Jill woke warm and happy. Aveoth’s big body radiated heat along her back and the weight of his arm anchored around her waist made her smile. Memories of the night before left no morning-after regrets. They had sexual chemistry by the truckload.
She wiggled a little to get onto her back to be able to see him, staring at his handsome face on the pillow they shared. He looked younger while he slept and his short hair was messy. The bedding was lowered to their waists so she got to take in his chest and shoulders. He had the best body. Overall, she decided she was one lucky woman. Everything about Aveoth was sexy.
He’d bitten her, but she wasn’t mad. The sex had been off-the-charts hot and amazing. Capital A. Maybe O, since he’d made her have a lot of orgasms. She grinned thinking about that. There was a lot to be said for a supernatural being. He was fantastic at a lot of things, sex included. Part of her wanted to watch him sleep but her bladder urged her to get out of bed.
He stirred and a low growl came from his throat when she carefully extricated herself from him and climbed out of bed. “Where are you going?”
“Bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
She streaked naked across his room and closed the door, grinning. She hurried but took a minute to brush her teeth. A check of her throat amazed her. The skin was tender to the touch where he’d bitten her but there wasn’t even a bruise remaining. It seemed he had magical healing abilities when he licked her.
It was tempting to wrap a towel around her body but then she decided against it. They had passed the modesty phase after he’d spent a lot of time with his face between her legs two nights in a row. She just opened the door.
And there stood Aveoth, in all his naked glory, inches from the door.
She allowed her gaze to wander down him.
“Go get in bed. I’ll join you in a minute. Don’t get dressed. I’m not done with you yet.” His voice came out a little raspy and a whole lot seductive.
She looked up and found him smiling. She couldn’t help but return it with one of her own. “I think I’m really going to become a morning person, living with you, if you keep ordering me to get back into bed.”
“Good. I will have to reschedule my life to start meetings later in the day. I look forward to it. Now let me pass and I’ll be right back.”
She stepped around him and heard the bathroom door close behind her as she got back into bed. This time she didn’t cover up. He was in there for a few minutes and when he came out, he joined her by spreading out on the bed next to her. Then he rolled, startling her and taking her flat to her back. He adjusted his body, pinning her under him. She laughed, opening her thighs to fit his hips between them.
“You feel happy to see me,” she teased. “Do you always wake up hard?”
He chuckled. “I do when I’m with you.”
She reached up and slid her fingers into his hair, lifting her head to go for his mouth. He pulled back a little to avoid kissing her.
“What’s wrong? I brushed my teeth.”
“So did I. It’s just that I don’t want you taken over by my hormones.”
She understood. “I can still kiss you though. Let me have your neck.”
He hesitated, and the color changes in his irises flashed a lot of silver. “I’m not sorry I bit you, but I will apologize for losing control.”
“It made me come really hard. I was afraid your fangs would hurt but it turns out the biting does it for me.”
Brighter silver burst in his eyes like mini fireworks, overshadowing the blue. “I treasure you, Jill.”
“I think I feel the same way about you. I remember the wings you sprouted, too. They’re so soft to the touch.”
“Again, I lost control. I apologize.”
“Don’t.” She meant it. “They’re a part of you. Of course, I probably should ask if that’s going to be a problem if I’m ever on top while we’re having sex. Does it hurt you if you’re on your back with your wings out?”
He grinned. “If you’re on top, I won’t care if I feel a little discomfort at my wing joints. Last night was special. I don’t usually lose control of my body that way.”
She stared into his eyes. “You’re confusing me again. Total honesty, remember?”
“I got the urge to mate you, and it was so strong I lost control. The condom protected us from bonding though.”
“How do GarLycans mate?”
He hesitated.
“Is it terrifying? Horrible? Painful? Traumatic?”
“No.”
“Then spit it out.”
He chuckled. “We should discuss this later.” He caressed her with his hand.
“Avoidance. You chose not to kiss me so I can still think. Answer.”
His expression grew serious. “We softly shell our skin, our wings come out, and we bite during sex. The taste of your blood, along with my partially shifted state, will trigger my body to producing mating hormones. The condom prevented them from reaching you. Otherwise your body would be changing right now.”
“How?”
“It’s difficult to explain, but those hormones alter a woman on a DNA level. You’ll carry my scent. Gargoyle sperm is also strongest when we’re partially shifted, so it increases the chances of pregnancy.”
She carefully considered his words, trying to remain calm. “DNA level? You mean my body physically changes? Do I eventually turn into what you are?”
“No. You’ll never have wings or the ability to shell. Mating sperm will mark you as mine.” He hesitated, seeming to think. “Your scent will change, so you smell like me. It won’t be temporary or something you can wash away. Your cells will modify enough to carry parts of my DNA so the scent stays.”
“Like a disease?”
He frowned. “No. Diseases make you ill. A mate makes you stronger. When we do mate, I’ll feed you my blood from time to time. We slice our skin and have our mates drink it, usually from a cup. My blood will give you a better immune system and your ability to heal will increase. Your lifespan will vastly lengthen, too. Drinking from me will repair you on a cellular level, to prevent aging the way you are now.”
Shock coursed through her. “Wow. That doesn’t sound bad.”
He smiled. “I’m glad.”
“So I won’t turn into an old lady if I stay with you?”
“No. I should tell you that Gargoyles live for millennia.”
She was glad to be pinned under him at the moment. “Thousands of years? Is that right?”
He nodded. “The clan some of the Gargoyles here left to form ours had a lord who was nine millennia old.”
That shocked her again. “Nine thousand years old? Shit! Can you live that long?”
He shrugged. “I’m a GarLycan. Our race has only been in existence for two centuries. My mother was one of the first babies born from the union of a Gargoyle and a Lycan. I swore to never reveal her age. You’ve seen how young she looks. We age almost like humans until we hit adulthood, when it slows. Of course, we’re larger than typical human children are.”
A thought hit her. “How much did you weigh at birth?”
“I think nine pounds, my mother said.”
“That’s pretty big but not terrifying.”
He smiled. “Your being so human might help with a smaller birth weight. The child will be half yours. I bet you were petite at birth.”
“Five pounds, six ounces.”
He raised his hand, looking at it.
She laughed. “You’re imagining how tiny that is, aren’t you?”
He nodded, staring into her eyes.
“You have big hands…along with big everything else. Let’s stop talking about babies. I’m not ready for that. What’s the lifespan on a Lycan?”
“We’ll go over all this later. I promise not to die on you within the next thousand years at least. I want to spend a lot of intimate time with you.”
She smiled. A thousand years should have scared her but it didn’t. Her entire life had been all about temporary homes, friends, and jobs. He was offering her what seemed like forever. “Kiss me.”
He avoided her lips. “I don’t want you drugged. Today we have an event to go to.”
Wariness and dread filled her in equal measure. “What kind of an event? More judging?”
“A celebration. A GarLycan named Tork mated to a Lycan while he served as a guardian over her pack. He brought her here during her pregnancy and their son was born last week. I will formally introduce and welcome him as a member of my clan. There will be food served and social niceties.”
She laughed.
“What’s amusing?”
“Social niceties? That’s an odd way to put it. Kind of funny. As opposed to what? Violence and death?”
He grinned. “Not during a welcoming ceremony. Everyone is expected to be on their best behavior since mates and children will be present.”
Her humor died. “Shit. I’m going to have to put on one of those old-fashioned dresses, aren’t I?”
“I apologize now, but yes.”
“We need to talk about that.”
“Later.” He nuzzled her face, going for her throat.
She moaned as his lips lightly teased the sensitive skin under her ear. “Yes.”
His hand stroked her thigh and lifted it. She curled it around his waist, feeling the hard length of his cock nudge her pussy. It didn’t take much for Aveoth to get her hot. The feel of him over her, his teeth raking her skin, had her hurting for him to be inside her.
“Lose the old-fashioned dresses for something more modern for women and I’ll be your mate,” she teased.
A rumble came from his throat, his chest vibrating against hers. His scent filled her nose and the ache between her thighs increased. Not only could the guy make some magical aphrodisiac drug with his mouth, but he smelled like sex and sin. His lips left her throat.
“I’d make that deal if you were serious.”
She stroked his warm skin, loving touching him. “I’m all about negotiations in bed.”
“You’re going to drive me insane, Jill.” He nipped her throat with his fangs.
It didn’t hurt. Instead, a jolt of pleasure radiated straight to her clit. “Bite,” she encouraged.
“You’re going to make me lose control again.” He lifted his head, staring into her eyes. His were molten silver, their light and dark shades moving fluidly. “Don’t say things like that right now, with you naked under me. You’re being playful. My mind knows that, but my instincts don’t. You tempt me too much, Jill. Don’t fool around with my heart.”
It hit her then like a ton of bricks. She was falling in love with him.
He was a bit scary, there were a lot of unknowns about how life would be with him…but she already knew she never wanted to let him go. Her instincts were riding her to make their union a permanent one. He could belong to her forever.
“I always face things head on,” she said, as much to herself as to him. “Do it, Wings. Make me yours.”
Blue flooded his eyes, wiping out the silver. “Don’t joke.”
“I’m not.” She arched her neck to expose her throat. “I hope I don’t get pregnant. I’m not ready for that…but you explained how the mating happens. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m in it for the long haul, Aveoth. Are you? Just promise not to break my heart. No cheating.”
“I give you my solemn vow. You’ll be my everything, Jill.” Silver sparked in his eyes, overtaking the blue. “I will protect and love you until my dying breath, and even beyond that.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I swear to do my best to make you happy. I already can’t see life without you, and I don’t think I ever want to. We’re so different…but we’ll face whatever comes together.”
“Put your hands over my shoulder blade,” he rasped. “I need to slightly shift. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
She slid her hands into place and felt smooth, supple skin. It swelled a little under her fingertips and then seemed to part, soft velvety wings slowly sprouting outward. She smiled as she brushed her fingers over their velvety surface. God, he was amazing. She watched over his shoulders as they grew outward, spreading wide.
“Look at me.”
She tore her attention from his black wings to study his face. The tan skin paled a little, getting a slightly gray tinge. She reached up with one hand, caressing his cheek. He was still warm and soft but the texture of his skin had become slightly smoother.
“Are you certain? This is what I need to look like when I mate you.”
She was falling for him even deeper. He looked concerned about scaring her. “You’re so sexy.” A thought hit, and she grinned. “This gives new meaning to the phrase rock hard, doesn’t it?”
He chuckled. “I’ll be gentle.”
“I know you will.”
She adjusted her legs, hooking him better around his waist. She rubbed her calves along his ass. The exposed skin there was warm but felt a little similar to soft plaster. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation, just strange. She trusted Aveoth though. He wouldn’t hurt her.
“Do it, Aveoth. Make me yours.”
“Are you absolutely certain? There’s no undoing this.”
A small part of her panicked, but then a calmness spread through her, taking the panic away as she stared into his eyes. “I’m sure. I’m never going to feel this way about anyone else. I want to grow old with you, for however long that takes. Life won’t be boring.”
He adjusted his hips and his hand teased her clit. Pleasure spread through her limbs. She was wet, ready, and wanted him. “Now, Wings. I don’t need foreplay.”
He gripped his shaft and pressed the tip against her pussy. “I’ll treasure you forever, keep you safe, and love you, Jill.”
“I promise the same.”
He released himself and came down on her, his hips surging forward as he entered her. Jill threw her head back and moaned. He was big and really hard. That joke about him having a rock dick suddenly felt like reality, but it didn’t hurt. He slowly began to move in and out of her, gentle and slow.
“I’m not that delicate,” she got out, using her fingernails to dig into his shoulders to urge him on. She wanted to kiss him but remembered how he didn’t want her exposed to the chemical. She bit her lip instead as he thrust into her deeper, moving over her faster. “Yes!”
Aveoth tried to keep some control. Jill was delicate, despite what she claimed. His instincts were riding him to drive into her welcoming body and bite her. She tossed her head and he struck when her throat was exposed.
He kissed her, his fangs raking over her skin. She moaned louder, her legs locking tighter around his waist. He ground his hips in a way that had him riding against her clit as he fucked her harder. She clawed at him, her vaginal muscles clenching around his shaft. His balls seemed to swell and he knew it was time.
He licked her skin, then bit.
She cried out when his fangs punctured her and he felt her climaxing. He fought to keep moving, driving into her as the taste of her blood filled his mouth. She was so sweet, so incredible. His skin tightened, tingled all over his body. He was shelling a little more but he couldn’t stop as he started to come. He pounded into her deeper, stilled and released his semen. All thought ceased as ecstasy took over.
He wasn’t certain how long he remained in the haze of rapture, but when he stirred, he instantly adjusted his weight to take some off Jill. She was clinging to him, panting. He withdrew his fangs, licking the bite, and used a fang to tear at his tongue and induce his own bleeding. He kept licking her until the puncture wounds healed.
My mate. My Jill. Mine forever.
“Damn,” Jill chuckled. “That was so hot. I just came like two or three times.”
He smiled and lifted his head, checking on her throat first. It was healed. He stared into her eyes and unshelled his body, his skin softening. “Did I hurt you at all?”
“Nope. Next time I’m on top though. You get heavier when you shell.”
“I apologize.”
“Don’t. I’m not complaining. It was only an observation. Your mattress is really soft and I just sank into it a little more.”
She was amazing. He’d been taught that humans lost their sanity when they discovered Gargoyles existed, and she’d been raised believing she was completely human. But Jill made jokes and didn’t seem frightened at all by the way he’d just claimed her. She wasn’t terrified of him with his wings and partially shelled. He reached up and stroked her hair back from her face.
“We’re mated.”
“I don’t feel any different.”
“It takes time.” He lifted up and carefully eased off her, sliding his wings into his skin. He lay to the side of her and placed his palm over her stomach.
She turned toward him and placed her hand over his. “What are you thinking about? Do you feel regret?”
He hated to see the doubt in her gaze. “Never. I want our bond to be strong. Will you drink some of my blood? I don’t want the calling to hit you.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s something that happens when a mating bond isn’t strong. If you begin to sweat, tell me right away. To you, it’ll just feel like a spike in temperature, but you’ll put off a scent that will draw unmated males to want to have sex with you.” Rage burned through him at the thought of anyone attempting to touch his mate. “You need to drink my blood. My entire clan will be around you today. You won’t leave my side, but I would hate to have to kill someone with children present.”
She curled up on her side, her legs resting against his own. “You didn’t mention this calling thing before.”
“I just thought of it. I’m taking you out of my home today, around other males.”
She crinkled her nose. “Blood, huh?”
“Yes. It won’t be too terrible. You are part VampLycan.”
“Don’t remind me of the sperm donor. Not now. Today is amazing so far.”
Aveoth noted the teasing way she looked at him, and he smiled at her. “Stay here.”
He let her go and rolled out of bed, strode to his kitchen, and got a goblet from the cupboard. He took the time to wash and dry it since they’d sat for decades untouched. He reentered the bedroom, grabbed one of his daggers, and approached the bed. Jill had sat up in bed and had the covers over her lap. Her expression amused him.
“It won’t be that bad, Jill. I promise.”
“Do I have the liver-and-onions face? My mom used to make them sometimes because she was a freak who loved them.” She grimaced. “So gross.”
He sat next to her and grinned. “Liver and onions?”
“Never had that?”
“I can’t say I have.”
“Lucky you. Trust me. If someone ever offers that to you for dinner, just say no.”
He gripped his dagger and crossed his legs, placing the goblet against his ankles to keep it upright and steady. His gaze held hers. “I’ll cut, bleed into the cup, and then you drink it.”
“I almost wish I had fangs right now. You biting me was sexy.” She glanced down. “Although that goblet is beautiful, those designs in the glass. It looks expensive.”
He shrugged. “They’re very old. That’s all I know. I inherited them from Lord Abotorus after his death. This is the first time I’ve used one.”
“Is it like the official blood-drinking glass?”
She always amused him, and he laughed. “It is for us. Are you ready?”
“Never, but go for it anyway. It can’t be worse than my twenty-first birthday. I hit a bar with some work friends and each of them bought me a different drink, since I was legal. Some of them were downright gross, and man was I sick the next day. Lesson learned.”
He sliced into the meaty part of his arm with the dagger tip and held it over the goblet as he bled. He glanced at Jill, hoping she handled the sight of blood well in the daylight. She watched, looking a little pale, but didn’t move away. His Jill had courage. He put down the dagger, filling the cup a fourth of the way before his wound healed enough to stop bleeding. He held it out to her, peering into her eyes.
She accepted it with both hands. They trembled slightly so he gently cupped them. “My blood is yours, mate.”
She nodded. “Um, thank you.”
He chuckled. “Just down it. You should handle it well. You’re not fully human and you’re already changing.”
“So your super-sperm will help my body take blood?”
He laughed again, loving her sense of humor. “Yes.”
“Down the hatch, then.”
He released her and watched as she lifted the goblet to her lips. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, blew it out, and then began to drink his blood.
A warmth spread through Aveoth’s chest as she kept swallowing. His mate was accepting his blood. It was as it should be.
She finished, and had a dazed look on her face when she opened her eyes. A little blood remained on her upper lip and he leaned forward, kissing her. She stiffened for a moment but then kissed him back. He pulled away before deepening the kiss, even though he wanted to make love to his mate. They didn’t have time. He needed to take her to his mother and Renna to be fitted for her gown.
“Are you well?”
She held his gaze. “Yeah. That was weird. Blood is thicker than water, for real, but I’m fine.”
“Let’s shower, and then I’ll take you to my mother’s chambers.”
“Why?”
“You need something to wear.”
“I was totally serious about the old-fashioned dresses. They have to go.”
“We’ll work on it together. I promise.”
“Okay. I’m not wearing a corset. That’s final.”
“Agreed. Go jump in the shower and I’ll join you in a minute.” He sat up and climbed off the bed, taking the goblet and dagger with him. He also snagged his cell phone on his way back to the kitchen.
He contacted Kelzeb first. His friend answered slightly out of breath.
“What are you doing?”
“Sparring with Fray. What’s up?”
“I’m mated.”
His friend was silent for a long second, then exclaimed, “Congratulations! I’m happy for you.”
“They’ll know the moment I expose Jill to our clan today and they pick up her scent. Prepare for the worst.”
“I’m on it. We’ll be ready.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
“I always have your back. Hey, Fray, we’re done. Looks like we might have some actual fighting to do later so I don’t want to wear you out.”
Aveoth heard Fray laughing in the background. “The big guy claimed her, huh? Awesome.”
“I’ll see you later today.” Aveoth ended the call and placed the second one to his mother. She let her phone ring six times before answering.
“I hate this thing.”
He chuckled. “It was a gift from me.”
“Only so you don’t have to come see me as much. A small chunk of metal isn’t the same as looking into my son’s eyes when we speak.”
“Jill’s my mate. It’s done. We’ll be there in less than an hour. She’s going to need a dress for the welcoming ceremony, something befitting a lady.”
His mother inhaled sharply, then laughed. “That’s wonderful! Renna and I will go through my closets. Your Jill is much shorter but we can put something together appropriate for her coming out to the clan. How did she take your secret?”
He sighed. “I haven’t told her. I will, but the time wasn’t right.”
“Aveoth…”
“She accepted me as I am. If she can handle the wings, and me shelling to claim her, she can handle the rest.”
“True. We’ll see you soon.”
He hung up, hoping he was right.