Page 176 of Hell Bound

“And I’m not going to get any stronger if I’m dead, am I?”

He bristled. There was no denying it, though, no matter how much he wanted to.

“Fine. If you can get me off of you, prevent me from subduing you, you’re strong enough for us to leave.”

“That’s not fair! Lucifer, you’re a goddamned wolf. Of course you can pin me down.”

“And so are those who are chasing us. If I’m dealing with Odragir, what’s to stop Vibek from pinning you down and taking you back to the Infernal Court?”

He had a point, but I rolled my eyes, refusing to admit it.

After all, I’d done it once—I could do it again.

“Fine.” I took up a defensive stance, thankful for Pyp’s pants. This would have sucked in another one of those flimsy-ass dresses.

The pants didn’t seem to dull Lucifer’s reaction to me, however. He’d done his best to keep his hands to himself, but his gaze may as well be a caress for the weight of it.

He used it to his advantage. I was too busy smirking at how distracted he was, and he dove at me before I realized his intent.

We went down hard, but he twisted at the last minute and took the brunt of the impact. One more roll and I was pinned beneath him, still trying to make sense of what had just happened.

“Free yourself from me, Lilith.”

I wiggled, struggled, and—embarrassingly—flailed like a tortoise flipped on its back.

Of course, it didn’t make a bit of difference in my situation.

I planted both feet firmly into the ground, digging my heels in as I thrust my hips up to buck him off. He was too heavy, and it was abadidea.

Pyp had sent the essentials, but apparently for Hellborn women, that didn’t include panties.

The single layer of fabric between us didn’t do a damn thing to dull the sensation of my clit grinding against his body. His lower abs tightened as I did, hellfire flickering to life in those blue eyes.

“Does it count if I get you off bygetting you off?” I grinned at him, but he didn’t return my smile.

“This is serious, Lilith. You won’t be able to play these games with them if they get you. Or perhaps if you offered, they’d take you up on it.”

“I would never do that!”

“Then fight me like your life depends on it! It very well may!”

Fine, then. He’d already pinned me down once, and I knew exactly what made him tick.

I arched my back, raising my head to kiss him—

“I don’t think so, Lily. I know your tricks.”

I scowled and renewed my efforts without aiming to seduce him, trying to think strategically. I thought back to every self defense trick I’d seen on TV.

None of it worked. It seemed I’d lost my chance to use his momentum against him the moment we were on the ground. Unless I suddenly knew jiu jitsu, I was well and truly stuck.

“I can’t,” I huffed, exertion robbing me of breath. “I can’t do it.”

“Then you’re not ready.” He leapt off of me gracefully, the smoothness a contrast to his muscular size.

I was far less nimble when I got up off the ground. But when I was on my feet, I got right in his face, no matter how far I had to crane my neck back to meet his gaze.

“It doesn’t matter, dammit! We can’t stay here any longer. I’m not going to learn martial arts in the next few hours, even days, and by then we’ll be caught and dragged back to Asmodeus and tossed at his feet.”

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