Page 52 of Protected By the Gargoyle
“You’re hurt. You can’t lift me.”
“Nothing will keep me from holding you.”
She kissed him. His lips were tough, but he was still so gentle. This was Arto and no matter what shape or form he was in, she loved him.
After he put her down, she gazed up at him. “One more thing, Arto.”
“What is it?”
“I’d like nothing more than to be your mate.” She raised her index finger. “Under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
She slanted her head and gave him a coy smile. “I also get to consider you my boyfriend.”
“That’s a human term.” He cocked his head. “What does it mean to you?”
“It means I’ll take care of you the same way you’ve been taking care of me.” She pointed at his chest and then hers.
His smile turned even brighter, sending tingles to her toes. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” She wrapped her arms around her massive gargoyle protector and pressed her head against his hard chest. “Let’s start by getting you into bed.”
He chuckled. “I’d like that even more.”
ARTO
Arto staggered to his room with the aid of Manny and Talia supporting him. The gashes in his back from the demon’s claws were vicious and it hurt to put weight on his leg, but he’d heal with shifter magic.
The sentries had flown in as fast as they could from their vantage points throughout Boston, but by the time they’d arrived, the demon was gone. The demon must have used a ploy to lure them away from the compound and then shifted its course to head back here. The encounter might have only been minutes, yet the catastrophic threat stretched it to feel glacially slow.
Janie accompanied them, and he turned to glance at her countless times during the walk. She was here. She was alive. She hadn’t been snatched into a demon’s realm.
And she was his mate.
Diego and Miguel helped him into a prone position on his bed. He’d have to lie on his stomach until he healed. They put a salve on his wounds that stung like a sonovabitch. He winced and hissed but refused to cry out from the acute pain.
A few sobs escaped Janie as he was treated. Once the sentries exited, she wiped her eyes and fretted over him. “What can I do to help you feel more comfortable?”
“Just sit with me for a little while.” He reached out his hand, and she took it. “Seeing that you’re here and safe soothes me.”
She nodded and squeezed his hand. “You saved me, Arto. You put yourself at risk to do so.”
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. Even if it means sacrificing the city, my duty, my pride—even my goddamn life—I’d give it all up to save you.”
“Arto.” Her eyes gleamed with a fresh wave of tears.
“What I did was nothing compared to how you acted tonight. You saved everyone. You were incredible and so brave. To be able to think under that immense stress. To be willing to sacrifice yourself to save others, even facing your nightmare to do so. That’s the most courageous thing I’ve ever seen.”
Her lips twitched into a humble grin. “And a tad reckless.”
“Oh, a whole lot of that,” he agreed with a chuckle. Then his smile vanished. “Almost losing you tonight… That would have destroyed me.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You’re more important to me than anything in the world. Don’t you know that?”
She smiled and a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m starting to understand.”
“Never doubt me, Janie. Never doubt my feelings.”
“I won’t.” She sighed. “I wish I’d recognized mine sooner.” With her free hand, she wiped away her tears. “Demons are hell, but I’m glad I had to face them.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “Because it brought me to you.”
