Page 14 of Claiming Chaos
4
ASH
Voices and dishes clanking roused me from sleep, and I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself back under. I lay on my side, the heat of Chaos’s body against my back making me feel safe, cozy even.
A month ago, if you’d told me I’d be in bed with a demon, I would have laughed and called you cuckoo. Yet, there I was, wrapped in his strong embrace and enjoying every minute of it.
“The others are up.” His deep voice, raspy from sleep, made me shiver in a good way.
I turned toward him, snuggling into his arms, my head fitting perfectly beneath his chin. “Tell me this is all a bad dream.”
“If it were, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Tell me everything except you is a bad dream.” I closed my eyes, breathing in his warm, spicy scent. “I just want it all to go away.”
Five seconds passed before he responded. “I can make it go away.”
I laughed. “Without killing everyone.”
Another long pause, and he kissed the top of my head. “Come to Hell with me.”
I laughed again.
“I’m not joking.”
I pulled back to see his face. He looked as serious as could be.
“We’re meant to be together, Ash.” He held my gaze with emotion-filled eyes. “We don’t need my brothers to end your curse when I can take you away. Your coven will be safe if you’re in Hell with me, and we can be together forever.”
“You can’t be serious.” I scooted away, my brow furrowing. Surely he didn’t think that was a viable solution.
“It would solve all your problems.” He reached for me, but I rolled away and got out of bed.
“It most certainly would not. Too much sugary cereal has affected your brain. I’m not going to Hell with you.” I opened my drawers and put on a bra and underwear.
He sat up, the sheets falling away from his statue-perfect body, and I fought the urge to shut him up by sitting on his face. Why did he have to be so frigging hot? I turned back to my drawers and shoved my legs into a pair of black pants.
“Why not?” He stood, all his glorious nakedness taunting me.
“The fire and brimstone, for one thing.” I threw on a fireproof black shirt and wrapped a corset around my waist, hooking it in the front.
“It’s not as bad as you think.” He pulled on his jeans. “We could be happy there.”
“I could not be happy in Hell.” I fumbled with the ribbons in the back of my corset as he finished dressing. “I’m not leaving my sister or my coven no matter how hot a fire you light in my core. What is wrong with this damn thing?” It wouldn’t tighten the way it was supposed to.
Chaos moved behind me and took the ribbons, pulling and tugging until it tightened perfectly. “You’re meant to be mine.”
“Whoa.” I turned to face him. “I thought we agreed we’d have a little fun when we could, and then you’d go home and I’d stay here. That was the deal.”
“I’m not sure I can exist without you.” The sincerity in his eyes nearly buckled my knees, and Ember’s words echoed in my mind.
What if he falls in love with you? What if you fall in love with him?
Hell, no. That wasn’t happening. I couldn’t let it. “Let me make this very clear. I am not going to Hell with you or anyone else, so get that idea out of your head right now.”
He looked at me silently as I put on my socks and boots. Maybe sleeping with a demon wasn’t such a good idea after all.
“I hear your words.” He opened the door and walked out of my room.