Page 42 of Gaga for the Gargoyle
“I’d be honored.”
“Does your penis knot every time we have sex?”
“Naturally, yes, but I can control it and will it not to.”
“So I won’t get pregnant the first time we have sex?”
“No. Only when you and your body are ready.”
“Oh,” I say, my voice an octave higher.
Xander’s eyes widen, clearly seeing my...panic. “Do you notwant children?”
“I...um...maybe? I don’t know. Brandon never wanted kids.”
I chug the rest of my wine, then pour another full glass while composing my words. I didnotexpect to be talking about having kids with my failed ‘one-night stand’ just a few days after meeting him.
“Growing up, not having any siblings, I always dreamed about having at least two kids. Then I met Brandon, and he hated children. He convinced me I didn’t want them either. I’m glad we never had any because that would have tied me to him. Now I’ve met you, and we’re mates and...”
My gargoyle king gives me a lopsided smile.
“But I’m forty years old. I’m getting too old to have a baby.”
He lifts his hand and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Remember what I said about sharing my immortality with you?”
My mouth drops open, but no words come out. Yes, I do remember him saying that, but I didn’t let it sink in. How the hell are you supposed to react to someone telling you that fucking could lead to immortality?
Okay, I know there’s more to it, but still.
“Yes, I suppose you did say that.”
“You will stop aging. Your immune system will fortify. You can still get sick and injured; however, you will healfaster, and dying will become difficult. You will be able to survive a gunshot wound or being stabbed in the heart, unless it is a warspear that pierces it. Warspears are made of iron, which is toxic to gargoyles and their mates. And if I were to die, then you will likely pass shortly after. Losing a mate is the most painful experience.”
Well, that’s morbid.
“So, you’re basically saying we can enjoy the honeymoon stage for a few years before deciding to have kids?”
He smiles and nods. “I like your line of thinking.”
We sit on the stools at the kitchen island to eat. Birdie jumps up on the countertop, trying to convince us to share. Xander is wooed by her adorableness and feeds her some chicken.
“She likes you.”
“Cats and gargoyles have been friends for centuries.”
“Except for Locheran.”
Xander chuckles. “He says they’re evil. I think it’s because one scratched him, and he was a big baby about it.”
We finish our dinner and move to the living room with our glasses of wine. I select my favorite movie to watch,Ever After.Xander’s favorite movie isThe Godfather,which I haven’t seen, so maybe we’ll watch that next time.
Between my stomach being full of delicious tacos, the wine making me tipsy, and being content as fuck, I make it halfway through the movie before falling asleep.
Iwake up well before the sun has set, and rush to the bathroom to relieve myself of all the wine I drank last night.
Yesterday was exhausting, to say the least. My mind is still trying to process...everything. My mother branding me and telling me I’m a target because I’m Xander’s mate. Him explaining the bonding ritual. Knotting shouldn’t sound hot, but I kept visualizing his cock expanding while inside me. I almost had to change my panties with how wet I got.
I return to bed to watch Xander sleep. He has a king-sized bed, which is good since he’s massive. He’s long and wide, and when he sleeps, he spreads out. He kicked me a couple times overnight while tossing and turning. It’s the second night in a row his sleep has been riddled with bad dreams.
