Rhyland reminded me of the "undead heart beating again, buried feelings resurfacing, centuries-old ice caps melting" shebang he experienced when he first locked eyes on me. A little trip down memory lane to that fateful moment when he busted down my bathroom door like a horny Neanderthal on a mission, professing his undying love and how I'd melted his icy heart faster than a popsicle in hell.
Back then, I was clueless, completely oblivious to the whole "soul-deep bond" and "primal mating instincts" thing that had Rhyland's fangs in a tizzy.
All I knew was that I felt this weird, inexplicable tug toward Rhyland, like an invisible leash was pulling me in his direction. It was like my body was a compass, and he was my true north. Then, the separation anxiety—being away from him for too long felt like I was going through withdrawal from the world's most addictive drug.
But now, as I watch Lucian stare at Seraphina with that same intense, all-consuming gaze that Rhyland gets whenever he looks at me, the pieces finally click into place.
It's not just a case of wanting to take a little nibble from the celestial buffet—oh no, this is the real deal. Lucian's eyes are brimming with a depth of emotion and longing that can only come from finding your other half, your soul's counterpart.The kind of look says, "I would burn down the entire universe just to keep you safe and by my side."
Who would have thought that beneath all that cocky bravado and shameless flirting beat the heart of a true romantic, yearning for his destiny to be fulfilled finally? Lucian, the eternal bachelor and self-proclaimed love 'em and leave 'em playboy, has finally met his match in the most unlikely of mates.
This is going to be one hell of a love story to witness, that's for sure.
I stroll back over to Lucian and Seraphina, trying not to laugh at the poor girl's expression. She's listening to whatever verbal diarrhea Lucian is spewing with a look that screams "SOS" louder than a siren on a bender. Time to stage a little angelic intervention before Lucian talks her ear off—literally.
"Hey, Seraphina," I chime in, with false cheer. "Why don't we get you some new clothes and maybe, uh..." I eye her stunning feathered wings, wondering how the hell we're going to disguise those bad boys without causing a scene. "A really,reallybig coat?"
Seraphina catches my drift, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Oh, my wings? No worries, I've got this." And just like that, with a mere flick of her thoughts, her wings vanish in a puff of glittery magic, leaving her standing in her gorgeous dress, as wingless as a plucked chicken.
"Well, damn. That's handy," I mutter, my jaw practically hitting the floor. "Wish I could make my problems disappear that easily."
Lucian—never one to miss an opportunity for a dirty joke. "Mmm..that is a nifty trick. Think you could work that magic on my pants later? I've got a not-so-little problem that could use your divine intervention if you catch my drift." He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, his grin widening as Seraphina's cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink.
Her eyes widen, shock and morbid curiosity flickering across her face before she quickly schools her features into a mask of angelic indifference. "I will do no such thing," she stammers, her voice slightly higher. "I will stick to using my powers for... celestial purposes only."
I can tell she's equally scandalized and intrigued by Lucian's bold proposition, but she's trying her damnedest not to show it. Her eyes dart to Lucian's crotch for the briefest of moments, as if she's trying to gauge the severity of his "problem," before she quickly averts her gaze, a blush creeping up her neck.
Lucian, of course, is undeterred. "Celestial purposes, huh? Well, I can think of a few heavenly activities we could get up to that would definitely make you see stars, if you know what I mean." He shoots her a wink, his grin turning positively devilish.
I groan, stepping between them before Lucian can further corrupt the poor girl. "Okay, that's enough, you walking Viagra ad. Let's focus on the task at hand, shall we? We need to get Seraphina some new clothes and figure out our next move."
Seraphina nods vigorously, latching onto the change of subject like a lifeline. "Yes, clothes. That sounds like a wonderful idea, Dani. Please, lead the way."
As we make our way out of the shack, I can't help but notice Seraphina sneaking glances at Lucian, her brow furrowed in a mix of confusion and fascination. It's like she's trying to reconcile the idea of a vampire with the concept of a soulmate and failing miserably.
I hope she's prepared for the emotional whiplash that comes with being the object of Lucian's affection. Because if there's one thing I know about Lucian, it's that he doesn't do anything half-ass—especially when it comes to pursuing his mate.
But for now, I'll focus on playing chaperone and making sure Lucian doesn't scar Seraphina for life with his relentless innuendos. The last thing we need is an angelic smiting because Lucian couldn't keep his dirty thoughts to himself.
The obnoxious chatter of merchants below rudely awakens me. Seriously, don't these people have anything better to do than ruin a girl's beauty sleep?
I'm tucked in beside Rhyland, his heat enveloping me like a deliciously warm, sexy blanket. By the window, Seraphina sleeps soundly, blissfully unaware of the auditory assault outside.
After yesterday's bullshit, we quickly found decent accommodations and crashed harder than a narcoleptic at a mattress convention. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light, dead to the world and dreaming of a place where pirates knew the meaning of indoor voices.
Lucian and Erik are shacked up next door, probably snoring loud enough to wake the dead and scare them back to sleep. We're supposed to meet Gideon later to figure out our next moves, but right now, I want to burrow deeper into Rhyland's arms and pretend the outside world doesn't exist.
Stretching like a cat in a sunbeam, I start to sit up, but Rhyland grabs my hip and yanks me closer. I'm still only wearing his shirt, which swims on me like a sexy long nightgown. "And where the hell do you think you're going, Angel?" he growls, his voice sleepy, smoky, and sexy as sin.
I grin at him, batting my eyelashes innocently as I swing my leg over his torso, straddling him. He grips my bare thigh, his hand running up to cup the edge of my ass, and I can't help but purr at the contact. I swear, this man could make a nun think twice about her vows with just a single touch.
"Just wanted to see what time it is, you possessive brute," I tease, my voice breathy and coy. "Sucks not having a watch around here. Gotta do everything the old-fashioned way and look at the sun like I'm some explorer or something."
Rhyland chuckles, the sound low and rumbling in his chest. "Fuck the sun, Angel. I'll tell you what time it is. It's time for you to get your sweet little ass back in this bed, and let me show you how a real man starts his day."
His hand slides higher, squeezing my ass with just the right amount of pressure to make me squirm. "Oh, is that so?" I purr, my lips curving into a wicked grin. "And what exactly does a real man's morning routine involve, pray tell?"
Rhyland's eyes flash with hunger and mischief, his grip on me tightening. "I think you fucking know, you little tease. But if you need a reminder, I'm morethan happy to oblige."
