushed up inside her, pounding into her over and over.
The Devil rubbed his fingers across her wet labia then spread her moisture over his cock. "You're hot and wet and slippery. You can take me. Let me fill you. Don't worry. Don't think. Just feel. I want to fuck you so hard that you'll wonder if you'll ever be able to walk again. I want to make you come till you forget who you are. Then I want to come inside you until you remember."
He parted the lips of her pussy with one hand, and with the other guided himself into her. She could feel her labia and the walls of her vagina stretching and expanding, straining to accommodate his enormous size. But he was right, she could take him and she loved it. Nothing had ever felt so good.
Nothing, that is, until he started to move. With her legs tied wide open, each stroke of his long, thick cock rubbed and pushed its base against her swollen clitoris. Every nerve ending in her pussy burned with the pressure. She could feel the fevered rush of blood as it throbbed in her veins. Her conscious mind disappeared in a scarlet, glowing haze. Her body shook as she came.
The clenching of her internal muscles around the Devil's cock made him drive into her harder and faster. The loops on her ankles now not only held her legs apart but were an anchor preventing the force of his thrusts from driving her into the head of the bed.
Her heart thudded in her chest in time with the pounding of his cock, an insistent, relentless rhythm.
Her vagina quivered again, but this time every muscle in her body spasmed with it in a total body orgasm. The world went dark.
The sound of him shouting her name as he came brought her back to the light. His body shuddered and vibrated. Her stretched tissues felt the powerful contractions of his cock as it pumped out the Devil's seed.
"Condom. You didn't use a condom."
The Devil reached leisurely up to untie Jess' hands and gently massaged her shoulders. After the wild ferocity of what had gone before, his touch was surprisingly tender. "The whole safe sex thing is so nauseatingly virtuous. I know, in the world it's necessary. But this is Hell. We don't do that here."
Jess' latent, puritanical streak jumped into the conversation. "Well you should. Disease is not fun, and neither is running the risk of unwanted pregnancy."
The Devil's hands stopped their sensuous exploration of Jess' back. "You know, for someone who asked to have sex with the Devil and expressed a willingness to go to Hell, you don't seem to know too much about it. This is a kingdom, and I'm in charge. I have the power to arrange things the way I like them. Nothing happens here that displeases me. I don't have any diseases, and there are no unwanted pregnancies."
He bent down to untie her ankles, stopping to bestow a kiss on her saturated pussy on the way.
When Jess got her breath back, she said, "I thought Hell was supposed to be all about punishment. From what I've read, disease would be the least of what you could expect."
The Devil leaned back against the headboard of the bed, draping his forearm across one lifted knee. He looked so delicious, only temporary exhaustion stopped Jess from throwing herself at him. She was also deeply curious. She wanted---no, she needed---to know more.
He rested his chin on his clenched fist. "Over the years I have had so much bad press. It's like Up There's PR deliberately distorts every piece of information about this place. I try to point out that in Hell we celebrate heated physical encounters, and the next thing I know people are being told they'll be tortured in eternal flames. The power to indulge all physical desires gets turned around and people expect to be force-fed chocolate until they choke on it, or to drown, literally, in champagne. I tell you, if I weren't such an optimistic, upbeat person, I could get very depressed about it. I'm a nice guy, dedicated to bringing people pleasure, but can I get anyone to believe that?"
He got to his feet and held out his hand. "The best thing to do is to show you. I'll take you on a tour. Come on."
Jess gestured vaguely towards her breasts. "Um, clothes? You made mine disappear. What am I going to wear?"
The Devil raised his eyebrows and made a tsking sound. "Why do you want clothes?" His voice dropped to a seductive drawl. "There are a lot of interesting things to see in Hell. People indulge themselves when, where and how they like. You don't want clothes to get in the way of instant gratification."
"Oh." Jess' voice was small and husky. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I can see your point but I wouldn't want to feel like I was in a nudist colony. I've never found that tempting."
"Ah, Jess. You are such a fascinating mixture. You are the most sensuous person I've met. Or you will be, once I rid you of your lingering reluctance to fully embrace your own pleasure. Yet you cling to your inhibitions with great tenaciousness. For now, to ensure your happiness, I will make concessions."
The Devil swished his hands in the air, and both he and Jess were instantly clad in black silk cloaks. Forestalling any comment, the Devil said, "Another cliché, I know, but look at the advantages. It looks good, feels good and allows instant access."
He held out his hand. Jess hesitated. Raging desire had led her this far, but in the sober aftermath of the most incredible sex she had ever had, rational thought returned. The Devil was asking for her consent to more than just a single, albeit totally amazing, sexual encounter. He was asking for her trust.
Jess looked into his eyes. Knowledge and arcane power sparkled in their depths, reminding Jess of who and what he was. Then his eyes crinkled into a smile and her fears melted. She linked her fingers in his and they set off to begin their exploration.
"There actually are a number of circles in Hell. Of course they're nothing like books describe, but you'll see that for yourself."
He pushed open a door and they entered what was obviously a waiting room. People of all sorts milled about. Many looked up expectantly as Jess and the Devil walked in.
"Some people have special needs or want a particular partner. Some are being assessed so we can provide the best possible experience for them during their visit," he explained.
Jess started. "You mean other people can visit too? And then they can just go back home?" She swallowed. "Like me? I mean, I will be going home. Won't I?"
The Devil looked surprised. "Of course you can go back to the upper world. If you choose to come to Hell, it doesn't mean you're stuck down here for eternity. Everyone needs a holiday." His brows drew together. "I didn't lie to you, Jess. You've got to get rid of these prejudices."
Jess barely heard the last comment. Her attention had been caught by a group of stunningly gorgeous males, lazing about and talking together in one corner. Every single one of them was cover-model material. Some wore clothes, but with enough buttons and zips undone to tempt any woman to stare. Several were completely naked, and Jess was certain they'd been chosen on the size of their equipment, not just their good looks.
She was moving to check them out more closely when she noticed the area was roped off with a 'Reserved' sign hanging on the silken cord.
"Reserved? How can they be reserved?"
The Devil followed her gaze. "Oh, they're our hotties. They're reserved for the exclusive use of writers of erotic fiction."
Jess' jaw dropped. "What? How come?"
The Devil nodded to one or two of the men. "Writers work hard to show people the joys of indulgence. It's only fair we show our appreciation. They certainly don't get enough of it up there." He nodded towards the ceiling. "They mostly have to hold down another job to finance their writing and they don't get a lot of time to play. When they do, I want them to have a quality experience. And of course they have to get their inspiration somewhere."
"But when does this happen?"
"Well, they tend to tell friends and employers they're going to writers' conferences and such, but most of them manage to sneak away down here every now and then. Once they arrive, they can have their pick of the hotties and do what they want with them. Some like to squeeze in as much hot sex as possible, some like to watch and one or two seem to want nothing more than to lick their chosen man from head to toe. Whatever they want, they get. Someone has to see they get rewarded."
Jess wasted a brief moment wondering whether she had what it took to be a writer of erotica, but before she had time to map out a career path to take her to the next available writers' conference, the Devil planted himself between her and the men.
"We don't need to bother with them."
Jess stretched her neck to get a last look at the collected bodies on display, then snapped her gaze back to the Devil's black silk-clad form. He was absolutely right. As long as she had him to look at, she really didn't need anyone else.
The writers could have their models. What she had in front of her was much better.
"So," Jess said. "These different places in Hell, do they relate to the Seven Deadly Sins? I bet that first one was Sloth."
The Devil winced. "It was just a waiting room. Will you please stop thinking Hell is about sin? Nobody comes here to be punished." He paused a moment. "Unless of course punishment is what turns them on. We do cater for that."
Jess' inner Puritan spoke up again. "Are you telling me sin doesn't matter? You can do awful things and get sent to Hell and have a good time for as long as you want?"
The Devil counted very quietly to ten before he spoke. "Hell is not like that. We do not take murderers, rapists, thieves or lawyers."
"You mean liars."
"No. Why wouldn't we take liars? You should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I mean lawyers. I won't have them here. They go to heaven. It suits them far better. I don't like rules and regulations and I don't want anyone here who's going to quote them at me."
"Well, apart from lawyers, where do all the undesirables go, then?"
"They don't go anywhere. At the moment of their death they are winked out of existence. I can't imagine a worse punishment than that. But the circles of Hell don't have anything to do with punishment. They're more a sort of progression. If you need to, you can start in the outer circles and work your way in. It's especially useful for those who have a lot of inhibitions or taboos to overcome."
"Can you give me an example?"
"I'll show you. You won't need to spend any time in levels one or two anyway."
He led Jess to a door and they stepped through. The room was enormous and furnished with soft cushions, thick, beautifully decorated throws and dotted all over with tables laden with food and drink.
As she watched, several people approached a table containing platters of rich, creamy desserts. The group, consisting mostly of women, surrounded the table but stopped about two feet away. Their faces were drawn with longing, and Jess could hear a soft voice urging them to sample the fare offered to them. At last, one soul, braver than the rest, reached out and helped herself to a large serving of a confection slathered in cream, caramel and strawberries. She dug her spoon in and tasted. A look of bliss came over her face.
The others watched her for a moment, then they ate.
The Devil sighed and Jess looked at him. Satisfaction was written all over his face. "Some people have been so conditioned to avoid pleasure they cannot take delight in even the simplest things. Their credo is, 'if it feels good it must be bad'. They have to be coaxed into taking pleasure."
He suddenly reached out and sank a finger into the caramel and cream mix left on the plate. With his other hand, he opened Jess' robe and liberally smeared the sweet mess all over her breasts. He bent his head and slowly licked it off, savouring every tiny drop.
Jess went weak-kneed from the shock. "They can see us," she whispered as she tried to clutch the cape closed again.
"I know." The Devil smiled as he licked a last tiny blob of caramel from her nipple. "And it's serving as a very useful lesson. One of those women is now about to skip at least two levels, directly as a result of what she felt when she watched me licking your breasts." His hands moved down and brushed over her groin. "There's more cream left. Shall we see if we can't move someone up four levels?"
He looked at Jess' face and raised one sardonic eyebrow. "Jess, I'm just teaching them how to embrace pleasure. That's all I want to do."
Jess looked around her. People were looking at them, but their hard, tight faces had relaxed into indulgent smiles. There were no sneers of condemnation, no disgust. She put a tentative hand on the Devil's arm. "Seeing you, us, do that made them look happy?"
The Devil grinned at her. "Not just look happy, they are happy. They saw two people taking pleasure and enjoying it. They saw no nasty consequences. They now know they can do the same."
His pride in his achievement was obvious. And why shouldn't it be? thought Jess. Far from being evil, he seemed to have dedicated his life to making people accept their share of pleasure.
He grabbed her hand again. "There's so much more I want to show you. We needn't spend any more time exploring these lower circles. I'll give you private tutelage to get you through to the higher levels myself."
Jess bit her lip. Was he planning to rush her through a crash course in pleasure then send her back into the world? Suddenly the prospect of getting out of Hell didn't sound anywhere near as enticing as it had before.
The next door they approached was solid with a huge handle. It looked ominously like a door to the outside. Jess' footsteps slowed, but the Devil led her on.
A sigh of relief escaped her when, instead of the grimy city streets of home, they stepped out into the wide open spaces of Hell. A cool breeze lifted the edge of her cloak, making her shiver. The Devil put his arms around her and drew her in to his warmth. "A cold day in Hell. We do have them, you know. Constant heat gets boring. The winter sports fans want to have their fun too."
"What if someone really hates the cold?"
He didn't answer her. His attention was not on the landscape. While Jess had been running her eyes over all there was to see, the Devil had been staring at Jess. His face slackened and his eyes grew heavy. He ran his finger down her cheek and neck until it rested on the hard button of her nipple.
Jess swallowed and tried again, her voice gone suddenly husky. "What if you don't like the cold?"
"There are ways to warm up."
He undid her cloak and it fell away. He lowered his lips to hers, and a wave of powerful heat swept Jess up with it. Her mouth opened under his. Their tongues met and mated.
The fire of their kiss raged through Jess' body, recalling the memory of what had happened before and stirring up new hungers.
She was vaguely aware they had fallen back onto something soft and bed-like, but the Devil's body and the things he was doing with it occupied her too much to worry about where they were.
The Devil slid down beside her. He wedged his broad shoulders between her thighs, forcing them wide apart. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. Just for a moment the whole world stilled, and Jess could hear the frenzied beating of her own heart. What she saw in his eyes made her mind whirl and her vision blur.
The intensity of his gaze lured her. Like a comet orbiting too close to the sun, she was captured and held. His pupils flared and she fell helplessly into their fiery depths.
Just when she was sure she was lost forever, he blinked and she felt the firm grounding of his hands on her hips. A flurry of shivers raced across the skin of her stomach. With one stroke of his wide palms he smoothed them away.
"Ah, Jess. Don't worry. Just enjoy." He bent his head and used his tongue to drive her to the point where she was incapable of thinking, let alone worrying, about anything.
He circled her clit, licking and sucking, until it was hard and hot, standing proud enough for him to pull it between his lips and flick back and forth across it with his tongue.
Jess writhed against him. He cupped his hands under her bottom and brought her harder up against his mouth.
His teeth scraped across her slick, burning pussy. His tongue plunged deep. Thrust. Curled. Licked her sweet, hot honey.
His hands slid around to the front of her thighs, gripped them and pulled them further apart. Her muscles strained, tried to contract, to draw in whatever was needed to fill the searing void.
He rubbed his lips over her, smearing his mouth and chin with her juices. He lifted his head. His lips glistened. His tongue licked them, slowly and lingeringly. A shudder of delight passed through him.
He pushed his hard fingers inside her. His palm cupped her clit and mound, circling and squeezing. He made a long, slow slide up to her mouth. He paused in the journey to flex his cheeks and suck so strongly on her nipple, the pleasure almost toppled into pain. The rhythmic tug and release was matched by the thrust and retreat of his wicked fingers.
At last his lips, slippery with her moisture, rich with the musky smell of her own arousal, met hers. She was surrounded by an erotic haze, sweet and narcotic, sharpening every sensation.
The Devil's probing fingers clenched, fisted, rammed home. The pounding waves of her release beat against him. The force of her orgasm lifted her up off the bed then slammed her back again to shake and shudder with the uncontrollable force of electric shock.
While she was still pulsing, he impaled her with his thick cock. His arms hooked around her knees and lifted them over his shoulders. She was open to him, taking him in, filled with him, hot steel driving her up to another frenzied peak.
She writhed in silent ecstasy and tumbled over toward oblivion. The Devil gave a wild shout as he gave himself up totally to the hunger that consumed him.
Jess blinked her eyes in the growing light. Beside her, lying stretched out on his stomach on the bed, the Devil slumbered on. One arm was flung across Jess' waist. The other was tucked under his pillow. His beautiful face was turned towards Jess. Such perfection made her think not of evil and wickedness but of innocence and vulnerability. A strange hollow ache settled itself around her heart, and she rubbed her hand across her chest to ease it.
The Devil stirred and rolled to his side. He snuggled Jess closer, burying his face in her hair, without ever waking up.
For long, silent minutes she watched him sleep. As the Devil had promised, she'd burned in Hell and loved it. Nothing was ever going to be as good again. She'd had more pleasure in one night than most women had in a lifetime. She'd surely reached those last circles the Devil had promised to take her through.
Now the wild night of passion was over. It was time to go home. The ache in her chest intensified. With her eyes closed to shut out the mesmerising sight of his perfect form, she eased out of his grasp and prepared to leave him.
Her body refused to cooperate. She could not make her feet hit the floor, could not make her legs bear her weight. She lay back down on the bed and told herself it was better to remain there a little longer than to disturb the Devil's sleep. Besides, she wouldn't know how to get home until he awoke anyway. It made sense to wait a little longer, she needed more rest. Her muscles were still wobbly from the intensity of the night just spent. It would be rude to leave without saying thank you. She hadn't had breakfast.
She searched frantically for more reasons to avoid facing the truth.
She didn't want to go.
She didn't want to go back to her dull, lonely existence. She wanted to stay here where she'd learned what it was to be truly happy, but she wasn't going to have that choice. She'd made a deal. Bargains with the Devil were binding. If her tour was finished and she'd learned what the Devil had to teach her, she'd be going home.
The thought made her muscles tense and stiffen. The movement woke the Devil. His smile when he opened his eyes and looked at her lit up his whole face. She felt warm all over again.
The hand on her waist slid downwards.
Jess knew, with undeniable clarity, she was on the edge of addiction. The more time she spent with the Devil, the more she wanted him. It was a pity life had taught her she couldn't always have what she wanted.
"When do I have to go?" She forced the words out in a rush while she still could.
The Devil's hand stopped its search-and-enjoy mission. His eyes widened and his smile faded. "Go? Go where?"
"Home. Back to...."
He sat up and frowned. "You haven't finished your tour. You can't leave yet. I know what your life is like. There's nothing up there to compare with what I can give you. Nobody who can compare with me." Because it was true, he didn't sound conceited. The statement was just a simple fact. "Stay." His voice was commanding, his hands coaxing, once more working their magic.
How could she resist the Devil when he offered what she wanted most? He said her tour wasn't over. The bargain wasn't yet fulfilled.
His hands continued to play. Soon she was writhing underneath him again.
He flipped her over onto her stomach and drew her up onto all fours. He plunged into her, his fingers plucking and playing her clit and his balls swaying back and forth against her. She felt a sharp sting as her teeth clamped down on her lips to muffle the sounds of pleasure she made.
"Don't fight it," he crooned. "Don't hold back. Give in to your needs."
The dark temptation of his words tipped her over the edge. In a rush of cum and ecstasy, she screamed out her passion.
The Devil froze. His entire body stiffened and jerked. He pulled out of her and dropped onto his back on the bed, leaving Jess to collapse gracelessly onto her stomach. She took a second or two to gather herself together, then she pushed herself up onto her elbow and looked at him. His cock was still rigid, red and glistening with her juices, but it began to soften and retreat back to the shelter of his body as she watched. Instead of the look of satisfaction she'd grown accustomed to seeing on the Devil's face, his brow was furrowed, his eyes narrowed and his lips a tight, white line. He hadn't come before he had abandoned her so abruptly.
A chill worked its way down Jess' spine.
Something was very wrong. She gathered enough courage to ask, "What's the matter?"
The Devil turned hurt eyes on her. "I thought that this, that I, was special. That I was giving you all you need."
Jess gasped. "You are. This is. How could I ever want more?"
"Then why did you...?" He stopped and drew an unsteady breath. "No man wants a woman to scream someone else's name when he's inside her, making her come."
A strange tension tugged at Jess' heart. The only explanation she could think of for his response made no sense. How could the Devil be jealous, being what he was? How could he, with his skills, his beauty, his caring, even think what he gave her was not enough?
Then the meaning of what he'd said hit. Another man's name? That couldn't possibly be right. It had been so long since her last lover, she couldn't even remember his name, and he'd never, ever come close to making her feel the way the Devil did. She shook her head in frantic denial. "I didn't say someone else's name. I couldn't have."
The Devil sounded hurt. "You did. I was there. I heard you. You screamed it so loud, everyone could have heard you. 'Oh God, oh God, oh God.' Three times. I didn't even know you knew Him, let alone had fantasies about it. And they can only be fantasies, you know. He does not do that kind of thing."
Relief loosened the constricting knot in her throat. She laughed softly. She couldn't help it, even though the Devil's eyes grew dark and fiery. Instead of making her quake with fear, his anger made him adorable. Arrogance was certainly part of his nature, but underneath was a wholly human vulnerability. She reached out a finger and tried to smooth the resentful look off his face. "And I thought you were the one who knew everything. It's just a generic expression. It doesn't mean anything. It certainly doesn't refer to any particular deity, of whatever persuasion."
The Devil looked slightly mollified, but he still didn't smile. "Well, I don't like it. I don't want to share. You're with me. I want it to be my name you scream."
The urge to tease him disappeared. How could she not give him what he needed when he gave so much to her? "The only person I was thinking of, the only person in my world, was you, but I don't know your name. I can't call you 'The Devil' all the time, especially when I'm in extremis, as it were. What should I call you? I've heard several other names---Satan, Beelzebub, Lucifer. Are any of them right?"
A flush of colour appeared on his cheeks. He looked down when he answered. "Satan. That's pretty close. Yeah. Call me Satan."
"So that's your name? Satan? Really?"
"Well, almost." He waited a long moment before he spoke again. "Remember I told you people have some misconceptions? Well, not all of them work against me." He looked decidedly uncomfortable. "There have been a couple of small editorial errors over time. Novice monks copying manuscripts by hand in the candlelight, freezing cold and shivering---it's easy to make a mistake. And once someone makes an error on parchment, it's so hard to correct, and scarlet ink was very expensive. It seemed kinder not to make a fuss."
Jess folded her arms. There was something going on here and she wanted to know it. "Come on, spit it out."
The Devil took a deep breath and let the words rush out. "It's Stan, okay? And I don't like it. What kind of name is Stan for the Master of the Underworld? Who's going to believe in a Prince of Darkness named Stan? So when the monk accidentally added the extra 'a', I didn't point it out. I decided it was better to let it be. Satan has a nice ring to it. It has power and presence. If I have to put up with the horned bit, then I figure they owe me Satan."
Jess bit her lip, but it didn't help. She laughed anyway. There was something endearing about this wholly masculine, totally hot male, admitting he was embarrassed by his name. "You could try Lucifer."
He glared at her. "I did. It got shortened to Lucy within a week. Lucy is worse than Stan." His bottom lip stuck out like a petulant little boy's.
Her finger itched to trace the line of his pouting mouth. The Prince of Darkness had feelings, and he could be hurt, just like anyone else. Something under her rib cage did a slow flip flop. Her breath caught in her throat and then slowly let go. "How about if I stick to Dev? Not too formal, but without all the unmanly connotations."
The Devil smiled at her. "That's good. I, um, don't usually tell people about the Stan thing. I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread it around. It's not good for my image."
He trusted her to keep his secret. One of the most powerful beings in the universe had willingly given her power over him. Somewhere deep inside her, silently but surely, he was carving a place for himself in her heart.
The Devil, Dev, leaned over her. His eyes grew dark and heavy. "I believe we have some unfinished business to attend to. I want to hear you scream my name.
"Dev. Dev? Dev!"
At the third shout, the Devil opened one eye and grinned at her. "We've finished for now, Jess. You don't have to keep yelling my name. Believe me, I am totally, thoroughly satisfied."
The firm, rounded cheeks of his arse were too much temptation. Jess leaned in and bit.
"Ouch." The Devil leaped into the air. "You'll pay for that."
He looked ruefully down at his still sleeping penis. "Eventually. You've worn me out, woman. Still, what's the point of being the devil if I can't..." As he spoke, his cock began to stiffen and grow.
Wide-eyed, Jess watched it transform once more into a potent weapon. She shifted restlessly. The movement sent a twinge of pain through her overworked muscles and her abraded vaginal walls.
Instantly the Devil's erection subsided and he knelt in front of Jess. "I hurt you?" He gathered her into his arms. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to do that."
With her forehead resting on his chest, Jess gave a tiny shake of her head. "I'm not used to so much...activity in such a short time. I'm just a bit sore."
The Devil cupped his hand over her tender flesh, and Jess winced.
"Relax, Jess. Let me make it better." The warmth of his hand soaked into her, loosening aching muscles, soothing burning skin and taking away the itching tightness. He kissed her tenderly on her cheek. "We'll take a break for a while. There's a still lot more for you to see and do."
His healing hands had taken her pain away. The bed was warm and tempting and they had so little time left. She wanted to stay here with him, storing up memories and experiences for the long, lonely rest of her life. She snuggled back down and held up her arms.
The Devil shook his head, stood up and held out his hand to her once more. "We'll have time for that later. Pleasure comes in many forms. Let me teach you to embrace them all." His sombre expression faded, and he smiled. "You'll like what I have planned, I promise."
"Where are we going?"
"To do a bit of shopping."
Jess' eyes widened. "I didn't know you could shop in Hell."
"Oh, not in Hell. I thought we'd try Paris. Are you ready?"
She barely had time to nod before she found herself standing next to the Devil, both of them clad in what was clearly designer wear, on a wide Parisian boulevard.
Jess took in the mouth-watering sight of the Devil's elegantly powerful body dressed to bring any woman to her knees. "Let me guess, the Devil wears Prada?"
"And Armani. Or anything else that pleases me."
Jess cast her eye over her own neat suit, in an interesting shade of ice pink. "And the Devil's companion wears...?"
The Devil looked at her. "Chanel at the moment, but that can change. Come on."
For the next few hours they strolled up and down the Avenue Montaigne. By the time they'd finished, Jess had a multitude of bags swinging by corded handles from her arms.
Jess was feverish with the excitement of a completely unrestricted shopping spree. It didn't matter that the Devil could have, and would have, given her anything she wanted. The experience of actually being in Paris, shopping for whatever she wanted, was heavenly. No, not heavenly. She wasn't going to risk offending the Devil again. The experience was amazing, delightful and unprecedented. She was having a Hell of a good time.
The Devil ushered her into Galeries Lafayette. Jess stared with slack-jawed wonder at the soaring, stained-glass dome. So what if she was acting like a gawping tourist? If there was one thing she was learning from the Devil, it was to do whatever felt good to her and not be ashamed of enjoyment.
At the fragrance counter, they worked their way through a selection of perfumes.
The heady fragrance seemed to stir the Devil's libido to a delightful degree, if the way his nostrils twitched and his eyes went heavy and dark as he stroked his fingers over her wrist was any indication.
This time though, he did not give in to temptation. Instead he bustled her up to the café on the third floor. "Maxim's is famous for its pastries, and the hot chocolate is diabolically delicious."
They were served éclairs, rich with glossy, dark chocolate and sweet crème patissière. Jess closed her eyes and let the rich flavours melt on her tongue. A shudder, very much like a small version of the one that rocked her in the throes of orgasm, passed over her.
When she opened her eyes, the Devil was staring fixedly at her. His own food lay unheeded on the table. His cheeks were flushed with high strokes of colour, and beads of sweat stood on his brow. His shirt lifted with the force of his breathing. His voice was rusty, forced out of a constricted throat. "That was the sexiest thing I've ever seen. I didn't know you could come just from eating. I could come watching you."
Jess' breath hitched. Her heart came to a momentary halt in her breast. A sense of absolute power ran through her. She ran her tongue around her lips, stopping to flick up an errant bit of chocolate. The Devil groaned, low and desperate.
The power was hers and she intended to use it. Before she'd met the Devil, she'd never understood the aphrodisiac delight of taking charge, of being the aggressor. She had never explored the full range of her sexuality. Now she was going to indulge her every appetite.
Jess reached across the table and took the Devil's hand in hers. She placed his index finger in her mouth, closed her lips around it and prepared to drive the Devil to his knees.
She circled the finger slowly with her tongue, stopping now and then to nibble gently with her teeth. Then she oh, so slowly moved his finger in and out between her lips.
The Devil's pupils expanded until his dark eyes looked completely black. His breath was coming in short, shallow pants. He tried to moisten his lips, but his tongue apparently refused to obey his commands.
Jess dropped his finger and sat back in her seat. "Oh, I think I can make you come just from...eating."
The restaurant, Galeries Lafayette, Paris, all disappeared in an instant. Jess found herself back in the Devil's room, shopping bags scattered around, clothes gone and the Devil standing erect in front of her.
She stroked his penis lightly.
A tremor swept over him from head to toe. "Come here. I can't stand..."
Jess gripped the base of his cock and squeezed. "You will stand anything I want you to. For as long as I want you to do it."
The Devil's eyes widened, and he nodded his head frantically. "Okay. Yes. Hell, yes. Anything. But please, do it soon." He cupped her head in his hands and pulled her towards him.
"Wait. I want to do this. I'm in control. I want you to..." She stopped and thought a minute. "You can manipulate this environment any way you want. Now I want you to manipulate it the way I want it."
The Devil looked at her speculatively then gave her an evil grin. "Your wish is my..." He didn't finish. It wasn't necessary. He stood in front of her, wrists in leather cuffs, arms chained high above his head.
Jess stood on tiptoe to look at the restraints. His fists were lightly clenched. The leather wrist bands held his arms taut, making his biceps bulge and glisten. She ran her fingers over them, watching them ripple as she moved her hands downwards.
She ran her fingers through the soft hair lining his armpits and slid them across his hard, brown nipples. She tweaked them once, twice, and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on the flat planes of his chest. She poked out her tongue to lick it up and scraped his nipples with her teeth. His knees sagged, but the chains held him upright.
Her tongue followed the ridge of muscle running down his abdomen and dipped into the furrow between his thighs and his narrow hips.
She followed it until she came face to face with his cock. She ran her finger along the groove bisecting the head, spreading the little drop of moisture she found there. His cock twitched, swelled even more.
She dropped to her knees.
The Devil groaned, a sound of indescribable longing vibrating deep in his chest.
Jess swallowed once and opened wide.
And wider.
And wider.
Suddenly she was once again assailed by doubt. She backed off and looked up at him. "I don't know if I can do this."
His hips jerked forward. There was desperation in his voice. "Sure you can. If you try, you can."
He'd been right every other time. She took a deep breath and believed. And suddenly her mouth was wrapped around him, her tongue swirling and probing in the cleft at the top of his cock. One of her hands curled around the base of his penis where it would not fit into her mouth, rhythmically stroking and squeezing it. Her other hand cradled and caressed his balls.
His hips began to jerk. His body, suspended by the chains above him, swayed and bounced to the delirious rhythm of Jess' greedy mouth. The pace was frantic, punctuated by the sound of grunts and slurps and moans Jess had no desire to control. She felt his balls contract tightly upwards and seconds later felt the thick, rich spurt of semen splash against the back of her throat.
Her hands slipped around his bum and grabbed, forcing his penis deeper. She felt every beat and quiver as he shuddered into her.
When he stilled, she stayed where she was, nestled below the ridges of his hard, muscled stomach. Eventually she stirred and, with a last, teasing flick of her tongue, reluctantly released him. She pursed her lips tightly so he felt every inch of the withdrawal.
The restraints disappeared. The Devil sank down on his knees to face her. "Jess, that was incredible."
She lifted her head and smiled. Wiped the corners of her mouth with a sassy little flick of her fingers. She buffed her nails on what would have been her shirt had she been wearing one. "Gotta give the Devil his due."
He hugged her to him and she felt the strong beating of his heart. And hers. What she didn't feel was one drop of guilt or embarrassment. With his willing surrender, he had made her strong. In Hell, under the Devil's tutelage, she was becoming someone new, powerful and confident. Someone she was proud to be.
But that was here in Hell. Back in the real world, it would make no difference. Some of her happiness faded. In spite of the delight of the Devil's lessons, there was really no point in her having learned to embrace pleasure. Without him to share it, what pleasure was there likely to be for her? For a brief moment in time, she had Dev. When he was gone, she would never again want anyone else. Only him. A shudder rippled down her spine.
He held her a little tighter. "Are you cold?" Wrapping her cloak back around her, the Devil nuzzled her hair. "I want you to get to know my kingdom. To see why I love it. Come, there's more I want to show you."
She wanted to tell him she already loved it. Wanted to tell him she wanted to stay in his kingdom, with him, but she couldn't force the words out past the blockage in her throat. Once they were said, he would have to respond. She didn't want to hear his deep voice reminding her of their bargain. The Prince of Darkness wasn't going to tie himself to one woman for eternity...and there could be no pleasure for either of them if he let Jess stay here to yearn endlessly for what she couldn't have.
"I'm fine," she lied, pinning a Cheshire cat smile to her face. "Let's go see the rest of your kingdom."
"I'm going to take you to the Fantasy and Gothic Department."
As he spoke he led Jess to a huge, arched gateway leading into a crenellated, tower-topped castle. The walls surrounding it were dark, built of solid stone and decorated with a variety of grotesque gargoyles. Jess looked up at them, distaste and a frisson of fear causing her nose to scrunch up and her lips to wobble.
The entire effect was ruined when one of the gargoyles abruptly straightened, winked at Jess and moaned. "You have no idea how bad it is for your back, holding that pose for hours." He stretched then looked down and saw the Devil. He snapped to attention. "Good afternoon, Sir."
The Devil spoke, but Jess paid no attention. She stood stock still, looking at the sight in front of her.
The wide, sunny courtyard, covered in a manicured lawn and surrounded by flowering garden beds, was beautiful and inviting, but the creatures scattered all over the grass, lounging in groups and basking in the sunshine, took her breath away. Unicorns, griffins, centaurs and dragons dozed or conversed quietly among themselves.
More than anything else, Jess' attention was caught by the dragons. Their scaly bodies winked and glittered in a vast array of colours and sizes. One particularly large specimen roused itself and shook out its wings. Flashes of gold and emerald light blazed out as the sun hit the shimmering surface.
Jess marvelled at the dragon's beauty as it lifted its head and shot a river of blue and gold flame into the sky. "Fire breathing creatures from Hell," Jess sighed. "How absolutely perfect."
"It certainly is."
Jess spun around to see who had spoken. Making his way towards her, his gaze locked on her, was one of the most darkly handsome men Jess had ever seen. His face could have been carved by a master. His full, shapely lips defined the word 'sensual'.
His bare chest was golden, lightly dusted with hair and rippled with muscles. His hips were...not human.
From the waist down, he was a goat.
Suddenly the Devil was planted firmly between Jess and the satyr. His voice was taut with controlled threat. "Back off, Pan. This one is not for you."
Jess poked her head around the Devil's wide back.
The satyr hadn't spared the Devil a glance. He stalked towards Jess with deliberate intent. He licked his lips and said, "They're all mine. You know that."
Threat and lecherous desire emanated from the being. The acid taste of fear soured Jess' throat.
The Devil reached behind him and tucked Jess more firmly out of sight. "Not this one. This one's special."
The Devil's words, this one's special, covered her like a cloak, and she snuggled into his protection.
The satyr took one more step forward. The Devil's back stiffened. He uttered one word, low and powerful. "Stop."
The satyr halted in mid-stride, one foot hovering in the air. The other creatures in the courtyard stilled.
The satyr took a step backwards, then another. He made a small bow and said, "My apologies, Sir. If I overstepped the mark, it was in response to the extreme attractiveness of your companion. I meant no disrespect, and of course, your word is law."
"See that you remember that." The Devil continued to glare at the satyr, as he slowly but determinedly backed away. When he was well out of striking range, he turned and ran.
As the satyr disappeared around a corner, the Devil relaxed. He pulled Jess from behind him and smiled at her. The creatures on the lawn shifted positions and resumed their conversations.
Jess had just been given a potent reminder of who was in charge in this kingdom. The power and control emanating from the Devil was entrancing, especially since he'd used it to protect her. Who knew possessiveness could be so very, very sexy?
He ran a hand over her face. "Are you all right?"
She rested her cheek on his cupped palm. "I was just a bit frightened, that's all."
"I will never let anyone hurt you. Never! Do you understand?"
Jess nodded. She knew with complete certainty, for as long she was with the Devil she was safe.
Together they entered the castle. Little of the outside sunshine penetrated the walls. The interior was shadowy and murky.
A tall, thin man, with an unnaturally pale complexion, came forward and made an obeisance. "Sir, how pleasant to see you here. May I offer you and your companion a glass of wine?"
"Thank you, Vlad. We'd like that."
The man turned with a swirl of his crimson-lined cloak. Over his shoulder he said, "We only drink reds here. I do hope that will be satisfactory."
The Devil smiled and replied, "Exactly what we expected. Of course that will be fine."
Before they reached the door, a huge animal hurtled around the corner and charged towards them. Jess gasped, and again the Devil instantly placed her behind him.
Vlad spoke sharply. "Hubert. Behave yourself." He gestured to where the Devil stood protectively in front of Jess. "Can you not see it is the Master?" He looked at the large clock standing against the wall. "Besides, it's not the full moon for another two days. What were you thinking?"
The wolf-like creature stood and straightened. Hairy limbs took on a human appearance. Within seconds the only animal attribute that remained was the sheepish expression on a very young man's face. "Sorry, Sir. It's just that I enjoy my work so much I sometimes get carried away."
The Devil patted the young man on the back. "Enthusiasm is a good thing. I'd hate to see you lose it. Just be careful not to let it cause you to scare the wrong people. A werewolf has an important role to play in a lot of fantasies. You don't want to let your natural enjoyment of the job cause you to behave in a manner detrimental to the profession."
"Yes, Sir, I mean, no, Sir."
The gentle rebuke had been given and accepted without loss of authority on one side, or self-respect on the other. It was a masterful display of expertise in management.
The werewolf turned apologetically to Vlad. "I won't let that happen again. Metamorphosis on the night of the full moon only. No exceptions."
He bowed deeply to the Devil and loped off with a long, easy stride.
Vlad watched him go then moved to the table and poured the wine. He also offered a rich borscht soup, thick and blood red. The serving spoons he placed before them had extended handles.
Jess picked one up but found it awkward and hard to manipulate. "Do you have any more normal spoons?" she asked politely.
"We do," Vlad replied. "But for some reason, whenever we sup with the Devil, we use the long spoons. I don't know why. It's just habit."
He went to a side board and drew out some ordinary silver ware. "Why don't we all just use these? With your permission, Sir?"
The Devil nodded graciously. "I never understood why you did it anyway. I thought it was a cultural thing, something to do with being...umm...dentally challenged, and I didn't want to give offence. I'd be happy to sup with the short spoons from now on."
When Vlad handed the spoon to Jess, she smiled at him. "Do you have a lot of old and mysterious traditions here? You must have seen some astounding things in your lifetime."
Vlad nodded.
"I'd love to hear about some of them, if you wouldn't mind telling me."
Vlad's lips peeled back into a cadaverous smile, revealing a pair of yellowed, triangular fangs. Jess gripped the Devil's hand but kept her expression light and interested. After a few minutes she became so absorbed in what Vlad was telling her, she forgot his chilling appearance.
"Do you remember that boy Abraham, Sir? The one who came to the castle and stayed with me a while?" Vlad tilted his head and smiled reminiscently. "I lost count of the, ah, girls he availed himself of. Three at a time at one point, I believe."
The Devil's lips flattened. "You were too generous, Vlad. You should have let the girls turn him."
Vlad clasped his corpse-white hands together. "I thought we had time. He was enjoying himself so much, I never thought he'd sneak out like that."
The Devil's brows drew together. "Who could predict he'd go back to England, shorten his name to Bram and make a fortune writing a tell-all exposé?"
"Not I," Vlad said sadly. "I paid for the error though. After his book was published, we were so overrun with young men trying to find the girls we had to leave Transylvania forever." He turned to Jess with a sigh. "It was dreadful, people searching the castle all day, calling to each other in loud voices, we couldn't get a wink of sleep. And the smell! These people reeked of garlic! I don't know who was cooking for them but they'd clearly never heard of moderation." Vlad gave a little shudder. "No point dwelling on the negatives though. Let me tell you about the vampires who have made careers as politicians."
He launched into a series of anecdotes, naming names. Several aspects of government economic policy began to make sense to Jess, once she understood blood sucking vampire wasn't always a metaphor.
When the meal was finished, they rose to go. Jess stood on tiptoe to kiss Vlad's cheek. "Thank you. I enjoyed hearing all your stories. They were fascinating."
Outside, the Devil gave Jess a hug.
She hugged him back but asked, "What was that for?"
"For being so kind to an old man who has very few opportunities to tell his tales to someone new. Some people would have ignored him or been bored or frightened."
Jess shook her head. "I was...surprised for a moment, but I couldn't have been bored. He has had such interesting experiences."
The Devil looked at her with gratitude. "Thank you. Many of my people have experienced lifetimes of cruelty and prejudice. You treated Vlad with respect."
This time the warmth Jess felt wasn't sexual, but it was strong and compelling, flowing through her from her head to her toes. The way he said my people showed his pride and affection for them. His treatment of the young werewolf was another indication of how seriously he took his responsibilities as monarch, and Hubert's response revealed how well he performed that role. He was such a complex, multi-faceted creature, and every new side he showed Jess increased her admiration for him, made it even harder to face the time when he would make her leave.
"Jess, I want you to..."
His words interrupted her thoughts, washed over her like ice. He was going to do it now. Tell her the tour was over, send her home. Even if it was only for a few minutes, she wanted a reprieve. She looked about her frantically. "What's that place over there?"
"Jess, I need to talk to you. There's something important I have to say."
"Later. Please. Tell me later. I haven't seen this bit of the castle, and it looks interesting."
The animation drained from his face, his lashes lowered, shading his eyes. His lips tightened. "If it's what you want."
She wasn't sure why he was suddenly distant but she knew she didn't want their last moments together to be spoiled. She put her hand on his arm. "I love your kingdom, Dev. Show me more of it, please."
He sighed, and the drawn expression on his face relaxed. "We can go back to my rooms this way, and you can take a look as we go past."
He hurried her along the corridor, ignoring her inquiring glances at the surroundings, rich with light and colour, so different from the rest of the castle. In spite of her impending doom, the intriguing sound of music and laughter lured Jess to try to peek inside.
The Devil abruptly pulled her back just as the door opened a fraction. She had no more than a glimpse of a pink and pretty room, so frilly and fussy Jess expected to see the words Barbie Lane written in the air.
She turned and put her hands on her hips. "Why can't I go in there?"
The Devil made a face. "That's where the fairies hang out."
"Fairies? Fantastic." Jess turned back to the door.
The Devil's hand on her wrist tightened. "I don't want you going anywhere without me, and I am not going in there."
Jess was stunned. "Why not?" Her voice rose in disbelief. "Are you afraid?"
"Afraid?" The Devil was outraged. "Afraid? I am the Devil. I am not afraid of anything."
"Then there's no problem."
The Devil still didn't release her hand.
Jess raised her eyebrows. "Why can't we go in there?"
The Devil glared at her. "Because it's all girly and cutesy and there's glitter and fairy dust everywhere. Okay? Every time I go in there I come out covered in all this sparkly stuff, I smell like flowers and the rest of the guys give me a hard time about it for weeks. And they swarm." He shuddered. "The fairies swarm all over me and it gives me the creeps. I am not going in there."
His look of offended masculinity was too much for Jess even in her misery. With a wry half-smile, she asked, "Why do you keep them here then?"
His face registered blank astonishment. "Because this is their home. They have every right to be here. My not liking them all that much doesn't change that. I don't want to hurt their feelings by letting them see they make me uncomfortable, so I stay away."
"But don't they get offended if you visit everywhere else and don't visit them?"
With a dismissive shrug of his shoulders he said, "This department is the most popular in Hell. Everyone wants to see them. They don't have time to notice if I'm there or not. They don't miss me."
If anyone deserved an outsized ego, he did, but he honestly didn't seem to mind that the fairies could get along perfectly happily without him. With the knowledge she'd gained in her time with him, Jess knew if the fairies were hurt by his absence, he would visit them, no matter how much he disliked it. His responsibility to his people would ensure it, just as his concern for Jess' pleasure would make him take her in there if she insisted.
No matter how much she wanted to delay her departure, Jess couldn't bring herself to subject him to an experience he disliked. "Let's skip it then. When I get back home---" She stopped, swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. "When I get back h-home, I'll have l-lots of r-really wonderful memories anyway."
He glared at her without speaking. His face was stark with an expression Jess couldn't read. In total silence he turned on his heel and strode away. With her hand locked tightly in his she had no choice but to follow him.
She opened her mouth to question him but before she could get a sound out, she found herself standing in his room. He tore off their cloaks and drove into her with no preparation, no words. His ferocity startled Jess. His desperation submerged her sorrow in rising excitement. The frantic pace of his strokes stirred her to passion and her heavy eyelids drifted shut.
"Look at me." The Devil's voice was harsh with command, low and gravelly with desire. "Don't you dare close your eyes. Look at me and know what we're doing. Know what it means. Look at me when you come. When I come."
Her eyes snapped open and she stared into fiery orbs, where her own face was reflected. The low throbbing presaging her climax began to beat deep within her.
The Devil stopped, held himself still. His body clenched and vibrated with the effort. A tiny drop of sweat rolled down his forehead and caught in the corner of his eye like a tear. She reached up a hand, caught it on her finger and drew it down to her lips.
A shudder passed through him so strongly that she felt it, even inside her, where they were joined.
He lifted his hips and pulled his cock back, almost to the point of withdrawal. With a groan so loud it was almost a shout, he plunged back into her. All restraint, all control was gone. His thrusts pounded into her, beating, punishing. Hard and heavy. One hand tangled in her hair and pulled her head back. His lips devoured hers, biting and tasting. His tongue ravaged and claimed her mouth as surely as his cock filled her.
It was rough and wild and drove all thought from Jess' mind. Her skin flushed as the blood pulsed in time with his savage rhythm. Her muscles drew up tight. She twisted and turned and writhed, trying to feed the unbearable need. Her body hungered for release even as she begged, "Don't stop. Don't stop."
The words were barely out of her mouth when the first waves of orgasm hit. The walls of her vagina clenched and released, over and over. The pulsing went on and on, like wings of darkness beating against her. In the distance she heard the Devil's shout, felt his body tense and jerk as he followed her over.
Eventually the Devil pulled away from her. He slumped to his side and hugged her to him so strongly, it almost crushed her rib cage.
His face was unreadable, the expressionless mask he sometimes wore firmly in place. The silence grew threatening.
At last the Devil rolled on his back and looked at the ceiling. Jess struggled up onto one elbow. He spoke without looking at her. "I did everything I could to make you learn to like it here."
Jess fought against the urge to tell him just how much she did like it, how little she wanted to leave. But what would be the point? He was the Devil, Master of the Underworld. He could have everything he wanted. She was just his latest plaything. How could she explain she wanted to be more, to be the one he wanted forever?
To save herself the humiliation of letting him know how much she cared, she summoned up another falsely happy smile. "Of course I like it here. It's a really interesting place, and I'm grateful for the chance to see what Hell is really like. You've been a wonderful, giving..." The right word escaped her. Fling? Mind-bending experience? The man she loved and always would? "Er, host. When I go home, I'll do my best to correct people's misconceptions about this place."
The fires of Hell, conspicuously missing during her stay, kindled in his eyes. "A host? I've been your host? Is that what you think? You've had the package tour, now you're leaving? Can't wait to go back and tell people about your fascinating little adventure? Has all that we've done together meant nothing to you?"
He spat the last words at her, loaded with contempt and something that seemed very much like pain.
Jess stared at him in confusion.
"No. I don't want to go home. And I know, we both know, you've been much, much more than a host. But I do have to go back. I..."
He reached up, cupped her chin with his hand and forced her to meet his eyes.
"Why? What do you have to go back to that is so important? I want you to stay here with me."
Hope flickered in Jess' heart, but died before it caught. His voice was imperious, commanding. She had to be realistic. This wasn't about wanting her the way she wanted him. This was offended masculine dignity. Perhaps she hadn't been generous enough in her praise. After all, it was his kingdom, his domain, and he was proud of it. He only needed her to soothe his ego for a few more days or weeks.
Giving in to his demands would only make it worse. The longer she stayed, the more it would hurt when she had to leave forever. Nothing could be gained by a temporary extension in time.
"I can't. I have a life. A job. Friends. I can't just stay here and do... What? What is it you'd expect me to do?"
"Be with me. Be happy. That's all you have to do."
"I don't think that's possible."
"Of course it's possible. I'm the Devil." In a sonorous voice carrying all the authority and command of the Master of the Underworld, he said, "I could force you to stay."
Jess shook her head. "You wouldn't."
The Devil sighed. "I could. You know I could. You've seen the power I have. But I won't use it. I don't want to force you to stay with me, Jess. I want you to want to stay with me."
His eyes were intense as he stared at her. His hands clutched at hers. Jess felt her heart flutter. A thin flare of hope, frail and fragile, rising up from the embers, began to grow. It wasn't arrogance or aloofness driving him. It was need---raw, painful, undeniable need.
"Why?" The single word, almost inaudible, escaped her on a breath of air.
The Devil waited a moment, his dark angel's face pure and gilded in the light of the room. When he spoke it was with the reverent, resonant tone of holy confession. "I can have anything in the world, but all I want is you. I need you. I don't think I can live without you. Please. Stay with me."
She sat back, unable to think of a single word to say.
He apparently took her silence to be the foreshadowing of rejection. His words were a plea. "It won't matter if you don't love me. I can live with that. I'll spend the rest of eternity making sure you have everything you want. Stay with me. You won't regret it."
Stay with the Devil. Become an inhabitant of Hell. Shivers of nervousness and need and anticipation worked their way through Jess' body. "Why? Tell me why you want me to stay."
"Because I love you."
A sudden, shimmering glow, as if the fairies had escaped their realm and filled the room with fairy dust, blurred Jess' vision. Through the haze, Jess heard the echo of his words over and over again. "I love you." The echo grew louder, stronger, and she realised it was her voice, taking his words, repeating them, making them her own.
His lips formed into a beatific smile, pure joy kindling in his eyes. He reached out, long fingers tangling in her hair, pulling her to him, but before his lips and tongue could claim her, he breathed the words into her mouth, into her soul, "I love you. For now. For always. I love you."
His hands trembled, even as he swept them over her body. Each place he touched ignited a signal fire whose flames blazed out a message of love and lust. He kissed his way down her stomach and nestled his head between her legs. His eyes locked with hers. She clasped his head in her hands and stroked her fingers across the sleek, dark hair, knowing that nothing was hidden, there were no horns, no dark surprises. She let her legs fall further apart, open to him. Open to all he was. All he wanted.
He smiled then bent his head.
His tongue, not forked but undeniably knowledgeable, twirled and pressed against her clitoris, while his fingers stroked inside her. She tightened the muscles of her vagina, squeezing his fingers, making him groan with delight as the creamy juices rolled over them.
He was hers. When she came, she wanted him to be inside her. She tugged gently, pulled his head back to hers. The taste of his lips was new, a heady mix of his own essential scent and her own response to him. The taste of their love.
The cock she'd once believed too big for her ever to accept comfortably now slid into her warmth. Her muscles loosened and adjusted. They closed around him. Their bond, physical and emotional, was sealed. The Devil filled her, body and soul. There would never be anyone else.
He angled his hips and thrust. Over and over and over. Hard, deep and sure. Long, smooth strokes seared her nerve endings. Velvet friction grabbed and released, grabbed and released.
Each inward thrust staked his claim more firmly. Each pulse and clench of her vagina made him more inescapably hers.
The explosion when she came shook her old life to pieces and cast her into the void. The Devil, still staring into her eyes, followed after.
When at last they came back to awareness, she spared a momentary thought for her old world, her old self, and then shrugged it away. She was where she wanted to be, now and forever. She placed her hand on the Devil's chest and drifted off to sleep.
Life in Hell was wonderful, but Jess enjoyed an occasional break for totally indulgent shopping sprees. She liked buying books, especially those written by the authors she ran into now and then when they dropped in to Hell for inspiration.
She wandered through the book shop, arms laden with purchases. The Devil leaned lazily against a pillar, his loving and protective gaze constantly focused on her.
She'd almost reached the checkout when the same self-righteous woman, who'd been there at the start of Jess' adventure, accosted her.
"You." She pointed her accusing finger at Jess. Then she caught sight of the Devil and her lips paled and tightened. "And you. You were here last time I waged one of my campaigns against the works of the Devil."
He pulled away from the pillar and straightened to his full, impressive height.
Jess smiled at him and shook her head. She didn't need him to handle this for her. She looked back at the woman. "I don't think your campaign is having much effect. Besides, the Devil's not at all bad, you know."
"He is the prince of deceivers. He tempts you with false promises."
Jess heaved a hugely satisfied sigh. "None of his promises are false. You really don't know what you're talking about."
The woman pointed her accusing finger at Jess once more. "You have succumbed to the Devil, but you will never turn me from my path. Change your ways, renounce the Devil."
Jess' lips curved upwards. "I don't want to change. I'm definitely not renouncing the Devil."
The woman gasped in horror. "You do not know what dangers you are courting."
Jess grinned. "Yes, I do. You know what they say. Better the Devil you know."
The Devil leaned down and whispered in her ear.
She laughed and nodded her head. "Sorry. Apparently that one was misreported too. It's supposed to be, 'It's better with the Devil, you know'." She smiled widely. "And it is."
About the Author
Alysha Ellis lives in Australia and when she isn't busy drinking champagne, eating chocolate and letting her inner tart run free, she writes erotic comedy. Her favourite quote comes from Mae West... A hard man is good to find. Who could argue with that? Alysha tries very hard to be bad, because bad girls have all the fun.
Email: alyshaellis@yahoo.com.au
Alysha Ellis loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Alysha Ellis
Send Me an Angel
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