Page 102 of Married to the Devil

“You’re withholding your knot from her?” I ask.

He doesn’t confirm it, but he doesn’t have to. He turns, and the slight clench of his jaw catching the light is enough.

I focus on the keys again. “What you told me before is applicable here.” This is something I need to dig into. When Stoneheart doesn’t say anything, I continue. “With the way youwatch her when she’s not looking, there’s no part of you that won’t be unscathed by this”

I don’t know why he’s holding back, and part of me doesn’t care. Stella deserves better. I’m temporary, but he’s her husband. It’s not fair for both of us to deny her the mate she needs. Her body cries out for him, and all I can do is offer poor comfort.

But I’m realizing that’s why he wants me here. To provide comfort. To give Stella a place to stow the feelings of her heart. And I want to give her that while I can. For the woman who deserves everything, I’ll give her my all.

For now.

Maybe I’ll even convince a gargoyle to give her the love match she merits by the time their heir is conceived.

“How did Kalos accomplish the tight hold he has on your loyalty? The rumors around you are rather lacking.” Stoneheart doesn’t respond to my statement, but I know he’s heard it.

I roll my eyes at his change of subject. I can only hope he considers my words. Nothing will ever make this gargoyle do something he doesn’t want to. “It’s not like it’s a secret.”

Stoneheart arches a brow.

I shrug. “I was told that my mother abandoned me when my demonic traits started showing. So I survived by doing odd jobs and from the charity of others. It was one such job that Kalos caught a hold of me.”

It had actually taken a few run-ins for me to listen to the dragon and trust what he was offering. I had the ability to teleport then as I do now, and there was no way he would have been able to hold me if I didn’t want to be held.

“He offered safety…” I clear my throat. “He took me under his wing, shared his home and allies. He’s the only one I can point to who raised me.”

“And so you owe him your eternal servitude?”

I glare at the piano. “He’s my family.”

“He’s stopping you from living a full life with the woman you love.” Stoneheart leans against the piano, but I don’t look up at him.

“Funny. I thought the gargoyle she married had more to do with that.” I don’t deny that I love Stella, but loving someone doesn’t solve anything. My duty is to my family.

Stoneheart scoffs. “Did you hear me contradict her last night?”

“You’ll always have a place with us.”

“I didn’t hear you make any offers of your own,” I say to distract myself from the memory of those words, but Stoneheart doesn’t reply.

My curiosity gets the better of me, and I glance at him. He’s grinning at me, and the wicked curve of his lips is captivating.

“That’s because you’re not ready for that.”

Frustration at the games he’s playing rises at the back of my throat in what would be a silent growl.

“Are you going to play for us?” Stella’s sleepy voice startles us both.

I hesitate and nearly laugh at myself. The boundaries that I set for myself with these two are strict, but I can’t be a hypocrite and hide my vulnerabilities after promising I’d give her my all.

“Wouldn’t it wake the others?” I ask, thinking of the other people who live in this penthouse who didn’t see me enter this room, but surely have their suspicions.

Stella huffs a laugh. “I can only hope the walls are more soundproof than that with how vocal you two had me last night.”

Stoneheart’s lips twitch. “They are. Though it would be convenient if that Leonid spy heard your pleasure so we can attempt to test the limits.”

He looks delighted at the challenge. Stella throws one of the smaller pillows at him, and he catches it.

“None of your ideas before coffee,” she says.

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