by Faith Gibson
Gregor smiled internally. “Now, would you like to see your daughter?”
Elizabeth literally jumped up from the sofa. It was disconcerting how much she and Tessa looked alike. No wonder Flanagan had been able to find Tessa. “I need to warn you, she has both arms in splints. Her left leg is fragile, as the bone will take time to heal. She also has monitors connected to her. We believe she can hear us so please, talk to her.”
“Oh, she can definitely hear you.” Tamian appeared to be gloating.
“How do you know that, unless she spoke to you? Did she fucking talk to you and you’re just now mentioning it?” Gregor was ready to throttle the man.
“She didn’t speak out loud, no. But she did mind speak, and she has a message for you. She said to stop moping around, or she’s going to shoot you.”
Gregor threw his head back and howled. The others in the room probably figured he’d lost his mind, but he couldn’t stop the laughter. “Of course she will.” He shook his head, and his heart filled with hope for the first time in days.
Gregor asked that they not overwhelm Tessa since she was obviously aware of her surroundings. They agreed, and Elizabeth went in to see her first. Gregor stood outside the door listening. He should give her some privacy, but he didn’t want to be far away in case she became agitated. After Xavier spent a few short minutes talking to his daughter, Elizabeth grabbed Gregor’s hand and pulled him into the room with her. Even though Tamian had said Tessa could hear them, Elizabeth spoke as if she couldn’t.
“I remember when she got this.” She was running her fingers gingerly across Tessa’s tattoo. Gregor had dressed Tessa in one of his button up shirts. It was the easiest thing to get on over the splints without too much trouble. “I knew then you two would eventually find your way to each other. I’m just glad the glass cut through the A and not the G.”
“What are you talking about?” Gregor looked closer at the tattoo. When he took the time to analyze the ink, he finally figured out the swirls were more than just fancy lines. His initials, GAS, were flowing along her skin.
“Tessa has always known who you are, Gregor. While you may truly be a Di Pietro, to her you are a Stone. Her hardass.” Elizabeth laughed as she stroked her daughter’s hair. “Tessa, I know you can hear me, so you’ll just have to forgive me for spilling your secrets.” At that, the fingers on the hand Gregor was holding twitched.
Forty-Two
Gregor offered a spare bedroom to Xavier, but he declined. While Elizabeth wanted to stay, Xavier was still very protective and was ready to get her back to their home. Most of the Clan cleared out, giving Gregor his privacy. Rafael and Kaya stayed later than most, discussing Xavier and Alistair, and what that meant for the Gargoyles. Rafael planned to call a meeting of the Clans and inform them of human bonding, as well as the repercussions and possible war with Alistair.
Gregor had missed out on helping Jasper move. The Julian-Dane battle over Katherine Fox had continued then. More than once the other brothers had intervened. The two hadn’t come to blows yet, but if they didn’t settle who she was actually mated to soon, Rafael was afraid they would battle it out with their fists and claws.
“What’s the deal with Tessa and her brother?” Kaya asked quietly as she sat sipping coffee.
“They’re close. I’d say as close if not closer than twins because they come from the same DNA. I was right; they can hear each other’s thoughts. He is very protective of her, has watched over her for years now,” Gregor told her. Tamian was once again upstairs with his sister. Gregor had a feeling things were going to change for them as soon as she woke up.
Speaking of Tamian, he slowly descended the stairs and stepped into the living area. “She’s asking for you. Now that I know she’s going to be okay, I’m going to head on home. Promise me you’ll take good care of her.” His words sounded like a real goodbye, not just “I’ll see you later”.
“Of course I will, but you don’t have to leave.”
“Yeah, I do. She needs you, and you two need to start your life together without anyone hovering.” Tamian clapped Gregor on the shoulder. “Rafael, Kaya, take care.” With that, Tamian walked out the front door without looking back.
“Why did that feel like goodbye?” Kaya was hugging herself.
“Because it was.” Gregor didn’t need to have Dante’s psychic abilities to see the truth for what it was.
Rafael called for Priscilla who was still in the kitchen. Gregor would be searching for his utensils for weeks. “We will leave you to your mate. If you need anything at all, just call.” Rafael pulled Gregor in for a brotherly hug.
“Thank you both, for everything.” Gregor kissed Priscilla on the cheek and bowed his head to his Queen. Once the house was empty, Gregor took the stairs two at a time to get to Tessa.
“It’s about time.” Tessa smiled at Gregor.
“Holy shit, Baby! You’re awake! Oh my gods, Tessa!” Gregor wanted to grab her up and twirl her around, but with her injuries, he didn’t dare. “When Tamian said you were asking for me, I didn’t know you were really asking for me.”
“I was really asking for you. Can you get me some water? My throat feels like fourteen cats have been clawing around in there.”
“Of course, hang on.” Gregor grabbed a glass of water from the bathroom and helped her sip it. “I need to call Joseph and ask if it’s okay to remove the I.V.”
“Who’s Joseph?” Tessa asked between sips of water.
“Your doctor. He operated on you after the wreck.”
Tessa appeared confused. “But where’s Jonas?”
“Jonas?”
“Yeah, my uncle. I know his voice as well as I know Tamian’s. He was there the whole time, talking to me. I don’t recall anyone else.”
“Holy fucking shit.” Gregor couldn’t believe it. Now it all made sense. Joseph Mooneyham was Jonas Montague. That explained the recognition between him and Tamian. “Tessa, I am pretty sure your uncle has been right here in New Atlanta for the last ten years posing as Joseph Mooneyham, Chief of Staff.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “Of course he has. That’s why Caroline was able to get here so quickly when Dane transitioned. They’ve been hiding close by.” She laughed until she started coughing.
“Easy, Baby. Don’t overdo it. I just got you back.” Gregor fussed over her pillows, and her shirt, and her hair.
“Stop fussing. Do me a favor and call Jonas. Ask him about the monitors and the I.V. and these fucking splints. I’m pretty sure my bones are healed by now. And get this fucking catheter out of me. Now.”
Gregor laughed at her sass and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. She surprised him by offering her lips. It was a swift brush of skin. “I would give you some tongue, but my mouth tastes like those fourteen cats have used it as their litter box.”
Gregor went to the bathroom and came back with mouthwash. “Until we can get you up to brush your teeth.” Tessa swished a little mouthwash around and spit it in the offered glass. While she was swishing he told her, “About the catheter, I’m not pulling it out. I’m not a doctor, and I don’t want to hurt you. Let me call Joseph, I mean Jonas. If he can’t come by here, I will get Isabelle on it.”
Gregor made the phone calls, and Tessa rambled on about nothing. She was catching up on lost time using her voice. The doctor instructed Gregor to feed her broth until her stomach got used to something other than the fluids that had been flowing through her veins.
Even though the hour was late, Tessa had insisted all tubes and monitors be removed from her body. Dante and Isabelle arrived together. Working as a team, Isabelle removed one splint while Dante removed the other. Jonas had agreed to the splints on her arms coming off, as long as she promised not to put any weight on them or pick anything up for several days. Getting around required the use of crutches, so she would be immobile for a while longer. Gregor had to promise Tessa would not move herself. He had no problem with carrying his mate wherever she wanted to go.
Isabelle shooed Dante and Gregor from the room so she could remove the catheter. Tessa and Isabelle spoke privately while Gregor and Dante did the same downstairs. Gregor noticed Dante’s mood was lighter than it had been in years. “What’s up?”
“Isabelle asked me out to dinner.”
“Do you think she is ready to move forward?” Gregor hoped so for his brother’s sake.
“We shall see. It is, however, just dinner at Chez Vaison. A very public place where absolutely nothing other than conversation can happen.”
“Truth, Brother. It’s what happens after dinner that could be exciting.” Gregor clapped him on the shoulder just as Isabelle came down the stairs, shaking her head.
“She’s all yours. I don’t know how you put up with her mouth.”
Gregor laughed, thinking how much he loved Tessa’s mouth and what she could do with it.
For the second time that day, Dante and Isabelle said goodbye, this time happy that Tessa was awake and on her way to a full recovery.
Gregor shut and locked the door and headed to his mate. He stopped just outside the bedroom and stared. Bruised, cut, and in desperate need of a shower, she was still the most beautiful woman in the world. She smiled at him and patted the bed beside her. Gregor sat down, scooting over until he was next to her good leg. She leaned up so he could slide his arm around her waist. When he did, she laid her head on his shoulder. Gregor’s heart sped up. Having her back in his bed was a dream come true, even if they could do no more than cuddle.
Tessa gingerly placed a hand on his chest, letting her fingers trail swirls over his skin. “I need to ask you something.”
Gregor momentarily tensed. He had no idea what was going through her pretty head, but he would tell her what she wanted to know. “Anything.”
“Is Gordon dead?”
Gregor let out his breath. This he could deal with. “Honestly, we don’t know. His helicopter was shot down, but only one body was recovered. That doesn’t mean he got out alive. Doesn’t mean he didn’t. Now I have a question.”
Tessa looked up at him. “Anything,” she responded in kind.
“How did Merrick find you?”
Tessa frowned. “Who’s Merrick?”
“The guy chasing you, the one driving the Mustang.”
“Oh, him. I think it was dumb luck. I was standing in the food line at the festival, and he turned around, dumping his food on my shirt. When he went to apologize, he must have recognized me. If he was working for Gordon, he probably had a picture of my mother. Did he get away, too?”
“No, that fucker’s dead.”
Tessa thought on that a beat then asked, “What’s up with Dante and Belle?”
Since the Clan already knew, he didn’t see anything wrong in telling Tessa. “They’re mates. I thought you might have figured that out already.”
Tessa raised her head and looked at him, “No, but I’m glad it’s your brother. She was really worried about who it might be. Although, I hope they never have kids.”
“Why not?” Gregor’s heart stopped. Where was she going with this? Did she not think the Gargoyles and half-bloods should have children?
“Have you seen those two? Neither one of them knows how to smile. Just think of the scowling ass babies they’d have.”
Gregor started laughing. He couldn’t help it. She did have a point, but hopefully now that Isabelle had asked Dante out, they would give each other something to smile about.
Tessa snuggled in closer then spoke to his chest, “When I left here Halloween morning, I wanted so badly to turn around and come right back. My heart felt like someone had reached into my chest and ripped it right out. I went to the fall festival and walked around, thinking. Do you really want children?”
Again, Gregor was leery of the subject. He didn’t know if she wanted children, but if this was going to work, they had to be honest with each other. “I do. Do you not?” He closed his eyes, waiting on her answer.
“I wasn’t sure I did until I observed the families at the festival, watching the parents interacting with the kids. And then there was this purple duck. That sealed the deal.”
“A purple duck? I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
Tessa explained how she won the stuffed toy for the little girl whose mother didn’t have the money or ability to win the toy for her daughter. “The joy that one insignificant toy brought to that child instilled the longing within me to see my own child happy. I want children. Your children.”
Wetness was forming in Gregor’s eyes. He didn’t try to hide the emotions from his mate. Honesty came in many forms, and that included allowing your true feelings to shine, even in the form of tears. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She had just given him the world.
“Does this mean you’re ready to make the bond official? Not now, but when you’re healed?”
Tessa nodded, her own eyes shining with tears. “Yes, I am ready to be your mate.”
Epilogue
When the world was falling apart, all because Tessa’s uncle decided to clone her, the Di Pietro family began buying up real estate all over the world. The small Greek island of Astakos was one of those properties. Sixx had offered the island to Gregor and Tessa for a belated honeymoon. Once Tessa had healed, Gregor more or less turned the Pen over to Deacon. Wherever his mate went, Gregor followed.
Tessa produced Jonas’ final journal that chronicled the lives of his seventeen children, showing humans could mate successfully with Gargoyles. As soon as Tessa gave the journal to Rafael, he had thrown his Queen over his shoulder and sequestered her to their bedroom for days. Needless to say, Dane Abbott became Chief of Police.
With the Stone Society owning Astakos Island, Gregor and Tessa had all the privacy they wanted. What started as a one week holiday turned into a month-long sex fest. When Sixx originally bought the island, he had razed the local hotel, and in its place built a huge mansion full of windows that overlooked the Ionian Sea. The only others on the island were the cooks and caretakers who kept out of site of the guests.
The weather was such that they could stay on the beach with no worry of rain. The temperatures were mild, and they rarely saw the inside of the mansion. The cabana by the sea boasted a kitchen, king-size bedroom, and bathroom. Gregor built a fire on the beach every night, not for heat, but just because Tessa wanted one.
Tessa was lying on a chaise, sunning her naked body. All of her scars had been removed with the exception of the one running through her ink. Gregor insisted she leave it. He wanted the reminder of how precious life was. He stood, admiring his nude mate, his cock standing at attention. He had worn a hard-on since they arrived at the island. They had made love and fucked in every room of the mansion. The hot tub had to be cleaned daily.
When Gregor shaded Tessa’s body, she asked, “Do you remember when we went cliff diving in Acapulco?”
“Yeah.” Gregor bent down closer to his mate, his cock straining against his swim trunks. “What about it?” He got closer still and ran his nose up her inner thigh, stopping at the juncture between her legs. As long as he lived, he would never get enough of her scent, her taste.
“I want to go Gregor diving.” She was grinning at him.
“Gregor diving?” He lifted his nose from her crotch. The mirrored aviators she wore concealed her eyes. He couldn’t tell if she was yanking his chain.
“Yep, I want you to fly me above the water and let me dive off your shoulders.”
Gregor gently slid the shades down her button nose, seeing the glint of mischievousness in her eyes. “You’re serious.”
“Of course I’m serious. You’ll be able to see the water and know I’m not diving close to any rocks. The farther away from shore you fly, the deeper the water.”
Gregor licked a trail up her torso, admiring the goose bumps that popped up. He sucked her left nipple. “What do I get in return?” He sucked her right nipple. Tessa squirmed in her chair.
“Anything you want,” she responded in
a husky voice.
Gregor liked that answer. Tessa was a wildcat in bed. They had experimented with just about every toy imaginable. They tied each other up, submitted to and dominated each other. Tessa was an expert when it came to dishing out just the right amount of pain. She was the perfect sexual partner. If she wanted plain vanilla, slow and gentle love making, she never hesitated telling him so. Gregor was more than okay with being gentle when his mate needed it.
“Suit up.” Gregor dug through the duffle bag sitting next to her chair and grabbed one of Tessa’s many bathing suits, tossing it to her. There was no way she could jump into the sea without getting a saltwater douche. She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her to her feet. Even with her red hair, she tanned evenly without burning. Her toned, tan body was sexy as hell, especially now that she had another tattoo on the opposite hip as his initials. When Tamian had taken off, it nearly broke Tessa’s heart. When she asked Gregor if he minded her getting ink to honor her brother, he was all for it. Gregor almost felt guilty for her brother running off. Almost.
The workers on the island had been hired specifically because of their knowledge of the Gargoyles. If they noticed Gregor flying with Tessa and her diving into the blue water, they wouldn’t think anything about it, other than it might look fun. Once Tessa was wearing a swimsuit, Gregor unfurled his wings and wrapped his arms around Tessa’s waist. He launched into the air, flying out over the water. When he thought he was high enough, she shook her head, “Higher.” He flew higher yet, and when she told him to, he helped her climb onto his shoulders. His wings held him in place while Tessa dove from high above the sea into the crystal blue waters. He flew after her, landing almost as soon as she did.
Tessa kicked her legs and broke the surface of the water, laughing louder than he had ever heard. “Again!”