Demon's Kiss by V. J. Devereaux Read Free Book Online Page A

you need? she asked, insistent.
    He shook his head, his eyes locked on hers almost
pleadingly.
    Gabriel stared him down, waited patiently. She had all the
time in the world—it wasn’t as if they were going anywhere.
    It’s too soon , Asmodeus said almost desperately.
     
    It was too soon and in more than one way. Asmodeus would
have given her more time to get used to him, to the idea of what they were to
each other. Each time he took from her…
    There was no choice. There was too much she needed to know
if he continued to feed from her. It wrenched his heart but choice had been
left behind the moment Templeton had summoned him from the other plane.
    Asmodeus took a long, slow breath.
    My angel, Gabriel. His throat tightened. There is
something you should know if you would do this. Each time I feed on you, what I
give you in the venom…it changes you. It helps your body give me the sustenance
I need, yes, but it also binds us more closely. It takes what is there between
us and it binds you to me. It is no sacrifice on my part. Not ever. Not
knowing what he now knew. His heart wrenched as he laid a hand on her belly. It
also prepares you in other ways.
    An odd emotion slipped through Gabriel at the implications
of that gesture, a sweet yearning she had thought past.
    Once she had thought she could have it all but then one day
she realized time had slipped by her. She had begun to realize that, though she
hadn’t been looking, time for a husband, a home, a family, had finally run out.
    The pain of that knowledge whispered through her, old and
familiar, but she put it aside, there was no time for it now. Or for the soft
glimmer of hope that it seemed he suddenly offered.
    But not now? she asked. Not right this moment?
    For Gabriel there had never been any question, not after
what she had just guessed, and certainly not after what she had just watched.
Not after seeing his courage, his strength. How he had to suffer it. For her
sake. And for his.
    How could she do any less? It had always been her way to do
what needed to be done. It was who she was.
    And, to be honest, she craved it.
    She wanted it, wanted to feel him feed from her. She ached
for the delicious pleasure of his mouth on her throat, of his teeth as they
sank once more into her skin, with a desire that was very nearly sexual. The
very thought had her going hot. He took, yes, and she gave. Willingly. She
loved the feel of his strong arms around her, the feel of his long, hard body
against hers.
     
    Asmodeus watched as her lips curved, as her chin lifted.
There was challenge in those brilliant blue eyes. Challenge, and, with that
tilt of her head, acceptance and an offer he could not deny. Nor, in truth, did
he want to.
    With a sigh and a grudging smile, Asmodeus drew her against
him once more, both reluctant and eager. In that last it seemed he wasn’t alone
as her lush body molded against his, the feel of it immensely satisfying as her
arms went around him, held him close. It was a deep and abiding pleasure to
wrap his arms around her, to cradle her against him while her legs tangled with
his. She curled one arm around his neck, laid the other hand lightly on his
chest. Warmth moved through him as she drew him closer as well.
    Rolling so she was beneath him, he lowered his head to her
throat and breathed in the sweet scent of her. He grazed his fangs over her
delicate skin with growing anticipation. He let her feel them pressed against
her throbbing pulse. She shivered a little with pleasure and a rush of heat
went through him.
    He bit down slowly to savor the moment and the sensation of
his fangs as they broke through her tender skin. Deep pleasure coursed through
him. As his venom pumped into her and her warm, thick blood filled his mouth,
pleasure of a different kind rushed through him.
     
    His mouth was hot as it closed over Gabriel’s throat. He
cradled her head gently in one big hand while the other closed around her waist
to pull her even more tightly