Chuck leaned forward and propped her chin in one hand, resting her elbow on her knees. “Mal,” she groaned. “I have to. It’s protocol. A directorder. You heard it.” With her other hand, she reached out and ruffled his ears. “C’mon, Mal, I’ll tell them no temperature. Remember, you’re the one who wanted to stay my canine partner.”
Betrayal. Utter betrayal.
“Comeon,Malachi. At least they agreed to not stick the thermometer up your behind,” Chuck wheedled as he glared at her from across the living room. She smirked as Reena stood next to her, wheezing in laughter at the defiant expression on his face. Frowning, he crossed his arms even tighter across his chest while he glared at Reena for ganging up on him.
“Traitor,” he whispered fiercely at the small chuglet. She simply snorted and trotted over before she curled up on his feet. Turning his eyes back to Chuck, who was still grinning, he sneered at her and angled his shoulders so he was staring at the TV instead.
“Mal,” she sighed, “I know it was a blow to your dignity, but you know I had no choice.”
“I get it,” he rumbled. “But did you have to laugh so hard when the tech called me her fluffy spookums woofums?” He shuddered. “Gah, that was so embarrassing.”
Ruffling his hair as she dropped by his side, she snickered. “You have to admit, that was pretty funny. You are a spooky woofums, though, aren’t you? Who’s a good boy?” she teased.
With aching slowness, he turned to face her, then shoved a wave of his incubus power towards her as he leaned close. “Me,” he drawled in a sultry voice dripping with lust and desire. “I am avery…good… boy.” He lightly ran his nose over her throat and nipped her jaw as she moaned softly. Sitting back, grinning, he released her from his power. “Such a good boy, you’ll never forget it again, will you?”
Shaking her head mechanically side to side, Chuck licked her lips and squirmed on the cushion next to him. Clearing her throat, she blinked a few times, then sighed. “You told me you were part incubus. I almost want to ask if what I feel for you is part of your demon powers, but I don’t think there’s any mistaking that. Malachi, please don’t do that to me again.”
Winking, he curled his lips and smoldered at her, letting tiny flames flicker in his eyes. “Not even if you beg me?” he asked, his voice still husky.
“Okay, yeah, maybe if I ask nicely.” Chuck’s face turned a fetching shade of rose as she leapt to her feet. “I’m gonna get ready to go out. I can’t believe you’re dragging me to this. Just so you know, I can’t sing.” She turned and escaped to her room as he watched with an amused grin.
“Well aware.”
Nickelback is Not a Sin
Sitting in his own room, Malachi thought about Chuck’s words, that she felt something for him. Something that wasn’t just pure lust. He desperately wanted to know what it was, but he was scared to ask. Groaning, he pinched the bridge of his nose, conflicted. All at once, the absurdity of his situation hit him, and he let out a small sound of disgust at himself. A demon. Scared of a tiny woman. Granted, she was half angel and could hold her own in a fight, but she was a human, nonetheless. He was a being made for corruption and darkness. They didn’t make sense. They shouldn’t work. But he’d never been happier in his life than he was when he was with Chuck. She didn’t want him to use his powers on her; he wouldn’t. He would do anything for her, the thought curving his lips.
Slowly, the smile left his face as he knew that anything could include dying. Something he would be doing soon. He needed to know how she felt before then. His head snapped up, and his nostrils flared as he caught a whiff of floral rot and decay. As if summoned by his thoughts, Hyacinth climbed through the floor and grinned at Malachi with his rotted, broken stumps of teeth.
“Malachi…” came Hyacinth’s rumbly evil hiss. His breath coated Malachi with a film of filthy slime that he felt might never wash free. “Naughty puppy, what are you doing in here? I heard you took out another lieutenant yesterday. That better be part of your plan to seduce our angel. Otherwise, I might get a little—irritated—about it.” A knowing smirk crossed his warty face, and he cracked his knuckles. Dirt trickled to the floor from under his nails.
“It was!” Malachi reassured him quickly with a near-frantic nod. He glanced towards Chuck’s door, hoping against hope she couldn’t hear them. Lowering his voice, he grudgingly moved closer and bowed his head. “I was helping her find a missing child so she would think me a hero. And it worked. The other demon tried to interfere, and she’s the one who killed him.”
Nodding slowly, Hyacinth squinted then grunted out, “But you told her how.”
Shrugging, Malachi spread his palms in a helpless gesture. “Well, I can’t seduce her and steal her grace if she dies.” He figured he was safe with this stance as he wasn’t supposed to know Hyacinth’s true plan. “And it’s going great! Last night, she wanted me in her bed like this, and she admitted to feelings for me. We’re going out on a ‘date’ tonight,” he exclaimed, using air quotes. “I’ll have that bitch out of her panties and begging for more really soon.”
“Huh,” grunted the squat demon, tapping a finger on his jagged wrinkly lips. His eyes were squinted as if he were in deep contemplation. “You know I almost believe you, Malachi. But I’ve never seen you take so long to bed a female before.” He smirked, “What’s the hold up?”
Raising his eyes to the ceiling, Malachi sighed as if he were long suffering. “Satan’s ass boils, the chick is a bit of a prude. But don’t worry, I’ve got her firmly in my power. She could walk in here right now, and I’ve made it soshe wouldn’t even see you. I’m this close!” He pinched his fingers together, almost touching before clenching his hand tightly as Chuck’s door opened and she strolled out.
“Mal, baby, aren’t you going to change? I want to show you off on our date tonight.” She ran her hands over his chest and moaned seductively. “Oh, wear that black dress shirt, it looks so good on you.” Pressing her body against his side, she stared into his eyes with her gaze full of lust. Her fingers curled into the hair at the nape of his neck. “And be a good boy so when we get home, I can show you how… grateful I am,” she murmured, pulling his head down to hers and locking their lips in a passionate kiss.
Changing the angle, he gripped her waist with one hand and cupped the back of her head with the other. He licked the seam of her lips and moaned as that sweet mouth parted, allowing him to trace his tongue over hers, her passion and lust kicking into a whirlwind of desire surrounding them both in the eye of their own hurricane.
When the kiss tapered off, he leaned his forehead against hers, breathing hard as they each fought to catch their breath.
“Is he gone?” she whispered against his ear, where she was nibbling on the lobe.
Jolting back to the situation at hand, Malachi peered over her shoulder, then relaxed as he saw Hyacinth had indeed left. He shuddered and sagged against her. Leaning back, he stared into her eyes and gently ran his hand over her hair. “Not that I’m complaining, because I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks, but what was that for?” he murmured.
Releasing a shaky sigh, Chuck leaned into him and laid her head on his chest. “Keeping sane,” she murmured as he wrapped her in his arms. “Mal… who was that?Whatwas that? I heard you talking, and the words just didn’t make sense. I didn’t know why you were saying such disgusting things. Then I peeked out and saw that…awfulcreature, and I realized youwere trying to protect me. Again. You saying you could control me gave me the idea.”
Stepping back, Chuck stared at him warily now, and he knew something fragile was about to break or grow stronger depending on how he handled this.
“Could you?” she asked. “Could you really have done those things to me, Mal?”
Slowly nodding, he took one step forward with his palms up in surrender. “Icould, but I would never. You asked me not to use my power on you. And I promise I won’t. Chuck, I would never hurt you. I care about you too much. Please, don’t be scared of me, Kelly.”
