by E A Price
“Oh.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Maybe… time traveling gargoyles? Surely there were crazier things? Well, she once made a cake using a can of tomato soup, and it was damn good – so yeah, sometimes the world was a little crazy.
Castor growled, and pain shadowed his hard features. “I do not belong here. I am out of place.”
He gave her an earnest look, and she inhaled sharply as his tail wrapped around her ankle.
“I have lost my family, lost my position as clan leader and I am no longer sure of anything anymore.”
Tilly felt her heart swell for this poor man. The grief in his voice was so distinct, so heartbreaking. With a deep breath, she placed her hand on his arm. He stilled and looked at it and then looked at her, a wondrous expression on his face.
“I always feel a little out of place,” she said.
Castor gave her a blank look, and she immediately felt guilty.
“I’m sorry, it’s nothing compared to what…”
“Tell me,” he rumbled in a forceful yet gentle tone.
Tilly cringed at how pathetic and whiney she sounded, but she told him anyway. “My sister, Angie was always so smart, so pretty, so perfect and my parents adored her, I tried my best to be like her, but I was always kind of a disappointment in comparison.”
Castor grasped her hand in his; his eyes flashed fiercely. “You are not a disappointment.”
She quivered under his scrutiny, but not in a bad way.
“What about you?” she asked, trying not to sound as flustered as she felt at that moment. “Don’t you have any family at all?”
“Not anymore.”
“A girlfriend?” Why did she ask that?
His eyes hardened. “There was a female I was supposed to mate.”
“Oh?” She was mildly disappointed to hear it.
Castor turned her hand over in his, rubbing his huge clawed thumb over her wrist. “She did not love me, and I did not love her.”
“But you were going to mate her?”
His eyes focussed on their joined hands and his tail softly squeezed her ankle. “I was, but I did not desire her. She was cruel and cold.”
“Ah…”
“Not like you.”
His eyes rose to meet hers, and she gasped at the lust she saw in his expression.
“How could anyone find you to be disappointing?” he breathed.
Tilly shook her head dismissively. She could think of plenty of ways, but her self-deprecation stopped in its tracks as Castor brought her wrist to his lips for a kiss.
This was incredible. She was just kissed by a gargoyle, and she desperately wanted him to kiss her again. It was insane – maybe she was insane, but Castor was the best man she had ever met, and yes, she wanted him. She was scared of him at first – she would not deny that, scared of his gruffness and scared of the way he looked, but after her shock subsided, she quickly came to realize how much she enjoyed being near him, and how little his looks bothered her. They didn’t bother her at all – no, he was actually rather beautiful. From his perfect purple skin to his horns and mane of dark hair, yes, he was definitely beautiful.
Tilly was just amazed he was as attracted to her as she was to him. She tried to say something sexy, something alluring, but when she opened her mouth, all that came out was a squeak.
His lips quirked. “What was that?”
“I, ah… umm,” she stammered.
He kissed her wrist again, and she gulped. Then he kissed a little further up her arm, and then a little further again. Her heart was trying to beat itself right out of her chest. She let out a trembling little moan.
“Tilly,” he breathed.
“Umm?”
“I cannot promise you anything. Our situation is difficult. If you wish for me to stop…”
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Tilly gulped and licked her lips. “Don’t stop,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Castor grinned, and Tilly shivered in excitement. He grasped her waist, lifting her as if she were absolutely nothing, and put her on his lap. His hands rested on her hips as he looked at her for a few beats. Timidly, Tilly put her hands on his enormous shoulders, her fingers pressing into his silken skin. Castor leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. He was tense and forceful at first, but as the kiss deepened, he relaxed, and when Tilly licked at the seam of his mouth, he opened and allowed her entrance. He groaned, pulling her body closer as her tongue delved into his mouth.
She could feel his erection under her ass. He felt, frankly, enormous, almost intimidatingly so. But, she wasn’t about to tell him to stop. Nope, her libido wouldn’t let her. Even as Tilly felt a niggle of doubt, her body knew what she wanted. Her hips rocked gently against him, pressing herself against his growing member.
Castor pulled back from their kiss. He grasped her sweater, and she threw her hands in the air as he tugged it off her. His claws set about removing her bra, but his snarl of frustration proved that he wasn’t very adept when it came to women’s underwear. Tilly helped him, quickly tossing the bra away. She blushed as Castor’s eyes widened at her bare flesh. He growled softly in appreciation before engulfing one of her breasts in his mouth.
He suckled her, laving his tongue over her skin. As his sharp teeth scraped her hard nipple, she gasped and dug her nails into the skin of his shoulder. He rumbled around her flesh and quickly moved to her other breast.
Tilly arched her back pressing against his mouth. She clasped the horns on his head, marveling at how it didn’t feel strange. No, everything felt so right. Everything felt so wonderful.
Her hips bucked, pressing against his hardness as he nipped at her breast. Castor groaned and on freeing her breast, grasped her and toppled off the couch, carefully holding her until he was laying her down. He pulled her skirt away, and her pantyhose and underwear quickly followed - given the ripping noise, she doubted they remained intact. She gasped as he removed his own garment. His arousal was large and hard and oh so beautiful. She wanted him so badly.
His eyes caressed her body, taking in every dip and curve and growling in satisfaction. He kneeled between her legs and kissed his way up her body, licking her stomach and nipping her breasts. Leaning over her, his wings flared around them, enclosing them into a cocoon, just the two of them, and at that moment, no one else did exist. It was just them.
Tilly placed her hands on his chest, stroking his beautiful, soft skin. He rested one hand beside her head, hovering over her, and his other cupped her ass, lifting her hips off the floor, aligning her with his swollen sex.
She cooed as he pressed against her opening. Darts of anticipation zinged through her body and her fingers pressed into his skin. Castor stared down at her with swirling eyes, seemingly searching her for something. Tilly flushed and smiled at him. His lips curled in response, and as he leaned down to kiss her, he pushed himself inside her.
She wasn’t kidding when she said he was large, but when he stilled only part way in, she pushed her hips at him demanding more. Did he think she only wanted part of him? No, she wanted everything, wanted to feel his glorious length inside her.
She’d spent her life trying to be perfect, trying to find what she thought would be the perfect life, to impress her parents – trying to be her sister! But this here and now with Castor, this was just for her, and she wanted Castor. She needed Castor, and she didn’t want him to hold back.
Castor growled against her lips and continued his thrust inside her. He didn’t hesitate this time. Her delighted moans were captured by his mouth as she took every possessive inch.
Fully sheathed he tore his mouth away from hers and snarled softly, sexily.
“I am not sure I can hold back,” he admitted, his voice throaty and low.
He was trembling inside her, struggling to hold himself.
Tilly reached up and caressed one of his horns.
“Then don’t,” she whispered.
; His eyes flashed, and he roared. He took her over and over, and Tilly screamed and cried in happiness.
Sixteen
Ophelia sneered as Lief dropped to the ground in a clumsy landing. She wasn’t entirely expecting him to return. She sent him to spy on Luc’s clan. She was half-expecting them to find him and kill him. She wouldn’t have been sorry if they had. He might have told them about her new clan, but really, they were going to find out eventually. Sooner rather than later, and Lief wasn’t going to be part of her new clan.
Lief bowed his head in submission, and she grunted.
“All the clan is keeping to the mansion,” he said in a nearly trembling voice.
Ophelia exhaled. Their security would be heightened due to her run-in with Castor. Getting Ingrede would be more difficult, but the more she thought about it, the more important it was.
Her clan was near despondent about the future of their race. A youngling would change that. It would give them hope for the future, and Ingrede would be easier to sway if her youngling was newborn. Ingrede would be weak, and her only concern would be the baby. Given a couple of weeks and Ingrede would be back to her normal strength, and she understood Ingrede was extremely capable in battle.
“Except for Castor,” said Lief.
“What?”
Ophelia snapped her attention back to the weak gargoyle in front of her.
“Castor is with a human female. He seems to be living in her house.”
“You mean he is staying with a human?” she asked incredulously. “He is choosing to sleep in a human house?”
Lief nodded, and Ophelia shucked out her wings. “I see.”
Perhaps this female may be of some use then.
*
Castor held Tilly in his arms as she dozed. He found himself watching her rapturously. Watching the way her lips parted, the way her eyelashes fanned against her cheek, and how her perfect breasts rose and fell.
He had not intended to couple with Tilly, but as he thought of his lost life, he had been overcome, and she had been so sympathetic. He had needed the relief, needed to feel alive, and she was an intoxicating female. How could he have imagined her to be anything other than a siren, determined to send him mad?
He had taken her on the floor of her living room twice, and then again in her bedroom. Exhausted, she fell into sleep, but he was not satiated, he wanted her again. Wanted to wake her and make her scream, wanted her to make him feel alive again – truly alive, rather than just a shadow of the gargoyle he used to be.
Her nipples puckered slightly. She was cold. Very reluctantly, he covered her and pulled her back against his body, her ass resting against his groin. His large frame fit around her perfectly.
Castor inhaled deeply. Her hair smelled like flowers. She looked like an angel in his arms, apart from the marks on her neck…
He grimaced at the bite marks. The third time they coupled, he bit her. He had been careful not to break the skin, but her skin looked like someone had used it as a chew toy.
He didn’t know what came over him. Biting was supposed to heighten the pleasure between gargoyles when they coupled. He’d never had the urge before, never with anyone else, but it had never felt this way with anyone other than Tilly.
She was small, delicate, bashful as hell and less use than a saucer of milk in a fight – she was the very opposite of everything he had ever wanted in a mate, and yet he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. Found himself seeking her company. Wanted to see that shy smile directed at him. Wanted to protect her. Wanted her to need him. Wanted to know why his heart always felt like it was being squeezed by a dragon whenever he even thought of her.
Tilly stirred in his arms. He held still as her eyelashes fluttered open. She tensed for a second and twisted back to look at him hesitantly.
Did she regret what they did? He found himself disappointed that she might.
“Hey,” she murmured.
Castor grunted.
She rubbed her eyes. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Indeed, you seemed… exhausted.”
He allowed himself a flush of pride for that. He had not been with very many females and none who were quite so receptive or responsive to him. Why wouldn’t he be proud of how he made Tilly feel?
Tilly nestled back against his body, her soft ass rubbing against his hardness. A low growl reverberated through his chest, and Tilly let out an especially arousing coo.
“Again? Really?” she murmured playfully.
Castor chuckled and kissed her neck. With one arm clamped around her body, he used his other to lift her leg forwards, opening her sex to him. His length sought her opening, the blunt tip pressing to her drenched entrance. Any fears he had that she may be too small for him, that her diminutive frame may not be able to take him had been thoroughly dashed. Petite, she may be, but Tilly was made for pleasure.
Tilly wrapped her arms around his, clutching at him as he pushed inside her. He held her hip steady, delighting in how her inner muscles virtually clenched him almost possessively. Her back bowed as he finally took her to the hilt and she moaned exquisitely.
He flexed his hips, enjoying the feel of her body around his. Unlike their previous couplings, he took her slowly, savoring the feel of her, delighting in the sensual way her body caressed him and relishing the sounds of her satisfaction.
He moved his hips in leisurely thrusts, pressing himself fully to the hilt in her over and over, marveling at how she took him – took all of him. She clutched at him so exquisitely; it was almost too much to bear. He wanted to take his release, her tightness almost dragged it out of him, but he had to wait for her, had to give her pleasure. Had to show her he could pleasure her in a way no other male could. Only he could protect her; only he could make her scream, only he could have her!
Castor growled, and his movements became more forceful.
“Castor,” she breathed, her fingers digging into his arm. “So close.”
Her muscles clasped at him even harder as he plunged in and out of her body. He couldn’t last much longer, couldn’t stand the way her body tried to force the release from his body.
Castor reached around her, his claw flicking her nub. Tilly whimpered, shaking in his arms. He did it again and again until finally, she screamed, clamping down on him, wrenching the release from his body. He snarled and held onto her as he rode the waves of his climax.
Tilly moaned and whimpered softly, and her body trembled in his arms as he lazily licked the tiny beads of sweat from her neck. He could easily lie there until he had to turn to stone, but it was not to be.
There was pounding on Tilly’s door. He snarled as she wriggled in his grasp, and his softening length slipped from her body.
“Ignore it,” he grunted.
“It might be important.”
“It might be dangerous.”
She craned her head back to look at him. “You think it might be Ophelia?”
He hesitated just a shade too long before answering, “Yes.”
No, Ophelia wouldn’t knock on the door. She would break it down. The pounding sounded again, louder and more insistent.
“The lights are on, they know I’m home.”
Castor relaxed his grip as she continued to wiggle and allowed her to free herself from his arms. She slipped a robe over her lovely body, and he grunted in disappointment. It really was a shame to cover such exquisiteness.
She padded out the bedroom, Castor close on her heels.
Tilly looked at him with wide eyes. “Where are you going? Whoever it is can’t see you.”
Castor huffed. “I will wait here. If it is dangerous, you must scream.”
Tilly bunched her mouth and nodded. “If there’s a gargoyle on my porch, then I’ll scream, and you can come rescue me. Otherwise, you should stay here.”
“Humph.”
She gave him a weak smile – possibly because she didn’t believe he would do as she asked, and flitted to the front door.
He woul
d not show himself. He would not risk his clan, but he had a strange sense of impending danger.
Seventeen
Tilly, still virtually walking on air, opened the door and froze as she found two rough looking men glaring at her.
“Umm, hello?”
“Tilly?” one of them snapped.
“Ah… oof!”
He barged through her door, pushing her against the wall. “Where’s Joe?”
“Joe?” she gasped.
“Where is he?” snarled the other.
“How should I…”
She gulped as the first man raised his hand.
“I haven’t seen him in ages – we’ve been divorced for years,” she cried.
Honestly, she thought these kind of encounters were behind her. But no, this was giving her a very unhappy flashback to her marriage.
He narrowed his eyes and nodded to the other. “Check the house.”
“No!” exclaimed Tilly. Castor!
“What do you want?” asked Tilly tremulously.
From their expressions, they looked like they wanted to kill Joe. As frustrating as he was, she didn’t want him to die.
“He owes us money,” hissed the second guy.
Yes, he was selfish and addicted to gambling, but he had never intentionally hurt Tilly.
“I ah, I have fifty dollars in my purse…”
They looked at each other and burst into laughter.
“It’ll take a lot more than that.”
“Try fifty thousand.”
“Oh, crumbs,” she murmured.
The first snorted and pushed his way into the living room.
“No, you can’t go in there,” she cried, feebly trying to stop them.
The second one grabbed her roughly, holding her back. But the scream or shout she was expecting never came. Nope, while she squirmed, she could hear him moving around her house, none too gently.
Could he have missed Castor? The gargoyle was at least six-foot-four and broad – she doubted he could have hidden behind her curtain without detection.
The pugnacious male returned, sporting an incredibly pissed expression.
“Not here.”
“No,” agreed Tilly weakly. She tried to peer around him, but he was far too wide.
