Page 58 of Cuddly Demon
"Oh, you like the food, do you?" I ask, scratching the hound behind the ears. It barks in response and licks my face.
Everyone laughs and gawks at the sight. Dad shakes his head in mock disapproval.
"Well, I'll be," Dad says, his voice full of wonder. "That's one adorable pup."
Onyx and I smile at each other. He laughs and takes my hand in his. "I think someone wants to eat with us too!"
The night passes in a blur, and soon it's time for us to head to the dance floor. The music starts with a low rumble and builds to an exciting pitch. The beat is intense, the rhythm entrancing. The fire-lit room pulses with energy as demons of all shapes and sizes twist and turn to the music, their movements hypnotic and graceful.
The smell of brimstone fills my nostrils and I can taste its smoky flavor on my tongue. It's not unpleasant though; it's oddly intoxicating. Every now and then, a plume of smoke wafts through the room, carrying with it a hint of exotic spices that further heightens my senses.
My eyes are drawn to a group of demons twirling fire batons in a mesmerizing display. They leap and spin around one another, their flames painting a dazzling picture against the darkness of Hell's sky.
My feet glide and skip as if they have a mind of their own. I'm barely aware of what I'm doing, but feel completely in control at the same time. The ease and grace with which my body moves surprises me.
Onyx's gaze is on me as he watches me dance. His eyes drink me in. Lights flash brightly all around us, creating an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colors that reflect off his eyes like stars in the night sky.
Suddenly, everything else fades away.
There's just us two in this moment together.
Onyx takes me into his arms and we sway together to the rhythm of the music. His skin is hot against mine, sending sparks through my body that make me feel alive with joy. We laugh together as we sway on the dance floor, lost in our own little world for just this moment in time.
"Hey." Onyx tilts my chin up gently with his finger and our eyes meet. His lips are so close I can feel their warmth on my skin. His breath is sweet and intoxicating, like a mix of honey and clover.
He leans in to kiss me, slowly pressing his lips against mine. The sensation is electric. Onyx's lips are warm and soft, yet firm enough to let me know he means business. His tongue caresses mine as if it were made of silk, sending shivers down my spine and making me feel like I'm melting into him.
The taste of the brimstone lingers on his lips, adding a tantalizing smokiness to the mix. His hands move gently over my body, exploring every inch of me with a passionate intensity that leaves me breathless.
Our tongues dance together tenderly. I wrap my arms around him tightly and press myself closer to him, feeling his heart beat against mine as if trying to keep time with the music playing all around us.
"You're so special. I can't wait to be your husband for the rest of my life."
"Are your headaches gone?" I furrow my brow.
Onyx scratches his temple. "Huh. I'd have thought they would be by now, but I still sense something's not right."
That's when a man appears on the far side of the dance floor.
A rope is tied across his lips. He struggles to break out of thick chains that bind him to the wall.
"Who's that?" I gasp.
Onyx's eyes go dark.
"My old master."
TWENTY-FIVE
ONYX
When I see my old master, something dark thrums to life within me.
What is he doing in Hell during my wedding?
This is the man who stiffed me out of my deserved payment. The asshole who trapped me in the Tomb of Blue Demons for three thousand years.
I remember the betrayal like it was yesterday. He told me that he was ready to share a kiss, which was the payment I required after I assisted him with getting his cattle back from a thief. He wanted to kiss me "somewhere secluded" where no one would see. The second I entered the tomb, he hit me over the head. When I woke up, a group of dark magicians was performing a spell on me. I was "painted" on the walls of the tomb, unable to move.