Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

L eviathan’s massive body moved with the speed and agility of a bolt of lightning, effortlessly lifting Ashe from the ground and soaring toward the heavens. The rush of wind past their ears and the distant cries of crows were the only sounds. With each powerful wingbeat, they climbed higher and higher, leaving the world below them behind.

It wasn’t normal for him to wait for such approval, but there was something about Ashe that drove him to treat her differently. He never cared about humans before, but suddenly he wanted her to feel accepted for what she was and part of that was delicate and human.

The cold night air rushed past their faces, and Ashe held on tightly to Leviathan’s strong body, her nails digging into his skin. His heartbeat raced where she pressed against him and he wondered if she was afraid of heights or him. The stars twinkled above them like diamonds scattered across a pitch-black velvet sky, casting shadows against her features when he glanced down, curious to learn more about the compelling creature in his arms.

Landing gracefully on his balcony wrapped in gilded ironwork and ornate railings that overlooked the city below. Leviathan inhaled her rich scent, knowing now that she smelled of roses likely because she was, in fact, human.

He didn’t set her down as he opened the heavy wooden door to his bedroom and stepped inside. The room was lit by candles that flickered softly in dark onyx sconces, casting an ethereal glow over everything. Dark green drapes covered the walls, adorned with intricate embroidered designs of sinners being punished for their transgressions. In one corner stood a large four-poster bed, its black iron frame carved with images of writhing figures. In another corner, a marble tub filled with steaming water just big enough for two. Water he would cleanse her with when he was done.

“It’s very impressive in here.”

Leviathan glanced down at the human to see her eyes were drawn to the massive fireplace where hot coals glowed beneath a thick layer of ash, casting dancing shadows on the wall behind it. There were books upon books stacked around the room—tomes about magic and history and forbidden arts—as well as trinkets from different realms throughout time. He watched as her gaze moved to his sculptures. Some grotesque representations of demons feasting on human flesh while others showed demon lovers locked in passion.

“I may be a demon, but I am not without my riches.” He moved with deliberate steps toward the bed. “Riches that will be yours, should my reminder not be enticing enough to remain here.”

When he placed Ashe down on the bed, Leviathan couldn’t help but notice how painstakingly gentle he’d been. Something very unusual for him, but seemed right when dealing with Ashe.

His gaze traveled over her body, tracing every curve and line with a sense of urgency. His eyes lingered on the swell of her breasts, the smooth slope of her hips, and the delicate dip of her waist. He could see the outline of her body under the soiled gown, and his fingers itched to remove the barrier between them. With a firm grip, he sliced through the fabric from chin to navel with his sharp nail, reveling in the sound of tearing cloth. Within seconds, Ashe’s perfect body was revealed in all its glory. Every inch of her skin was like a canvas, begging to be explored and tasted.

Leviathan leaned in, his lips crashing onto hers with a hunger he never thought he’d feel for anyone. He delved into her mouth, savoring the taste that was uniquely hers, and she eagerly responded, matching his passion with her own. As they kissed, he crawled on top of her, his hands eagerly exploring every inch of her body. The curves and contours beneath her tattered dress were familiar to him, as he had been with this woman before.

He trailed kisses down her neck, licking and nipping at the tender skin until he reached her collarbone. Her groan spurred him on again, a single sound that threw open the memory of their last time together.

He ran his hands over her body, feeling the soft curves and dips of her skin. His lips found one breast, already hardened with desire. He took it into his warm mouth, gently sucking at first before using his teeth to tease the sensitive nipple. She writhed beneath him, a mix of pleasure and pain evident in her moans. Leviathan savored every sound she made, especially when he flicked his tongue over the hardened peak once again. As he continued to lavish attention on her breasts, he felt his own arousal grow stronger. He couldn’t resist grazing his sharp canines lightly against her skin, eliciting more moans from her throat that sent shivers down his spine.

Moving lower still, Leviathan lavished attention on her navel before dipping lower still until he reached the thicket of red hair between her legs. He nuzzled it gently with his nose, taking in its sweet scent that reminded him of honey which was a delicacy that was not often found where they lived. Beneath the honey, the musky scent of arousal filled his senses as he ran his tongue along her slit. Ashe cried out, arching her back off the bed.

Leviathan let out a low chuckle, a laugh full of mirth and victory as he continued to pleasure her with his tongue while slipping a finger into her heat as well, mapping every inch of her slick folds until she shook with her unfilled need.

A part of him wanted to stop there and draw this out for as long as possible, but another part of him needed to claim her right then and there. Claim this form of hers.

With a growl of primal lust, Leviathan rose up and positioned himself at her entrance. He gazed down at her flushed face, her pupils blown wide, and cheeks flushed prettily. “Are you certain?”

“Yes,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Though I didn’t think demons asked.”

Leviathan let out a snort. “Somehow I find myself wanting to treat you gentler, but with a comment like that, I don’t find the need.”

With one powerful thrust, he sunk into her body. Her cry of pleasure beneath him was a symphony of pleasure, fueling his desire further. Every inch of her responded to him, igniting a fire within him that he had only experienced once before. When she’d been the silver demon.

He was claiming her completely, and she was his to conquer.

Their bodies moved in perfect synchronization as if they were two halves of a whole. Every curve and crevice seemed to fit together, igniting a fire between them that burned with intensity. Their breaths came in short gasps, mingling with each other as they moved faster and faster, lost in the heat of their passion. With each thrust, their desire grew stronger, driving them both to the brink of ecstasy. The air around them crackled with electricity as if their bodies were creating their own storm.

The bed creaked under their combined weight, and Ashe’s nails dug into Leviathan’s shoulders as he drove into her over and over again. The sound of skin slapping against skin was all-consuming, and Leviathan couldn’t help but moan at the building pleasure from every movement. She twisted her hips to meet his thrusts, craving the release as badly as he did.

Leviathan growled in delight as her tightness gripped him as her orgasm began to build. His free hand fisted in her hair, pulling it back to expose the nape of her neck as he nipped at it gently. Her cries of delight filled the room, and he couldn’t help but smile against her skin. He loved hearing those sounds. His movements turned more brutal, each thrust harder and faster than the last, the slapping of their bodies echoing around them as they moved together.

The scent of sex and desire filled the air. Ashe threw her head back, arching her back as she crested off her orgasm. Her fingers dug into his skin and would no doubt leave red marks on his broad shoulders as he pounded into her unmercifully.

Ashe’s body tensed beneath him, and suddenly, she cried out, a long, drawn-out moan escaping from between clenched teeth as she came violently. She arched her back and cried out his name, her long red hair flying around them like a flaming aura of passion.

His entire body trembled in pleasure as he thrust into her, his hips meeting hers in an erotic rhythm that left him breathless. He groaned and bit down on his lower lip, tasting the sweet tanginess of her skin mixed with anticipation and fear.

She felt so good, so hot and tight around him that it sent waves of pleasure coursing through his veins. He could feel every part of her—the wild beating of her heart, the sharp inhales of her breath, the way she moaned his name over and over again in an endless loop. Leviathan’s wings stretched out behind him, casting shadows over the walls as if they were alive themselves. His clawed hands dug into the mattress while his piercing eyes locked onto hers.

His release built inside him, surging with uncontrollable heat surging with an intensity he’d never experienced before. His cock throbbed as he pounded into her twice more before his release shot through him with knee-buckling force.

Leviathan continued to thrust into her, wringing every ounce of her release out even as his control began to break. His hands gripped her hips tightly, leaving bruises in their wake as he thrust into her twice more before his release shot through him with knee-buckling force.

With a roar of satisfaction, Leviathan’s wings flared out behind him as he spent himself. His heart thudded in his chest as he began to slow his thrusts. Even when she’d been the silver demon, Leviathan hadn’t experienced such a powerful release.

Slick with sweat, he lowered himself so their bodies touched and buried his face in her neck, nipping the sensitive skin there.

“That was incredible,” Ashe whispered breathlessly, running a hand over his wing tips. “

Leviathan lifted his head to look into Ashe’s eyes, a satisfied smile on his lips. “You are something to envy yourself,” he said in a low voice before capturing her lips in a deep kiss.

They lay there for a while longer, Leviathan catching his breath and Ashe seemingly processing her choices. Eventually, Leviathan pulled out of Ashe and lay down beside her.

You kissed her again. And though the thought should have been an envious snarl, it was instead one that brought a strange smile to his lips. A sense of envy almost.

In thousands of years of existence, Leviathan could count on one hand the number of times he’d kissed a woman, and she now occupied two of those spaces.

Her silence slowly began to eat away at him, turning him into a creature he didn’t recognize as thoughts pinged back and forth while she lay seemingly peaceful beside him.

“It is time to make your choice. As a halfling, you are incredibly rare and belong by my side. We could spend a lifetime creating more envy with a single touch than many crossroad demons achieve in a lifetime.”

“And love?”

His face twisted into a grimace. “As I mentioned, it’s not necessarily love that a demon would feel - that is an emotion reserved for those pure of intent.”

The bed seemed to spring up as she rolled away from him.

“What I can promise you is that you are mine.” He sat up. “Mine to draw pleasure from. Mine to give pleasure to. Mine to protect from those who would try to steal you away.”

When there was no change of expression on her graceful features he realized there was something no one but he could offer. “Your mother.”

“What about my stepmother?” She sneered, and even that sound was thrilling to him.

“You once expressed wanting to drag her down to Belial to pay for her punishment. Though you’ve dispatched him from the realm, it is a boone I would grant in exchange for your promise of at least one hundred years.”

“I’d be dead long before then.”

“That wasn’t a no.” he knew his lips pulled up into a smirk.

“It’s a no because I want my life.”

“Trust me, as a halfling you only appear to age. You’ll stop in a year or so based on your outward appearance. Then you’ll be long-lived for centuries after.”

“So let me go over your offer.” She sat up, leaning forward on her hands while bracing herself upright with her knees on the mattress. “You’re offering me power, riches, the ability to destroy the bitch that brought me here, and all that for only a fraction of my life if I want to leave when it’s done?”

Leviathan noticed the curve of her lips and tugged her forward, pressing her against his chest.

“I believe that tone in humans is called agreement.” Leviathan captured her lips, kissing her as another reminder of his folly and her freedom.

“Then yes, let’s go get that woman who caused my world to shatter. Then we can discuss your offer.”