“What? Wait, but we’re just...”
He didn’t wait to hear the rest and was already darting into the surrounding forest, summoning his shadow magic as he ran so as not to give away her location to any other fae that might be nearby.
All in all, he thought his first meeting with his pet human had gone well. She seemed reasonably intelligent, and he had high hopes she could provide the other fae with valuable insight into the minds of their human enemies. And he rather hoped she might become his friend. He would like that.
Chapter 12
LILLIAN DROPPED THE armful of wood she’d taken from the shed out back and placed it off to the side as she knelt before the cold fireplace. The night was chilled, cold enough for a fire. She hoped it didn’t signal an early fall and subsequent winter. It felt like she’d already missed most of the summer. Healing in a hamadryad for three months tended to do that.
The fire was for Gregory. Not that he was ever cold. He was his own heat source, but she sensed he missed things from his world. While she didn’t know what kind of accommodations the Magic Realm boasted, she figured fire was probably something both Realms shared. Hence, she was crouched before the fireplace in their master bedroom.
Old ashes still dusted the bottom from the last time she’d built a fire—months before when she’d still led a normal life, completely oblivious to the fact she wasn’t human, or that magic was real.
She swept out the ashes more by routine than focused effort, her mind on other, greater, problems than a few ashes. Gregory craved closeness. Yet after what had happened the night the Siren enchanted Gregory, Lillian wasn’t sure how to maintain their previous closeness without accidentally revealing what had happened between them. She felt her stomach tighten with nerves just thinking about the lies and how she’d stripped Gregory of the memory.
Sex. It’s called sex. Grow up and deal with it, she mentally scolded herself. If nothing comes of it, then nothing comes of it, and Gregory certainly doesn’t need to beat himself up for breaking some archaic vow.
At least that was her reasoning for using the collars to make him forget. Though she wondered in a small part of her mind if she wasn’t just using that excuse so Gregory wouldn’t realize how foolish she’d been. She’d done a few embarrassing things in her life, but she also knew if Gregory looked at her with betrayal dulling his gaze, a part of her would die. She wanted to be his equal, to make him proud, to earn his respect, but she also knew nothing she’d done that night was worthy. The greater shame was that, in her heart, she knew the Sorceress of old would have found another way.
Yes, she’d done what she’d thought was best under the circumstances to save as many human lives as possible. But if Gregory lost respect for her because of it?
Well then, she’d just have to be strong and keep her secret because there was no way she wanted to lose Gregory’s respect or have him loathe himself.
Given a choice, she’d make sure neither outcome came to pass. Which brought her to her first relationship hurdle. How to provide Gregory with what he needed without revealing something forbidden had already occurred. If she tried to guard against him intruding on her thoughts, he’d just get more suspicious, and then sniff out what had happened. He could read her far too well—knew some of her thoughts when they were touching.
Her only hope was to make certain her thoughts were clear and distinct, and not give him reason to dig deeper.
She hoped her plan with the fire was a good start. She’d know pretty quickly if it failed. Subtle Gregory wasn’t.
SHE HAD THE FIRE BURNING merrily by the time Gregory exited the bathroom with his customary two towels tied around his waist. His ebony mane was hanging around his shoulders and still dripping water.
A smile tugged at her lips. Gregory, predictable as always, made straight toward her with another towel in one hand and a large comb in the other.
He stopped next to her, still towering over her in his silent way as he stared down at the top of her head. The mat she’d set out by the fire was big enough even for Gregory to stretch full length on. She patted the mat. “I know we should get some rest since we have to be up again in a few hours, but I’m still wound too tight to sleep. I thought we could help each other relax.”
Gregory made a deep huffing sound in humor but dropped down next to her.
“Here,” she held her hand out for the comb, “I’ll start with your mane. The fire’s heat will help it dry.”
She knelt behind him, with her knees to either side of his broad hips and began working loose the tangles in his mane. His wings spread out to the sides to allow her in closer to his back, so it wasn’t such a reach. She quickly fell into a routine. The rhythmic brushing relaxed her nearly as much as it did him. She took her time until every tangle was out, and his mane flowed smoothly down his back.
When she was finished at last, she stretched up and laced her arms around his neck in a backward hug.
Their nightly routine brought her a deep sense of peace. They remained silent, words not needed between them. He brought her palms up to his lips and planted warm kisses on each while he curled his muscular tail across her hips and along her back. The tip curled around her shoulder and under her chin. She’d grown familiar with his way of returning her hug. With her cheek pressed against his damp mane, she closed her eyes and inhaled his pleasant scent, made stronger by his shower.
With another slow, easy smile, she pressed a kiss to the bulky muscle of one shoulder. Gregory rumbled happily and twisted toward her.
“Hah! No, you don’t. Tonight is for you. You’re the one who dodged bullets.” She slowly ran her fingers over the healed grazes on his shoulder, flank, and wing. “Well, mostly dodged.”
“I’d have taken worse to protect you.”
“I know.” Lillian ran her hands down his back, skimming them between his powerful wing joints, where they merged smoothly with his flight muscles. His wings shifted at her touch as if the light caress tickled. “You’ve really got to stop trying to martyr yourself.”
“Never.”
She huffed out a good imitation of his annoyance. “Well then, I’ll just have to keep making it up to you, I suppose.”
Gregory turned to her, a hint of wicked humor in his gaze.
“Subtle, Gregory, really subtle.” She smiled and made a gesture encompassing the entire mat. “Lie down.”
With another of his contented rumbles, he did as she instructed. She noted he completed the task with far more grace than she could have managed. When his head was resting comfortably on one of his folded forearms, he rolled his eyes in her direction, still not saying anything, just waiting for her to make the next move.
Lillian needed to fill the silence with something more than tension. “Did you know I was supposed to start college this fall? I was so pleased I got accepted—I didn’t think I would, because I was homeschooled. At twenty, I’d already be a couple of years older than most other students going in. I figured what the hell, so what if I was twenty and not eighteen. I wanted to become a massage therapist.”
She reached across him to snatch up the massage oil where she’d left it warming close to the fire. His ears lifted from his mane to track her movements, but he didn’t otherwise move. “I knew Gran wasn’t happy about my decision to attend college. I didn’t know why since I planned to come back and practice at the Spa once I was finished school.” Pouring a little oil into the palm of her hand, she started on the muscles between his wings, working her way slowly upward to his shoulders. He shifted slightly and sighed deeply, tension flowing out of him as she worked.
“In truth, I’m not sure if I could have left you. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I was becoming more and more drawn to you,” she laughed self-consciously, “a stone statue. Now it also makes sense why Gran didn’t want me to leave. She was protecting me like you’d asked. What would you have done if the Riven hadn’t attacked me back in the spring? What if you hadn’t awoken early from your healing slee
p?”
“You wouldn’t have left me, not for long.” He huffed softly, his ears swiveling in her direction again. “But had you somehow managed to fight the draw between us long enough to have traveled any great distance, I would have sensed it and followed you. Although, I wouldn’t have been thrilled to find you’d left me behind.”
Lillian laughed. “I can imagine how our first meeting would have gone under those circumstances.”
The idle talk had calmed her nerves, and she continued, much more relaxed.
Unhurried, she made her way lower, paying particular attention to the joints of his wings, which made him practically squirm, and then his sides. To her delight, she found he was ticklish there, too. When she moved on to his lower back, he sighed again, relaxing now that she was away from the ticklish zone. As she worked her way down, she hit the upper edge of his towel. She traced along the terrycloth’s edges, a delicate caress, and then she reached for the knot at the side, where he’d tied the two together.
Gregory held himself perfectly still as she worked at the knot—he seemed calm and relaxed outwardly, but she felt the line of tension run through his muscles in what could only be anticipation. When she glanced toward his face, she found him watching her with half-closed eyes, their dark depths giving nothing away.
She got the knot untied and tapped him on the hip. “Up,” she ordered as she grabbed another towel warming by the fire. He came to his knees, and she took the damp towels from his bath and tossed them off to the side. He lowered himself back down to the mat with another contented sigh, and she laid one of the fire warmed towels across his hips.
Starting at his flanks, she alternately worked her palm into his warm muscles and then used her fingers to work out any knots of tension she found. Once she’d conquered those, she skimmed her fingers down one powerful thigh. A sudden spike of wickedness had her switching from his thighs to the more sensitive base of his tail.
At the first touch, he hissed something unintelligible, and the tip of his tail thumped almost violently against the floor. His wings threatened to unfurl and knock away her tormenting touch.
Taking pity on him, she moved on down his nearest leg, going slow and thorough until she reached his foot. After lovingly working on it for some time, she switched to the other and then worked her way back up his leg.
Then she eyed the great tail where it rested loosely coiled next to her, its bladed tip still twitching gently. Well, why not? It’s a part of him too.
After pouring another generous dollop of oil in her palm, she started working on his tail. Repeatedly, the appendage escaped her grasp and wrapped itself around some part of her instead. Gregory’s playful side was rearing up, and she knew she was in for trouble if she didn’t finish up soon.
As she fully expected, his tail got harder to hold as she neared the tip. Gregory, now more interested in play than a massage, continually tried to snatch it away from her. Being slippery with massage oil made it an almost impossible task on her part. Predictably, his third attempt met with success, and the tip escaped her and got inside her defenses, where it curled around her waist and up under her shirt. He then proceeded to tickle her in retaliation.
Lillian admitted defeat as she burst into giggles. He rose up and tackled her. Completely taken by surprise, she was knocked off balance, but he rolled and caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. She’d barely registered he’d shifted into his more human looking hybrid form before warm lips were pressing kisses along her neck. While he was alternately nuzzling and nibbling, his tail was flicking caresses up and down her sides.
While she was still unbalanced, he shifted positions, coming to his knees with her pinned against his chest. Once she knew which way was up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed soft kisses along the line of his jaw. A large hand was suddenly under her backside, and she was hoisted up higher until she could easily brush her lips to his.
“Hmmm,” Gregory rumbled under his breath between kisses. “I might actually like playing at being human. Although, I think we need to work more on this first.” His lips stroked against hers before breaking away again to brush kisses along her cheeks and brow. “To be certain, of course.”
“Of course.” Lillian nodded sagely.
He shifted slightly, his knees edging outward for better balance and she suddenly found her own legs straddling his broad thighs. The new position combined with the thin material of her nightgown left no doubt he liked holding her close. She leaned back and put some distance between them, enough so she could meet his gaze. He drew in a sharp breath and held it. Something struck her as very vulnerable about his body language just then.
Leaning forward, she placed another lingering caress upon his lips and then said, “You’re the most beautiful being I know, both inside and out. No matter what the coming days may bring, I am honored to have you at my side. None could ask for a better protector.”
She dropped her gaze and stroked her fingertips down his chest, and then added, “Or lover, I imagine.”
Gregory made a soft sound, a wordless promise as he reached for the hem of her nightgown. She wiggled out of it as he helped to drag it over her head. Under it she was bare, and her nipples beaded as his knuckles brushed across them.
He dropped the nightgown in a pile next to them and turned his attention back to her. Finding herself growing shy under his gaze, she ducked her head and her hair swung forward to shield her breasts.
Gregory seemed unconcerned by the development and began kneading her hips with his strong fingers.
“Mmm,” Lillian arched her back, shyness retreating before the heat rising within her. She pressed against him and simply allowed him to move her how he liked. The undeniable evidence of his arousal trapped between her thighs gave her pause and at the same time did something to fire the heat in her blood to new levels.
After a few more moments, he released his grip on her hips and glided his fingers up her sides and then cupped the heavy weight of her breasts. He cupped her gently before leaning down to taste first one then the other.
“Tonight was supposed to be about you,” she said as she clung to his shoulders, needing something to hold on to. While he was lavishing attention on her breasts, his one hand had been trailing south.
Smug male laughter wrapped around her. “We are one being.”
She gasped out a surprised moan at his touch and simply let him have his way. After several more minutes of his skillful attentions, intense waves of pleasure had her eyes drifting closed. He continued to guide her movements, and she sighed out another sound of pleasure. The building waves rolled over her before she’d expected it and Lillian called out his name as she came apart cocooned in his wings.
Gregory kissed her down from the peak, and she slumped against him, all her bones suddenly mush. Slowly, reason returned, but she wasn’t displeased by events.
A voice tinged with male pride brushed against her senses. “I take it I did that well?”
“Gloriously,” she replied, though she also knew he hadn’t reached the same end yet himself. “Would you like me to return the favor?”
“Anything you decide will give me pleasure, my beautiful dryad.”
She smiled and then returned to kissing him while she, in turn, allowed her hands to roam lower. The wood had burned to embers in the fireplace by the time they drifted to sleep much, much later.
Chapter 13
MAJOR RESNICK LED HIS team through the woods with an outwardly calm exterior, pretending there was nothing unusual about hunting invisible monsters. Inwardly, his mind was awhirl with all he’d seen in the last twenty-four, no make that thirty-six hours. Now the damn days were blurring together.
When he’d first been assigned to the mission, he’d thought alpha site was some kind of hoax—although, even he couldn’t hazard a guess as to what force had snapped trees like they were toothpicks in a one-kilometer radius around the site but had otherwise left no evidence behind.
Thi
ngs got stranger when the results from the samples taken at the crater came back. Everything in the immediate area was dead. It wasn’t just the trees and the animals either. Every blade of grass and patch of moss, they were all dead. Everything. Even the microbes. Nothing survived.
Some of the men had renamed Alpha site to Armageddon site.
He wasn’t superstitious or an overly religious man, but somehow, he couldn’t blame them. After a brief hesitation, he’d started calling it Armageddon site in the privacy of his own mind.
That event had happened three months back, heralded by a towering pillar of light. Some of the locals had snapped pictures of the event and then came the media frenzy. What the general public didn’t know was that it had even been seen in space.
The government spin doctors made it out to be a particularly intense solar storm and the northern lights. Yeah, the locals didn’t buy into that story either, but the rest of the world did.
Resnick’s own world was far from peaceful, but he’d stuck to his personal mantra: do his job and let the scientists figure out what happened at the bloody Armageddon site.
But then a local farmer found a mutated body near the town, and top brass ordered the search farther afield for more clues. The scientists couldn’t link the two sites together beyond the presence of unexplainable anomalies. They had no idea how the body had gotten there or what had killed it.
Clearly, the specimen had looked like it had been in a battle and then crawled away to die. Nothing had touched its remains, not even insects according to the report. They’d had a damp spring and summer so far, cooler than average. Yet the body was mostly mummified, which made no sense.
Then just two days ago they’d found a live one, and two other...as yet undiscovered species.
Still, his mind had trouble accepting the truth—that humans were not the only intelligent predator on the planet.
All such information was need-to-know. Secretly, he wished his mission hadn’t required him to need to know to do his job.
The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9) Page 60