by Faith Gibson
Gregor’s property was secured tighter than a military fort. The gate was thick iron and the security box was state of the art, voice recognition. Since she had never been there, Gregor had left it open for her arrival. As soon as she drove through, it automatically closed behind her. The rumble of her Camaro was loud against the silence of the woods. She was surrounded by trees on both sides of the long, paved drive leading to Gregor’s home. She expected a log cabin to be nestled among the Georgia pines. What she didn’t expect was the massive log and stone structure that came into view as she drove out of a curve.
She put her car in park and just sat there. Holy Mother of Zeus. Tessa was in the midst of her dream home. Of course her mate would live in the woods in the type of house she had dreamed of ever since she was a little girl. She liked her house in New Orleans, but she had bought it as an investment. This… this house was what dreams were made of. Baking cookies with your little girl dreams. Sitting on the deck watching your mate throwing football with your little boy dreams. Relaxing in the hot tub after the kids had gone to bed dreams. Making love in front of the fire dreams.
The front door opened, and Gregor stepped out onto the porch. He was dressed casually in faded jeans and a long sleeve Henley. The sleeves were pushed up showing his massive forearms. His feet were bare. Gods, that was so sexy. He didn’t move toward her, just stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting. Tessa grabbed her backpack from the passenger seat and angled out of her sports car. She didn’t bother locking the door.
“Do you want to put her in the garage?” Gregor inclined his head toward the car.
Dammit, he was already being nice. “Nah, she’ll be fine out here for one night.” Tessa needed to remind herself this was one night only. Though her curiosity was peaked at what he had in the garage besides his Hummer and Harley. She slowly walked up the steps and stopped, leaving an arm’s length between them.
Gregor took her backpack. “I hope you like Italian.” He opened the door, holding it for her. She stepped into the spacious, open room. The floor plan was perfect. The large family room opened up to the kitchen and dining area. There were windows everywhere including a large sliding glass door leading out to a deck on the back of the house. Even though Gargoyles weren’t affected by the cold, Gregor had a fire going. A large bearskin covered the hardwood floor in front of the hearth. She could already see herself naked underneath Gregor on that rug.
“Would you like something to drink? I have beer, wine, and most kinds of liquor you could want.” Gregor was directly behind her, the heat coming off his large body warming her better than the fireplace could. His breath tickled her ear. She turned to tell him she’d love a beer, but as soon as she parted her lips, his were covering hers. He fisted her hair gently, tugging her head back slightly to make their mouths fit perfectly. He didn’t push for tongue but her body instinctually gave it to him anyway. He kept the contact soft yet sensual. He broke the kiss then placed his lips on her forehead.
“Beer. Please.” She should break her promise and leave. Now. Gods, she was fucked. After one kiss. Tessa admired Gregor’s ass as he placed her backpack by the staircase then continued to the kitchen. The interior of the house was filled with manly furnishings. Two large leather sofas were secured between thick wood end tables. The hand-hewn dining table would seat twelve easily. The appliances were top-of-the-line stainless. She noticed the absence of a large screen TV, a staple in any man’s home. He must have a media room somewhere in this monstrosity. A beer appeared in her line of sight, and she took the bottle and drank. “You have a lovely home. For some reason I always imagined you’d have a small cabin, not this huge lodge.”
“And I always imagined I’d be filling it with a mate and a posse of kids.” The hurt on Gregor’s face was impossible to miss. He drank down his own beer. “Are you hungry? I have lasagna that’s ready to eat. All I need to do is toast the bread.”
“I could eat. Did you cook this yourself?” Tessa wasn’t a bad cook, she just didn’t take the time to learn how to make extravagant dishes since she lived alone.
“I did. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you find hobbies you enjoy so you don’t lose your mind. I enjoy cooking. Since I don’t have a housekeeper like most of the others do, it’s either cook or eat frozen dinners. I prefer to cook.”
Gregor moved gracefully around the kitchen, pulling a cookie sheet out of a cabinet. He sliced what looked like a fresh loaf of French bread, buttering it then sprinkling it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. “Did you make the bread, too?”
“No. That is one art I haven’t mastered. Priscilla, Rafael’s housekeeper, baked it for us.” He slid the pan in the oven and shut the door. Leaning his backside against the counter, he crossed his legs at the ankle.
Tessa couldn’t keep her eyes off his bare feet. Normally she found feet ugly, but his were perfect. His toes slanted at just the right angle. “Do you like to cook?” His question was asked with a quirk of his lips. Did he know she was turned on by his feet? Of course he did. Gargoyle mates had built in libido detectors.
“I do like to, I just don’t take the time to do it. I’m hardly ever in one spot long, and when I am, I don’t bother cooking for just me. What other hobbies do you enjoy?” Tessa wanted to know everything about her mate, even if they couldn’t be together.
“Masonry, carpentry, anything that has to do with my hands.” He waved his hand in the air at his home.
“You built this place?” she asked incredulously. She shouldn’t be surprised; his family created buildings, after all.
“Don’t sound so surprised. Yes, with Dante’s help, we built it from the foundation up.”
Gregor took the bread from the oven, transferring it to a linen-lined basket and setting it on the table. He pulled a couple of plates out of an overhead cabinet and dished out a healthy portion of lasagna for her, an even larger one for himself, and placed those on rust-colored placemats. He retrieved two salads from the refrigerator, grabbing several different types of dressing. A vase of wildflowers sat in the middle of the table cloaked on either side by candles that had recently been burning. He must have seen her looking. “What can I say? I like a nice table.” He lit the candles and placed the lighter back in his pocket.
Once everything was ready, he pulled her chair out for her. “I’m going to have a glass of wine. Would you like one or another beer?”
“I’ll have wine, please.” Tessa wasn’t a wine girl, but when in Rome…
The meal was enjoyed with very little talk. The food was some of the most delicious Tessa had ever put in her mouth. She couldn’t help the moans that escaped her throat with the first few bites. Gregor arched an eyebrow, and she shrugged. “Sorry, but this is delicious.”
When their stomachs were full, Gregor asked if she wanted dessert. Tessa declined. “Gods, no. I need to unbutton my jeans now.” Gregor growled. “Later, Stone. We have all night. Now, how about showing me the rest of this monstrosity you call your home.”
Gregor showed Tessa everything except his bedroom. He must be saving it for later. Or maybe he had changed his mind and didn’t intend to let her see it. She really couldn’t blame him. If she had no intention of being a permanent fixture in his life, why share the most intimate part of his home with her? He led her to the back deck where they sat down and enjoyed the sunlight fading, making way for the moon. She could feel his gaze on her face, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“This is perfect. Your home, the woods, the peace and quiet.” She turned her face to his and again, she couldn’t miss the sadness in his eyes. She laced their fingers together. She could pretend for one night that this was, indeed, perfect. After a few minutes of enjoying the serenity, she asked, “So tell me, what’s hiding in your garage?”
“Ah, I wondered how long it would take for you to ask. Let’s go take a look.” Gregor released their fingers but waited on her to walk by his side. She missed the connection. He opened the side door that led into the massive
two-story building. The view in front of her had her drooling. She should have known her mate was a car fanatic, too. And these weren’t just any cars. Sitting before her were several classic hotrods, but the one she wanted to bow down and worship was a mint condition Camaro Super Sport limited edition. Her claws were itching to bust through the skin as her adrenaline pumped through her body.
“Tops out at two-forty. I had a Corvette Z06 engine dropped in it. Six hundred and fifty horsepower.” Gregor was leaning against the hood of a mint Ford Mustang like it was any old vehicle.
“Do you ever drive these?” Tessa asked sweeping her arm indicating the hotrods. Her Camaro was a newer model she had modified to be faster yet more fuel efficient. What she wouldn’t give to drive one of these bad boys.
“Nah, they were more of an investment. If I want speed I hop on the bike.” Again, the sadness crept through his voice. He was killing her. This hardass, strong, built like a brick shithouse of a man, was ripping her to shreds with nothing more than the tone of his voice.
“I need another beer.” Tessa couldn’t bear to look at the vehicles any longer. All of this could be hers if she would just say yes. It didn’t matter that they didn’t know each other well or they hadn’t spent any quality time together. If she gave the nod, Gregor would give her the world. On a fuel-injected, chrome-plated platter. She didn’t wait on him to move. Tessa found her way back to the kitchen and helped herself to another bottle. She had half of it guzzled when Gregor’s phone rang. Cursing, he answered it.
“This better be life or death, preferably death. She did? He is? Thank you.” Gregor pocketed his phone. “I have a message for you from your mother.”
Tessa was glad she didn’t have a mouthful of beer. “My mother? What in the fuck are you doing talking to my mother?” All the sweet thoughts Tessa had been thinking just flew out the back door that was still slid open.
“Actually she was talking to me. She said to tell you Ezekiel is on his way to Egypt, so now you don’t have to go.” Gregor’s smug look pissed her off. Did he think he could interfere just because her mother asked him to?
“Gods, you are so fuckin’ frustrating!”
Thirty-Two
“What have I told you about that mouth of yours?” Even though there was nothing lady like about her vocabulary, Gregor preferred her brand of brazenness.
“As I recall you like my mouth.” She was glaring at him. It was a look he had finally gotten used to and just ignored.
“Yes, when my dick is in it.” If she was going to pretend she wanted nothing to do with him, he wasn’t going to play nice. He didn’t wait on a response. He turned and sauntered away from her only to hear the hammer being cocked. She wouldn’t. There was a sharp pain in his ass. She did. She shot him in the motherfucking ass. Where the hell did she even get a gun?
“You fucking brat, you shot me! AGAIN!” He roared as he lunged for her. Gregor grabbed Tessa and threw her over his shoulder. He climbed the stairs two at a time until he opened the door to the only room he hadn’t shown her. His bedroom. He sat down on the side of the bed, pulled her off his shoulder, and placed her across his lap. He grabbed the gun and tossed it out of her reach, then he smacked her ass.
“You bastard! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Just where did you have a gun?” He smacked her again, causing her to wiggle in his lap.
“In the waistband of my jeans, where I always have a gun,” she seethed.
He popped her ass again.
“What was that for?” she screamed at him.
Gregor gave her four hard smacks on her ass. “For…Being...A...Brat!” The first couple of smacks had her squirming, trying to get free. The third and fourth caused a different kind of squirm. She liked it rough. He raised his hand and popped her again, in a different place. She moaned then wiggled again. He grabbed one boot at a time, pulling them off her feet and tossing them aside. Using his shifter strength, he ripped her jeans down the back, exposing her thong.
Black lace. Fuck me. He grabbed a fistful of red hair, holding her in place and landed another slap to her left cheek. He rubbed out the pain before he struck the right cheek. Tessa was murmuring and squirming, and the scent of arousal was getting stronger with each slap on her ass. He rubbed out the handprint. Instead of another smack, he dipped his hand between her legs. The wetness on the thin material was proof she was as turned on as he was. He tore the lace off her body. He used her wetness to coat his fingers, then he slid them up to her pucker. His baser needs leaned to the rougher, darker side. Would she be up for a little backdoor play?
When Tessa arched her back, thrusting her ass to meet his fingers, he had his answer. His girl liked it dirty. He didn’t hesitate. He ran his finger through her juices again then circled her hole, applying a little pressure at first. “Gregor,” Tessa moaned again and pressed against his finger. He momentarily froze. That was the first time he could remember her calling him by his first name. When she wiggled again, he slid his finger in, rubbing the inside in a circular motion. “Oh gods, that feels sooo good.” If it felt half as good for her as it did when he had it done to him, he knew she was going to come soon.
It was taking all his control not to come in his pants. “Pull my dick out. Suck me, Tessa. Fucking suck my cock.” It was awkward with her lying across his lap, so he moved farther back on the bed so he could lie down, pulling her with him. His finger never left its hole, sliding deeper with each stroke. Tessa managed to get his jeans undone far enough to free his erection. She didn’t play around. She sucked hard, taking him all the way to the back of her throat. He had received a lot of blowjobs in his many years, but no one gave head like his mate. He tried not to think of why she was so good at it. Instead, he pumped his finger in and out of her ass as she matched the tempo with her mouth. “Mmm.” She was moaning around his dick, and he wasn’t going to last.
“Oh fuck, Baby. Gods yes, suck it. That’s it.” Gregor pulled his finger out and dragged her pants off her legs. He then grabbed her hips, slinging her legs over his body so she was straddling his face. He kept his fangs in his gums so he wouldn’t hurt her. He sucked and licked her clit, wanting her to come. Her strangled moans around his dick had him coming undone. He slapped her ass, and she orgasmed hard; her juices flowing as fast as he could lap them up. He was ready to come, but he wanted to be inside of her pussy when he did.
Gregor rolled out from under her body and raised up on his knees behind her. The sight of her pink ass in front of him was more than he could handle. Grabbing the base of his cock, he delayed his orgasm. He lined the engorged head up with her pussy and without preamble, drove it home. He didn’t give her time to adjust; he thrust in hard. He slid his cock out slowly then pumped it back in. Tessa’s claws were out, embedded in his comforter. He didn’t care. His fangs popped out, cutting into his lower lip. Gods how he wanted to bite her. Claim her. Fuck!
“Greegoorrrrr,” Tessa was panting as he pulled out then grunting when he slammed his dick back into her heat. “Gods, yes! Fuck meeee.” Her ass was bumping his groin with every thrust. The sound of flesh meeting flesh was fueling his orgasm. He grabbed her hair, pulling her head backwards so she had to arch her back, pushing that beautiful ass higher. He slapped her right cheek, leaving a handprint, and she gasped.
“You… Are... Fucking… Mine.” He punctuated every word with a hard thrust and came with a roar. Gregor ground his dick into her pussy, emptying his seed into her body. He collapsed on top of her, his cock still pulsing. Even though he was spent, he wasn’t ready to pull out and lose the connection. He raised his upper body so he wouldn’t crush her, and admired the sight beneath him. Her sweaty hair was sticking to her skin. Her eyes were closed. He pushed the red strands off her beautiful face, drinking in the sheen of perspiration glistening her skin.
Gregor finally pulled out then continued to pet his mate, not caring that she was silent. At least she wasn’t yelling at him. Or shooting at him. Her lips were turned up slight
ly. What he wouldn’t give to see them in a full on smile. Letting her rest, he opened the drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a bottle of after-care lotion. He poured the cold cream into his hands, rubbing them together before he tended to her pink cheeks. As he gently massaged the lotion into her skin, Tessa purred.
Tessa had heard of subspace but had never experienced it herself. This might be just an imitation of the real thing, but she was floating. Her soul was hovering just above their bodies, her heart tagging along with it. She tried to get her mouth to stop smiling, but it was no use. Never had a man used her body so well, so completely, then took the time to care for her afterwards. After he lotioned her ass, the bed shifted, and Gregor rose. She wanted him back. The water was running in the bathroom, then it turned off. The bed dipped as he sat next to her, wiping between her legs with a warm washcloth.
Tessa felt herself being wrapped in the comforter she was certain was shredded. Gregor lifted her into his arms and carried her down the stairs to the family room. Gently, he placed her on the rug in front of the fire. He added a couple of logs before lying down beside her. The silence was punctuated by the crackling wood. A naked Gregor was on his side, head cradled in his hand. His other hand was trailing shapes across her skin until he stopped at her tattoo. Tessa should care that he was investigating the ink closely, but right now she couldn’t muster the energy.
Gregor’s fingertip caressed the swirling lines. When he had studied it enough, he dotted her skin with soft kisses. Tessa tried to focus on him, her mate. She needed to snap out of the high she was riding before she did something really stupid like confess her true feelings. This fog she was swimming through was going to really fuck things up, but it just felt too good. His gorgeous blue eyes came into view, his brow was creased with worry lines. “Hey, are you okay?”
