Though Cadeon had been so gung-ho to get up here, now he was dragging his feet to begin the final leg. But Holly was fine with staying at the adorable cabin.
In a closet, she'd found thick quilts, clean bedding, and a fur hearthrug neatly stored in bags. Once she got everything arranged to her liking, it'd be perfect.
After he'd brought in their kerosene lantern and supplies, he'd set off to chop firewood. He'd collected just enough to start heating her bathwater and warming the cabin for her, then returned to cut more for the night.
As Holly unpacked their gear and food, she gazed out the window at him, losing track of time. As she watched the magnificent male laboring in the snow, she felt a pang. She loved the way he moved, with such surety and presence. Now that she knew every inch of his body, she appreciated it more than she ever had.
Holly wanted all of him, but he refused to give in. He'd called himself her demon. But he wasn't, not yet.
Want. She wished she had someone to talk to about all this, someone to ask—
She frowned when her sat-phone began to ring. The only one who knew the number was Cadeon, and she could still see him outside. "Hello?" she answered.
"You wanted to speak with me?" Nïx asked.
"How did you—Scratch that. Do you know where I am?"
"I know it's snowy and cold. Perfect for snuggling up with your demon. Have you decided if you'll keep him? Or is he too big to be an inside demon?"
Holly sighed. "I like being with him, and I think I do want to keep him. But that means I would have to keep my immortality."
Unfortunately, if she remained a Valkyrie, she remained the Vessel. And events like the Laughing Lady Bridge would continue to happen.
"And which way are you leaning?"
To be with Cadeon… "I think I'm sticking with the program."
"I knew you'd succumb to peer pressure! A good thing, too. Since you've already completed the transition."
Holly had suspected as much for days. "But how does this affect your deal with Groot? Cadeon will still get his sword, right?"
"Of course. So when should Auntie Nïx be expecting a little vamon from you two?"
"Vamon—oh, I get it. A Valkyrie and a demon. Ha-ha. Don't hold your breath. He won't…well, he refuses to have sex with me."
"Why on earth? That doesn't sound like Cadeon, at all."
Holly glared at that. "He doesn't want to attempt me, to bring out the demon full force."
"Yes, but what do you want? Listen to your instinct. What is it telling you?"
Again, she gazed out the window at him. Want! "It's not telling me anything—it's screaming for me to be with him. But it's not like I'm on the pill. And he can't exactly run up to the gas station for condoms."
She was already late with her period, doubtless because of stress, so she wouldn't be ovulating. Right? She'd even double-checked online. She didn't think it possible she'd get pregnant, but if it happened…
"Would it be so bad to have a baby vamon?"
At first, the idea had struck Holly as out of left field, but the more she thought about it, the more comfortable she became.
Why should Holly possess all this strength and have no one to protect? Why control her family's fortune and have no one to share it with?
The idea of waiting until certain life events had transpired before having a child no longer applied. She was going to live potentially forever. If she wanted to undertake something exhaustive and demanding for herself, she could do it in eighteen or nineteen years as easily as she could now.
"It doesn't matter anyway," Holly said with a sigh. "He won't do it." He'd proved he could stop himself already, in each of their encounters.
"I'm confused. He's a demon with an instinctive need to sate his female. You're his female. He'll do anything you desire."
"What do you mean?"
"Dearling, it's time for you to take the demon by the horns."
37
We got up here just in time. Storms are blowing to the south…" He trailed off when he found Holly reclining in the tub, wearing nothing but her pearls.
She crooked her finger at him. "It's big enough for two in here." Steam was rising all around her and firelight flickered over her skin—just as he'd imagined earlier.
"You don't have to ask me twice." He dropped the firewood he'd been carrying and stripped off his clothes.
"Is that enough wood to keep us warm tonight?"
Easing into the water behind her, he drew her up between his legs, until the smooth curves of her ass cradled his stiffened shaft. "I'll keep you warm. Don't you worry about that," he said, brushing his lips against her neck until she shivered.
He leisurely skimmed a hand down her body to her sex, slowly stroking for long, long moments. When he slipped his finger inside her, he found her already nice and slick. With a moan, her legs fell open against his.
With his other hand, he pinched her nipples, one then the other, rolling them between his thumb and forefinger. Her arms fell back, her fingers lacing together behind his neck.
When he pressed the heel of his palm against her clitoris, she started rocking on the finger inside her, so he gave her another.
She arched her back, her pert ass flexing against his cock. His hissed in a breath as the swollen crown rubbed over her curves. He could draw his fingers away and be inside her so easily, impaling her on his length. And he knew she would happily accept him….
As if she read his mind, she murmured, "Cadeon, I want you to take my virginity."
This was straight out of his fantasies—where it should remain. But how many more times could he resist before he lost control? "I can't. I never want to hurt you." He didn't only mean physically. Cade might not have had a way out of lying to her, but he had a choice about this.
Gently nudging his hand away, she rolled over between his legs, her slick breasts rubbing over his chest. "Is that the only reason?"
"You're not on the pill, and you're the Vessel…"
"It's not the right time of the month for me to conceive. But even if I did, it wouldn't be the end of the world."
"It might just be if I'm the father. Remember the ultimate evil part?"
"You're not evil."
She wouldn't feel that way for long. "Holly, you have no idea." He set her away, then got out of the tub, snatching a towel from a nearby chair.
"You can't convince me of that so don't even try. It's because of the pregnancy thing, isn't it? I know this is a lot to think about. But I wouldn't hold you responsible—"
His shoulders shot back, and he narrowed his eyes. "You think I can't take care of my female and my kid?"
As soon as he'd said those words he stilled—just as he had on the bridge talking to Tera. The sheer obviousness of it. Why did something feel as if it had just shifted into place?
"Of course, you can. I was just—"
"That has nothing to do with it. You haven't even seen me at my worst. Holly, I could kill you."
"No, Cadeon"—she reached from the tub, and plucked up a large splinter of wood—"you can't." She dragged it over her forearm.
"Holly! What are you…" He trailed off when the cut began healing instantly.
"You can't hurt me. I'm an immortal now."
"But the change—I thought you didn't want this."
She rose and sauntered up to him, water drops trickling over her sleek body. "I want to stay like this." Her eyes were silvery. He couldn't look away, couldn't pull back, even when she reached under the towel and started stroking his cock.
"What changed your mind?" Say I did. Say it was me!