Page 44 of My Guardian Gryphon

I scraped the edges of her nipples with my teeth, and she sucked in a startled breath. Her fingers tensed on my shoulders, and the scent of her arousal filled the room.

“I hurt for you, Alek.”

“There is so much more to come before I soothe that ache for us both, my sweet, sweet Gretchen.” I followed a path down the curve of her breast to the soft lines of her ribcage. Her abdominal muscles tightened beneath my lips, and I chuckled, taking note of where she was ticklish and storing it away for later.

I rose from my knees to slip an arm under her legs and another around her back. She cuddled against my chest, nuzzling my neck with her lips until a fog inhibited all thought. I stood with her in the center of the living space, just holding her, just letting her press feather-light kisses along my neck and shoulder. I’d never have enough of her. Never be willing to let her go. We would have to leave Sanctuary.

She’d hate me if I sent her back. Fuck, I’d hate myself. I’d never survive wondering what they might force her to do. They claimed nothing was forced. Rose promised. The Oracle promised, but masters of persuasion could make any man—or woman—believe an idea was their own.

“I’ll never let you go again, Gretchen.” My voice rumbled from deep within, soothing the anger my beast had held against me earlier that day.

“I’m only yours. I’ll only ever be yours.” She cupped the back of my head, pulling my mouth to hers, and crushed our lips together. There were no sweeter lips on the face of the Earth. I drove my tongue into her mouth, groaning at the sweetness of her taste.

I moved us quickly through the house, up the stairs to my bedroom, to my bed. Not willing to release her mouth until I absolutely had to, I laid her across the blanket, so ready to taste her I was nearly coming in my pants. Not happening. I was more than four thousand years old, not some over-excited teenager. There would be no rushing tonight, none at all.

She was worth savoring. Every second would be pure bliss, and I wanted to bask in every moment. Savor every kiss and taste and breath she gave.

I spread her on my bed, her long, coffee-colored hair lay across the red blanket in a waterfall of silk, and her skin glowed under the soft lamplight.

“You are exquisite.” My words choked in my throat, emotions overwhelming me. I leaned down over her, putting one knee on the edge of the mattress. My heart lurched from the way she looked up at me. Trusting me. She was naked and open, and by the gods, I wanted her to know how much I cared. How much this gift meant. “You are my heart and soul, Gretchen. I couldn’t see it until I nearly lost you, and now the idea of ever being without you is unthinkable. Please forgive me for being so blind.” The apology stung, but she deserved it. I’d been oblivious. Too caught up in this town and my goal to get home to pay attention to what was right in front of me.

The scent of salt tickled my nose just before tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. No. No. No. Don’t be sad. “Gretchen?”

“I have waited for this day for so long. I was so scared that I would get to your house, find you, and you would turn me away.”

I shook my head. “Never again, I promise. We are in this together, no matter what happens.”

A shiver ran through her body and her lips parted. “Make love to me, Alek. Please.”

“All night.” I whispered, leaning down to kiss her tears away. My mouth traced the line of her jaw to her neck down to her collarbone. Skin like velvet quivered beneath my lips. She put her hands on my head and stroked through my short hair, rubbing it back and forth until every nerve that wasn’t already awake woke up.

My teeth grazed one of her nipples, and she hissed, trying desperately to grab a handful of my short hair. I nipped again, this time a little harder, and then soothed the burn with my tongue until she relaxed beneath my mouth. Her other breast received the same treatment before I traced a path down her ribcage with my tongue, circling her navel and working my way down.

Sliding off the edge of the bed, I sank to both knees on the floor and slid my hands up the insides of her thighs, pushing her legs apart until I could see her glistening folds, slick and wet and waiting for my tongue. She tried to close her legs, and my beast growled before I could gain control. “Don’t. I want to see all of you. Taste all of you. You are mine.” Her legs relaxed, and I gently kissed the inside of one of her thighs. “Say it.”

“I’m yours.”

“Which part?”

“All of me.”

“Good girl.” My voice rumbled, my beast soothed that she wouldn’t try to hide herself from view. “You should never be ashamed to share yourself with your mate.” She is my mate… Something deep inside me knew it. Whether I understood my Gryphon side completely or not, I knew Gretchen was mine.

“I’m not ashamed.” Her voice hitched, fear stopping her before she finished her thought.

“Tell me.” I kissed the inside of her other thigh, a little closer to the goal.

A shiver slid through her, and I smiled.

“I’ve never done…this, any of this.”

Reality hit my face like a right hook from Jared. All the air in my lungs fled. Virgin. Of course she was…I knew that, but I hadn’t considered how new everything we were doing was to her.

Everything.

“I was your first kiss?” Honor swelled in my chest, and my Gryphon wanted to strut with pleasure. No man had touched her. Not even with a kiss. I straightened between her legs and caught her sideways glance down at me.

“Yes,” she answered, her tone unsure. “I know you’ve probably—”

---