Ruby Shadows Page 13

  “I said the bite of a devilkin can be fatal if they inject their venom,” he said. “It’s best you take off your dress so I can make sure you weren’t bitten. Purely for your own safety, of course…”

  The twitching of his massive, exposed genitals belied his helpful words. Ugh—he was hard again—disgusting!

  “I don’t think so…” I tried to back away from him but he caught me by the arm. “Hey, let go of me!”

  “Have to make certain you’re well my lady.” He leered at me, pulling me closer to that disgusting boar’s head as well as his uncovered crotch. A rank smell like rotten fish and dirty, hairy flesh drifted up to me, making me gag. “It would never do if Lord Laish came back to find his concubine dead from neglect on my part,” he went on.

  “And it would never do if he came back to see you molesting his lady, either,” another, deeper voice growled.

  I looked up in relief and saw Laish striding down the hallway, a look of utter fury on his face. With each step he took, he appeared to grow larger until I wasn’t sure how the hallway could contain him.

  “My Lord!” Druaga dropped my arm at once and stepped back, his erection wilting somewhat. “Forgive me—your lady was attacked and I was just—”

  “Taking advantage of the situation,” Laish finished for him, his eyes blazing. “Tell me, Druaga—how did Gwendolyn come to be attacked in the first place? And who exactly attacked her?”

  “It…it was those kids—the ones we saw outside the hotel,” I whispered, feeling faint. I thought…they seemed so harmless.”

  Laish’s eyes widened. “Devilkins are anything but harmless. Did they hurt you?”

  “I…” I shook my head, feeling too faint to answer. God, what was wrong with me? Was I still in shock or was it something else?”

  Laish rounded on Druaga who by now had put some distance between us.

  “How did the devilkins get into your oh-so-well guarded hotel? How were they able to attack Gwendolyn?”

  The boar-demon’s face grew dark and he drew himself up.

  “If you’re suggesting that I somehow planned this episode—”

  “That is exactly what I am suggesting,” Laish growled. He was at the end of the hallway now, towering over the other demon with a terrible look on his face. For a moment I thought I saw his eyes go all black, like the devilkin children’s eyes had—but I blinked and they were ruby red again.

  “You cannot believe such a thing,” Druaga protested. “Or even if you do, you have no proof. I came and rescued your lady from certain death and despoilment! You owe me a debt for saving her life and her honor—not unwarranted threats.”

  I expected Laish to disagree with him—or maybe rip his head off his shoulders—he certainly looked angry enough to do it. Instead, he nodded briefly.

  “You are correct—I have incurred a debt to you.” He glared at the boar-headed demon. “Though I am certain you engineered the situation for that exact purpose.”

  Druaga put a hairy hand to his chest, looking offended.

  “Most certainly not, Lord Laish! And just to show that I would never do such a thing, the only payment I ask is that the two of you break bread with me on the morrow, before you leave.”

  “So…” I cleared my throat. “You want us to have breakfast with you? That’s all?”

  “That is all, lovely lady.” He leered at me, making me feel sick. Or was it the shock again? Whatever it was, I was feeling more and more faint and dizzy by the minute. “I simply want to be able to say that I broke bread with one of the Princes of Darkness. It will increase my status in Baator immeasurably.”

  Laish nodded curtly and seemed to shrink back to his normal size.

  “Very well, I have no time to argue with you,” he growled, frowning at Druaga. “One meal together—just you and me.”

  “And your lovely lady, of course.” The human eyes in the boar’s face gleamed. “She must come too.”

  “All right—but I want it known that this meal will pay the debt for saving her life.”

  “Yes, yes…of course, my lord.” Druaga nodded and bowed obsequiously. “I will send an imp to lead you to my private quarters tomorrow morning.”

  “No,” Laish said sharply. “Not your quarters—here will do.”

  “As you wish.”

  “Fine. And now I must see to my concubine.” Heedless of the smashed sandwich and the plastic shards of the ruined Sponge Bob container, Laish gripped me by the arm and pulled me back into the suite.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Laish

  “Strip!” I said at once, as soon as I had the door closed and securely fastened.

  “What?” Gwendolyn took a step back from me, fear flashing in her eyes. “What do you…?”

  There was no time to explain. What Druaga had been telling her about the venom of a devilkin’s bite was no lie. I had to be certain she wasn’t bitten anywhere—if she was, I had to get rid of the venom immediately and cleanse the wound. Without saying a word, I quickly began peeling the red silk dress from her lush body, needing to see for myself that she was safe and unharmed.

  “No, wait…please!” Gwendolyn tried to bat my hands away but I couldn’t afford to be gentle. Devilkin venom begins working at once and, if left in the system too long, is completely lethal.

  I disposed of the red dress, throwing it in a ball into the corner and reached for her panties.

  “Stop!” She tried to take a step backwards and almost fell. “Oh…” She put a hand to her head. “So dizzy.”

  I swore to myself in the Black Tongue and she flinched back, away from the harsh language. I didn’t want her to fear me but I had to know where they had bitten her—and how many times. I felt panic growing in me—fear that she was in danger past my ability to save her.

  “Let me see you,” I demanded, trying to make my voice a little more gentle. “I need to count the bites and get rid of the venom.”

  “Oh…it was just once.” She held out an arm to me and I saw something red on her café au lait skin.

  Grasping her wrist, I licked it quickly, trying to ascertain from the taste how much venom had been injected. But instead of the bitter, chalky taste of devilkin venom, my mouth filled with something fruity and cloyingly sweet.

  “What’s this?” I pulled back, frowning. “This isn’t blood.”

  “No—it’s strawberry jam,” Gwendolyn said. She was half laughing, half crying—as though she was just on the edge of hysteria. I wasn’t surprised—being swarmed by a pack of devilkins is a disorienting experience—and a deadly one. Most don’t live to tell about it. But I was determined that she would.

  “Come,” I said, pulling her wrist. I meant to take her into the bathroom where the lighting was better but she wobbled again and sank down to the floor. Damn it—the venom must already be working on her!

  I swung her up in my arms and carried her through the suite, past the massive four poster bed with its fur coverlet and into the bathroom where the deep marble tub was about to overflow.

  “My bubble bath!” Gwendolyn struggled weakly in my arms. “I forgot all about it.”

  “Understandable considering the circumstances,” I said. Sitting her on the black marble counter that ran the length of one wall, I turned off the taps quickly and went back to her.

  “Laish…I’m sorry. I should have listened to you,” she whispered, her voice soft and weak.

  “Yes, you should have but never mind that now. Where were you bitten?”

  “Here.” She held out her arm again and this time I saw what the smear of fruit spread had been hiding—an oval ring of wickedly deep bite marks ran around the inside of her forearm. Already black streaks were beginning to climb up her creamy brown skin.

  The sight made me swear again—damn it, we might be too late! Anger and grim determination flared in me.

  No—she must not die. I will not allow it! I will not lose her!

  Quickly, I took her arm in my hands, fit my mouth over the bite marks
and began to suck.

  “What…what are you doing?” Gwendolyn asked uncertainly as the bitter, chalky taste of the venom rushed over my tongue.

  I pulled back and spat in the sink. The inky venom was black as sin but I hadn’t gotten it all—I still saw traces of it under her skin.

  “Removing the poison,” I said briefly and went back to her arm again. She moaned softly but didn’t try to fight me as I sucked and spat and sucked and spat again.

  Finally her blood tasted pure and clean. I spat once more and rinsed my mouth, ridding myself of the last of the venom.

  Straightening up, I examined her forearm under the overhead light. No more black lines ran under her skin but she still appeared weak and only half-awake. Then she started to shiver helplessly.

  “Laish,” she whispered in that soft, helpless voice so unlike her usual fearless tone. “So…so cold.”

  “Gwendolyn…mon ange…” The nickname fell from my lips. My angel…my dear one. I took her hands in mine—they were cold to touch. The venom might be gone but the aftereffects could still kill her.

  Luckily, the bath she had drawn was just what we needed.

  Stripping off my suit jacket and shirt and toeing off my shoes, I lifted my little witch gently into my arms. The bottom of the suit would be ruined but that was too bad—I didn’t think Gwendolyn would be comfortable with me bare in the tub with her. And besides, I could always get another pair of trousers.

  Gwendolyn was shivering continuously by now, shaking in my arms, her teeth chattering.

  “Gently, mon ange,” I murmured, hearing the worried tone in my own voice but unable to help it. “Come, we’ll get you warmed.”

  I climbed the steps to the raised tub and, still holding her in my arms, stepped into the steaming water.

  * * * * *

  Gwendolyn

  I didn’t understand what Laish was doing or why he was doing it. I only knew I was cold—so horribly cold and the freezing sensation was coming from inside me. It was almost as though someone had frozen my heart and the ensuing wave of bitter cold was working its way outward, coating the rest of my body in frost.

  Then, holding me gently, Laish settled us both in the huge marble tub even though he was still half dressed. Why was he doing that, I wondered hazily. Didn’t he think I was capable of taking a bath on my own? I tried to ask him but my teeth were chattering too badly.

  “Just relax, Gwendolyn,” he murmured in my ear, cradling me in his arms as the hot water lapped around us. “Relax and let the warmth penetrate you.”

  I tried to do as he said though my first instinct was to ball up and try to keep myself warm. But soon I found that the hot water around me was doing its job—warmth began to creep back into my body and my shivering stopped, leaving nothing but weariness.

  I sighed and let myself go limp, relaxing against the broad, bare chest behind me. Though I had sworn to try and keep my distance earlier, now I was very glad Laish was with me. I felt so weak I wasn’t certain I could have kept my head above water in the deep tub. He must have known that because he held me gently but firmly against him, keeping me safe as he waited for the heated water to heal me.

  “Gwendolyn,” he murmured in my ear after a while. “What happened? Tell me everything.”

  Should I? Somehow I didn’t feel like I could lie to him—not when we were pressed so closely together with his arms around me.

  Hesitantly, I told him, starting with the knock on the door and how I had looked out the peephole and seen the innocent looking little cherub boy. I didn’t tell him about how the little blond boy had brought back my shoe—in retrospect believing that he had gone to get it back for me out of the goodness of his little heart made me seem even stupider than I already was. Instead, I told Laish, truthfully enough, how hungry the devilkin child had looked.

  “I didn’t think it could hurt to open the door to him,” I said. “He looked so hungry and I thought I could give him a sandwich—give him a lot of them to take back to the other kids.”

  He sighed, his broad chest moving against my back.

  “And so you opened the door out of compassion. Wanting to feed him, not knowing that what he hungered for was your flesh.”

  “How could I know?” I asked, a little defensively. “I mean, I know you told me that their appetites might surprise me but I just thought you meant they would eat anything because food was so scarce. You could have been a little more specific.”

  “Yes, I should have,” he agreed with me, to my surprise. “But I didn’t want to frighten you, mon petit chat.”

  “I’m not your little cat,” I said in irritation. “And you should have told me. I thought you were just being a bastard when you said we should ignore them.”

  “Should I tell you then, every time we are near someone or something that can kill you?” He turned me around so that I was facing him, still wrapped in his arms. “Should I explain in detail exactly how each threat wishes to maim, devour, or despoil you? How they all desire to drink your blood, violate your body, or steal your soul?”

  He was looking at me earnestly, honestly seeking an answer to his question. He really wanted to know if I cared to have the dirty details of exactly what or who wanted to kill or rape me and how they planned to do it everywhere we went. Except we were in Hell which meant at any given time just about anyone we met would be wanting to do those things.

  I felt like my eyes had been opened by the devilkin incident. It was like being in a room full of people you know aren’t very nice but don’t think are awful. Then you suddenly find out that every single one of them is a serial killer and they all have a knife with your name on it. Horrible.

  As the realization sank in, I felt sick to my stomach.

  “No,” I whispered at last. “No, I guess not.”

  “You’re in danger every minute, mon ange,” he murmured, stroking my cheek lightly with the back of his hand. “I thought you would be safe in the room but I underestimated Druaga’s determination to get to you. Forgive me.”

  “I’m the one who ought to be asking forgiveness, I guess,” I said, trying to look away from that steady, ruby red gaze and failing. “I should have listened to you. I should have known you wouldn’t tell me not to open the door to anyone without good reason.”

  “That is correct but I think you may have learned your lesson.” He cupped my cheek. “From now on remember—you are only safe when I am with you. I will try not to leave you alone again but if it is ever necessary, you must trust no one.”

  “All right,” I whispered, my mouth feeling dry. “I believe you. I mean, really believe you now, Laish. I…don’t think I really got it before.”

  “I am glad you ‘get it’ now,” he murmured. “Are you feeling better?”

  I realized that I was. And then I further realized that I was sitting naked, except for my soaking wet panties, on his lap in the huge marble tub. I had felt too sick and weak for the situation to seem sexual before. But now, sitting as we were with my legs straddling his lean hips and my bare breasts almost brushing his broad chest, I began to feel warm all over for a reason that had nothing at all to do with the hot water surrounding us.

  “I’m fine now,” I said, trying to make my voice sound normal. “A lot better—really.”

  “Good,” he murmured and those burning ruby eyes of his were suddenly half-lidded with desire. “Because I think it’s time to get out of the tub and dry off now, Gwendolyn. And then it’s time to pay the tax.”

  “The Sin Tax you mean?” My voice was much higher than I liked. “I mean…can’t we wait until tomorrow morning? I just had a near death experience and I’m not exactly feeling very, uh, sexy right now.”

  “Is that right? These would seem to tell a different tale.” Cupping my breasts in his big hands, he thumbed my erect nipples, sending a shiver of desire straight from my tender peaks to my pussy.

  “Laish!” I protested breathlessly, shifting against him. “Please…you shouldn’t.”

>   “Shouldn’t give you pleasure, you mean?” he murmured, lifting me effortlessly so that my breasts were free of the water. “Or shouldn’t take pleasure myself in your beautiful body?”

  Before I could answer, he pulled me closer, bringing my breasts to his mouth. I wanted to say something, to tell him to stop—but he was already sucking the tight bud of my right nipple into his mouth, drawing hard on the sensitive peak until bolts of pleasure shot through me, making me gasp and moan.

  Laish sucked my nipple long and hard, his eyes never leaving my face as he took as much of my breast into his mouth as he could. I kept thinking I should try to stop him but he had such a firm grip on me and it felt so good. I was mesmerized by the sight of him sucking me—of my berry dark nipple and light brown breast disappearing into his red mouth.

  Again I couldn’t help noticing the contrast in our skin tones—the way his lighter tan tones complimented my own creamy café au lait complexion. I have to admit, it was one of the most erotic things I’d ever seen—not that I watch or read much erotica. When you’re not allowed to do the dirty deed yourself, it’s better not to dwell on everyone else doing it.

  At last Laish released me.

  “Gods, your breasts are sweet, Gwendolyn,” he murmured, nuzzling me with his scratchy cheek. “Tell me, have you ever allowed anyone to suck your nipples before?”

  Hesitantly, I shook my head. I’d allowed several boyfriends in high school to touch me there but none of them had put their mouth on me. That seemed too dangerous somehow—too likely to lead to other things.

  “Then I am the first.” Leaning forward, he captured my other nipple briefly, giving it a hot, open mouthed kiss that ended with him circling the tight bud with his tongue.

  “Laish!” I protested uneasily but my voice was high and breathy and the feel of his hot tongue lapping gently over my nipple was doing strange things to me below the waist.

  “I hope to be first with you in many things,” he murmured, looking me in the eyes. “Starting tonight.”