I smoothed a hand along his cheek. “A stone ninja. You know, all silent and deadly and sexy.”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult. I think I’ll stick with being a gargoyle.”
I watched his wings extend fully. “You do have the gargoyle gig down. Your girth is impressive.”
His lips curled back. “I think you mean wingspan.”
I tapped his chin. “Yeah, that too.”
His smile stayed in place, though his eyes focused on some point in the distance. “Where do you want to go?”
I watched his wings for another moment before tearing my gaze away. “Somewhere quiet would be nice.”
Stone lips twitched. “Any other requirements?”
I pretended to think. “Hmm…you, me, and some quiet…nope, can’t think of anything else I need.”
His arms tightened around me briefly. “Me neither.”
Jax moved fast. I watched in awe as night-shrouded scenery blurred below us. The twinkling lights of cars and homes sped underneath. Only minutes passed before he set us down on a small, secluded piece of beach. Water lapped at the edge of the sand a few feet away. Dense foliage and a few gigantic boulders surrounded the tiny beach, which was no more than twenty feet wide or deep. I looked out over the water. “Is this still Puget Sound?” I asked him.
“Yes.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I turned back to him. I tried to smile but failed. The dark alcove cast eerie shadows across the angles of Jax’s gargoyle form. Tonight, he looked every inch a hunter. He tucked his wings behind him. The tops rose above his head, pointed ends leaned in slightly, creating a distorted halo.
Jax watched me carefully. His hands hung loose at his sides, but the relaxed pose didn’t fool me. His abdominals were starkly defined. The shadow play moved with each breath he took. Just as my gaze lowered, he shifted back.
I closed the distance between us and brushed my palm down his arm. Taking his hand, I wrapped it around my waist. “I want the gargoyle tonight.”
He froze, but the flare of silver from his eyes gave him away. “Elle,” he bit out, sounding angry, “not tonight. We must wait for the ceremony.”
Warning bells rang in my head. “Didn’t we just do that?”
He shook his head. “No, we completed the bond. The ceremony is similar to a marriage. It’s an official joining. The bond is the first step.”
My shoulders relaxed. “Okay, no problem. Let’s do the ceremony.”
His fists clenched and unclenched, the telltale sign he was waging an internal battle. “Not tonight,” he repeated.
Ouch. Wasn’t expecting that one. I kept my voice measured. “Why not? I’m ready to make it official. It’s the last step, right?” I needed that connection with him. He was my anchor.
“Wait, is it the ring?” I waggled my empty left hand at him. “I couldn’t care less about that.”
He sighed. “I would love nothing more than to finish the ceremony tonight. But we need to wait for your abilities to manifest fully.”
“Okay.” I drew the word out slowly. “What do my abilities have to do with anything? I’m ready for this. If you’re not, we can…”
His offered me a quick, strained smile. “I would have tried weeks ago, if given the choice.”
Tension melted from my shoulders, and I shook my head. “A choice about what? We haven’t had the opportunity to do much of anything.”
“I want it to be right. And perfect.”
“Me too,” I replied in a soft voice. “And we don’t have to rush that.”
I looked around us. A cool breeze blew strands of hair across my face. I brushed them aside and looked down at the sand, wishing I’d grabbed a blanket. It’s hard to be sexy when you’re unintentionally exfoliating the unmentionables.
Jax walked closer and took ahold of my hand. “Is this beach what you wanted? If not, I can take us somewhere else. Somewhere warmer or more comfortable or…”
I was exactly where I needed to be. Ceremony or not.
I wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. The heat of his mouth was a delicious contrast to the cool breeze brushing across my skin. “Nature sex is a distant second to having the gargoyle,” I whispered against his lips, “but I’ll take it.”
Jax lifted me up and walked me over to one of the boulders. The flat surface rose a few inches taller than he stood. He pressed me against the stone and captured my lips, coaxing my mouth open with a stroke of his tongue. I felt it all the way down to my toes. Desire flooded through the bond and I had no idea if it was his, mine, or both. I didn’t care.
I wrapped both arms around his neck and pressed my body into his chest. Heat rolled off his skin. He leaned into me, settling my body more firmly against the stone. I shrugged out of the jacket and tugged at the hem of my tank top. Jax barely let me pull it over my head before capturing my lips again.
“I crave the taste of you,” he growled.
I felt the same, but I couldn’t form words. I tilted my head when he skimmed his lips down my throat. Jax released my legs long enough for me to step out of the boy shorts and toss them aside. I wrapped my legs around him, sucking in a sharp breath when his erection pressed against me, hot and hard.
I shifted my hips, causing Jax to curse. I didn’t need gentle. His mouth closed around a nipple and I arched against him with a soft cry. His teeth scraped along the sensitive skin in a light caress.
I ran my fingernails down his back, imagining the sheer power of his wings, feeling the play of muscles that ran the length of his spine. They shifted and bunched as he leaned forward to taste my skin.
His tongue teased my other nipple, and I felt an answering pull low in my stomach. I moved against the length of him, needing him inside. Now. His hands gripped my hips tightly, holding me still. I brought my hands to his head and forced him to look up.
A breeze drifted past, and the scent of ocean and a hint of pine trees teased my nose. It was an interesting combination, but the man in front of me drew my full attention. He’d gone still, though this time his muscles strained with the effort.
Jax shifted his hands to cup my backside. His erection pressed against me. One quick thrust and he slid inside. My head dropped back against the rock as I moaned in pleasure. He filled me completely. Our bond completed us.
His lips found my nipple again as he began to move. Slow at first, giving my body time to adjust. His tongue flicked as he drove his hips forward. I tightened my legs around his waist, wanting to hold him closer.
I sensed he was still holding back. “More,” I whispered.
He lifted his head, holding me with his gaze. “Little gem,” he groaned and his deep voice felt rough as it whispered across my skin. “You deserve more.”
“I deserve all of you,” I corrected him. I nipped at his ear lobe, and then soothed the skin with a swirl of my tongue. “I deserve everything you have to give. Just as you have all of me.” I blew a soft breath into his ear, smiling when he shuddered. In this moment, I felt more powerful than I’d ever been.
I ran my fingers through his short, soft hair. It felt so silky against my fingertips. I kissed his chin, and then his neck, sucking lightly on the skin at the base of his throat, drawing a growl from his chest. It vibrated along me, causing my inner muscles to clench.
Jax pinned me to the stone, a wild look in his eyes. “Mate, you tempt me beyond reason.”
I wanted to smile but no longer could. I knew what he meant. Every cell in my body vibrated with awareness. I could feel his desperation through the bond. He’d been hiding more than I realized, and I’d been too distracted to notice.
“All of you,” I repeated. His desperation was mine. I squeezed my eyes shut and whispered, “Please don’t hold back. I’m not that fragile.” I could handle it. I could handle him.
His guttural groan sounded like it was ripped from his chest. The boulder scraped against my back as Jax thrust harder into me. His fingers
dug into my hips as he held me in place. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw silver streaks lighting his gaze. Eyes unfocused and wild, he let go of his control.
The bond flared to life as need coursed through me. There was nothing gentle about him. Every hard stroke, every harsh breath drove me closer to the edge. My nipples brushed against his chest. Each nerve ending in my body was alive with raw desire. The simple contact made my breath hiss between my teeth.
He pulled my legs tighter around his waist, driving him deeper inside me. We groaned simultaneously and his pace quickened as his pleasure fused with mine. The bond nearly crackled with energy and heat. I closed my eyes and let the sensations crash over me. The cool air, the scent of the ocean and Jax, the feel of the bond and his body joined with mine, drove me closer to orgasm.
“I can’t…wait,” he murmured in my ear. His voice was so deep and rough, it took me a few seconds to decipher his words.
I couldn’t speak. My hands clenched on his shoulders as he buried himself. I climaxed at the same time he threw his head back and cried out his release. Wave after wave of pleasure shuddered through me. His, mine, ours.
Minutes later, I slowly came back to reality. Jax wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. His breath was ragged and hot on my neck as he held me close.
The silence of the night was broken by the distant cry of a seagull. I opened my eyes to see Jax leaning back, looking at me. He brushed a few strands of hair away from my face. “Next time, I’ll take you somewhere perfect.”
I put a finger to his lips, halting his apology. “Next time, you’ll do the same thing.”
He regarded me with eyes still turbulent with emotion, but he didn’t say a word.
“All of you, remember?” I reminded him with a half smile. I looked around. Despite the darkness, the moon cast enough light to show me. “It’s perfect here.”
Finally, I was rewarded with his killer smile. White teeth flashed in the darkness. My inner muscles clenched around him, drawing a shudder from us both. He gently kissed the side of my neck and inhaled deeply. “I love you, little gem.”
The soft, deep words thrummed through the bond and struck me right in the heart. To hell with tomorrow. To hell with my father. I had my gargoyle. And in this moment, he was all I needed.
I waited until he lifted his head. I stared straight into his eyes. “I love you, mate.”
It was the first time I’d said the words to him. The relief on his face was painful to see. I hated that I’d ever caused him doubt. But before I could tell him that, he shifted to gargoyle. “Let’s get back. You need sleep.” Still holding me, he scooped up my clothes and then launched us into the night.
I buried my face in his neck and closed my eyes. I tamped the swirling thoughts and emotions down, focusing instead on Jax, feeling the powerful surge of his muscles as he flew us back toward the guesthouse. All too soon, he asked, “Can you shadow?”
More tired than I realized, I had to concentrate to wrap the shade around us. A flow of energy rushed through the bond, amplifying the shadows. I held them until he put me on the bed, only releasing them right as he kissed me—a brief, possessive kiss that sent sexy chills all the way down to my toes. When he finally rocked back on his heels and I could catch my breath, I blinked up at Jax. I had to tell him. He deserved to know the truth.
“I remember what happened. The first time I saw you.” I hated the wariness that immediately stole over his satisfied expression. I wanted to erase the doubt. For both of us. He waited for me to continue, as watchful as ever.
“My father wiped my memories because I had recognized you as my mate. He was afraid if I mated with a gargoyle, I’d come into my abilities sooner than expected.”
Chapter Fourteen
The floor groaned in complaint when Jax shifted to full gargoyle. Awareness changed the look on his face to pure rage. I’d never seen it before, and it didn’t sit well on his features. He turned to look out the bedroom window.
“Jedren kept us apart.” His words were slow and measured.
I watched him and shared in his pain. I remembered seeing Jax a few times at my father’s house. I remembered trying to talk to my father about my engagement with MacLean, because I’d known that Jax was meant for me. That had been my first mistake. My second mistake had been trying to escape the house to find Jax. Luke had caught me. Jedren had wiped my memories. I’d continued my engagement to MacLean without complaint.
Had I been allowed to be with Jax, our mate bond could have forced my abilities to develop sooner. My father had known that. My mother would have known it too, but I’d never had the chance to tell her about Jax or to ask her advice. Jedren had seen to that.
I mentally shook myself. We couldn’t do a damn thing about the past. We could only plan our next move. I said as much to Jax.
“Jedren knew. This whole time.” He looked down at his fisted hands and slowly uncurled his fingers. “He will die.”
I barely recognized his voice as the rough sound hurt my ears.
“Jax.”
He didn’t respond.
“Jax,” I repeated, a little louder.
Slowly, he turned to look at me. I tried not to wince when the floor creaked under his full gargoyle weight. I felt a slow rage building inside him.
“Don’t let anger take over. Stay with me. Please.”
He didn’t answer.
“We can’t change it. And I wouldn’t want to.”
That got his attention. He narrowed his eyes at me, anger making the angles of his face seem harsher. What a bad time to be turned on, but he was gorgeous.
I swallowed hard as I rushed to explain. “He would have killed one or both of us.” I couldn’t bring myself to mention what might have happened to any children. “We have right now. So please, stay with me.”
He stared into my eyes for a few seconds before his shoulders relaxed slightly. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
I tried to hide my smile. I might make mistakes, but I wasn’t that stupid. “That’s not what I meant. New rule. No angry gargoyles in the bedroom. Flesh only, please, so we keep the floor intact.”
He arched a brow. The look was impressive in stone. “Gargoyles, plural? You planned to have more than one in here?”
He was joking, I hoped, which I took as a good sign. “An angry gargoyle orgy? Well when you put it like that, I suppose I could make an exception…” I broke off, laughing at his low growl. “I’m kidding. Do you hear the floor? It’s practically screaming in pain.”
I swear, I saw his lips quirk. He shifted back to flesh a second later. “Better?”
“Much. Thanks.” Both his voice and the floor sounded better. I grabbed his hand, threading our fingers together and tugging him closer. His smile was slow in coming, but when it did, oh boy, my hormones danced with joy. My brain scrambled as I watched his lips curve. White teeth flashed and a slight dimple appeared on one cheek. Our bond settled into a steady hum of contented energy. Gods, I loved this part of my new life.
He sat and tucked me close to his side. Shifting more comfortably onto the bed, he leaned back against the headboard and idly stroked my hair. “You win, gem. We’ll discuss gargoyle orgies another time.”
“What did you want to discuss now?”
“If I’m to protect you, I need to know how you plan to eliminate Jedren.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “I wouldn’t say I have so much a plan as a Hail-Mary-hope-to-hell-it-works-out kind of idea.”
The hand stroking my hair paused, and then resumed its rhythmic motion. “I spend half of my time gray. I would prefer not to have gray hair in this form. I suspect your idea will speed up that process.”
I walked my fingers along his chest, hoping to distract him and soften what I was about to say. “Luna brought Gwen over.”
“The oracle?” Surprise laced his words.
“Mm-hmm. Not sure what’s going on with that, but I think she’s
the least of my worries.” I couldn’t begin to fathom Luna’s motives. Not yet.
My head rested on his chest and I felt the rumble of his voice against my cheek. “Word has spread about your bid for a Council seat.”
I tried to lift my head, but he held me in place.
“Let me finish. No matter what you say, the majority will believe you’re interested. Jedren will have seen to that.”
“Of course he will.” I had a long way to go before I could think like my father, but that much I’d predicted.
“The best thing you can do is prepare for Saturday. Jedren will want to show you off. He’ll flaunt you in his enemies’ faces.”
I cringed. Being the center of attention always made me queasy. The guests would be sizing me up, looking for any sign of weakness. They might also test my loyalty to my father. Jedren intended to use me as a pawn, shield, and diversion all in one.
Not if I could help it.
Thanks to Elion’s restoration of my memories, I knew that I could weave the threads of a soul, just as my mother had. I could also shred them. If a soul has been threaded by a weaver once, it’s easier to take apart. Much easier. Because my mother had never shown my father her ability to undo her weaving, her ability to take the life she’d saved, I was counting on him not knowing that I had it, too. I doubted he’d be threatening me if he knew I could un-weave him, given the chance.
I wasn’t about to bring that up with Jax. The images Elion shared had made me hopeful and stomach-churning nervous. If a weaver wasn’t careful, the threads of a soul could get tangled. Undoing knots would require careful handling. One slip, and the shredded soul could attach to the weaver’s soul in an effort to survive.
It was bad enough breathing the same air as my father.
“I’m more worried about finding the missing souls,” I told Jax.
His fingers clenched in my hair. The bond stretched tight with his sudden agitation. I hugged him, willing him to relax. Breath by breath, he did. “I am, too,” he said, his voice little more than a soothing rumble. “Let’s set this aside and try to sleep. We have tomorrow to save the world.”
Stone Cold Revenge (Set In Stone, Book Two) Page 12