Chapter 36 Talian
Last night had been… amazing; there’s no better word.
Just to be able to sit and talk with her, laughing and relaxing. Washing her hair and holding her in my arms when she was afraid. The fact that she trusted me and that my words meant something to her. It was so easy, so freeing, and just fucking perfect.
Just like her.
I didn’t deserve any of it after what I did, but she gave me another chance, and I’ll be damned if I mess it up twice.
No, if that happens, I’m just going to have Lulu throw me in with the souls of the lost.
I’d laid in bed all night, staring at the ceiling, thinking about her. My Darling.
The way she smells, how she looks naked, the way she rubbed that loofah all over her body.
Shit, I’m drooling...
Bast joined us, and I couldn’t even bring myself to be upset when I saw the way it calmed something in her. The way they look at each other, it’s shocking that they haven’t bonded yet. There’s no question in my mind they’re mates, now that I know demons can have mates.
I’d been pretty sure already as it was. My only concern is whether she’s mine, but that won’t matter if she hates me, which is why I’ve started:
Mission: win my Darling’s heart!
Which started last night and is going great, if I do say so myself.
Aeri sleeps on my chest, Bast is wrapped around her back like a spider monkey, and I can’t help but laugh at him. I never thought I would see Bast run from his feelings. It made sense that he got sick of what he did before and even avoided women who wanted him for all the wrong reasons, but this…
Aeri seems to have that effect on all of us, though, even if we can’t all admit it.
“What are you smiling about, asshole?” I hear the smile in Bast’s words without looking at him.
This is exactly what I mean. What does he have to be so happy about before he even opens his eyes?
“The same thing you are.” He grumbles but doesn’t deny it, instead pressing his lips to Aeri’s neck sleepily as if he’s unable to help himself.
I feel the change in her breathing before she makes the sexiest little sound that goes right to my already rock-hard cock.
“Fuck.” I curse as she squirms, and I feel her heat press to my thigh through her tiny shorts that are really just overhyped underwear if you ask me.
“Bast, if you're struggling with your lust, you should stop whatever that is,” I warn him, even though I really don’t want to. I’d love nothing more than to see her come undone, but I know if Bast has to leave again, it will tear her up, and nothing is worth that.
“Don’t stop.” If I thought her voice was sexy regularly, it’s sinfully delicious, all rough from sleep.
Bast’s chuckle is husky, but he pulls away with the will of God himself.
Her breathing evens back out, and I know she is asleep again.
“I’m fully in control, but I’m not Kai. I would prefer her to be awake.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He doesn’t answer me, and while I want to push, I don’t. I get the feeling he won’t answer me anyway. I’ll just have to ask Kai later. I’m sure I can get it out of him, eventually.
I’m not sure how much time passes; day and night aren’t as easy to distinguish down here, but eventually, Aeri stirs. She blinks up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and steals the air from my lungs.
“Good morning,” she says before a yawn overtakes her and she stretches out adorably.
Bast is up a second later, and I’m not sure if he was actually sleeping or avoiding me.
Asshole.
“I’m gonna go grab us something to eat.” He presses a kiss to her cheek, making her smile, and then he’s gone. Maybe he isn’t so bad.
“Hm, breakfast in bed. I’ve never done that before,” she muses, and it’s my turn to smile.
“Well, go freshen up and get your cute ass back in bed so you can enjoy it.” I swat at her ass playfully, making her squeak in surprise before her eyes narrow. She can’t fight her smile, though, which lets me know she’s not really mad.
It takes her a second, but she gets up and makes her way to the bathroom, which is now fully stocked for all her needs. Even before she was off the bed, I missed her warmth, her scent.
My cock jerks, and I ignore it.
This isn’t about me; it’s about Aeri and winning her heart, which does not require his interference. While I wait, I pull out my mission notebook and write down a few ideas I had and things I learned last night.
It only takes a few minutes before she’s back, jumping onto the bed and crawling back to her spot with a groan.
“Being a girl is stupid.” I can’t help but laugh because she’s not wrong.
I drop my notebook back on the bedside table to give her my full attention, only to find her attention on the book.
Oops.
I snap it away, back into my room, and she pouts.
“What was that?” she asks, her eyes alight with curiosity.
“Just a little to-do list.” It’s not a lie exactly.
She doesn’t seem convinced, but I don’t need her to be. I can distract her.
“Did you like me better as Oliver?” Her eyes go wide, and I know I caught her off guard.
“What?”
I smile and cock a brow because I know she heard me, but I still repeat myself. “Did you like me better when I was Oliver? Before you knew he was me?”
I see the answer in her eyes before she looks away.
“Honestly?” she asks. Her voice is quiet, weak in a way that speaks volumes.
“Always, Darling, always be honest with me.” I reach out, tucking a finger under her chin and lifting until her eyes once again meet mine.
“I did.” Her voice doesn’t waver, but I can see she hates to admit it, yet she does, for me.
It hurts, but I’d asked her to be honest.
“But…” My head snaps up to meet her gaze that’s already locked on me. “That was the Talian I met in the penthouse. This version of you, he’s better than Oliver.”
Her words light a fire inside of me, and suddenly I need to move.
I jump up on the bed, pulling her up with me, only for her to groan and make me remember she’s got cramps. I scoop her up and hold her close to my chest, bouncing us both and making her erupt into a fit of laughter that has me laughing too.
And that’s how Bast finds us. Like children jumping around, her in my arms and my heart feeling like it’s going to beat out of my chest for the tiny mortal that changed my life, who made it feel like it was worth living after hundreds of years of only staying alive.
We spend the day relaxing. And the next. Movies, sweets, books, if she even hints at needing something she’s got it.
Our little bubble of Heaven in Hell lasts three days and on day fir Aeri’s cramps aren’t as bad, and we can see she’s getting restless.
Is it rude to ask her how long her period lasts? I’ll have to ask Bast later.
“What about a walk around the garden?”
“There’s a garden?” I can hear the excitement in her voice, and she instantly looks ready to go.
“Yeah, but I don’t really know if we're supposed to take you outside of the castle,” Bast says with a frown, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Yeah, like Luce will say no to her now,” I say with a laugh, and Bast laughs too while Aeri goes red.
I’ve never had a favorite color. I didn't care enough to pick one, but that deep red her cheeks turn when she’s embarrassed is definitely up there, right behind the blue of her eyes.
“I don’t want to make him mad.”
“Nah, I don’t think you could make him mad if you tried, Darling. He loves the garden. I’m sure he will be happy for you to see it. He’s just worried about keeping you safe.”
“But you won’t be alone. You should never leave the castle alone, Aeri. This is still Hell, and it's dangerous. You're safe here and with us, but outside of these walls it's different.”
“Okay.” She nods, and I can see in her eyes that she understands. With running from Rome her whole life, I can imagine it wouldn’t be hard to understand dangers, especially in a place like Hell. She didn’t know about any of this just a few months ago.
I leave Aeri and Bast and go in search of Lucifer.
“Lulu!” I call out, and I practically feel his eyes roll through our mental link.
“What?”
“Don’t sound so upset. I have a question on behalf of your favorite mortal.”
Now he’s listening.
“Can you ensure the garden is safe?” I ask, cutting to the chase; I don’t want to waste time I could be spending with her.
He’s quiet for a moment, but I feel his power as it washes over the castle, his wards renewed, no doubt including the garden as well this time.
“Yes.” His reply is curt, and I know he’s probably busy doing the devil knows what, but I can’t make myself keep my mouth closed.
“She misses you, ya know?”
I see it the same way I saw her missing Bast. I’m not even sure if she realizes it, but after seeing how much happier she was when Bast came back, I have to at least tell him.
“It’s better than the alternative.”
I feel his shield as it slips into place, and I can’t stop the frown that pulls at my lips.
I can’t remember the last time Luce shielded himself from me. Ignored me, sure, but to block me out completely…
Shaking off the weird feeling, I let my focus return to Aeri and the garden. I’d had the imps make her something, and now feels like the perfect time to give it to her. I retrieve it from my room before skipping back to hers, probably painting a properly deranged picture, but I don’t care.
Pushing open the door, I stop dead in the doorway as my eyes find Aeri across the room, and my jaw hits the damn floor.
“Does this look terrible? Do I need to change?” Aeri’s voice is high and full of worry, and the way she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip lets me know she’s nervous, but all it does is make me want to bite it for her.
Damn.
“Talian!” Bast growls when I’m quiet for way too long, and I smack a palm to my head, realizing I’m making this worse.
“You look like you fell right out of a dream, Darling.”