Free Demon's Dream by Laura Hawks

His senses swam at her responsiveness and he feared she managed to cause a crack in the ice cold organ others called a heart. There had to be a way to keep her, be with her forever, yet he was at a loss on how to manage that when they both had a destiny which pulled them apart.
    His response to her amazed her but even more so, the response she was giving back. She had been alone so long, to feel the warmth of another being like this was indescribable. The creature beneath them continued to move but she was barely aware of it as her senses were overwhelmed with him, this demon man who held onto her as if his life depended on it. Growling, caressing and sending flames through her body and shivers coursing up and down her spine while goose bumps appeared where his fingers touched her skin. His mouth devoured hers hungrily and she met his response with a heated one of her own. She couldn’t stop now if she wanted to. Her body cried out for his in a way she never imagined it would.
    The creature lumbered steadily until a swooshing sound she barely registered whizzed by. The creature stopped and started to tumble sideways and she eyes widened in shock as she tore her mouth from his.
    “Oh crap!" She exclaimed.
    Mel got shocked out of the sexual haze by her words as the creature they were riding toppled.
     
     
                                                           

Chapter Six
     
    “What the fuck?” Mel grabbed her and teleported to the closest solid ground away from the beast. Keeping Clarissa within the circle of his arms, they watched together as the enormous creature fell over, blood pouring from the gash at its side. Whooshing sounds permeated the air and he pulled her down to the ground, uncertain as to what caused their current situation.
    “Will this infernal fuckery never end?” Mel sarcastically groused.
    Troll-like men bounded out of hidden crevices and approached the beast. Mel and Clarissa were far enough away that they should be safe and unnoticed by the new creatures. Within his arms, Clarissa clung to him and watched. Almost holding her breath, she trembled slightly. With everything that had happened to her in this realm, she knew she wouldn’t have survived thus far if not for the man whom she was grasping on to.
    They continued to silently watch as a virtual army of small trolls poured out of what appeared like every crevice noticeable within the mountain. In mere minutes the beast was disposed of. It was nothing more than a food source for them. When all was quiet again, Mel looked back at her still lying within the crook of his arm, shielded by his body. “You sure can pick them, love.” He winked at her.
    “What can I say? The brochure said fun and adventure in this tropical hot spot of a paradise. It sounded like just the place to go. Men, monsters, creatures of all kinds were welcomed to come.”
    She looked up in his eyes. Was there a spark there, a glint of mirth, or warmth? Clarissa didn’t move as she just stared at him, listening for any other sound other than beat of her heart.
    Chuckling at her, Mel thought, ‘ She sure has spunk.’
    “Let’s get a move on then. We wouldn’t want to miss all the fun and excitement now do we?”
    “Heavens to Betsy, I would so hate to not get my money’s worth.” Clarissa replied teasingly.
    Clarissa ducked under his arm and cautiously began the trek back towards the mountains. She tried to be stealthy lest the trolls hear them.
    Once they were free of troll land, they fell into a communicable silence as they moved towards their destination. Mel hoped they could have some peace while they continued to move east, even as he doubted it would last. Rounding a bend, Mel groaned as a virtual wasteland of decay met his gaze. Rotting bodies, boiling ponds and desolate gray earth met his gaze.
    “Oh goodie,” he said with a sarcastic smirk. “Let me guess. This is the spa they were