Black stallions filled the stalls, shorts and small whinnies coming from behind the tall wooden doors.
Wow. I guessed my subconscious had decided if I couldn’t ride Lucifer, I was going to find something Icouldride.
Chapter22
Lucifer
“Stay here and learn to hold on to your damn sword,” I told Deasley, gripping his bicep and drawing him back.
Pypentha snickered, holding out the weapon and tapping one foot. “Come, incubus. Your favorite activity awaits.”
Deasley groaned, but took the sword and followed her.
As for me, I had someone else to follow.
Lilith had taken the door that led to the stables. I slipped in silently a moment later, leaning against the door when I caught sight of her dark hair, and waited to see what she’d do next.
Her hands had gone right for one of the saddles hung on the walls. Most of them were heavy, even for a male demon, and she grunted as she tried to pick up one that was spiked and studded.
Then Lilithreallynoticed the horse in the stall closest to her, which was watching her intently.
They had only the most basic similarity to horses in the human world. But these beasts were as varied and as immortal as all of Hell’s denizens.
Its face was stripped bare of skin, revealing the ivory of its skull, and flames licked at its empty sockets. A clawed foot scratched the ground instead of hooves.
Lilith took one step back, then another. “Good pony… no sudden moves…”
It extended its naked skull over the edge of the stall, watching her movements with predatory interest.
She backed all the way to the door, ran into my chest, then whirled around with a strangled squeak. “Lucifer!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Were you planning on riding off into the sunset on one of those?” I nodded towards the nearest horse, which was showing Lilith a death’s head grin full of sharp teeth. “They’re trained specifically for the Infernal Court outriders.”
“Well…” Lilith ducked her head, scratched the back of her neck, and finally glanced back up at me. “I figured… I would just go for a ride and cool down…”
“Cool down from what, exactly?” I asked, letting the wolf’s purr enter my voice. She backed up a step when I took one toward her. “We didn’t dothatmuch training, Lily.”
She skirted an open stall door, keeping it between us as I prowled after her.
“Hana was right!” she blurted out, raising her hands. “I know I messed up earlier, but I should stay away from you, or I’m going to get us caught, and—”
She didn’t see the crack in the flagstones, and tripped, flying backward into the massive pile of hay at the back of the stables.
I caught her a scant moment before she hit it, letting her sink into it gently.
Bits of hay clung to her hair, sticking out in all directions as she swallowed hard and looked up at me. I laid across her, one thigh wedged between her legs, her heartbeat racing so fast I felt it against my chest.
“You’re not the only one fighting it.” I ran a finger over the fine lines of her collarbone, tracing a path down between her breasts.
“Right now, it sure seems like I am.” Lilith shivered under me, and there was the sudden sound of crackling hay and ripping cloth as I tore a claw through her long skirt.
She bit back a gasp, already trembling under my touch as I pulled the sheared cloth aside, exposing her thighs.
All that covered her sex was a little slip of black lace and ribbon.
My mouth watered just thinking about it.
“I fight it every fucking hour of the day,” I growled, gliding my fingers down to her knee, and back up.