CHAPTER 9

Mammon

At the time, bringing Sam back to my temporary home seemed like a logical decision. But him being here, just the two of us, now seems like the mother of all bad ideas. This house doesn’t really suit me. But it fit’s the persona we’d created for Eammon Lewis. It was a little too ostentatious for my taste. My apartment back in hell was less fussy and almost basic in comparison. Funny how I hated the human realm before. I couldn’t see the appeal. But now, with Sam in my arms, the thought of going back to hell alone… is like a knife to my heart. He feels so right pressed up against me, so delicate, so small, so vibrant. I hadn’t realized just how monotonous my existence has become until now. I have responsibilities as a prince of hell. Could I really abandon them to stay with my human soul mate? Ugh, fuck if I know. I might be a prince in my realm, but I am just one of seven, which means I’ll need to have a chat with Luci.

The man in my arms stirred. He’d blacked out the second before I stepped into the spectral haze. Most likely from overexertion. How much energy did he use up to breach my mental barrier and warn me about the attack on Ryan? Being a demon, I was unaffected by the haze; it was halfway between the worlds of the living and the dead. But as a human, even with Suvian blood, it was a stomach-churning experience. Sam’s eyelids fluttered as he lifted his head to look around him. I’d brought us directly to my sitting room; it was too beige for my taste but it was comfortable enough. I steered Sam towards one of the oversized couches and helped him settle before heading to the bar I had set up on a side table.

“Would you like a drink?” I held up a glass tumbler.

“Ugh, I’m not a big drinker, but I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

I knew I was throwing caution to the wind; I knew that this moment could well come back to bite me in the arse. But I couldn’t bring myself to care. I was Mammon prince of hell and I was tired of hiding it, especially with my mate. Tonight had been a shit-show. Yes, I’d enjoyed some aspects of it, like verbally dueling with Cross, but holding myself back from using my powers was a constant strain. Which is why instead of pouring vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and syrup into a cocktail shaker. I just summoned up two martini espressos instead.

“That’s a pretty neat trick. Are you going to tell me how you did it?”

“Sure, I’ll tell you how I did it, right after you tell me how you knew Ryan was being attacked.”

His slate-blue eyes darkened as he pondered his answer. Nervously he worried his lower lip, and I grew hard just imagining my teeth replacing his. Instead of following my impulse, I took a sip of my cocktail, savoring the coffee kick that did nothing to distract me from my mate. Oh, how I wanted him. Did he realize just how much? The small smile that graced his lips suggested he did.

“You know what you’re thinking is illegal in some countries.”

“Really? How about you tell me what I’m thinking?” I pictured him writhing on my bed as I worshiped his body with my mouth. Pulling needy noises from him as I worked my way between his thighs.

A deep blush spread across his face, his eyes dilating, and his breath quickened. Perfect, he was absolutely perfect, and I couldn’t wait to get him naked. And as much as my dick begged me to take this chat upstairs, there were still unanswered questions hanging between us.

“You really want to know how I knew about the attack?” Sam asked, now taking a sip of his drink.

“You know I do; you can read my mind.” His gasp was all the answer I needed.

“How did you…”

“Like you, I’m not what I seem. Well, I am actually this charming…”

“… and tall and sexy…” Sam blurted.

“Those too, yes. But I’m not just that.”

“Who are you? Really… because I’m guessing you’re not just some business mogul who’s good at parlor tricks.”

It was now or never. My heart told me to trust that Sam wouldn’t react badly to my… true form, but a small part of me couldn’t help but wonder.

“Whatever you are, you won’t scare me away. You have to know that by now. Right?”

Instead of answering, I pictured myself slowly morphing from my human form to my half-demon form, then to full demon, knowing he was reading my thoughts.

“Oh, fuck me… you’re a demon.” His awe filled voice soothed the tension from my shoulders. “But not just any demon? Am I right?”

“No, I’m not just any demon…”

“Holy fuck are you, Lucifer?”

I couldn’t hold back my groan, not just because he keeps said the F-word, and it’s playing havoc with my dick, but because he called me Lucifer. Why did humans always automatically think every damn demon lord was Luci?

“I am Mammon, demon Prince of Greed, ruler of the fourth level of Hell. And you are?”

“About to faint…”

“No, you’re not, you’re going to tell me about yourself, then you’re going to tell me about Mervin Cross, then I’m going to take you to my bed and make us both come.”

“Yes… to all of that.” Sam took another sip of his martini. For a guy who didn’t drink much, he seems to be doing remarkably well. “Where would you like me to start?”

“Ryans attack, we’ll circle back to everything else.”

“Okay, yeah, exactly what you said. I sort of have this mind-reading thing. It started a couple of months ago. I was catching random thoughts, and I thought I was just hearing office background noise, but turns out no one was speaking. That’s when it hit me - one of my ancestors supposedly had the same thing. I’ve been seeing a therapist, but it’s been getting worse lately.”

“And tonight?”

“Well, I kind of offered to live-stream tonight’s debate so I could be close to you.”

His shy smile made me feel all tingly. I will not deny that hearing him say that gave my ego a much-needed boost. Most of my demon friends can’t wait to be away from me, not that I’m an awful boss, just that we’ve known each other for so long, they didn’t need to speak to me to know what I’d say on any subject. With Sam, it was all new. I was new.

“Now tell me about Mervin… He seemed to be on the back foot for most of the debate right up till he got that message.”

“That confirmed that they had sent a guy to attack Jack’s fiancé. Did your people get there in time to stop it?”

“I sent two of my subordinates to my office. They arrived in time to see Ryan zapping the guy so much they had to drag Ryan off him.”

“Ugh… Ryan was… zapping him?”

“Ah, Ryan is an electro-mage and can conjure lightning bolts, among other things.”

“Oh, man, I wish I’d seen that.”

“Me too.”

Beep“Message for you, sir.”

“What was that?”

“That’s my cell phone. Seems I have a new message.” Checking the screen, I saw an update from Karriel that he and Ev had taken the would-be attacker to Evren’s apartment for questioning.

“I’ll give Jack a quick call to check that Ryan made it home okay.”

My chat with Jack was quick, and Ryan? Apart from being a little hyped up, was no worse for the wear. But it was sloppy. Cross was getting desperate. Sam had sat gazing into space the whole time, sipping on his drink. His tongue kept darting out, licking his lower lip. My dick was straining against my suit pants. But my need for answers outweighed my need to claim his body, for now at least.

“So, this Lana woman, who used to be your co-worker, just how obsessed with Jack would you say she was?”

“Well, on the bunny-boiler scale of one to attacking Ryan herself? I’d put her at about a five. She’s fixated on Jack right now. And thinks his rejection is just him playing hard to get. I doubt even seeing him and Ryan fully loved up would convince her otherwise. It’s going to take a woman more forceful than Lana herself to make her back down.”

“Fortunately, Jack knows several.” My bet was that Verity would embrace the chance to ‘out femme-fetal’ another woman, but there again. Nan and Uma could be damn forceful. And then there was Jack’s grammy Veronica. The mystery woman who even had her husband cringing at the thought of her wrath. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when that went down. Hmm, maybe I should ask Az to film it for me.

“What evil thoughts are you thinking to put that big grin on your face?”

“How do you know my thoughts are evil? They could be sexy ones…”

Sam’s blush bloomed bright across his cheeks and lowered his eyes, worrying on his lip again. My eyes followed his gaze to his lap and a noticeable bulge.

“I’m going to take you upstairs now, Sam, and then I’m going to make you mine. Tell me now if you’re not ready.”

I felt Sam’s mind touch mine, not with words, but images. Each one was more erotic than the last. Okay then.

I never imagined how strong my need to connect with my mate would be. My body pulsated with a fiery longing to bury myself inside him and fill him with my cum. I wanted to leave my mark on him, inside and out, by joining our souls. I’d never felt such a hunger for anyone.

My dick pulsed painfully. I’d moved even before my brain registered it. Taking the glass from Sam’s hand and placing it on the side table. Then he was back in my arms and I was heading for my bedroom.

I forcefully yanked on his pants until they came off, uncovering his lower body. He pulled his thighs towards his chest, offering himself to me. Steamy and dirty images kept filling my head more and more. His moans and whimpers spoke to the deepest part of me. I reached up and ran my finger across his cute, pouty lips, loving how plump they were. Having them wrapped around my length would feel like heaven. But heaven will have to wait for another time. I pressed my finger against them, and he eagerly sucked on my fingers, making my gut tighten.

Sam released my fingers, allowing me to explore his tight entrance, making his body tremble. Slowly, I pushed my finger in, stretching him. His muscles held my finger tight. Bit by bit, his muscles relaxed and I could glide my finger in and out smoothly.

Just like everything else about me, my breathing was strained. My skin felt all tight and hot, like my demon side was itching to come out. All I wanted was to grab his hips and thrust deep inside him. But there was no way Sam could take my size without help. Instead, I used my power to slick myself with lube and stretch him a little wider. My control broke, and I thrust into him as tingles ran down my spine. Finally, joining us together. With every thrust, a surge of pleasure flowed through me, lighting up the darkest corners of my soul.

Sam looked so beautiful as he arched his back, offering his neck to me. The demon within me surfaced, eager to join with my fated mate. Sinking my teeth into Sam’s tender flesh, I could sense them lengthening. A long dormant part of me came alive, blossoming, expanding to envelop my entire body, then reaching out towards Sam, fusing our souls and bodies together. Sam’s body tightened around me. He was almost there. I pulled back, then thrust in deep, feeling the intensity of the moment. My need to claim him. Own him grew as I lifted his legs even higher. His answering moans of more driving me on. His muscles twitched and his body twisted a moment before he climaxed, painting his chest in his come.

Seconds later, I called out his name, my voice echoing through the quiet room as I came inside him.

My mind raced, and my heart pounded. As the magnitude of what we’d just done swept over me with full force. I’d found and bonded with my fated mate. Neither one of us was ever going to feel lonely again. I pulled Sam into my arms, kissing him until we were both dizzy, then I held my beloved till sleep finally claimed me.