I unconsciously rub at my neck, remembering her bite.
"She overpowered me easily, pinning me to the ground like I was nothing more than a rag doll. And then she bit me, her fangs sinking into my flesh like hot knives. I screamed, I fought, but it was no use. She was too strong, and I was just a human."
Seraphina's eyes are wide, her face pale as she listens to my tale.
"The last thing I remember before blacking out was her voice whispering in my ear. 'Such fire in you—you're mine now, Lucian. Forever.'And then everything went dark."
I let out a long, slow breath, the weight of the memory finally lifting from my shoulders.
"When I woke up, I was different. Changed. Lilith had turned me, made me into a monster like her. And that's how I became a vampire, by trying to save my friend…" I breathe deep, "who in the end died anyway."
I stare into Seraphina's eyes, scanning her face like a paranoid TSA agent, half-expecting to find even a trace of fear or disgust. But instead, I'm greeted by an endless ocean of understanding and empathy, and it's like a swift kick to the emotional nuts. I'm laid bare, my soul exposed like a naked hitchhiker on a busy highway, but somehow, in her presence, I feel completely safe and accepted. It's a mindfuck of the highest order.
"You see, angel face? Even back then, I was willing to throw myself under the proverbial bus for the people I gave a damn about."
Seraphina's eyes are filled with a cocktail of sadness and curiosity, "Just like when you sacrificed yourself for Dani," she says, her voice as soft as a kitten's purr. It's not a question but a statement of fact.
I lock eyes with her, my mind buzzing with unasked questions like a swarm of caffeine-addicted bees. "So, you've heard about that little incident, huh?"
Seraphina nods, her golden curls bouncing with the motion. "Yes, Dani told me what happened before she made it to Aquaria. She shared how you willingly put yourself in harm's way...for her," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's alive because of your bravery."
I swallow hard, the memories of Azrael pinning me down and that witch making scrambled eggs out of my brain all so Dani could get to safety. "It's just who I am, for better or worse. Mostly worse." I wink.
Seraphina's smile is like a ray of sunshine piercing through the clouds of my fucked-up existence. Her hand reaches to cup my cheek, and I lean into her touch like a touch-starved puppy. "For better, Lucian. Definitely for better. You are not like them—the ones lost. Or like Lilith. You are better than all of them."
I gaze into her eyes—my own darting back and forth like a metronome on crack, trying to detect even a glimmer of doubt or hesitation. But there's none to be found. I'm stripped down to my core. My heart laid out on a silver platter for her to do with as she pleases. It's a level of vulnerability that would normally have me running for the hills but with Seraphina? I've never felt so safe, accepted, or completely at home. It's like she's the missing puzzle piece I never knew I needed.
It's a lot to process, even for a smooth operator like myself. I clear my throat, trying to dislodge the boulder-sized lump of emotions suddenly taking up residence there. "So, let me ask you something, my precious angel cake. I know I've got a metric fuck-ton of feelings for you, but can you tell me how you feel? You know, about this whole 'destined to bump uglies for all eternity' thing?"
Seraphina's smile is like a ray of sunshine piercing through the clouds of my fucked-up existence."At first, it scared me," she admits, her voice soft and contemplative. "We've always been taught that your kind is tied to darkness, that you'd snuff us out given the chance. Our blood calls to you, which should be a bad thing."
She pauses, and I feel my heart doing somersaults in my chest. But then she continues, her words wrapping around me like a warm, fuzzy blanket of hope.
"But after talking with Dani—understanding her experience with it and getting to know you? I've started to form my own opinions and feelings."
"Like what?" I prompt her, my voice barely above a whisper. I need to know what's going on in her beautiful head and hear her say the words that will either make or break me.
"It's like... I feel thissparkbetween us, this pull towards you. It's deep inside, like a part of me I never knew existed until now. And it's not just physical, though; trust me, that's definitely a factor."
"Oh, do tell, my naughty little seraph," I purr, waggling my eyebrows at her. "I'm all ears, and other parts, too."
She blushes, and I feel a surge of pride, knowing that I'm the one who put that rosy hue on her cheeks.
"I—I've never felt anything…" she stammers, trying so hard to explain, and it's fucking adorable, "physical. Or attracted to anyone. It's emotional, too. Like my heart recognizes yours, like a puzzle that just clicked into place."
I nod, my throat tight with emotion. "I feel the same way, Cupcake. But for me, it's more primal, more instinctual. I need you in every way possible. And I need you to know I would never,everhurt you—unless you ask me to, of course. Then I'm totally down for a little consensual rough play."
Seraphina laughs, the sound like a choir of angels singing a dirty limerick.
I take her hand in mine, placing it over my chest where my heart beats a steady, strong, and sure rhythm. "Do you feel that? That's because of you, Seraphina. Youmake me feel alive in a way I never thought possible." She nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And also, like, super horny. But that's beside the point."
She giggles, "Oh, Lucian, you have such a way with words."
"What can I say, baby girl? I'm a cunning linguist," I quip, giving her a suggestive wink. "All I want to do is protect you, love you, worship you like the goddamn goddess you are. I want to be your knight in shining armor, your personal love slave, your—"
Before I finish my impassioned speech, Seraphina silences me with a kiss that would make the angels weep with envy. Her lips are soft and sweet, like sugar dipped in cinnamon, and I can't help but melt into her embrace.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and devouring her mouth like a starving man. A rare moment of clarity strikes me, and I break away, gasping for air. "Whoa there, my eager Heavenly S'more! At least buy me a drink first before you go all in. I'm a gentleman, and gentlemen—"
