Pumpkin mead.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
I gasp for air as orgasm slowly fades. Slumping to the ground, I pull Shadow down with me so we’re chest to chest. We breathe each others’ air, eyes scanning one another’s face.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, tucking black hair up over her shoulder. “So damn beautiful.”
She crosses her arms over my chest and rests her chin on them. “You’re not so bad yourself, you know.”
I lift up to nuzzle her nose with mine. “Good enough to get you off with all of our clothes still on.”
She chuckles. “Are you proud of that, Dain?”
I sit upright, settling her legs around my waist again. “Not proud, no. Resolved, most definitely. I need more of your pleasure, my little witch.”
She shoots me a sassy look. “And what if I need more of yours first, my handsome gargoyle?”
Shadow
“You’ve got my number, address, everything.” Dain gestures toward the sheet of paper he just stuck in my purse. Around us the portal station is busy. I would have thought most of the Fall Ball tourists left on Sunday like my girlfriends, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
And now it’s my turn to leave. I should be tired and ready to go home, but instead all I can do is stare at the big gargoyle and try, desperately, to think of reasons not to go.
“I don’t want to leave,” I whisper. “This weekend with you was magical.”
He shuffles his wings at his back, tucking them up tight as he steps close and wraps his tail around my waist. Bringing one hand up, he twists my bangs around one finger, eyeing the dark strands with a sigh. After a long, quiet moment, he brings those shocking purple eyes to mine.
“I don’twantyou to go.” He says it so simply. “But I can be with you in a few hours tops, any time you need me. We’ll figure this out together.”
“Iknowthat’s true,” I say, my voice trailing off when I struggle to find the words to explain how I can feel so deeply about someone I’ve known for such a short time.
“When’s your first free weekend?” He continues stroking my hair, moving his other hand up my shirt and between my shoulderblades. “I’ll come to you and you can show me the city. That’ll be fun.”
I frown. My next few weekends have been booked for months now. Life in the city is a constant rush of social events starting, well, starting tomorrow, actually. He seems to read that in my expression.
“I can come to you any time, Shadow.” His voice is comforting, soft but commanding, and it reassures me despite the fact that I don’t know how we can make this work. I want to try, though.
I’m human—I don’t experience that same knowing about someone that monsters do with their fancy bonds and “wow you made my heart beat!” vibe. But I know that Dain feels like he’s mine, and I want to chase that feeling to find out what it means. The thought of returning home and leaving him here is nearly catastrophic.
“Go on,” he says quietly. “When you get home, look at your calendar. It doesn’t have to be a weekend. I can even come for a night. We’ll make time to figure out where this goes. I promise.”
That finally pulls half a smile to my face. I believe him when he says we’ll figure it out. I just don’t want to go days without seeing him. It’s hard to imagine anything cheering me up. Somehow, after a blissful weekend, I’m down bad for this male.
I lift my hand to cover his, nuzzling into his slightly cool palm. He curls his fingers around my ear and strokes it, then drags his digits down the side of my neck. Bending low, he brings his mouth to my ear.
“If you keep standing here I’m going to toss you over my shoulder, take you home, and refuse to let you go for a week. I need more, Shadow, and I’m half a second away from simply taking what I want. I’m a simple male, sweetheart.”
I can’t help the soft moan that leaves me at his words. It’s almost a mewl. I’m about to start begging. But I’ve got to get it together. It’ll be fine. It’s all going to be fine. I channel Lemon and smile brightly.
“Can’t have you making a scene.” I wink as I haul my bag higher over my shoulder.
His lopsided smile sends heat swirling through me as I consider the mental image of him taking off into the sky with me in his arms.
Again.
“Bye, little witch.”
Those words shred my heart, but I turn away anyhow. I keep my composure until I step into the portal, and then I let the tears come.
