On the other side, back in the clearing at the dead demon’s campsite, Sunshine stumbled out of the gate and ran toward the bushes while Raum kicked dirt over the sigil to break the magic. Panting, she folded forward at the waist and waited to throw up, but it never came. Still, the nausea churned her stomach, and she couldn’t seem to draw a full breath.
“You okay?”
Raum’s gruff voice shattered the rising dark memories, and she straightened. Swallowing hard, she nodded.
He turned away, yanked his hood back, and ran a hand over his head. He was still in half demon form, but his position kept her from seeing his face properly. “I’m sorry.”
She blinked. “Why?”
“I should have made sure you were behind me.”
“It’s not your fault. I panicked. If I’d have kept my head, that demon wouldn’t have been able to grab me.” She wasn’t about to tell him why that scenario had triggered such blind terror, but she could tell he was curious about her reaction.
He finally turned, staring at her as if trying to glean the truth for himself, and she took the opportunity to study him in this form. It wasn’t fair, she thought distantly. He had four different forms, and all of them were beautiful.
As she’d expected, the scales covered his face the same as his hands and arms, but they were smoother and less defined, the texture almost disappearing around his eyes and mouth. His skin was black and looked tougher than human skin, and his golden irises seemed brighter, his pupils tiny black circles in the center. She couldn’t see his teeth, but she’d felt fangs when they’d kissed. She was also certain she hadn’t imagined the pointed tongue that tangled with hers. The memory made her heart skip a beat.
He forced his gaze away. “Let’s get back to the hideout. We’re sitting ducks out here, especially now that everyone in the Market knows there’s an angel in Hell.”
She nodded. The little cave seemed like paradise compared to facing that crowd again. “I was only uncovered for a split second. Do you think they figured it out that quickly?” She imagined all those rough-looking demon mercenaries hunting her, and her stomach churned.
“I’d rather not find out.”
On that, they could agree.
“I’ll have to carry you again.”
“I don’t mind.”
His eyes narrowed like he didn’t believe her.
She was suddenly too exhausted to hide her feelings, to care if she said too much. “Raum, your demon form doesn’t scare me. I think it’s beautiful, actually. All your forms are.”
His expression was so incredulous it was almost comical.
Without another word, he pulled off his cloak and handed it to her. “Wear this while we fly.”
She did as he asked, and a second later the massive demon crow was standing before her. He shifted his weight and shook out his feathers in a ripple that traveled down his great body to his tail. The feathers there ruffled and then spread, and then he opened his impressive wingspan.
“Hi,” she whispered, coming forward to stroke his silky plumage. She wanted to tell him how magnificent he was, how much she enjoyed flying with him, how safe she felt in his talons, but she reminded herself that he was still Raum. And she didn’t think Raum would appreciate such revelations.
He lifted a foot, so she bent into that awkward position so he could wrap his talons around her middle. His great wings pumped, and there was a jolt as he leapt and took flight. They circled, gaining altitude.
This time, his other foot wrapped around her below the first, and he tucked both legs close to his body. Knowing it was foolish, knowing she shouldn’t, she relaxed into his hold, a prey willingly caught. Her body limp, she closed her eyes as the last of her terror from the Market bled out of her.
He banked left and aimed them toward their final destination. Without even bothering to check where they were going or what was below them, she gave into the sense of security and let herself drift off.
* * *
Her lover’shand tightened in Shamsiel’s hair, forcing her head back as he shoved deeper into her mouth, and she relished the prick of his claws against her scalp. She looked up into his eyes, loving his power over her, wanting to please him.
Tears blurred her vision as she dug her nails into his muscled thighs, swallowing when his thick length hit the back of her throat. The ridges along his scaled shaft heightened the sensation against her lips and tongue. A deep groan rumbled in his chest above her.
He pulled out suddenly and tugged on her hair, drawing her to her feet. She went readily, eager to offer her surrender. In everything else in her life, she was authoritative, in command of others. Yet here, when it was just them, she shed that mask and gave in to the urges deep inside that longed to be soft and under another’s control.
But only his control.
He was the only one who would ever see her like this.
