Demonic Temptation Read online

  Adela laughed. “You make a valid point.”

  He teased his fingers down her breastbone. “Now, I have waited a long time. Let me act out some of my more lurid thoughts.”

  “I’m all yours.”

  The desire in his eyes caught her breath. “Yes. You are.”

  He dipped his head to kiss her, something slow and deep and sure. Adela’s fingers gripped the front of his jacket as she pushed her body up against his. Her eyes closed and the memory from five years before surrounded and held her. A darkened auditorium after his guest lecture, the same feel of expensive cloth under her eager fingers and his taste. Hot and sweet and utterly wanted.

  He lifted her and she groaned, his fingers finding her pussy even as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She broke her mouth from his, sharing his breath. “Can’t I get you naked?”

  “My fantasy? We’re both still dressed.” He tugged her bottom lip with his teeth, his grin sharp. “But I will suffer your skin.”

  “Why dressed?”

  “It was just in your thoughts…”

  Adela blinked. “You remember?”

  “We were interrupted.” A hint of her own frustration burned in his voice. The memory of lights flashing on across the curve of the dark auditorium and their scramble to straighten their clothes and rub and brush away any evidence of an unexpected need to fuck burned in her mind. No doubt Marcus could sense it. Shared it. “I left my contact details for a reason, Adela.”

  She’d found them a week later—but by that time she was already running, holed up on a scow and heading for the dark edge of civilization. He was Marcus Yeats. A powerful and dangerous man to cross. Their one indiscretion would destroy her life, her career. He would make certain of it.

  She pressed her lips together and it was hard to hold his pale gaze. Her stomach hollowed. But she’d got it wrong. His contacting her hadn’t been solely for him. “For Idaeus.” His silence drove the fist more firmly into her gut. He’d been hunting perfect flesh. Not wild human desire.

  “Adela, look at me.” The words were soft, deep and her skin pricked, aroused as she always was by his voice. She willed herself to meet his gaze and found unexpected warmth. “He found me after. Not before.”

  She was kissing him, hard and fast. Her fingers dug into his hair, tunneling, fisting, driving his mouth against hers. The insanity that had gripped her five years before—that she’d run from for too long—had been mutual.

  Her spine hit the wall and she moaned. Lights sparked under her eyelids as he ran a hot hand along her thigh. He nuzzled her neck. “I wanted your skirt.” His breath burned against her skin. “Rucked up to your hips. Just like before.” He hissed as her fingers undid his fly. “Me in your mind. And you like now, the need for me to fuck you simply…pulsing.”

  Was that why he’d called her back from the stream of post-grads that long-ago afternoon? He’d sensed that she was wet from just his voice, from the way he stood before the vast light-screen—stern, powerful, completely in control—with harsh light carving his beautiful face.

  “You forced me to cut my lecture short.” He pressed his mouth to her ear, the heat of his breath and the clever flick of his tongue almost grinding her against him. She felt his hard smile. “How was I supposed to offer my experience of interplanetary law when your thoughts, your need, the fantasy you offered was so sweet.” The final word was cut from sin, hot and dark and aching with promise. “How did you want me, Ms. Tilman?”

  “I wanted you to take me. Right there.”

  Her fingers closed around the hard length of his dick and his dilated eyes snapped to hers. “Details.” His chest lifted as she stroked him, her thumb teasing pre-cum over the smooth head. “Please.”

  “You’re in my mind.”

  “I want to hear you say it.” His gaze dropped, hers following to watch her slim fingers caress him, drawing him over her own damp skin, slicking him with her own wetness. “Want to see its effect on you.”

  Adela drew in a slow breath, the movement pushing her against him and sparking through her flesh. “You…you just stop midsentence and stare at me.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I arrived late.” That part was real. She had, picking through the shadows to the only seats available in the auditorium. Namely the seats directly opposite Marcus. She’d slunk into her seat and as his hard eyes had found her, she knew exactly why they’d remained empty. “Terror of you kept the front row empty.”

  His smile was dark and her heart thumped, causing her to tighten her grip. He gritted his teeth and pushed against her. His voice dropped. “Are you scared?”

  “Yes.”

  “But still, you want me.”

  Adela ran her fingers along the hard plane of his jaw, tracking the slow exploration. She held his gaze. “You are beautiful.”

  “Are you really so shallow, Ms. Tilman?”

  “Yes.”

  His smile was quick and almost sweet and she found herself echoing it. “I remember you and your intriguing skirt.” Darkness tightened his features again and her heart skipped. “Continue.”

  “You order everyone out. Except me.”

  His fingers gripped her ass, holding her, guiding her, even as her fingers still stroked him. “And what do I want with you?” The question, wrapped in his rich voice, caught her breath. She drew her fingertips along his dick and herself, coating him with her juices. “Tell me.”

  Adela rolled her hips and he groaned. “It’s been a while.”

  Marcus rocked into her. “It had. It has.”

  She let her eyes close for a moment, lost in the feel of him, the ache for the brush of skin and cloth that had invaded her dreams. She could see him now in the lecture hall—a mixture of fantasy and reality—as he padded down the steps, slow and sure, taking his time and striding across to her.

  Her flesh tightened, the low ache in her belly thick and heavy as Marcus thrust against her. His breath burned against her lips. “How do I take you?”

  “You order me to edge of the stage. You watch me.”

  “Planning in my mind how I’m going to fuck you.”

  Adela swallowed and her “Yes” was breathless. His scent, body heat, the ache that he was so close to stroking into her wrapped around Adela. And the images in her mind. Forbidden fantasies she’d never thought she’d share had her pulse thudding hard.

  Marcus’ hands on her thighs, brushing his hands over the long, loose skirt and pushing it up to her waist. Exposing her. Hooking his thumbs into her panties, pulling them down and seeing them sail off to disappear somewhere in the second row.

  “Very naughty, Ms. Tilman.” He seared the admonishment against her mouth, his fingers lacing with hers to ease his dick into her pussy. “What will your tutor say?”

  “She’d try to grab you for herself.” Her smile was wicked and she held his gaze, the anticipation of his finally, finally having her coiling everything within her tight and hot. She fisted her hand in his hair. “And I’d break every one of her bloody fingers.”

  Marcus stroked deep and a gasp broke from Adela, heat flashing up her body. A shot of release that wasn’t nearly enough. He ground his hips against hers and her muscles gripped him. His voice was ragged as he muttered, “I gave you my contacts. Why deny this?”

  “You’re…you.” She pressed her hand to the sharp angle of his jaw, drawing her thumb under his open lips. With his forehead pressed to hers, they shared heated breaths as he moved within her. The intimacy of it was intoxicating. “I was…”

  “A moment of madness.”

  He’d taken the words from her head. “Yes.”

  “Perhaps, I thought that.” He pulled a brief kiss. “For a short time. But then what you wanted, the reality of you up against a wall, wrapped around me.” He stroked into her, harder, faster, the fierce thrusts angled just right, driving against her clit and the hot ache of her flesh deepened. “I tried to find you.”

  Adela stared at him, her heart in her throa
t, her release teetering. His mouth took hers in a hard kiss that had her thoughts spinning and the fire in her veins a white flare. The shock of her release promised to take her. Hard.

  “I didn’t stop. I never stopped.”

  Joy snapped through Adela. Savage, white hot and she bucked against him, wanting him to follow her, needing him to be as wild as she, to lose himself in her. Marcus groaned before he covered her mouth, devouring her as he fucked her through the final pulses of her orgasm and finding his own.

  He crushed her to him, his mouth breaking away to bury his face against her damp neck. He growled her name, a fierce prayer. His long, slow release of breath stirred her skin and Adela squeezed around his still-hard dick, unable to resist a provocative little wiggle.

  Marcus stilled and drew his face away from her skin. His eyes narrowed and his mouth had thinned, but there was something, a spark of humor, a lightness that lifted her own heart. He’d looked for her. She winced.

  “I hid.”

  He blinked. “Hid?”

  “I worked on the hulks mining the Rosette Nebula. Was the ship’s advocate.” She drew a line along the edge of his shirt collar, her fingertip stroking the smooth skin of his neck. “I ran before you could rip apart my career.”

  He stilled her hand at his throat, his fingers closing around hers. “You thought that was what I had planned?” His smile was wry. “I’m…me. Of course you did.” He lifted her palm to his mouth and brushed a kiss against her skin. She shivered and his smile was sharp. “No one escapes me.”

  “And now?” She willed her gaze to pull away from the sharp blue of his eyes and glanced to the two slumped men. “Idaeus.”

  “They found me six months ago. They offered me power and privilege.” His smile was shark-bright and Adela’s flesh tightened at the stark beauty, the power he already held. “Idaeus didn’t know me very well then.”

  He rolled his hips and she moved with him, smooth and slow. Sparks of fresh desire chased under her skin and she looped her arms around his neck, enjoyed the intimacy as his delicious voice wrapped around her. “As if I needed that.” His mouth brushed hers. “They didn’t have the required energy. Idaeus had been drifting for a very long time. I provided some, but I refused to fuck indiscriminately. Then they offered you.”

  Adela blinked. “Me?”

  “Idaeus found you and brought you into the firm with a job you couldn’t refuse.” His darkened eyes held her. “You took the risk because you thought—with the intervening years—I would forget you.” He let out a slow breath and his teeth caught in her bottom lip before he deepened the slow kiss. His broke away and his forehead touched hers. “I didn’t.”

  “You did this…for me?” Her heart twisted, a shock of pain in her chest. She pressed her lips together to deny tears. She swallowed. “Marcus…”

  “You need to wash and dress.” His thumb brushed her cheek and a soft smile lifted his mouth. “The pyramid holds Idaeus’ essence. I’d prefer somewhere private when I bond with them.”

  Adela closed her eyes as Marcus eased from her. Her feet touched the carpeted floor and she wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry.” She breathed in his scent as his arms enfolded her. It was her fault. She’d run. If she hadn’t…

  “If you hadn’t, I would only have one lifetime with you.” He kissed her tangled hair. “Idaeus will live in me. For centuries.” His smile curved against her temple. “And if my colleagues and competitors think I’m terrifying now…”

  Soft laughter escaped her. “Terrifying? You’re cuddly mush.”

  Marcus tilted her head up. “Wash, dress, then Idaeus and I will demonstrate—thoroughly—that we are far from mush.”

  His distaste curled around the word but she had to grin at him. She pulled away and paused at the door to the washroom. Light gilded his stark features and lean body, and she watched him as he buttoned his fly and smoothed over his crumpled suit. His beauty tightened her heart. But it was more than that. What he’d done for her, what he was willing to do would make him hers. Forever. It still didn’t seem quite real. She drew in a breath and tapped her fingers against the metal frame. “You know, I still have the skirt.”

  Marcus stilled. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “You do?”

  Adela smirked. “Mush. Total mush.”

  His gaze narrowed and her pulse kicked. The corner of his mouth curved into a dark smile and a squeak escaped as he stalked her, backing her into the washroom. He pinned her to the cool, metal wall and his teeth grazed her lip. “You were saying?”

  Was she saying anything? All thought evaporated and she threaded her fingers through his hair. “This is us now?”

  “This is us. You.” He teased her lips with his. “Me.” And again. “Idaeus.” He drew in a breath and his eyes darkened. “And a certain skirt.” He kissed her smile. “Any further questions, Ms. Tilman?”

  Adela took his mouth. It was answer enough.

  About Kim Knox

  Kim lives on an ancient boundary line, once marked by a Neolithic burial tomb. The tomb’s now a standing stone circle–thank the Georgians for that one–and stirs her mind with thoughts of history and ancient myths. She mixes the essence of the past into fantasy, along with the essential mix of magic and sex. She also writes science fiction romance, pushing out into the far future with effortlessly sexy men and the women who can’t resist them.

  Kim is multipublished. You can contact her on her website or come and chat at her blog.

  Kim welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Customer Service, be sure to state the book title and author).

  Also by Kim Knox

  Chosen One

  Consort

  Demonic Liaisons 1: Demonic Attraction

  Demonic Liaisons 2: Demonic Persuasion

  Flesh and Shadows

  Her Dark Soul

  Hunting Evander

  Painted Promise

  Perfecting Naia

  Planetary Bodies 1: Magnetism

  Planetary Bodies 2: Friction

  Planetary Bodies 3: Current

  Planetary Bodies 4: Energy

  Planetary Bodies 5: Frequency

  Ruthless Beauty

  Warflesh

  Print books by Kim Knox

  Art of Amour anthology

  Creamy anthology

  Succulent anthology

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Demonic Temptation

  ISBN 9781419946585

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Demonic Temptation Copyright © 2014 Kim Knox

  Edited by Grace Bradley

  Cover design and photography by Syneca

  Additional cover photography by fotolia.com

  Electronic book publication April 2014

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This bo
ok is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.

  The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com to find erotic reading experiences that will leave you breathless. You can also find our books at all the major e-tailers (Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, Sony, Kobo, Google, Apple iBookstore, All Romance eBooks, and others).

  www.ellorascave.com

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  About Kim Knox