32.

**Leila**






Finishing my last gulp, I licked my lips and placed the empty bag in Azrael's extended palm, raising my gaze to find his own.

He only offered me a mild smile before moving to throw the bag in a bin nearby, my gaze trailing back to Blake, watching her casually lean against a comfy chair as she looked back at me.

"You're not getting sick from watching me drink blood anymore," I pointed out with a smile, watching her express a shrug and a smile of her own before Raz made his way back, offering me his hand.

"Ready?"

I eagerly nodded, placing my hand in his before I took my first step over the carpeted floor, taking in a lungful of air, after so many days finally having my chance to get out of that stupid bed and prove that I could control myself.

Can't wait to kiss those lips again...

I blew out a dreamy sigh as I couldn't help but think about finally touching Rick again, giving Blake and Raz a giddy smile as I glanced between them.
I could barely contain my excitement. I was finally free!

Well, almost...

I thought as I fleetingly looked at Azrael's large hand firmly wrapped around my wrist like a shackle, preventing me from moving too fast or even daring to approach anyone without his permission.
Couldn't blame him though. I knew he just wanted to keep everyone safe.

He let Blake go first and exit the room before we followed, my legs almost shaking with anticipation as I stepped out of my room, forcing myself to copy Azrael's calm strides.

Only as soon as we entered the living-room area, my breathing stopped as my eyes found those beautiful honey-colored ones, noticing that smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he stood there in the middle of the room, waiting for me.

Oh my god!

Displaying an idiotic grin of my own, I dumbly stood there like a damn plank, failing to even realize when Azrael had let go of my wrist. And only after a firm shove I finally managed to shake myself out of that daze, momentarily turning around to show Azrael my displeased expression regarding his actions, earning myself a shrug and a mild smile.

Lightly shaking my head, I returned to my previous position, meeting those beautiful eyes once again.

Oh shit. Please don't screw up, please don't screw up!

With that mental prayer and my olfactory sense forcibly turned off -since he still smelled so damn mouth-watering- I lastly dared approach him, hesitantly closing the distance between us.

But before I could even utter a single word, my lips escaped a surprised gasp instead as I found myself pressed against his incredibly warm body, feeling the strong beat of his immortal heart as he held me so close, gazing at me so intensely before his lips crashed against my own, giving me that sweet kiss I so longed for.

I almost lost control and allowed myself to breathe as his arms wrapped around me a little tighter and deepened the kiss, seemingly oblivious at the present audience.

"Great. Now I am never going to have a peaceful moment in this house," I could hear Lucifer mumble under his breath from his seat on the couch, immediately making me break the kiss and take a step back, extremely flustered.

"When all this is over, I am so going to take a break from you guys," He commented as I looked back at him, quickly hearing Blake's reply,

"What? Why?"

"Honestly? Do you truly believe that I enjoy hearing your squeaky little mewls?"

Oh my god.

I let out a stifled laugh, only now realizing that I wasn't the only one with super-hearing around here and that they all probably must've heard some of Blake and Raz's multiple passionate encounters, judging by the uncomfortable look on Rick's face, and the knowing one marring Raph's features.

Holy shit.

"You sound like a damn kitten that lost its mum, for Hell's sake," He started to let out unnecesary long and high-pitched meows, making Raphael and I double over with laughter.

"Seriously now, are you okay? Is he hurting you or something?" He kept on taunting her, holding that serious expression written all over his face as we laughed like two crazy hyenas.

Raz simply kept gazing between them, mildly annoyed while Rick appeared so uncomfortable since he was the one who basically raised her.

He totally looked like a weirded-out dad.

I let out another stifled laugh, making him frown as his gaze lowered to meet my own, giving me a questioning look.

However, before I could even open my mouth to say anything I suddenly picked up the faint sound of another heartbeat, mere moments before the doorbell rang, making us all fall into an odd and abrupt silence.

We all stupidly stared at each other for a moment, obviously taken by surprise.

"I'll get it," Blake quickly said before she turned around bolted towards the front door, hurrying to open it.

"Jake?"

My brows raised in surprise as soon as I heard that name flowing past Blake's lips, followed by that familiar male voice,

"Hi,"

"I just wanted to stop by, see if you guys are okay...You never gave me a sign,"

Huh?

"I..."

"Leila?"

My heart stopped as soon as I heard that same voice calling out my name, feeling my body freeze as I could see Jake's head poking between the half-open door and Blake's body, staring at me with what could only be described as utter shock.

Fuck.

"Oh my god! What happened to you?"

I could barely register his words as my vision abruptly became so blurry, completely caught off-guard by his strong scent attacking my nostrils and fast heartbeat ringing in my ears like an ominous song, beckoning me to just move closer...and have a taste...

Just a small taste...

"Leila...Leila..."

His voice kept echoing in my head as his scent became stronger and stronger, almost making my teeth hurt with want...and thirst...

Just a small sip...

"No!"

The tangible fear and desperation lacing Blake's trembling voice suddenly snapped me back to reality, just in time to notice the horrifying scene before me.

Her hand was tightly wrapped around Azrael's strong wrist as he firmly held Jake by the throat, making me involuntarily let out a few crazed and frightened screams, my sudden reaction also coaxing Azrael's hand to loosen and let go.

We all watched for a moment, completely shocked to see Jake still standing and pretty much alive, staring between Blake and Raz like he'd just seen a ghost.

"Holy shit!!" I screamed out loud, exteriorizing my current inner state.

But before Jake could utter a single word Raph approached him from behind, moving faster than a lightning bolt. And with a single flick of his index and middle finger against Jake's forehead, he managed to knock him out cold and effortlessly catch his limp body before he could even hit the ground, gently placing him down instead.

"Oh my god...Did you just...Just..." I incoherently mumbled as I frantically stared between Raphael and Blake, too stunned to even think straight.

What the fuck just happened?

I wondered as I watched Blake quickly move closer so she could kneel right next to Jake's unconscious form, tears rapidly gathering into her eyes as she gently traced her fingers through his dark locks, faintly whispering,
"I want him to forget..."

What?

"Can you make him forget? E-everything..." She suddenly asked, a little louder as she shifted her teary gaze so she could stare up at Raphael's visibly confused expression.

"You want us to make him forget everything about you?"

"Wait, what?" I suddenly butted in, actually having a hard time processing what I just heard.

What the hell? Why would she want such thing?

I blankly stared at Blake in utter disbelief as she met my gaze, blowing out a trembling breath before her eyes shifted back to Raphael's.

"You don't understand! He's our best friend! He loves us and he cares about us, and he'll never let go! As long as he remembers about us, he'll never stop trying to help!" She cried, her bottom lip quivering as she desperately stared up at Raphael.

"I just don't want him to get hurt too..."

"I've already done enough damage..." She lastly whispered as she lowered her gaze to look at Jake's peaceful features, her words sending a jolt of pain striking into my slowly beating heart.

"Please..." She begged as she looked back up at Raphael, all under our still shocked stares.

I still couldn't understand what just happened.

When did I get so close to Jake?

And why did Azrael's touch have zero effect on him? Was it because of Blake?

But why did he even touch him at all?

"Why did you do that? You could have killed him!" I half-yelled as my gaze shifted to Azrael, incredulously staring back at him.

What the hell was he thinking?

"Better me than you," He quietly replied, making my eyes widen in astonishment as I watched him avert his gaze to look at Blake for a moment.

"What?" My trembling voice broke through the silence as we watched Raphael gently grab Blake's hand and close his eyes for a moment, a bright light erupting from beneath his fingers as he mildly touched Jake's forehead once again.

"If I would've killed him, it wouldn't have made any difference. He would've been just another soul on my list,"

"But for you, it would've scarred you for life. I couldn't let you accidentally murder your own friend,"

"Better have her hate me than herself," He lastly said mostly to himself, my mind still reeling after his previous words.

I’m...I’m still dangerous...Even to my own friends...

"I'll take him back to his apartment," I barely heard Raphael quietly say, watching through blurry eyes how Blake gave him a small nod, allowing him to retrieve Jake’s unconscious body from the floor and carry him to the front door.