Lucifer's Cage (After Dark Book 6) by Sarah Bailey (short story to read .txt) 📗

you’d end up, but the Devil, Cadmi? Have you been okay?”

“I’ve been fine or as fine as you can be when you’re stuck in Hell with no way home because your best friend took it upon himself to save you from your own miserable fate.”

She hadn’t meant to sound so sullen, but she wasn’t exactly best pleased with Jax. Even though it was her fault he was now here.

“Where will he be, Mall?” she asked the succubus who was a few steps ahead of them.

“I will check the throne room for you,” Mall replied.

When they reached the door, Mall left them outside. Jax turned to Candace.

“Cadmi, have you really been okay?”

“Yes. I promise. I know you probably won’t believe this, but he’s fine, mostly.”

“Are you really telling me the Devil has been treating you well?”

She didn’t want to explain too much about what had really gone on between her and Lucifer, but the truth was, he had been taking care of her.

“Yes, why would I have any reason to lie to you?”

“You wouldn’t, but I just… I’m still sorry. I should never have sent you here.”

He gripped her shoulders, giving them a squeeze. She put her hand on his chest, sighing. Even though he’d done it for the wrong reasons, she couldn’t stay mad at Jax. His hazel eyes were sad. It tore at her heart.

“Honestly, Jax, it’s okay.”

“Are you sure? This can’t have been easy for you.”

“I won’t deny I’m kind of pissed off with why you did it.”

The doors to the throne room slammed open, startling them. She turned her head. Lucifer stood in the doorway. His eyes fell on where her hand was pressed to Jax’s chest. His expression turned dark. She immediately dropped her hand, stepping away.

No. No. No. I hope he doesn’t think anything of this.

Mall walked out, her eyebrows raised before she strolled down the hallway and went into her office.

Lucifer strode towards her. She knew immediately she was in trouble. Big fucking trouble. He grabbed her arm and tugged her back towards the throne room.

“Cadmi?” Jax called.

She looked back at him, shaking her head.

“Just stay there,” she said.

Lucifer dragged her into the throne room, slamming the doors behind them. He pressed her up against one of them, caging her in with his arms.

“What are you doing?” she asked, staring up at him with wide eyes.

“Have you forgotten what you said to me?”

“About what?”

“You are mine, Candace. Mine and only mine.”

Chapter Ten

If she’d known he’d decide to be completely unreasonable when she brought Jax to meet him, she might have run in the other direction.

“I haven’t forgotten that, Lucifer. It doesn’t mean you get to drag me off for no apparent reason,” she replied.

“I don’t care who he is. He doesn’t get to touch you.”

“What the fuck?” She tried to shove him away, but he wouldn’t budge. “Jax is my friend and you don’t get to dictate shit like that to me. Honestly, are you jealous or something?”

His dark eyes flashed with anger.

“Jealous? I’ll show you fucking jealous.”

His mouth was on hers, kissing her with ferocity she’d never experienced from him before. His fingers were at her shirt buttons, undoing them one by one, exposing her skin to the air.

When he was done, his hands roamed over her stomach and up to her chest. He cupped one of her breasts, running his thumb over the nub through her bra. It didn’t occur to her to push him away. Not when she burnt with longing and need the moment he’d kissed her. Arching up against him, her hands curled around his waist, tugging him closer.

Fuck. I don’t want you to stop.

“And yet you’re going to tell me to.”

She didn’t answer him. Her whole body craved his with a desperation that threatened to break her in half. If she didn’t have him soon, she would lose her mind. Having never felt this level of need for another person, she was completely out of her depth. No one would ever compare to how he felt against her, his hands on her skin. She wanted Lucifer. She wanted him to ruin her for anyone else. She wanted to be his entirely for now and always. And it was that knowledge which made her turn her face from his.

“I can’t do this,” she whimpered. “No matter how much I want you.”

“You can and you will.”

His tongue ran down her neck and lower. Pushing aside her shirt, his dark eyes roamed over her chest. He deftly tugged down her bra on one side, growling when he exposed her breast to the air.

“You are perfect,” he whispered. “And all this perfection is mine.”

His tongue swept over her nipple, causing her to dig her fingers into his back.

Holy fuck.

“Lucifer… please.”

“Only I get to touch you like this.”

He bit down. It set all her nerve endings on fire.

“Only you. No one else. You. Always.” The words fell out of her mouth against her will. What the hell am I saying?

“Say yes and I’ll end your torture, Candace. End this torment for both of us.”

She wanted to. Every bit of her was screaming out for him. Yet the rational part of her mind told her no.

Not now.

Not ever.

“No.”

He tore away from her, running his hand through his hair. There was clear frustration on his face.

“Why do you keep doing this? Explain. Just fucking explain it.”

She tugged her shirt closed, suddenly feeling very exposed.

“What if I can’t explain it? What if I can’t tell you because it fucking kills me that I have absolutely no choice? My life isn’t my own, Lucifer. It