Here was a man who actually wanted her for her brain. Or, at least, he wanted to use what it could do.

"Be realistic, Holly. You can barely get to classes without me. How well were you going to do in the corporate world?"

"Oh, my God." Red covered her vision. What had Cadeon called Tim? Oh, yes... "You know what, you fuckwit tosser - you can have that goddamned work." Lightning struck outside, and it felt right. "I'm on to something so much bigger. Something that's going to rock our industry."

"Holly, just wait - "

"Don't ever contact me again. Or I will nail your balls to the wall over this." Click.

Deep breath, deep breath. She waited for the tears to come. And waited.

Yet all she felt was a sense of relief. How freeing... She was done with guilt, free from indecision.

Holly had no obstacles now - if Cadeon tried more, she wouldn't rebuff him. The idea gave her a giddy thrill of expectation.

Actually, she might try for more. Even more than Cadeon would expect....

"The male's back with food..." He trailed off when she stood before him, wearing only that black silk number she sometimes slept in - the one that guaranteed he'd be wide awake and hard as rock for hours.

"I'm not hungry." The lights were low and the bedspread was drawn down.

"But you need to eat," he said absently as she sauntered up to him.

Her eyes had begun to grow silvery. "Maybe I'm hungry for something else." She took the bag of food from him and tossed it away.

His brows drew together. "Uh, what happened between the time I went for food and now?"

"I broke up with Tim."

Cade's heart began to thunder, and damn if she didn't notice.

"You really like that news, huh?" She smiled.

"What's not to like? But why now?"

"He stole credit for my research. And he was after the code I'm working on now."

Cade went still, fury spiking through him. "Holly, I'm going to give you his throat for this."

"Aw, you say the sweetest things, demon." She stood on tiptoe and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

Deciding he'd kill Tim for her anyway, he relaxed and said, "I know how to play those heartstrings, yeah?"

She unbuckled Cade's belt. "I called him a fuckwit tosser."

"That's my girl." He stripped off her top, then his shirt. "Are you coming on to me to get back at him?"

"Probably." Down went his zipper.

"I'm okay with that."

And if he'd thought this couldn't get any better, she bit her bottom lip and said, "You told me you'd fantasized about me, um, going down on you. What if I wanted to try it?"

Trying to keep his cool, he grinned down at her. "Then you'd be my best girl...."

Once they were naked in bed, and she'd begun kissing down his torso, he swallowed hard. Would she lose her nerve? Don't lose your nerve, Holly....

She took him in hand. A first halting lick was followed by another. Soon she was circling all around the head with wet flicks of her tongue.

"That's it, Holly," he groaned, "just like that."

"You taste so good," she murmured in a delighted tone.

He struggled not to thrust to her hot tongue, but the instinct to move his hips was so powerful. "Suck it inside your mouth," he rasped. She did, making him arch his back sharply. "Ah! What are you doin' to me?"

Hastily pulling back, she said, "Am I doing something wrong?"

"Everything's too right." Hand palming her head, he pressed her back down. "I fear I'll come before I'm ready."

With a satisfied smile, she rubbed her cheek against his shaft, then continued. He pulled her hair out of the way so he could see his female pleasuring him like this.

A fantasy made flesh. After so long.

Bending his knee, he raised his leg so she straddled it, her wet sex against it.

She moaned around him, one of those sharp, yearning cries that made him frenzied to pleasure her. Immediately, he reached for her hips, pulling her toward him.

"Cade? I liked that...." She trailed off when he repositioned her, settling her knees by each side of his face, her mouth at his cock.

"Then you'll love this," he rasped before he lost himself in licking strawberry blond curls. Her sex was so hot, the flesh exquisitely tender. He licked in bliss.

But she froze. "Cadeon?" She sounded stunned. He dug his heels into the bed and thrust up. After a hesitation, she took him between her lips again, her mouth soon growing greedy. The shy virgin was gone, replaced by a hungry, demanding Valkyrie who expected to give and get pleasure.

With his hands splayed over her ass, he gripped her, holding on to her as she wickedly rocked her sex against his mouth.

When he worked his finger into her sheath, she spread her knees wider with a cry. She was losing control. Thunder boomed all around the building, quaking the walls.

He wanted this to last forever, but he was already on the verge. She needs to come first. As he withdrew and thrust his finger, he sucked her hard little clitoris between his lips, snaking his tongue over it.

She screamed, then took him deep. Her moans around his shaft sent him over. As she came, he groaned and licked, joining her....

She rolled off him, sprawled beside him as they caught their breath.

"Who knew demons were so delicious?" she asked as he dragged her to his chest.

"Demon. Singular. Don't be getting any ideas."

36

The Northwest Territories

Headlands of the McKenzie Mountains

The sixtieth parallel was the last one before the Arctic Circle.

They'd passed the sign marking it several hours ago.

For the last four days, they'd headed ever northward toward the Canadian Rockies. The land grew starkly beautiful, the temperature holding steady at a balmy fifteen below. The sun never ascended much higher than the spruce tops, and it both rose and set two hours outside of noon.

Now she was waiting for Cadeon in the parking space - singular - at the White Tail Lodge, which promised to be the final outpost before serious, isolated wilderness.

In other words, their final destination.

The "Lodge" itself was a strange hybrid of trailer and cabin. On the gray siding, antlers were nailed to the side, spelling Wh te T il Lo ge.

Holly thought it should spell: We gave our lives for this??

As Cadeon bought supplies, she patched her laptop into her sat-phone to upload all of her day's work into a Tim-free account.

The only lingering fallout from Tim's betrayal was her anger and a burning desire to complete her code. And without the obstacle of her ex-boyfriend, Holly had few defenses against Cadeon's appeal.

She was reminded of her last look at the Veyron. Without the prop of the truck, it had helplessly crumpled. Now without the guilt and sense of obligation, Holly was doing a free fall for the demon....

She and Cadeon indulged - often. He happily allowed her to explore him, drawing a knee up, telling her to "Have at it." They slept in the same bed. Each time, he wrapped his body around her so tightly, tucking her close to him. She wondered if he was following some innate demon instinct to protect her.

They showered together - one of the highlights of each day for her.

But he never tried to make love to her, even when she'd hinted that she'd be amenable to losing her virginity. Though she could tell how badly he wanted to take it, he still made no move to.

Was it only that he didn't want to hurt her? Every day he noted how strong she was becoming. Did he doubt that she could handle the claiming?

Or was there another reason he resisted...?

When he'd returned and finished loading up the back, she asked him, "What all did you get?"

"Food, staple goods - apparently eggs and butter are like gold if we do happen upon anyone north of here. And as many tanks of gas as we can ferry. I also found out that we're going to have to cross a winter road."

Winter road - a euphemism for ice beneath tires and possibly not much more. "No way around that?"

"Only way to get from here to there, love."

"This is the checkpoint? It's adorable!" Holly hopped out of the truck, gazing at the snow-covered cabin. "It's straight out of a winter wonderland calendar!"

His female's mood had certainly improved since the ice road. The normal - but loud - shifting of ice had terrified her, and she'd held on to the dashboard the entire way.

When a fox bounded by in the foot-high snow banks, she clapped her gloved hands in delight. "Cue the fox. How perfect!"

Cade found it too perfect with its blanket of snow on the roof and quaint chimney on the side.

She asked, "Are you sure this is the exact location?"

"GPS says we're here."

"I guess someone will meet us?" she asked, starting for the door.

But he swooped her back. "For all we know, this is an elevator to hell. I'm checking it out. Do not come in until I tell you to."

He found the door unlocked and cautiously entered it. The pinewood floored creaked beneath him. The cabin was so spotless, even Holly would approve.

"Do you see any directions?" she called from outside. "I wanna come in!"

"Not yet," he called back. "Still looking around."

The interior was simple, with sparse wooden furniture throughout. There was a bathroom, a back bedroom, and a kitchen with a wood-burning stove and a well pump above the basin.

A claw-footed bathtub was situated out in the main room in front of the sizable fireplace.

The idea of seeing Holly bathing there, in front of a fire...

With each of their encounters over the last few days, he'd found it increasingly difficult to resist claiming her. His mind was constantly filled with thoughts of being inside her, his reasoning clouded by want.

She'd been regularly tiptoeing around the subject of sex, a question here or there, and he thought he knew why.

Holly wanted him to take her. Completely. He was humbled by that, yet at the same time, he knew he couldn't. Even if he didn't trade her to Groot for the sword, the fact remained that Cade had deceived her over and over. He'd already done more than she'd likely forgive, done more than enough to earn her hatred. Taking her virginity under these circumstances struck even him as wrong.

And he wanted more than merely sex from her. He wanted everything. Claiming her should be the beginning of something more - not a guilty, fleeting act.

Cade shook himself, and began searching the cabin high and low, checking the two closets and few cabinets. He crossed to the fireplace. Up the chimney was about the only place he hadn't looked. He crouched beside the opening, reaching up blindly -

And felt folded, waxed paper attached to the chimney flue. He pulled it free.

A map to Groot's fortress.

They could start for the sorcerer's today. Holly would surely want to, fearing the approaching transition. But Cade needed to buy Rök time.

And even if Rök failed, every second Cade could stall would allow her to transition more fully to immortal, gaining strength, and losing vulnerability.

Deciding to hide the map, he tucked it into his coat pocket -

"What you got there?"

She was right behind him. After the slightest hesitation, he said, "A map to Groot's."

"So when do we leave?"

"We still have almost two weeks to get there. Maybe we should stay put for a day or two to rest up from the drive."

"Okay," she answered, surprising him. "I'd love to have a bath."

He ran a hand over his mouth.

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..."