We get a decent look at the level below us from up here on the stairs. It looks like Asmodeus has a thing for Arabian architecture. The level is filled with gardens, palm trees, buildings lined with golden trim, and silks billowing in the wind. I can even make out the stairs leading to the next safe house. To anyone else, it looks like an easy trek, just a simple path around a few buildings and maybe cutting through a few gardens and a temple, but I know better. I know what most can’t see in the illusion that is painted before us. What they all see is the beautiful landscape of fountains, blooming gardens, and life full of seduction. I, on the other hand, see what’s flowing on the invisible wind down there…lust, destruction, and death.
“I think the best way to handle this is straight on. Avoid any buildings and keep together,” Knots advises and looks over the group before nodding his pleasure. Turning, he begins walking down the rest of the stairs.
“Wait. That’s not going to work,” I call out, but Knots gives me an annoyed look and continues.
Fuck, he’s going to get us killed.
I grab his arm to get in front of him, getting in his face. “I know you feel like you have something to prove here,” I tell him, keeping my voice down. “Butthisismyrealm of expertise,” I growl. “You’re going to get all of us killed, and where is your pride going to be then?” Knots blinks as if I’ve slapped him, and his shoulders slightly sag. “I’m not your enemy here. We all heard your argument. We’re supes; it’s not like we could turn it off. So, we’ll support your decision even though we might not agree with you, but that doesn’t mean you’re the complete and absolute leader here. That’s never been the case.”
I squeeze his shoulder and step around him to address my family that’s waiting.
“I obviously don’t know the end game here, but I have a good idea. Just like most of you, I can feel the lust already, and we’re not even officially down on the level,” I tell them as I point down the stairs. “The sacrifices that Balam mentioned are the downsides of Lust.”
“What could be the downside of lust besides being horny all the time?” Rez asks before she begins playing with her bottom lip.
“That’s the point exactly. Here, you could die because of lust.” Moni’s bark bursts into glitter bomb, giving away her shock, but I don’t stop there. “Imagine being out of your mind with lust. Your entire purpose is thinking about, craving, and finding a way to relieve that itch. But it will be more than an itch. It will be an immediate need. You’ll forget to eat, drink, bathe, or sleep. Your body will go into a catatonic state, and then you’ll be lost soon after we miss our deadline to get out of here.”
“Fuck me,” Rez says under her breath, but we all hear it.
“I think that’s the point he was getting at,” Knox says, looking grim.
“Okay, so what’s the game plan?” Rez asks, looking straight at me.
Fuck. I was supposed to have a game plan too?
She purses her lips and works her bottom lips as silence greets the group. “Well, since we don’t have a game plan, let me ask this. How is this going to affect Reaper?”
“Was he humping your leg last night?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow. I really don’t know how the lust in this place could mess with him. I’ve never thought about the animal aspect of all of this.Wait a minute. Turning to Knox, “Can you ask your animals if they feel the pull?”
Understanding reaches Knox’s eyes as he nods, and a smile appears. “Good thinking,” he says before his attention is elsewhere. Before I can even turn to ask, Lynx is back into his namesake, shaking his ass.
Rez gives me a thumbs-up as she smiles down at Lynx. Without thinking, I grin widely and grab her face, planting a hard kiss on her lips. Her selfless thinking is what’s going to make this easier for at least our shifters. As soon as her sweet lips connect with mine, I slip. My lust immediately seeps and seeks her out, making her sag against me. Her small hands claw at my back as she pulls me closer and moans against my lips. It’s like giving my dick the green light to start swelling because my girl is up for a ride.
I’m barely aware of the clearing of throats, but they don’t deter me from pulling her closer to me; her scent, sounds, and the way she feels is like a natural aphrodisiac that I can’t get enough of.
If I was Superman, Rez would be my kryptonite as she grinds against my dick, begging me to put out her fire.
“Fuck me, Ry. I need you,” she whispers against my ear before nipping it.
Whatever Princess wants, I’m obligated to give her. Besides, I can’t seem to stop myself as I nip and suck along her neck and pull at her leathers. I need her. I ache to be closer, to feel her skinagainst mine. We both need this ache to disappear, and this is the only way to do it.
Hands grab at me and try to pull me away, but Rez wraps her thighs around me to keep us together.
“Shield, Nerezza. Use your shield!” an annoying voice screams, and it’s close enough to us that it knocks down some of my lust enough that I lazily crack my eyes open. Rez is panting before me, her eyes cracked as well, but they are clouded with a red haze over them as a red mist surrounds us.
Is that me doing this or Asmodeus?
An inner voice I’ve never heard before whispers four words, and my instincts tell me I can trust it.
‘Show me the truth.’
The red fades from us, and in its place is a tarnished yellow and black sigil.Asmodeus. Quickly looking at Rez, I see his sigil clouding her eyes, and even though I know what’s happening, I still can’t stop.
Fuck.We need help. Right as I think it, heat flares at my leg, making Rez and I cry out in pain. Even through the pain, I’m reaching back for Rez to pull her toward me to ease this new pain. But before I can feel her body, I slam into a wall hard enough that white explodes behind my eyes, and finally…relief.
CHAPTER 15
Level Two- Lustful Delights
