HEAT (a gargoyle shifter romance) (Underground Encounters Book 5)

by Lisa Carlisle

  When she returned to earth, she stroked his cock. Finding him rock-hard and eager, she rolled a condom over him. She then climbed on top, taking the lead, as she lowered herself onto his massive shaft. She rode him slowly at first and then ground against him with more intensity as the pressure mounted.

  Danton gripped her waist with his large hands, making her feel tiny in comparison. He raised his hips, thrusting deep into her. The heat building inside her spread to every nerve in her body as the need intensified in her core. She ached, desperate for more of him.

  Harder and faster, she rode him until she crashed over the edge again. She arched her back, reveling in the sensations that rocked her body.

  Danton growled an inhuman sound. He buried his fingers in her hips and thrust so deeply, she thought he’d split her open as he followed and released deep inside her.

  Shit, she didn’t think anything could top last night. But, Danton had a way of surpassing every expectation.

  They didn’t say much as their heated bodies recovered. She doubted she could ever speak again. After her racing heartbeat slowed, she said, “You must be famished. I haven’t offered you anything to eat.”

  He grinned and quirked his brows. “I’m quite satiated.”

  “You know what I mean,” she stammered. “I’ll get us some breakfast.”

  When she pulled herself up, he said, “Soon.” He pulled her back into his arms and entangled his limbs with hers. “I’m going to miss this.”

  A half-hour later, Tracy dressed in her favorite pair of lounge pants, which had black cats printed on them, and a pink tank top. She scoured the contents of her fridge while she brewed coffee. It was already eleven a.m. What could she offer him?

  “Do you eat food? Like, you know, what people eat?” What an awkward question. Her cheeks heated. But, how would she know, after all he’d transformed from stone!

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, um,” she stammered. “I wasn’t sure.”

  “When I’m in human form, just think of me as human,” he explained. “I eat, drink, and make love just like a human male.”

  Maybe so. But, no man had ever made love to her the way he did. She smiled to herself.

  With him wearing nothing but a towel, it was difficult for her to concentrate on making breakfast. How could she ignore his sculpted face, broad chest, and finely cut abs? And he was too entrancing for any woman to resist. She struggled against the desire to climb on his lap and run her hands through his warrior mane. She’d mount him right there on her kitchen chair…

  “You’re blushing.” He interrupted her fantasy. “What are you thinking?”

  “Nothing.” She buried her face in the fridge for cover. “I’m still hot from the bedroom.” What was wrong with her? She was turning into a sex-crazed maniac after one night with him.

  Distracting herself with the task of breakfast, she was able to act normal once again. Danton sliced some fruit while she fried eggs. She put on a Nina Simone playlist, and they sat to eat in her small, retro, red-and-yellow decorated kitchen.

  “I like this music,” he said. “It’s different from the club.”

  She couldn’t agree more. Vamps played all sorts of alternative, goth, and underground music, with the occasional live rock bands. Although she loved the vibe, she craved listening to something more soothing at home.

  “I like to listen to this on Sunday mornings. Helps me unwind after working Saturday night. I usually work the busiest shifts, Thursday through Saturday nights.”

  He gave her a deep look. “I know your schedule. I look forward to the moment you return.”

  “Oh.” That was intense. Everything about him was like that, sucking in all the air in the room. She took a deep breath to center herself.

  They ate breakfast in silence for several minutes, listening to Nina sing Wild is the Wind. Danton appeared intent on listening to the music coming from her vintage-looking stereo in the living room, which was docked with modern technology that piped into the kitchen.

  After it ended, he asked, “What did you mean about the man who attacked you last night being ‘taken care of?’”

  His expressive eyes showed his concern. How could they be the same ones that flashed such fury last night when he had been about to crush Brian to a lifeless pulp?

  “I have a restraining order out on him.”

  “A piece of paper?” Danton snorted. “That worked well.” He took a sip of his coffee.

  “It would have, if I’d called the cops.” She raised her brows. “Which I might have done, had a stone statue not come to life, and thrown him over the bar.”

  Danton put down his mug. “I can make sure he never hurts you again. That’s what I’m designed to do—protect humans, usually from other humans.”

  Her pulse raced at what he promised. Sure, it warmed her to know what he’d do to protect her, but it was too much. “Thank you, Danton. But, it sounds a little too much like a mob whacking for me.”

  “A mob what?”

  She shook her head. “Never mind. Besides, I think you gave him a taste of what you can do and I’m sure it’s scared the bejeezus out of him.” She walked over to the coffee pot and refilled her mug. “More coffee?” She raised the pot in offering him more.

  “No, thank you. How about I visit him today and let him know what will happen if he comes near you again?”

  “Chill out about Brian, will you?” She snapped. Oh hell, what was her problem? Why was she defending that asshole? She didn’t want anything to do with him, but she didn’t want him killed, if that was indeed what Danton was proposing.

  He’s doing it to protect you.

  Right. She smiled to soften her tone. “You take this protecting gig seriously, eh?”

  Danton fixed his intense gaze on her. “Of course.”

  “Don’t worry. If he comes back to bother me, I know where to find you.” She furrowed her brows as she pictured it. Would he go back to being the stone statue near the bar where she worked? “You’ll be back at Vamps, right?”

  “I will.”

  “That’s going to be weird.” Her voice trailed off.

  “Why is that?”

  “Because we uh, you know, had world-rocking sex last night and again this morning. And I’m supposed to go back to work with you next to me locked in stone?”

  He peered at her with an inquisitive glance. “That’s the way it’s been for a long time, has it not?”

  True. She’d been a bartender there for a couple of years. She’d started soon after she’d turned twenty-one, save for the several months after a fire when Vamps had been sold and renovated. After floundering trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life, she’d decided to go to college and study to become a special education teacher. She wanted to help kids like her brother, Andrew.

  But, how could she and Danton go back to the way it was? “Yes, but, I didn’t know someone was alive in there. Is there any way you could stay out here? Stay in human form?”

  Danton took a low, audible breath as his eyes searched hers. “There is.”

  “What?” She leaned forward. “How?”

  “If I take an oath with someone, such as the person I am protecting, I am able to break the curse and move freely between both worlds—gargoyle and man.”

  “Curse? Oath? What do you mean?”

  “Gargoyles aren’t typically locked in stone. One of my brothers angered a witch several years ago, and she’d retaliated with a curse on the three of us. Gargoyle magic is powerful enough to break through to act when we must protect someone. But, only love is strong enough to break the curse. It must be promised through an oath.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You’ve been cursed by a witch?”

  Danton nodded.

  Her encounter with him turned stranger with each revelation. What happened with him and his brothers? And, where were they? She shook her head to clear through the mounting questions.

  “When did this happen?”

  �
�Over thirteen years ago.”

  She blinked. “That seems a bit extreme.” She took a sip of coffee while her thoughts raced. “How old were you?”

  “I was twenty-two. I’m the oldest of the three of us.”

  “You’re thirty-five?”

  He nodded.

  “You don’t even look thirty. Does being locked in stone slow the aging process or something?”

  “Perhaps because we spend so much time in that state, it’s why we age slower than humans. Our lifespans can be twice as long.” He rubbed his cheek. “But, if we take human mates, they live longer, as well.” He shrugged. “So, I suppose the answer is maybe.”

  “You seem so calm. Aren’t you angry about this?”

  “I was for a long time, until I realized it wouldn’t change anything.”

  What a nightmare to have been cursed that way for so long. Could she help him?

  “If I take this oath with you, you’d be free, right? It’s just words. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

  “No, Tracy. It means everything.” His bright green eyes widened. “When you take the oath, you are swearing to love—and in my case protect—the one you bond to for all your days. It would bind us together with magic. We can’t break through the curse if the words are empty.”

  “Oh,” she said. Agreeing to spend a night and day with someone was one thing. Vowing to love and be with him forever was another, especially when the other person wasn’t human. How could a relationship like that even work?

  Damn, she wanted to help Danton. Sending him back to his stone prison was too cruel, but what could she do?

  Her relationship with Brian had turned disastrous. She wouldn’t rush into another one with someone she’d technically only met last night.

  “I wish I could help you out, but, that’s too much of a commitment. I’m sorry, Danton, but I can’t.”

  Chapter 4

  Danton

  His heart thundered in his ears. After a fleeting moment in which he thought he might have a chance with Tracy, she’d retreated.

  “I understand,” he said with a solemn nod. “That is why I didn’t mention it before now. The oath is not something to be taken lightly.”

  Her gaze darted around her kitchen as guilt crept across her face. It had been a risk to even mention the curse to her and how to break it. Why would she even consider doing so with someone she hadn’t known was alive until yesterday?

  But, she was worth taking that risk. He wasn’t sure what it was that entranced him so, but once he’d set his eyes on her, his soul sang. She was the one. He wanted to love and protect her.

  He’d spent years in stone, only turning to flesh when needed, or if a powerful gargoyle helped him shift for brief periods. It wasn’t too bad for a gargoyle shifter as it was one of their forms, sort of like a dreamy sleep state. Until Tracy had started to confide in him. Never had he wanted to break free from his stone form more than when she spoke to him or touched his cool stone. Never had he wanted to reveal who he was—and how he ached for her.

  When he’d made love to her, it had sealed it for him.

  She was the one.

  At least, he’d have these hours he’d spent with her to replay in his mind once he returned to stone. Memories rather than fantasies. Neither would be as wonderful as the real experience now, so he damn well better enjoy this time with her while he could.

  “Are you still hungry? I have some banana bread in there.” She walked over to her refrigerator.

  “Sure.” He smiled to himself. She’d jumped from something as sacred as the gargoyle oath to breakfast options, redirecting the conversation. Not that he blamed her—learning about his kind was a lot to spring on any human.

  She fumbled around for something in her freezer, and he used the moment to admire her figure from behind, starting with her sexy pink hair, down to her narrow waist. He loved how her hips flared to a rounded rear end.

  While she defrosted a few slices in the microwave, he scanned her. She was beautiful. Unconventional, for sure. He usually saw her at Vamps, wearing a revealing dress and gothic makeup. This morning, her face was clean of makeup, and she was even more stunning. Her almond-shaped, amber eyes were clear and framed with dark lashes. Her pouty lips lacked lipstick, but were more kissable than ever.

  A pale pink tank top, shades lighter than her bright pink hair, clung to her voluptuous breasts, revealing the outline of her nipples. He’d coveted her curves night after night, as had dozens of other men at the bar. As both stone and man, his eyes sought her out. Not only did he have to ensure she was safe, but he had to see her. An icy form of anxiety would clamp hold of him, which only dissipated when she entered the club.

  She tilted her head as her gaze traveled over him with a mix of appreciation and awe. “Your kind is quite remarkable, isn’t it?”

  “To me, you’re quite remarkable.”

  Tracy smiled at him. She brought the banana bread over on yellow sunflower plates.

  As she sat across from him at her small kitchen table, she nibbled at the banana bread. It was a casual morning scene, one he never thought he’d experience with a human, and he enjoyed it immensely.

  “At times, you look at me strangely. Do you fear me?” he asked.

  She let out a short laugh. “That’s the rational side of me telling me I should. But, I don’t.” She lifted her coffee mug and took a sip and then peered at him over the mug. “Even though I saw you almost stomp Brian’s head in, it was to protect me. Somehow, I know you’d never hurt me, as crazy as that sounds.”

  “It’s not crazy. I would never harm you. I’m glad you sense that. Humans often fear those who are different.” He leaned across the table and brushed a tendril of her lustrous pink hair off her cheek. “They close their eyes to them, not wanting to see what they don’t understand.”

  He lifted the banana bread and devoured half of it in one bite. It was delicious. Although he never felt hunger while in stone, his appetite stirred after he shifted to human form. And after burning off more energy with Tracy last night and this morning, he was ravenous.

  Her gaze drifted off. When she pulled it back to him, she said, “Since you have limited time today, how would you like to spend it?”

  Images of last night and this morning flashed before him. “I’ve already done it twice with you.” He grinned at her as he stretched in his chair.

  An adorable pink blush suffused her cheeks, and she smiled as she glanced at her plate. “I enjoyed that immensely.” She lifted her head and peered at him. “But, don’t you want to get outside and do something?”

  He’d be content spending the entire time in her bed, but perhaps she was right. He didn’t know when he’d be in human form again. “I like being outdoors, especially near the ocean.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Her smiled brightened her face. “I need to take a quick shower.”

  Sensual images flashed before him. He wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to be with her once more. “Not quickly. You need a long, hot shower.” He reached across the table and caressed her forearm, unable to resist touching her. “And you need someone to wash your back.”

  “Yes,” she agreed with a quirk of a brow. “That’s exactly what I need.”

  He didn’t waste another moment and rose from the table. They left a trail of her clothing from her kitchen to the bathroom, and then he dropped his towel on the floor. Within minutes, the hot stream of water poured down on their naked bodies, as they tangled their tongues in a hungry kiss.

  He loved how she stood on her tiptoes to reach him, and he bent his head to meet her perfect lips. Her head reached the perfect spot on his chest, where he could pull her close to him and wrap his arms around her.

  When they pulled away from each other, gasping for air, he scanned the contents of her shower. He poured some lavender body wash onto a poofy yellow sponge and ran a soapy trail from her shoulders over her arms and back. That was the scent he caught on her earlier, a floral scent so light and fe
minine. It reminded him of his youth when he’d spent summers in Provence. Her lips parted as she let him wash her. He administered a tender touch while lathering her. The soapy water trailed over and in between her breasts, cascading down her luscious body.

  As he moved down, she toddled unsteadily. Was the floor slippery, or was she responding to his touch? He paid close attention, making sure he supported her as he washed her thighs. Slowly. Down. Then up. And in between. Right at the apex of her thighs.

  A small gasp of breathless anticipation escaped her.

  He teased her by reaching behind to wash her there. “You have a splendid ass.”

  “Oh, you’re teasing me,” she murmured. “Driving me mad.” She pressed her body toward him, encouraging him to explore her most sensitive parts.

  He returned to her inner thighs. “Do you want me to touch you here?”

  She murmured her agreement. Her head dropped back, and he watched her, entranced, as her expression turned rapturous. He moved the sponge in between her legs. After dropping the sponge, he replaced it with his fingers, rubbing her slick folds, and then slipping one digit inside her. He then added another, sliding them in and out of her, as she moved against his hand.

  She let out a throaty moan. “Mmm, yesss.”

  “You like that?” He bent his head to kiss her neck. She was so soft and responsive. Being with her was better than any fantasy.

  “Uh huh.”

  With his free hand, he fondled one of her breasts as he brought her to climax. Her wet tightness pulsing around his fingers almost caused him to explode as well. He took a few deep breaths to center himself.

  Why did he only have twenty-four hours to spend with her in this form? He’d never dreaded returning to his stony repose the way he did now. But, he’d never been with Tracy before. And the more time he spent with her, the more difficult it would be to go back. How could he return to an immobile state where he wouldn’t be able to touch her soft skin at will?