Stone Passions Trilogy (34 page)

His golden eyes darkened and he inhaled sharply, “Minx.”

Rhys came up from behind and threw and arm around each of their shoulders, “Get a room.”

“We weren’t doing anything,” Melanie protested, putting her arm around Rhys’s waist and giving him a sideways hug. She really liked Rhys; he was such a great guy, a great brother.

“Yet,” Rhys teased, bussing her on the cheek before bounding ahead to join Jenna and Ferris. With an engaging laugh, he scooped the little girl up in his strong arms, propping her up on his broad shoulder, his long, auburn hair cascading down his back. Jenna looked up at him like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of his exuberance and beauty, but she liked what she saw and was open to the possibility of getting to know him better.

“They’re perfect together,” Melanie sighed dreamily, watching as Rhys bent his head down to hear what Jenna was saying. He was so attentive to Jenna and it was apparent that Ferris adored him just as he adored her; and he was clearly enchanted by Jenna. If all went according to plan….

They could have a double wedding this summer.

“There’s so much that Jenna doesn’t know about him,” Vaughn murmured, yanking her back to earth with cold words. “About us. I don’t know if she would be as… accepting as you have been.”

“Why not?” Melanie asked, faintly bothered by the truth of his words. Jenna could use some magic in her life and Rhys….

He smiled ruefully, “Because she has been slapped by reality far too many times to be so… willing to take that leap of faith.”

“It was hardly a leap,” Melanie snorted, rolling her eyes as she laughed. “I knew you were special before I ever even talked to you. Hell, I was half in love with you when you were a gargoyle.”

“You’re proving my point,” he smiled amusingly.

“Jenna would be open-minded about this,” Melanie argued futilely. Pushing her lower lip out in a feigned pout, she batted her eyelashes and smiled up at him, “I still think it’s a good idea.”

“Perhaps,” he conceded half-heartedly. Looking out over the crowd, not really seeing anything, he repeated, “Perhaps.”

Maybe he knew that Rhys would never give up his nights for anyone and he just wished to spare Jenna any heartache by discouraging the romance before it could even begin. She could understand that because there was no way she would want her sister to suffer any more heartbreak. But what if they were missing out on the grand love of a lifetime if they didn’t at least try?

“I can see the wheels spinning, Melanie,” Vaughn teased. “Let it go. There’s nothing you can do until the time comes.”

“But….”

He laughed, hugging her closer to his side, “If it’s meant to be, it will be. Let it go.”

Grumbling good-naturedly, she snuggled deeper into his embrace, letting a clever smile curve her lips when he was no longer watching. But if Rhys gave up his nights as well, what would happen to Armand? He’d be the only gargoyle sitting on the roof, all alone. He was already such a solitary creature that Melanie feared what would happen to him if he no longer had his brothers.

Perhaps she was being selfish and a shudder whipped through her body at the depressing thought. No, if there was any chance for Jenna and Rhys to be together, she was just going have to find someone for Armand. Only, she couldn’t think of anyone who would be able to stand up to the difficult man, to be able to penetrate that hard, exterior shell to get to the squishy center. None of her friends would stand a chance of getting beyond his armor plating and Jenna just wasn’t an option. 

“Melanie….” Vaughn warned.

“I swear I am not plotting to get Jenna and Rhys together,” she vowed, looking up at him with a guileless expression. When he continued to stare down at her with skepticism, she cracked, “I was trying to figure out who I could get for Armand.”

Vaughn threw his head back and laughed, hugging her closer and kissing the top of her head. “I love the way your mind works, Melanie. It’s terrifying and selfless and wonderful.”

“I worry about him,” she murmured, putting her hand over Vaughn’s heart, feeling the steady rhythm against her palm in spite of the layers of clothing. Knowing he was near, knowing that he was hers, steadied her, calmed her. “If Jenna and Rhys do get together then he will be alone.”

“He’ll never be alone, Melanie,” Vaughn vowed with absolute conviction, his jaw set in a taut line as a muscle ticked in his cheek.

“But you gave up your nights,” she breathed, looking at him curiously. “If Rhys….”

He shook his head, “It’s not going to happen.”

Watching his expressions move swiftly across his face: love, despair, resolution. Her voice was hushed as she demanded, “Tell me what you mean.”

“Tomorrow,” he told her with finality.

“But….”

He kissed her swiftly on the lips and as lips lingered, he whispered, “Tomorrow. Tonight we explore the ice palace and enjoy each other’s company.”

Suddenly, she didn’t want tomorrow to come. Pressing her hand against her belly, she tried to ignore the butterflies that had suddenly taken flight. Had she been in such a cloud of euphoria that she missed something that had been staring her right in the face? Pasting a smile on her face, she tried to enjoy the rest of the festival but there was now a shadow looming over everything.

Chapter Seventeen

The brilliant blue sky over head made the freshly fallen snow on the frozen world around her even more dazzling. It was bitterly cold and yet Melanie was outside in a summer dress and not freezing to death. She was living a fairy tale about a curious girl who finds an enchanted castle that had been hidden in plain sight, guarded by a trio of powerful gargoyles. If she was patient enough, all of its secrets would slowly be revealed to her,

With her hair tumbling down her back in loose waves and a lightweight, pale ivory sundress flowing around her, she felt like she was a princess in that fairy world and her prince loved her. Hugging her knees to her chest, she gazed at Vaughn and smiled serenely. She had never expected to find contentment in the silence but with Vaughn she was happy just being with him doing nothing. As much fun as it was going to carnivals and malls, it was so much more peaceful in Vaughn’s sphere.

He was laying on his back with his hands behind his head his biceps bulging, his eyes closed in blissful rapture, as he soaked up the warmth of the sun. His shirt was unbuttoned, showcasing his ripped abdomen and golden flesh, and he wore low slung khakis, the top button undone. He was a feast for the senses and Melanie was happily drinking him in, finding bliss in the silence.

With a grin, she lightly ran her index finger over Vaughn’s sensuously carved lips, enjoying the feel of the warm, firm flesh. “It’s time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”

Vaughn’s lips curved into a half-smile but kept his eyes closed, his body relaxed.  Feeling reckless and daring, she lightly kissed his lips, his jaw. She trailed a line of kisses over her chest and down his ridged stomach, loving the taste of his satiny skin, the scent of his masculine musk. His stomach muscles flexed when she swirled her tongue around his navel but he still didn’t open his eyes.

Slowly, she unzipped his pants and slid her hand inside, finding the warm weight of his penis. As she stroked, it swelled in size, warming her with its heat. His spicy musk filled her senses and she closed her eyes for a moment to breathe him in before she ran her tongue along his thick length. His breath hitched in his throat but he kept his eyes closed as he groaned, “You don’t play fair, my temptress.”

“I want to make love to you,” she whispered, pressing soft kisses against his shaft as she looked up at him with her wide, blue eyes.

“Come here, you,” he rumbled, grabbing her beneath the armpits and dragging her up his body, claiming her lips in a passionate kiss. 

Reaching between their bodies, the two of them managed to tug his pants down enough to free his erection, never letting their lips part. Straddling his hips, Melanie moved the folds of her dress out of the way as she positioned her body, sliding onto the length of his cock and sighing in heavenly relief. His hands came down on her hips as he looked at her he swallowed convulsively, “You’ve been out here without any underwear on the entire time?”

“Mmm,” she murmured, rolling her hips and basking in the sensations of having sex with Vaughn beneath the winter sun. Sitting up, she gazed down at him, smoothing her hands over the hard muscles of his chest. With a sleepy, sultry smile, she let the straps of her dress fall, exposing her full breasts to his lustful stare. His eyes darkened to burnished gold and he was so beautiful it hurt to look at him for too long. The pain was worth it because she couldn’t not look and she didn’t think she’d ever grow tired of looking at him, of being with him.

With a low growl, he sat up, enfolding her in his arms and drawing one succulent nipple between his lips. Suckling it deep into his mouth, he continued to gently undulate his hips. His hands were on her bare back, the heat of his touch sinking deep into her skin and making her burn. He filled her completely until he left nothing untouched.

She slid her fingers into the golden silk of his hair and held him to her breast, tilting her head back as her eyes closed in pleasure. As peaceful as it was to sit in silence with him, it was just as wonderful to be making love with him. In such a short time, she had fallen completely, wildly and irrevocably in love with him.

It scared her how much she loved him. It was an all-consuming fire, even if he kept so much from her. She was okay with the secrets he kept because she knew with absolute certainty that he loved her and would tell her everything if he could. But what was he keeping from her that made him so sad?

What if he regretted giving up his nights to be with her and he wanted to become a gargoyle once more? Maybe love wasn’t enough to make him want to remain a man and he was struggling with how to tell her he couldn’t be with her any longer. It had to be something because as the weeks passed, he was growing increasingly melancholy and his love making was becoming almost desperate, frantic in his need for her.

She tried to have faith that Vaughn wouldn’t abandon her but the dark thoughts kept niggling away at her brain. Even now, when she was in his arms, nearly lost in the heat of the moment, the thoughts were there, taunting her, because everything with Vaughn was so incredible. She was terrified of having it all fall apart and it was going to drive her insane if she kept dwelling on the what-ifs.

She was most likely making mountains out of molehills and when he finally unburdened himself to her, she would feel nothing but relief. As that thought wriggled around, a small smile bowed her lips because it didn’t matter if he wanted to be a gargoyle again, they would make it work. They loved one another and would be able to overcome anything.

The sensation of being surveyed made her open her eyes. Seeing two pairs of stone eyes watching them, she pressed her lips against Vaughn’s ear and breathed, “Your brothers are watching us.”

Lifting his head, he met her gaze and a slow, hot smile curved his lips. “Then let’s give them something to enjoy.”

At her questioning look, he pulled the dress from her body a heartbeat before he stood up with her in his arms. With a gasp, she wrapped her legs around his waist, impressed despite already knowing Vaughn was unnaturally strong. He took a step towards Armand and her eyes widened in her head, “What are you doing?”

“Claiming you,” he growled, placing her in Armand’s stone lap and straightening his body. With those words, he set a punishing rhythm, slamming into her body, slamming her against the gargoyle. The sounds of their mating were getting louder as he thrust harder and harder, as their breathing grew ragged and harsh.

Stone claws dug into her waist, holding her in place as Vaughn thrust almost violently into the depths of her body. Leaning back against the gargoyle, she tilted her hips slightly, taking him deeper. Vaughn paused for just a moment, letting his eyes slide shut to savor the wet heat of her sex, before he lost control and fucked her harder. Everything in her tightened a split second before she exploded, crying out even as he slammed into her one final time and roared his own completion.

“I’m already yours,” she whispered, still trying to catch her breath, leaning back and looking at him with solemn, blue eyes. “I’ve always been yours.”

“Yes, but my brother doesn’t understand,” Vaughn said, his eyes locked on the gray stone of Armand’s, his breathing still frayed. “It seems he once tried to use sex to make you forget.”

“But it didn’t work,” Melanie reminded him, caressing his cheek, willing him to look at her. “It was the wrong girl, remember?”

Vaughn’s gaze shifted to hers and her breath caught in her throat, her heart skipped a beat in her chest.  “I’m talking about the second time, when he came into your room and tried to seduce you.”

Her eyes widened in her head but she was unable to look away from the fierceness in Vaughn’s gaze. In a soft voice, she asked, “How did you know?”

“I’ve always known,” he answered in grim resignation. At her panicked expression, he smiled ruefully, “I also knew that you refused him because you are mine. You have always been mine, no matter what.”