The Devil Made Me Do It by Alysha Ellis Read Free Book Online Page A

interesting.”
    The animation drained from his face, his lashes lowered, shading his eyes. His lips tightened. “If it’s what you want.”
    She wasn’t sure why he was suddenly distant but she knew she didn’t want their last moments together to be spoiled. She put her hand on his arm. “I love your kingdom, Dev. Show me more of it, please.”
    He sighed, and the drawn expression on his face relaxed. “We can go back to my rooms this way, and you can take a look as we go past.”
    He hurried her along the corridor, ignoring her inquiring glances at the surroundings, rich with light and colour, so different from the rest of the castle. In spite of her impending doom, the intriguing sound of music and laughter lured Jess to try to peek inside.
    The Devil abruptly pulled her back just as the door opened a fraction. She had no more than a glimpse of a pink and pretty room, so frilly and fussy Jess expected to see the words Barbie Lane written in the air.
    She turned and put her hands on her hips. “Why can’t I go in there?”
    The Devil made a face. “That’s where the fairies hang out.”
    “Fairies? Fantastic.” Jess turned back to the door.
    The Devil’s hand on her wrist tightened. “I don’t want you going anywhere without me, and I am not going in there.”
    Jess was stunned. “Why not?” Her voice rose in disbelief. “Are you afraid?”
    “Afraid?” The Devil was outraged. “Afraid? I am the Devil. I am not afraid of anything.”
    “Then there’s no problem.”
    The Devil still didn’t release her hand.
    Jess raised her eyebrows. “Why can’t we go in there?”
    The Devil glared at her. “Because it’s all girly and cutesy and there’s glitter and fairy dust everywhere. Okay? Every time I go in there I come out covered in all this sparkly stuff, I smell like flowers and the rest of the guys give me a hard time about it for weeks. And they swarm.” He shuddered. “The fairies swarm all over me and it gives me the creeps. I am not going in there.”
    His look of offended masculinity was too much for Jess even in her misery. With a wry half-smile, she asked, “Why do you keep them here then?”
    His face registered blank astonishment. “Because this is their home. They have every right to be here. My not liking them all that much doesn’t change that. I don’t want to hurt their feelings by letting them see they make me uncomfortable, so I stay away.”
    “But don’t they get offended if you visit everywhere else and don’t visit them?”
    With a dismissive shrug of his shoulders he said, “This department is the most popular in Hell. Everyone wants to see them. They don’t have time to notice if I’m there or not. They don’t miss me.”
    If anyone deserved an outsized ego, he did, but he honestly didn’t seem to mind that the fairies could get along perfectly happily without him. With the knowledge she’d gained in her time with him, Jess knew if the fairies were hurt by his absence, he would visit them, no matter how much he disliked it. His responsibility to his people would ensure it, just as his concern for Jess’ pleasure would make him take her in there if she insisted.
    No matter how much she wanted to delay her departure, Jess couldn’t bring herself to subject him to an experience he disliked. “Let’s skip it then. When I get back home—” She stopped, swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. “When I get back h-home, I’ll have l-lots of r-really wonderful memories anyway.”
    He glared at her without speaking. His face was stark with an expression Jess couldn’t read. In total silence he turned on his heel and strode away. With her hand locked tightly in his she had no choice but to follow him.
    She opened her mouth to question him but before she could get a sound out, she found herself standing in his room. He tore off their cloaks and drove into her with no preparation, no words. His ferocity startled Jess. His desperation submerged her sorrow in rising