The Holiday From Hell Read Online Free

he fell to his knees, bowing so low his forehead touched the floorboards.

A cold breeze wafted across Luce's bare arse before he heard the front door click closed. Oh Hell. Of all the times for some random visitor to wander into his house, they had to pick right now, while he was arse-up on the floor in the most submissive pose he'd ever held. Luce longed to get up, but he couldn't seem to make his body cooperate. He couldn't even raise his head to peer into the dust that occupied the space where Mel's body should be standing.
    For humiliating him like this, Luce swore the imp would pay.
    "Pay Lady in service," the imp's soul-voice said in his head. "Respect owed. No humiliation in offering respect. Angel should bow. Owes Lady greater debt than Lord." Sptlk seemed to hesitate. "Lord can return illusions with blink. Lady knows."
    Shoes clomped across the floorboards. "Well, that's a sight to see when you walk in the door. Your taste has definitely improved since that demon I found in your house. That's one damn fine arse. I must say I approve, Mel."
    "Please get up," Mel whispered.
    She was still there, somehow. Or perhaps the dust was her, Luce decided, remembering how her body had disappeared outside the gates to Hell. The imp was right. He lost no face in prostrating himself before her – she was Lady Muriel, after all. No other angel on Earth stood higher than her – not even the one admiring his arse.
    Luce lifted his head to squint into the glowing cloud. He saw Mel's true self now – glittering gold outlined the feminine form he knew and loved. And she'd asked him to stand. Luce rose smoothly to his feet. "Thanks for the compliment. Of course Mel has impeccable taste. I sculpted this body for her pleasure." He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her until she gently disengaged from him.
    "Luce. Please go put some pants on," she said.
    Luce winked at Raphael. "As Lady Muriel commands." He blew Raphael a kiss. "Can't have you staring at my sexy arse all night." A glance at Mel told him she approved, though she was trying to smother a laugh with her hands. Still grinning, he marched off to find the promised pants.

Luce dug out some casual pants that he knew showed his arse to the best advantage, then decided he'd best wear underwear, too. He selected some red silk boxers. He'd noticed the way Mel liked to stroke silk as much as skin and, if he had his way, once they'd evicted the interfering angel there'd be a lot of stroking going on.
    "Cannot give Lady her desires," Sptlk said mournfully.
    Luce's shock quickly turned to anger. "I will give her anything and everything she desires. No matter what it takes. She deserves no less." He remembered the forced obeisance that had pinned his body to the floor. "What did you do to me in there? You made me look like a submissive slave!"
    "Lady's orders. Remove illusions. See Lady as she truly is." The imp's eyes glittered with malice. "Remove all illusions. Illusion of self-worth, self-respect, arrogance, belief Lord is Lady's equal. Lady deserves more respect. Satisfaction to see Lord give."
    Mel hadn't asked for it. The imp had obeyed her order to the letter, adding a broader meaning for his own reasons. Mel didn't want him bowing and scraping around her, Luce knew. Even the show of respect from the angels outside Heaven's gates had unsettled her. "I know I'm not good enough for her. I'm working on it. But she never asked me to be her equal. So what in Hell does she want that you think I can't give her?"
    The imp settled onto the pillows, looking depressed. "Lady lacks strength and angels continue to sap it." The image was replaced with a blurry picture of Mel and Raphael, conversing quietly in the lounge. Mel's glowing soul seemed to dim. Even as he watched, glittering motes winked out.
    Luce zipped up his pants. Without wasting time on a belt, he strode back to Mel.
    "My sources say she's been spotted in Egypt. Some say in Cairo, while others say she frequents the ruins.