Page 20 of Stolen By the Gargoyle
A woman was there. A woman with a body more curvaceous than my own wife’s, and skin a lighter shade of brown, was clad in a thin, sheer robe that flowed around her body. She twirled in little circles around the room before stopping in front of a mirror.
I watched with rapt attention, holding my breath, praying she would not see me. For a moment, it appeared as though her gaze flicked into the mirror, staring right in the direction from where I was peering at her, but a moment later, her gaze was back on her reflection as she began arranging the tightly wound coils around her head.
Her hair was the same texture as my wife’s, and I could not help but observe as she went through some strange sort of routine. Oils, creams, and spray went through her hair and she coiled individual curls around each finger, one after another. When she finished her ritual, she dug into a drawer, reaching for a colorful cloth that she wrapped around her hair, hiding it from view.
“Are you going to stop staring at me anytime soon?” her melodic voice teased.
I jolted, holding myself incredibly still as she turned, a smile touching her lips.
“Never in a million years, amore.” The male voice that answered came into frame.
He cut a tall, clean figure and something in my chest tugged, like a bond I could not cut loose at the sight of him. His horns were thin and curved high. His head sported a mess of darkcurls, and light brown skin gleamed golden under the bedroom light. He walked towards her, his tail swishing behind him.
The Lord of Lament.
One of the three kings of the Underworld, and my master.
He approached his mate–and my queen.
The three kings of the Underworld shared a mate amongst each other, and they seemed to love one another equally. They ruled with heavy fists, and she was a softer balance the Underworld never knew it had needed. It was because of her arrival that my brothers and I realized we wanted that, too. It was within our right to take what we desired, despite our kings’ protests. They had thwarted us many times before, forbidden us from leaving the scorching lands we ruled and fought over. But when she came, when she blessed this place with an infectious joy, I knew that we had to have something like that.
We deserved it.
I watched as the Lord of Lament wrapped his arms around his wife.
Of the three, he was the kindest, but his kindness was not a weakness. He needed that calm demeanor to guide souls that had crossed to the other side. But I knew he could be vicious when needed.
Right then, none of his ferocity was present. He seemed content, relaxed. Every bit of him was smoothed over as he pulled his mate towards him and leaned down, taking her cheeks in his palms and pressing his lips to hers.
A kiss.
I knew what that action was, but I had never done such a thing before.
It was mesmerizing, the way their lips moved together, searching and exploring. Like they were breathing life within one another and feasting.
I wanted to do that with my mate. I wanted to explore every bit of her like that. I also wanted her to fall into my arms and let me hold her close like my queen did with my king.
Envy gripped me tightly.
Lord Lorenzo’s tail smoothed over Lourdes’ leg, wrapping around her before unfurling and sliding up, going between them and slipping beneath the robe.
Lourdes jumped in surprise and broke away from his kiss, laughing and swatting his chest in a jesting gesture.
“Stop that! You’ll mess up my curls.” Her hands smoothed over her head where her now protected hair was. “You know how long it takes me to get them just right.”
Lord Lorenzo smiled mischievously at her. “Amore, I would never compromise your hard work.” He dropped to his knees in front of her. “Just make sure you stay still while I feast.”
I had seen him feast upon her before. I had caught the act in snippets before I’d forced myself to look away, aware that the moment was too intimate for my eyes. But it had left me craving. It was why I had done it to my own wife, needing to know what the experience offeastingwas like. It had been worth every second.
She laughed again, slapping her palms against his shoulders. “How about we go play on Ramiel’s piano while Kane is busy distracting the kids?”
My lord smiled up at his mate, flashing a feral grin as his hands roamed over her thick hips. “Only if we can break the piano.”
She smiled back at him, giving him the smallest of nods. He moved quickly, lifting her into his arms and causing her to squeal. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and within moments they were whisked away in a puff of smoke, gone from the room.
I waited with bated breath to see if they would return. When several moments passed and they did not, I finally pushed myself through the window, bending my body at awkward angles just to fit.
Inside, I stood on the tips of my claws. If I were to be caught by the Lords of the Underworld, they would obliterate me where I stood, so I moved quickly.
