He growled in response. Deidre drank until she grew sleepy. She released him at his nudge.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "Since you are demon now, there is pleasure in it for you. If you are pleased enough about your victory, you will grant me leave to show you."
She hesitated. "Just once?" she ventured.
He locked one arm around her in response, the other holding her head. His canines were four times the length of hers. Before she could tell him she'd changed her mind, sharp pain penetrated her neck. Deidre clutched at the material of his shirt. After the initial shock, she felt the pleasure, warm and hot, burning and mixing with the pain. It raced through her body, lulling her into a strange trance of heightened senses while he drank.
When he withdrew, she rested against him. She still didn't quite trust he'd keep his word, but she prayed with every ounce of her soul that he did.
"Why did you let me win?" she asked.
"Because it pleased me to do so."
"Seriously?"
"The humans mean more to you than they do to me. It was an extremely easy victory for me." He bit her hard. "You are happy enough I no longer need to dull the pain."
She shuddered at the pleasure-pain.
"I said once, didn't I?" she murmured.
"You only have to agree once."
Damn unwritten terms. She didn't think she'd ever win with him, but she was thrilled knowing she'd done something right. For once.
In Hell. In a deal with her mate, who just happened to be the devil.
With the hum of their bonds and the satiation of the blood exchange, she ventured a look at him. His head was bowed near hers, eyes closed, as if he was…pleased to share the moment with her. Deidre touched her cheek to his and reached up with one hand to his other cheek. She was perplexed by this creature. He was yielding now, as he'd been last night. As if sensing she'd noticed, he straightened and moved away, breaking contact to stand a few feet away. The intimate moment was gone, replaced by the tension that always filled the space between them.
"Did the half-breed receive my message?" he asked.
"All of them," she replied. "He also said I need to be careful in the human world. Is there something wrong with me?"
The cunning look on Darkyn's face did nothing to reassure her.
"Lesson four. Deals made while the negotiator is distracted or emotional are easier to win," he said. "I only enhanced what appeal you already had. It'll make it easier for you to deal with others, and it's no sacrifice for me to want to fuck you every time we meet."