...“We did a deal with the demon.” Asher nodded. “I understand that. But as long as we abide by the contract, there should be no problem. He can’t change it.”

“Oh, but he can. We’re in his world now. The only thing he can’t change is our free will. Whatever he tries to re-negotiate we have to agree to it. And he’ll use everything he can to get what he wants. We aren’t on human ground now, we’re on his.”

“And your contract says?”

She took a deep breath and let it out. “No sexual intercourse. With anyone.” She looked up at him. “He wanted companionship, or so he said. I said ‘no sex.’ He wrote that into the contract. But he wants me for his consort, he wants to plant his demon seed inside me. And so far, I’ve refused him and abided by all the other terms. He’s been unable to seduce me himself into giving him what he wants. On the flip side—if I break any of the other clauses, my soul belongs to him. The deals in this place are all in his favor. He always wins. No matter what.”

Asher pulled to his feet. “Damn him.” He ran a hand through his hair and gazed up at the ceiling. “There has to be a way around it.”

She shook her head. “No, don’t you think I’ve tried to think of something? He’ll twist things until he gets his way. He must have seen something about you that he knew would get to me. And he was right.”

“He’s only right if I accept my part in this, correct?”

“What do you mean?”

“If I seduce you. If I didn’t care about your agreement with him. If I didn’t care about your soul. Maybe he was counting on me being without principles because of where he found me. But I’m not like that. He caught me at the worst moment of my life.”

“As he does with everyone. And most will do anything to get what they think they want—what he wants. You don’t really know me, why would you care what happens to me?”

He walked back to her and clasped both her hands. “I may have made a pact with a demon, but it didn’t include seducing you or trying to get you to give up your soul or your body. I had my own reasons for agreeing. I won’t tempt you, Diantha.”

A smile pulled at the corners of her lips. “You already do, Asher Smith. It’s too late for that.”

“There are ways of getting around his demands.” He leaned down. “I can pleasure you without actually fucking you.”

Diantha drew in a sharp breath as a stab of desire shot through her. “No, Asher, it would be too risky. Playing too close to the fire gets one burned. You know that.”

“We’ll see. In the meantime, let me see your contract. I’m usually pretty good at negotiations and finding loopholes. Let me try.”

“It’s no use. But I’ll let you try. Why do you want to help me? People who arrive here with Zacchias usually have their own agenda. I’ve never been drawn to any of them. Why you?”

“Just maybe he made a mistake this time. Maybe he wanted his own way too badly.”

That made her pause for a moment. Could there really be a chance out of this mess for two flawed souls such as them? Maybe she just hadn’t thought she was worthy of being saved, considering the bargain she’d made with the demon.

She reached for Asher’s hand. “I never thought of it like that.” She smiled. “Maybe he did make a mistake this time.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re here, Asher. I think I need you more than I thought.”

He pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her. “If there’s a way for me to stop him, I’ll find it. I swear to you, I will.”

And for some reason she trusted him to do just that. The dinner had been companionable and then they had gone their separate ways. The next day he had promised to review her contract.

Being with him reminded her how much she missed humanity, the daily routine of life. His musky, male scent had surrounded her, tantalizing in its humanness. She drew out the dildo and pressed deeply again and again, remembering his smell, his touch, his taste—a hint of licorice heat, a heavy dose of desire. She licked her lips.

“Diantha.”

She stiffened, the phallus buried deep inside her as she stared into the murkiness of the room. She remembered that scent so very well. It had already become a fixed part of her.

She felt the bed shift, felt the cloth of his tux brush against her skin as he eased her forward, then back, settling her between his legs.

“No.” God, she wanted him inside her. This was dangerous, so very dangerous.

He reached forward and she felt his warm hands over hers as he took control. “I’m not going to have intercourse with you, but I want to touch you. I want to feel you come. I want to take care of you. Trust me.”