Stone Solitude

by A C Warneke

  Leaning even closer and lowering her voice even more, Jeanette asked, “Because of your wolf?”

  “Yes.” Daisy’s belly tightened at the half-truth but there was nothing else for it. She couldn’t tell Jeanette that it was awkward being around so many wolves that she had kissed nor could she explain what happened after she had kissed all of those wolves and went home with a gargoyle. If she thought about that night at all, she’d probably break down and cry. Or give herself an ulcer from worrying about him. In her free time, she had even searched a few of the condemned buildings during the day, looking for him in his gargoyle form but he was nowhere to be found. He had disappeared from her life and she no longer knew what to think.

  It didn’t change the fact that he was her mate. It just meant it wasn’t reciprocated. After all, he never said anything about her being his mate; he had made no promises and he never said I love you. She had just thought there was something between them, something magical, that defied all logic or reason, like her parent’s grand love affair.

  “I guess I’ve been a little wrapped up in my own relationship,” Jeanette continued with a soft smile, her eyes darting to the pool table where Dominic was probably standing, staring back with an equally besotted look on his face. “But unlike you, I’ve tried calling and you never answer,”

  “Sorry.” Pulling out her phone, Daisy looked at it even though she already knew how many calls she had ignored. “I turn it off for class and forget to turn it on and by the time I remember it’s too late to call back. Um, how have you been?”

  “Good,” Jeanette answered quickly as a shadow passed in her pale eyes. With a slight frown, she shook her head, “Mostly good. I have had a few anxiety attacks but Dominic has been pretty, um, amazing.”

  “I don’t want to hear anything,” Daisy said even as a smile curved her lips. “As deliriously happy as I am for you and Dominic, I don’t want to hear any more details about his sex life.”

  “But all of the girls talked to you about him.”

  “But they weren’t my best friend and my brother’s mate,” Daisy retorted. “It matters now, you know?”

  A blush colored Jeanette’s cheeks as she gave a nod. “Yeah, it does.”

  After a moment, determined to be cheerful, Daisy asked, “So, what have I missed?”

  “Well, you’ve missed the latest scandal,” Jeanette grinned, falling into the easy rhythm of their friendship instead of laying on more guilt. Leaning forward, she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “Jon Sorensen has flown off to some remote cabin in the woods and he took a couple of females – human females – with him. Apparently, he is determined to prove his heterosexuality by banging as many girls as possible.”

  Daisy cringed. In all of the crap she’d been dealing with, she had completely forgotten about Jon. “How do you know this if he’s off hiding somewhere?”

  “He keeps posting about it,” Jeanette said with disgust. “And the weird thing is all of the girls look suspiciously like my best friend.”

  It took Daisy a moment to realize Jeanette meant her and when it registered her eyes bugged out. “Ew, that’s kind of disturbing.”

  “Honey, Jon has taken it to a whole new level of disturbing,” Jeanette sympathized. “You’ve got that guy all tied up in knots.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Daisy protested weakly because it was her fault Jon was obsessing over her. She sang and then hadn’t given him the Siren’s goodbye kiss. The poor guy was going to continue this madness until he returned and she did what she had to do to release him. However, it was his fault that he ran off to some remote mountain cabin.

  Waving her hand as if erasing the memory from her mind, Jeanette grinned, “Steffie and Tobias are already expecting a little pup. They think they conceived on the night they mated. In fact, I think all of the wolves that bonded that night are expecting.” Holding up her hand, she started counting them off on her fingers. “Gwyn and Zach, Tori and Brandon, Tracy and Matt. Even your Aunt Jillian is expecting. People are starting to wonder what is up with your family.”

  “In what way?” Daisy asked carefully, her heart fluttering madly in her chest that anyone suspected she wasn’t a normal wolf, other than the fact that she couldn’t shift.

  Jeanette laughed, “Nothing like that, Daisy. Most of them think it has something to do with the fact that your mom was human. I doubt any of them know the truth.”

  Daisy’s eyes widened in alarm at her friend’s words and she stilled. Her voice squeaked as she asked, “The truth?”

  “That your voice is an aphrodisiac to wolves,” Jeanette said dramatically, too close to the actual truth to not even be funny. Dominic must have told her, which made sense since their daughters had the possibility of being Sirens, at least carrying the Siren gene. Jeanette would need to know. Winking, Jeanette added, “Both you and your mom. Don’t worry, Daisy, your secret is safe with me.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate th....” Her words trailed off as Jeanette’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head and she grabbed Daisy’s arms. A fissure of something tripped down Daisy’s spine but she ignored it because that only happened when Roman was nearby and she was too far angry at him to just melt when he finally decided to show up. Refusing to turn around, she licked her lips and asked, “What is it?”

  “The most gorgeous man in the universe just walked into the bar,” Jeanette breathed. “Well, the second most gorgeous man because I’m pretty sure Dominic is the most gorgeous but… Oh, my god he’s heading this way.”

  Daisy tried to ignore the disappointment that it wasn’t Roman but it was difficult because she still wanted him. Stupid Siren imprinting. Slowly, she turned her head and had to remember how to breathe. Intense blue eyes burned from a face that was exquisite in its masculinity, a face framed by thick short hair the color of the purest gold. His dark t-shirt was molded to broad shoulders, a chest that was fashioned from every girl’s fantasies, and abs that were made to be licked. It was a very tight shirt. His arms were corded with long, sinewy muscle. His legs were encased in a pair of well-worn blue jeans. He had muscled thighs and an impressive… package.

  He made the wolves look like trolls.

  Breathless, she caught his expression and realized he had focused on her like a wolf that had scented his prey. Or his mate. Her body trembled because her reaction was so similar to the one she had towards Roman, only this god walking towards her wasn’t Roman, couldn’t be Roman. What if her Siren and her wolf had two different mates? Was that even possible? Could she even have a wolf mate?

  Pushing back deeper into her chair, trying to escape him but unable to actually move, she watched as he stalked towards her, his eyes burning hotter and brighter the closer he got to her. The noise of the bar faded to nothing as her heartbeat filled her head.

  “Daisy?” Jeanette’s voice came from a different dimension as the world shrank down to the magnificent man and herself. She was peripherally aware of Jeanette still standing there but beyond that, Daisy wasn’t aware of anything but the man in front of her and the heat that was coming off his body, wrapping around her and drugging her.

  And then he was there, his clean minty scent filling her head as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up and into his hot embrace. Her thoughts scattered as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that instantly transported her to Eden. Automatically, her hands went to his head and her fingers curled into the thick, golden strands of his hair. Heat spread down her spine and through her body as he moved his tongue against hers.

  His breath filled her lungs as if he could only breathe with her air, as if he only existed for her. His arms banded around her waist, pulling her against the hard, contoured planes of his chest. Her nipples tightened as they rubbed against his chest, and pleasure raged through her body. She wanted to climb up his body and wrap herself around him until she no longer knew where she ended and he began. She wanted to tear his clothes off and fuck him where they stood.

  His lips trailed along her ja
w and she was able to suck in much needed oxygen. Tilting her head back, she gave him access to her throat. She wanted to feel the bite of his teeth; she wanted him to claim her…

  “My little flower,” he rasped, his breath hot against her ear, her neck.

  Pulling back, she stared at him in horror and a whole lot of relief. “Roman?”

  His smile was blinding as he nodded once, “Yes.”

  Her hand flew back of its own accord, striking him across his cheek and making pain shoot through her palm. Clutching her stinging hand against her chest, she glared at him as tears filled her eyes, “How? Why? How?”

  His brows pulled together in a frown as he gathered her back up into his arms, the red print of her palm a stark contrast on his cheek. “Daisy, why are you mad at me? I thought this would make you happy.”

  “Where have you been?” she bit out. She didn’t have the strength to resist him so she sank with him as he sat down on the couch. She was barely aware of Jeanette and the look of astonishment on her face. Daisy was going to have some explaining to do, once she figured it out for herself.

  “I found an old shed,” he explained slowly, as if he thought she was being irrational. “I spent the night there. I don’t understand what the problem is.”

  “We had sex,” she hissed through clenched teeth, her eyes darting to Jeanette and seeing the girl’s jaw drop. Her friend wisely chose to remain silent. Turning her gaze back to Roman, Daisy continued, “And then you disappeared.”

  Running his hands over her head, her shoulders, touching her, watching her, he said, “I’m right here.”

  “It’s been a month.”

  Shaking his head, he cupped her face in his hands and met her eyes. “It’s been a few hours. I’m even back before the anniversary, just like I promised.”

  “Roman, it’s the middle of September,” she said softly, drinking in the sight of him, feeling her anger slip away at his noticeable confusion. “The anniversary was three weeks ago. I’ve been back in school for almost two weeks. It’s been a month.”

  His hands froze and he gaped at her in disbelief. His brows drew together as he tried to comprehend what she was telling him but it obviously wasn’t connecting. Putting her hands over his, licking her lips, she asked slowly, “What’s the last thing you remember?”

  His eyes widened a moment before a sexy smile curved his lips, his very human, very kissable lips. “Waking up with you in my arms and then needing to leave before the sun came up.”

  “Why were you so eager to leave?” she asked softly, wishing he had stayed because then she would have known where he was for the last month.

  “I shouldn’t have left you,” he rasped, his eyes moving over her face, watching her as words spilled out of his beautiful mouth. “But… I thought I’d go back to normal if we had sex, that taking your virginity would break the curse I was under and when I was still a… monster afterwards, I needed to get out of there. I needed to… reconcile to the fact that I’d always be a monster.”

  “I never thought of you as a monster,” she protested. At his rusty chuckle, she smiled even as his words started echoing in her head. Tilting her head back, she met his molten gaze and frowned, “Is that the reason you seduced me? To break a curse?”

  “Yes,” he answered honestly, his eyes moving over her face, an unspoken plea in the blue depths. Pushing a strand of hair from her cheek, he continued, “At least, it started out that way. But somewhere along the way, I forgot my reasons for needing to seduce you.”

  “Would anyone have sufficed or did it have to be me?” Her heart raced as she waited for his answer, not knowing which would be better.

  He shook his head no but answered, “I don’t know. I’ve been drawn to you from the moment you first touched me and woke me from my… frozen existence. There’s never been anyone else.”

  Her forehead crinkled as she studied his face, hoping to determine whether or not he was telling the truth and what it meant if he was. It was ridiculous and it hardly mattered because he was her mate and he hadn’t actually left her. She supposed if she had been trapped for two thousand years, she would do whatever it took to be free, including seducing a naïve virgin.

  Licking her lips with the tip of her tongue, she forced the question out that was lodged in her throat, “Do I mean anything to you?”

  “Oh, Daisy,” he groaned, wrapping his arms around her body and hugging her even closer. Pressing his forehead against hers, holding her eyes, he said in a thick voice, “You mean everything to me.”

  Sliding his arms up her body, he clutched both sides of her head, holding her steady as if he didn’t think she believed him. The fire in his eyes burned even brighter as he repeated, “Everything.”

  As his confession and passionate words raced through her head and methodically obliterated all of the anguish and doubts she had experienced the past month, fresh tears filled her eyes. At his look of anguish, she laughed, threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, “Roman.”

  Letting out a low chuckle, he held her just as tightly, burying his nose against her neck and inhaling deeply. “I’d never leave you, Daisy. Surely you know that?”

  “I thought I did but you were gone a month and I didn’t know what to think,” she murmured, pulling back and looking at his face, his beautiful face that was the face of a stranger. Touching his lips, she shook her head, trying to dislodge the confusion of loving this man with the wrong face because he wasn’t her Roman but he was. “Do you remember anything from this past month?”

  Worry darkened his eyes as he shook his head no, keeping his forehead against hers as he rasped, “Nothing.”

  “But the curse is broken?”

  He nodded once and her heart swelled with love. Dragging her nails through his hair, unable to keep her hands from touching him, she whispered, “I love you.”

  “We’re all right?” he asked, concern in his voice. Tilting his head into her caress, he closed his eyes in ecstasy but when she didn’t answer right away, he looked at her, “Daisy?”

  “You’re my mate,” she said softly.

  His sensuous lips curved into a smile as he nodded, “I am. But are we all right?”

  “We’re all right,” she breathed.

  “Daisy,” Dominic’s voice broke through the fog that surrounded her and she jumped but Roman held her steady, refusing to release her. Looking up, she met her brother’s eyes and saw the confusion and anger that was clearly written on his face. “Who is this?”

  “My mate,” she answered slowly as everything sunk in. A smile curved her lips as she leaned more comfortably against Roman’s chest. As perfectly as she had fit against him as a gargoyle, she fit even more perfectly against him as a man.

  Dominic’s brows pulled together as he took the pair of them in. “What happened to Roman?”

  “This is Roman,” she laughed, the stress and anguish of the last month turning into giddiness. He had never abandoned her.

  “Alright,” Dominic replied calmly as his eyes lit in fury. Carefully extracting Daisy from Roman’s embrace, he hauled off and punched her mate in the jaw.

  “Dominic!” she cried, instantly at Roman’s side and smoothing his abused flesh. Glaring at her brother, she hissed, “What the hell, Dom?”

  “He made you cry, Daisy,” Dominic ground out, fury emanating off him in waves as he continued to glare at Roman. “And then he shows up with a new face….”

  “My true face,” Roman corrected, his bluer-than-blue eyes dancing as he lightly stroked Daisy’s back, oblivious to his reddening jaw.

  “Whatever,” Dominic said dismissively. “And all is forgiven?”

  “There was nothing to forgive,” she said. Pulling Roman’s head to her chest, she stroked her fingers through his silky hair while she continued to glare at her brother. “Now isn’t the place to discuss this, Dominic. Just trust me when I tell you it’s okay, that everything is okay. Please, Dominic. Trust me.”

  His eyes narrowed and
his lips pressed together but he nodded his head, accepting her words at face value. After a moment, the stiffness in his shoulders eased and he smiled before he turned to Jeanette and shook his head, “I swear my sister is insane.”

  “Since you’re talking about my best friend,” Jeanette purred, standing up and wrapping her arms around Dominic’s waist. “I’d have to agree with you. Who’s Roman?”

  Color crept up Daisy’s neck and into her face as she realized how much she had kept from Jeanette. At first it had been too new and then Roman hadn’t been there and then there was the fiasco at the bar. Before Daisy could explain, Jeanette’s eyes widened almost comically, “Oh my god, he’s the gargoyle, isn’t he?”

  “I am,” Roman answered, amusement in his voice as he pulled Daisy against his chest. Reaching a hand past Daisy, he murmured, “Roman Nosuntres.”

  Jeanette eagerly accepted the offered hand, shaking it with enthusiasm that was more than the situation warranted. “Oh my god, it’s so great to finally meet you!”

  “You, too,” Roman murmured, his eyes darting to Daisy’s showing his discomfort. Despite the fact that he was obviously uncomfortable with Jeanette’s effervescence, he continued to smile.

  “Daisy has been exceedingly tight lipped about you, which is odd since you’re gorgeous,” Jeanette continued to gush. She narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Daisy, silently accusing her of holding out. But then she looked back at Roman and flashed her million watt smile, “We have to double date sometime or rent a beach house and spend a month in the sun.”

  “Um, gargoyles are night creatures,” Roman answered tactfully. It was still unbelievable that he was there, that he hadn’t left her. Daisy wondered if his gargoyle form had changed and hoped that it hadn’t. Once she calmed down, and they were alone, she was going to make him tell her everything. She hadn’t even known he had a human face at night.

  “Oh,” Jeanette murmured, momentarily disappointed. Thinking quickly, she said, “Well, we could rent a cabin in Alaska and have long nights in front of the fire place….”