11. Xavier

Chapter 11

Xavier

I stretched gently, the stone slow to leave my body as the sun set in the distance. My body was stiff and sore after all the hours spent in a crouch on the roof, but I was eager to find Amber, make sure she was okay. I hadn't sensed any danger from her all day, but her side of the bond was unsettled, almost sad, and I wondered why. I needed to know if she had changed her mind about me.

Finally, my body was loose enough for me to move and I stretched my wings to their full length, ready to fly to the ground, when I sensed someone behind me. I turned to see Amber sitting in the chair that Rook had brought up when he waited for me to return to human form. She was wrapped in a soft, gray, fuzzy blanket and sipping a cup of hot chocolate. She stared off into the sunset, not aware that I was watching her.

Her cheeks were reddened from the cool dusk air and the breeze that blew harder on top of the library. Her red, wavy hair was tousled by that same wind, giving her a just woke up look. I couldn't wait to see her look like that after a night in my bed, if I was lucky enough to have her in my bed.

"Amber?"

She turned a startled look at me, then a brilliant smile. "I hope you don't mind me waiting for you. I'm off tonight and thought I would return the favor with dinner. Unless you'd prefer breakfast."

She bit her lower lip in a sudden attack of nerves. Gratitude and hope filled me, a tingling through my chest and my whole body. She thought of me and considered my needs. A true mate.

I strode over to her and knelt in front of her, taking her icy hands in mine. "It's perfect. Let's eat in my quarters where it's warmer."

She gave me a startled look. "You have quarters here?"

I chuckled and got to my feet, tugging her up. "I do, in the library's basement. Come, let me show you."

I led her through the secret back corridors of the Beastly Falls library, down to the basement level where I kept my quarters, a hidden chamber known only to me and a few friends. I didn't need any interruptions for this private moment, even if the library appeared to be on our side. I couldn't trust someone would shatter our bubble. In my space, I could keep us safe, protect us, and seal our bond.

Pushing open the heavy oak door, we stepped into a room bathed in a soft, ethereal light that danced off the stone walls lined with ancient tomes. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and magic, wrapping around us like a comforting embrace.

Amber's eyes widened in wonder as she took in the sight before her. "What is this place?" she asked, her voice hushed in reverence.

"This is where I come to be human," I replied, my tone tinged with vulnerability. "Where I shed my stone skin and embrace my true form. This is my home."

She whirled around, taking in the space. "I love it! It's beautiful!"

I laid out the dinner she'd brought, and we ate a delicious dinner from the Spicy Demon, a blend of eastern ethnic foods run by a local demon. He was originally from the Far East and brought his love of cooking and the food to Beastly Falls. I loved the restaurant and Rook and I often went there once a week or so. It pleased me that Amber appeared to enjoy the same foods, especially judging by the sounds she made when she ate her dinner.

When we were done, Amber settled back in her chair, avoiding the elephant in the room, namely my king-sized bed, appropriately sized to accommodate my wings. I rarely slept in it now that I was stone all day on the roof, but I came here to be alone and to think. The bed was comfortable for when I wanted to rest.

"I've been thinking about what we talked about last night. The mating. Our bond. The curse."

I held my breath, worried that I was about to lose her, to hear the words I dreaded. I braced myself. "Yes, Amber?"

"I'm ready. I want to be yours."

" M ake me yours," she whispered, taking my hand and leading me to the king-sized bed in the center of the room.

I trailed after her, my heart racing with a mix of lust and anticipation. I felt nervous, vulnerable, and exposed. But with Amber, it felt natural, like revealing the deepest parts of myself to someone who truly understood .

As we stood by the bed, she turned to face me, her eyes searching for any hint of hesitation. Finding none, she slowly undid the buttons of my shirt, her fingers working quickly and expertly to reveal the skin beneath the human clothes that had shifted with me from stone to human.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from her, watching as her hands moved with such tenderness and reverence over my chest, tracing every muscle and curve that had been concealed for so long. When she finally pushed the fabric off my shoulders and let it fall to the floor, I shivered at the sudden rush of cool air, replaced by the heat of her touch.

Electricity coursed through my veins as Amber's lips left a trail of hot kisses along my chest, igniting a fire within me. Her eyes glinted with desire and I pulled her close, our bodies fitting together as if we were made for each other. Each touch set my body ablaze, instinct taking over as we explored each other with wild abandon.

I grabbed her hands as they drifted lower to my jeans. "Stop, or this will be over before we've even started."

She laughed, but the sound faded at the intensity in my gaze. I tilted her chin up and claimed her lips in a deeply possessive kiss, letting my inner beast rise to the surface. The male inside claiming his mate. Instead of being put off or backing away, she arched into me, her lips opening under my kiss, her tongue tangling with mine. No hesitation whatsoever.

Amber humbled me with her trust, her passion, her openness to taking chances with her heart. I wanted to be worthy of her, to make this night even more special than I already had, to show her what she meant to me. And hopefully, she would accept the mate bond and end my curse.

I cupped the back of her head and angled her to deepen the kiss, my fingers tangling in her silky auburn hair, holding her in place while I took control of the moment. Our tongues mated, stoking the heat of our desire, her taste both sweet and uniquely Amber. My blood burned hot, racing in my veins, pushing me to claim her.

I trailed kisses along her jawline, then down her neck. She let her head fall back, moaning as I sucked along her pounding pulse point, licking the salty skin.

I growled as her shirt got in my way, and her hands came up to the collar. "Don't damage my clothes. I don't have many clean ones right now."

"I'll buy you new ones," I growled.

She stepped back and quickly stripped out of her clothes, her shirt going one way and her tailored black pants the other way. My mouth went dry as she stood before me, clad only in a simple white lace bra and panty set that somehow seemed sexy for all its simplicity. I drank in the sight of her, her beauty, the freckles that dotted her creamy skin like stars in the night sky, her full breasts, her gently rounded hips. I didn't know where to begin my exploration. The gods willing, I had years to learn everything about her.

She planted her hands on her hips and arched an eyebrow at me. "Excuse me. I'm feeling a little lonely here." I smiled and took a step forward, intended to show her how I felt, but she held up a hand. "Hang on, buddy. You're a little overdressed. Strip and do it slowly."

She perched on the edge of the bed, almost primly, like the librarian that she was, triggering a new fetish that I hadn't realized I had.

My shirt was already off so I kicked off my boots and stepped out of my jeans, putting them on top of the chair on the side. I slowly pivoted to see Amber's eyes wide, her mouth slightly opened. She was staring at my cock with a mix of trepidation and excitement.

She swallowed hard and reached for me, her hands barely circling my girth. She stroked my length, exploring me with tentative touches, then more confident strokes.

She looked up at me, her hazel eyes darkening to a green. She licked her lips and reached for me, pulling me down. "Love me. Make me forget everything."