Page 34 of Gardening and Gargoyles

Her body hugs mine, pulling me in easily this time. It’s still an exquisitely snug fit, especially once my tail presses into her, connecting us further. I’m careful not to squash her, but my brave, beautiful June is heedless of the danger, pulling me to her with hungry, nipping kisses, her hands wrapping in my hair, and her calves wrapping around mine.

“This is so good. It’s all so good, but this is amazing,” she whispers between kisses.

I have to agree, especially as I realize the way we’re rubbing together, skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest, puts me in the best position to stroke against her clit with every thrust. And when I feel her squeezes starting to speed up, so do I.

With a grunt, I lift her head to mine and swallow her screams with a kiss, catching her peak as it ripples around my cock and tail, drawing another peak from me, as well.

She is well and truly mine. My mate.

“Duncan. Wow,” June sighs, limp under me. She rubs her flushed face against my shoulder and kisses my neck. “That was... Well, it was big. And a lot. And I’m addicted.”

“That’s good, my lady.”

“You don’t have to call me—”

“But you are. You are my lady, you are my love, and you are my mate. And it’s good, my lady, that you liked it so much,” I smirk, “because I’m not done just yet.”

“What again?” June gasps.

“Unless you wish to wait?”

June flops back with a happy sigh. “Nope. You carry on. I’m just going to lie here, pinching myself, wondering if this is a dream.”

My hand strokes down her sweat-streaked torso, and my thumb flicks her clit, making her jump with a tempting moan. “I have much better ways to convince you that I’m all too real, mate of mine.”

Chapter Nine: June and Duncan

There’s a stone gargoyle beside my bed, standing there naked, because he only rolled off of me a second before sunrise.

Honestly, he could have stayed on top of me if not for the weight of solid stone. I’m not going to move, anyway. My thighs are destroyed. My abs ache. I’m probably dangerously dehydrated.

I can’t stop smiling.

WHEN DUNCAN WAKES,he immediately starts scrabbling in the stone shards that are all over the floor.

“Good evening, my love,” he croons. “Are you well?”

“I’m walking again,” I tease as I toss the final pillow back in place on the newly laundered bedding. “And there’s a big pot of spaghetti and meat sauce ready.”

“Spaghetti?”

“Trust me. Come and eat.” So we can get to dessert, I think with a smirk.

Duncan stops, holding up a large, smooth piece of stone. It’s broken cleanly enough that it isn’t so much a shard, but a pieceof pectoral. “Perfect,” he sighs. “This will be your heartstone, my lady.Ourheartstone.”

“Like an engagement ring?”

“More than that.” Duncan comes to sit beside me, his wings out and back. I notice that he moves without a wince, and now his wing and part of his back are covered with scars. I imagine that tomorrow morning, his stone form will have cracks, but that the steadily shrinking line of mortar or cement will be practically gone.

“A wedding ring?” I ask, and my stomach does a nervous squeeze.It’s stupid to get married to a guy a week after meeting him, right?

I knew Danny for 6 months before we got engaged, and look at that mistake.What will my parents say? What will my sisters think? This isn’t a good example for them.

“What’s wrong?”

“A week is fast. That’s all. In human customs, people don’t marry after a week. M-maybe you could make it, but not give it to me yet?”

Duncan’s face shifts from eager to disappointed. “But... But d’ye not know how a heartstone works? Didn’t I tell you?”