Stoneheart

by Cate Corvin

  “Geez, do you knock?” I glared at Sawyer’s reflection in the mirror.

  He stared without a word for long seconds, eyes traveling up my backside, only to switch to the mirror and move down my front. I cleared my throat and smirked when he jerked his eyes back up to me. He swallowed hard and tried to shutter his expression.

  “Time’s up. Are you walking or should I get to lifting?”

  “I dare you to try, Hawkins.”

  “Oh, you may be stronger than me, but I have the advantage. You don’t want to hurt me and you don’t know your own strength yet. Trust me, I won’t try this in a few months.”

  Damn him and his unarguable logic.

  “I’ll be walking, thanks.” I dropped the tube of gloss onto the now messy counter and sashayed past him. The exaggerated roll of my hips was more to piss him off than anything, but the dark look in his eyes when I glanced back to see the effect wasn’t anger.

  When I reached the door to my room, I realized I had a problem.

  “Shoes.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t have any shoes to wear with this dress.”

  “Look down.”

  I did, and there sat a shoebox with another white card tucked into the bow that had been affixed to the lid. I grabbed it and flipped it, expecting Damien’s elegant scrawl once again, my flush already growing.

  Instead, I found blocky printed words that I could have attributed to Gio even without his signature at the bottom.

  Break these in tonight. Next time you wear them, they’ll be digging into my ass and I don’t want them pinching your toes. Gio.

  Well, damn. I didn’t stop to think about the note—nor the tingles that sprouted up between my thighs—and slipped it inside the box as I withdrew the shoes. The heels were pure sex, gold strappy things that had to be at least four inches, possibly five.

  When they were buckled and I stood tall, I was still about a head shorter than Sawyer. But he took advantage of the reduction in our height difference by dipping his head to kiss me. It was soft and quick, and when he pulled away there was a smear of my gloss on his lips. I swiped it away with a thumb and fought back the urge to add to the mess with another kiss.

  “You’re… breathtaking.” Sawyer nipped my thumb before I could pull it back and I clenched my thighs in response. “Let’s go. I need to get you away from beds and flat surfaces while I still have some semblance of self-control.”

  He held out a long black coat, clearly another new purchase by Damien. It fit perfectly and was warm and softer than anything I’d ever owned. These guys really knew how to spoil a girl.

  “Can you tell me where we’re going now?”

  “Nope. You need a good surprise, and I refuse to ruin it.”

  “Well, then lead the way.”

  He took my hand and laced our fingers together, pulling me from the penthouse. I wasn’t sure what the night would hold, but all my stress and frustration had melted away. For one evening, I wasn’t a fired cop. I wasn’t a stoneheart on the run. I was a woman in a beautiful dress, heading on the town with the man she loved.

  For once, life was looking up.

  I lifted another forkful of the best tiramisu in New York to my lips and groaned when the taste hit my tongue. I was halfway through the dessert, and you’d think that after the first few bites, the moan-inducing deliciousness would have faded.

  False.

  Sawyer watched me raptly, and if I wasn’t mistaken, the times he’d shifted in his seat were to alleviate the pressure off an erection. Gun to my head, I couldn’t say which of those I wanted more. Cake or cock? The choice was an impossible one.

  “If you make that noise one more time, I’m going to drag your ass to the bathroom and lift that silky dress over your hips so I can get inside you.”

  Erection adjusting confirmed.

  “It’s just so good. Are you sure you don’t want a bite?”

  “That would mean that’s one less bite I get to watch you take. I’m really hoping you groan again, because I want nothing more than to fuck you senseless right now.”

  Wow. Sawyer had never been like this before. Whether it was the dress or the moans, or some combination of several factors, he was clearly on the edge. I had no doubt that he’d haul me to the bathroom of this five-star restaurant and make me orgasm so hard I’d forget what tiramisu even was.

  And, damn, how I wanted that. But the idea of getting caught having having sex in the bathroom of a restaurant I couldn’t afford to step foot in with several months’ salary put away didn’t sound at all appealing.

  I took another bite, making so to hold back my reaction. He almost looked disappointed and I grinned.

  “Tease.”

  “Maybe a little.”

  Sawyer chuckled. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “I am. This… I didn’t even know that I needed it, but it was perfect. Thank you so much, Sawyer.”

  “Be sure to thank Gio and Damien, too.”

  “How exactly did this happen? You clearly all worked together on the plans. I’m surprised you all made it out of that alive.” I cocked my head and peered at him. “Or did they? I didn’t see Gio or Damien after you gave me the dress.”

  “If I wasn’t a cop, that may have been exactly how things went down. But they’re alive and well, just backing off to give us some time together.”

  “And how did you manage to convince them of that? Not to mention letting me out of the penthouse unguarded.”

  “I take offense at that, I can protect you. Well, from humans anyway.” He leaned in and propped his elbows on the table. The black jacket he wore stretched over his muscles, barely containing him. He’d foregone the tie and the top button of his crisp white shirt showed just the barest peek of his tantalizing flesh.

  “I know you can.” And I did. I had total faith in him. Against humans.

  “As to your question, they agreed to let me take you out because it would make you happy. Besides your safety, it’s the only thing we can all agree on. We want you to be happy, Zar, and if that means going out with me to a fancy dinner, they’re on board. Just like I would be if the situation had worked out differently.”

  “What do you mean?” I couldn’t be hearing this right.

  “If you’d wanted to spend the evening with Gio, I would have been the one to buy the shoes. Or I may have called dibs on the lingerie, I’m not sure.”

  “You wouldn’t have been upset if I went on a date with one of them?”

  “No. I can’t say that it wouldn’t make me a tiny bit jealous, but not angry. And I’d only be jealous because that’s time you could have spent with me. I want you all the time, but I’m a big boy. I can learn to share. Besides, I’d rather have some time with you rather than none at all.”

  My head was spinning and I had to take a mental step back. Was he really saying what it sounded like, or was I inferring things that I hadn’t even dared to think aloud? Things that I was so sure weren’t possible that I’d written them off before even giving them a chance?

  “What if… what if things went beyond just a date with one of them? Or both? Is that a deal breaker?”

  “Do you mean the fact that you’ve slept with both of them already?” My eyes rounded at his casual question and I began to sputter a reply, but he kept talking. “Like I said, I want you to be happy, and I know that they give you things that I don’t. I’m not a gargoyle, so you’ll never be able to relate to me on that level. And you can’t let go with me in bed like you can with them. But I love you, and I want whatever you want to give me of yourself, Zara.”

  My palms were sweaty and I couldn’t wipe them down my thighs like I normally would if I didn’t want tracks down the front of my dress. I knew I loved Sawyer, even if I had yet to tell him, but what Damien and Gio had done for me tonight had changed what I felt for both of them. I knew it was something intense and real, but their willingness to let me be with who made me happy and love me anyway gave me a firm push toward
that “l-word” zone.

  “You know what you mean to me, Sawyer, and—”

  “I don’t, actually. I think I know, but you’ve yet to tell me, so it’s all supposition at this point. Would you care to clear that up for me?”

  Oh, the bastard. He knew how I felt without me saying the words, but he was going to force my hand. Well, he’d said he was tired of waiting. I tried to muster my courage, but for some reason, it was absolutely terrifying. My cheeks felt flushed and the tips of my ears were burning.

  “It’s not easy to just say it, Sawyer. The last person I said those words to ended up being a psychopath, possibly a dirty cop, and was burned to death on my watch. It wasn’t because of anything I did, but that doesn’t wipe away the inkling of responsibility that I carry with me. If we hadn’t been together, he wouldn’t have been such a dick to me that night, and I would have stayed with him to back him up like I should have, and I can’t help but think that if I tell you how much I love you and things go bad, that something bad will happen to you, too, and I—”

  Sawyer had climbed to his feet the second I said I loved him and he cut off my babbling tirade by yanking me up and slamming his lips down over mine. My lips parted instinctively and he thrust his tongue inside, ravishing me in the middle of the crowded restaurant. There were clearing throats and muted catcalls, but I barely heard anything over the rush of blood in my ears.

  “Ma’am? Sir? I’m going to have to ask you to stop, please. You’re disturbing our other patrons.” Sawyer pulled his lips from mine, but he maintained his hold on my waist. Good thing, because my balance was shot.

  “Sorry. We’ll be on our way; our dinner is on the Viridios account.” An attendant rushed over with my coat and Sawyer helped me into it as I reacted on autopilot, still dazed. “Come on, Sterling. The night is young and you look way too good to go home just yet.”

  I gathered my wits as he led me from the restaurant, remembering basic functions like breathing and speaking.

  “Did we just get kicked out of a five-star restaurant?” I giggled as the cool air outside hit my cheeks.

  “Most definitely, and it’s now my favorite story ever.”

  He looked down at me, his eyes brimming with humor and something richer. His hand on my hip squeezed and pulled me closer.

  I had to admit: tonight was going to be one of my favorite stories, too.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I looped my arm through Sawyer’s as we left the restaurant, feeling for once like everything was going right.

  We walked down the street side by side, and I cut a glance at the taller cop. The neon lights of the bar district caught the lighter strands of blond in his hair, and he was actually smiling, like the weight of everything going on around us had finally fallen off his shoulders. And all it had taken was an admission that I loved him.

  “Where to next, pardner?” he asked, tugging me a little closer. “You’re not done letting off steam tonight.”

  “We’re really close to Krystallic,” I pointed out. It was one of the few clubs where both humans and gargoyles were entirely welcome and even encouraged to mix. After some of the sidelong glances I’d fielded in the restaurant, I wanted to be in a place where we wouldn’t necessarily stand out as oddities. “I promise, I won’t let any other big strong gargoyle ladies run off with you.”

  “Don’t worry, I have no problems with using you as a human shield.” His tone was light and teasing, but I knew there was no way Sawyer would leave my side, not even if someone jammed a crowbar between us.

  The purple and green lights of Krystallic strobed several blocks down, illuminating a banner erected across the street that read Kobalt for Governor! I was getting tired of seeing that smarmy Sapphire’s face and name pasted everywhere. It was almost like I could feel the effects of his emotional manipulation through the poster, and I repressed a shudder.

  My eyes tore away from the banner and I shook off the strange sensation, determined to enjoy the rest of my time with Sawyer. I scanned the crush of bodies, taking in the atmosphere. Drunks abounded, but it seemed that everyone was having a good time, humans and gargoyles mingling tension free.

  Someone in the crowd of bar hoppers and club-goers caught my eye. I paused mid-step, craning my neck to see over a few tall heads.

  Whoever it was, they wore a holey green hoodie. True, lots of people in this city probably owned holey green hoodies, but I felt like I’d seen it somewhere before. A memory tugged on the edges of my mind, nagging at me as the guy pulled further ahead. Even with his head covered, the gait of the human male was unmistakable, his shoulders hunched down a little.

  “I know that guy,” I murmured, and Sawyer looked where I was pointing. “I can’t quite place it, but I’m sure I’ve seen him before.”

  “Let’s get a better look then.” Sawyer picked up the pace and I followed, careful not to snap the heels of my shoes in one of the cracks in the pavement.

  The guy in the hoodie paused outside one of the many shitty dives clustered outside the bigger clubs. He turned and a neon light caught his face, illuminating his rough, lumpy features. The memory of that face cracked through my brain like a thunderbolt.

  He’d been the guy in the hallway of the Viridian building on the night of the fire. The one who’d probably set the fire and was responsible for Josh’s death.

  “He’s the one,” I said, my tongue feeling thick and numb in my mouth. “He was the one searching for the Ruby. He killed Josh.”

  Sawyer’s easygoing expression clouded over. “Zar, let’s think about this for a second, we don’t...”

  Too late. I was already striding down the sidewalk, cursing that I’d chosen tonight of all nights to wear high heels. “No, I’m not letting him get away. He murdered innocent people, Sawyer. They died in a fucking fire, and he’s going to answer for it.”

  When I was only twenty feet away, the slimy bastard turned his head in my general direction and stiffened when he caught sight of me barreling towards him.

  I shouldn’t have expected anything less, but the coward turned and ran. Without skipping a beat, I yanked my shoes off, breaking the delicate straps, and sprinted after him, shoving people aside as I pushed through the crowd.

  In my periphery, Sawyer was right beside me as we were coming up on the arsonist’s left. The guy swerved, charging into a dank, pitch-black alley.

  I ducked around a drunk woman who was giggling against a wall and followed him. He had a head start and was already climbing over a chain link fence halfway down the alley.

  Rocks crumbled under my feet as I pounded after him. There was no way in hell that son of a bitch was getting away.

  He dropped to the ground on the other side of the fence and bolted to the end of the alley.

  Sawyer beat me to the fence, but before he could start climbing over it, I exploded right through and left a wake of twisted wire behind me.

  Glass crunched underfoot and I swung the way the arsonist had gone. A green hoodie vanished into another alley, a narrow crack between the old brownstones.

  “I’m not letting him get away,” I gasped to Sawyer. Falling into our perfect rhythm, he was already taking the alley right ahead of us, intending to cut the suspect off.

  I raced after the hoodie and almost ran right into a massive pile of trash and upended metal cans. Did the moron really think that was going to stop me? I skidded through something mushy, shoving the trash cans out of the way.

  The arsonist was at the far end, but he stopped dead and backtracked. Sawyer came into view, holding his service piece at the ready and herding him back towards me.

  The guy turned to run, saw me waiting for him, and froze.

  “Nowhere to go, buddy,” I called out, keeping my tone friendly as I approached.

  The arsonist gave me a grin full of crooked, browning teeth, and jumped onto a trash can. It wobbled precariously under him, but he had just enough momentum to grab the metal ladder on the outside of the brick building.

&
nbsp; “Oh, right.” I met Sawyer at the bottom of the ladder. “Nowhere to go but up. My mistake.”

  “After you,” Sawyer said. “There’s no ladder on the other side, so he’s trapped up there.”

  “True.” I crouched and jumped up, catching the lower rail with my fingertips. The arsonist was slowing the higher he got. Looked like someone had a fear of heights. Luckily, flying in Gio’s arms had cured mine. Well, mostly.

  I kept an eye on him as I ascended, steadfastly refusing to look back down at the ground. He picked up his pace, slipping on the rail near the top, and just managed to heave himself over the side.

  When I reached the pinnacle, I easily jumped over and found my quarry desperately scrambling for a way out, like a mouse trapped in a bolt hole.

  He spun in place when my foot scraped against the rooftop and froze when he saw me. An ugly sneer twisted his features.

  “You know who I am?” I asked softly. My memory was perfectly clear now. I’d only caught him in profile, but he wore the same clothes, had the same crooked nose as the man who’d left Josh to die.

  “Back off, stone bitch.” Spit flew out of his mouth and he desperately searched his pockets, but he had no weapons that could stop me. “I fucking told Aberdeen to take care of you. Always knew you’d cause us problems in the end. I’m glad he got what was coming to him, I just wish I’d been the one to pull the trigger.”

  An avalanche of ice poured through my insides. My thoughts felt like they were caught in spinning gears. I’d seen him running from Josh’s body and the growing blaze, but…

  “What are you talking about? He burned to death.”

  Only Sawyer’s sudden presence at my elbow kept me from launching myself at the cop-killing bastard and crushing him to pieces.

  “Did he?” The robber raised his eyebrows, somehow managing to look smarmy despite his disgust. “Shows how much you know. On the other hand…” He laughed, even though he didn’t have any reason to be amused right now. “You obviously don’t know a whole lot.”

  My stoneheart beat faster as my palms slicked with sweat. I’d had my suspicions about Josh, as had Sawyer, but now… was this confirmation that Josh had been dirty? Our suspect knew him by name, and he hadn’t said it like something he’d read off the nameplate of a dead man.