All That Glitters Page 13

  He kissed her and pressed her back on the bed. With a touch of magic, their clothes disappeared. Kalina laughed as she pulled away from their kiss. “Impatient?”

  Ryan trailed kisses from her neck down to her breasts. “A little.” He palmed her chest and smiled when her back arched. Ryan leaned down and licked at one nipple. He looked at her when she tugged on his hair. He noted the blush on her face. “Now who is being impatient?”

  She shook her head. “You said I could destroy you, right?”

  Ryan knew her tone. She was nervous about something. He pulled her hand from his hair and kissed it. A thought occurred to him, and he didn’t know if he was thrilled or terrified by it. “Is this your first time?” he asked.

  She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Please. This isn’t 1812.” She reached up and caressed his face in the same manor he did hers. “It’s just… you matter.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her again. “Then talk to me.”

  She kissed him and changed their positions. Their tongues tangled and caressed each other in an intimate dance as her body moved against his. She leaned down to his ear. “I just don’t want you to be disappointed if I don’t, you know.”

  He turned his face to look at her. Her blush was more pronounced as she tried to hide her face. “You’ve never come?”

  Kalina shook her head. “The times I did have sex, it was more of a wham, bam, see you, sort of thing.” She pressed chaste kisses to his collar. “I just never got going.”

  Ryan brushed her hair away from her face. When she looked at him with those large curious eyes, he smirked. “Have you ever, you know, before?”

  Her eyes narrowed, in complete contrast to the embarrassed smile that crossed her face. “Yes, I have.”

  He kissed her as he took one of her hands in his. “Trust me?” he asked. When she nodded, he licked at one of her fingers. “Show me.” He licked the side of her throat and lowered their hands down. Her entire body was vibrating as he shifted. They were both on their sides facing each other, barely an inch between them. Ryan caught her ear lobe between his teeth and parted her legs with his own. “Show me what you like,” he whispered.

  Kalina covered his mouth with hers. One hand clutched at his hair as the other guided him below. She moaned softly as his fingers brushed against her intimately. When his hand didn’t move from where he placed it, she bit his lip. “Ryan,” she moaned.

  He thrust his hips against her. His member rubbed against her soft folds, making them both gasp. “Show me,” he said again.

  She devoured his mouth as she touched herself. Ryan could only groan at the feeling of her tender flesh under their fingers. Her body trembled next to his as their combined fingers stroked her to a fever pitch. Every brush of her body against his was a test of his self-control. He broke their kiss and leaned back, pulling her on top of him. Their breathless gasps filled the air between them as he guided his member to her entrance.

  She placed her hands on his chest and sat up. Her eyes were wide and filled with want and desire as he filled her. Ryan could only swallow as he took in her beauty.

  He smiled as she bit down on her lower lip. “You look like some deity ready to make me submit to her whims.”

  Her blush returned. “Would you submit to my whims?” she asked. Her voice was nearly a whisper.

  If she only understood. His hips surged up inside her. “Always,” he promised.

  Kalina leaned down and kissed him as she rode him. Their bodies coming together in a frantic dance. Thrust for thrust, kiss for kiss, she pulled him further under her spell.

  He could feel her body tensing around him. Ryan bit at her neck. “Sit up,” he ordered. When she straightened, he sucked on his thumb. Before she could ask what he had planned, Ryan reached between them. When his thumb caressed her, Kalina’s nails dug into his skin. Her body tightened around his. He leaned up with her and took one of her breasts into his mouth. The sound of Kalina chanting his name only heightened his desire for her.

  Ryan tangled a hand in her hair as she continued with her frantic pace. He bit down on her neck as he turned her over and started to thrust inside of her. Her crimson eyes were wild and unfocused as she screamed his name. Ryan kissed her as her nails raked down his back. He continued to move against her as her muscles loosened. “Again?” he asked.

  She blinked as she caressed his face. “What did we just do?”

  He grinned as he rubbed his cheek against hers. “You just came during sex,” he whispered into her ear. When she turned her face to his, he kissed her. As he pushed her hair away from her face, he continued. “Of course, it could have been a fluke and we should try to make you come again and again.”

  Kalina’s arms went around his neck as he continued to kiss her. “You just want to have your wicked way with me, don’t you?”

  He straddled one leg and secured the other around his waist. “You have no idea, Love,” he said before thrusting inside her again.

  CHAPTER 16

  Gentle fingers combed through her hair. Kalina opened her eyes. Her head was resting on Ryan’s chest. She felt her face warm as she realized he was looking at his phone. She kissed his chest and quickly turned from him. “Good morning,” she said. Before she could leave the bed, she felt his hand on her arm.

  “That isn’t a proper good morning,” he said. He put his phone on the nightstand and turned his attention fully to her. Before she could reply, he kissed her.

  Kalina leaned into him and moaned. She wrapped her arms around his neck when he turned her to the bed. When he broke the kiss, she played with a lock of his hair. “Was that better?” she asked.

  His grin returned. “Better, yes. Still not a proper good morning though.”

  She had a feeling she knew where he was going. “What would a proper good morning entail?”

  He dipped his head down and placed an opened mouth kiss on her neck. As she gasped, he brought one of her legs up and around his hip. “Please tell me you aren’t sore,” he groaned against her skin.

  She smiled as she remembered the previous night. She and Ryan made love until his promise was kept. She ran her fingers through his hair. “A little,” she told him.

  Ryan pulled away far enough to look into her eyes. “I can fix that.” He snapped his fingers.

  Kalina heard the water come on in the room adjacent to theirs. “What are you up to?” she asked.

  He laughed. “Why would I be up to something?” he asked.

  She shook her head and sat up. “Because it seems like you’re always up to something.” As she climbed out of the bed, Ryan appeared behind her. She gasped as he lifted her into his arms. “How’d you get…”

  “Magic.” He carried her into the bathroom. “Now, are you going to let me pamper you? Or do I have to get crafty?”

  Kalina looked around the bathroom and inhaled. The room was double the size of the one in her old apartment. The tub could easily fit four people in it. She looked at Ryan. “A tub fit for a king?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “A queen.” He put her feet on the floor but stood next to her. “Let me take care of you,” he whispered in her ear.

  She looked into his eyes. There were secrets hidden behind those hazel orbs, she knew it. But she didn’t have the heart to demand them. Not when they shared so much of each other already. She took his hand and kissed his palm. “How about we take care of each other?” she suggested.

  “Kalina?” Merrick’s voice called.

  Ryan frowned before he pressed a kiss to her lips. “If it weren’t for the fact that I know he’s been fawning over Esme for the past two hundred years, I’d kill him.”

  Kalina shook her head and waved her hand. In an instant, both she and Ryan wore tee shirts and shorts. “I’m getting better at it,” she said proudly.

  Ryan kissed her knuckles. “You are, Love.”

  She turned and walked out of the bathroom. It was nice to be totally fresh and clean with a flick of her wrist and a touch of
magic. But she knew as soon as she finished with Merrick, she would be in the luxurious bath Ryan made for her.

  Kalina crossed the threshold and realized what he called her. She looked at Ryan and sighed as she realized he changed his shorts and tee shirt for another set. This one shades of grey instead of the white linen she made for him. “You look good in white,” she complained.

  He shrugged. “I wore white yesterday,” he teased.

  “Kalina? Gold? Are you here?” Merrick called again.

  “We’re coming down,” Ryan replied. “I may have to rethink killing him.”

  Kalina caressed his face. She wasn’t sure if he was completely serious, but she didn’t think he was joking either. “Let’s just find out what he wants.” She pressed a kiss to his throat and left the room. In the hallway she looked around and frowned. The villa was larger than she thought. “A little help,” she asked.

  Ryan leaned against the doorframe. “No.”

  She frowned at him. “Seriously?”

  “The villa isn’t as big as you think. I’m sure you can find your way through it.” With that he snapped his fingers and vanished.

  Kalina ran her hands through her hair and sighed. “You jerk,” she called out. Ryan’s laughter rang through the halls. She realized that his voice was coming from every direction. “So what? Is this going to be some sort of hide and seek thing? Let’s see if the witchling can find her way home without breadcrumbs?”

  “You already found your way home,” Ryan replied. “And we are going to have to talk about your tendency to run away when the going gets tough.”

  She knew her leaving the night before had hurt him. “I came back, didn’t I?” She would have to find a way to make it up to him. Kalina stopped and looked at the window in front of her. It showed her a courtyard in the center of the villa. She looked down the hall and saw a large glass door. She opened the door and stepped outside. The moment she was across the threshold, her surroundings changed completely.

  Kalina fought a scream when she saw dog like creatures tearing something apart. She turned around, hoping to find the villa behind her, only to see a large throne. Kalina swallowed as a pair of red eyes looked at her from shadows of the darkened seat.

  “You’re the child?”

  Kalina couldn’t make out the voice. It was as if dozens of people spoke as one. She shook her head. “I don’t think so?” she asked.

  The eyes disappeared. The shadows around the throne melted away and reformed as a figure shot around the room. Kalina moved as best she could to keep the figure in front of her. “I can smell his blood. You are his child.”

  “You mean Faust?” She tucked her hair behind her ears and hid her trembling hands. The dogs seemed to tire of whatever they had been doing. Now they were trained on her. “He’s my father. I guess. I didn’t know him growing up.”

  Shadows surrounded Kalina. She fought not to scream as she felt hands caress her calf, arms, and face. “You want to scream, but you don’t. Why? No one will hear you.”

  That’s what she was afraid of. “Who are you?” Kalina asked.

  The shadows dispersed, leaving behind a man dressed in black leather with matching hair. Kalina inhaled as she looked up into a face that could have belonged to an angel. His rich blue eyes were the shade dreams were made of. He looked her over and smiled. “You may call me Lucifer.”

  Kalina’s body started to tremble. “Lucifer? I thought Faust was…”

  He laughed. “Oh no. We’re different.” His voice didn’t have the same echoing effect as before. “He just likes to think he and I are interchangeable.”

  Kalina nodded. The dogs at the side of the room moved as a huge monstrosity walked in. She stepped back and gasped when she felt a hand steadying her. It looked like a hound, but with three heads attached. It was a creature of myth. Cerberus, the guardian of Hell. “You brought me to Hell?”

  Lucifer shrugged. “It’s not like I can go galivanting to Bora Bora on a whim.” He looked at her and smiled. “You have been a hot topic of late. I figured I would see if you’re worthy.”

  She didn’t know if she liked the sound of that. “Worthy of what?”

  Lucifer touched her face. “I know what you and your little goblin are planning. You need to know that everything has a price.” He pulled her closer and his eyes turned from blue to vibrant red. “Everything.”

  Kalina stumbled back away from him. She swallowed as fought to keep her footing when her knees wanted to give out. “What price?”

  Lucifer waved his hand and Kalina found herself sitting on a cushioned chair with her feet up. “In order to maintain balance, something has to fill whatever voids are left.” He looked into her eyes. “Your goblin could be using you to get rid of your old man so he can try and become the new Faust.”

  Kalina shook her head. “Ryan’s not like that,” she said. When Lucifer gave her a skeptical look, she rubbed at her chest. Something felt off. “He’s not. I don’t understand why everyone keeps thinking the worst of him.”

  “You sweet innocent child,” Lucifer said. He caressed her face again. “You really think you know him.”

  “I do.”

  Lucifer laughed. “I think I may keep you around, Kalina Faust. Your innocence is something that I’ve missed.”

  Kalina frowned at him. When he stopped laughing, she shook her head. “I don’t appreciate being the butt of anyone’s joke. Not even yours.” She sat up and lowered her feet to the floor. “And my name is Kalina Benton.”

  Lucifer offered her his hand and helped her to her feet. “You are still a babe in this world, Kalina. Your mother’s line died out with her sisters. The name of the more powerful parent is what continues on. Faust trumps Benton.” He linked his arm with hers. “I brought you here to warn you. The road you’re about to go down is a foolish one. I’ve seen your brothers and sisters try to combat your father, and they all failed. I don’t want to see your efforts go to waste either.”

  Kalina saw the opportunity. “Ryan said something about a brother that was sealed away. Do you know about him?”

  Lucifer nodded. “Alphonse. He was a good man. Too good to beat Faust.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Faust likes to cheat. At least in spirit instead of letter. Alphonse wasn’t expecting him to fight dirty. But dirty play is what Faust lives for.” He patted the hand he held. “Be careful to remember that.”

  “Why?”

  “Like I said, your father is getting too bold. He thinks he can grow powerful enough to challenge me as ruler of Hell.”

  “Can he?”

  “Eventually. If he continues to devour his children’s magic.”

  Kalina stopped walking. “What?”

  “Faust absorbs his children’s magic. He bolsters his own strength by stealing theirs.” Lucifer leaned closer to her. “Does that sound familiar?”

  She felt ill. Part of her wondered where Jessica learned how to steal her magic. Now she knew. “He taught her how to do that to me?”

  Lucifer nodded sadly. “Yes. But if it makes you feel any better, she has been properly punished for it.”

  Kalina shook her head. “I don’t want to know about this,” she said.

  Lucifer tilted her face to his. “I know. And I will never mention her again. But I need for you to understand: if you go against your father, you must win.”

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  Lucifer smiled at her. “I see what you hide, Kalina. I see the anger and hate you hold back because you feel like it’s bad. You can hate the two that brought you into this world. You can be angry with the creature that seduced you and lied to you.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ask your goblin.”

  “He’s not a goblin. Why does everyone call him that?”

  Again, Lucifer laughed. “You’re being naïve.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “You know all legends have a grain of truth to them, right?”

 
She nodded, not trusting her words.

  “You’ve seen demons, hellhounds, witches, and dragons. Why would trolls and goblins be any different? Because he’s cute?”

  Kalina stepped away from Lucifer. “Send me back, please.” She looked at him and ran her hands through her hair. “I have a ton of things to think about. And I want to talk to Ryan. Please send me back.”

  Lucifer sighed as he swung his hand around. After a moment, a mirror appeared in his grip. “If you need me, I will be here.”

  Kalina accepted the mirror and held it close to her chest. “Why are you helping me? Is this some sort of set up? I mean, you are the devil.”

  He laughed as his body melted into shadows. Red eyes reappeared at the throne. “I like you, Kalina Faust. I would hate for something to harm you.”

  “Then can’t you seal Faust away?”

  “Unfortunately, no. That would disrupt the balance too much.”

  The sickening feeling of vertigo slammed into Kalina. She fell to her knees in the living room of the villa. She didn’t fight the hands that grabbed her and hauled her into Ryan’s crushing embrace. She fought back a wave of nausea as he held her at arm’s length.

  “Where have you been?” he demanded.

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. She sank down to the floor and felt a pulse of magic near her. On the coffee table was a deep red amulet. “Merrick came through, huh?”

  Ryan sat next to her and took her hand into his. “Speak to me, Love.” He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “You’ve been missing for hours.”

  Kalina looked at him. Tears filled her eyes as she thought about what Lucifer told her. “I’m not strong enough to fight him,” she said softly.

  Ryan wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “We still have time.” He pressed a kiss into her hair. “We’ll figure it out.” He pulled away from her slightly. “Where were you?”

  *****

  He couldn’t ignore the terror in her eyes. Nor could Ryan ignore the stench of hellfire and brimstone that clung to her. Ryan caressed the side of her face. “Kalina, what happened?”