Page 63 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

Graeme’s eyes search mine as he tries to make sense of my words.

“You really think that’s what’s causing all of this?” He gestures around us to the piles of snow, to the endless swirling snowflakes that are falling. “This is all because of her grief?”

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. “I do. I mean, think about it. Velda’s powers are tied to her emotions, right? And what could be more emotionally overwhelming than losing your wife? It’s no wonder she can’t control her weather magic. She’s lost the person who helped her keep it all in balance.”

As the words leave my lips, a sense of helplessness washes over me. Because how can we help Velda get better in the face of such grief?

What can heal a broken heart?

23

GRAEME

In the days after our visit with Velda, it felt like a renewed fire had been lit under Ecco and myself. It went unspoken, but the visit reminded us both of the precariousness of our situation. We cooped up in our room, figuring out all the intricacies of the honeymoon suite.

We’ve made good use of the heart-shaped jacuzzi, explored the depths of the pleasure chest, and done unspeakable things in the shower.

But this morning is a first. I wake up with a groan, increasingly aware of the sensation of Ecco’s hot mouth working its way down my torso.

I reach a hand out to her—or at least I try to.

The damned woman has tied me to the bed in my sleep.

I tug gently at my bonds. My legs are free but my hands are tied down, pinning me to the bed, my wings caught useless underneath me.

Part of me wants to laugh at Ecco’s audacity, at the sheer gall it must have taken for her to tie me down while I slept. The other part bristles at the thought of being restrained, of not being able to move freely if a threat were to arise.

“Ecco,” I say, my voice still rough with sleep. “How in the name of the gods did you manage this without waking me?”

She lifts her head from where she’s been trailing kisses along my stomach, a mischievous grin lighting up her face. “Turns out you’re a really heavy sleeper, Graeme Grigori.”

I blink at her, momentarily stunned. I’ve always been a notoriouslylightsleeper, my senses honed by years of training. The fact that Ecco managed to tie me down without rousing me shows how deeply I’ve let my guard down with her. How much I’ve come to trust her.

It’s a vulnerability I’ve never allowed myself before.

“Ha, ha,” I grumble, tugging on the restraints again. They’re not overly tight, but secure enough that I can’t easily slip free. “You’ve had your fun, little siren. Now untie me. What if something happens and I need to protect you?”

Ecco crawls up my body, her hot flesh sliding deliciously against mine as she presses soft kisses along my jaw. She nuzzles into my neck, her lips brushing my ear.

“The ties aren’t that tight, my big strong male,” she whispers. “I’m sure if you really needed to protect me, you could tear right out of them.” She nips at my earlobe. “But in the meantime, barring any major incidents, maybe you could just play along? It’s my turn to take the lead.”

Her seductive purr sends a jolt of need through me, desire warring with my protective instincts. I grumble my reluctant assent, my body already responding to her touch.

Ecco kisses her way back down my torso, her clever mouth and wicked tongue stoking the flames of my arousal with every brush of her lips against my skin. She reaches the top of my pajama pants, my erection straining against the fabric, and pulls them down unceremoniously.

Then she takes me into her mouth without preamble, the wet heat engulfing me and making me groan. Ecco works mewith lips and tongue, driving me to the brink embarrassingly quickly. I groan, my head falling back against the pillow at the unbelievable feeling of her.

Just before I reach the point of no return, Ecco pulls me out of her mouth and crawls up to straddle my hips.

“I want you to show me what this tail can do,” she says, reaching back to stroke the sensitive appendage. “I can’t stop thinking about how you have the ability to take me from the front and back at the same time, and I want to try it, Graeme. If that’s okay.”

I suck in a sharp breath. “Are you sure, Ecco?” For gargoyles, tail play is an intensely intimate act, something I’ve only ever done with my own kind before. But I want to explore this new level of closeness with Ecco.

Ecco leans down to press a soft kiss to my lips. “I’m very sure,” she murmurs against my mouth. “I want to feel all of you, Graeme. I want to experience every way we can be intimate together.”

Her words send a bolt of pure need lancing through me. Gods, this female will be the death of me.

“Okay,” I rasp, trying desperately to hold back. “But we’ll need lubrication.”

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