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

somewhere she’d never been before. It was as if her soul had transcended to a higher place. Sparks formed in her vision. She could barely get enough oxygen into her lungs whilst it took hold, washing over every inch of her skin with exquisite bliss.

She cried out his name. The harsh growl in her ear only made her spiral higher. Her hands gripped his arm around her waist, fingers and nails digging into his skin. There was nothing but the two of them. All she could feel was him wrapped around her, keeping her upright.

Her head lolled on her chest when the trembles and aftershocks subsided. She was spent. Her skin stung in the places he’d hit her with the crop, but she couldn’t bring herself to give a damn. All she wanted was to curl up against his chest and fall asleep.

My angel. My devil. My Lucifer.

He’d told her she owned his soul. It never occurred to her that he might belong to her as she did to him until now.

“Are you really mine?” she whispered.

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

“Yours. Hmm… perhaps, my little witch.”

He is mine. I don’t need him to tell me if he’s not ready to admit it.

“If you let me go, I think I’ll collapse.”

He chuckled, the sound echoing around her skull. He swept her up into his arms and stood. Her head rested against his chest. She closed her eyes, savouring his warmth on her bare skin. She placed her hand on his chest, feeling his heart thudding erratically. He carried her from the room.

When she opened her eyes again, they were in his bedroom and he’d placed her on his bed. He clicked his fingers, his clothes disappearing in an instant. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him.

Fuck. I will never get over how stunning he is.

“I can feel your desire from here,” he said. “Have you not had enough?”

“If you heal me, I can take whatever you have to offer.”

His lips curled up at the side, mesmerising dark eyes twinkling with mischief. Kneeling on the bed, his hands ran up her sides. She could feel his power washing over her skin. The sting of his whipping faded.

“You already wear my brand. No need to wear the evidence of my passion for you all over your delicate skin.”

She grabbed his hand, pulling him down towards her. Kissing him with tenderness, her fingers curled into his hair.

I want to wear your passion. I want everyone to know I am yours. I don’t want secrets anymore. I’m not hiding how I feel about you.

He pulled away only to settle next to her and tug her into his arms.

“Mmm, tell me again what it is you feel.”

“How many times do I have to tell you until you believe me?”

“Who said I didn’t believe you.”

She raised her head from his chest, staring up at him.

“Do you trust me?”

His fingers brushed over her cheek, adoration in his expression.

“With all that I am.”

Her heart did several backflips in her chest.

“My heart, my body, my soul is yours. I love you.”

§

“You didn’t have to come all this way with me,” Candace said.

Lucifer stared down at the woman who utterly enraptured him, took his heart and soul and made it her own. Memories of her on her knees before him, asking him to punish her assaulted his senses. He struggled to maintain a straight face. Her skin had been red, bloody bruises all over her luscious behind from where he’d struck her.

Fuck, all I want is to tear her clothes off again. When will it ever be enough?

“Are you paying attention to what I’m saying?”

Her voice brought him up short.

“Sorry, what did you say?” he replied, running a hand through his hair.

Tamping down on his insatiable need to have her, he reached for her. She let him tug her closer.

“I said don’t you have Hell to rule?”

“I already made an example of my subjects. No one will dare step out of line now. You are more important.”

Her eyes roamed down the length of him before they stopped short at the unmistakable bulge.

“Are you thinking about what happened yesterday?”

Her tongue ran across her bottom lip.

“How can I not?”

“Well, now isn’t the time for sex and punishment. You can have all of that later when I come home.”

His heart slammed against his ribcage.

Home. Is my home hers too?

She’d confessed all her feelings to him, but he still wasn’t sure she was really prepared to stay with him in Hell.

“I don’t always wish to punish you, my little witch. You didn’t complain earlier.”

Her cheeks stained red.

Mmm, I worshiped every inch of her body with my tongue. I made love to her. Vanilla with her is just as exquisite as whipping her perfect skin and fucking her without restraint.

“Quit it. I can’t focus with you saying those things and looking at me like you want to devour every inch of me. I need to decide who I speak to first.”

That’s why he’d brought her back to Earth. She wanted time to resolve everything. And he didn’t want her to have to go through it all alone.

“Perhaps you should start with the easiest conversation.”

“That would be Dad. After all, when I talk to my mother, it means cutting all ties with the fae.”

He cupped her cheek, noticing the turmoil in her eyes. What he was asking wasn’t easy for her. She’d told him everything last night, not leaving out any details. She looked down at their feet.

“And, well, Dad kind of told me he wants to meet you. You don’t have to or anything.”

He tucked a finger under her chin, forcing her face upwards. Her