Page 39 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
I fight back a groan as my cock hardens further.
“I… that is… uh…” Apparently, I can’t form coherent sentences when Noah’s looking at me like that.
No one has ever affected me quite like this before. It’s maddening, but at the same time, I want to bask in the feeling. To throw caution to the wind and enjoy the blissful abandon of sating my desires with my mate.
Braewyn starts roaring with laughter. “I’ve never seen Elryk so tongue-tied in my life. Good on you, Noah. I think I’m starting to adore you.”
They reach out and fist-bump one another, and I scowl at them both.
“Bugger off,” I tell Braewyn but he just grins knowingly at me.
With the dinner service nearly over, the kitchen staff begin clearing away the dishes.
“Should we help?” Noah asks.
“No, you’re our guest. Besides, the kitchen staff are employed to handle the cooking and cleaning for all clan meals. Over fifty of us reside in the castle year-round, so we have a large staff to take care of these needs.”
“That’s amazing. I had no idea there were so many of you.”
“Not everyone was here tonight. We have some who are out on missions of various kinds, and there are others in the clan who have small properties on our land and help with our agriculture endeavors. Those not born with magic usually leave and find new homes in places with more job opportunities.”
My mind drifts to my brother. I should call him. It’s been far too long since we last talked.
“You’re kind of like your own independent little island here.” Noah gets a twinkle in his eyes. “Pretty freaking cool.”
I clench a fist behind my back to fight back the impulse to pounce on him. “We’ve had to be as self-sufficient as possible. In times long gone by, when Otherkind weren’t nearly as welcomeamong humans as they are today, our clan found refuge here away from the threats the outside world posed.”
“That makes sense,” Noah agrees with a sad smile. “Humanity kind of sucks sometimes, and I say that as a human who fully understands the many flaws of my species.” He lets out an awkward chuckle. “As you’ve no doubt noticed, I’m far from perfect myself, but I try to be a good person and to treat others with kindness, care, and respect. It’s what my parents always taught me, anyway.”
I’m probably even more surprised than Noah when I say, “I’d like to learn more about them.”
And you.
Noah entwines his arm with mine and beams up at me with obvious joy. “My parents are awesome but also a bit quirky. I’d love to tell you all about them, just so long as you tell me about your family.” He winks. “Quid pro quo and all that jazz.”
“That sounds more than fair,” I agree.
He presses his body closer, and I can’t help but inhale the rich scent of him that reminds me of the heather and gorse that blooms here in summer. Earthy, with musky hints amidst the herbal and floral notes and that faint whiff of coconut-like aroma from the gorse. Yet on top of all that lies something bold and singular that is Noah’s alone.
Combined together, it smells like heaven.
Like home.
Like mine.
My mate.
The mounting compulsion to explore every square inch of his naked body fills my head with a cloud of lust unlike anything I’ve ever known before. Despite reading about this phenomenon with fated mates, I’m woefully unprepared for the reality of it.
Of Noah.
I thought I could be rational. Logical even.
I thought I could persuade him to ignore the bond and live his life without being trapped here as the mate of a Guardian.
But I don’t think I have a hope in hell of being able to utter those words now. Even if it might be better for him to run as fast and as far away from this life as possible. I don’t think I can let him go.
If I do, I fear it will destroy me.
