THREE MONTHS LATER

Lucan paced the floor of the apartment he shared with Elise and Marguerite in Salem. His daughter’s school books were spread over the coffee table. Her favorite class—potions—was marked by several colorful sticky notes. Elise’s presence was stamped on their place with the number of potted plants covering every horizontal surface. He had a book on opening a restaurant, a stack of menus, and commercial real estate listings in one neat pile. When he’d spoken to Tristan about opening a restaurant with a Vamps-like vibe, he encouraged Lucan to learn about the business and come up with some ideas. Tristan had the funding and an eye for real estate and said he’d be willing to partner on the right opportunity.

Other than that, Lucan’s belongings were minimal, having been used to living a simple life. The most important parts were already there—Elise and Marguerite.

He went over his list again in his head to make sure everything was covered. This was the night. He glanced at the blue glass witch ball hanging in the picture window, the first thing they’d hung when they’d moved in.

The living room rug practically had a hole in it by the time Elise came home.

When she entered, he paused and took her in. Damn, she was beautiful—and she was his. His insides softened. She wore a dark blue sundress that set off her honey blonde hair. He pictured the events that would follow, and his cock twitched with expectation.

He rushed over to her and greeted her with a kiss. “Welcome home.”

She smiled and glanced around the room. “Wow, this is quite the welcome.”

He’d put the vases of flowers on the coffee table, the kitchen table, and every spot that wasn’t covered.

“How was work?” he asked.

She’d picked up a position at a witch-owned women’s health center. It wasn’t far from the school for witches that Marguerite attended. She was away for the weekend field trip to New Orleans with her class, which was why Lucan thought it would be a perfect night.

The night that they’d seal their bond taking the gargoyle oath.

“Oh, fine.” She kicked off her shoes. “I’m glad to be home, though.”

“Me, too.” He stepped behind her and rubbed her shoulders. She loved when he worked out the kinks at the end of the day. “I have a bath drawn for you. Why don’t you go and relax?”

She kissed him. “You’re so good to me. Merci.”

After she left to go take a bath, he poured a couple of glasses of champagne and brought one in to her.

When he entered, Elise appeared radiant. All the candles he’d lit around the bathroom bathed her skin in a warm, soft glow. He longed to lean over and touch her.

She took the glass and thanked him. “There’s plenty of room in here for you to join me.” She flashed him a seductive look over the top of her glass.

He laughed. For a shifter of his size, it was hardly enough space, especially with another person in there. “An alluring invitation, but you’ll definitely have more room without me in there. I’ll wait for you in the bedroom.”

“All right.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking about something lately.”

She arched her brow. “A good thing or a bad one?”

“Good. Well, it turned out that way.”

“What is it?”

“Remember how I’d said I wished it was you I’d met thirteen years ago, instead of Veronique?”

Elise moaned. “Do we have to bring her up? She’s out of our lives for good.”

Veronique was now stripped of her powers and imprisoned for her unethical use of magic. Sure, she was still alive and not dead as he’d fantasized, but her incarceration did have some poetic justice in the end.

“Sorry. It’s part of my point, though.”

“Go ahead.” She peered at him as if awaiting terrible news.

“I take that back.” When Elise frowned, he quickly added, “Because the way it worked out, I ended up with you and Marguerite in my life, so I couldn’t be luckier.”

Her eyes widened. “Even after the curse?”

“I’d go back to stone and do it again if it brought me back to the two of you. My family. My world.”

Her lips twitched and then broadened into a luminous smile. “Oh, Lucan.”

“Take your time relaxing.” He turned to walk out of the bathroom, but paused and glanced over his shoulder. “We have all night.”

Sensual thoughts of the night ahead swam through his mind as he lit more candles in the bedroom and tossed red and white rose petals on the bed. Perhaps it was bordering on overzealous romance, but tonight was important and he wanted to make it unforgettable for them both. He removed all his clothing except for a pair of black lounge pants.

When Elise came out of the bathroom in a fluffy white towel, he sucked in a breath. She was the one. Each day his certainty of it grew. It now seared his soul like a brand.

Her cheeks were flushed and eyes bright with a hint of anticipation. All the muscles in his body were coiled tight with need—a need to join with her and claim her.

He strode over to her and cupped her cheeks. “Ma belle.”

After widening his stance so he could bend lower to reach her, he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips parted and he tasted her with slow exploration. The champagne was the perfect complement to her sweet mouth. He removed the towel from her body.

“Beautiful,” he repeated in English and ran his fingers over the satiny soft skin on her shoulder.

She rewarded him with a slow, sensual appraisal and smiled. “You’re not bad yourself—in any form. But, I like this one the most.”

He carried her to the bed and gently lowered her to it. She stared up at him, naked with that inquisitive heat in her eyes. It took all of his resistance not to climb right on top of her and sink his aching cock into her tight wet flesh. This was a moment to savor, and he wouldn’t rush it.

Lucan took one of her legs and kissed the bottom of her foot.

She let out a surprised gasp. “That tickles.”

He moved his mouth to kiss her ankle. “How about this?”

She smiled. “Not so much.”

“And this?” He moved higher along her calf.

He continued that way to kiss and worship every inch of her body. By the time he’d made it to her sex, she was writhing in need.

“Oh Lucan, you always get me this way,” she murmured.

“Like what?”

“This hot, needy mess,” she cried. “Desperate for you.”

“Just as I am for you,” he declared. “I can’t ever get enough.”

He played her with his hands and mouth, giving her what she craved. After she climaxed, she reached for him and stroked his cock. He groaned at her delicious touch working him higher. When she covered the head with her mouth, a guttural sound escaped him. It felt too good. Too exciting. He’d explode if she kept that up.

“Lie back,” he directed. “I need to fuck you now.”

She complied, eying him with the look of desire that could level him. “Yes, now,” she agreed.

He stroked her sex. “You’re so wet, so ready for me.”

He slid inside her as slow as he could to savor the sensation. She was so tight. So hot. She held on, welcoming him in. Once he was fully inside her, he pumped his hips. Damn, she felt so good. He yearned to thrust harder and faster until they exploded into oblivion.

But he had to slow things down. He wanted to take the oath while they were joined this way—physically connected before they completed their promises with vows.

He caressed her face, the soft skin he always yearned to touch and kiss. Following suit with his lips, he peppered her cheeks with soft kisses and moved back to her lips. He pulled his head back and stared into her warm eyes, finding all the love and promise there that could ever be.

This was it, the moment where he would seal their commitment.

He swallowed and said, “I, Lucan, take an oath to bind with you, Elise. I promise to love you and protect you all of my days, with all my abilities as a gargoyle and man.”

Magic rose in silver wisps from their joined bodies and circled around them. Elise’s gaze followed the wisps as they floated and wrapped around their bodies. It jolted him with a surge of heat that flowed through his body and down into his already stiff member. He moved with a shallow thrust inside her to alleviate some of the ache to pump harder.

She moaned and pulled her gaze back to him. “I feel the magic binding us.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “Our connection will grow stronger with time.”

She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I, Elise, promise to love you and care for you, Lucan, all of my days, with all my abilities as a witch and woman.”

With the oath taken, the magic rose and swirled around them. Its energy danced along his skin and penetrated within, sealing every capillary with their promise. The vibrancy of their connection pounded throughout him. Before he resumed thrusting within her, driven by the force to claim his mate as his, he cupped her face and kissed her.

“I love you, Elise,” he murmured.

She smiled at him with glistening eyes. “And I love you. In whatever form, human, gargoyle, or stone, I’ll always love you, Lucan.”

Her words jolted him with their sincerity and promise. For the first time in his life, his universe seemed complete.

Lucan captured her mouth and claimed her with a kiss. He rocked back into her, eager to complete the bond. When he pulled his lips away, he whispered to her what his soul had been whispering to him all along. “My mate.”

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AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you for reading Lucan and Elise’s story! I hope you enjoyed it. I’d greatly appreciate if you could leave a review.

INFLAME is part of the , featuring supernatural characters at an underground goth club. Danton’s story is in HEAT and Mattias’s is coming soon!

Read more about the vampire affair in Salem in Pursued, a Vampire Blood Courtesans romance. Mia becomes a blood courtesan, changing her life forever:

It was only meant to be three nights, but can I walk away now?

Welcome to the shadow world of Blood Courtesans...where vampires are real and blood is a commodity.

It’s not supposed to be about love...until it is.

Read more about , a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick!

If you’re interested in learning more about my other paranormal and military romances and BAD Alpha Dad books from other authors, read on!

Lisa