We pulled out some of Lucian and Connie's pajamas and got really comfortable before sliding into the bed. I clicked off the bedside lamp.
"It feels strange to lay here and know that they're in the guest room and we're not Lucian and Connie anymore," Luc said into the darkened room.
"It does."
I laid on my back with the blankets pulled up to my chest until Luc nudged my foot with his under the covers. "I'm sorry I was so hard on you about Ariel," he whispered. "I've been trying to imagine how I would've reacted. I don't think I would've done what you did, but I understand you were under a great deal of strain."
His words meant a lot, especially compounded with the fact that he wasn't a man that apologized easily. I reached over and shifted my body, so I faced him. "Luc, we're partners. Even when one of us doesn't know what's going on. We look out for each other, always. I knew you weren't being that harsh intentionally. You were grieving, too."
His warm hand against my cheek felt great. Love radiated from him, something that he'd shown me very infrequently over the last few centuries. "I didn't mean to grow so distant," he whispered. When he leaned forward to capture my lips, I was more than ready for him. He'd been with me the whole evening, yet somehow, he tasted like toothpaste.
Suddenly conscious of my mouth, I slipped a little magic in to clean my body and teeth.
Much better.
His hands roamed my clothes, and I realized they were in the way, too. With another thought, I removed both of our pajamas and snuggled close to his naked body.
His hard, smooth, naked body. With one part poking me pretty hard in the lower stomach.
Lucifer put his hands between us, too, so I adjusted and lifted my leg over his, still on our sides. Suddenly, I was desperate for his kisses and his touch. I wanted more and more.
I couldn't stop myself from falling against him and burying my face into his neck. Luc growled low in his throat when my teeth sank into the skin there, his arousal impossible to ignore.
I screamed into his neck, which broke his reserve. And we both rode the waves of our desire until he collapsed beside me. Then, I magicked away the mess and snuggled close to him. His labored breathing told me how much he'd enjoyed himself because he was in pristine physical shape. No physical exertion like this would make him pant. I smiled as I turned the lights off with my mind and cooled his body with a moment's thought.
"Thanks," he whispered. Sleep sounded heavy on his words. "I love you."
I fell asleep easily, my mind full of this Lucifer. It wasn't worth losing Ariel, but at least something good had come of this fiasco of an Earth cycle. Lucifer had retained some of Lucian's qualities. I wasn't going to be upset about that one bit.
Chapter Fifteen
Lilith
"Let's get going!" Gabriel's cheery voice dragged me from the best dream. I'd been in Hell, in my palace, surrounded by Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer—and baby Ariel. We'd been passing her around and generally spoiling her rotten. Each of us had told her how much we loved her.
When my eyes opened, I realized tears had been pouring down them. I sat up to find Lucifer had already left the bed.
"Hey," Gabe said. "What is it?" He sat beside me and wrapped his arms around me.
"Ariel," I said. "I dreamed of her."
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "There's nothing else I can say."
I nodded. I knew what he meant. He couldn't fix things. He daren't say things would be better. We weren't sure they would. We weren't sure we'd ever fix any of our current problems. We might've had to come to some sort of terms with them eventually.
I stiffened. But not yet. I wasn't ready to give up, not by a long shot. And when it came to my baby girl, I wouldn't be giving up at all. Ever.
They'd have to kill me to get me to stop.
Gabe pulled back when he felt my body language shift. "Better?"
No. I shook my head. "Not better. But I'm determined, so crying in bed does nobody any good."
The sun wasn't quite up yet, but since we were an hour behind Mary, it would be dawn at her place. Still, kind of a rude time to surprise someone, but we didn't have any time to waste. Every moment Ariel spent in that realm was a much longer period of time and she grew older. And probably more scared of us.
I was still naked from the night before. I waved my hand and clothes formed on my body. "Let's go."
He saluted me and led the way down the stairs where Michael and Lucifer lounged in the kitchen eating something that smelled amazing.
