Between the Devil and the Sea (The Devil and the Sea #1)

by Chani Lynn Feener

Shade’s parents had been as normal as they came. Which was why they’d only lasted a handful of years with their freak son before abandoning him to the system.

Nothing had ever set fire to his blood, and when Apollo nipped at him a second time, easily cracking open the wound on his lip that had only just begun to seal, Shade let out a shameless moan he felt rocking all the way to his core.

“I’d much rather accept people as they really are.” “That’s how you end up surrounded by unmentionables.” “I said I’d accept them,” Shade corrected. “I didn’t say I’d stick around.” The corner of Apollo’s mouth twitched up, but it was different from any of the other smiles he’d given before. Almost imperceptible, somehow coming off private. “See, that’s the problem then. I want to keep you around.”

“I just fucked you on a roof, Detective,” he stated bluntly, causing a shiver to race up Shade’s spine. “And you loved every second of it. Clearly modesty is overrated.”

But that’d never stopped him from fantasizing about being wanted so badly by someone that they’d do literally anything to him to have him. Tie him up, pin him down…His mind wandered to the slaps Apollo had given him and he bit his lip as his dick twitched at the memory. Which was so fucked up.

“Don’t worry about that,” Apollo told him, voice dropping to a low whisper, “there’s a great chance I’ll end up hurting you on purpose.”

Shade claimed he could accept him? Heavens help him if he was lying too, because he might not yet be aware of it, but he wasn’t up against your average run-of-the-mill demon. Apollo was the Devil. And the Devil took no prisoners.

“The only way to salvation is through me. Shadows can’t survive in the darkness, baby. You’ve tried your best. You’ve been trying. You know better than most that shadows are nothing in the pitch black. But in the light, they come alive.”

You can be right or you can be happy.

“If I can’t convince you you’re not a monster, baby, that’s okay. You can be a monster.” Apollo latched onto the side of his neck and sucked, sending electrical tingles sparking throughout Shade’s entire body. Then he brought his mouth to his ear and growled, “The Devil always embraces the wicked.”

A devil always welcomed a demon, wasn’t that right? Which meant he wouldn’t judge Shade for caving, just this once.

“My demons can follow me wherever I go,” Shade said, “at least with you, they’re contained. When I’m with you, I don’t have to hate myself. I can pretend to hate you instead.”

“Who do you belong to, baby?” “Myself. I belong to myself,” Shade said without skipping a beat. But then he cupped Apollo’s face and sealed his mouth over his. He poured all the desperation and the hunger he felt into it. By the time he pulled back, they were both panting. “But,” he drawled, low and husky, “I’m not above making a deal with the devil.”