Hotter Than Hell

Cathryn Fox

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter One

“Am I dead?”

Jadyn Callahan’s shaky voice echoed all around her, bouncing and reverberating off the long, sunken walls that had suddenly seemed to close in on her, shaping and molding her small frame.

A long pause and then, “Yeah, baby girl, you’re dead.” The deep, mysterious voice came from the shadows and had her heart pumping like she’d just received a shot of adrenaline.

Sweat broke out on her body. A lump lodged in her throat. Oh, God, how could this be?

Jadyn squinted, but could see very little in the hot, narrow cavern. The only visible light was coming from the mouth of the cramped cave a few feet away, just out of her reach. Confused and disoriented, she put her hands out on either side of head, racing her fingertips over the broken and jagged rocks, trying to find her bearings, as she trekked onward toward the light, toward that raspy voice that did lascivious things to her body without even trying—things she couldn’t believe she was feeling under the circumstances.

The air felt thick, suffocating, and a dry blazing heat—a heat unlike anything she’d ever felt before—enveloped her and practically blistered her skin. Struggling through the discomfort, a survival mechanism she’d learned early on in life, she continued to make her way to the end of the blackened corridor. The pungent scent of hot garbage and rotten eggs reached her nostrils and made her gag. Sulfer. Her exploratory hands trailed cautiously along the stone wall until she came to the scant opening.

Moments before she stepped through the portal, an ominous feeling curled through her and brought on a shudder. She took a deep, fueling breath and fought to establish her location.

Where the heck was she and how did she get there?

She searched her mind and drew on her last memories. After pulling double duty at the emergency room, she’d been driving in her car on her way to her friend’s bachelorette party, and the next thing she knew she’d found herself in some noxious cinder passageway.

Jesus, she couldn’t be dead, she just couldn’t be. She had too much to do, too much to see, and she was just now getting her life in order. And her sister…her sister needed her. Jadyn’s body stiffened, and her head throbbed as she shook it adamantly, refusing to believe that she was dead, to accept it.

Ducking, she breached the crevice and poked her head out. Her eyes widened in shock when she glimpsed the hedonistic acts taking place around an enormous glowing fire pit. The hot coal stones gave off an orange luminescence, providing sufficient light for her to see the sprawl of naked, lustful bodies contorted into various sexual positions, shocking even a bold, adventurous woman like herself.

Jadyn gulped air as she emerged from the tunnel and stepped into what felt like a fiery kiln. Her lungs filled with the chalky, ash residue.

“Is this hell?” she asked, her voice as shaky as her hands while she waited for that same deep, masculine voice to answer her, unsure if she really wanted to hear his response.

A moment later, a large body stepped from the shadows and moved in front of her. “Yeah, baby girl, this is hell.”

There was something eerily familiar about the way he called her “baby girl.” She took a moment to work through the chaos erupting inside her head so she could digest and understand his words. The fact that she’d landed in hell shouldn’t have surprised her, considering her jaded background and all, but nevertheless, since she’d changed her wicked ways, she still held a modicum of hope that she’d go  up in glory, instead of down in flames.

She twisted around to look into the long, black passageway from which she’d just come, fight-or-flight instincts kicking in. Even though she spoke with surety, she couldn’t keep the tremor from her voice. “I think there’s been a mistake—”

“There’s no mistake about it, Jadyn.”

She caught the inflection in his tone when he called her by name. Cocking her head, she stole a glance at him, but his dark eyes were clouded, unreadable, and his mouth was set in a straight line. Pushing down a burst of panic, she drew on calm and logic, the way she would when dealing with an outpatient emergency. “How do I get out of here?” she questioned, striving to keep composed.

“You don’t.”

Two large arms circled her and anchored her in place, shocking and exciting her at the same time. Taking her by surprise, his alluring heat whipped through her blood and aroused all her senses. When he cemented her to him, her nipples tightened in painful bliss and her pussy throbbed, clamoring for attention. His attention.

“What the hell?” she said.

“Precisely,” he replied and dipped his head. Warm, chocolate-brown eyes with a slight amber glow met her glance. It was that seductive strike of amber that acted like a catalyst to her flesh, sparking and igniting a fire deep in her loins.

She should be afraid, she knew, but something about his touch intrigued her, comforted her.

Seduced her.

“Who are you?” she asked.

Breaking his tenuous grip, she inched back slightly. She let her glance race over him, taking note of the lacerations on his tall, broad frame, the sinewy skin that stretched across his bare chest and the perfectly hewn thigh muscles that hadn’t been sculpted in any gym. Lust prowled through her and pooled in her belly, where need gathered in a ball. Her gaze lingered an extra moment on his skimpy loincloth and the large bulge behind it before moving back to his dark face and hair. Despite his scar-ridden body, the guy looked like a Greek god straight out of Mount Olympus. Except she wasn’t in heaven and this man was no god. He looked dark, damaged and downright sexy. In fact, he looked hotter than hell. Clichéd she knew, but considering her locale, she could actually say it with conviction.

What the hell had she gotten herself into?

The tall Adonis before her gestured with a nod. Following his lead, Jadyn angled her chin to see a man—if one could call him that—seated in a large, uncomfortable-looking stone chair overlooking the libidinous activities, four virile warriors flanking him. A tremor moved through her and her throat dried from trepidation. She chanced another glance and noted that his horned head seemed too large for his body, and his hoofed feet tapped restlessly, as though fighting a deep-seated boredom.

The sexy voice at her ear pulled her back. “I’m Gage, servant of our Master Lucifer and guide to you until he claims you.”

Our Master.

Her stomach lurched and in a deceptively calm tone she said, “Define claim.” She took the opportunity to glance down at her clothes, which consisted of nothing more than a chamois cloth covering only the bare essentials. What the heck…?

He paused, as though weighing his words carefully, and then said, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Like hell she would, since she had no intention of hanging around for one more minute.

Survival instincts kicking in full force, she kneed him in the groin and spun around to run back into the depths of the cave, only to turn and slam into a muscular chest she deemed to be that of her “guide.”

He reached out and fingered a lock of her auburn hair, his eyes narrowed in genuine concern and something that looked like sadness flickering in their shadowy depths. “Jadyn, baby girl. You can’t run. No one leaves hell.” His voice was low, soft and sympathetic.

She worried her bottom lip. “How did I get here?”

His brow furrowed and he gave her a knowing look, as though he was privy to every sinful secret from her past. Then again, perhaps he was.

She crossed her arms. “Okay, let me rephrase that. Why now? What happened?”

Silence fell over them as his seductive glance moved over her face, assessing her. Then he passed his hands through the air, placed his palms on her shoulders and turned her around.

He pulled her in tight, until her back was molded against his hard chest—among other hard parts on his strong, athletic body. God, why did his touch feel so achingly familiar, filling her with solace, not fear? As she glanced into the tunnel, a watery picture danced over the stone walls. She grasped her chest when she saw her sports car wrapped around a tree.

“I fell asleep at the wheel,” she stated.

“You were in no shape to be driving,” Cage responded.

The image flashed forward to a hospital room where her friends and younger sister, Tami, stood over her still body, tubes and machines keeping her alive. She turned back to face her guide. “But I’m not dead. I’m on life support.”

“A technicality,” he assured her, his eyes solemn. “Since you’re not officially dead, Lucifer has forty-eight hours to claim you.”

“How?”

“As soon as you submit to him and hand yourself over to his authority, you’ll be his to do with as he pleases, his forever, and your body will die.”

Submit to him? Like hell! Jadyn didn’t submit to anyone.

Gage shifted on his feet and, as though he’d read her thoughts, he added in a low, tortured tone, “He has a way of making people do things they wouldn’t normally do.”

Standing strong and courageous was how Jadyn had managed to get her and her sister through life, and that was what was going to get her out of this hell pit, too, she quickly decided. She lifted her chin high, suddenly hopeful, and asked, “If I don’t submit, I’ll go back to my body?”

Gage let out a long-suffering sigh. His expression was dark, pained. “It won’t happen, Jadyn. No one has ever been able to resist Lucifer’s demonic charm.”

Vowing not to lose a single ounce of her earlier optimism despite Gage’s solemn words, she swallowed and momentarily closed her eyes, partly to keep her focus and partly to give her a moment of reprieve from his sexual magnetism. “I guess you have that charm, as well, don’t you?” Which explained why her libido had gone into overdrive the minute she encountered him.

He put two fingers under her chin and nudged her head upward. His eyes softened when they met hers, and warm familiarity moved through her. “No. As a matter of fact, I don’t.”

Her head jerked back with a start. “Oh.” Then why was she so drawn to him? So attracted to the devil’s henchman in a way she’d never been attracted to a man? She opened her mouth to ask, but he cut her off.

“Enough for now. Come, let me take you to your chambers and prepare you for tonight’s feast.”

“Feast?” Working to stay unshakable, to show no fear in the face of adversary, she planted her hands on her hips and played the best card she had under the circumstances. “I hate to break it to you, but if you’re sacrificing virgins, you’re out of luck.”

With that Gage laughed out loud, and for some strange reason the sound was like an aphrodisiac to her. “We’re not going to eat you, Jadyn.” He stepped closer and ran the pad of his thumbs over her lips. He wet his mouth like he was about to devour her, and her body shivered violently in response. Oddly enough, it was a shiver of anticipation, not fear. After a short pause he pitched his voice low, leaned in and whispered in the softest, gentlest tone she’d ever heard, “Unless of course, you want me to.”

With his hand positioned on the small of her back, Gage led her through the main lair and ushered her to her own private den in the “waiting room”—a cold, dank room where she’d linger until she submitted to Lucifer. Until then she was his charge, his to watch over and guide until her claiming.

He angled his head and gave her a long, thoughtful stare. Her barely there chamois hung low over her full breasts, affording him a glimpse of her creamy flesh and pretty pink areolas. His pulse kicked up a notch and his cock thickened beneath his loincloth as he took pleasure in her near nakedness.

Jadyn, sweet Jadyn.

He had watched over her in the “real world” long enough to know she was intelligent, beautiful and audacious, a woman with integrity and heart, despite her rough upbringing. Even though she was putting on an outward show of bravado in the face of death—his aching balls were a painful reminder of that-he could feel her body tremble beneath his palm. He hated what her future held, and everything inside him tightened. Fuck, he could hardly believe she was here with him. Torn between guilt and pleasure, he cursed himself for finding joy in her presence, because she shouldn’t be in hell at all. Not her. Not his sweet Jadyn. She was kind, compassionate, angelic and didn’t belong here—no matter how much he wanted to keep her with him forever, to protect her from everyone and everything, especially Lucifer.

He’d been observing her every action for years now, drawn to her in an inexplicable way. He felt like he knew her better than she knew herself, understanding her every desire, her every need. Gage had spent many years fantasizing about what it’d be like to kiss those plump lips of hers, to run his tongue over her lush body, to rake his fingers through her auburn hair and make sweet passionate love to her all night long. Perhaps they’d been lovers from another lifetime. Or perhaps not. All he knew was that for some mysterious reason she was important to him. Unfortunately his memories were fading, slipping away like dust in the wind, because the longer he spent in hell the harder and harder it was to recall his past.

The walked past a string of locked cells. Guides stood outside each cell, keeping watch over their charges while they, too, waited for their claiming. Gage’s comrades nodded as he advanced and then turned their eyes on Jadyn. Protective instincts kicking in, he fought the urge to position her behind him, to shield her from their prying gazes. He watched her throat work when she swallowed, her body inching closer to his—better the monster you know, he supposed.

He turned the corner, and except for Brand, seated outside one of the cells, the back wing was quiet and empty. Gage and Brand had arrived in hell at the same time, and had bonded, relying on each other for support after many long, hard days at the hands of Lucifer. Brand was his friend, a man he completely trusted, in life and in death.

Gage stopped outside Jadyn’s cell. What he was about to do went against the rules, but it wasn’t like Lucifer would ever find out, since he never frequented the “waiting rooms.” He brushed his hand over her eyes. “In here.”

“It’s just like…” Her voice fell off and her gaze flashed to him. “How did you know?”

“I just did.” He wasn’t about to tell her his strange fascination with her. No need to make her more frightened than she already was.

Gage unlocked her door and herded her inside. She touched the frilly yellow bedspread, a replica of the one on her bed back in Chicago, then moved to trail her fingers over the pillows, the dresser and the framed photo of her sister. “Is this real? The other cells weren’t…”

“Not all guides are…” Are what? In love with their charges? Fuck. He quickly redirected the conversation. “Are you hungry?”

She put her hand over her stomach. “I think so.”

“I’ll bring your food. Something to hold you over until tonight’s feast.”

She rolled one shoulder and blinked up at him, her pretty blue eyes unsure, questioning. “I supposed this doesn’t matter, now that I’m dead, but I’m allergic-”

“To nuts and strawberries, I know.” As soon as the words left his mouth he berated himself. No guide was supposed to know his charge intimately, the way he did. Nor was a guide to interact, connect on any level or even touch in any manner. The consequences would be most severe. His scars took that moment to ache, an unpleasant reminder that some things were worse than death. A guide was only to provide his charge with the basic necessities until he or she submitted to Lucifer and earned a right to join him in his lair. After all, this was hell, not heaven. And the people that landed here hardly deserved to be pampered. Except for Jadyn. Jadyn deserved so much more. He backpeddled quickly and said, “I’ll bring meat. It’s edible, and fresh. Just don’t ask where it came from.”

Showing a fierce inner strength that others lacked, she lowered herself onto her bed. It took every ounce of control he possessed not to rush to her, take her in his arms, make sweet love to her and tell her everything would be okay. Except he knew it wouldn’t be okay. How could it be, really? Lucifer was invincible and charming, and his loyal warriors—warriors who kept the guides in line with brute force—would forever protect their Master.

Clenching his jaw, he turned to leave, but her words stopped him cold. “Thanks, Gage.” The softness in her tone got to him in ways that made his heart ache. He fisted his hands and drew a sharp breath. The world as he knew it suddenly shifted, and in that instant he vowed to do whatever it took to save her, to get her out of this place. Sure, it had never been done before, but goddammit, he was determined to find a way. No chance in hell would he allow that cruel bastard to touch a single strand of hair on her head!

He turned back toward her. “Jadyn…”

“Yeah?”

He pitched his voice low. “You nearly killed a man, baby girl. That’s why you’re here,” he offered.

Her face hardened. “I’m only sorry that I never succeeded.” She looked at him in defiance. “I’d do it again, too.”

He thought about the man who’d nearly raped Jadyn’s little sister, and Jadyn’s instinctive, protective response when she found him in the act. Little did she know Gage had saved a special place in hell for that bastard. “I know I’d do the same thing if I was in your circumstances.” She eyed him, but didn’t ask the question he suspected was lingering on her lips. Instead, she paused and said, “I was never convicted, but I guess the gods see things differently than the law does.”

He let out a slow breath and fought the natural inclination to pull her to him, to press his lips to hers and kiss her until they both forgot about anything and everything except each other. “Sometimes doing the wrong thing for the right reasons can land you in hell.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Is that what happened to you?” She stood, stepped closer and traced her finger over one of his scars. “Despite these, you don’t seem like a hardened criminal.”

When their eyes met and locked, his blood pressure soared and he felt a connection with her that nearly brought him to his knees, a connection that was powerful and all-consuming. As he gave himself over to her touch, his mind raced, sorting through matters and desperately searching for a way to return her to her body. Then suddenly a chancy idea hit him hard. Perhaps if Jadyn fell in love with him, Lucifer’s demonic charm would be lost on her. He spent a long moment thinking about it, formulating and strategizing a plan. It was risky, he knew, and since it had never been tried before, there were no guarantees it would work. But under the circumstances, he could see no other feasible option.

If Lucifer ever found out about his deception, the consequences would be severe, but every ounce of pain inflicted on Gage would be worth it.

Jadyn was worth it.

Chapter Two

Jadyn watched him go, his beautiful, scarred body touching something deep inside her and dragging her focus as he rounded the corner and disappeared from her line of sight. What was it about him that held her attention and aroused such peculiar emotions in her? It was strange, she knew, but the second she had looked into his eyes, really looked into his eyes, she felt the bond between them, this unexplainable pull that had her heart beating a little quicker, her blood rushing a little faster.

Once he was gone, she pulled the bedsheets down and crawled inside as she ran over the turn of events. Snuggling into her pillow, she thought of her sister, Tami, and how she must feel right now as she stood over Jadyn’s comatose body. Oh, God, why now? After years of struggling, everything was just beginning to fall into place for her—for both of them. Jadyn had a beautiful, successful sister, a thriving career and great friends. The only thing missing from the picture was a husband to share it all with. But since she’d spent her life concentrating on her career and her sister’s well-being, she didn’t have much time for a social life, nor would most men put up with her long days and even longer nights. She’d all but given up on thinking she’d find the one and only man meant for her.

Tami was just about to graduate from veterinary college, and dammit, Jadyn was determined to see it happen. After all, Jadyn had never thought they’d even get this far, since life hadn’t always been so kind to them.

Growing up fatherless and with an alcoholic mother who brought home a different man each week set the stage for a dark, tumultuous life pretty early on for both girls. By the time Jadyn had reached high school, she was using drugs and alcolhol. Like her mother had always preached to her, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

But all that changed one heavy, ominous night when Jadyn came home to find a man trying to have his way with Tami. It was then and there she knew this wasn’t a life she wanted to live, wasn’t a life she wanted for her sister, and if she wanted Tami to make something of herself, she needed to set a positive example. Gathering every ounce of strength she possessed, Jadyn pulled herself and her sister away from their mother and her bad influences. She cleaned up her act, worked two jobs to put herself through nursing school and then used that income to provide a nice home for her sister and help her follow her dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Neither had ever looked back, proving to her mother that not only could the apple fall far, it could roll away to greener pastures.

Her thoughts raced to Gage and his solemn warning that no one had ever left hell, that no one could resist the Master’s demonic charm. But she could resist, and she would resist, because failure was never an option for her. And never, ever would she submit to any man, for any reason, no matter how beguiling he was. The few men back home who’d tried to command her quickly learned the consequences of that action. A real man, a man worth having, would never want to dominate his woman. He’d put her needs and desires first, and treat her with dignity and respect.

Suddenly that familiar feeling she was being watched caused the fine hairs on the back of her neck to tingle. She peered over her covers to see Gage step into her room. He was carrying a wooden bowl filled with meat, from which wafted an aroma that made her stomach growl, reminding her just how hungry she was. But was she hungry for whatever it was he had in that bowl? Then again, something deep inside her told her that Gage would never feed her anything she’d normally object to eating, and that he somehow knew her every single objection—as though he’d been the one watching her all these years. She swallowed. Was it possible?

The mattress dipped when Gage lowered himself and shimmied in beside her. “It’s fresh and it’s good.” He jabbed a piece of meat with a skewer and handed it to her.

She sat up, pulling her blankets to her shoulders. Suddenly ravenous, she dug into it, and her eyes widened. “This is delicious.” She didn’t miss his smile of pleasure, but when she licked her fingers, she watched that same smile fall from his face and noted the way his expression changed, darkened. He glanced over his shoulder, then back at her, as though waging an internal war.

Feeling his tension, she reached out and touched him. “Are you okay?”

Hell, no, he wasn’t okay. He wanted her. Badly. Here she was—having just found herself in hell—and she was asking him if he was okay. He might have set a plan in motion to get her to fall for him, giving her some small chance that the power of love would afford her the ammunition to fight Lucifer’s charm, but it was more than that. Not only did her want her, he needed her, as though some force stronger than the two of them was pulling at him, guiding his actions.

“Jadyn…”

She gulped, then dropped her skewer back into the bowl. When she met his eyes, he fully suspected she felt the savage desire welling up inside him.

“Yeah?” she asked, her voice soft, seductive, seeping under his skin and warming his darkest corners.

He reached out and touched her cheek. She flinched, taking him by surprise. Stiffening at her reaction, he withdrew his hand and whispered, “I’d never hurt you, baby girl.”

“I know,” she responded.

Emotions pressed hard against his chest. He softened his voice and asked, “Then why did you flinch?”

“Every time you touch me, it’s like a jolt.” When he frowned in confusion, she rushed on. “But not in a bad way.” She glanced down and added in a whisper, “In a sexual way. My body…it’s like it’s on fire. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’ve never felt anything quite like it.”

He put his hand back on her face, and watched the heat dance in her eyes. By small degrees her body relaxed into his touch. “I feel it, too, Jadyn. I can’t explain it, but it’s there, this strange connection between us.” He glanced back over his shoulder, knowing if they were caught together intimately, all hell would break loose. Literally. Even though the only one in the corridor was Brand, and Brand had Gage’s back at all times, he still knew it went against Lucifer’s rules to touch her, but when he turned back around and her blanket fell from her shoulders, exposing the creamy swell of her breasts, the need in him became too strong to deny.

As sexual tension hung heavy in the air, he cupped her cheeks in his hands. “Baby,” he whispered and dipped his head. Hunger consuming him, he pressed his lips to hers. Peaches, cinnamon, sugar and everything sweet exploded on his tongue. Oh, fuck, he’d never tasted anything so divine.

He nudged her backward until she was sprawled across the mattress. She moved willingly, eagerly. He eased in beside her and resumed the kiss. Color bloomed high on her cheeks as he invaded her mouth with his tongue. Her soft mewl curled around him and was all the encouragement he needed. After a long, thorough kiss, his hands left her face and trailed downward. The softness of her skin had his mind whirling and his body tightening with desire.

“Gage, please…I want…I need…” She couldn’t seem to vocalize her desires any more than he could his.

She arched her back, offering him her body. His head dropped to see two pert nipples beckoning his mouth. Gage angled her shoulders, reached behind her and untied the cloth. He sucked in a sharp breath when her chamois fell away, exposing her gorgeous breasts.

He looked into her desirous eyes and knew without a doubt that she needed this as much as he did. He brushed the soft blade of his tongue over one nipple and they both moaned in pleasure. “So beautiful,” he whispered. “And so goddamn delicious.”

Warm fingers raked through his hair and guided his mouth back to her breasts. Pleasure resonated through him as her hands urged him on. “More,” she demanded in a soft voice.

Gage worked his tongue over her nipples, laving them until they hardened in bliss, then, one by one, he drew them deep into his mouth, sucking, nibbling and nipping until her cries of ecstasy filled the air. His blood pulsed hot and heavy through his veins, and despite his body’s demands he forced himself to slow down and make love to her the way she deserved.

The sweet tang of her arousal filled the air, and his cock pulsed in response. Sexual longing swamped him. He needed to be inside her, to feel her heat wrapped around him, to bring them to a deeper level of intimacy.

As her scent permeated the small room and reached out to him, he shimmied lower and insinuated himself between her legs. A low growl rumbled up from the depths of his throat when he glimpsed her sweet pussy through the chamois. He wet his lips in preparation. “Open wider for me,” he demanded.

Her heard her breath catch and glanced up at her. When he glimpsed the raw lust and sheer excitement on her face he was thrilled he’d put them there, and his heart thudded. Jesus, he could hardly believe she was here with him and wanted him as badly as he wanted her.

The need in her gaze whipped through his blood and stirred all his emotions. With her eyes full of want she said, “Gage, I need…”

The warmth of her voice pulled him under, and he acknowledged the flare of desire between his legs. “I know, baby, I know. Now spread your thighs wider. I want to taste you first,” he said, letting his warm breath wash over the insides of her legs.

He tore off her makeshift clothing to expose her gorgeous pink pussy. Moisture glistened on her twin lips and it was all he could do not to ravish her like a starving man at a buffet. He leaned forward and licked, indulging himself in her sweet cream. An erotic whimper bubbled in the depths of her throat and she liquefied under his touch.

He moaned and buried his face in her pussy. Her delectable aroma nearly shut down his brain. He pushed his tongue into her heat, and using the soft pad of his thumb, he drew small circles around her puckered clit. Her hips came off the bed, and she gyrated, riding his tongue with wild abandon. His heart skipped, loving the way she reacted to his touch. Soon her body began to shudder, and that first clench told him she was there.

“That’s a girl, come for me,” he growled as he lavished her body with his undivided attention.

She began panting and pressing harder and harder against his face as she chased an orgasm. He continued to work his thumb over her clit, building her pressure until she reached the point of no return and exploded all over him. Her sweet cream poured into his dry mouth, rehydrating him. “Oh, baby,” he rasped. “You’re so fucking delicious.” He worked his tongue over her pussy, as his cock ached to be inside her.

Her hands gripped his shoulders and pulled him toward her. Excited, needy eyes met his. “I need you inside me. Now,” she demanded, her voice shaky, frenzied.

He could feel her heart thudding double time as he fell over her and positioned his cock near her entrance. When she bucked forward, the tip of his erection breached her opening. Their gazes collided as he crushed his shaky hands through her hair, working to keep his breathing regulated.

“Gage, I really, really need you to fuck me.” The urgency in her voice prompted him into action.

“Oh, Jesus,” he bit out and in one long thrust pushed all the way inside her.

The second he entered her, he felt another orgasm roll through her. Her pussy muscles gripped him so hard he nearly exploded then and there. Marshaling his control, he let her ride out her climax before he began pumping. Once her tremors subsided he rocked his hips, pushing his cock in and out of her hot, wet sheath, giving her a piece of himself that he’d never given another.

“Jadyn,” he whispered, his voice wavering, conveying his feelings with that one simple word as his lips found hers. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the intense pleasure, and the fullness inside his chest. Their bodies moistened and sealed together as one as he continued to fuck her. Jadyn’s hands raced over his back, gently, carefully, lovingly. Even though she had long, sharp nails, she seemed to be taking care not to mar his already lacerated skin. The small gesture touched him deeply.

Needy, frantic, she brushed his skin with her lips. “Gage, you feel so good,” she gasped. “It’s never been this good for me before.”

His voice came out rough, edgy. “Me, neither,” he managed to get out between pants.

Her breath caught and her sex muscles gripped him again. It was all he could take. His body began burning from the inside out, screaming for release. Once he was sure Jadyn was sufficiently pleasured, he buried himself deep, let out a low growl and splashed his seed high inside her, claiming her and marking her his once and for all. Ripples of sensual pleasure made him shiver as his cock spasmed with genuine fulfilment.

Giving his passion-rattled brain time to catch up, he stayed buried inside her for a long time. Never in his life had he felt such ecstasy. God, he never wanted this to end. A short while later he rolled beside her and, needing the intimate connection at all times, he pulled her to him.

As she snuggled in beside him and he held her in his arms, he noted the time. His heart sank, and his earlier bliss dissolved quicker than a splash of water on Lucifer’s stone fire pit.

“Jadyn, baby, we have to go. It’s time for the feast.” Contrary to his words, he pulled her in tighter. He hated, absolutely fucking hated, that he felt so defenseless. He positioned his mouth close to her ear and whispered words of encouragement. “You have to fight his charm, Jadyn, it’s the only way.”

Chapter Three

Following his firm orders, Jadyn walked in front of Gage as he led her into a great hall where others were already seated around a long, oaken table. Women, all dressed in chamois similar to hers, eyed her, sizing up the “fresh meat” as she was ushered to the seat closest to their Master. Standing behind Lucifer were his four loyal warriors, ready to intervene should the need occur. Jadyn fought down a shiver and slowed her steps, letting Gage’s body collide with her from behind, desperately needing to feel his strength and support, but taking extra care not to give away that she had one ally in hell.

When his strength curled around her, she took a moment to reflect on the emotions he brought out in her. She suspected he took great risks when he made love to her in her chamber. And then, as he held her in his protective arms, he gave her words of advice, encouragement, telling her how to fight Lucifer’s demonic charm. But why? Why would he do that for her? She knew there was a strange magical connection between them, but did he feel the emotional pull as strongly as she did? And why was she feeling such a bond with the devil’s henchman? Were they lovers from another time, another place?

She chanced a glance at him over her shoulder. His eyes were dark, masked, his expression hard and cold. Her heart thudded when she looked at him, and it occurred to her that he was so scarred and hardened, yet he was so damn gentle and caring with her.

His hands gripped her shoulders, firm but with an underlying tenderness that told her he’d never allow anything to happen to her, which gave her the courage she needed. He twisted her back around and gestured with a nod to her seat.

She glanced at the table and inhaled the scents coming from the plates and bowls lining the length of the tabletop. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble, a reminder that she hadn’t eaten much of the meat that Gage had brought to her and that she’d built up quite an appetite during their lovemaking.

After she took her seat, she met Lucifer’s gaze unflinchingly. Amber eyes latched onto hers and sparkled in delight as he perused her. He offered her his most charming smile, and she dug deep, summoning a defense against his allure. Except, surprisingly, she didn’t have to dig very deep at all. Hadn’t Gage said his demonic charm was impossible to fight?

“Such a pretty little one,” he murmured, and let his lewd gaze move over her face.

She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable as his eyes undressed her. As she stared at him, she instinctively knew no matter what happened, she’d never, ever submit to him. Not only did his demonic charm sicken her, she had a life on Earth she was determined to get back to. Then another thought struck. If she left here, she’d be leaving the one and only man she suspected was meant for her. Her stomach dropped and her heart sank. Suddenly the smells emanating from the table made her nauseous.

“You’re not eating, Jaddy,” Lucifer announced.

She cringed at the sickly sweet way he’d called her Jaddy, her childhood nickname. “I’m not hungry,” she shot back. The warriors standing behind him stiffened and took a predatory step forward. When their Master held his hand up, they halted midstride, acting like the obedient servants they were.

“But, Jadyn, darling, you should take joy in all I have to offer you,” he said, waving his hand over the table and the feast before her.

“I’ll never take joy in anything you have to offer me,” she responded flatly and resisted the urge to jump from her chair and bolt.

“So feisty,” he crooned, amused. “I’m going to take great joy breaking in this little one,” he murmured to his henchmen.

Catching the way Gage stiffened behind her, she resisted the urge to glance at him. It was very important that they didn’t give away their alliance. “It won’t come to that, because I’ll never submit to you.” She kept her resolve and held her chin high, letting him know in no uncertain terms that his so-called charm was lost on her. Honestly, how could she possibly feel anything for him, not when her strange fascination and feelings for Gage ran so deep. The connection between the two was all-consuming.

Charm dissolving, Lucifer growled. As his eyes flashed yellow, fire raced up the stone walls around her. He cocked his head, an acrid smile on his face. “It is not wise to talk to your Master in such a way.”

“You’ll never be my Master,” she assured him.

“There are other ways, Jaddy,” he threatened and ran his finger over the oaken table, his dark, dirty claws slicking through the hardwood like a hot knife through butter. “Ways that might not be so pleasant for you.” A moment later, the horned beast gathered himself, as though realizing he’d catch more bees with honey, or more souls with his demonic charm.

“Perhaps you are just tired from your journey.” He snapped his fingers and two of his female companions curled up on either side of him, mewling and purring as they began to rub up against him. Seemingly preoccupied for the night and growing bored with Jadyn, he turned to Gage and said, “Take her back to her cell, and maybe when she gets hungry, she’ll see things differently.”

Jadyn stood to leave, and Gage moved in beside her, standing close but never touching. He gestured with a grunt for her to walk back to her chamber. Obliging, she tore her gaze from Lucifer’s and made her way toward the long hall. Once inside her room, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and turned to Gage.

Her thoughts fragmented when he put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “You did good out there, baby girl. Real good. Keep that up and you’ll be out of here in no time at all.”

Jadyn swallowed and could feel the passion rising in Gage. “That’s because his charm was lost on me.”

Instantly distracted as he seduced her senses, she stepped closer, until their bodies touched. Rich, intense eyes met hers. “Good, then my plan is working.”

“Plan?”

“My plan to distract you with my charm.”

God, just his sexy voice curled her toes. “I thought you said you didn’t have any special charm.”

His eyes darkened with lust, and urgent need colored his voice. “I don’t. I have something better.”

“What’s that?” she asked, her breath coming a little faster, a little raspier.

He fingered her chamois top, then crushed her body to his. “Instead of telling you, how about I show you?” he murmured. With that his lips found hers and drew her in for a soul-searching kiss. His hands raced over her body, pushing and pulling, taking and giving almost frantically. “I need you again, baby. I can’t get enough of you.”

“Is this still a part of your plan?” she asked, hardly able to believe she could find her voice. She raced her hands over him in return, unable to compose herself.

He inched back and met her glance. The intensity in his dark eyes made her breath catch. “I think you know it’s not. I think you feel this thing between us every bit as much as I do,” he said, as though needing her to understand that this was about more than just sex. “You do, don’t you Jadyn?”

She raked her fingers through his hair and brought his mouth back to hers, answering him with her actions. His body practically vibrated from her touch.

Warm hands shaped her body, touching her breasts, between her legs and sliding around her to cup her ass. He squeezed until pleasure bled into pain. “I need to make love to you now, everywhere,” he whispered into her mouth. “While I still can, while you’re still here.” There was an urgency in his voice she hadn’t heard before.

She reached out and traced the hard contours of his face, understanding what he was saying. Leaving hell meant leaving him, too. She looked into his eyes and saw a mixture of love, sadness, pain and vulnerability. “Gage—”

“Shh,” he whispered and gathered her into his arms. “Let’s not think, let’s just feel.”

God, she had never felt such bone-deep warmth before. When she nodded her acquiescence, he growled deep in his throat and added, “You make me feel again, baby. And it’s been so damn long since I’ve felt anything at all, especially anything good.”

The passion in his voice curled her toes and heat surged through her veins. His eyes glimmered with dark sensuality as he touched her with intimate recognition. She drew a breath, having never dealt with these kinds of powerful emotions before, either.

Determined to make every moment together count, she stood back and ripped off her clothes, exposing her body to him. Her nipples tightened and her pussy moistened under his lascivious gaze.

Without censor, she said, “Take me, Gage. Everywhere.”

Cage growled and snaked his burning hands around her waist, pulling her against him, as though he was branding her as his for eternity. His lips crashed down on hers and his hungry tongue slashed the insides of her mouth, and her need for him was as frightening as it was exciting. Desire twisted her insides as she widened her legs. Reading her invitation, he pushed her up against the wall, momentarily stepping back to tear off his own clothes before moving close again.

His forehead pebbling with moisture, he gripped her hips and lifted her, positioning his cock near her hot entrance. “Put your legs around me,” he said, his voice harsh, labored, his muscles tightening.

When she wrapped her thighs around his hips, his cock breached her opening. Jadyn groaned low and bucked forward. “God, that feels so good.”

He powered his hips forward, reacquainting her with his long, hard cock and making her feel deliciously full. His warm, masculine scent reached her nostrils and mingled with her own aroused aroma. Her heart swelled and she felt so close to him at that moment. Raking her fingers through his hair, she held him to her and buried her face in his neck. “Gage…,” she murmured into his throat.

He drove into her, hard and fast, filling her with more than just his cock. In no time at all her sex muscles clenched around his thickness. As their bodies collided, he continued to fuck her while she rode out each delicious wave of release. Her hot cream poured over him and her pulsing muscles pulled him deeper. With his fingers biting into her hips, he growled into her hair.

Her body craved the feel of his seed inside her. “Come for me,” she whispered. “Let me feel it.”

“Not yet. I need to be inside you everywhere first.”

With that he eased his cock out of her, but her protest was lost on a moan when his lips found hers and he kissed her until she was nearly delirious with pleasure.

He slid his hand around to cup her ass, his fingers toying with her crevice, touching lightly, massaging gently, letting her get used to the feeling.

A short while later he pulled her away from the wall. His dark, intense gaze met hers and his nostrils flared when he said, “Get on the bed.”

Jadyn lowered herself onto the bed and widened her legs. When he shook his head, she frowned.

She glanced at him, questioning. “What?”

His smoldering gazed raced over her breasts, and her nipples tightened in response. “Sit up, baby.”

Immediately reading his intent, Jadyn sat up, gathered her breasts into her hands and squeezed. “Did you want to fuck me here?” she asked seductively, running her tongue over her bottom lip, hoping to drive him as wild as he was driving her.

Gage’s chest rose and fell in an erratic pattern as he watched her, and she could tell it was taking all his control not to ravish her like an animal in heat.

Using his pre-cum as lubricant, he rubbed his cock until it was glistening. Jadyn crooked her finger, urging him closer. He closed the small distance between them and threw his head back when his cock slipped into the tight crevice Jadyn had made with her breasts.

“You are so beautiful, baby girl.” He cupped the back of her head and met her gaze. His eyes dimmed with desire and never left hers while he pushed his cock in and out from between her swollen breasts.

Jadyn moved her body slowly and fucked him in return. His cock was so hard she could feel the vein running along the back pulse with heated blood. With each upward thrust, she flicked her tongue out to taste him, and his groans of pleasure thrilled her. Together they established a rhythm, until his finger gripped her hair hard and she suspected he was hovering on the precipice.

Gage pulled back. “On your knees, baby. There is one more place I need to be.”

Jadyn turned on the bed and got up on her knees. The position opened up her ass nicely to him. Gage reached between her thighs, coated his fingers with her pussy cream and lubricated her back passage. He slipped a finger in to heat and prepare her muscles for his thickness. One finger led to two as he stretched her and relaxed her tight fissure.

She felt her pussy begin swelling and dripping with anticipation of things to come, craving his hard cock inside her ass, needing to have him touch her in a way no one had ever touched her before. “Gage, please,” she begged, aching for him to ride her until he’d been inside her body, everywhere.

“Are you ready for me, baby?” God, he sounded like he was in agony. She twisted her head to search his face. Her eyes swept over him and she considered what she saw. Her heart lodged somewhere in her throat when she glimpsed the powerful emotions passing over his eyes.

As need unfurled inside her, she swallowed and began rocking, telling him through her actions just how ready she was. Just how much she reciprocated those feelings.

Gage stepped close, ran soft fingers over her ass cheeks and then gently eased them open. When her puckered passage tightened in response to his invasive touch, he leaned forward and whispered, “Easy baby. I’m not going to hurt you. Now open up for me.”

Brushing the tip of his cock over her opening, he lingered there, teasing and playing with her for a bit, making her wild with need before he eased his engorged head inside. A soft, sexy moan curled around him, alerting him to her arousal. As her beautiful body opened for him, he offered her one inch at a time until she was writhing restlessly against him. With one last thrust he practically drove his balls inside her.

Once he was buried deep in her body, he stilled and let her get used to the fullness. He leaned into her, pressing his chest against her back and spending a long moment toying with her puckered clit. As he drove her into a frenzy of need, she began moving against his hand, rocking back and forth, and riding both his deft fingers and his cock simultaneously.

With her thrusts encouraging him to ride her and ride her hard, he began to move, rocking his hips and joining them as one. One hand surfed her back, touching her as though he couldn’t get enough, and in no time at all she felt his body stiffen. He growled and released high up inside her. “Jadyn…baby…,” he murmured.

Satisfaction rolled through her as he filled her with his seed. He remained inside her, working to regulate his breathing before he slid in beside her, pulled her to him and held her close. Soon his lips found hers again. His kiss was deep and sensual and even though they were both exhausted, he took her again and again until their bodies gave out.

Standing outside her cell, Gage watched her lids spring open and her gaze dart around her room, as though she was trying to find her way out of the fog. Much to his reluctance, he’d slipped from her bed in the wee hours of the morning and had resumed his guard at her door.

Twenty-four hours had passed since she’d first arrived, which meant that she only had another twenty-four to go. She had to stay strong and courageous, and continue to fight Lucifer’s charm. Gage would stand by her side the entire time, offering her his strength and support, and praying the impenetrable bond between them was enough to get her back to her body.

When her eyes met his, a smile touched her mouth, and memories of last night came rushing back, nearly knocking Gage off balance. His heart filled with warmth as he ached to go to her and make sweet love to her again and again as if they hadn’t a care in the world. But that would have to wait, because upon her awakening, he had strict orders to bring her to Lucifer. Gage would follow those orders for the time being, no need for Lucifer to suspect that he’d sided with his charge, but if things went too far, got out of control, he’d have no choice but to intervene, because no way would he allow the bastard to claim her.

“Good morning,” she murmured. “What time is it?”

His voice had taken on a hard edge to show the severity of his words when he said, “Time to take on Lucifer again and show him what you’re made of.” Then he softened his tone when he added, “You can do this, baby. You’re over halfway there.”

She nodded in understanding, stood and pulled on her clothes. The bowl of root vegetables beside her bed caught her attention, and she shot him a grateful glance before she dug in with fevered hunger.

A short while later Gage guided her to Lucifer’s hot spring, which was merely a cracked opening in the charred ground. Her back starched, Jadyn stood before him, observing the various sexual acts taking place around, and in, the scalding water. Everything from ménages to bondage were readily available should one wish to partake. Gage watched Jadyn stiffen even further and shift from one foot to the other as her gaze locked with Lucifer’s. Kneeling before him, one of his many abiding female companions was servicing his cock, pulling him deep into her mouth while he watched the lewd acts taking place around them all. Gage knew the degenerate bastard always did have a thing for voyeurism.

“Jaddy, relax. Join me and let the water take away your stiffness,” Lucifer said. When she shook her head, Lucifer’s eyes flashed yellow and he made a tsking sound. “Why do you insist on doing this the hard way?”

When she opened her mouth to answer, Lucifer cut her off and turned to one of his warriors. “Maybe all she needs is a good fuck to help melt away that bad disposition.”

Before his warrior could react, Gage quickly stepped in front of her. Pulling his best bad-ass face, he met Lucifer’s glance. “Why don’t you leave that discipline to me,” he said.

The room fell silent as Lucifer arched a brow and processed the information, his cold, calculating stare suspicious. Then he sniffed the air and Gage wondered if he could smell Gage’s scent on Jadyn.

His lips curled. “Well, well, this is quite a surprise,” Lucifer said, humoring him as he entertained the idea. “What’s gotten into you, Gage?” He threw his arms out on either side of himself to brace his body against the rocky backrest.

Gage turned to Jadyn, let his glance race over her body, and wet his dry lips. With renewed concentration, he went on to explain, “She’s been giving me a shitload of grief and it’d be my pleasure to break the little spitfire in.” After a long, thorough inspection of her barely clad body, Gage turned back to Lucifer and said, “So what do you say? I think I’m just the guy to fuck the hostility right out of her.”

All the while gauging Gage’s reactions, Lucifer waved his hand at his warrior, a message for him to join Gage. “I’m in the mood to watch a little double entry,” he announced, his amber eyes glistening with a mixture of anticipation and distrust.

Fisting his hands behind his back, Gage commanded himself not to flinch, not to show any outward display of emotion as he worked to figure out a way to keep Lucifer’s dog at bay, the best way to protect her.

“If there’s one thing I like, it’s a little back-door entry.”

The familiar voice came from behind. Gage angled his head to see Brand step up beside him. As his friend intervened, Gage practically let out a loud breath of relief.

Brand shot Lucifer a sardonic glance. “You want a show, then I’ll give you a show.”

Gage watched his friend circle Jadyn, who in turn watched him carefully. Relieved that Brand had come to his rescue and feeling a measure of comfort that Jadyn’s body was in Brand’s care, Gage relaxed his fists.

Without preamble, Brand moved in behind Jadyn and pressed his solid body to hers. When she gasped, Gage moved in front of her and sandwiched her between their bodies.

Cage positioned his mouth next to her ear and whispered, “He’s my friend, and he won’t hurt you.”

She turned her head to see Brand. “Easy, baby,” he murmured in response. “I’ll try to make this as nice as possible for you.”

With that, Gage felt the tension ease from her body in small increments. Brand began running his tongue over her flesh, burying his face in the crook of her silky neck as his hands made short work of her clothes.

As basic, elemental need took hold, her skin grew hot, colored from heat. Sizzling eyes never left Gage’s as he gave her a silent message to block everyone out and just enjoy what the two men had to offer.

Gage dropped to his knees in front of her and took a long moment to admire her breasts before he swiped his tongue over her pert nipples. The warmth of his mouth brought passion to her seductive blue eyes.

Brand began working his way down her back, growling with pleasure when he reached her curvaceous ass.

Gage pressed a finger between her legs and circled her clit, working to arouse her before Brand took her from behind. Her eyes slipped shut, and her head rolled to the side as her legs widened for them both. “That’s a girl,” he whispered as he kissed a path to her hot cunt.

Forgetting all about their audience, Gage lowered his head, breathed in her feminine scent and then pressed his mouth to her heat while Brand, in turn, dipped into her puckered backside. A deep, wheezing sound escaped her lips as she squirmed against them.

Her skin tightened beneath his mouth as the two men worked their tongues over her body, slowly building her passion until she was delirious with need and undoubtedly thinking of nothing but the pleasure they were offering her. Her body shook and vibrated beneath their careful ministrations. Within seconds she began rocking against them, her soft moans of pleasure cutting through the thick, heavy air.

Her voice came out low, sultry. “Yess…,” she moaned, and raked her hands through Gage’s hair, holding his face to her cunt as he lapped at her liquid desire. Sensing she was close, he pushed two thick fingers inside her and brushed over her G-spot until her muscles began spasming.

Gage felt Brand’s fingers join his, until they were both filling her hot, tight center. Her eyes widened and her body shook almost violently as she erupted all over them. “Omigod,” she cried out, her legs wobbling slightly.

Gage held her to him and absorbed her tremor as Brand used her cream to lubricate her ass.

“Both inside her now,” Lucifer bit out roughly, his arousal evident in his tone.

The sound of the bastard’s voice pulled them all back. Gage tore off his clothes and dropped to the ground, pulling Jadyn down along with him.

“Ride my cock,” Gage instructed, his voice as shaky as his body.

Eyes wide with lust, Jadyn dropped down, impaling herself on his rock-hard cock, and he damn near lost it right then and there. Her heat curled around him like a silken glove, so tight, so hot and so goddamn wet he nearly lost his ability to think.

Brand moved in behind her and gently pushed on her back, bending her forward so he could take her from behind. Gage watched her throat work as she swallowed.

He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her mouth to his. In a bid to fully relax her, he whispered, “Don’t worry, it’ll be good. We’ll make it good. I promise.”

Through the thin walls of her body, Gage could feel Brand easing his cock into her tight crevice. He appreciated that his friend was taking it slowly, gently, letting Jadyn get used to the feel of two thick cocks inside her. Gage knew Lucifer’s warriors would never be so considerate. He shot Brand a silent look of thanks—thanks for coming to his aid and thanks for his concern for Jadyn’s well-being.

Jadyn gripped Gage’s shoulders, riding out the pain and pleasure until Brand was tucked tight inside her.

After giving her a moment, Gage glanced at her, a silent question. When she nodded, he began to power his hips upward. In no time at all the three began an erotic rhythm, all pushing and pulling, giving and taking. Gage fucked her pussy, Brand fucked her ass, and Gage and Brand fucked each other inside her body, their cocks rubbing together and creating friction until all three of them were burning from the inside out.

Jadyn moved restlessly, turbulence in her eyes as she chased an orgasm. Gage buried himself deeper and gyrated his hips, allowing his pelvis to rub against her hard, inflamed clit. Jadyn took a deep, raspy breath and slammed against him harder, her body melting all over him. Desire clouded her eyes and a thick moan caught in her throat. As her muscles tightened around his cock, the sweet torture made him throb. His skin grew tight, his balls contracted. Soon the pressure became too much and he knew an orgasm was only a stroke away. He stilled, tightened his hands around her body and exploded high inside her. At that exact moment, Brand threw his head back and groaned out loud. Gage could feel each orgasmic pulse of his friend’s cock as they all rode out their climaxes.

After their tremors subsided, Jadyn collapsed onto his chest, and Gage felt the new closeness between them. Brand leaned over her, caging her body between the two men as his fingers stroked her hair gently in a soothing gesture.

Pulling them all back, Lucifer made a strange noise, a half laugh, half snort as he said, “Take her to her chambers, Gage, then come and join me in my lair.”

After Gage had left her in her chambers, he disappeared down the long, darkened corridor and Jadyn wondered what Lucifer wanted with him. Was he on to them? Privy to her plan to escape? If so, what would that mean for Gage? Oh God, she’d never forgive herself if anything happened to him.

She snuggled into her pillow and tried to gauge the amount of time that had slipped by. Surely her forty-eight hours would be up soon and she’d be able to return to her life—a life without the man she loved. Her stomach dropped.

A long time later, her cell door rattled and she glanced up to see Gage slip inside. Her heart leaped with joy when he rushed forward and perched on the mattress beside her. She reached out and touched him.

“Where have you been?”

“I’ve been occupied,” he said, and tenderly brushed his hands over her face. “But none of that matters, because now I’m with you, baby girl. And I desperately need to be inside you again.”

“What did Lucifer want with you?” she questioned.

“Nothing, baby, nothing at all happened,” he said, quickly brushing over the incident. “Let’s not waste time with questions.”

Suddenly skeptical, she glanced at him. Even though he called her “baby girl,” his intimate name for her, alarm bells jangled in the back of her head.

“It might be our last chance,” he assured her. “Before you go back to your sister,” he added. When she didn’t respond he pressed, “It will give me something to keep me warm at night, something to keep my mind off the pain Lucifer is planning to inflict on me when he finds out what I’ve done.”

As his lips closed over hers, her stomach rose to her throat. His lips, his hands, his touch, everything felt different. “Tell me you’ll be mine, baby girl. Tell me you’ll be mine forever.” He tapped his chest. “Forget Lucifer, submit yourself to me.”

Oh, Jesus.

Gage was loving, caring and considerate. A man who would always put her needs first and never want to dominate her. She pushed him and then squirreled backward, pulling her blankets to her neck. “Never,” she said adamantly.

The warm smile fell from his face, and suddenly it was Lucifer sitting on the edge of the bed beside her, not Gage.

His grin was so cold and so damn evil, it elicited a shiver from deep within her. He gave a slow side-to-side shake of his horned head and made a tsking sound. “Ah, Jaddy, it would have been so much more fun doing this the easy way. But now you leave me no choice.” In one fluid motion, he roughly grabbed her by the wrists and hauled her to her feet. One quick push sent her toward the door, where his warriors suddenly materialized.

After a long trek down the narrow hallway, she was led into his lair. She gasped when she saw Gage shackled to the wall, fresh lacerations on his skin, blood dripping down his body and crusting on his flesh.

“No,” she cried out and tried to rush to him. Lucifer’s henchmen stopped her. “Not so fast,” one of them said and pushed her to her knees before Lucifer’s stone seat.

She turned to see Gage, bile rising, tears stinging her eyes.

“Turn your head, Jadyn. Don’t look at me,” he commanded. “Stay strong.”

“Gage, no,” she responded, her heart drumming in her ears. “I can’t let them do this to you. Not because of me.”

“You can and you will,” he bit out, then softened his voice when he added, “Stay strong for five more minutes, baby girl.”

She fisted her hands and bit down on her lower lip. “Five minutes for me and a lifetime of this for you. I can’t, Gage. I just can’t.” She turned to Lucifer, who sat before her with a victorious grin on his face. She cocked her head. “If I submit, you’ll stop the torture?”

He tsked again, and then went on to say, “Jadyn, this is all your fault. You’re the one who wanted to do it the hard way.” He waved a hand toward Gage. “Joining us is much more pleasant than fighting us.” A sparkle lit his eye when he leaned forward and whispered, “Now, tell me, will you join us?”

Her heart filled with love, sorrow and pain as she angled her head and stole another glance at Gage.

He shook his head and fought the shackles. “Jadyn, no. I’d take a lifetime of pain to save you.”

Jadyn knew he’d sacrifice everything for her, just as she was willing to sacrifice everything for him.

She bowed her head before Lucifer and said, “I submit to you. I’m yours, now and forever.”

With that her life flashed before her eyes and then suddenly the world around her went black.

Chapter Four

Consciousness pulled at her, calling out to her, luring her awake. But she didn’t want to wake up, didn’t want to open her eyes because she didn’t want to face Lucifer and all he had to “offer” her.

She slowly, reluctantly, let her eyes drift open, but what she saw had both her heart and her mind racing.

Oh, God, had she dreamed it?

Memories flooding her, she turned her throbbing head to the side, and with the utmost care glanced around the hospital room, taking note of the sunshine slanting in through her window. Machines beeped a steady pattern behind her, a reminder of her car accident. Her gaze slid over her body as she sorted through the information. Besides a severe headache, stiffness and a few scrapes and bruises, she actually looked fine.

Her thoughts raced to Gage. Was he merely a figment of her imagination? Had she fallen into a coma and conjured up the perfect man for herself? Or was he in hell suffering an eternity of pain because of her? Her stomach clenched and the pounding in her head amplified.

She stole another glance around the room and spotted her sister sitting in the chair asleep. Jadyn drew a breath and centered herself before whispering, “Tami.”

Tami opened her eyes, then jumped from her chair. “Jadyn!” she cried out, tears sliding down her cheek. “Oh, God, girl, you scared me half to death.” Tami leaned in and hugged her, then brushed her damp bangs from her forehead. She crinkled her nose, let her glance race over Jadyn’s confused face and then, as though trying to ease Jadyn’s tension, said, “You look like you’ve been to hell and back.” When Jadyn didn’t answer, Tami said, “I’d better get the nurse.”

Jadyn held her, not wanting to be alone, thinking hell was exactly where she’d been. “Not yet,” she said. “Just stay with me for a few minutes.”

Despite the tenderness in her muscles, Jadyn pulled her sister to her and just held her close, so happy to see her.

After a long moment, Tami inched back and asked, “Who’s Gage?

Surprised, Jadyn regarded her with wide eyes. “What?”

“Who’s Gage? You were mumbling about him the entire time you were asleep.”

“He’s…” Oh, God, what was she supposed to say? He is the most wonderful man in the world, a man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Except she couldn’t. Because either she had merely dreamed him, or he was suffering an eternity of hell just to give her life.

“He’s…,” she tried again, but couldn’t seem to find the words.

“He’s the man who loves your sister with his entire heart.” The deep, familiar voice came from across the room.

Jadyn looked up to see Gage in the doorway, casually leaning against the doorjamb, a wide grin on his hardened, yet beautiful face.

Heart leaping with joy, Jadyn tried to sit up. The barrage of life-support machines behind her began beeping a little quicker.

His smile collapsed. With his voice full of urgency and emotion, he said, “Whoa, easy, baby.” Three quick steps carried him across the room. He dropped onto the mattress beside her sister.

Tami looked from Jadyn to Gage and back to Jadyn again. “I…uh…I’d better go get the nurse,” she announced.

After she disappeared through the doorway, Jadyn turned her attention to Gage and drew a shaky breath. The love shining in his gaze warmed her soul. “How…?” was all she managed to get out.

His knuckles brushed her cheek and possession flashed in his dark eyes as they flitted over her. The intimacy in his look nearly took her breath away. “You sacrificed everything for me, baby girl,” he murmured in a soft tone she’d only ever heard him use with her. He bent forward and dropped a tender kiss on her forehead, his hands racing over her arms like he couldn’t get her close enough.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and was barely able to comply. “The same way you sacrificed everything for me.”

He glanced heavenward. “Something tells me there was a greater force at work here, Jadyn. Something bigger than the two of us.” Passion passed over his eyes when he said, “My guess is we are reunited lovers from the past and we were always meant to be together.”

He caressed her skin, softly, barely touching, and a surge of love rushed to her heart. Her fingers curled in his shirt and her body called out to him, begging for his touch. “I believe you just might be right about that.” She paused, and then asked, “What about Brand?”

Sadness passed over Gage’s eyes. “I think Lucifer believes he was sating his own lust, rather than helping us.”

“Will he ever get out of there?”

“The word ‘never’ is no longer in my vocabulary, baby girl. You proved that to me.”

She smiled and ran her hands over his skin. Electricity sizzled in the air as he brushed his lips over hers in response and moaned low in his throat. As he touched her with intimate recognition, her body stirred to life. “So now what, Jadyn? Where do we go from here?” he asked, his voice a low velvet seduction.

His rich scent singed her blood and his touch went right through her, eliciting a shudder from deep within. Her body began trembling, despite the warmth of the room. As sensual longing swamped her, she said, “It doesn’t matter, Gage, just as long as we go there together.” She licked her lips and let her seductive glance race over his hard, lean body before she lightened the mood and teased, “And we go there fast…”

With his breath growing shallow, he glanced at the machines and then took in her current state. He gave her a sexy, knowing wink and said, “I’ll drive.”

If you enjoyed this sexy Spice Brief by Cathryn Fox, be on the lookout for

HELL ON EARTH
(August 2009)

and

PRIMAL INSTINCTS
(on sale now wherever eBooks are sold)

Hungry for more? Spice Briefs to suit every taste are available now at www.spicebriefs.com.

For something a little longer, visit www.spice-books.com or stop by your local bookstore for stories that will ignite your senses!

Think you’d like to write a Spice Brief? Submissions are always welcome at spicebriefs@harlequin.ca

ISBN: 978-1-4268-3637-4

Hotter Than Hell

Copyright © 2009 by Cathryn Fox

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