Lucian Divine(41)

Our wedding site was a breathtaking scene, and Lucian had set the whole thing up.

I looked out at the ceremony space, fearing the seats on the groom’s side would be empty, but to my surprise, they were all full. I was curious who all the people were. When he had told me before that he’d find a best man, I thought maybe Lucian was going to pay a bunch of actors to sit in as friends for him. We had already explained to my friends and parents that Lucian had no family, being an only child whose parents had passed away in a car accident.

Through a trellis, I saw Lucian standing under an arbor, wearing a suit and looking as handsome as ever. He was waiting for the ceremony to begin. Next to him stood his best man, a guy I had never seen before.

“Don’t let him see you,” my father said.

“He’s not going to see me,” I replied, knowing Lucian could hear me, even several yards away. I saw a smile playing on his beautiful lips.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” came Brooklyn’s voice.

Off to the left, an acoustic guitarist and singer began playing “Til Kingdom Come” by Coldplay. Lucian had chosen all the music. It was perfect.

“Don’t start crying yet,” my father said. “We have to walk down the aisle, DD.”

“Let’s do this,” I told him.

The moment I turned the corner, I saw Lucian’s mouth drop open. My dress was a simple A-line ivory and lace, something I had designed as a teenager. I was walking slowly, watching Lucian’s expression. It was pure joy and wonder.

When we reached the end of the aisle, Lucian took my hand from my father’s and said, “Hello.” His smooth voice sent a chill down my spine. I could have melted into him right then and there in front of everyone.

“Hello,” I said back.

“You are stunning, Evelyn. I’m the happiest man alive.”

And just like that, we were two regular people, young, in love, and about to commit the rest of our lives to each other.

We finished with Till death do us part before kissing then turning and facing the crowd. His entire section was remarkably good-looking.

He leaned in toward my ear, laughing, and said, “Jesus forgives. It’s kind of his thing.” I wasn’t sure what he meant but figured he’d fill me in later. Lucian and I danced the night away, swept up in each other and happy to see people sharing our joy. My parents were beaming, and Brooklyn was hitting on Zack, Lucian’s best man, who I figured was not of this world either. Not nearly as good-looking as Lucian, Zack still had a glow about him. I think he was pretty flattered that Brooke was all over him, but he wasn’t exactly reciprocating. Lucian had told me once before that Zack was a rule-follower.

After the reception, a car drove us to a bed-and-breakfast near Napa. Our plan was to go wine tasting the following day. “You know I’m the best winemaker around,” Lucian said, nibbling on my ear.

I spotted the driver eyeing us in the rearview mirror and giggled. “Stop. Let’s wait until we get there.” Lucian obeyed with a mock frown. “So tell me, who were all those people at the wedding on your side?”

“Angels,” he said quietly. He grinned. “Zack really is my best friend, and Mona, the liaison, was there too. A bunch of them got their shifts covered to come and support me… support us. Although, I think it was more out of curiosity.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you and I are a bit of a spectacle to them.” I frowned at him, but didn’t respond. He continued, “I mean they all seemed happy for us, but an angel falling for a human and marrying her doesn’t exactly happen every day.”

“That’s a bit elitist, don’t you think?”

“Angels can be obnoxiously self-righteous.”

“Don’t I know it.” I laughed.

“I’m not like that anymore, Evey, obviously. Not since you,” he said while running his hand up my thigh.

There is no doubt that Lucian’s hand on any woman’s thigh would make her fall speechless. “Mm,” was my only reply.

“I guess they all got permission from the higher-ups, one last little way of saying good-bye,” he said.

“Wait what?” My brain was back. “What do you mean good-bye?” I felt my heart begin to race.

“They are going to have to cut ties for good, I think.”

“Because you’re becoming a human?” I asked with wide, hopeful eyes.

He took my hand and squeezed it. That warm feeling coursed through me. “I don’t know yet what’s happening, but I don’t want to think about it on our wedding night.”

I felt as though Lucian was keeping something from me.

Once inside our wedding suite, he took his time undressing me until I was standing in nothing but a white slip. He shrugged his jacket from his arms and frantically kicked off his shoes.

“God, she is beautiful.”

I couldn’t tell if he was talking to me or directly to God. It didn’t matter. I loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt. He kissed a path down the center of my chest and took my nipple into his mouth through the slip, sucking on the silk and skin and making me crazy.

“Lucian, come up here, let me undress you.”

“Not yet,” he mumbled.

He dropped to his knees and pushed the silk slip up my thighs and began kissing me down below. I was losing my ability to stand. Bracing the back of my legs, he kissed his way up my body.