Page 36 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
While I show Noaharound the castle grounds, I find myself flexing my right hand repeatedly and strive to restrain my impulse to take hold of him and never let go.
The wee man is a conundrum. For some reason, he appears to be attracted to me.
To be sure, that’s likely only due to the mate bond.
Nevertheless, even his humorous flirtations have me on edge. They stoke the flame of my burning desire for him that seems to grow with every moment I’m in his presence. I’ve always prided myself on being in control and able to restrain myself.
But I’m starting to think I may not be able to when it comes to Noah Price.
I never thought I had atype.
Now I know better. My type is Noah, plain and simple.
He’s a wee slip of a man but feisty and brimming with excitement and curiosity over the smallest discoveries. His big honey-brown eyes and soft pouty lips make me yearn for things I’ve never allowed myself to want before. I already fantasize about running my fingers through his silky brown hair that curls softly at the ends to frame his gorgeous face.
When I leave him to rest before dinner, I flee like the hounds of hell are hot on my heels. I dare not be alone with him in his room or I might succumb to the lust gnawing at me with unrelenting tenacity.
The moment I make it back to my room, I’m grabbing the lube from my bathroom and stroking my rock-hard cock. Spending time with Noah is agony and ecstasy at the same time. I want—no, Ineed—to be near him, but my desire for him is already clouding my judgment.
It takes mere moments before I’m coming in thick, creamy spurts at the memory of that sweet kiss on the cheek he gave me. Far from the typical pornographic fodder, I know, but just recalling it makes me shake with need.
But coming down from my orgasmic high, I return to the stark reality before me.
Aye, Noah’s attracted to me and might be more than happy for a bone-meltingly good shag, but what about the lifelong commitment that comes with being a fated mate? I haven’t even dared to broach the subject yet, although I know it’ll inevitably come out during the meeting with Kelwyn later. Noah needs to realize who and what he is to our clan before he can understand what he also is to me.
I can’t help but feel a dark wave of despair threatening to wash over me. Once the novelty of being in a castle with a bunch of gargoyles wears off, then what? It’s hard for me to envision this bright and beautiful man wanting to stay here, with me, for the rest of his life. I may be shackled to my duty and responsibilities as a Guardian, but he doesn’t have to be as well.
Still brooding over these thoughts, I finally make my way downstairs when it’s time for dinner. I see Noah right away and he spots me at almost the exact same moment, smiling brightly and waving at me from where he’s already seated at one of the long dining tables.
By the Goddess, he’s marvelous.
My chest tightens at the sight of him and I cannae breathe for a moment.
A comforting and familiar hand comes to rest on my shoulder. “How ya doin’?” Braewyn asks.
“Fuckin’ shite.”
He laughs and gives me a hearty backslap. “Quit being a gloomy bastard. Your adorable mate’s over there giving you come-hither eyes. Don’t just stand here like a twat. Go to him.”
Not giving myself time to think, I let my body move on autopilot as it homes in on Noah and the open seat he’s patting right next to him.
“I saved you a seat,” he says with a smile.
His hair’s a little tousled, like he might have just woken up from a nap, and his expression is soft and inviting.
I want to make him mine and leave kiss marks all over his body.
Unbidden, a possessive rumble bubbles up inside my chest, and Noah’s eyes widen.
“Are you… purring?”
Gingerly, I sit down next to him and bite my lip as I try to will my newly burgeoning erection away. Evidently, jacking off once wasn’t enough with Noah in my midst.
“Gargoyles dinnae purr.”
He arches a skeptical eyebrow. “Sounds an awful lot like your version of one to me.” He licks his lips and surveys all the dishes being brought out to the table. “I understand though. All this amazing food makes me want to purr with satisfaction too.”
I don’t give two shits about the food.
