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His fingers tenderly brushed the hair away from my face. Our eyes locked, and as he touched his brow to mine, he whispered between panting breaths, “Gods... I love you.”
As my eyes slid close, a flood of certainty came over me. I would never find anyone like him again. No one could compare to his strength, his tenderness, or his fiery passion. Rhys was the only one for me.
“I’ll never let you go,” he breathed against my lips, as I clung to him one last time, the echoes of pleasure still thrumming through my core.
I wanted to tell him I felt the same, but my throat tightened with emotion. So instead, I just held him close and savored the moment for all that it was worth. In response, he ran his thumb across my lips, then drew me into a long, passionate kiss, our quickened hearts beating against each other in perfect unison.
We lay entwined in perfect rapture, locked in fathomless bliss. Even though our lovemaking had been over for a while, Rhys still filled me completely. After a moment, I tried to glide away, but something oddly unfamiliar held me in place.
“What is it?” I murmured hoarsely as Rhys seized my wrists with desperate intensity, pinning me beneath him.
“Don’t move,” he rasped out. “Please.” He winced, as if in pain.
“Rhys?” My brows furrowed in confusion. “What’s—”
“It’s a… gargoyle thing,” he whispered hesitantly as his gaze remained trained on mine. “A knotted bond.”
I gasped as realization struck me.
He nodded, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. “It’s a ritual between gargoyles and their mates,” he explained softly. “We’re connected now until the knot is undone.”
I blinked at him in awe as my heart raced in my chest. “Oh... wow,” I breathed out, barely able to comprehend what was happening.
Rhys smiled tenderly at me, his dark eyes sparkling with love and adoration. “So, uh... do you still love me?” he asked quietly, almost as if he was afraid of the answer.
A smile ghosted my lips. Could this perfect man really think he wasn’t worthy of my love? Tears blurred my vision as warmth radiated from my being—for the first time in my life, I felt so completely safe and loved. “More than anything in this world,” I whispered sincerely.
He grinned widely back at me, a radiant, heart-stopping smile. His lips grazed my forehead in a soft kiss of contentment. “Me too,” he murmured against my brow.
Elated, I clung tightly to him again, allowing myself to bask in this moment, filled with safety and unending love.
“I can think of many ways to pass the time while we wait...” he murmured mischievously.
My cheeks grew hot as my heart fluttered in anticipation. I looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Oh, really?” I challenged. “Such as?”
His mouth curved devilishly as he leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine, sending sparks of electricity through my body. He pulled slightly away and grinned. “That’s one of them,” he said quietly, his gaze never straying from me.
I smiled and kissed him back, slow and passionate, not wanting the moment to end. And as our kiss deepened, I savored every moment, allowing myself to get lost in the warmth and safety of his embrace. Nothing else mattered, and I never wanted it to end.
CHAPTER12
Sera
Sunlight streamedthrough the library’s vaulted windows, gilding the dust motes dancing lazily through the air. I sat tucked in an alcove beside Rhys, surrounded by a chaotic pile of albums and playlists. Officially, we were selecting music for the Starry Night Ball; but lately, our sessions had inevitably devolved into stolen caresses and hungry kisses.
Ever since the snarevine’s attack, the wire of desire thrumming between us had become a relentless force, leaving me distracted and all too aware of Rhys’ every breath and movement. Even now, my gaze strayed more often to the graceful line of his neck bared temptingly before me than the task at hand.
His heavenly scent permeated my lungs—smoke and pine needles with a hint of spice. The heady mixture enveloped my senses, making concentrating nearly impossible. I could feel the heat from his body so near to mine, the sound of his steady breathing. My skin prickled pleasurably at his nearness. With some effort, I tried refocusing on the open album in my lap. We really did need to finalize the band and song list soon before the Headmistress lost patience.
Sensing my frustration, Rhys leaned closer, his warmth washing over me.
“Hey Seraphina, what do you think of this group?” he asked softly. “Their sound seems perfect for the Starry Night Ball. We might consider adding them to the audition list.”
I managed to tear my eyes away from his face long enough to see the video clip illuminated on his phone. As the haunting music filled my ears, I couldn’t deny it was a perfect fit.
“Absolutely,” I agreed, nodding. “Great find, Rhys.”
His eyes lit up at my praise, making my heart flip pleasantly. “I’m glad we’re working together on this,” he said. “You have a great ear for music.”
