Chapter 152

He gestured towards Dean. "Dean has been possessed by the spirit of Daniel. I'm sure you know who that is. And he is here to threaten and hurt Ariane and her babes."

Lucifer's face darkened as fury filled his eyes. I took a step back as I saw his eyes burn red and his face turned a shade of blood red as he lost his human disguise. His horns were ebony and twisted above his head. His wings sprouted and were a deep ink black. Lucifer was the only Angel that a mortal could look at since he'd fallen from grace. 

"Um, Ari, isn't he going to burn our eyes out?" Nat sounded worried but her eyes were trained on Lucifer. Even in Devil form, he was a sexy sight to see.

I smiled at Nat. "Look all you want, sis. Luci here is the only Angel you can look at and not die from since he fell out of God's favor and lost his Grace. Grace is the holy power and it's what makes Angels too bright to look at. Now Luci is just one powerful and very sexy man, well, Angel."

I saw Lucifer look towards me with a sexy devastating smile, very similar to Loki's. 

"You find me attractive even as a Devil, Ariane?"

I felt Loki's growl against my back and his jealousy in my head as I was honest with Lucifer. "Yes. I always thought you were attractive, but I find this form to be very attractive. It's you, Luci. Unfiltered. You've never shown me the full thing, or I would have told you this sooner." I reached out my hand since Loki wasn't letting me go. "Can I touch the horns? And the wings? I've always wanted to when you showed me pieces, but I didn't know how you would feel if I asked."

Lucifer grinned, pleased with what I told him. "Of course, Ariane. You could've asked at any time. There isn't much I would deny you."

I felt the tension mounting in my men as Lucifer came closer. I felt the possessiveness from Loki, and I turned in his arms to look at him. I drew his head down for a kiss and whispered in his ear, even though I knew Lucifer would hear anyway. 

"While I think he is attractive love, you rule my heart and, in my eyes, no one is as handsome or sexy as you three. I will still always have an opinion on attractive men, but never interest. This is purely curiosity, Kokoro no Yokubo. I'm sure you feel with our bond that I'm not aroused. Now if you were in your Frost Giant form, that would be a different story."

I sent a thought just to him, and him alone. 'You're always the one I find the most attractive, the most handsome, and the sexiest. No one can compete with you. To me, you're the picture of a perfect man, even as a Frost Giant."

I felt Loki's jealousy ease. 

"If you are sure, pet. Just remember, we are not keeping him. Three is enough."

I laughed and hugged him. "Any chance that the several beings I know that I would have fucked lost that chance when I met you three."

Loki let me go and took a small step back. I turned and found Lucifer had come up behind me and was standing very close. He was grinning at me. 

"Hmm, I didn't realize I fit into that category, or I would've tried years ago. Such a shame. You need to tell an Angel these things, Ariane."

I giggled. "Hush up smooth talker. Now, can I pet you?"

His laughter rumbled through the room, and I saw Crowley and Cas grin. They had never seen Lucifer act this way. I seemed to have that effect on people.

Lucifer knelt before me so that I could touch his horns since he was so much taller than me. I started to reach out but then the meaning in his actions processed as I heard Cas give a small gasp. I froze, arm outstretched.

"Luci… why are you kneeling? As an Angel and Devil, you keel to no one. Please… don't kneel for me. I can have someone boost me up."

I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up, but he wouldn't budge. 

"Please, Luci. I'm not someone you should be kneeling to."

"I kneel for you and you alone. You're more than worthy to have me kneel before you. You're right that if I had let anyone else touch my horns, they would've had to reach up to me. For you, I kneel so you can reach me."

"But why me, Luci? I am not special."

I heard Loki disagree under his breath and I saw Lucifer grin as he heard him.

"I agree with your God husband, dear heart. You are more special than you know or give yourself credit for. Angels don't have mates or love in the same sense mortals do, but you're as close as I'll ever come to it, Ariane. You're more to me than just a mortal. I wasn't lying when I said you should've told me that you found me attractive sooner. I would've enjoyed giving you pleasure, though since you have the mate bond, it wouldn't be at the level of pleasure your husbands can give you. But I would've made damn sure you enjoyed it. So, I'll say what I've never said to any being before. I love you as much as I can as an Angel."

My heart stopped and my brain had a hard time processing what I just heard. I looked at Crowley and Cas and they were as stunned as I was. I looked back at Lucifer and blinked. 

"Luci… I don't know what to say to that. I am flattered and very honored. You mean a lot to me, but I never stopped to categorize or label it. And no, this doesn't stop me from caring, it's just really thrown me for a loop."

I felt his laugh caress over my skin and shivered. "I understand. I didn't intend to tell you but when you said you found me attractive and asked to touch me, something shoved me into telling you." He glanced behind me. "Be at peace, her husbands. I don't plan to try and steal her from you or join your group. While I'd welcome the experience, I don't think that'll ever be an option left open to me now."

I felt so much confusion and my men were just as confused by what was going on. I looked deep into Lucifer's eyes, trying to wrap my head around his confession. I knew it was going to take longer than a few minutes, so I filed it away to study later. We still had two fuckwads to deal with.

"Can I still pet you, Luci? My curiosity's killing me."

"Absolutely, dear heart."

He was still kneeling, and I reached out and stroked my hand down his horn. I felt a slight shudder run through him and wondered if it was sensitive to touch. 

"Did I hurt you, Luci?"

"No."

I nodded and ran my fingers up and down his horn. It was smooth like polished marble. I could feel the pulse of his power as I touched his horn. I shifted and touched both horns at the same time, studying his face as I slid my hands up and down them for a minute. His eyes burned into mine and his breathing quickened. I arched an eye at him, and he grinned and nodded slightly. Seems having his horns stroked was erotic to him. I gave him a cheeky grin and very lightly trailed my fingertips down his horns and stroked his hair. It was as soft as I figured it would be, silky and smooth. I felt him shiver.