Aveoth Read online

  “I always face things head on,” she said, as much to herself as to him. “Do it, Wings. Make me yours.”

  Blue flooded his eyes, wiping out the silver. “Don’t joke.”

  “I’m not.” She arched her neck to expose her throat. “I hope I don’t get pregnant. I’m not ready for that…but you explained how the mating happens. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m in it for the long haul, Aveoth. Are you? Just promise not to break my heart. No cheating.”

  “I give you my solemn vow. You’ll be my everything, Jill.” Silver sparked in his eyes, overtaking the blue. “I will protect and love you until my dying breath, and even beyond that.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I swear to do my best to make you happy. I already can’t see life without you, and I don’t think I ever want to. We’re so different…but we’ll face whatever comes together.”

  “Put your hands over my shoulder blade,” he rasped. “I need to slightly shift. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  She slid her hands into place and felt smooth, supple skin. It swelled a little under her fingertips and then seemed to part, soft velvety wings slowly sprouting outward. She smiled as she brushed her fingers over their velvety surface. God, he was amazing. She watched over his shoulders as they grew outward, spreading wide.

  “Look at me.”

  She tore her attention from his black wings to study his face. The tan skin paled a little, getting a slightly gray tinge. She reached up with one hand, caressing his cheek. He was still warm and soft but the texture of his skin had become slightly smoother.

  “Are you certain? This is what I need to look like when I mate you.”

  She was falling for him even deeper. He looked concerned about scaring her. “You’re so sexy.” A thought hit, and she grinned. “This gives new meaning to the phrase rock hard, doesn’t it?”

  He chuckled. “I’ll be gentle.”

  “I know you will.”

  She adjusted her legs, hooking him better around his waist. She rubbed her calves along his ass. The exposed skin there was warm but felt a little similar to soft plaster. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation, just strange. She trusted Aveoth though. He wouldn’t hurt her.

  “Do it, Aveoth. Make me yours.”

  “Are you absolutely certain? There’s no undoing this.”

  A small part of her panicked, but then a calmness spread through her, taking the panic away as she stared into his eyes. “I’m sure. I’m never going to feel this way about anyone else. I want to grow old with you, for however long that takes. Life won’t be boring.”

  He adjusted his hips and his hand teased her clit. Pleasure spread through her limbs. She was wet, ready, and wanted him. “Now, Wings. I don’t need foreplay.”

  He gripped his shaft and pressed the tip against her pussy. “I’ll treasure you forever, keep you safe, and love you, Jill.”

  “I promise the same.”

  He released himself and came down on her, his hips surging forward as he entered her. Jill threw her head back and moaned. He was big and really hard. That joke about him having a rock dick suddenly felt like reality, but it didn’t hurt. He slowly began to move in and out of her, gentle and slow.

  “I’m not that delicate,” she got out, using her fingernails to dig into his shoulders to urge him on. She wanted to kiss him but remembered how he didn’t want her exposed to the chemical. She bit her lip instead as he thrust into her deeper, moving over her faster. “Yes!”

  Aveoth tried to keep some control. Jill was delicate, despite what she claimed. His instincts were riding him to drive into her welcoming body and bite her. She tossed her head and he struck when her throat was exposed.

  He kissed her, his fangs raking over her skin. She moaned louder, her legs locking tighter around his waist. He ground his hips in a way that had him riding against her clit as he fucked her harder. She clawed at him, her vaginal muscles clenching around his shaft. His balls seemed to swell and he knew it was time.

  He licked her skin, then bit.

  She cried out when his fangs punctured her and he felt her climaxing. He fought to keep moving, driving into her as the taste of her blood filled his mouth. She was so sweet, so incredible. His skin tightened, tingled all over his body. He was shelling a little more but he couldn’t stop as he started to come. He pounded into her deeper, stilled and released his semen. All thought ceased as ecstasy took over.

  He wasn’t certain how long he remained in the haze of rapture, but when he stirred, he instantly adjusted his weight to take some off Jill. She was clinging to him, panting. He withdrew his fangs, licking the bite, and used a fang to tear at his tongue and induce his own bleeding. He kept licking her until the puncture wounds healed.

  My mate. My Jill. Mine forever.

  “Damn,” Jill chuckled. “That was so hot. I just came like two or three times.”

  He smiled and lifted his head, checking on her throat first. It was healed. He stared into her eyes and unshelled his body, his skin softening. “Did I hurt you at all?”

  “Nope. Next time I’m on top though. You get heavier when you shell.”

  “I apologize.”

  “Don’t. I’m not complaining. It was only an observation. Your mattress is really soft and I just sank into it a little more.”

  She was amazing. He’d been taught that humans lost their sanity when they discovered Gargoyles existed, and she’d been raised believing she was completely human. But Jill made jokes and didn’t seem frightened at all by the way he’d just claimed her. She wasn’t terrified of him with his wings and partially shelled. He reached up and stroked her hair back from her face.

  “We’re mated.”

  “I don’t feel any different.”

  “It takes time.” He lifted up and carefully eased off her, sliding his wings into his skin. He lay to the side of her and placed his palm over her stomach.

  She turned toward him and placed her hand over his. “What are you thinking about? Do you feel regret?”

  He hated to see the doubt in her gaze. “Never. I want our bond to be strong. Will you drink some of my blood? I don’t want the calling to hit you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s something that happens when a mating bond isn’t strong. If you begin to sweat, tell me right away. To you, it’ll just feel like a spike in temperature, but you’ll put off a scent that will draw unmated males to want to have sex with you.” Rage burned through him at the thought of anyone attempting to touch his mate. “You need to drink my blood. My entire clan will be around you today. You won’t leave my side, but I would hate to have to kill someone with children present.”

  She curled up on her side, her legs resting against his own. “You didn’t mention this calling thing before.”

  “I just thought of it. I’m taking you out of my home today, around other males.”

  She crinkled her nose. “Blood, huh?”

  “Yes. It won’t be too terrible. You are part VampLycan.”

  “Don’t remind me of the sperm donor. Not now. Today is amazing so far.”

  Aveoth noted the teasing way she looked at him, and he smiled at her. “Stay here.”

  He let her go and rolled out of bed, strode to his kitchen, and got a goblet from the cupboard. He took the time to wash and dry it since they’d sat for decades untouched. He reentered the bedroom, grabbed one of his daggers, and approached the bed. Jill had sat up in bed and had the covers over her lap. Her expression amused him.

  “It won’t be that bad, Jill. I promise.”

  “Do I have the liver-and-onions face? My mom used to make them sometimes because she was a freak who loved them.” She grimaced. “So gross.”

  He sat next to her and grinned. “Liver and onions?”

  “Never had that?”

  “I can’t say I have.”

  “Lucky you. Trust me. If someone ever offers that to you for dinner, just say no.”

  He gripped his dagger and crossed his