Page 44 of Cherished By the Gargoyle
Only mine. Always mine.
I coil my tail around her thigh as need tears through me like a blade, savage and healing all at once. There is no thought left, only the instinct to claim her, to worship her… to keep her.
I am completely lost in her arms. The need to claim her is sharp as a blade and just as devastating, cutting me open andremaking me in the same breath as an undeniable truth burns in my soul. She is mysavryl, and I will never be whole without her.
CHAPTER 25
AURORA
The world around us dissolves into fire and shadow as Thalric’s mouth claims mine. His kiss is fierce and all-consuming.
I melt into him, my fingers tangling in the thick, dark strands of his hair as his massive wings fold around us, sealing us into a private sanctuary of stone and heat as he carries me into the tent and lays me down on the blanket and furs.
A deep rumble of approval vibrates in his chest, sending shivers down my spine. His mouth moves hungrily from my lips, tracing a searing trail along my jaw and down the column of my throat.
Every kiss is a brand, an unspoken promise pressed deep into my skin. I gasp when his fangs graze the tender flesh at the base of my neck, his tongue immediately soothing the slight sting.
“Thalric,” I whisper breathlessly, clinging tighter to him, my heart pounding in rhythm with the heated blood roaring in my ears.
His large hand slides down, cupping my breast over the thin fabric of my shift, his thumb brushing the sensitive peak until it tightens beneath his touch.
Heat pools low in my belly, and my breath quickens as he lavishes attention on each breast in turn, leaving me trembling and desperate for more.
I thread my fingers deeper into his hair, holding him close, anchoring myself to him as the world around us falls away.
My thighs part, and he settles between them, the weight of his powerful form pressing me into the soft blankets beneath us. Even through our clothing, I can feel the solid, unmistakable hardness of his stav pressing against my center, sending a sharp jolt of pleasure through my entire body.
He trails tender kisses up to my collarbone, then higher to brush his lips against my own again. When he pulls back, he drops his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. “We must stop, Auri.” His voice is a low, deep rumble. “Or else I’ll be tempted to claim you fully.”
“I love you, Thalric,” I whisper. “I want to be yours.”
His golden eyes search mine. “I want nothing more than to take you as my mate, Aurora,” he murmurs, brushing his thumb across my lower lip. “But you are human. Your kind are more fragile than mine, and I...” His throat works, his jaw tightening. “My need is too great. The instinct to claim you is so strong it is nearly overwhelming. When I take you for the first time, when I mark you as mine, I must be completely in control. I have to know without a doubt that I won’t hurt you.”
My heart swells at the gentle worry etched into his beautiful features. He’s holding himself back, denying his needs and desires, solely because he fears causing me even the slightest discomfort.
“I’m stronger than you think,” I whisper, tracing my fingers over the thick muscles along his chest. “And I trust you, Thalric. You would never harm me.”
“Gods, you are a test, Auri,” he murmurs as his entire body trembles, tension rippling through his muscular form as if it’s taking every bit of his control to remain still. “When I claim you and give you my mark, it will be when I can promise you only pleasure… never pain.”
My breath catches at the tenderness of his words, and I press closer into the warmth. He tightens his arms around me, enfolding me in his powerful, protective embrace.
Reaching up, I touch his face. “I love you. More than anything.”
He curls his tail around my ankle as he holds me close. “You are mine, Auri. Mysavryl. And I am yours.”
Wrapped in his warmth, I allow myself to drift into sleep, safe in the cocoon of his arms.
CHAPTER 26
THALRIC
Thunder rumbles outside as rain hammers our tent in a steady, punishing rhythm. My nostrils flare as instinct jolts me fully awake. Something isn’t right.
I go still, listening. The storm drowns out the world, masking scent and sound alike. I hate it. I cannot smell what’s out there or trust my ears. But every instinct within roars with warning.
We are not alone.
Aurora murmurs in her sleep beside me, her small body curled against my chest. I tighten my arm around her for a single heartbeat, holding her close.
