Remy caught Ysabel coming out of Lucifer’s office. She didn’t look pleased. As a matter of fact, her scowl deepened when she caught sight of him. Uh-oh.

“What were you thinking, taking on my curse like that?” she yelled.

“I couldn’t stand to see you suffer,” he admitted. Most women would have swooned at this comment. His witch? She slugged him in the gut.

“You had no right. It’s my burden to bear. Not yours.”

“It’s not a big deal. We’ll catch the two remaining souls, and it will stop. Easy as eating your pie.” But not as much fun. He’d only suffered her curse for a few measly minutes and he was already determined to not go through it again, however, he would keep it forever if it kept her from suffering.

“This isn’t funny,” she growled. “What if we can’t find the missing souls? The burning increases by a minute each day.”

“You’re worried? I knew you liked me.”

“No I don’t.”

“You know, that would be a lot more believable if I didn’t have your claw marks embedded in my shoulders still.”

A blush was his reward, but it still didn’t wipe the worry from her eyes.

“Remy, please stop joking for a minute. Don’t you understand how grave this is? The pain will drive you insane if we can’t stop it.”

Madness? Bah, he dealt with it every day. He shrugged. “I heard you met my mother. I know all about insanity. It’s not that bad once you beat up everyone who teases you about it.”

“Can’t you ever take anything seriously?”

“I do,” he said, instantly sober. He pulled her into his arms, relieved she didn’t fight him. “I take you very seriously. And I meant what I said. I can’t stand to see you suffer. I gladly took on your curse. I would do more to keep you protected from harm.”

“But why? I don’t understand.” Her voice trembled as she asked in a low, husky whisper. Funny how his time with her and the disclosure of her story made him understand her better. He now knew the bitter façade she presented to the world was a cover to hide the pain and loneliness. A self-imposed exile because she feared to trust. Yet, he’d seen enough of her happiness last night when they played to see how she longed for it. Needed it. And I will give it to her.

He cupped her face and tilted her so she could see him as he spoke. He caught her gaze and hoped she could read what he felt. See his sincerity. “I care for you, Ysabel.”

She shook her head, or tried to. He wouldn’t let her budge. Falling in love, becoming vulnerable to someone again, terrified her. Tears rolled down her cheeks, a weakness she surely hated. “No you don’t. We had great sex. That’s it. When this is over, another pretty girl will catch your eye and you’ll wander off.”

“I won’t.”

“Don’t lie to me,” she cried, pulling free. “You will. You’re just like him. Fucking anything that moves. Telling me pretty lies to get between my legs. You can stop now. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe you.”

“Ysabel. No, it’s not like that. Listen to me.”

But his witch fled as the choked sound of her sobs reached him. Crushed him. All he’d wanted to do was take away her pain, and show her happiness. Instead, by caring for her, he’d caused her even more anguish. There had to be a way to fix this. To make her believe him.

To make her love me.

Because, despite what she thought, his demonizing days were done. He’d done the craziest thing imaginable. He’d fallen in love with a witch.

---

Ysabel ran to her suite of rooms, upset, angry, and in fucking love. So much for trying to fool herself earlier that all she felt for Remy was lust. It was love. Stupid, rotten, stinking love.

And for a confirmed manwhore. Didn’t that just beat it all? Five hundred years she’d spent hating men and swearing to never let one hurt her again. And what did she do? Fall in love with a demon who kept doing things to soften her up. Who didn’t even have to try that hard to make her love him.

The jerk. A jerk she didn’t understand.

He’d gotten what he wanted. They’d gone at it like a succubus after a meal of oysters, indulging in hours of sensual pleasure, laughter and even talk. Who would have thought he hid a brain behind the pretty face?

A fun time was had by all. He managed to get her, despite all her claims to the contrary, to have sex, so why continue the charade?

Why would he take on my curse? Why would he put himself through that agony? Because she didn’t believe for a minute that he cared for her. Allowing herself to believe was foolish because when it turned out to be false, it would hurt so much. And I won’t allow it.

Making it to her suite of rooms, she slammed the door shut and activated the binding spells. She wanted no interruptions. No sexy demon barging his way in, tearing down the walls she’d built to protect herself.

I need him out of my life before I fall any further. In order for that to happen, she needed to find Francisco and his mother. Needed to send them to hell, break the curse and get Remy out of her life for good.

The door splintered as something hit it and Remy stalked in, six foot something of male arrogance and hotness.

Not again. Was there not a door in all of Hell that could withstand him?

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She planted herself in front of him, hands on her hips.

“I’ve decided that since acting like a wimp and talking about my feelings didn’t work, I’m going to take a page from my stepdad’s book.”

Ysabel took a step back as he stalked toward her, his bristling maleness arousing. No. This had to stop. No matter how hot he appeared, she couldn’t let herself get distracted.

“I’ll sic Felipe on you if you lay a hand on me.”

“Good luck with that. I saw him through a window in the garden stalking a giant rodent.”

“I’ll turn you into a toad?” She held her hand up menacingly.

He smirked. “Go ahead, but keep in mind when I shuck the enchantment, I am going to be even more determined.”

“Why are you doing this? I don’t want you. Is that the problem? Is your ego so big you can’t handle a woman rejecting you?”

“Oh, you want me alright, my sexy little witch. Want me so bad it scares you. Well, I’ve got news for you. It scares the fuck out of me, too. But I don’t care. When the options are settling down with you for life and popping out little demonlings or watching you walk away, I know what I choose.”

For a moment, she couldn’t answer, could only gape at him as his words penetrated. Surely, she misunderstood. “What did you say?”

“I want you as my mate.”

No misunderstanding that time. She tamped down her elation by slapping it with the cold, hard truth. “You’ll hurt me.”

“Trust me.”

He asked too much. “I’m not the right woman.”

“You’re all I want.”

She shook her head lest his words weave a spell around her and make her believe. Yet despite all the warnings in her head, hope blossomed and love warmed her. How nice it would be to allow herself to love him. To trust him.

Sadness entered his expression at her rejection. “I know it’s hard for you, little witch, but I promise you’ve nothing to fear. Unless the thought of too many orgasms in a row freaks you out.” And that quickly, he changed from pensive male to the one she’d grown to love with the mischievous smile.

He lunged. She squealed like a little girl and ran. Not far though.

With his ridiculously long stride, he quickly caught her and tossed her over his shoulder. He laughed as she beat at his broad back with her fists. “Save some of that energy for the bedroom because you are not leaving until you admit you care for me.”

“I’ll kill you first.”

“I like a girl who’s kinky.”

“You’re impossible.”

“No, but I am horny.”

“How are we supposed to catch those souls if we’re fooling around here?”

“Some things are more important.”

“How can having sex with me be more important than ensuring you don’t burst into flame tomorrow?”

“I would let someone beat me with a cat-o-nine too, if you’d just admit you like me.”

“I hate you.”

“Close. I see we’ll need to work on that.”

Flipping her off his shoulder onto the bed, he quickly stripped out of his clothes and covered her frame with his own, pinning her to the mattress. It didn’t stop her from bucking and pushing at him. He didn’t budge, but he did clasp her hands in one of his fists and pull them above her head.

“Will you admit you like me?”

She glared, keeping her lips clamped tight less she inadvertently blurted out she loved him.

“Such a stubborn witch. I guess we’re going to do this the fun way.”

Oh no. She couldn’t let him have his sensual way. She’d melt under his determined touch and admit her affection, and then she’d end up screwed. I can’t give him the power to hurt me. Yet, what could she do to stop him? Cast a spell on him? Call my cat to eat him? A variety of things she could try ran through her mind, but she didn’t attempt any of them. Not with her heart racing, her pussy throbbing, and a part of her hoping, wistfully, that he meant what he said. It seemed his family’s insanity was contagious because she didn’t put up a fight at all as he set about seducing her.

He kissed her, while one hand fumbled at the hem of her shirt. His shirt. She’d not even stopped to change when she’d charged out of his home and headed straight to Lucifer’s office. Worry for him overrode any modesty she owned.

Up went the fabric, inch by inch, baring her flesh to his gaze. He stopped below her breasts as the fabric caught under her back. Anticipation held her breath. He didn’t shred the shirt like she expected at this snag, oh no, instead he dipped his head and placed his mouth over her fabric covered breast. The decadent heat of it arched her back and he took advantage, shimmying the shirt over her breasts, a slow ascent that proved maddening. And even worse, he left the top bunched around her arms and tucked under her head, so that when his mouth left hers and began to blaze a trail down her torso, she couldn’t even reach to touch him. To pull him closer. Not that the hand still gripping her wrists released her.

He held her pinned and exposed to his ardent gaze, and stare at her he did, the smoldering look raising her nipples into hard points while her sex warmed. Unbidden, she spread her legs to accommodate his body. But he didn’t place himself atop her like she wanted. Didn’t press himself against her core and rub where she ached.

Frustrated, and eager, she arched – hips, breasts, anything to try and connect with his body. He remained out of reach and she couldn’t stop a growl of impatience. It made him chuckle.

“Tell me, little witch.”

“Either fuck me or let me go,” she demanded, not ready to admit anything, but too aroused to not ask for more.

“Such language. I like it,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. He pulled her arms down and held them fisted under her breasts as he shuffled lower. “I am never letting you go, my impatient cougar. And as for making love to your delectable body, I’ll do that, but not until you tell me what I want.” He murmured the last part against her rounded tummy.

Rubbing his face, and the rough growth of hair he’d not shaved that morn, he kissed his way down to her thigh, his breath tickling her skin and making her hips arch. He blew on the aching space between her thighs, and she yelled, so desperate to have him.

But he had other ideas.

“Tell me you like me.” He blew the request across her sex, and her toes curled.

“Never.”

A flick of his tongue against her nub made her keen. “Tell me.”

“No.” But oh, how she wanted to. Biting her tongue though helped her keep the words at bay.

Back and forth they went, him teasing, her denying. He got bolder with his sensual torture and as she panted, every inch of her screaming for release, he demanded she admit her feelings.

She tried to hold on. Tried to chomp off her tongue. Think nasty thoughts. Even tried to summon her magic, which slipped through her grasp as he kept teasing her. Wracked with pleasure, mindless with need for him, she finally blurted the words he wanted to hear.

“I love you, dammit. Are you happy now? I don’t want to. Oh, how I wish I didn’t, but I do.”

“Oh, my sweet Ysabel.” He growled her name as he raised himself over her. “My very own witch.”

The head of his cock unerringly found the entrance to her sex and he thrust. One stroke, two strokes. Her aching flesh molded to his shaft, squeezed around him. She dug her nails into his shoulders as he released her hands. Clung to him as she rode the pinnacle of pleasure. She cried his name when she crested, waves of bliss shuddering through her.

“Oh my beautiful witch, how I love you,” he whispered as he thrust one final time, spilling his seed hotly inside her. For a few minutes, she let her resolve slip and allowed herself to believe, to bask in the warmth of his love.

They stayed joined together, breathing erratic, their bodies flushed with sweat. A moment she would always remember as the most beautiful. The most pleasurable. The moment that sealed her fate. Because now that I’ve admitted it, he has the power to hurt me. The thought frightened her to her very core.

---

The moisture leaking from her eyes shocked him. She’d admitted she loved him and now cried. Silently, but still. It wasn’t what he’d pictured happening once he admitted his affection.

“What are you doing, witch? Please tell me those are tears of joy.”

She pushed at him and he rolled to the side. Up she popped, back ramrod straight, her entire bearing screaming don’t touch. “I need to be alone.”

“Talk to me, Ysabel. What’s wrong?”

“You got what you wanted. You made me admit how I feel. Now leave.”

“I’m a little confused. I thought being in love was a good thing.” He stood from the bed and padded over to her, spinning her to face him.

“A good thing?” She laughed bitterly. “How is it a good thing to fall in love with a demon-whore? How long before you cheat on me and break my heart? A day? Two? Maybe I’ll be lucky and you can hide it from me for a few weeks.”

“You’re it for me, Ysabel. From now until one of us dies. I will touch no other.”

“You say it so convincingly,” she said, her tone wistful. “But, don’t forget, I know all the false promises. I’ve heard them before. I just don’t understand why. I was perfectly fine letting you have your fun with me and then walking. Why did you have to try to make it into something more? Something you know won’t last?”

“But I’m telling you the truth.” Exasperation colored his words, and still she sadly shook her head. Did she not understand how it worked when a demon mated? That despite their reputation, once they bonded it was one female for life?

“I wish I could believe. Please leave.” She pulled away from him, but before he could grab her and shake some sense into her, a furry menace jumped between them. Teeth bared and growling, bloody Felipe dared him to get close enough for a bite.

“Ysabel. Call your cat off.”

Turning her back on Remy, his witch instead stalked into the bathroom and the feline stepped closer, still snarling.

“Get the fuck out of my way. I need to talk to her. To make her understand I mean what I say.”

It seemed the hellcat wasn’t interested in letting him say his piece and given the choice between losing some limbs or hurting her pet, Remy did the only thing he could. He turned on his heel and left.

As he stalked the castle corridors, he tried to figure out where he’d gone wrong. She said she loved him, and he, for the first time, declared himself to a woman. Used the Big L word, and not fallen over dead.

And in the biggest cosmic joke of all, his love made him lose his witch. How? How is that bloody possible?

And how can I fix it?

Time to talk to his mother. Surely she had some crazy plan to win over the trust of the one he loved. He just hoped it didn’t involve bathing in muds from the Obnoxious Swamp again. The last time it took weeks to get the stench out of his hair and it never did grow him a pair of horns like his mother intended.

Thank Lucifer.