The playful look faded from his ice-blue eyes. He sobered up, and sat down gracefully on a nearby red loveseat. As he sat, he seemed to unravel, languishing like a panther in the sun. He groaned in pleasure, crossing his legs at the ankle, and I felt like I was hit in the gut.

How the flying fuck did he make sitting down look sexy?

He gestured at the place next to him, looking at me hopefully.

Someone needs an ice-cold glass of reality.

Looking around, I spied an overstuffed black armchair across from the loveseat. As I made my way over, I tripped over my own feet slightly, barely catching myself. I sat down heavily in the chair, thoroughly embarrassed. The contrast between us was painfully obvious.

He quirked an eyebrow, but didn't comment. He sat forward, mussing his inky hair with his hands. "Why don't you tell me what happened from your point of view, Rika, and I'll fill in the blanks?"

I gave him a hard look. "You won't flip shit?"

He just snorted, his aristocratic nose wrinkling in distaste. I decided to take that as an "of course I won't, Ammi. I'm a completely sensible adult angel."

"Okay, geez, where do I start?" I sighed, resting my chin on my fist. "My mom woke me up in the middle of the night, screaming that we needed to run. That we needed to leave now." I started jimmying my leg in time with my heart. I took a deep breath. "But before we could...he, Ezekiel, I think, broke our door down."

I ignored the angry growl I got in response.

"My first thought was, damn, he's hot," another growl, which I again ignored, "but then I decided he was...off. He reeked of violence. He asked me why I wasn't 'in line.' Total dick. When I saw Khamael dragging some poor girl off from her family, it reminded me-well, I got real pissed off. I attacked him, and the girl got away. He grabbed me around the throat, but dropped me once Ezekiel said something to him and he let me go."

"What did he say?" Lucifer interrupted, his face soft. But there was no hiding the fury in his eyes.

"I don't know...I was a bit preoccupied with trying to breathe," I joked, trying to lighten him up. It had the opposite effect. His fists balled up on his jean-clad thighs, and his jaw clenched tightly.

I decided to continue the story, since he didn't look like he was going to calm down anytime soon. "Anyway, they dragged me down to our town hall, and they had a bunch of other girls there. All around my age, and all similarly flustered. Or," I curled my lip I disgust, "some did. Others looked like they were more than happy to be around douche bag superhumans."

"And you weren't?" Lucifer asked lowly. My head snapped up, incredulous. He was dead serious.

"Luce, I didn't quite throw myself at you, what would make you think I'd throw myself at them?" I was scandalized. Did he think I was that kind of person?

Suddenly he grinned cockily, leaning toward me. "The inference being that you are much more attracted to me?" I choked on air, holding my chest.

"I-I didn't-" I garbled out, flushed.

"Don't worry, Kitten," He purred sensuously, "I'm very much attracted to you."

I readjusted in my seat, wiggling my hips uncomfortably. He eyed my movements heatedly. I glared at him. "You want me to continue, you pig?"

He dragged his eyes slowly to my face, and gestured grandly for me to keep going.

I cleared my throat, "Anyways, so pretty soon they had rounded us all up, and Ezekiel-he was obviously the leader-talked about 'getting to it.' But The other two were nervous. Talking about 'him' showing up. Ezekiel was yelling about how they were 'better than the Bright One' and that, besides, 'he would've approved of this kind of thing.'

"The other two didn't look super confident in him, so Ezekiel decided he needed to prove that he was capable, and he remembered me. He riled them up, talking about how I had the gall to attack my betters or some shit. Then, he said I needed to be taught a lesson. He grabbed me by the neck, and-"

"I should've made the bastard suffer." Luce snarled.

What a mood swing.

"-brought me in front of the other two. I wasn't sure what the hell they were going to do-"

"Don't be naïve." The angel said, fixing me with a piercing stare. "They were going to take you. Supernatural beings aren't exempt from the pleasures of the flesh." I shivered, hugging myself.

"I don't know. They obviously thought we were valuable. They might've just beat on me."

He snorted. "Oh, I'm sure they would've beat you as well."

"What the Hell is your problem?" I demanded.

"I just don't like that you put yourself in such an awful situation, and refuse to acknowledge their intentions. They would've forced themselves on you. And no amount of denying that fact will change it."

"Are you trying to scare me?"

"Yes, Rika," he said, "I am. I can only hope you won't try to save everyone like that again, at your own risk."

"Can I keep going, Father?" I spat sarcastically, shaking in anger.

What a controlling prick. I'll do whatever the fuck I please.

"This discussion is not over." He warned, eyes flashing dangerously. His lips were pressed into a firm line.

"It is right now." He growled in response, but relented. "I decided to go down with as many as I could, so I attacked Ezekiel. Made a mess of that pretty face of his. And then, because he was a supernaturally enhanced sonofabitch, he grabbed me again. Then you showed up." I shrugged. "You know the rest, I guess."

Lucifer's POV ;)

I sat on my throne in Purgatory, trying to focus on the task at hand. Judging souls wasn't something to be taken lightly. And yet, I found myself frequently drifting away.

Back to my Rika. My gift.

As I had stared at the beautiful creature across from me in the library, I had tried my best to behave. My Rika was so tempting when she was telling a story-she stared off into space, wrinkling her freckled nose as she thought. So fucking lovely.

Her tale had made a tide of emotions crash over me; anger, frustration, possessiveness, pride, lust. I hated that she was made to go through all that. I was so strung out that when she started wiggling her generous hips, as if she was grinding into her chair, I almost leaped at her and showed her what happened when she tempted an angel.

If only she knew.

Angels weren't like human men; we didn't take from our lovers. We gave. I wanted nothing more than to make my mate come apart over and over, until she forgot her own name, thrashing, and begged to touch me. Then, finally, I would-

Dammit. Focus, Luce. Get a damn grip.

I couldn't do that, not yet. I couldn't frighten her away.

"Luce? You alright?" I snapped from my trance to see Marcus staring at me, concerned.

"Yes, sorry, Marcus. I was somewhere else."

He laughed, "If you were anywhere, it was inside-"

"Watch your mouth!" I roared, shooting to my feet.

"Relax, man. I get it. I'm not questioning her honor," he said, hands in the air defensively. "Take the day off. I can handle these punks."

"I can't just-" I began, but Marcus cut me off.

"Yes, you can. God isn't going to take her away because you let your second-in-command deal with delinquents for a day."

I shook my head. It never ceased to amaze me how Marcus always knew exactly what was on my mind.

"Alright. I'll take you up on it. Thank you, Marc."

"Not a problem."

I didn't teleport straight to our bedroom, because I had no fucking idea of what to say when I got there. What does one say to the woman that completes them when she hates their guts?

But she doesn't hate my guts-not really.

I had seen that flash of desire in her eyes. I caught her unintentional admission. She was not unaffected by me.

I groaned. I had been going about this all wrong. I needed to stop coming on so strong. My naturally dominant nature made me overbearing and controlling. I didn't mean to, but damn, when she opened her pretty mouth and sassed me, I wanted to take her over my knee.

I would take her out tonight. We weren't confined to Hell-not even close. I could take her anywhere her heart desired. With me, she would be safe. And I had no intention of ever letting her out of my sight.

I was still too far away when I hear her scream.

The sound tore me in two. I felt something slam into me, something utterly foreign.

Fear.

My mate was in danger.

In a flash, I was in our room, my wings whipping around me. The sight in front of me made my blood run cold. My mate was thrown into a corner, her hair tangled and small body trembling. In front of her was a creature I knew well.

A Hellhound.

It was one of the bigger ones in the kennels, and one of my favorites. Cerberus. He was at least as big as a horse. He was inky black, with bone white claws tearing gashes into the wood floors. His lips were pulled back, baring a set of gigantic fangs, ready to kill. His jaws were dripping blood as he roared at Rika. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out.

I was a blur of action, drawing my twin blades and roaring a challenge. The Hellhound turned blindingly fast, and my blood ran cold.

His eyes were white-milky white.

"Cerberus. Stand down." I commanded, channeling my power as King of Hell.

The hound didn't so much as flinch. His hackles rose, teeth clacking as he lunged at me. Snarling, I swung my right blade in a brutal arc, the shimmering metal biting deep into flesh. Cerberus was flung in a wall with a whimper. Normally, I had a soft spot for dogs. But by threatening my Rika, my heart was unreachable.

I stalked toward the creature, which tried in vain to rise. Stone-faced, I plunged my blades downward.