Ryder flew back out into the frigid snowy night and perched on the top of the highest peak he could find. Heat scorched him to his very soul, if he had one. Not even the temperature could dampen the desire pounding through his body. He was unaccustomed to unsatisfied desire, and in gargoyle form, the feelings were even more intense.
Tempest has no idea how close I came to ravaging her right there on the ground when she touched me with those warm hands.
He chanted a spell and instantly a bottle of alcohol appeared before him. He took a big swig and the warmth ran down his throat straight to his belly. He knew he’d pay for this, but at the moment, he didn’t give a fuck.
Contemplating what else the little witch had learned about him today, he took another large gulp. She already knew that he’d failed in battle and lost his eye.
Does she know how much I doubt my abilities to be the gargoyle legion commander? And does she know how badly I want to possess her, body and soul?
What the fuck is it all about? What are the messed up monsters, Fedor, and his concubine hiding from Tempest? Obviously, they’re key to why she’s here.
His senses dulled. In the distance through the falling snow, a small, twinkling hole stood out in the sky. It brightened, and then faded away. A smile crept to his face. He’d found it—he was sure of it. That small hole had to be the way off this mountain. Ryder grabbed the bottle and flew toward the anomaly. The light from the hole continued to pulse. As he approached, he waited for it to open up again. Sure enough, it did just that, and because he was close enough, he saw straight through it.
“Fuck, yes!” he shouted. The city of Levare appeared through the small hole and disappeared when the light diminished. He continued to watch, prepared to leap through the next time it opened up. This mountain could go to hell! He’d be back home in no time.
As the light began to build, a thought forced a grim reality on him. What if he couldn’t come back? His thoughts raced to Tempest. He might never see her again. Could he take that chance?
She would be safe right now in the magical lodge he’d built for her and her troublesome gargdog, but for how long?
The light grew, and the opening spread, waiting for him to fly through, but he remained frozen in place. Tempest’s doll-like face and her odd-shaped green eyes were burned into his memory.
“Why the fuck me?” he shouted into the opening and watched it close again. Drinking half the bottle, he did a nosedive in the opposite direction and headed back to the lodge…back to her.
* * *
Ryder stood in male form, staring at the lodge he’d built earlier, and adjusted the patch over his eye. Thoroughly drunk, he approached. When the door opened, he ducked his head and entered.
Rogue had been asleep, but quickly jumped to his feet upon Ryder’s entrance. The gargdog’s little wings thumped as though he were happy.
“What’s gotten into you?” Ryder slurred. “You almost seem happy to see me.”
Rogue lay back down in front of the fire. “I am,” he responded, and licked his large paw.
He hadn’t expected that! Could this night get any fucking worse?
“Where’s Tempest?” he asked.
Rogue looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “She’s asleep in the bed you made for her.”
Without consciously knowing what he did, Ryder groaned, leaning his head back. “Damn!”
Rogue’s growl snapped him out of thoughts of Tempest lying beneath the sheets…without him. “Rogue likes you, but don’t forget that Tempest is the most important thing in my world. I was willing to die with her. Are you? Don’t think about hurting her, or I’ll do my best to rip your throat out.”
It took a moment for the words to resonate with Ryder, but then he laughed and put up his hands. “Right you are. You did want to die with her, didn’t you?” In his drunken stupor, he bowed low, sweeping his arm out in front of him. “You’d be a worthy gargoyle on any squadron.”
He may have been drunk, but he didn’t miss the light shining in the gargdog’s eyes—appreciation, happiness, and hope. What a messed up place this was. Ryder scolded himself mentally. It would have been wrong for him to return home without helping these ones...these misfits.
“I won’t hurt her.” He turned on his heel and headed toward the bedroom.
He halted at the door; her scent drifted to his nose before he’d even opened the door. His nails turned to talons. Shocked, he spun, putting his back to the door. Never had the gargoyle beast within him reared its head without his approval and a chant.
Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.
It was too late for that. The door swung open.
Trepidation haunted him as he slowly turned and entered the room. He stood staring at her as if the air had been sucked from his lungs, unprepared for the onslaught of raw emotions.
Her long, silky hair lay sprawled out over the covers. Gone were the mats and dirt.
He swallowed hard. If he could imagine what a princess would look like, it was her. Innocence radiated from her small body.
No matter how diligently he could have tried to prepare himself for this moment, it would have been impossible and uncontrollable. He staggered toward the edge of the bed.
Her head moved from side to side as she moaned.
She must be dreaming.
Yet, he debated how such an innocent could look like she was in the throes of passion.
Her arms and legs thrashed beneath the covers. If possible, his erection grew harder. His chest heaved. The smell of sweet honey and new flowering blooms spurred his actions. With one long claw, he reached down and swiped up a piece of her long, white hair. As if touching the softness of a flower petal, he brought it to his nose.
She continued to moan seductively, and then, suddenly, she opened her brilliant green eyes. Before it could register, her arms reached up and around his neck, pulling him down.
Tempest’s plump, warm lips crushed into his. Thoughts refused to register as he swung his legs up onto the bed and straddled her tiny body. She clung to him, pressing firmly to his chest. Powerless to fight her charms, he pinned her to the bed, giving her more of what she demanded.
His tongue sought the warm flesh of her mouth. She pulled on him harder, and moaned beneath his embrace. Her hands left his neck and shoved at the covers, desperately trying to push them away. He withdrew from the kiss, but their eyes remained locked. She licked her lips. Ryder shifted his weight, and with one swipe of his large hand, removed the barrier of blankets separating their bodies. He straddled her legs, staring down at her luscious body squirming beneath the shimmering green silk. Tenderly, he rested his hands on her hips, sliding them over the fabric up to her breasts.
With his touch, her nipples hardened to form peaks.
I’m in big trouble.
Passion flowed like a raging river in his blood. Tempest’s gaze never left his. She reached up, grabbing him by the shoulders, and tugged him down to where her lips collided with his.
He was lost in a blazing fire he knew he’d never escape.
As her lips parted his, and her tongue darted in and out of his mouth, he struggled for a breath and any form of control. She didn’t know what she was doing, but he knew what was going to happen.
“Tempest. Please, you’re killing me. You don’t understand.”
For a moment, she halted, panting and running her hands up and down his arms. “Am I hurting you?”
He flung his head back. “Gods yes! I’m going to explode, and I want to do it inside you.” The look on her face showed her confusion.
“Ryder, nothing that feels this good can be bad. I know I’m a misfit, but please don’t throw me away, too.”
Tenderly, he smiled and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “Trust me…you are perfect in my eyes, but please...tell me to stop.”
He closed his eyes.
“I can’t. I want whatever this is that I’m feeling. I feel like I might die if you don’t make it stop. I’ve never been able to touch anyone…until now.” She turned her head to the side and trailed kisses over his hand and up his arm. “Make it go away, Ryder. Show me.”
He descended upon her, lost in a torrent of passion. His tongue traced a path around her pointed ear and down the side of her neck. Gently, he pushed the glittering straps off her shoulders and kissed his way to her breasts. With an annoyed growl deep in his throat, he lifted off her body and with a wave of his hand, made the silk disappear into thin air.
Tempest held her breath, and her eyes widened like saucers.
“Tell me to stop, Tempest.”
She took a gulp of air and ran her hand up his chest. “No.”
I don’t know if I can keep this up.
He stared down at her perfectly shaped body. She deserved to be worship like a princess. The mark on her breast matched his, and somehow, it spurred his actions further.
She was made just for me.
When he took her nipple into his mouth, Tempest cried out and pulled him closer. He positioned himself over her and felt her leg slide up the length of his thigh. He halted, lifting his head from the ravished nipple.
“Tempest I should stop.”
“No.” She demanded forcefully arching up to bite him in the neck.
Her hands moved down the length of his body until she reached the piece of leather covering his cock. He stopped breathing and clutched her hand.
“I want to touch you there,” she whispered. “Can you imagine what this feels like for me?” she purred. “Take it off…please.”
“Tempest you need to stop.”
“I can’t Ryder. I need to do this. Whatever it is. I’m aching all over, but especially here,” her hand snaked over her breast and down her flat stomach to rest between her legs.
He almost lost it at that moment feeling the moistness escape from his cock.
It seemed impossible to resist anything she asked. The confines of his leather bottoms disappeared as he sprang free. She stared up into his eyes while he towered above her.
“My body is telling me to do this.” Seductively she spread her legs wide. “And this.” Her fingers ran up and down the length of his engorged member.
Ryder grabbed her hand, pulling it away.
“Is that wrong?” she asked.
“Gods no!”
She murmured and lifted her hips toward him.
“Fuck! Tempest stopping isn’t an option anymore.”
He rolled to his side taking her with him. His stomach did somersaults filled with anticipation. This time his hand sank down her lithe body to the hot sensitive core of her being. She cried out his name wiggling closer to his touch. His fingers parted the tender folds of her cunt, and were immediately covered with her lush juices. His cock pulsed with pent up need.
“This is where my cock belongs Tempest,” slowly he entered her with one finger. She flung her head back and squirmed closer. “Ryder…”
He felt her body tighten and release adjusting to foreign intrusion. In and out he moved and added another finger.
“Tempest I want you so badly.”
Her breaths were coming in rapid succession. “Ryder…I feel like...”
“Like what princess?” he encouraged plunging his fingers deeper inside her.
“Oh Gods, I think, I’m going to…explode!” Her cunt tightened around him as she climaxed with a scream. He watched her ride the waves of ecstasy and slowly open her eyes.
Gently he laid her on her back beneath him. “Tell me to stop Tempest.”
She smiled and whispered. “No.”
He pushed forward allowing the head of his cock to enter her. Her eyes went wide, but then she closed them with a moan and urged him deeper. When her legs lifted up and wrapped around his waist he was done. He plunged forward with a thrust of his hips and stopped waiting for her to adjust to his size. He never knew anything could feel so fucking good. She looked up at him. The movements were slow and controlled until she met him thrust for thrust. It was beyond control. Striving for ultimate bliss he moved faster and faster until at last she screamed his name again.
Spiraling out of control, he kissed her deeply smothering her scream and let go. Like shooting stars he emptied himself deep within her body. Never in his years of existence had he ever felt this way. In a short period of time his world had been altered dramatically.
He breathed in trying to calm himself. She had an effect on him like no others had before. Scooping her to him he rolled on his side. Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes welled up with unshed tears. Immediately she bent her head as if to hide. The urge to discover why she appeared to be sad, spurred him to lift her chin so he could peer into her eyes.
“Tempest why are you so sad? Did I hurt you badly?”
A tear rolled down her face as she shook her head. She pushed against him forcing him to his back, and then sat up struggling to cover her bare breasts with the sheet.
He felt the warmth of her small hand come to rest on his chest. She wiggled her fingers and scratched a path down his chest and over his stomach. She swallowed hard and he waited for what she might say.
“I’m touching you. You’re touching me.”
He reached up adjusting the patch and ran his hand over his face, ashamed. “I’m sorry Tempest. I know I should never have touched you,” he sighed heavily.
She continued to hold his hand tenderly. “My point is that it was okay…it was more than okay.” Her tears fell freely. “Ryder, I’ve never been able to touch another since…well…never.” She smiled. “Maybe we were meant for one another.”
Those weren’t the words he wanted to hear tumble from her mouth. Or were they? A change of subject was needed, and quickly.
“I’m surprised Rogue didn’t crash through the door and tear a hole in me.” He tried to pull his hand away, but she refused to let go, instead trying to pry open his fingers. He wanted to clench his fist to hide the scar from her curious exploration, but he knew he’d crush her tiny hand if he did, so he let her be.
She stared down at the mark on his palm. “Why is it just like mine? Or perhaps mine is just like yours. What does it mean?” She frowned.
He pulled his hand away. “None of this makes sense, but it doesn’t matter because I think I found a way off this mountain.”
She sat up straighter continuing to tug at the covers. “Really! Could that be possible? Fedor told me I couldn’t leave.” Her eyes looked as big as suns.
“That creature you call Fedor is evil,” he growled.
“Nobody knows that better than I,” she spoke quietly, hanging her head.
After picking up a handful of her hair and running it between his fingers, he responded. “Tempest, he will never hurt or touch you again…not ever…not while I’m alive.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
The bark at the door caused her to jump. Her cheeks flushed. “I’m okay, Rogue. I’ll be out in a moment.”
Ryder stood. “I’ll leave you here to change. Perhaps you’d like a snack before you go to sleep?”
She nodded in agreement. “I am hungry again,” she said, rubbing her stomach.
* * *
Later, after a fully satisfied tummy, he peeked in on her sleeping soundly in the bed.
His thoughts quickly turned to the passion they’d shared. She’d wanted him to sleep with her, to hold her, but he knew where it would have ended up, and she needed sleep. He explained he needed to stand watch and had to think about their plan for tomorrow. If they were to make love again… He shivered; the raw emotions she brought out in him were terrifying.
A smile crept over his face, and the crazy gargdog lifted his head off the pillow beside Tempest’s sleeping form. One of Rogue’s wings thumped against the bed. Ryder shook his head with a grin and placed a finger to his lips. Slowly, Rogue laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.
Ryder stepped outside, listening to the chirps and gentle movements of the forest animals or perhaps misfits scurrying along in the night. He stared up and into the sky, knowing the exact way home. He, or he should say they, would leave this place tomorrow.
His hand began to burn, and he lost his smile. Making a fist, he cringed against the pain, wondering why it had begun to act up. It was as if the thought of leaving brought the pain.