Knights-of-Stone-Bryce (9 page)

He balled his fists. “I don’t like this. Why can’t you stay back here and let us go in search of them?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You want to help me, now?”

“You know I do. We all are. We must stop the demons.”

She appraised him with those large eyes. It wasn’t just some mission of good versus evil; it had become far more personal. Back on the Isle of Stone, he’d only agreed to bring her to this clan. Somehow along the way, he’d grown more attached to her and pulled into this mission. Not only to protect others, but her. Abandoning her was unthinkable. “I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

“I appreciate it, Bryce. With all my being.” The grateful smile she gave him was radiant. “But considering I’m the only one who has ever seen these creatures—who has any experience with what we’re dealing with—you should trust my judgment.”

“Aren’t you—afraid?” His muscles clenched as he contemplated what the demons would do to her if given a second chance.

Her grave expression answered before she did. “Terrified.”

“And yet, you’re prepared to do this?”

“Aye.” The haunted look was replaced with determination. “I must.”

Bryce’s chest tightened. The admiration he had for her was—beyond words. More than what he’d ever experienced for another. “Be careful. Promise me you will.”

“I will.”

“I’m going to be within a wingspan of you at all times.” It was impossible, a complete exaggeration, but he had to be near her. Had to protect her from anything that tried to harm her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She squeezed his hand before she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “I know you won’t.”

His cheek pulsed with heat, searing his memory with her kiss. The first. Better not be the last.

The sensation burned like fire in his veins, with the realization that it might be the only one they shared—an innocent one on the cheek. Far too chaste for that simmering connection between them. Unless it was all in his head.

The gargoyles remained at the castle. Even though he and Mairi were camouflaged by the cover of night, they were still visible. So what. He didn’t care what they saw. He had the most amazing, brave female before him, and he was not going to let her sacrifice herself without at least letting her know what she meant to him.

He searched her beautiful eyes, framed with fine lashes over those sea-colored irises he could swim in. His skin throbbed with heat. He stepped forward, closing the gap between them. Touching her rosy cheek, he circled it with his thumb. So soft. Like satin.

Her eyelids fluttered lower. When she reopened them, she peered up at him, eyes sparkling with anticipation. She had to be as affected as he was.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. Such moist pink lips. Plump and passionate. Calling to him. The drive to kiss her became insistent. All consuming.

He slipped his hand behind her neck and cupped it with possessiveness. He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers. The touch was so light, he wondered if he imagined it from wanting too much.

Desire coiled deep and sprang up with a quick heated intensity. He wanted her. Needed to touch her. Taste her.

In the next moment, he left no doubt as to what was real or fantasy. He pulled her in closer and claimed her mouth with a deep kiss. She was his. Fire ran through his veins, the rush even more invigorating than when he shifted from stone to man. Kissing her made his body hum with vibrancy. She made him burn with life. Something about her was unlike any woman he’d ever known.

Consumed by the passion in their embrace, desire rose. One or both of them could die facing the demons tomorrow. If he only had one more night on this earth, he wanted it to be with her.

The kiss was unexpected. Sure, Mairi had noticed how attractive Bryce was, and the strange pull toward him, but she never thought it would lead to a kiss like this. And in view of other gargoyles. As shielded as they were from the darkness, a gargoyle’s acute vision would more than key them into what was going on.

Yet, for some reason, she didn’t care. All the tension of the last week faded as her body responded. No longer was she living moment to moment in a hyper-vigilant state; she was reminded of more primal needs. She was a female in the arms of a very potent male. One who’d done so much for her—a stranger, who was willing to fight for her cause.

The attraction was primitive and powerful, she yearned to connect with him. It had ignited passion the instant their lips met. If this slightest touch set her on fire, what would more do? That’s all she wanted. More.

She moaned as she parted her lips to invite him deeper. The kiss turned savage. Possessive. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, running her fingers through his hair. A feral groan escaped him, utterly masculine, and sent a surge of desire below.

Even the domineering way he held her tight, had a sensual effect. He’d claimed all control of her body and she responded with a fierce demand for more of him. If this kiss rocked her with such intensity, a night with him might overwhelm her.

When Bryce dragged his lips from hers, Mairi gasped for breath. They both panted, needing that moment to recover. Her skin already missed his touch. That first kiss had left her undone. But she wanted more.

So much more.

She’d lost all sense of their surroundings during their embrace. Scanning the darkness around them, the outlines of the castle remains brought her back to the present. Bryce watched her, his eyes full of desire, capturing her in their depths. His eyes had darkened with lust, black pupils capturing most of the irises.

“All right?” His low rippling burr, edged with sensuality, echoed her dark need.

She touched her lips, which still trembled. “Never better.”

His gaze turned decadent as he smiled with wicked delight. “Good. I couldn’t let you run off to battle without letting you know how I feel.”

“How you feel?” she echoed.

“Bryce, you done snogging?” one of his brothers shouted from the distance. “We need to prepare.”

Bryce pushed his hair out of his eye and grunted. “Be right there,” he said through gritted teeth. He squeezed her hand and said, “You’re all set, right?”

She nodded, while her heart continued to pound from the stellar experience. Her role as bait didn’t require as much preparation.

“I’ll find you later.”

She stared at his powerful form as he strode off and disappeared into the shadows.

Pressing her fingers to her lips, she tried to memorize the touch of his on hers.

He’d kissed her, but hadn’t told her anything. What did he mean about how he felt?

He didn’t have to. His kiss said all she needed to know, at the moment.

Wanting some time alone, she returned to the room she’d been staying in at the castle. It had basic comforts with a bed and a bureau to store belongings. Bryce had remained on watch outside with his brothers and the other guards, but had insisted she catch up on the rest she’d lost since the attack on her village. Although the privacy had helped her relax somewhat, knowing he and the others would protect her, a part of her wished to be with him like they had been on the island. They’d rested side by side in stone form, recharging their energy by sunlight.

Tonight, she was unable to relax, she couldn’t even sit still so she paced the stone floor. The challenge ahead was no small feat. She’d have to face the demons. Again. A cold shiver ran up her spine as she pictured their evil, soulless eyes. But she’d have a chance at retribution at those who’d massacred her clan. The chance of her surviving a second encounter with them was small.

Having help from this clan increased the margins of success, but it also meant many of them might die in the process. Including Bryce.

If he was hurt—if he died because of her. No, she couldn’t bear it.

He’d taken care of her. Brought her to his former clan to help her with her problem, putting his needs aside.

And that kiss. It had leveled her. Waking dormant sensations of what it was like to live. Not just survive. To be desired. Wanted. Not simply pushing forward.

For the first time, she had doubts in her resolve. She’d been fixated on becoming a martyr to avenge her clan, but now there were complications. Being with Bryce had given her a glimpse of a potentially different future. Bryce couldn’t sacrifice his life. If she survived while he didn’t—the torment would never cease.

A knock at the door startled her. “Who is it?”

“Bryce.”

She ran to the door and threw it open, not bothering to hide her eagerness to see him. After a slight pause where she searched his eyes, she threw her arms around him. If one of them didn’t survive the battle, she didn’t want to have any regrets.

He wrapped his arms around her in a protective cocoon. “What’s wrong?”

She pulled back. Her assertive move must have surprised him. Sure they’d had their first kiss, but this embrace was far more intimate.

“I’m worried about tomorrow,” she admitted. “What if something happens to you?”

“Me?” He pointed at his chest. “You’re worried about me?” He chuckled. “You’re the one who’s putting herself out there as demon bait, and you’re worried how I will fare? Don’t worry about me. I have my brothers and the Calder clan with me. I’ll be fine.”

She shook her head. “There are no guarantees of that. And you have a family who cares for you. They’d be devastated if something happened.”

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“Tell me,” he prodded.

She sighed. “I was thinking how with my clan gone, no one would notice when I’m gone.”

He moved his hands to her upper arms. “Look at me.” With a sincere look, he replied, “I will.”

“We’ve only known each other for a few days,” she said. “You’ll forget me soon enough.”

“No, Mairi.” He shook his head. “That’s the problem. Now that I’ve spent time with you, I know that is something I will never do—forget you.” His eyes dropped to her mouth. “And since I’ve tasted your lips, that memory will haunt me forever.” He stroked her bottom lip with his tongue. “Don’t leave me with a ghost.”

Every cell in her body fired to life, and she’d never felt more alive. “Not a ghost.” She leaned up on her tiptoes to hover before his mouth. “Very real.”

He stood rigid for a heartbeat, as motionless as a statue, before he roared to life. Running his fingers through her hair to grab the back of her head, he took her mouth with a deep kiss. Their tongues tangled, seeking a connection that seemed out of reach. He crushed her in a powerful hold and cradled her neck as he pushed his way in with feverish demand. They couldn’t seem to get enough of each other. Bryce backed her to the wall of the castle, where his hand protected her head from the hard stone. His arousal was evident, pressing against her. Promising her what her body craved. With his other hand, he ran his fingers over her breast, caressing it. She leaned into him, moaning in pleasure. With his thumb and forefinger, he tweaked her nipple. The sensitive bud hardened under his touch, begging for more.

When he pulled his hand away from her neck, she sighed in protest. But when he placed it on her other breast, she fell silent. This is what she wanted. His hands. Anywhere and everywhere on her body.

As if he heard her pleas, he dropped one hand along her hip, before reaching around and gripping one cheek. With the other, he reached under her dress, stroking the highly sensitized flesh of her inner thigh. The slowness of his pace was torture., exquisite torture that made her hold her breath in anticipation.

With slow movements, circling devilishly higher, he closed in where she wanted him most. When he finally touched her fiery center, she gasped with relief.

“You all right with this?” he said.

All right? She’d die if he didn’t continue. “Aye… Don’t stop.”

Her flesh was so slick, his fingers slipped right in.

“You’re so hot, right now. So wet.”

A thousand tiny nerves electrified as all her focus shifted below.

“I want this,” she said. Her voice came out husky, barely recognizable as her own. “I want you.”

“Good.”

He played her until she was panting hard. An utter mess on the verge of imploding.

“On the bed,” he said.

“No!” she cried. She couldn’t move; he couldn’t stop now. “Right here.” He’d driven her to the point where she couldn’t stop. She reached for him to show him what she wanted and found him stiff as stone. His feral growl excited her, encouraging her to continue. Up and down she stroked his shaft until he was on the frantic edge with her, breathless with need.

The vivid blue of his tartan contrasted against her champagne-colored dress. He pulled up her dress and pushed his kilt up.

When he stroked the head in between her folds, she cried out. “Aye, Bryce. I’m ready.”

She did a quick mental calculation to make sure the birth control elixir she took would still be effective. What did it matter anyway? One of them would likely not make it through the battle tomorrow. Maybe both. Why bring up consequences of a future with only the bleakest of existing possibilities?

Bryce glided into her inch by precious inch, crushing her back against the wall. She clung to his massive shoulder blades as he drove deeper in. She raised a leg to ease the way. He lifted it and then both legs, cupping her cheeks as he pressed her harder against the wall impaling her. The size of his shaft pressing into her, against the unyielding force of the stone, created pain that flowed into waves of pleasure. One she would happily die from.

The friction built, and her breathy pants grew louder. With each successive thrust, he pounded deeper into her. She moaned, grabbing at his back as the intensity built. The stirring of an orgasm deep within had her grasping to reach it. She rose higher, losing herself in the powerful grip. Once he hit her sensitive spot, she was done for. The buildup escalated without warning; consuming her with its intensity. She rode against him, frantic and hard, pressed between him and the stone wall. She reached her peak and crashed over with a throaty cry. She clawed at his hard shoulders as her muscles stiffened, and she surfed over waves of pleasure. After the crest subsided, she fell against his hot, sweaty body.