Page 48 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

She has to understand.

She has to see how much she means to me.

But Ecco’s chin juts out defiantly, her hands planted on her hips.

“So what, you expect me to just live my life in constant fear? To hide away and let this stalker control my every move? I’m not like you, Graeme,” she continues, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m not afraid of made-up boogeymen. I refuse to let fear dictate my choices.”

The words cut deep, a knife twisting in my gut.

Made-up boogeymen? Is that what she thinks of my clan’s sacred duty? Of the centuries we’ve spent guarding the Black Mountains pass, holding back the tide of darkness that threatens to engulf our world?

I clench my fists, my frustration mounting. “Despite what you might think of me and my family, it should be obvious thatthisdanger isn’t made up, Ecco! Your stalker is real, and they’re a genuine threat to your safety. Why can’t you see that?”

My patience snaps, and I can hear the command in my voice, knowing how angry it’ll make Ecco but powerless to hold in the words.

“You have no sense of self-preservation, you maddening woman,” I bark. “From now on, you are not leaving this room, not until the stalker is caught.”

I half-expect her to argue, to rail against my high-handedness. But instead, something flashes in her eyes, a heat that has nothing to do with anger.

She steps forward, her body brushing against mine, and tilts her chin up defiantly. “Oh yeah? Make me.”

The challenge in her words, the invitation in her eyes, is my undoing.

My hand tangles in her hair as I haul her against me and claim her mouth in a bruising kiss.

18

ECCO

Graeme’s mouth on mine is hard and unyielding. Angry. Demanding.

I gasp in response, fireworks exploding behind my eyes. He takes advantage of my lips opening, sliding his tongue into my mouth.

A needy, uncontrolled moan works its way out of my throat. His skin is ice cold to the touch, and I shiver in response, though I’m not sure if it’s his cold skin or the way he’s touching me. I’ve never felt anything like this before, and the need is so powerful, so all-consuming I’m almost afraid of giving in to it.

Half of my mind is frustrated and furious with him, like he clearly is with me. He’s suspicious of everything, always seeing the bad in the world. Humorless and unfriendly. A big grouch.

And so freaking bossy. I really don’t like people telling me what to do.

But the other half of my mind turned into an aroused puddle of goo in town hall the moment he pulled my body against his, and has been that way ever since.

I should’ve been scared senseless by the stalker, but all I could focus on was the way Graeme snapped into protector mode.

The strength in his arms as he pulled me tight. The feel of his rock hard body pressed against mine, the way he angled himself in front of me to protect me from threats. The whisper of his wings as they unfurled around me protectively.

I’ve never had someone who wanted to defend me like that before.

I didn’t know until now how it felt to be… safe.

Wholly,entirely safe.

Gods,I’ve wanted to kiss Graeme from the minute I laid eyes on him, but I didn’t think he’d ever give into this, too.

Now,I run my fingers through his hair, then grasp it, pulling it. He leans into it, his face angling back from mine. I run my tongue up the cold, gray column of his long neck, breathing in his earthy scent as desire twists and releases in my belly.

Then I kiss him again and bite his lower lip, hard. Challenging him. We lock eyes, a spark lighting inside of me, and Graeme growls.

He presses me against the wall, the unyielding stone of his body grinding deliciously against my softness. His hands roam over my curves, gripping my hips, my ass, leaving trails of fire in their wake.

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