The Demon's Bargain (A Deal With a Demon #4)(25)

“That’s not true.” Her words are slow, but her energy looks good. The red is gone, taking the pale blue and gray with it. Now there’s only pink and the deep blue of contentment. And I’m the one who put it there.

“It is.” I reach past her and turn the shower off. “Let’s finish this on the bed.”

“Finally.” But the word has no barbs, and she only mutters a little when I pluck the towel out of her hands and slowly dry her body. “Pegging.”

“I’m not finished yet.”

I lay her out facedown and find some conveniently stashed lotion on the dresser. Yeah, I’m really starting to see the potential of this care and pampering of one’s person. I like this. A lot.

I kneel over her and focus on working every bit of tension out of her body. I inhale the little sounds she makes when I work a particularly intense knot in her shoulder. Desire is a weight against my skin, but this isn’t about me. This is about giving her whatever reprieve she’ll allow.

Words bubble up inside me, reassurances and promises that Lenora won’t accept. I lock it all down. She will accept pleasure…and so pleasure is what I’ll give.





Chapter 11





Lenora





Ramanu isn’t using any magic, but they weave a spell around me all the same. They work their way down my back and gently drag their claws over my ass then start on my legs. I’m both relaxed and so turned on that I’m shaking. I never want this to stop, but if they don’t touch me soon, I might die.

“Ramanu.”

“Yes, little witch?” They dig their thumb into the arch of one foot. “Do you need something?”

The demon is such a tease. I like it. I like that this isn’t another battle of wills. They could use the chemistry between us to convince me to see things their way. I might take a strong stance verbally, but the truth is I’m terrified they’re right. That my magic will give out when I need it most.

The tournament is mostly fought with magic. Some of that magic is like Skye’s shifter powers, meaning it’s more physical in nature, but that doesn’t change the fact that a magicless person in the ring is as good as dead. Even without the amulet, Kristoff is incredibly powerful. I’m not sure I can beat him in a fair fight.

“Lenora.” Ramanu trails their claws up my inner thigh. “You’re tensing up and undoing all my hard work.”

“Sorry,” I murmur.

They pause, and I can’t help tensing further, certain they’re about to relaunch their argument. I can’t believe they guessed the true purpose of the amulet…but I can’t afford to think too closely about that, or fear may leech away the last of my strength.

If Ramanu competes…

If they take the amulet from Kristoff…

They won’t even need me. They’ll have access to the well of power that’s kept my family afloat for more generations than I can readily count. If they’re smart—and they show every evidence of being smart—they will take the amulet and leave me high and dry. What’s a bargain with a human compared to celestial power?

“Do you want me to stop?”

I jolt. Ramanu is doing their best to give me what I asked for, and I’m still managing to ruin it. I push to my hands and knees, and they move back to allow me to face them. This is the moment to halt things once and for all, to banish them and face the mess I made with my carelessness on my own. No one forced me to fuck Kristoff and then trust him enough to fall asleep in his bed. No one else should have to bear the burden of retrieving what I lost.

I stroke my fingers over Ramanu’s jaw. “You won’t change my mind.”

“I’m starting to see that.” They don’t sound happy about it. “Don’t send me away.”

I can almost believe they mean that because they aren’t ready to stop spending time with me. It hurts how badly I want to believe it. That deep need inside me is reason enough to send them away right here and now. It’s the smart thing to do. The safe thing to do. Apparently I haven’t learned my lesson, though, because I drag my thumb over their bottom lip. “Were you serious about the pegging?”

They smile against my thumb. “I’m always serious about pegging.”

“You’ve taken care of me. Let me take care of you right back.” I try for a smile of my own. “I have a wicked strap-on spell that I think you’ll like.”

They burst out laughing. “Of course you do.”

“Kiss me.”

They surge forward and take my mouth. They were careful last time, their attention split between me and the greater crowd. That’s not the case now. Every bit of their formidable attention is focused on me. They kiss me as if all the answers lie on my tongue, if only they can coax them free.

I lean back, taking them with me, letting their weight press me against the mattress. Maybe I should feel trapped, but instead it’s a comfort, as if they’re keeping me from floating away entirely.

Ramanu hooks one of my knees and tugs it up so I can curl my leg around their waist. They settle more firmly into the cradle of my thighs. The massage was all the foreplay I need. I’m so wet, I’m practically dripping. I fully intend to get to the promised pegging, but…this is nice.