Page 6 of Rock Hard

She rolls her eyes and slips out from under my arms. I can’t help following her, my steps long and sure. Wherever she goes I will follow.

She holds out a hand. “Stop! Stop pushing me, dammit! I don’t even know who you are! I’m not going anywhere with you!”

Cocking my head, I growl under my breath. “You are safe with me, mate. I would never hurt you. You’re my future. The mother of my children. Together we will raise so many little ones that we will be surrounded by them every day and night. Our home will ring with their laughter.”

She stomps away from me, her slim body rigid with stress. I know I’m pushing her but I can’t stop. I need her to fall in love with me. Need her to realize that we are one. One heart, one soul, one future.

“You’re pushy as hell,” she mutters under her breath. “Is that a gargoyle thing or is it just you?”

I chuckle again. She’s a fiery little thing and that fire sparks answering flames in me.

“I think all gargoyles are but maybe I’m a little bit more than most.” Because I have to be. I don’t have much time before I turn to stone again and it will break my heart if I can’t love her, protect her every second of the next year, the next decade. The next century.

I sigh and shove my hands through my dark hair. Her eyes follow the movement and I see ripples of desire in her emerald eyes. “If you go to this ball, I can meet you there if that makes you feel better?” I want her on my arm and it takes everything I have not to insist on it.

But she needs time. Time I don’t have. Time that should always be ours.

She nods. “Fine. I will meet you there.”

I have to take that as her answer. Have to take the partial win although it’s not what I want.

I bow my head to her. “I will see you there, mate. Save all your dances for me. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms.”

She shivers again, her body softening and I know that I mean something to her.

She wants me and I hope that I can work with that. Hope that I can convince her that she’s mine. Forever.

CHAPTER 5

Angela

Istare at myself in the mirror attached to the door of my apartment upstairs from the bakery. My hair sparkles with glitter hairspray, poofed up into a glorious spray of reddish blond that falls down my shoulders in loose spiraling curls.

My eyes are shadowed with a golden eyeshadow that darkens them to deep emerald green. I lift my hands up and playfully twirl in a circle, watching the layers of peach tulle, ribbon and sequins float around me in an arc of shimmering pastel fabric.

I clasp a London blue topaz necklace around my throat, my eyes turning inward. The color is the exact color of Granite’s eyes. I gently rub the cool stone but I’m not seeing that cool gem. Instead I’m seeing the warmth and want in Granite’s eyes.

My core tightens and I can feel that insane pull to him again. Why? Is he telling me the truth? Is he my…mate? What the hell does that even mean?

I’m not afraid of him. I should be but even though he’s about two feet taller than me and so much stronger and wider than me, I just can’t find it in myself to be afraid of him.

I feel his soul and there’s so much there to wonder about. But there’s nothing bad. At least not that I can see.

He wants to protect me. I can see it all around him. He’s big and fearless and he wants to keep me safe.

But he looks so damned scary and fearsome that I’m worried that my overactive hormones are leading me astray.

I mean, am I wrong and he’s just what he looks like? A beast of prey looking to make a meal out of the silly little virgin he’s trying to snooker?

My heart tells me no. My head says,“Hold on there, sister. Keep your heart intact and stay the hell away from him.”

I sigh and slip my feet into a pair of glittering sequined gold sandals. I smile as I put the last touch into place. My heart pitter-patters nervously.

It’s time.

I grab a tiny gold clutch and slip out the door, closing and locking it behind me.

I carefully trip down the steps and set foot on the ground, a sudden uneasiness hitting me right in the gut. My head swivels back and forth and I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine.

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