on Vik, who’d often seen the stacked hoof covers she wore under her gown.
Diomede somehow summoned enough extra height to gaze down on her. “I will fight for him. I’ll pass any test. And not because someone commanded me to, but because he’s mine and I’m willing to prove it.”
The golden tips of Vik’s mother’s horns dipped forward. Time for Vik to man up, or rather, demon up. “Mother.” He took her hands in his. “You always told me to grow up. Now’s the time. You also allowed me one day to find a mate of my own. I’ve found him. I choose Diomede. You can command me to mate with another, but my heart will always be his.”
“You’re as stubborn as your father.” Her words lacked heat and one side of her mouth gave a little twitch. “If you won’t be dissuaded I suppose I’ll have to learn to accept your decision, won’t I? That or incinerate you both where you stand.”
Vik froze. His mother cackled her most sinister laugh. “Just kidding. Now you kids run along. My old friend and I have some details to work out.”
Diomede grabbed Vik’s hand. “C’mon. Let’s get back to your place. There’s a flogger and St. Andrew’s Cross with your name on ‘em.”
They’d barely cleared the throne room exit when Diomede grabbed Vik, slung him against the wall, and dove.
“Oof!” Vik sucked in a breath to replace the one just knocked out of him. “What about my apartment.”
“I can’t wait that long,” Diomede mumbled against Vik’s lips.
Sounded good to Vik… But…
“Our mothers are close enough to hear us.” And didn’t that wilt tails and other body parts?
“Good point.” Diomede yanked Vik back the way they’d come. Back when Big Blue had been a scrawny little human, he hadn’t been capable of pulling Vik at such speeds.
Had the passageway always been this long? Vik paused to catch his breath before flinging open the door to his apartment. Damnation! Just a cave.
“Allow me,” Diomede said. With a snap of his fingers he returned the place to its former S & M dungeon ambiance.
Torchlight flickered from wall sconces. Reminded Vik of sneaking off years ago to unused caverns near level five.
And finding his lover there.
Diomede. Here. Now. He’d had a damned good idea out in the corridor. And Vik had always loved the way he thought.
“Vik, don’t you think…Ack!!”
Vik slammed his demon again the closest wall and sealed his mouth over Diomede’s, catching a bit of fang. Oh well, no use having fangs if he didn’t use them on occasion. He dragged their points over the base of Diomede’s throat.
Diomede moaned, an eerie, sinister, haunting sound to send shivers down the spine and the faint of heart screaming.
In other words, a single wordless cry to melt certain parts of Vik, while hardening others. He kissed his mate, snaking his tail up the leg of Diomede’s pants. So good not to have to downplay his abilities.
Oh! Tails! Vik grasped Diomede’s pants and yank, splitting the material and letting a long, blue tail out to play.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
He grasped the appendage in one hand, and slowly, slowly, brought the sensitive blue flesh to his mouth, Diomede’s eyes growing bigger by the moment.
“You’re not going to…I mean…”
Vik grinned and ran his tongue over the pointed tip of his lover’s tail.
“Oh!” Diomede grabbed the wall, knees trembling. “No one licks demon tail like you do!”
Vik curled his tongue around the blue flesh he’d yearned for. The scent, the taste. Hellfire and Brimstone #5, combined with Diomede’s own natural scent had haunted his dreams for so long.
Every night he’d dreamed.…
“Hold that thought on the whips and chains idea.” Vik winked. “There’s someplace I want to go.”
Wrapping his arms around his mate, he closed his eyes and clearly pictured a place he hadn’t been in years, but yet still burned clear in his mind. The scent of sulfur hung heavy in the air. He opened his eyes and stared into Diomede’s.
Diomede gave a smile. “The brimstone pile! Where we first…”
“Yup!” Like the first time, they tugged and ripped at each other’s clothes, flickering firelight painting their skin in glowing hues and shadow. Oops! There went a carelessly tossed shirt!
Vik ran his hands everywhere, reacquainting himself with Diomede’s body, while Diomede mapped out his skin with sure fingertips.
Mouth to mouth, groin to groin.
“Sire!”
Without sparing a glance, Vik shoved out his hand and banished the pesky fire minion to level seven. “Now where were we?”