Stone Lover by A. C. Warneke Page B

his arms, a blush stole across her face and she started to squirm, “I must be heavy.”
        “Not at all.” He smiled at her and she doubted she would be able to stand if he were to put her down. Tightening his hold on her, his grin turned slightly wicked, “In fact, I could hold you for eternity and not tire.”
        “Still,” she protested feebly. She didn’t know how nice it was to be held like this, to be connected like this. Swallowing, she bit her lower lip even as she tightened her arms around his neck, hugging him closer. “Are you sure?”
        “Sweetheart, I’m sure,” he assured her, flexing his hips and sending an aftershock of pleasure through both of their bodies. Pressing a soft kiss against her lips, he murmured, “I think we missed the countdown.”
        She laughed, the bubbly joy of unexpected bliss bursting within her and around her. “I think we did a pretty good job welcoming in the New Year. I thought I had wanted a gargoyle but as it turns out, I just wanted you.”
        “A… gargoyle?” he asked softly, tilting his head back and looking at her with a quizzical expression.
        Feeling awkward and exposed for having admitted so much, she disentangled her limbs, somehow managing to dislodge herself from his body and find her footing. Awkwardly, she looked around the floor for her discarded clothing, trying to hide the burn of her blush with the fall of her hair. “Well, yeah.; like a mythical guardian, you know?”
        Tenderly, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, cupping her cheek and making her look at him. “I’m honored.”
        With her fingers clutching her blouse, she paused and looked up ,at him disconcerted by his response. It was honest and heartfelt and not at all mocking. He brushed his thumb over her lower lip and smiled, “I want to see you again.”
        “You want to see me again?” she asked dazedly, very pleasantly surprised by him; her lips tingling where he touched them. Reaching up, she wrapped her fingers around his wrist, needing to touch him to make sure he was really there, that she wasn’t dreaming.
        “Very much so,” he breathed, bending his head and replacing his hand with his mouth. Holding on, she kissed him back, enjoying the feel of his tongue as it leisurely stroked hers. Before they could lose themselves in a kiss, he reluctantly pulled away. Resting his forehead against hers, he clenched his jaw, “I have to go.”
        “I understand,” she whispered, surprised to find that she did understand. Kissing his knuckles, she smiled, “Your brothers are probably looking for you and I suppose my friends are wondering where I am, as well. But first tell me your last name.”
        His gaze swept over her face but it took him a long, drawn-out heartbeat to answer. “Nosuntres.”
        “Vaughn Nosuntres.” She let his name roll over her tongue, tasting it with her mouth, liking the way it felt. Smiling, she looked up at him, “I like it.”
        Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her against him, resting his cheek against the top of her head and he held her close. There was something almost desperate in his hug and his voice rasped when he murmured, “I don’t want to leave you.”
        “But I’ll see you again, right?” she asked, returning his hug, wanting to hold on for a while longer as well.
        He closed his eyes for a moment before meeting his gaze in the mirror. Patches of naked skin peeked out at him from beneath the dark strands of her hair. Her slender waist and the curve of her butt were completely exposed, her ass enhanced by the straps of her garter belt. How was he expected to give her up? “Yes, you will.”
        But if Armand had his way, she wouldn’t recognize him. He knew it was the right thing to do, but his body didn’t agree. His heart didn’t agree. Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, “Happy New Year,