Page 28 of Gardening and Gargoyles

“My loyalty is to you, and it is not misplaced. You are the lady of my heart, and will be the lady of our manor, whether it’s large or small. I—I am being hasty, pressing you instead of taking time to woo you. But I will. I will court ye, like ye deserve.” Duncan’s brogue becomes more pronounced, and I can see a flash of fear in his eyes.

“No, no. I’m not hesitating because I want more wooing. I mean, yes, I do. But that’s not what’s making me be a little cautious.”

My giant suitor scowls and jerks his head towards the phone and the open rear gate of the Mercedes. “You’re grieving the loss of thon wee bastard’s love, I know.”

“Eh.” I have to laugh at that, and Duncan smiles, transforming him from fierce to, well, delicious. There’s no other word for how his craggy face tempts me. Captivates me. It’s so different from a human face, and yet the emotions are just the same. “It’s been really easy to feel all the old feelings go when I see this ugly side of him. It’s also been easy because you’re here, treating me like a princess, making me feel like you would do anything in the world for me. That I’m valuable.”

“One’s mate is the most valuable jewel. She is his treasure.”

“Th-that’s the other thing. The whole ‘mating’ part of mate. I know gargoyles and humans get married and even have kids. I’m just not sure if you’d want me like that. Sex and intimacy have changed a lot over the years. I’m assuming you waited for your one love—but I didn’t. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were sleeping in stone all that time.”

Duncan brings his lips closer to mine, so close I can feel each word he murmurs as if he’s stroking my skin with his voice. “I did wait for my mate, but I don’t care that you didn’t. What I care about is whether you’ll be mine and mine alone now that I’m here.”

“I will,” I whisper instantly, like the words have been waiting to burst out. “If you’ll be mine. Mine and mine alone,” I repeat, savoring the words. They were empty words in Daniel’s eyes, butit’s Duncan’s way of life to be loyal and steadfast. I never realized how utterly sexy that could be.

“I vow it on everything in this world and the next. I’m yours, Lady June Russo-Mitchell. Soon to be Mackintosh.”

“Soon?” I squeak.

“Unless you want to wait.”

“We’ll work out the exact timing later. Right now, if you don’t let me kiss you, I might burst something,” I hiss, my hands locking down in his long, flowing ebony locks, gripping him so he can’t move that perfect mouth out of range.

“Thank God,” Duncan agrees, and captures my mouth with his.

For someone who hasn’t had a lot of experience, and none of it recent, Duncan knows what the hell he’s doing. I tell myself it could be something like a gargoyle’s primal instinct, but I don’t really care where the skill comes from. I’m just enjoying the way his mouth claims mine, and how his tongue slips into stroke and battle with mine, the way my body responds to every little touch and noise he makes.

Just from kissing, I’m a mess. My nipples turn into tight little pebbles, and my pussy throbs and clenches on nothing. My mind is a whirl of lust and happiness—but certain sneaky thoughts, important thoughts, keep poking in.

If you hadn’t met Daniel—he wouldn’t have sent you Duncan. If Daniel hadn’t been the rich guy, the real estate developer, he never would have found Duncan and repaired him. Without the heartbreak of Daniel, there would be no heart healing with Duncan.

“Worth every hour I spent with that jerk,” I gasp out when Duncan lets me breathe, “because now all the rest of my hours are going to be spent with you.”

“Aye, that’s right. Are ye sure that you’ll no’ mind that I’m only awake at night?”

I shrug. “We’ll work it out. I’d rather have days asleep and nights awake with you than all my time alone and free,” I whisper.

“And you’re sure you don’t mind that I’m not human?” Duncan looks suddenly bashful, his eyes going from hazy with lust to downcast.

I follow them.

There’s something very prominent lifting the front of his kilt. His tail is tugging the hem down to try and keep it from sliding back to reveal what’s got to be a huge cock, but it’s a losing battle against size and gravity.

“Oh, wow,” I whisper.

“I know we’re not wed yet, in the human fashion, but once a gargoyle tells you that you have his heart and offers you his heartstone, then you’re as good as betrothed. Some would say married. I would wait.”

“I don’t want to. I feel like I got cheated out of a hundred years with you while you were stuck under the castle—which is silly, since I wasn’t even born for most of that time.”

“I know what you mean, my love. My lady. But think of it—without all the time that passed, we wouldn't be together now. Love is right on time.”

I nod slowly. “I like that.”

“I loveyou.” Duncan makes the declaration that sends human men running for the hills.

“You don’t know me that well.”

“Aye, but what I know, I love.”