Page 24 of Gargoyle Defender

Ronen leaned down, capturing Tanner’s lips in a searing kiss as he thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt. A sound escaped Tanner’s throat, a desperate moan. Never had he been so imprisoned by such desperation, an ache in his core that only Ronen could satisfy.

When Ronen pulled back, Tanner was startled by the raw, almost monstrous gleam radiating from his eyes. He wasn’t frightened. Somewhere in the depths of his soul, he understood he was safe in Ronen’s arms.

“Move,” Tanner demanded, his voice stronger now. “Fuck me, Ronen.”

The command seemed to shatter whatever restraint Ronen had left. His guttural roar filled the room as he thrust, each powerful surge burying himself deeper into Tanner’s willing body. Tanner lifted his knees higher, pulling them back as far as he could.

The strain was almost too much to bear. Ronen slammed into him with such force that Tanner could barely catch his breath. It was as if his body had been created for Ronen, to be used by his mate however he wished.

Something shifted between them—a connection that went beyond physical. A pressure built in Tanner’s chest, bringing him to the brink of tears, even as it seemed to set him free. His vision blurred at the edges, his balls tightening. With one final brutal thrust, Ronen buried himself into Tanner and froze.

Tanner gasped, certain he’d been split open. Ronen’s cock pulsed inside him, the faint sensation tumbling him over the edge. With a strangled cry, he came, his own cum splashing across his belly, the orgasm almost violent in its intensity. Somewhere in his addled thoughts was the startling realization that Ronen hadn't once touched his cock. Instead, he’d been fucked into an explosive release.

Tanner reached up, sliding his palms up Ronen’s sweat-slicked back, tracing the ridges of his muscles.

“Mine,” Ronen whispered, his voice rough and raw as he pressed his forehead against Tanner’s. “You’re mine now.”

Tanner smiled, his heart swelling with a rush of joy and peace. “Yours.” His eyes widened as another strange sensation assailed him. “Umm, I thought you came.”

Ronen nuzzled his neck, peppering Tanner’s skin with feather-light kisses. “Don’t be afraid. It’s my knot. We’ll need to remain joined for a while.”

The fullness inside Tanner increased, becoming somewhat uncomfortable now that he wasn’t in the throes of mad lust. He fought the urge to hold his breath and tried to relax.

“Are gargoyles part wolf?”

Not that he knew much about wildlife, but he’d heard of the mating knot. Don’t cats have spiky ones? Tanner swallowed hard. He should be grateful that at least Ronen didn’t seem to possess any feline attributes.

“No, but the knot is how we breed our mates.”

He mulled Ronen’s comment over in his head, the word breed suddenly hitting him as meaning something more traditional than sexual.

“Uh, wait. It kind of sounds like you’re saying—”

He sucked in a sharp breath as Ronen poked the tip of his tongue in Tanner’s ear. His body flushed with heat again, the aching need grabbing hold as if he hadn’t come at all.

Knots, shmotz. He was ready for round two.

Chapter Eight

“How are you feeling? I wasn’t too rough, was I?”

Ronen cradled Tanner to his chest, fascinated by his small stature and how fragile he was in his arms. But the last thing he wished to do was harm him. His mate was as precious to him as his own life.

“Hey, I begged for it. It was super hot.”

Tanner couldn’t seem to keep his hand still on Ronen’s body. He traced his fingers in circles on Ronen’s chest, then ran his palm down Ronen’s torso. If Tanner kept touching him that way, round three would be imminent. It had been a while since he’d gotten some.

Tanner snorted. “Which my body still is, by the way.” He peered up at Ronen. “I thought you said that the only thing that would fix my heat was having sex?” He scrunched his nose. “With my luck, I’m broken.”

Ronen jostled him in his arms. “No, my angel. From what I’ve heard, you’ll be this way for at least a few days, sometimes as long as a week.”

Tanner groaned. “That sounds exhausting. But fun.”

The knock Cassiel always used when checking in with him sounded at the door.

“Give me a sec, Cass,” he called out. Tanner tensed, so Ronen hugged him close. “It’s all right. She’s one of my teammates and an excellent Slayer. She’s the one who rescued me after I was dumped by the rogues. I trust her with my life.”

“Oh, okay.” Tanner didn’t sound convinced. “Where are my clothes? That other thing I was in was rather sheer. Not sure I want to meet the team like I’m modeling for Victoria’s Secret.”