Page 41 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

As I spoke, I took a few steps forward, getting closer to Dax.

For the first time since we started speaking, I could read his facial expression clearly. He looked shocked. “What?”

I was within arm’s reach now. When I took one more step forward, he backed up. I smiled and took another step. He retreated again. This big gargoyle, who wasn’t afraid of a dark warlock throwing magic around, was backing away from me and how I made him feel. He might not be willing to admit it, but he wanted me.

His back hit the front door.

“My aunt, who trusts you to keep me safe, also expects for you to have sex with me. In fact, she encouraged me to approach you about it. Would you like to see the text messages?”

It was the first time I’d ever seen Dax rendered speechless with disbelief. He didn’t talk a lot to begin with, but his mouth was hanging open as he stared at me as though a second head had popped out on my shoulder.

“You’re joking,” he finally rumbled.

I shook my head.

That was when he pulled out the big guns. “But you’re untouched.”

I paused then. How did he know I was a virgin?

“Why do you think that?” I asked.

“I don’t think it,” he answered. “I know it.”

My confidence wavered until I saw him swallow hard as a single bead of sweat ran down his temple to his jawline, disappearing into the stubble that covered it.

It was just another excuse. Another reason he was giving me because he was afraid. This huge, almost invincible gargoyle was scared—of me, a human who was nearly two feet shorter than him and maybe a quarter of his weight. Minerva was right. I was going to have to make it crystal clear to him that I wanted him. I was going to have to push through my reticence. It was the only way I might get what I wanted.

So, I moved closer again until my face was only inches from where his arms crossed over his chest. He couldn’t back up any further because the door was behind him, but I swear he tried.

“I’m not sure if I’m still a virgin,” I said. “I mean, I’ve used sex toys on myself, so technically I’ve had a penis inside me. It was fake but?—”

I could not believe I was saying these things to him. Then, again, now that I could see how I affected him, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.

“Stop,” he said.

A dull flush worked its way across his cheeks, and he swallowed hard again, his eyes glued to my face. I watched his pupils dilate as he looked down at me, his eyes a lighter blue shot through with silver.

I didn’t stop. I could tell I was getting to him, as much as he got to me all these years. I lifted a hand and put it on his arm. His skin was burning hot beneath my fingers.

I continued, “So, in technical terms, I’ve had sex. Just with a dildo instead of a man.”

His hand moved from his bicep to clamp down over where mine rested on his arm. Then, he shocked me again.

He took my hand and lowered it, pressing it down on the bulge behind his zipper. “I don’t want to hurt you. And I’m not a small male. I will.”

He made a pained noise when I gave him an experimental squeeze and he tugged my hand away.

When I smiled up at him, he looked terrified for a split second.

“You’re not much bigger than one of my toys,” I said.

A low noise escaped his throat, but he remained silent, holding my hand in his against his chest.

I inched even closer until my body brushed his. “I trust you, Dax. I trust that you won’t hurt me like some of my friends were hurt their first time. I can’t think of anyone who would take better care of me than you.”

My other hand was free, so I lifted it and cupped his cheek, my thumb running across his bottom lip. It was so soft, but the flesh beneath the softness was firm.

“No one would dare hurt you. I would kill them,” he said.

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