Page 15 of Caught in the Devil’s Hand

However, bringing a fantasy to reality? Could a demon, even one as handsome and adept at seduction as this one, really imitate how her private desires made her feel, how they kept her warm at night and often tinted her dreams? Or would their relationship be something darker, more dangerous, and more carnal?

And, Divine One help her, did she find that even more tempting?

“You want a deal, then,” she said, not answering his earlier questions.

He slowly smiled. “I do.”

“You need to eat once a month, correct?” she asked. He nodded. “Then, one day a month, I’ll meet you and give you the energy you need, but you must promise never to accost me until that day.”

“No, from now on, it must be at least every other day.”

“E-Every other? But I— Fine, two days a month,” she bargained, sitting up straight. His gaze drifted down to her breasts. He swallowed. She curled back into herself.

“Three days a week,” he said, grinning.

“Three days a month.” She jutted her chin. “Final offer.”

His grin fell. “Once a week. My final offer.” She frowned at how quickly and easily his mood seemed to shift.

“Then, I…”

She stared at her bare knees through the water and thought not of the specific terms she was about to agree to, but of whether what was said about crows really was true: that they were drawn to evil. Or at least that evil was drawn to them. She wondered if her soul really had been infected by the Damned One, and if that taint meant having more bad luck than good.

“What is your answer?” the demon asked, voice oozing with annoyance.

“I will agree to once a week if you include one last thing,” she said, trying to look him in the eye and having trouble.

He sighed, impatient. “And that would be?”

“You won’t leave your seed inside me ever again.”

He hesitated for the space of a breath. “Done.” She glanced up at him, but his face was as blank as snow. “Now, I have a couple of my own stipulations to add.” His indifferent expression turned into a satisfied smile. His mood had swung yet again.

“More stipulations?”

“You will not allow another man to enjoy your favors. Not even a kiss.”

“My brother is only nine. I give him kisses all of the time,” she exclaimed.

“I will permit affection between you and your brother.”

“And why should it matter to you if a man were to kiss me?”

“Because I would feel it through the binding, which sounds unpleasant.” Then he frowned. “And because you are mine.”

The first part made sense, she supposed. But the second? “You may have bound yourself to me physically, but you don’t own my heart or soul. I am not yours.” Lips pressed flat, he didn’t respond. She sighed. “Is that all?”

“Just one more thing.” His focus on her seemed to grow sharper and warmer at the same time. “During our interludes, you must be an active participant. I won’t embrace a meek doll once a week.”

“I don’t understand your meaning,” she said, hoping to feign ignorance.

He unfolded his arms and leaned toward her. “When we have sex, I want to hear you moan. I want your hands on my ass as I push myself into your body,” he said, low and hard. Oh dueling gods, did he enjoy making her blush bright enough to glow at night? “I want you eagerly kissing me and begging me to bring you to the joyous, wet climax you surely remember from last night.”

“Enough,” she begged, covering her red ears. One corner of his mouth lifted in amusement, and she bit back her saucy retort, if only to avoid angering him.

“If you break your end of the deal, all contracts between us shall be void, including the one that prohibits me from plucking you out of this tiny village. Do you understand, Shumei?” he said, speaking slowly and clearly.

“I may be naïve, demon, but I’m not stupid. I understand you,” she ground out. “If you break your end of the deal, all contracts between us shall be void, and you will never approach me or anyone I care about in any fashion for the rest of eternity. Is that understood?”