Page 52 of When I Accidentally Summoned a Demon

With her back still against the wall, I lift her chin and capture her face between my palms. “Mistress? Are you well? Was I too…?”

Her tear-stricken cheeks show such a deep shade of pink, but I’m not worried. Through the streams of tears, such a lovely smile graces her lips. And then, a silly, drunken one.

“I-I’m okay. I just…it’s never felt like that before. Never. Not even close. I-I still can’t believe this is happening,” she finishes in a whisper. “I’m afraid it’s all a dream, and I don’t want to wake up.”

I offer her a tender smile, then cup her chin. “What do you wish of me now, my beautiful Beastie?”

She tilts her head and sighs deeply, her voice cracking, “Whatever you want, Big Guy.”

My smile grows, and I test, “I must take care of what is mine.”

Her lips part, and she purses her lips and nods. “Yes, Valefar. I’m yours. And you’re mine.”

Gods, she is every temptation Hell ever crafted just for me.

I carry Vesper to the shower. She cannot stand, and I commend myself for this. But I wash her clean of the sweat and cum. I wash every trace of skin and shampoo and condition her lovely curls. I massage her breasts and pay more attention to her sore, engorged nipples than is necessary. And while she tries to shove me away first, she’s too weak to battle when I spread her wide and lick her smoldering red pussy. With my tail sliding inside to vibrate and my tongue circling and flicking her clit, it takes but a few moments to bring her to climax. Mine radiates through me, but in less of a rush and more of a strong, rolling orgasm.

Once she is limp and boneless in my arms, I dry her with the towel and pull a fresh t-shirt over her head. I put one on myself. Finally, I tuck her into bed, climbing in behind her.

I think of the rabbit in the book. The mother, who would become the wind itself to bring it home. I have no children’s literature to reference for what I am to her. I am something older and less gentle than a mother rabbit, and I have never, in seventeen centuries, protected anything.

But I am learning.

Part of me knows I am placing her in more danger with every growing moment. And I still wonder if I should simply disappear into the night before it’s too late. But it is too late, isn’t it? I have already fallen for her—ruinously. And if I must return to Hell, then let it take me whole…for to be torn from her would be the greater cruelty.

Embracing her closer, I lean over, kiss her neck, and whisper through her curls, “I love you, Vesper.”

Her lids remain closed. I’d swear she just dragged in a deeper breath, but she does not stir. Exhausted from our lovemaking.

For the first time in my life, I pray. I pray I never lose her. I pray I can keep this feeling forever, this fragile piece of Heaven placed into my unworthy hands. I pray…for her safety. Her happiness. Her protection. I pray that if darkness ever comes for her, it goes through me first.

Because loving her feels so sacred, it demands everlasting worship.

Above all else, I pray: Please, keep her and Bethie safe.

With my blood still humming from the pleasure, I fall asleep to the rhythm of my Vesper’s breath. And…her heart.

19

Vesper

“You are doing the right thing, Ves,” Valefar tells me.

I grip the wheel and watch the highway looming ahead of us, the tree line thickening as we push further west. In the late morning hours, the light of the Oregon coast turns a soft grey-gold.

I realize my hands are trembling slightly against the leather.

“Vesper…” his tone lowers, serious but reassuring. “Please, you must not fear for Bethie. There is no reason to.”

For the last forty-five minutes, he’s been telling me this in one form or another. And each time he says it, his tail makes another slow pass along the outside of my arm. Like punctuation. Like he’s signing the words into my skin.

“Even though the mother bunny was ready to follow her little bunny wherever he ran—” he goes on, and I can’t help but lift a brow—“she was also ready to be the safe place he came home to. After today, you will still be that safe place.”

His tail skims along my shoulder where the curve meets my collarbone. I shiver, but not from cold. A smile forms on my lips. The emotion laces my throat, but I push it down to focus on the road.

I know I did the right thing.

Robby was easy. He’s always easy. He secretly enjoys the days I’m not there because he gets to reorganize the back storage. He’s also like an uncle to Bethie. Sometimes, I’ll bring her to work, and he says she’s a good luck charm since sales go up.