5. Imps & Expectations

Imps & Expectations

I expect the sharp grip of claws on my skin, but the demon doesn't pick me up to take me back up to his perch.

He turns and hooks one horn beneath the rope at my wrists and the other in the one that holds my ankles and a sharp breath leaves me as he stands, taking me with him, dangling behind him as he goes.

I don't know if he's larger than he was or I am smaller. I don't know how any of this works, but as I swing with each step, surprise gives way to exhaustion and the drowsy heat of hell makes my eyes too heavy to keep open.

The support of those ropes, the rocking sway… it's too easy to fall asleep again.

I don't know how long I sleep for but when I wake, I'm still drowsy. I don't want to lift my lids, but they flutter open just the same.

Dangling by my ropes, still hanging from the demon's horns, I don't try to get free. I know I won't be able to.

I try to plan for after I'm lose again. Skye needs me, but I can't help her if I hurt myself trying to get out of these bindings.

I hear scraping and a sharp little laugh, and when I look up, there is another imp on the wall above me.

Just as small, just as hairless.

It watches me from the wall, little claws digging into the rock.

I stay quiet. I don't know what it wants but…

I flinch when it jumps onto my back, little claws scratching, and struggle to shake it off of me.

It just laughs.

Until hands wrap around us both.

The demon plucks the imp from me as he unhooks me from his horns, bringing us both down in front of him.

The imp struggles frantically against his grip, but with a squeeze of his hand, the demon squashes it into an ashy paste.

I wait, wondering if he plans to crush me too.

But he doesn't.

He sets me on his lap, but the way I'm tied forces me to stay on my knees, and he has to keep one hand behind me to keep me upright.

Fingers loosely tracing the bindings, he asks "If I untie you, are you going to run again?"

I should tell him no. I should try to make him believe he's broken me. That I know running is futile, but. "Probably."

"My little liar finally told the truth without my cock buried in her." His claws slice through the bindings at my ankles and I'm able to support myself again.

I don't get off of his lap. "You said you should throw me out with the other damned souls. Why haven't you?"

Head tipped to the side, a scrap of my dress fluttering from one horn, he studies me. "I don't know."

"Now who's the liar?" Hands on his chest, I place one foot by his hip, the other between his legs and I stand, taking his jaw in my hands and kissing him. "I think you like that I'm a pest."

His hand wraps around my thigh, his thumb brushing my pussy. "Is that what you think?"

"I think you've been looking for a toy for too long."

"What makes you think you're the first saint that's made their way down here?"

"I don't think that." There's no other way I would have found the map to get here. "I think it's been long enough since someone has come that you were hungry."

I reach up and stroke his horns, wondering about the chips in them, but not asking.

"Did your cock ache before I sucked it?" I look down at him, searching those dark eyes. "Did you dream of the relief you found buried in my pussy?"

"Demons don't dream." He traces a claw along my lower lip. "And you're not going to fool me like this."

His hand moves lower, fingers wrapping around my neck and heat flashes over my skin, barbs press into my throat.

I draw back and touch the hot wire around my neck while he twists a length of it in his hand.

He's collared and leashed me.

"You can lie to me by word or action all you want, pest. But when I take you again, your body will tell the truth.

"I don't know why you want the Devil's halo yet, but I do know that every time you look at my cock, your body betrays you in that mission."

He pulls me forward by that collar. "I didn't defile you, you defiled yourself."