Chapter 26: Danny POV

I was on fire. My flesh was burning, my lips were scalding, my core was in flames. I opened my eyes and gasped. I was staring at walls I didn't recognize. I moved my legs, trapped under soft sheets and felt them glide over my naked flesh. I looked down and my whole being was exposed. There was a movement behind me and I tugged the sheet up, covering me. Where was I, and more importantly, why was I naked in this strange place?

"Danny."

I gulped another lung full of air.

"Do you wish for a moment alone?"

"Where… where are we?" I closed my eyes; my voice sounded like a scared little girl.

"I brought us up to my room," Sebastian said softly. I felt his breath on my neck and I shifted a bit, sitting up. I held the sheet to me and dared not turn, sure my face was red in horror. I remembered slipping into the dress, feeling as if I was made for the dress as I walked down the wide stairs, my heart pounding, hoping, willing, for Sebastian to come racing from the King's Ball and watch me descend. I was feeling as if he could devour me and I would be fine with it. And then he came, he came and we danced. I remembered dancing, dancing, and his hands, on my back, on my face.

"We kissed," I breathed, the memory of it lingered on my lips. I touched them gently, thinking they would be red and swollen, hot. "I don't… I don't remember coming up here."

I felt Sebastian move and sat behind me, his cool hand seeming to sizzle on my hot skin. I looked at where he touched me and saw his naked hands for the first time. His black nails shone against his light toned skin. And the mark that took up almost the entire back of his left hand made me reach out for a second.

"I don't expect you do," he said finally. He leaned closer and I could feel his flesh close to mine, the beads of sweat running down my back seemed to intensify and then he pulled back. "I assure you, nothing happened."

"Oh." I didn't know if that one word was relief or disappointment. I closed my eyes again and tried to remember. If I had given myself to him in a moment of absolute need and desire, the least I could have in return is the memory of it. "Thank you," I breathed.

"Your clothes are hanging in the bathroom. I shall dress and leave you to do the same."

He moved, I heard the sheets rustle and turned a bit, confirming what my body felt; he had only pants on. "Please… stay."

He turned and met my glance. "If you wish."

I turned back and faced the wall, nodding. "I remember the dancing. You are a wonderful dancer," I added, playing with the sheet that was wrapped around my front and waist. "And kisser. I was sure I was dying again in that kiss." I gave a breathy laugh. "And the one after that, and after that…"

"I felt the same," he said. "You looked like a perfect vision in that gown. It was made for you."

"How did we… why did you bring me here?"

He turned and I felt him lean over and his left hand grasped my right arm and tugged me to turn around. I slid my knee over and faced him sideways. I took in his smooth skin, unblemished, toned, as if he had been working hard all his life. A perfect package, he had once said was how Demon's presented themselves. Perfect indeed.

"You asked to come up to my room, as we finished our dance. There was something intoxicating about how bold you were and took my hand and lead me to my room. I… I wanted, so badly, I can't hide that from you. But I realized, when you pushed - when you looked at me - it wasn't you it was… that primal need from your Demon self. It shredded my clothes," he chuckled. "You even drew blood in your frenzy. I had to hold you down. You were so hot, burning like I never have felt here in the Human world. It was like you were channelling the depths of Hell and the hottest parts, pulling them out…" he paused and his hand slide up my arm, rested lightly on my shoulder. "When… if we… give in to what we both so desired, I want to be with you."

"But I am a Demon," I said, frowning. "So that was me last night."

"Yes, it was your physical form, it was your emotions, heightened, but it wasn't you. I looked into your eyes, into your Soul and there wasn't the beautiful woman who has gently been coming out of hiding. It was an aggressive and passionate woman." He looked down for a moment and laughed. "That side I will eagerly welcome to my bed when you are in control of that side."

"So you didn't really want - "

"Oh I did. I wanted - I still want - so very much. And when you started to take the dress off, the panic of the heat making you tear at the seams, making you gasp as if you were choking… I wanted hold you, I wanted to drink you in. And my every fiber said to take." He brushed his fingers against my face and he smiled slowly. "You are much cooler now. Almost Human cool."

"How could I have let my emotions spill over so much?"

"Being Born into being a Demon will take time. We have nothing but time."

"Did I.. hurt you?"

He chuckled. "Nothing I couldn't repair. I am more concerned about you." He sat up and placed his hand over mine, I watched as he laced his fingers with mine and held my hand. "Are you okay?"

"A compassionate Demon," I whispered, looking up at him, meeting his gaze fully. "I think I am… I think," I stopped before a girlish declaration of love came out. Before my emotions boiled over. "I think I would love to dance with you again."

He leaned over and laid his lips on mine, the memory of last night flooding, all the looks, the beautiful dance, the tender and erratic kisses, the moment I took his hand and dragged him up the stairs, my dress slipping down my body, pooling at my feet. His hands on my body.

I pulled back and I saw his eyes danced with a hidden delight. I crawled over to his side of the bed, the sheet slowly dragging off my body, inch by inch exposing my skin once more to his feasting eyes. I wanted him to look at me. I wanted him to touch me.

"Sebastian," I breathed as I cupped his face and kissed him. "Sebastian, please."

I felt the air around us crackle and I gasped at the intense feeling. I leaned back, feeling as if I had touched a live electric wire.

"The Master…. He is calling," Sebastian breathed, closing his eyes. When he looked at me again, there was an intense struggle to remain calm. "I must go. Your dress is in the bathroom. Or do you wish for your men's clothes?"

I licked my lips, and sighed. "Best if I am seen in my men's clothes." He nodded and pushed me off him. "Sebastian," I said, gathering the sheets again. "Keep the dress up here, please? I may want to revisit that particular part of last night, again."

"Temptress," he breathed as he kissed me, deep and fiercely, and left in a whirl of wind and heat. I collapsed on his bed, panting as if I had run the hardest hill and was still awaiting my prize.

I sat up and frowned; surely he had forgotten to make clothes for me. But as I walked into his bathroom, there was a set of clothes folded neatly beside a steaming hot bath. I picked up the small bar of soap and smiled.

Lilac soap was my favorite.