EXCERPT
I leapt back as something large and gray swooped at me, and the next moment I was in its grip, boots off the ground and airborne.
“Cam!” My friends’ cries drifted away as every sense in my body focused on the thing…the creature that had me in his grip.
Serath held me against his body. Thick muscled arms crushing me to him.
“Don’t struggle,“ he said. “I don’t want to drop you.”
Struggle? I couldn’t think, let alone struggle. His woodsy scent, his arms around me, his body pressed to mine…
Overload.
“Breathe,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Just breathe.”
I hated him for hurting Touron. I wanted to punch him in the face to even things out. I’d do that as soon as he put me down. As soon as he let me go.
That was right.
That was the plan.
I exhaled and inhaled in quick succession then regretted it because his delicious aroma flooded my mind and my traitorous body melted against him.
He cursed under this breath, the word vibrating against me like an intimate invitation.
We landed in a clearing, nature pressing in around us, cocooning us as he continued to hold me. His heart beat like a drum against me.
I was so mad at him. So pissed off. Oh god, this felt good. It felt right. I rubbed my cheek against his pectoral, and he made a soft vibrating sound like a purr.
What was I doing? “What are you doing?”
“Having this moment,” he said, his voice a low-grade rumble.
I lifted my chin to look up at his monstrous gargoyle face. To trace the strong lines that made up the features that were both frightening and compellingly beautiful. The combination made my heart ache, and the urge to reach up and trace his scar rushed through me so strongly that my fingers were hovering at his jaw before I managed to catch myself.
I clenched my fists. I was here for a reason, and this…This wasn’t it. This was hormonal, pheromonal, needy body bullshit. “You hurt my friend.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Dammit, why wasn’t he being an asshole? I grit my teeth. “Tell him that.”
“I will. I swear it. I will. And after this moment.” His throat bobbed. “After this moment, I’ll stay away from you. I won’t touch you. I won’t covet you. I’ll let you be. I just…I need this one moment.”
There was an aching throb to his words that echoed inside me. My eyes heated with the threat of tears that made no sense. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I didn’t want to mate with him. I didn’t need a fated lover, but my body didn’t seem to agree. It yearned for him. Longed to stay here, like this. Enveloped in his heat, so even though I didn’t want it, I found myself asking.
“Why? Why can’t you—”
Looking forward to reading The Stone Initiation! Thank you
ReplyDeleteLooks and sounds so good! Ty for sharing
ReplyDeleteThe cover is gorgeous and I love the tag line.
ReplyDeleteI like the colorful cover, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWent for the cover, stayed for the story! Never pictured myself as a gargoyle girl!
ReplyDelete