The earthy scent of her coiled about his head and into his senses. His skin prickled with want. Inside he growled, a long, moaning noise vibrating within his rib cage. So easy to take her.
You need to take her. We need her. Touch the nail at her neck. Feel the power.
She studied him, and he swept out a hand and grabbed her by the wrist, slamming her against the brick wall and pinning her there with ease. He dragged his tongue from her jaw, up along her soft, smooth cheek and to her temple, where her pulse thumped and her salty sweetness tempted his taste buds.
“CJ, what are you—?” Ineffectual fists beat at his chest. “You’re not CJ. Let me go!”
“No, no, sweetie, you’re mine. I get to taste you now, because he spends far too much time thinking about how you’ll taste rather than indulging in you. Yes, you will be delicious.”
He dove to her neck and licked her vein. It pulsed hot and thick beneath his tongue. He could bite it, but unlike the vampire, he hadn’t fangs to pierce the skin. Stupid dark witch. So ineffectual. This body provided little advantage to the game.
Vika kicked, but her long, tight skirt wouldn’t allow her effective defense. Though her heel smashed the top of his boot, it hurt, yet only Pain quivered within—in joy.
“I like it when little girls struggle,” Lust growled. “Stirs your pheromones to a delicious soup of fear and anger. You, you little thing, have some aggression bottled up inside this gorgeous trapping. Let’s lick it out, yes?”
“Xum!”
A blast of something hit him in the chest, and he lost his grip on her and stumbled backward a few steps. What had that— Ah. Air magic. When he had control of the body, the dark witch’s defenses were not so strong, and any wards he’d put up or wore on his skin were ineffective. Lust slapped a palm to his chest and grinned at the red witch with the fiercely defiant expression. She did not wish to be trifled with; he didn’t care.
She pointed through the air, slightly above his head. “It’s here. The soul.”
What was she talking about?
“Hang on, CJ, I’m going to get rid of Lust for you.”
“You are foolish—”
The witch recited a Russian incantation, and with a gesture of her hand, directing some invisible energy toward him, a blast of brightness entered the dark host’s chest.
Lust clawed at the insides of the stupid witch who’d had the audacity to venture into Daemonia and steal. Lust would not be expelled without causing as much damage as he could to the thief. Clinging to the muscles, plasma and bone that fashioned the feeble witch, the demon fought against the dazzling corpse light moving through skin, sinew and the witch’s very heart. One intangible claw hung on, and then...
Brightness exploded upon him and pushed him out of the body. Unable to survive in the mortal realm without a host, and not having been summoned to this realm, Lust was immediately sucked to Daemonia.
Certainly fell to his knees, catching his palms on the tarmac. Sweat beaded his brow, and he gasped in exertion. He’d felt the soul enter through his chest and leave out his back. The lust demon had torn at his heart, unwilling to relent. His muscles felt shredded, damaged inside.
Barely aware of his surroundings, the brush of fabric dusted his arm. Vika moved about him. Looking for something. And then she declared, “I got it!”
He rocked to the side and sat, legs sprawling before him and arms falling forward to rest his hands on the ground. Exhausted from the expulsion, Certainly could but nod and manage a loopy grin.
“The demon is gone from you? Yes, I think so. I knew it was a demon when you pushed me against the wall. You’re not that kind of guy.”
He winced. Wasn’t he? Shouldn’t he strive to be some kind of guy?
“Your voice was different, too. Deeper, kind of raunchy.”
“Lust,” he gasped, and smirked regretfully. A demon had attempted to seduce the woman he was only just warming up to. “The demon wanted to do things with you. Things I...”
Wanted, but wasn’t sure how to ask for.
She kissed him on the cheek and pressed a finger to his lips. “I don’t need an explanation. All that matters is it worked. I expelled the demon from you and I managed to capture the werewolf’s soul again. I have it inside me. The soul bringer will get his due.”