Free Deals With Demons by Victoria Davies Page A

his own release. Every inch of her body felt as if it were exploding in pleasure. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t do anything but ride the inconceivable pleasure and pray it never ended.

    47
     

Chapter Eight
    Talia never wanted to move again. She lay tangled in the silk sheets, unable to do anything about the silly smile on her lips. True to his word, Devlin hadn’t let her get any sleep the night before. After their first shattering orgasm they’d made love countless times. Talia lost track of the ways he’d taken her. He’d been hard and rough when she needed it and tender when her body had demanded something slower. Every movement had been perfectly attuned to her needs. It was as if he’d known her body even better than she did.
    Looking around her room, Talia pressed her hands against her burning cheeks as she remembered their sexcapades. They’d made love in the bed, against the wall, before the mirror…
    She buried her head in the pillows. How was she going to let him go?
    The chilling thought dampened her pleasure. He’d bargained for one night and received payment in full. There was no reason for him to stay with her any longer.
    Talia’s heart clenched at the thought. He’d told her after their one night he’d never contact her again.
    She was free of him.
    Just when she realised that was the last thing she ever wanted to be.
    What a mess , she thought, closing her eyes tightly. What was she going to do? Beg him to stay with her a little longer or keep the tattered remains of her pride and watch him walk out of her life forever?
    Neither option appealed to her.
    Carefully, she rolled over to see her lover’s sleeping face. Would he want more? The old hurts crept up on her once more. When had she let him become so important to her again? She’d more than learned her lesson. But looking at his beautiful face, she knew the truth she could never voice. She’d never stopped loving him. Even if he left her forever it wouldn’t change what she felt. Hell, she was a glutton for punishment.
    As if sensing her distress, Devlin rolled towards her, his eyes opening. He smiled sleepily at her and she sucked in her breath at the sexy sight. It was one she wanted to see every morning.
    “Good morning,” he murmured.
    “Morning,” she chirped back.
    He reached out to touch her cheek. “Thank you.”
    “Any time,” she said and winced. That hadn’t been what she’d meant to say.

    A slight smile touched his lips, but already the sleep was fading from his eyes, leaving them painfully serious.
    Talia rested on her elbows, looking down at him. She stared at his collarbone instead of meeting his questioning gaze. She wanted him befuddled by pleasure and wild with need. Not logical and intelligent.
    He could do too much damage in that state.
    He trailed his fingertips over her bare skin, watching her watch him.
    “We should get dressed,” she said finally. “We’ve slept most of the day away.”
    “Why did you leave?” Devlin asked softly.
    Talia tensed, drawing away from him. “Don’t ask,” she said harshly. “Don’t ruin last night.”
    “I have to,” he replied stubbornly.
    She cringed as she saw his resolve, knowing he wouldn’t be easy to put off this time.
    “I have been asking myself that question every day for the past six years. I need an answer, Tali. I need to understand what went wrong.”
    With a sigh, Talia sat up, pulling the sheet up around herself. “Can’t we forget the past? Maybe we could…start over.” She made the offer tentatively. She didn’t want to lose him, even if it meant giving up her pride.
    “To start fresh I need to understand why we crashed and burned the first time. I need to know what to avoid.”
    She laughed harshly. “It’s not you who needs to avoid anything. It’s me. I’ll do better this time.”
    “What do you mean?” he demanded.
    Talia looked away from his too-perceptive gaze. “I won’t make the mistakes I made the