Max looked behind him. Although Augustine was a sneaky bastard, it hadn’t been a trick. Kayla lay unmoving on the ground, her eyes closed, her face pale.
“Kayla!” The demon was right. He had harmed his love. Max froze, overwhelmed by pain, the battle forgotten. Nothing mattered, only Kayla. If she died, his life would be meaningless.
Augustine rushed toward her. “Let me --”
“No!” Max thundered. No other demon would touch Kayla. Max threw a fireball with such might that it knocked Augustine into another dimension. Never had he felt so much power and never had he cared so little for it. His Kayla was hurt.
Max fell to his knees beside her, the pavement cracking under the impact. “Kayla?” He gathered her limp body up in his arms. She was very small and extremely frail. He bent his head, pressing his ear to her chest. Her heart beat. It was light but he heard it. “My Kayla.” He stroked her hair away from her face. “Don’t you dare die on me.” He kissed her forehead. Her skin was cold. He held her against him, trying to warm her with his body heat. “I love you too much.” He kissed her lips, forcing his energy into her.
She’d given him everything, leaving nothing back for herself. That was Kayla, his generous love. Max continued to breathe into her, his hand resting over her heart. He felt her heartbeat strengthen and with it, his hope returned. “Come back to me, Kayla,” he murmured against her still lips. “I can’t do this without you.” He couldn’t live without her. Seconds stretched as he coaxed energy into her.
She coughed, the movement racking her small body. “That’s it, Kayla. Wake up for me, love.”
“Max?” Her voice was painfully feeble.
“I’m here, love.” He touched her face, joy filling him.
Her eyelids fluttered open. Big, brown eyes stared up at him, blinking into focus. “You… blood… arm…”
She had almost died, and she asked about him. “I’m healed, love.” He caught her searching hand in both of his. “You saved me. You saved us.”
A smile curled her lips. “Safe.” Her eyes closed.
The reality of their situation hit Max. She wasn’t safe. They were situated on a deserted street where any demon could find them. Max’s arms tightened around Kayla. Augustine’s concealment spell wouldn’t last forever. Even if it did, that determined demon would soon find a way back from the alternate dimension. Max rose, holding Kayla cradled against him. He had to get her back to his home. He ran, carrying the love of his life in his arms.
Chapter Four
Kayla swung her feet over the edge of the bed. She paused, waiting for the room to stop spinning. She was so weak.
“Where are you going?” a voice demanded from the doorway. Max was back, another plumped pillow clutched in his big hands. He had already tucked half a dozen pillows behind her head.
“I feel dirty.” She felt dirty down to the depths of her soul. “I need to shower.”
“You are not showering.” He threw the pillow against the wall. His display of antique swords rattled. “You aren’t strong enough.”
“He touched me, Max, all over.” She stared at the silk Hereke carpet, remembering. The other demon had touched her with his clawed hands, his sweaty thighs, the tip of his… She rubbed the inside of her thighs, above her healing wounds, trying to erase the memory. “He almost --”
Max crushed her to him. “He didn’t.” Her demon protector threaded his fingers through her hair. “He didn’t,” he reassured her, kissing her forehead as he rocked her. “And he won’t ever again.”
He couldn’t guarantee that. They weren’t bonded. “I feel him all over me, Max.” She rubbed until her skin was raw. The sensation wouldn’t go away.
Max placed his hand over hers, stopping her frantic movements. “We’ll wash together.” He lifted her, his jaw clenched determinedly, and carried her into the bathroom. The room was huge, larger than her apartment. He set her on the edge of a demon-sized tub, turned on the taps, and adjusted the temperature.
Kayla leaned against the cool tile wall, helpless to do anything more than watch him. She had little energy left. Max was right. She wasn’t strong enough, but she wouldn’t spend another minute with Augustine’s scent on her. She shuddered.
“All I have is strawberry.” Max held up a container of bubble bath. It was half empty.
The thought of her rough, tough demon taking strawberry bubble baths made her smile, banishing some of the negative memories. “Strawberry is fine.”
He scowled at her. “It is a manly scent,” he defended his choice. He poured a couple of capfuls into the hot water. Strawberry-scented steam rose, dampening Kayla’s curls, plastering her white T-shirt to her body.
“Max.” Kayla plucked at her shirt. She hadn’t the energy to remove it.
“My frail little human,” he clucked, pulling the shirt over her head. She was frail and she was little, but she wasn’t human. They both knew that.
“We could pretend to be human today, couldn’t we?” She stared up at him, willing him to say yes. They could have this last day together with her as a human. She couldn’t handle anything else right now.
“We could.” His blunt face softened. “We could do anything you like.” He didn’t waste time with undoing buttons. He ripped his shirt from his body. His pants were as expediently removed. He stood naked in front of her, his chest puffed out, his muscles flexed. He was virile and male and everything she could possibly desire in a partner.
Kayla’s gaze dropped. “Max, I want you, I really do, but I’m too weak for…” She waved at his erect cock, cursing her low energy levels.
His face darkened. “This --” he stroked his cock -- ”will still be hard when you’re recovered. I promise you.” He turned off the taps and stepped into the filled tub. “Today, you let me care for you.” He sank down, the water sloshing over the sides, and reached for her. “Let me touch you.” He pulled her toward him, into the warm water. The bubbles tickled her nose. “That will be enough.” He settled her so she faced away from him, her back resting against his bare chest. He groaned, shifting her until his hard cock nestled between her ass cheeks. “More than enough.” He rubbed a wet sponge over her collarbone, down between her breasts.
She touched his arm, recalling how it had hung uselessly by his side, the bones shattered. “Does it still hurt?”
“No.” He kissed the back of her head. “I’m completely healed. When you gave me your energy, it…” He paused as though unable to explain the experience. “It was power like I’ve never felt before. I healed instantly. It was almost overwhelming.”
“It felt good.” Kayla relaxed against him, her guilt drifting away. She had worried that the transfer had hurt him as much as it had hurt her.
“Very.” He circled her breasts with the sponge, his thumb rubbing over her nipples. Her lethargy flowed to arousal, their physical connection temporarily boosting her energy levels. “But I never want to experience it again.”
“Why?” She turned her head to look up at him.
“I almost lost you.” He kissed the tip of her nose. She blinked. “It is too dangerous for us.”
“Because we’re not yet bonded.” That was what the other demon, Augustine, had said. It implied that the energy transfer would be safe with them bonded.
“Not yet,” Max repeated. His thighs squeezed her legs. His arms tightened around her. His cock pushed against her backbone. The thought of bonding with her must excite him.
She wasn’t yet ready to accept their fate but she didn’t retract her words. They would be bonded. He loved her. She loved him. She traced the gashes on her legs with her fingertips. Although bonding with him in demon form scared her, it would happen.
“Kayla?”
She knew what he was about to ask. She didn’t want to talk about. Not yet. “Today, we’re human,” she reminded him. She spread her legs, hooking them over his. “Love me like you would a human woman.” She needed his touch. She needed him to remind her that good sex wasn’t violent.
“You’re too weak for loving.” He buried his mouth in the curve of her shoulder, kissing and sucking. His big palms cupped her breasts.
She was too weak. Her mind wanted something her body wasn’t ready for. “Then I’ll float here on the water.” She arched, reaching back to wrap her hands around his neck. “I plan to be a very lazy lover.” She smiled defiantly, her head fuzzy, her vision blurred.
His cock bobbed, the touch sending tremors up her spine. “You are not to move,” he ordered. His right hand disappeared into the water. “I want you to stay perfectly still.” She jerked as he parted her pussy lips. “Still,” he admonished. He didn’t know that remaining motionless required more energy than moving. He fanned her sensitive folds back and forth, back and forth. She wriggled. She wanted those fingers higher. “I’ll stop if you move, Kayla.”
“Then stop teasing and fill your vessel, demon,” she retorted. She wasn’t strong enough for games.
He chuckled low and deep, the sound making her pussy tingle. “Today, we’re human, vessel, and human men tease.” She gasped as he pinched her nipple. “But since you demand filling.” He thrust three fingers into her pussy. She called his name, jerking upward. “Still.” He paused, his fingers fully inside her.
“Max,” she whimpered. He was killing her. His thumb swept over her clit. She rolled her head on his chest. She was weak yet needy. “Quickly, please.” If he prolonged his loving, she’d expire before reaching satisfaction. “This is too much for me.” The bathroom lights already danced in front of her eyes.
“I’ll take care of you, Kayla.” He nuzzled her earlobe as he pumped her, the water swirling in eddies over her hips. “Relax and enjoy this.” It was an impossible request. Her body drew up tighter and tighter until she was coiled like a spring.
She couldn’t do this. Her head thrashed. “Max,” she cried, panting. She couldn’t get enough oxygen. She needed more energy. She was drowning in the open air. “Max, I can’t --”
“You can.” His voice grew deeper and louder. His body increased in temperature. His skin turned red. His fingers thickened inside her pussy, stretching her. He pounded her with excess energy, and she gulped it greedily.
Her desire spiraled up and up, reaching unsustainable heights. The room flashed dark and light. “Max!” She couldn’t hold onto the light, and it frightened her.
“Now, Kayla.” He swirled his thumb over her clit and she sprang loose, thrusting upward. “I have you.” He held onto her with hands too large to be human. He sucked on her neck with his hot mouth.
She fell back into him, into the dark, trusting that Max would keep her safe. He wouldn’t let her go. He loved her.
Her eyes closed.
* * *
Max sliced the broadswords through the air, one in each hand. Normally he didn’t use manmade weapons to fight, but Augustine was too strong to battle demon to demon. Max needed an advantage over the stronger demon.
Augustine’s roars shook the house. Although his rival couldn’t push past the perimeter, he waited. They were hostages in their own home.
Max returned the broadswords to their sheaths. They wouldn’t work. He extended his claws. His top lip curled with frustration. His claws would be as ineffective.
Nothing would work. Augustine was older and stronger and when they battled next, the results would be the same. Max would lose. He would die. He wouldn’t allow Kayla to save him. He couldn’t risk her life again.
“He hurt me, Max, when he…” Kayla stood on the threshold, clad in a white bathrobe, her arms crossed defensively.
Augustine had hurt her, and Max wanted to howl his rage. “I would never hurt you.” He knew his demon form frightened her. That was why he hadn’t pushed the bonding ceremony. Although it was the solution to all their problems, he wouldn’t force Kayla to do something she wasn’t comfortable with.
She stepped forward. “You have sharp claws.” She stared at his hands.
He’d seen the claw marks on her legs. His fists clenched. If he could, he would gut Augustine for that. “They retract.” Max held one hand out and slowly retracted his claws. “I would never touch you with them. They are for fighting, not loving.”
“Oh.” She reached out and touched his hand, her fingers light on his skin. “Your tail is sharp too.”
“Same thing.” He swung his tail around. She jumped back. “Sorry.” He smiled reassuringly. Her trepidation was understandable, after what that bastard Augustine had done. “Retractable.” He held his tail and retracted the razor-sharp tips. “See?”
She touched it. “It’s soft.” He fluttered his tail over her knuckles. She laughed. “And it tickles.”
“It can do more than tickle.” He grinned. He’d never tried it before but the demon rumor mill said that tail in pussy was an orgasm inspiring combination.
She blushed a delightful pink. She looked up and up and up. “Do your… ummm…” She gulped. “Do your horns retract too?” she asked in a rush of words.
“No. Those are for both fighting and loving.” He kneeled before her, bringing his horns within her reach. “Touch them.” His cock stirred to life. Just the thought of Kayla touching his horns hade him hard.
She stood directly in front of him, her pussy at nose level. He smelled her excitement, and his shoulders lowered with relief. His horns didn’t horrify her. She stroked them, and he felt the impact straight down to his hardening cock. He shuddered with pleasure as she became braver with her touches.
“You like that?” Her brown eyes sparkled.
“I love it.” His voice was husky. He wanted her so much. “Can I hold you?”
Her stroking faltered. She swallowed hard. “I’d like that.”
She lied. It scared her. But Max needed to touch her, so he placed his big hands lightly on her hips. She stiffened. When he didn’t move, she slowly relaxed. She continued to stroke his horns. “Can I lick them?”
He groaned. She was killing him. “If you lick them, I will come.” He gritted his teeth. He was close to coming right now.
“From licking them?” Her smile was devilish. He nodded. He was creating a monster. “Interesting.” She leaned closer, her legs straddling his engorged cock. She stuck out her tongue and licked one horn from base to tip.
“Fuck!” He shot hot cum onto the rubber floor tiles. “Kayla.” He squeezed her ass, continuing to come. “Fuck.”
Her robe fell open, exposing her naked body, and he buried his face in her hair-covered mons, licking her with his demon tongue. She moaned, pressing her pussy forward. He spread her with his thick fingers and feasted upon her, sucking up her sweet juice. She tasted like heaven. She tasted like love.
She held on to his horns, brushing her soft breasts over them. He was a demon and had a demon’s recovery time. Her fervent embrace revived his cock. He brushed against her leg, and her thighs quivered. He continued to lick her, pulsing inside of her with his long tongue, nibbling on her folds with his lips. He purposely avoided her clit, wishing to prolong their encounter. She was so responsive. One flick of his tongue and she would come.
She had a demon between her legs. Kayla looked down, bemused and aroused and a lick away from bursting into flames. She stroked Max’s horns, feeling pride over how crazy she made him. No woman had ever touched him like this. No one had ever given him this pleasure. Only she had. Only she could.
She’d come to the home gym determined to take him while he was in demon form. She had thought she was making a sacrifice, to keep him safe from the purple demon roaring outside their door. She never expected this pleasure, this feeling of power. She kissed a horn. It felt like his cock, a combination of silk and bone.
She moaned as he slurped up her wetness. He’d eaten her pussy before but never like this, his demon tongue reaching deep inside her, his mouth hot and firm. He fed on her like she was his next meal.