Page 51 of The Gargoyle's Glade
“Thank you?”
“Coltor, do you want children?” Her exasperation with me was plain in her tone.
“Not really. I’m not good with noise, and younglings are very loud. They’re messy and unpredictable, and I imagine that if I find myself craving interaction with one there are plenty of children at the conclave I could talk to. Maybe one of my siblings will have a child and I can just be the strange uncle who lives in the ruins.” She flopped against the back of the chair, mouth half open. “Did I say something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No. Not at all. I’m… confused.”
“About what?”
“I was quite sure that was going to be a significant problem.”
I frowned. “Is that really such an issue for people?”
“Absolutely.”
“Odd creatures, humans.” I was only half serious, but it made her smile which brought me much joy.
“You want to be stuck with such anodd creaturefor eternity?”
My heart flipped in my chest. “I’d never be bored.”
Merry stared at me again, and I finally relaxed, allowing the smile I’d been fighting to come out. “Have you been teasing me?” she asked.
“Only a little.”
“I’ve been a wreck all day. Terrified. Nervous.”
“Me too, Firebird. Are we through with all that now?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Good.”
Anticipation built up around us as we stared at one another across the table. My senses were all tingling, my chest a hot ache. Merry was on her feet a split second before I was. She launched herself at me, arms winding around my waist and face pressed into my shoulder.
“I’m scared that something will happen and it will end and we’ll both be badly hurt.”
“I can’t promise that isn’t a possibility, but I can swear to try to be worthy of you every single day.”
“Ugh, why are you so sweet?” She gazed up at me in a way that made me want to carry her off to my bed and keep her there forever. I leaned down slightly, and she pounced, crushing her mouth to mine, hands on my shoulders as she lifted herself up on her toes.
I groaned into her mouth, all the anxiety of the day melting away as our tongues tangled and she pressed her body against me.
“I’m not,” I insisted, breaking away to take a few panted breaths. I grabbed her ass in my hands and lifted, forcing her to lock her legs around my waist. “I will get overwhelmed,” I warned, pressing her up against the wall. Her legs tightened around me, and she tilted her head back. The scent of her heavy in the air between us, I leaned in, licking a line up her throat before pressing an open-mouthed kiss over her pulse. “I will sometimes need space. I might lash out, but I will always apologize and mean it.”
“Me too.” She moaned out, making my blood roar as I nipped down on the tendon in her throat. “All those things.” Her center ground against me, friction building through the cloth. “Animals will show up at terrible moments. I will be needed by others and have to sometimes choose my duty as Keeper over you.” Merry’s fingers were tugging at my shirt, trying to get it untucked from the waist of my pants.
“I’ll have to do the same. I am at the mercy of my command. I could be sent to the training outpost for weeks at a time or be stationed somewhere else.” The very notion made me feel like raging, but I didn’t focus on it. I pulled my shirt off in one swipe, returning my mouth to hers as she wiggled against my grip. “There is no going back, Merry. You will be mine and only mine.”
“Good. I don’t share well either. At least, not anymore. I’ve been spoiled since I got here, I find I rather like having things all to myself.”
I growled, the sentiment speaking to the more primal parts of me. “Too many clothes.”
She squeaked as I spun us both and walked her to the bed. I set her down on the mattress, tugging at her leggings while she pulled off her tunic. I dropped to my knees, and she rose up on her elbows, the heat in her gaze making my cock throb behind the stays of my trousers. We both stopped, the only sound in the tiny hut our mutual panting.
“Speak now, Merry. Is this what you want? Me? Us? This bond?”
Her curls bobbed as she nodded. “Yes. I want you, Coltor. Please.”
