Twenty-three

"Strip down to boxers, will you?" his voice rang in my ears for a good few seconds, before I could actually comprehend what he just asked me to do. A visible snarl appeared on my lips, as I noticed my hands moving on their own, reaching for my suit.

I bore my eyes into him, but I could not get any answers. He wasn't grinning, or anything, his stare was stern and sharp, the kind that made me want to disappear. He stood there, dressed in all the desires I never even dared to utter, afraid the wind would hear me.

I wanted to stop staring at that man. I really did. I would've been the happiest person alive, if I somehow would have found the courage in me, to decline him - but every time I even came close to tearing my gaze from him, he smiled the most beautiful smile that exists under the sky, and I was lost once more.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my fingers undoing my jacket's button.

"What exactly?"

"I hoped you would answer that as well." I breathed out with a soft, exhausted chuckle, not even trying to fight my decision of undressing before him.

His eyes dropped down as I began to undo my pants, then travelled up to my now naked chest, taking the sight in with contained hunger. I liked that about him. The control - the beast, twinkling in his gaze, yet never fully appearing.I didn't possess such virtues; my anger didn't stop, nor began with a small spark.

"I can do this the way you will like it... How it will feel right." He whispered, placing two fingers under my chin to raise my gaze to his. Once our eyes locked, I couldn't breathe anymore, but I felt it was not needed anyway.

"I can be very rude... If you ask me to be. But you have to say it."

Speechless, I just stared back at him. Rude... What an elegant choice of words for what I wanted him to be.

"Do it." I asked quietly.

"I assume you remember your safeword."

"Red."

As soon as the word left my mouth, the gentle touch he had on my chin turned into a grip, so strong I thought the bone will crack under the pressure. I let him hold me, unsure what was the procedure.

"Are we going down without a fight?" he teased, getting a hold of my hair as he began to drag me towards the bed with solid elegance. He showed exactly no sign of struggle, carrying me whole weight after him, and it pissed me off.

I grabbed onto his arm, trying to push him away, as I finally understood the twisted game he offered me.

"I find it hard to believe you ever fought anyone... Don't get me wrong, the attempt was adorable but..." his mocking fueled my energy, though with his fingers closely locked on my hair, it was hard to protest against any of his movements. With a swift throw, he pushed me onto the bed and I turned on my back to be ready for his attack. As he got on top of me, an excited smile settled on my lips, struggling against his new grip on both my wrists.

"It's not fair... You are a demon!"

"Oh yes, this is my "I'm so sorry" face" he pointed at his expression which was everything but apologetic. I couldn't quite tell why, but somehow now his elegant dark locks made his face appear much more like a wolf, rather than the gentleman that he usually disguised himself as. I suppose, that was part of Jude's charm... the wolf in sheep clothing; mortal sins offered on a silver spoon.

I wish I had seen something similar to what other people saw when looking at the demon.

Judas. All that is evil and wrong. A morally flawed monster...

But to me, he was a man that blushed over the thought of me accepting to slow-dance with him while standing at the ruins of a house he brunt down at my will.

A paradox, if anything.

"You'll be mine tonight... And you know the worst part?" he smiled, leaning down to my ears, letting my skin enjoy his hot breath:

"You will love it."

With these final words, he won our wrestling round, successfully pushing my hands above my head, consequently falling into a kiss as we got closer.

He tasted of triumph, yet it felt as if I hadn't lost a thing. I enjoyed his victory as if it were my own, losing my mind in the passion of his single kiss.

He kept his eyes on me, as he reached for my pants and pushed them down.

I watched him undo his tie and didn't even flinch as he blindfolded me with it, though after I lost my sight I became nervous quickly. I was more aware of everything, feeling unsure of my surroundings suddenly. His smell was intoxicating from up close, and despite my small amount of fear, I felt my arousal grow.

"I know what you want" he whispered into my ears, luring me closer to the dark fantasies he had painted in my head beforehand "You want to forget everything for tonight... isn't that right?" he coaxed, running his fingers up my chest as I almost moaned out from the small touch of his hand. He stopped only when he reached my neck, wrapping his long fingers around it, but not applying any pressure just yet. I tensed up as he grazed my mark, feeling the familiar burning sweep through me. I panted, resisting all the teasing he put me through.

"M-maybe" I mumbled, almost sounding obedient, as my voice reeked from exhaustion and lust. I hated how he always knew exactly what to say to lure me in, but there was nothing to do about it. Every word that left that perfect mouth just pulled me closer to the idea, to give myself to him for the night. He ran his tongue over my earlobe, before giving it a soft bite.

"Say yes" he wiled quietly, yet sternly, his deep melodies now overtaking all my thoughts. I slowly let my head fall back onto the pillow, enjoying the contrast of the soft mattress and Jude's hard body against me.

"Only tonight..." I said shakily, and though I couldn't see him, his lips were pressed against my skin, so I practically felt as he slowly smirked at my statement. He once again invaded my lips with his and by the time he leaned away, I was too dizzy to even comprehend anything else than his presence and the fact that I needed more of it.

"Indeed... Just tonight"

****

"Thank you" Jude's distant voice woke me, but for a long while I wasn't willing to open my eyes. There wasn't one little muscle in my body that wasn't aching, as if I ran a marathon just now. Fuck.

Rolling around in the huge bed, I tried to hide from the fact that the sun came up by pushing my face into the pillows. It smelled like... Jude, and it was still warm.

"Breakfast, dear" I heard him call out, but I just answered with a loud groan signalling I didn't really want to move. I loved this bed. Soft and huge, with these cloud-like pillows that I could just sleep on forever. This hotel is kinda nice.

I smelled toast and coffee, which ultimately was the thing convincing me to wake up. I sat up in the bad, trying to stretch, but as my butt came in contact with the mattress under me, I winced painfully.

And that's when... the memories of last night actually hit me.

"fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck" I whispered, panic running through my body as I glanced under the blanket, and checked my theory. I was, indeed, naked, and both my thighs looked as if a pack of mad wolfs attacked me. This demon and biting really aren't a great combo.

"Is there a problem, Seth? You look troubled?"

I glanced over to the demon, who was sitting at the American-style kitchen counter, resting his chin in his palm, making the most condescending and fake-innocent smile that I had ever seen on anyone. He ignored my glaring, still smiling like an idiot.

Just as I always thought. He plays the soft gentleman, but in bed, he didn't bother to make sure I can maybe walk tomorrow... Not as if I wanted him to be gentle, but right now, seeing his grin, I really wanted to suffocate him, and myself for what happened. Gosh. How am I going to look him in the eye without remembering... how I acted...

Where is Veronica to murder me, when I need her?

I frowned at the thought, then attempted to get out of bed, hiding most of my painful noises, just because Jude was watching me with his usual sadistic joy.

I searched for my boxers, and after I found them next to the bed I put them on and made my way to the counter.

I took a toast from the plate, and stuffed my mouth, not meeting the demon's eye for a good minute.

"Jude, I hope you know, this night was really a one-time thing" I stated, trying to swallow my embarrassment as I looked up at him. He gave me a clinical smile and nodded a few times as if he would not believe me whatsoever.

"I don't think you'd survive if I'd do that to you often anyway..." he led his gaze over my bruised body, with no remorse, then met my eyes again. I felt challenged, even though I'm pretty sure that wasn't his intent. I wanted to prove him wrong. I can survive anything, a little bit of rough sex won't kill me.

Before I would've said anything to further embarrass myself, I bit down on my lower lip, so I could swallow my words.

"I brought you strawberries" he pointed out, suddenly changing the topic, and I glanced in the direction he was pointing. My mouth instantly watered as the fruit came into my sight, slightly decorated with sugar on top.

"Knock yourself out, Darlin'" I didn't need more than this encouragement really to stuff my face with the dessert.

In a brief hour or so, we got ready and left the hotel. I'm quite sure I'll always remember my twentieth birthday, even if at the moment, I would've much preferred to forget it. But despite all that had happened, Jude and I exited the building side by side, and in the same manner, as we always do, conversing casually.

It wasn't news for him, that I wanted things that were ultimately not good for me, and it wasn't news for me that he gave them to me with pleasure.

"How did you know my birthday?" I asked suddenly, as we walked towards our flat. This question popped up in my head yesterday as well, but I was too shocked to actually ask it.

"Suzzane mentioned it on one of our dates... Wasn't easy to forget, since you were born on the same day as Lucifer and I found it funny... Speaking of which, Luciferinvitedyoutohisbirthdaygala." he kinda rushed the last part, so I had a hard time understanding what he said, so still a little shocked from the first information, I kept staring at him in hope of a normal answer.

"What?"

"Lucifer throws a huge party for himself every year..."

"That's great, and?" I urged him to go on because I didn't understand why was he telling me that. He surely isn't suggesting for us to go, is he?

"I didn't want to tell you before, so it wouldn't ruin the celebration... But it's in two days, and as a high-cast demon I have to attend, alongside with my match..." as he explained further, I furrowed my brows a little. Well, that's quite inconvenient. I didn't plan on going back to hell, It was like going into a mental hospital... You always have a small bit of fear, that they won't let you out, after visiting.

I sighed, nodding anyway. I didn't want to cause trouble for Jude, I knew he wasn't big on these kinds of galas and parties, but Lucifer can't kill me in hell, and if we must attend, there isn't much to do about it.

"How long is it gonna take? I have a few finals"

"Two days I believe"

I'm so going to fail.

Not like I would be studying even when I'm on earth, so I shouldn't be all dramatic about it, but I really wish this wouldn't have come up. Other demons kind of creep me out. They all look at me as if I'm a snack to them, and quite literally too.

"Aren't we supposed to bring a gift?"

"He'll pick his gift... It's a long story, but no, we are not supposed to bring anything" with that, we kind of left the topic. I didn't want to further think about my second trip to hell, really hoping this would be the last one during my living years... and after I die...

Well, I still have to figure something out for that.