She gasped, arching against him. His arms went around her, and he began to suck blood from her neck. "So you … did miss me!"
He was purring low in his chest, a sign of contentedness. He withdrew from her neck. "I'm only surprised you asked for this and not for me to dismantle my Army of Souls."
"About that." She cleared her throat. "I may have made a deal to return the souls to Gabe."
"I saw in your mind." He met her gaze again. "Take them. I'll just collect more."
"That's not how -"
Darkyn kissed her, the taste of her blood incensing her. She bit his lip, sighing into his mouth when the first drop of his blood reached her tongue. She sucked his lip until it stopped then began kissing his face again.
"I missed you," she said. "I missed you. I missed you. I missed you!" The tears began then, and she choked back a sob, intoxicated by the sensations of his hot skin and the scent of blood in the air.
"Wanna try something that would kill fifteen demons and an ogre?" he taunted, biting her rapidly along her shoulder. Pain melted into intense pleasure that made her the coral tips of her breasts hard and her legs too weak to hold her.
"God, yes!" she gasped.
He lifted her into his arms and took her to their bed. "Demons do not love," he whispered against her neck. "But there is no one else in the universe I'd entrust with Hell."
"I know. You trust me now, don't you?"
"To the extent I am capable of."
More tears filled her eyes. "What if I decide not to give it back?"
"You'll be begging me to take it back by dawn, love. Of that, I can assure you." The dark, husky promise in his tone made her shiver in anticipation.
She touched the planes of his face, smiling. "Let's see what you got, demon."
He set her down. "Run."
"I love you." Deidre's heart caught in her throat.
"Run," he repeated with an evil smile.
She laughed, happier than she'd ever felt. Her instincts and emotions clamoring, Deidre turned and ran.