Page 16 of Gargoyle Vigilante

Dante frowned, pressing his lips together. “You guys go on ahead. We’ll see you in the conference room.”

Michael yelled through the barrier. “Quit goofing around. I want to speak with you both before Amir meets everyone.”

Dante groaned and whispered to Amir, “I don’t know if it’s because I’ve never knotted anyone before, or if it’s because it’s our first time, but I’m not sure how long this is going to last.”

Amir gasped. “You can’t let them in while we’re like this!”

Dante stroked his cheek. “Of course not. No one gets to see you this way except me.”

“Yeah, hold that thought. I’m not an exhibitionist.”

“What in the name of the heavens is going on in there, Dante?”

Michael sounded angry. This wasn’t how he’d wanted to meet the archangel, not at all.

Dante yelled back, “Don’t get your wings in a twist. We’ll be there in a sec.”

“Time’s up,” Ezekiel said, laughing.

Amir thought he might burst out crying at the lunacy of the whole mess, but then the fullness in his passage began to subside. Relief washed over him right before it morphed into sadness. Their first time had come to an end, and the intimacy of being joined together through the knot had made everything make sense.

Dante framed his face with his palms and gave him a quick but thorough kiss. “Are you okay?”

Amir smiled, his heart easing. Gruff most of the time or not, he loved that Dante’s softer side seemed to be saved for him.

“Yeah. I’m okay.”

“You’ll tell me if anything’s wrong, though, right? I’m sorry you got stuck with my cranky ass, but don’t be afraid to come to me for anything. Promise?”

“I’mnot sorry and I promise.” He cleared his throat. “But shouldn’t I put on my pants now?”

As if in answer to his question, Michael shouted, “You’ve got ten seconds before I bust this door down!”

Chapter Six

Dante opened the door just enough that he could peek his head through the crack. “What?”

Ezekiel sniffed the air, then screwed up his nose. “Is this a bad time?”

Michael didn’t bother hiding his satisfaction, or elation, or whatever the shit-eating grin that was plastered on his face was supposed to mean.

Dante frowned at them both. “Must we? Why don’t you come back in an hour or two?”

Michael tsked. “As unbelievable as this might seem, I’m afraid that the relic is more important than your throbbing love rod.”

Ezekiel snort-laughed, and Dante growled. “All I hear from you is fated mate this, and fated mate that, then you’re cock-blocking me. Make up your fucking mind.”

Michael’s eyes flashed. “Watch your gargoyle tongue and let us into the room this instant.”

“Wait!”

Amir’s shout was frantic enough that Michael took a step back. Dante sensed that his mate didn’t want his first meeting with an archangel to happen while he was naked.

Dante lowered his voice but couldn’t tamper his terse tone. “I don’t give a flying vampire bat’s ass whether you guys see me nude. But everything is new and strange to him. I don’t want him feeling vulnerable.”

Ezekiel straightened the silk burgundy and gold threaded vest he typically wore. “I’d be happy to wait while you dress.Youmight not care, but I assure you, that’s a visual I’d be delighted to miss.”

Dante grunted. “Hilarious. You know you want it.”

---