Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(116)
“All right,” I said grudgingly. “I get the point. It’s not your fault you’re going to get a charge out of it when you take my virginity.”
“I am hoping that I will not have to,” he said quietly.
“What? What do you mean?” I asked, trying not to sound too eager and hopeful. “You think there’s a chance we won’t have to have sex?”
Laish frowned. “A very slim chance—probably no chance at all. Still, I think it is worth taking our time and trying things slowly. Though it is my guess that only taking the act to completion will pay the tax and break the barrier, it is always possible that something less might work.”
“Something less? Like what?”
“Like simply rubbing against one another with nothing between us,” Laish suggested. “Or perhaps simply the act of penetration will bring the barrier down.”
I frowned. “That’s no good. Penetration equals sex which equals loss of virginity.”
“Not by the rules of the Infernal Realm,” Laish countered. “We believe that virginity is not lost until after penetration and insemination.”
“Seriously?” I could hardly believe it. “So you think you can put your, uh, yourself inside me and as long as you don’t…don’t come in me…” I could feel my cheeks getting hotter and hotter as I spoke but I pressed on. “As long as you don’t do that, I’m still technically a virgin?”
“Until you’ve had my cock to the root inside you and been thoroughly f*cked…” Laish murmured, his eyes half-lidded. “Until that moment when you have my cum dripping out of your *, you are still considered a virgin—at least by Hell’s standards which are the only ones that count here.”
My breath was already coming short and my pulse was racing but I tried to keep my voice calm.
“But that’s not what I believe at all.”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe, mon ange,” he said. “You are in Hell—you must abide by the Infernal rules.”
His words gave me a tiny sliver of hope. “I don’t know what to think about that—it’s just weird. But if it’s really true, then we might be able to pay the tax without me losing half my power.”
“It’s a possibility—but a very slim one,” Laish acknowledged. “But before we put it to the test, would you like to refresh yourself a little? Perhaps with a hot shower?”
“That would be nice, yes,” I said gratefully. “But I thought you told me the hot shower I had back at the Citadel of Knowledge would be my last one down here.”
He shrugged. “That was before, when I thought you would take the other option I offered. If you had, the barrier would be lowered by now and there would be no time for bathing.”
“I’m sorry,” I said awkwardly. “I just couldn’t…couldn’t go there no matter how much he deserved it.”
“Never apologize for being merciful, mon ange.” He cupped my cheek and stroked his thumb gently over my cheekbone. “It is one of the things I value about you—your compassion.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
Laish smiled. “You’re very welcome. Now go refresh yourself. I will meet you here when you return.” He nodded at the bed and I knew what he meant. We were meeting in bed for one reason and one alone—to commit a sexual sin great enough to pay the Sin Tax and bring the barrier crashing down.
I just wondered if we would be able to do that without Laish taking my virginity completely.
Chapter Thirty
Gwendolyn
We’d been riding all day and the steaming water spraying down from the little silver shower nozzle felt wonderful. Laish had thoughtfully provided a big puffy scrubbie along with my favorite vanilla jasmine body wash, so I was able to have a wonderful time lathering up and rinsing, taking my time and letting the hot water soothe my tired muscles.
But after a while I knew I was as clean and relaxed and soothed as I was going to get. The only reason I was still in the shower at that point was because I was stalling. Not wanting to get out and take the next step.
The minute I realized what I was doing, I made myself stop. After all, as Grams always says, “Soonest started, soonest finished.” In other words, just get on with it already. Although I doubted she’d approve of me applying her metaphor to losing my virginity to a demon, the principle still applied.
I dried myself with a big, fluffy towel and applied a little scented oil I found on the tiny shelf to make my skin feel nice and soft. The long white dress with red flowers which I’d taken off had disappeared but I didn’t panic. Knowing Laish as I did, I was certain he would have left something in its place for me to wear. And sure enough, I found it—a pile of deep green silky fabric folded neatly beside the stack of towels.
I expected it to be a slinky lingerie set like the white lace babydoll he’d conjured me to wear the night before. But to my surprise, it was just a simple green silk robe that fell to mid thigh. There were no buttons to close it—only a simple sash and I couldn’t help noticing there were no panties to go with it either. Clearly Laish wanted me completely bare beneath the silky fabric.
I put the robe on, feeling self-conscious about the way it clung to my curves and outlined the sharp points of my nipples. But I had an idea I wouldn’t be keeping it on for long so I’d better try to get over my shyness now.