The Summoner. Alisha Steele
two hundred years.” Melynda hurried around the counter to pump Alex’s hand. “It’s an honor,” she said, all trace of her previously aloof demeanor erased in her excitement. “Who have you nabbed?” Her gaze flicked around the shop as if expecting the demon to appear at any moment. “And where is he? I was under the impression that a demon summoned that way was connected to the Summoner at all times.”
Alex resisted the urge to smack her forehead. So that’s why Kasdeya wouldn’t leave her alone! “He’s not on this plane,” she said, cutting her gaze sideways to the other woman, expecting the explanation to shock her.
Melynda just nodded. “So now you can’t even put your makeup on without him staring back at you, huh?”
Actually, Alex had forgone makeup lately. It just hadn’t seemed worth it. But she nodded anyway at Melynda’s observation, astounded at the depth of knowledge the woman had about her situation. She obviously knew way more about this than Alex herself did.
“Well,” said Melynda, leaning back with her elbows on the counter. “If it were anyone else, I’d send them home with mullein, marjoram, witch grass—you know, the usual. And, of course, the appropriate sigils. But hell, Alexandra…” She tossed back her head and laughed. “You’re the god-damned Summoner. Just pop back into that plane and banish him.”
“But how do I do that? Banish him?”
“Same way you summoned him. Say, ‘I banish you, insert-name-here.’ Who did you say it was?”
Alex hadn’t said. But she saw no harm in assuaging Melynda’s obvious curiosity. “Kasdeya.”
All the blood drained from Melynda’s already white skin, lending her the hue of a corpse. “You’re joking.”
Alex shook her head, puzzled at the woman’s response. “No, his name’s Kasdeya, or so he told me.”
Melynda’s hand rose to her throat. “A lesser demon wouldn’t dare take his name. Punishment would be swift, to say the least, if Kasdeya found out. Jesus, Alexandra, do you know who he is?”
Alex shook her head again, and the dark-haired woman’s eyes took on a wistful, faraway glaze as she caressed the smooth column of her neck. “You’ve raised a high prince of Hell. Practically the Prince of Hell, second only to Satan.” She licked her lips and cocked her head slyly, leaning closer to Alex. “Is he beautiful?”
Alex’s cheeks blazed at the thought of how beautiful he was. “Yes.”
“Mmm-hmm. I thought he would be.” Melynda sighed, staring into space a moment longer, and then straightened. “Hold on one more sec.” She again disappeared into the back, but this time she was gone nearly ten minutes. Alex thought about just leaving; she had the info she needed. But it wasn’t in her nature to be so blatantly rude. And, anyway, she kind of liked Melynda, as odd as she seemed.
“Here,” Melynda huffed, finally coming out with an armload of books. “Do some reading on…well, yourself.” She grinned again. “It might surprise you to know exactly what you’re capable of. Oh, and here’s the card for Darker Pleasures. On the back, I wrote down my cell, work and home numbers.” She was tossing the books into a plain purple bag.
“How much do I owe—”
Melynda shook her head. “Nothing. Just keep in touch, okay? I’d hate to have to explain to my coven how I let a Summoner slip through my fingers.”
Alex said she would stay in contact, although she wasn’t sure that she intended to keep her promise. A coven? What exactly was she getting into?
“Listen,” Melynda said as Alex turned to leave. “Don’t be too hasty about tossing Kasdeya back. Lord knows if you’ll ever be able to reach him again. A prince in the palm, you know?” She sniggered at her unintentional innuendo. “I know I’d like one in my palm,” she said with wicked smirk.
Alex’s cheeks once again flared red, and she silently cursed her fair skin.
Melynda laughed at her obvious discomfort. “Just think about it, Alexandra. That’s my advice.”
“I will,” she said with an embarrassed smile. Not!
* * * *
Alex went to sleep with visions of the gray plane focused firmly in her mind’s eye. She figured it shouldn’t be too hard to reach. She appeared there briefly every night before summoning herself away. Kasdeya’s influence, to be sure.
It seemed that as soon as her lids fell closed, she was there. Alex had worn a demure, white flannel nightgown in preparation for her encounter. Although it was May—much too warm to be wearing flannel—she knew the garment would afford her protection from the cold of the plane, as well as from Kasdeya’s knowing gaze.
The fogged air was oddly silent, the whisperers nowhere to be found. Alex shivered from more than just the chill. Somehow, the murky darkness seemed extra creepy without the familiar voices calling to her, as impossible as that might seem.
“Kas—” She cleared her throat and tried again, going for something more audible than a mumble this time. “Kasdeya?” Her voice was still a whisper, despite this being her second attempt at it.
“Alexandra,” he whispered back, right beside her ear.
“Christ!” There, that was pretty loud. Good for her. Alex whirled around to find him a hairbreadth away. When she tried to retreat, his arms sneaked around her, holding her in place.
“You know,” he growled, lowering his head to nuzzle her neck, “hearing you call another man’s name every time we meet is starting to annoy me.” To punctuate his words, he took her earlobe into his mouth, tightening his teeth around it.
Alex fought the impulse to bare her neck to him, trying to overcome the ripples of delight spreading out from where his tongue was licking away the sting of the bite. Best to just get it over with. “Kasdeya, I bani—”
* * * *
His pulse jumped in alarm. The chit dared try and banish him? He slid his mouth up over her jaw, crushing his lips to hers and effectively stopping the offensive word. It took only a moment for her rigid spine to yield, arching in his arms as he ate at her mouth. His kiss gentled at her surrender and he allowed himself to relax and enjoy the seduction. Alexandra succumbed so sweetly, so completely, murmuring wanton little moans against his lips as his tongue played over hers. And she tasted so damned good. His cock was rock hard, harder than he’d have ever believed possible from one simple kiss.
“Pet,” he sighed, running his hands down her back to cup her tight little ass through the ridiculous night attire. “Don’t banish me. Not yet. You have no idea of the pleasure I plan to give you.” To punctuate his point, he pulled her tighter against him, his rigid length pressing into the flat expanse of her stomach.
Alex opened dazed eyes. “No,” she said. “Stop—”
Kasdeya shook his head and let go of her bottom to swing her up in his arms. He willed them away to the niche he had carved for himself in this prison and laid her down on his bed of black silk. “I am not overly fond of those words either.”
Chapter 5
Alex was trying to bring the image of her own bed into her mind, desperate to escape this bizarre, deliciously sinful encounter. But Kasdeya, as if knowing her intent, wouldn’t give her a chance to concentrate. As soon as he had placed her on the mattress, his smooth naked body settled over hers and his mouth renewed its persuasion.
Her body acknowledged defeat before her mind did. A scrumptious lethargy stole through her limbs as the demon ravished her with his clever tongue and even cleverer hands, making her feel as slothful as a cat basking in the sun.
The sound of her nightgown ripping down the center startled her enough to momentarily clear the sensual haze from her head. Oh, but then he moaned, a heart-wrenching, masculine sound of need