The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,23

walk in at the wrong time, but we'll both pretend like this is no different than sharing her with Sam, ok?"

"No." I shook my head, having a better idea. "Maybe I am wrong, but when I am around you, I want to prove myself. To make it clear that I am just as strong, brave, and worthy. You and I have always been friends, but also have the need to be the best."

"To challenge each other." He nodded in agreement. "I can't say you're wrong."

"Then I challenge you, Satan. I can be more romantic with our lover than you. I can bare my soul the most. I can treat her better."

His lips were curling in a smile. "I do like how you think, Beelzebub. No stealing the other man's moves. I won't try to give better massages than you. Instead, I'll do something else, hoping she'll like it more." He lifted his chin toward me. "So when do we stop?"

"When the sun no longer shines," I decided. "If we cannot help but challenge each other, then let us make the challenges ones that are good for our woman."

"And what does the winner get?" he asked, his tone making it clear he approved of my idea.

"A kiss from our Muse," I said.

Nick nodded twice. "And the loser?"

I couldn't stop my grin if I wanted to. "A kiss from our Muse."

Nick pushed himself to his feet and slapped my shoulder. "Thank you, Bel. You're making this a lot easier."

"So are you, Satan. I am sorry that I do not want you like that, but you are too much man for me."

Nick just laughed. "Go spoil her. I'll handle the trash and give you a head start. I think we both know you're going to need it."

"Nope," I said as I headed to the door, tapping on it lightly.

Except that I did, and we both knew it. Nick was charming. He was handsome. He knew how to romance a woman. I was just strong. Even now, months after I'd woken from a two thousand year nap, I was still struggling to master her language. I was at a disadvantage, but that did not mean I'd give up - because I wanted to spoil this woman more than all the others I'd known combined.

The pause after my knock took longer than I wanted, and then the door clicked open. "Sorry," she said, as she invited me in. "I forgot that soundproofing means you can't hear me yelling."

"Or screaming," I agreed. "Kartem, do you feel ok?" The demonic word for sunset fit her so perfectly, and she seemed to like it when I called her that.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she promised as she made her way back to the bed.

I watched as she slipped under the blankets and moved into the middle. In the days since she'd made the veil on Vesdar, we'd managed to get a few more things for her room. On either side of the bed, there were now small tables. One was filled with lubricants and cloths. The other had a pitcher of water and two glasses. Along the far wall were two dressers for her clothes and a trunk for shoes. It only had two pairs, but we would fix that.

In other words, this was quickly becoming comfortable for her, and yet she still looked like she wasn't quite at ease. That meant my woman was nervous, and it tugged at my heart. As I made my way around the foot of the bed, aiming for the side I'd claimed as my own, I slowly removed my shirt, then kicked off my shoes beside the table with the water. I debated removing my pants, but finding her eyes on me was enough to make up my mind.

As the stiff cloth slid down my legs, her eyes followed. A little smile touched her lips, but she lay in the middle with her arms pulled up against her chest, so I kept my underwear on. Once I was bare enough, I lifted the corner and slid into the spot beside her.

"Does your back hurt?" I asked, reaching up to brush the hair away from the side of her face.

"It's not really my back," she admitted.

"But it often makes your back hurt too," I said, hoping to prove that I understood. "I have big hands. I can make it feel better."

"Bel..."

So I leaned closer and lowered my voice. "I am not scared of your body, my kartem. It does not disgust me, even when