Chapter 37 Aeri
What did he just say?
“Win someone’s heart?” I repeat as I attempt to make sense of what he just said. He smiles at me, his face soft, his eyes happy, and I feel like I’m missing something here.
With me still in his arms, he leaves the gazebo and heads deeper into the garden, where we have yet to explore.
“I’ve always had an easy enough time getting people to sleep with me. Men, women, angels, demons—it didn’t matter. So many people believe they love me, have told me so, or even attempted to buy my love in return, but I wasn’t interested.”
That makes sense; Talian is beautiful in the way that makes you jealous and your heart ache. It’s impossible to deny, but it had never been his looks. I wasn’t a fan of his personality, but the longer I’m around him, the more I wonder if any of that is really him.
“You’ve never loved anyone?”
He shakes his head, a frown pulling at his lips, and I let that sink in.
Talian’s a demon.
“How old are you?” I blurt the question before I can think better of it.
I feel his laughter rumble in his chest, the sound deep and delicious.
“I’m not sure age is something we should be discussing right now.”
“Well, how can you possibly win my heart if I don’t even know you?” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud. And judging by the way Talian’s eyebrows shoot up, I’m going to assume he didn’t expect that kind of comment from me either, but here we are.
“I guess that’s fair.” He purses his lips, and I can’t look away, even with the beauty of the garden surrounding us.
“Eons.”
His answer hangs in the air as I try to digest that information. Not one eon but multiple…
Fuck.
“Since the world was born, before man and woman.”
Wait.
“I thought demons weren’t around in the beginning, not until Lucifer fell.” I don’t know a lot about religion, but I feel like everyone's heard that story.
His lips press into a thin line, and I feel the deep breath he pulls in, his fingers digging into my side and thigh.
I’m about two seconds from telling him to forget it when I see the flash of pain in his eyes, but I want to know; no, I need to know. These men know everything about me, and I know next to nothing about them; this is my chance to learn.
“It wasn’t just Luce who fell, Aeri.” My stomach drops at his words, and even though I had a feeling that was a possibility, hearing him say it still shocks me.
It’s quiet, and as much as I want to break the silence, I can’t do it. My mind races as I think about what that means and how old they are, what they must have seen in their lifetimes.
Holy shit.
“All of you?” I finally manage to ask, looking up at him to find his gaze already locked on me.
He nods, his steps never slowing, and I finally look around again, only to find us so deep in the garden that all I see are plants, a pool of lava, and a small checkered blanket.
Picnic.
That had been on his list.
He seems to hesitate for a moment before he sets me down, moving to sit across from me. His eyes never leave mine, as if worried I might disappear or make a run for it.
Not that I would get far–these guys are freaky fast–but I don’t intend to leave.
“So you’re really fucking old, and you’ve never been in love. Got it. What else should I know about you?”
“Never been in love before now.” He corrects me, and he can’t mean what I think he means, right? “Which is why I have the notebook. I can’t fuck this up again.”
“Again?” Talian doesn’t comment, his face twisting in distaste.
He snaps his fingers, and before my eyes, platters of food and drinks appear on the blanket.
Of course, my stomach chooses this exact moment to grumble loudly. I’d intended to keep asking questions, but the look Talian gives me says I won’t be getting any answers until I eat.
Bossy demons, the whole lot of them.
Everything is finger food. Tiny sandwiches, little balls of bready goodness stuffed with cheese, sausage bites wrapped in pretzels, and desserts! Brownies, cupcakes, cookies, and a few things I’m not sure what they are. They still look delicious, and I have to remind myself to eat real food first.
We eat, and he pours me a pink drink, strawberry lemonade, and it’s seriously the best I’ve ever had. I eat until I’m stuffed, only one bite from exploding, before I fall back onto the blanket with a groan.
The sky is black, with just a faint glow that Bast said was from the lava pools, kind of like the sky is blue from the ocean.
One of the few things I really miss from home is the moon.
Moonlight.
Lucifer’s name echoes in my mind, and suddenly it feels a lot more intimidating than it did before.
“I made a mistake hiding behind Oliver. I thought I could fuck you and get back to life like it was before you, but I was wrong.”
I look over at him, but he won’t meet my eyes.
“I knew you wouldn’t ever want to talk to me as me, not after the way I was with you in the beginning. But you seemed to like Oliver, so I hid behind him…” I know he’s not done; I can hear it, but something he said makes the question bubble out of me before I can stop it.
“How did you make yourself look so different?” It wasn’t like he just wore a mask or color-changing contacts.
I’ve seen Talian naked, and while I had tried to keep my eyes off his body that first day, I’d seen enough to see the difference between him and Oliver.
Like the metal in the tip of Talian’s penis that I know wasn’t there on Oliver, and the fact that Talian’s hair is long enough that he could sit on it, whereas Oliver’s didn’t even reach his ears.
Talian sits forward, a sly smile on his lips, as he winks and, before my eyes, shifts from what I’m used to back to Oliver. I see it, but still my brain can’t comprehend, and before I can, he’s changing again to look like Kai and then Bast and Lucifer before turning back into himself.
“Holy shit…” It’s the only thing I can make myself say as I stare at him, amazed.
“So, you’re what? A shapeshifter?”
He shakes his head. “No, still just a demon, but I can manipulate my magic to give the appearance of someone else. Technically speaking, anyone could do it, but most don’t care to learn how or have the patience or reserves for it. It’s what most call a dead art, not even Luce knows how.”
“Wow.” I’d thought it was impressive before.
He crawls toward me, closing the gap between us before gripping my chin and forcing my eyes to meet his, unable to look away.
“I swear I’ll never use that on you again, Aeri. I made a mistake and hid behind Oliver because I craved being close to you, and that was the only way I knew how to, but Oliver was me, more me than I’ve been in years, with anyone.”
I search his eyes, looking for something that tells me he’s lying, that this is the same naked man I met all those months ago, but I can’t find it. All I see is sincerity as he pleads his case. I might be fucking stupid, but damn it if I don’t believe him.
“I don’t deserve you, don’t deserve a second chance, but fuck, Darling, I want one.” His lips are so close that I feel his breath on my face. His thumb rubs along the length of my jaw, and it takes everything in me to keep my eyes open instead of falling into him.
“I’ve never wanted anything more than I want to be yours and have you be mine in return.
I crave you more than power, drugs, sex, you name it; it’s nothing compared to you.
Eon’s alone. I’ve never once thought a mate was possible, never even considered the possibility of having one or what it would mean not to have one, but now, the thought of a life without you is painful.
Months away from you was enough to almost push me off the edge. ”
His words steal the breath from my lungs, but that’s fine; what I want to say can be expressed without words.
I press up on my knees, closing the small gap and sealing our lips together.
I get the satisfaction of seeing his eyes go wide before his hand drops from my chin, circling my waist and pulling me into his chest with a groan that I greedily devour.
It’s not enough for either of us. He pulls me up onto his lap, his hands gripping my hips, and I feel his hard length.
I let out a content and happy little mewling sound as I settle down against him.
He growls low and deep, and I feel the rumble as if I’d made the sound myself, except for the fact that it also makes my pussy ache.
I’d never craved sex, never thought it would be something I sought out, but with Talian, I do.
My body remembers Oliver; knowing they’re one in the same made me want him, especially with him so close, but now I can actually have him.
Before, it was a physical craving; now it’s more.
I want Talian deep inside of me, yes, but I want that forever, not just once.
The thought is jarring. Not long ago, I was happy to avoid him any way I could. Now, he’s become a sense of comfort, the same as Bast.
Fuck, when had that happened?
It doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting his clothes off.
Without pulling away, I let my hands trail down his chest, pulling his shirt from his pants where it was tucked in. The guys all have their own sense of style; some dress up, while others dress down. Their display of horns, wings, and other appendages also varies from day to day.
Talian and Asta tend to dress more on the business side, and sinful is the only way to describe it. Something about their wings and the sleeves of their button-ups rolled to their elbows, tattoos, and horns exposed.
Damn it, if I wasn’t already ready to combust, I sure am now.
I rock into Talian, making both of us moan as I fumble to try and get his buttons undone, only to fail and push the shirt up instead, desperate to feel his skin.
I feel his smile against my lips before he releases his hold on me.
A second later, I hear ripping and something else that I can’t put my finger on.