Oh, he should probably let her know that he was going to use his magic to make her immortal, too. He took this mating business seriously, which meant he wanted it to truly be forever.
Leaning back so he could look her in the face, he said, “Oliver admitted that the reason for his rules was because when he was younger—like two thousand years ago younger—he fell in love and mated and had a child. And then they were killed, a direct result of an assignment he’d been working on. He was devastated. So when he became manager of his own brethren, he decided to ensure none of the gargoyles in his charge ever went through something so terrible, hence his rules.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s awful.”
Griffin shrugged. “Actually, it’s considerate. He didn’t want anyone else to be hurt like he was.”
“But you’ve changed his mind?”
“He wasn’t keen on it at first. But Argyle confirmed that Becca is his daughter and pointed out that she is mated to a dragon and they go into battle with warlocks nearly every single day. Argyle said siring her was the best thing he’s ever done in his long life. And then I said that if you and I mated, we could raise Penelope in both worlds—with her adopted mother and me, which will ensure she gets the training she needs to someday help out Becca.
“Oh, by the way, Becca said she’d be happy to start Penelope’s training any time you are ready. She has plenty of time on her hands for the next seven months or so.”
Sofia smiled. Cupping her face, he said, “I love you. I think I fell in love with you four years ago. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.”
She blinked rapidly. “I love you too. Thank you for helping me become brave enough to stand up to Darius and get my life back.”
He kissed her, softly, gently, and full of promise.
“As I understand it, if we fly together, it will bind us as mates.”
“Good,” he said with conviction.
She laughed. “It’s also, so I’m told, incredibly erotic. Like, we may not be able to control ourselves when we land and return to our human forms.”
He chuckled. “Good to know. So, are you ready?” He lifted his hand, palm up.
She dropped her hand to his and squeezed. “I’m ready.” And then she burst into a jog, rushing toward the door, and Griffin stumbled as he tried to keep up.
He caught the briefest glimpse of the magic as it raced across Sofia’s body, changing her skin to scales, turning her tailbone into an actual tail. He blinked; she had horns curled over her head, and wings sprouting from her back.
As he summoned his own magic and commanded his body to change into his gargoyle form, he felt a tingling sensation pour over him, like someone was gently scraping their fingernails over his sensitive skin. Once the shift was complete and he took his first glance at Sofia in her dragon form, all he wanted to do was shift back and strip her down and make love to her, over and over, not stopping until they passed out from too many orgasms.
Holy gods, she wasn’t kidding about this being erotic.
Told you.
He darted his head back and forth, searching for the source of that voice. Sofia flew up next to him and winked, then lifted her wing and turned to the left.
He chased after her. Did I just hear you in my head?
Laughter echoed in his skull.
Is that you?
Yes. It’s a bonus to being mated to a dragon. I wondered if it would happen with us, since you’re a gargoyle.
We can hear each other’s thoughts now?
Only when we are in our flying forms. Don’t worry, your dirty thoughts are all your own when we are in human form.
Hey, if you want me to share them at any point, say the word.
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have someone talk dirty to me while we’re having sex.
By all means… He nodded at a nearby building with a flat roof. Sofia took the hint and made a beeline for the structure.
As soon as they landed, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to her, their lips slapping together. He dove his fingers into her hair and held her still for a moment so that he could ravish her mouth, and then he dropped his hands and fumbled with the tie on her robe, thrilled when he finally tugged it free and discovered that she was naked underneath. He feasted on the image, his eyes and his hands, as he rushed to get himself into the same state.
She pushed on his shoulders, and he dropped down until he was seated on the ledge running the length of the building. She climbed into his lap and tipped up his chin. “I love you.”
“Gods above,” he said, expelling a deep breath. “I love you more with each passing second.”
“Show me,” she said, rotating her hips.
He groaned and grabbed his cock, positioning it at her opening. “Yes.”
“Talk,” she demanded as he slid into her.
“You are the most magnificent creature I have ever met,” he said, gasping out his breaths as she lifted up and then sank down onto him again and again. “And I love being with you. All the time. Doing anything. I don’t even care if it’s having sex or—oh gods—this is so damn insane. You—me—Sofia, I’m going to—”
“Me too,” she cried out, shifting up and down in his lap, faster and faster, as her nails scored down his back. She threw her head back as her orgasm overcame her, and Griffin wrapped his arms around her
