Page 48 of Fire in Stone

“Is it because of that rock wall you helped to build?” It cost us an hour in the morning when we could have been flying instead. I didn’t mind helping people in exchange for their hospitality, but I really didn’t want to die because of it now.

“That and…” he glanced aside with a guilty expression. “I got a bit off course back when I was touching you.”

“Oh…” Heat spread up my face. The phantom sensation of his fingers in my panties made me squirm in his arms. “Did that slow us down? But you said gargoyles can mate in the air.”

“We can. It’s easy enough to stay in the air while making love. However, keeping up the speed and staying on course requires a bit more mental concentration.”

“Which you didn’t have with your hand up my skirt,” I finished for him.

“Exactly.” A cheeky grin spread across his face. Despite the dire situation it had put us in, he clearly enjoyed the memories of me riding his hand.

I threw a concerned look at the water below us. It stretched as far as the eye could see.

“There isn’t even the tiniest island in sight,” I muttered, fighting the cold dread that slithered into my chest.

“I’ll have to bend space to get us to shore,” he said. “And I may as well bring us all the way to Georgia instead of an island.”

“How is it done, exactly? The space bending?”

“I’ll have to use magic for that. And it’s physically taxing, especially here. This world is not conducive to the use of magic.”

“There is nothing magical about human reality,” I agreed.

“I need you to be awake and aware, Amber. Hold on to me as tight as you can and close your eyes. It may get bright for a moment or two.”

“All right.” I shifted in his arms, changing my position to wrap my legs around his waist again. Holding on with all four limbs felt more secure than just with two. “Do you know where you’re taking us? Do you remember the map and the location of the park?”

“Yes, but I prefer to land somewhere closer to the place we’d be spending the night, since we don’t have much time.”

“Okay.” Straining my memory, I gave him the name of the first motel south of Atlanta I could think of, then explained where on the map it was located. “Do you want me to get my phone out? Do you need to see the screenshots of the area again?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I think I have an idea. Just hold on tight.”

The air seemed to vibrate around us. Elex’s body grew warmer. The heat streamed from him, spreading like a halo of haze and glow.

“Close your eyes, Amber,” he warned in a voice impossible to disobey.

I did as he said, ducking my head to his shoulder and flexing all my limbs around him.

Hot wind swirled around us, scraping against my skin and blowing out my hair. A jolt surged through both my body and Elex’s. Then we fell and…crashed.

My butt hit something hard and abrasive like gravel. Elex propped his arm on the ground, stopping us from rolling sideways. My eyes were open, but I didn’t remember when or how I’d opened them.

We sat on the gravel-covered parking lot of the very motel I’d told Elex about.

“Wow, you did it!”

A muffled groan was my only answer.

“Elex?” I leaned back, taking his head in my hands. “Are you alright?”

His eyelids drooped, and he winced, rolling his shoulders back. He was still holding me tightly with one arm.

“You can let go of me now. We’re on the ground. Safe. No more flying.”

Slowly, his muscles loosened, his arm fell away, releasing me.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

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