by A C Warneke
“And look how that ended,” Jenna replied in a hushed voice. “In the end, he’ll break your heart.”
“But don’t you see? The fear of getting hurt is what kept me with Peter for so long.” Melanie frowned in thought, “Even if this thing with Vaughn crashes and burns tomorrow I will have no regrets. I mean, do you have any regrets?”
Tears glistened in Jenna’s eyes but she had to admit that she had none. “I just wished he had lived longer.”
“I know, sweetie,” Melanie murmured, hugging her sister and kissing the top of her head. “We all wish that.”
Chapter Fourteen
Melanie opened the door of her room and stuck her head out into the hall, glancing both ways before quietly making her way to Vaughn’s room. Not bothering to knock, she opened the door and peeked inside, not entirely surprised to see him still awake and standing at the window, staring out. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, making her bones melt and her heart skip a beat or two. “Hey, you.”
“Hey,” she whispered, slipping into the room and shutting the door behind her. She made her way over to the window and stood next to him, sliding her hand into his as they watched the snow drift gracefully down. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she asked, “So, what do you think?”
“I think you love your family a great deal and that they love you just as much,” he murmured. Looking down at her, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, letting his warm fingers rest on her jaw. “And I think they are all wonderful.”
She smiled up at him, pleasure at his words vibrant in her face. “I’m glad you like them, it means a lot to me.”
“I know,” he said softly, a hint of melancholy once more in his voice. When she looked at him, he was silently staring out into the night and watching the snow fall once more.
Oddly nervous, Melanie fidgeted, letting her fingers play with the shirt that Vaughn still wore. It must be difficult for him, to be born a creature of the night and to live his entire life that way, and then suddenly be given the gift of daylight. No wonder why he was so quiet and contemplative – it was a lot to deal with. Not to mention giving up his life as a gargoyle! And here she was, trying to figure out a way to lure him back to her bedroom so that she could have her wicked way with him!
“I just wanted to see if you needed anything before I went to sleep,” she mumbled.
His arms came around her and he held her to his chest, hugging her as if the world was ending and he didn’t want to see her go. “I just need you.”
Letting out the breath she had been holding, she wrapped her arms around his waist, returning the hug with all that she was worth. Finding her confidence, she whispered, “Actually, I wanted to know if you would, um, maybe want to sleep with me in my bed?”
“Wouldn’t that be risky with your parents so close?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal, his erection pressing against her stomach.
“Yeah, but that kind of adds to the excitement factor,” she admitted, shivering at the thought of making love with him in her childhood bed. Her panties were already damp and if he stalled any longer, she was going to be pushing him down onto his bed to have her way with him.
“Lead the way,” he growled, holding his arm out towards the door and smiling down at her.
Tentatively, she took the first step, unsure her legs were going to support her. When she didn’t collapse into a heap of boneless goo, she quickened her pace, taking his hand in hers and making sure the hall was clear once again. As they quietly raced towards her room, she had the insane urge to laugh out loud; the joy sparkling up in her was almost uncontainable.
Sensing her imminent loss of control, Vaughn skimmed his arms around her waist and hauled her back into his body, covering her mouth with his large, warm palm. His breath was hot as he whispered in her ear, “You’ve got to be quiet – I don’t want to give your father a reason to castrate me.”
“I’d never let that happen,” she vowed, wetting the curve of his palm with her tongue and squirming at the low groan Vaughn made behind her. As soon as they were in her room, he turned her around in his arms, forced her up against her bedroom door and covered her lips with his, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. Her hands went to his head, her fingers tangling in his golden hair, holding him to her. She had purposefully left the dim nightstand light on so she could enjoy the visual feast that was Vaughn. Indeed, it was enough to cast a warm light over his skin, but not too much to be noticed from the hallway.
“Good because I can’t get enough of you,” he panted, sliding his hand underneath her shirt and pushing it up and over her breasts. He bent his head and captured a nipple with his teeth, tugging almost painfully before smoothing it with his tongue. Her fingers convulsed in his hair and she could feel him smile against her breast moments before he sucked her nipple into the depth of his mouth. Sensation raced from her breast to her thighs and she knew she wasn’t going to last much longer.
Tearing her shirt from her body, Vaughn returned to suckling her breasts, almost determined to make her come merely from stimulating her nipples. “Tell me what you want, Melanie.”
She was incapable of speech as every inch of her vibrated with sensation, as Vaughn’s scent filled her head, as his hands glided over her body, as her breathing became ragged and harsh. Electricity was humming under her skin, pulsating low in her gut and throughout her body. She wanted him naked and buried balls deep inside of her. With trembling hands, she reached between their bodies and jerkily began to unfasten his pants. “Naked.”
With a soft chuckle, he stepped away from her and shed his clothes, holding her gaze as he removed each item. Movement was impossible and so she remained plastered to the door, the only thing that held her up as she watched him strip. She was torn between watching the masculine flesh as it was exposed and staring into his beautiful, golden eyes. By the time he was naked, she was breathless, more than ready to be fucked.
“Do you want to go fast or slow?” he asked huskily as he stepped against her body. Heat came off of him in waves, pouring into her and liquefying her innards.
“Fast,” she managed, her thoughts sluggish and her tongue thick. Her whole body was pulsating and she was desperate to feel him in her. No sooner had the word past her lips then he was spinning her around, tugging her pajama bottoms and panties halfway down her legs. He slid one hand over her mound, pulling her ass flush against his body, and she arched her back to give him easier access. Her upper body and cheek were pressed against the door as the tip of his cock nudged the outer lips of her sex and she was shaking with almost painful desire and need.
His breath wrapped itself around her as he whispered in her ear, “Is this what you want?”
She made some sort of sound and felt his other hand move between their bodies, guiding his cock into her. There was no hesitation on his part and as soon as the tip of his penis breached her entrance, he thrust fast and hard, planting himself deep within her body. Her eyes squeezed shut as his fingers curled into her hips, holding her steady as he set a punishing pace.
Explosions were detonating all along her spine, her womb, her belly, and she was losing her grip on her sanity and there was nothing she could hold onto. If Vaughn hadn’t had such a tight grip on her hips, she would have fallen as she came apart. A moment later he stiffened behind her and filled her with his hot fluids.
Afterwards, she sluggishly twisted around so she could face him, her bones too rubbery to do anything but lean against the door. She should have felt embarrassed or awkward – they barely made it past the doorway of her room before she became mindless with lust – but she just felt… good.
Slowly, he moved his hands up over her body, gliding over her smooth belly, her full breasts, her sensitive throat, until she stood before him naked from the knees up. Lovingly, he moved his fingers along her face, watching the movement with utter absorption. He traced along her brow, her nose, her lips. His fingers caressed her cheek, her jaw and his expression of absolut
e love would have melted her bones if she had any bones left.
His gaze met hers and she had to catch her breath – no one had ever looked at her that way before, with passion and desire and love. Tears glistened in her eyes as he closed the distance between them and kissed her. This kiss was gentle, full of promise and adoration and it made the tears spill over.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered, brushing the tears away with his thumbs. “Shh, now, it’s all right.”
“I know,” she gasped, her fingers circling his wrists and holding his hands in place as she held herself up. “I know.”
“Then why are you crying?” he asked, perplexed.
“Because I love you,” she breathed through a watery smile. Sliding her hands up his arms, over his shoulders, she hugged him to her and whispered in his ear, “I just love you so much.”
Reverently, he lifted her up and carried her over to her bed, laying her in the middle of the frilly, pink mattress. Holding her eyes, he slowly finished removing her pajama bottoms, taking her panties as well so that she was laid bare before him. He straightened, taking a moment to drink the sight of her in. His still heavy cock stood straight out from the golden curls between his thighs but she no longer feared it because she had been made for him.
Parting her legs and holding out her arms, she invited him in. Leisurely, he settled his body between her thighs and resumed kissing her, soft, tender kisses that whispered his love. He explored her body with his hands, finding a nipple and giving it a light pinch, brushing a hand over the curve of her hip, sliding a finger into the warm, wet depths of her sex. He claimed her all over again with this slow seduction and she was too overwhelmed to do more than hold on to him else she get lost in the storm.
Kissing her, touching her, he eased his cock into the depths of her body, stretching her as he settled deep within her. He raised his upper body until her breasts just brushed his chest so he could gaze at her as he made love to her. With each slow thrust of his hips, his chest hair caressed her nipples. But it was the look in his eyes that made her catch her breath: he was looking at her in that way of his and she felt it to the depths of her soul.
He reached up and took one of her hands in each of his, twining their fingers together. Framing her face between his forearms, their hands rested next to her head and his face was right before her. There was nowhere else for her to look but then she didn’t want to look anywhere else. Everything she needed or wanted was all there in Vaughn’s eyes.
Their breaths came in unison as he moved within her, his hips rocking against her as she wrapped her legs around his thighs. His belly rubbed against hers as they made love and there was not one part of his front that was not touching hers. The only way they could have been closer was if she managed to crawl into his skin and live inside him.
Which was creepy if taken literally.
Vaughn’s lips curled into a slow, sexy smile as their bodies grew warmer and warmer. His skin was slick as it glided over hers and she reveled in the carnality and the intensity of their love making. She could feel strands of her hair clinging to her face, just as his hair was sticking to him, and she felt beautiful.
“Come with me,” he breathed, the spicy, minty breath washing over her face, combining with the heated scent of Vaughn. His voice rumbled through her body, making her tremble anew until she was drowning in Vaughn and her body was arching off the bed. Vaughn held her hips to his as he sank into her, again and again, faster and faster, until there was nothing in the entire world but Melanie and Vaughn.
Her cry was cut off as Vaughn covered her mouth with his, taking her cries into his body. He plunged into her a few more times, his hips jerking unevenly, until one final thrust and his entire body stiffened, and he came with a low groan. Gathering Melanie in his arms, he rolled to his side and rearranged their bodies and limbs, asserting, “You’re exhausted, love. Get some sleep.”
She giggled as if drunk and snuggled deeper into his embrace. His chest was pressed against her back, his cock tucked up against her butt and she was more than happy to remain that way all night. He was stroking his fingers through her hair and she was already half way asleep but without the heat of sex, she was starting to feel chilled. Shaking, she grumbled, “Cold.”
Tugging the blanket out from beneath them, managing to keep his body wrapped around her, Vaughn covered up their naked bodies. He pulled her closer, breathing in her rich, sweet scent and placing tender kisses along her hairline. He meant it when he told her he’d never get enough of her.
In all of his many years, he had never connected so completely with another person, either human or supernatural. He truly believed that Melanie had been created just for him but he just didn’t know how it was going to end. Her family was so important to her but he knew that he was, too, and he didn’t see how it could end well. Either way, she was going to end up hurt and he loathed the idea of causing her pain.
It probably would have been wiser to postpone the binding ritual for a few months, to explain how it worked and what it entailed. But when he had watched her fall from the balcony, knowing she was going to die, rational thought fled and he wanted to protect her with everything it was to be a gargoyle, and that meant giving her his nights. In a few weeks, three at the most, he would explain it to her.
It wasn’t like he had more than that before her decision had to be made.
Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift. It was strange sleeping at night when he had spent his entire life living in the dark. Honestly, as a gargoyle, even in human form, he didn’t require much sleep. They were guardians and it was their job to protect their charges so sleep was a luxury and rarely indulged. But, oh how he loved holding a warm, sleeping Melanie in his arms! It was something he would never grow tired of.
When she did her little kitten snore, he smiled, enchanted by the sweet, little sound. For now, he wasn’t going to worry about the future, about what may or may not happen. Melanie was in his arms and that was all that mattered. There was time to tell her about his world, later.
“Melanie!” a voice hissed, waking her from her sleep. But she was so warm, and it felt so good just being in Vaughn’s arms that she ignored it. “Melanie! Wake up!”
“Go away,” she mumbled, snuggling closer to Vaughn, feeling his arms tighten around her. Arching her back, she felt his thick erection against her ass and she wanted to feel it in her body.
His low groan made her smile. Until the covers were torn from the bed and she noticed the cold air. Vaughn was wrapped around her, his leg was over hers, one arm was under her neck and his other arm covered her breasts, cupping one in his hand. Unfortunately, the parts that were uncovered were covered instantly in goose bumps.
A low growl came from Vaughn’s throat as the blanket was tugged back into place and she was covered once again. With a sleepy smile, she murmured, “Mmm, thanks.”
The taut lines of his body were what finally alerted her to another person being in the room. She half expected to see a gremlin or an imp when she opened her eyes. Instead, she saw a silently laughing Jensen standing there, his face burnished red as he gawked back at her. He chuckled, “I thought you’d be smart enough to kick him out of your bed before the sun rose.”
Melanie frowned in confusion, “But it’s only….”
“It’s nearly eight,” Jensen chortled, gathering up Vaughn’s clothes and tossing them onto the bed. “Mom is going to be checking on you in a few minutes and she’s going to be furious if he’s still in here.”
Melanie gasped, sitting up and taking the blanket with her, leaving a naked Vaughn lounging on the bed behind her. Calmly, steadily, he sat up, wrapping his arms around Melanie, keeping his eyes on Jensen as a half-smile played on his lips. Jensen snorted but was still grinning when he taunted, “You two are so pathetic.”
Melanie glared at her teasing brother, “What are you doing in here?”
“I knocked on Vaughn’s door to see if he could help shovel snow,” Jensen answered casually, a
s if he wasn’t having a conversation with his naked sister and her equally naked lover.
“Seriously?” Melanie popped a single eyebrow as she stared at her crazy brother. “You’re going to ask my boyfriend, a guest in this house, if he willing to help out with manual labor?”
“It’s all right,” Vaughn murmured, lightly kissing her bare shoulder. “I’m more than happy to help out.”
Deeper color stained Jensen’s cheeks as he shrugged his shoulders and grudgingly added, “And I wanted a chance to get to know him better, to see if he’s good enough for my sister.”
Melanie wasn’t sure whether the feeling in her chest was affection and gratitude or irritation at his meddlesomeness. “It’s not your place.”
He raised his hands in conciliation, “You’re still my sister and I love you.”
“That’s very sweet but I know Vaughn is a good man,” she declared passionately, leaning further into Vaughn’s embrace, feeling his lips brush her temple. He made her feel safe and loved and when she was with him, she felt beautiful and less out-of-place. When she was with him, she felt like herself, like she didn’t have to pretend being something she wasn’t to be accepted.
“Then I suggest he leaves your room before mom finds him here,” Jensen urged gently. Shaking his head in sympathy, he added, “You don’t want to upset her.”
Melanie blushed even as she felt Vaughn disentangle himself and shift on the bed. “Right, I guess. Um, thanks for the head’s up.”
“No prob,” Jensen grinned, sliding his hands into his pockets and rolling back on his feet. “I’ll just wait in the hall for you two to get dressed, be a look out.”
“Thanks, Jensen,” Vaughn’s voice rumbled from behind her. “I’ll join you in a moment.”
“I will, too,” Melanie added, feeling a wee smidgen of guilt for being snappy at Jensen.
“Take your time,” Jensen smiled as he stepped towards the door before his cheeks went flame red and he quickly shook his head. “I didn’t mean that. Just hurry as fast as you can.”