I move closer, my new height making me tower over him. My wings curve around us both, creating a private space in the crowded room. When I lean down to kiss him, it's different than before. My fangs graze his lower lip, drawing a bead of blood that tastes like liquid fire on my tongue. The demon inside me roars with satisfaction.
Stellan gasps, his hands coming up to grip my shoulders. But he doesn't push me away. His fingers dig in, pulling me closer, and his hips roll against mine in a motion that's pure instinct. His fire flares in response, not defensive but welcoming. Offering itself to my hunger.
"More," he breathes into my mouth. "Take more."
I growl, low and possessive, and give him exactly what he's asking for.
I feed without being gentle, drinking down his fire in great gulps, pulling it into myself, letting it fuel my transformation. The exchange is intense, overwhelming, bordering on painful for us both. But Stellan isn't afraid. He's exhilarated. I taste his excitement like honey on my tongue.
And I don't just take. That's what makes demons different from what the Council claims we are. We're not parasites. We're transformers.
I take Stellan's raw fire and I refine it. Distill it. Change it into something new. Then I push it back into him, amplified and controlled. The feedback loop makes us both moan.
His fire feeds my hunger. My hunger transforms his fire. The transformed fire comes back stronger, hotter, more contained. We're creating something together, and the intimacy of it makes my cock throb with need.
"Jade." Stellan's voice breaks on my name. "I can't... I need..."
I know what he needs; I can feel it in the fire we're sharing, in the desperate way he's clinging to me, in the press of his hard length against my thigh.
"I've got you, firebird."
My tail winds higher around his thigh, the tip teasing along the inseam of his pants. His whole body jerks in response, a desperate sound escaping his throat.
"Is this okay?" I ask, even though I can taste his desire on my tongue. "Tell me to stop and I will."
"Don't you dare stop."
Permission granted, I let my demon instincts take over.
My claws make short work of his shirt. The fabric falls away in shreds, leaving his chest bare and burning beneath my hands. I map every inch of exposed skin with my palms, drinking in his fire through every point of contact. When I drag my claws lightly down his sides, he arches into the touch with a whine that goes straight to my cock.
"You're so responsive," I murmur against his throat, fangs grazing his pulse point. "So perfect for me."
"Please." He's begging now, hips rolling against mine in a rhythm that's making it hard to think. "Jade, please."
I reach between us and palm him through his remaining clothes. The sound he makes is almost a sob. I stroke him through the fabric, feeding on the pleasure that radiates off him in waves, letting it fuel the transformation still happening inside me.
"That's it," I croon. "Let go. Give me everything."
His fire explodes outward as he breaks, wrapping around us both in waves of white-gold heat. I follow him over the edge moments later, the combined essence of demon and phoenix filling the room in swirls of purple and orange.
We stay tangled together, panting and trembling, his fire still flickering weakly across both our skin.
When I finally pull back, Stellan is flushed and glowing, his eyes completely orange from within. But he's smiling, bright and satisfied.
"That was incredible," he breathes. "I can feel the difference. My fire is more controlled than it's ever been."
I examine him through my new demon sight, which sees essence directly instead of just sensing it. He's right. His fire burns brighter but more contained, like I've helped him compress it into something denser and more powerful.
"Did I hurt you?" I ask, running my clawed fingers through his hair.
"A little." His smile turns wicked. "But in the best way."
Rumi laughs from across the room. "Get a room, you two."
"We're in a room," I point out, not taking my eyes off Stellan.
"Fair point."
