I was tossed threw the air and bounced when my back hit Jarzebak's bed. He was grinning at me with a flash of large, white teeth. He lifted the bottom of his fitted black shirt and pulled it up over his head.
"Rombus," I shouted and pulled up my protective circle. The demon walked around my circle, pacing like a tiger sizing up its prey. I watched him. His muscled chest was exposed and tanned. He wore another pair of black trousers that hung low on his hips, giving me a good look at his stomach muscles. He looked good but I wasn't going to let him touch me if I could help it.
"Playing a little hard to get, are we?" he mocked. I moved to the furthest end of my circle, trying to distance myself.
"Get the hell away from me," I screamed.
His hand curled up in a fist and he punched threw my circle. The bubble fell easily and then he was on me, kissing my mouth and running his fingers through my hair. I dug my nails into his chest and felt them scraping his skin. Without breaking the kiss, he pulled my hands off and pressed them into the bed. He was pressing himself against me, angling to get between my thighs.
I felt a burst of sensation rush through my scar and my groin ached. It hit me so hard my vision dimmed and I thought I might pass out. Shit, it felt good. I felt myself go weak and moan in delight. I was trembling with fear and spent adrenaline. It felt like my body didn't have control.
Jarzebak pulled away from my neck and smiled at me with a hazy look in his eyes. "God," he breathed. "Your taste, your scent, your skin… You are exquisite."
He kissed my lips again, softer this time. He slid his tongue inside me, exploring. I realized in horror that I was moving my thighs to the rhythm of his tongue, encouraging him to continue. I broke the kiss, "Get the fuck off me," I growled. I tried to move my hands but he still had me pinned.
He tilted his head and gave me a curious look, like I had just asked him to dance a jig. He brought my wrists together and managed to secure them with just one of his hands. He lifted his other hand to my face and caressed my cheek.
I felt another pulse go through my scar and I cried out. I was about to climax but I was furious. I tapped a line and searched his thoughts, looking for a way to pull a ley line through him. I whimpered when I realized that he had a protective bubble around his thoughts. Shit, he had a way to protect himself. That was my last hope.
He felt what I was doing and looked down at me, annoyed. "Are you trying to kill me? What the hell for?"
"What the hell for," I gasped. "You're trying to rape me you freak."
Jarzebak looked stunned. "You aren't enjoying yourself?" he asked.
"No, didn't you hear me telling you to get the fuck off me?" I yelled.
"But your scent, your body? Doesn't this feel good. I felt him pull on my scar again but it was softer now, almost a question.
"Argh, yes but I can't control that," I said.
And in an instant, he was off me, sitting on the furthest end of the bed. I blinked when I felt his weight disappear. My skin was still tingling from where he had touched me. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that a demon was able to stop in the middle of such passion. I felt the blood rush back into my body and some part of me still wanted him there, on top of me. I pushed the feelings aside and stared at him.
"Don't play innocent with me," I said. "I don't see how I could have been more clear. Did you want me to spell it out for you?"
Jarzebak looked angry now. "You're being a stubborn woman. I could ravish you until you were half mad. I'll have you know I was quite popular with the demonesses, back in the day."
A harsh laugh escaped my lips and I pulled it back. No need to taunt the Casanova demon, I thought. "Uh, well thank you for stopping," I ammended.
Jarzebak rolled his goat slitted eyes and leaned against the thick pillar of the bed. "Really, you have no interest? None at all? I have a few tricks with ley lines I could try but I heard that you almost killed Al and didn't want to make the same mistake."
I was almost feeling bad for the guy. "Look, what you did, felt wonderful. But I don't just go around having sex because it feels good."
Understanding crossed Jarzebak's face. "Ah, I thought it may be harder than that. You want, love and trust, yes? Nick had a somewhat, shall we say, more sexual view of you."
I stiffened. "Did Nick put you up to this?" I asked, horrified.
"No, no, relax. This was definitely all my idea. Apparently a poor one at that. I just misread his thoughts." Jarzebak was standing up, putting his shirt back on. He stretched his arms over his head and looked around the room. "What are the chances you'll forgive me, this little mishap?" he asked sheepishly.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. "I still don't trust you," I said. He looked at me. I think he was trying to will me to forgive him. "Let's just leave it at that, okay," I said.
Jarzebak shrugged. "Would you care for something to eat?" he asked.
"What?" I asked. I couldn't wrap my head around how quickly things had changed.
"Well, I have to keep you here until Al gets back so we might as well find some way to pass the time. Unless, you want to try something else in the bedroom," he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Uh, food sounds great," I said.
"Excellent." Jarzebak took my elbow and a moment later we were standing in a grand dining room. There was table in the middle that could seat more than a dozen people. The floor had polished white marble and looked expensive. Al had said Jarzebak was royalty, I thought.
"Robert," Jarzebak said. "We have company. Could you please fetch me some wine and two glasses? And please prepare two servings of the filet mignon."
A moment later an elf familiar appeared carrying two wine goblets and a bottle of red wine. The familiar looked a little like Trent, I thought.
The elf hurried out of the room and I turned my attention on Jarzebak. "You said you misread Nick. What does that mean?" I asked.
"Ah, that," said Jarzebak. "Well, you see, I have been dealing with Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos for the better part of two years. That little parasite gave me my first glimpse of you. All I had to do, was tell him where a little statue was."
I sucked in my breath. This was what I had suspected. Jarzebak was the demon who had told Nick where to find the focus. "That statue got me in a lot of trouble," I said.
Jarzebak shrugged. "I find its easier to make deals when people are in a lot of trouble," he said.
"What did he give you, for the focus?" I asked.
A devious smile crossed Jarzebak's face. "Why, a kiss," he said.
"What do you get out of a kiss?" I asked. My heart was racing.
"I got to see you though Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos's eyes. I appeared to him as you and when we kissed. He opened up his soul. I took that opening and twisted it," he said.
"Oh my god," I said. "You twisted his soul? Is that why he has been so psychotic recently?"
"Yes and no," said Jarzebak. "I didn't add anything that wasn't already there. He is just feeling everything more. One moment he loves you and will do anything to get you back, the next he is trying to kill you. It's an old demon trick actually. People become a lot more careful after they've made a deal or two with you. It helps if they suffer a little madness."
I felt myself pale and a cold sweat broke out on my body. Jarzebak continued, seeming to be proud with himself. "I got him to summon Algaliarept for me. It was easy. I told him the collective had just passed a law, preventing murder against anyone for fucking you. That got him all worked up." Jarzebak chuckled.
"What's more, he will probably be so panicked that he will summon me after he releases Al. Would you like to place a bet on the chances of me getting another mark today?" Jarzebak asked?
I was seething. I was pissed at Nick but no one deserved this. Jarzebak was playing him like a fiddle. I stood up and threw a fist at Jarzebak. He moved so fast that I couldn't see him and in a moment, he was behind me. One hand was holding my wrist and the other was wrapped around my waist.
"That wasn't very nice," he said softly into my ear. "Rachel, I am trying be reasonable but you're being too damn stubborn." He nuzzled my hair and I felt him touch my scar lightly. The familiar but inconvenient heat flooded me and I felt Jarzebak shudder.
He pulled back and sat down again. After a moment, I did the same. This guy was awful, I thought. I hoped Al would get back soon.
I felt the air shift and an instant later, Bis popped into Jarzebek's dining room. "Bis," I exclaimed happily. The little gargoyle skidded to a stop on the floor. I took a few steps towards him when I felt Jarzebak grab me by the shoulder and throw me back across the room. My head hit the table and my eyesight blurred.
"What the hell?" I asked. My eyes adjusted and I gasped in horror. A jet black devil with horns and wings was standing behind Bis.