Page 20 of Midnight with the Devil

“Everything I did to you, everything youbeggedme to do, that was only the beginning.” His fingertips brushed the seam of her panties, caressing her clit, and she clenched her thighs together automatically, unable to stop reacting to his touch and the memories…or the dreams of how it felt when his body was between her thighs, his weight pressing down on her. He’d controlled her in the dreams, dominated every part of her until she couldn’t remember who she was. All she could think about was him and the exquisite pleasure he gave her.

Her body burned like a fire in winter. She wanted to view him coldly, dispassionately, but she couldn’t. She kept trying to figure out what made him tick, what he was thinking, and what that look in his eyes meant. Diana would promise far more than was wise if he would let her glimpse who he really was.

He slowly removed his hand from between her legs, making it clear that he was in control, that her body was his to touch as he pleased. The thought turned her on and terrified her at the same time.

“Finish your dinner. We want to get to dessert. That’s always the best part.”

She ate her entrée in silence, enjoying every bite despite feeling the weight of his gaze. But by the time Henry brought out some type of marbled cheesecake, she had to agree with Lucien. Dessert was the best part. She glanced up at him, unable to ignore his intense focus any longer.

“Diana, I want you to tell me one thing about you that no one knows,” Lucien said just as she finished her dessert. She set her fork down and swallowed.

“I…don’t know.” She couldn’t think of anything.

Lucien leaned over and cupped her chin, their gazes locked, and he repeated his question, his sinful voice seeming to put her in a trance. A funny feeling, like being weightless, took over, and she couldn’t seem to stop from speaking.

“I…like to read romance novels. My mom thinks that they’re silly, but I love them.” It wasn’t just the steamy sex scenes that had fascinated her, but the deep, emotional connection the hero and heroine formed by the end of the book. She’d longed for that all her life.

Lucien’s finger slowly dropped from her chin, and he rested his head in his hand, studying her thoughtfully.

“Most people…” He paused, his dark eyes slowly starting to glow red. “Most people tell me something dark, something forbidden. But not you.”

Diana’s heart pounded. She had forbidden desires just like everyone, but she didn’t linger on them. Suddenly she could feel something inside her head, an odd sifting, as though she couldn’t control her thoughts, and the memories that she kept on the surface were shoved away as the walls around her darkest fantasies were attacked.Hewas inside her head. Digging. Diana slammed her walls up even higher, struggling to grasp memories of happy times and throw them at the presence in her head, and the sifting feeling slowed…then stopped.

“You’re going to be a most interesting toy.”

“I’mnota toy.” Diana threw her napkin onto the table and got up. She didn’t care if he wanted her to stay seated. She needed fresh air. Rushing outside to the patio doors behind her, she stopped when she reached the railing on the deck and faced the sea. Breathing in the scent, she was calmed at once and barely flinched when Lucien came up behind her. He placed one hand on her left hip and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“Youarea toy, Diana.Mytoy.” His tongue flicked against her earlobe, and a shiver rolled through her.

“Remember, my sweet, that is the bargain you made.” His hand pressed into her hip, the touch anchoring her down into a pit of darkness where a wildness dwelt. “Give in, Diana.” His voice was like honey, slow and sweet, sliding over her and blocking out the sound of the surf. “Don’t fight the way you feel. I know you find me attractive, that I arouse you. I see it in your eyes, the way they shimmer with heat.”

She opened her eyes, leaned back, and was caught in his gaze.

“You want to know what it would be like to be with me? Let me show you.”

6

I fled, but he pursued—John Milton, Paradise Lost

Diana was falling into darkness, into him. She knew she couldn’t resist. She turned around to face him, a tear trailing down her cheek. Diana wasn’t scared, she was furious—furious that she wanted him, that she liked the way he talked to her, touched her, made her feel vulnerable. He reached out and wiped it with his thumb and then sucked his thumb into his mouth, moaning softly.

“There is nothing so delicious as a mortal’s tears. Shed in love, anger, fear, each one has a different taste. Yours is part anger and part fear.” He brushed his thumb over her lips, and she parted them, drawing in a breath, and then he slid his thumb between her lips.

“Suck it,” he ordered.

Trembling, she did as he ordered. His other hand slid down her back to cup her bottom, his large palm squeezing her hard. Rather than hurting, his touch felt good, too good. Her channel grew wet, and she clenched her thighs together.

Lucien removed his thumb from her mouth, smiling widely. “What a pretty pet you will be.” He took her by the hand before she could speak, and in a blinding flash a portal opened up and they stepped inside. They were back in his apartment above the nightclub in Chicago.

He led her to a room she hadn’t seen. A bedroom. She held her breath, her heart racing as she took in the room—the devil’s bedchamber. It had a fireplace, several chairs, and a couch, and the bed itself was a California king with gauzy red curtains hanging loosely around the four-poster, more for show than for concealment. It was seductive, alluring…something out of her darkest fantasies, the very ones she’d tried to hide from him.

Lucien leaned back on the edge of his bed and pointed at her.

“Remove your dress.”

She reached up to undo the zipper on the side, her hand shaking so hard it took her a few tries. Then she shimmied out of it and slowly let it drop to the floor. She wore a sensible black bra and panties, nothing fancy, and she was glad. She covered her body with her arms until she saw him shake his head. She dropped her arms back down to her sides and looked anywhere but at him.

“Can we just get this over with?” she whispered.

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