The Price of Exorcism by Dakota Brown (sneezy the snowman read aloud .txt) 📗

leaves a host vulnerable if it isreversed. It also leaves a connection to the demon who did the possessing. Mostof the time when a demon leaves or is cast out of a host that is likely tosurvive the process, they leave a mark like this." His fingers playedlightly across my back.

My breath caught and I cursed my damn hormones orwhatever this was.

"What this does is warns other demons off,typically preventing a new possession, which could lead to trouble for thedemon. It's rare for a host to survive, but obviously it does happen. I went astep further to close off any vulnerabilities I might have left and bound you.If I'd had the time, I would have done things differently, but I miscalculatedwhen I lent you all that energy and got myself banished along with everyoneelse. You are far more powerful than you know. It was the best I could do inthe moments I had."

His fingers were still caressing my skin. Everythingfelt tight and it was a struggle to keep from wrapping my legs around his hips.I was so fucking pissed, but goddess help me I wanted to fuck him so badly.

He must have caught that thought because his gazefixed on me and he licked his lips quickly before he jerked his attention backto the mirror.

I remembered to breathe.

"As to the meaning, this…" He deftly slippedthe hooks on my bra and traced the symbols crawling across the top part of thecircle that the strap had concealed.

I might have whimpered, and I was instantly soakedbetween the legs.

"This is the binding. It claims you as mine,however you want to take that."

I didn't reply. I wasn't quite sure I could manageanything coherent at the moment. How I had gone from murderously angry toridiculously turned on…well, I couldn't blame the incubus unfortunately.

"This," he traced the next line of symbols, "isa very strongly worded warning to stay the fuck out." He stepped closer,his other hand going to my hip.

I was barely breathing by this point, though my heartthudded in my chest. I wanted to object to his word choice, but I couldn't getthe words to form on my lips.

"These are all the protections I could lay in thetime I had." His fingers danced over sigils in the lower half of thecircle.

"And this is my crest and the name all theinhabitants of hell know me as." His breath tickled my neck and my freehand curled into Ezra's shirt as if of its own accord.

"Were you going to tell me?" I asked, voicerough.

"Yes, before we went to hell. Though I hadn'tfigured out how I wanted to broach the subject. Most, except other demons,wouldn't have been able to sense the binding, especially as readily as Azraeldid. I should have known he would sense it. Azrael is exceptionally different,even by our standards."

I let out a breath and tried to unclench my shoulders.Fuck.

"If you will let me, I will improve upon theseprotections later."

"Why not now?" I managed to gasp out.

"Because right now," he leaned closer. "Iwant to see if you taste as good as you smell."

This time I did whimper. The hand holding the mirrortrembled, and Ezra took the glass from me before I dropped it. Then he tracedboth of his hands up my back, fingers burning across my skin. His lips touchedmy neck and I forgot how to breathe.

This was a tipping point. I was either in, or I waspushing him away. He had to be willing to share.

"I don't share what is mine," he breathedagainst my neck.

I tensed, trying to find the willpower to push himaway.

"But if that's what it takes…"

He bit me gently where Mal had left a slight bruisethe night before, and I melted in his arms.

"I might have to thank the vampire for thatreaction," Ezra said before kissing his way up my neck.

I couldn't even reply, though I was sure he caught afew of the sarcastic thoughts that went through my mind before his lips on myskin chased them away. I gave in to my desire. There was no denying the pullEzra had on me, and he was clearly just as interested. Sliding one arm aroundhis back, I pulled him closer and wrapped my legs around his hips.

Someone pounded on the door.

We both froze, and my heart skipped a few beats.Mayhem growled.

"I'm going to kill whoever that is," Ezra snarledout.

I took a few breaths before letting go of him.

The demon prince stepped away from me and I shiveredin the air conditioning, no longer basking in the warmth of the heat heradiated.

Ezra headed for the door, Mayhem following him, whichI thought was interesting.

For a moment I just shivered, trying to get a hold of myself.Then I quickly slipped my bra back on and pulled my shirt over my head. Mayhemleaving me to go with the demon worried me and helped me focus on somethingother the lack of Ezra's hands on my bare skin.

I heard Ezra say something, presumably an annoyedgreeting, and I hurried out of his room just in time to see Ezra go flyingbackward. Mayhem, now in hellhound form, charged the person. At the last minutethe man turned and repelled Mayhem, flinging him backward.

The hellhound didn't yelp at the blast of energy,instead glowing red briefly as he absorbed it.

I dove forward, throwing myself in front of Ezra, whowas prone on the ground. Our assailant turned his attention back to us and Ihad moments to figure out how to shield myself and Ezra before he attacked me.

I was pretty sure using my aura to ward off attackswas a bad idea, but it was all I could come up with. I held up my arms, bearingdown under the onslaught as he blasted me with some sort of spell.

Sweat broke out on my forehead and my arms shook ashis attack depleted my aura.

"Fuck," I muttered. I'd definitely made amistake, but I had no idea what else to do.

Fortunately, Mayhem had charged up, or whatever it washe did when he absorbed someone else's energy, and he opened his mouth wide. Demonichellfire erupted from the creature's mouth and slammed into the attacker,flinging