Epilogue One The mating flight

W e had to wait so long to get to this point. I wouldn't risk Angela or the baby so we had to wait until our little daughter, Beatrice was born before we could take the flight.

And I had to convince my mate that it was safe. A grin curls my lips. I have to admit that the convincing part was definitely my favorite thing.

At least until tonight. Tonight we have a babysitter and it's time to fly free and come together as only gargoyles, creatures of dark and flight can.

My mate steps out onto the concrete roof, her bare feet tentative. "Are you sure that you want to do this? I mean, it's actually too late don't you think? We already have a child."

"The mating flight doesn't have to take place immediately, my love." I hold out my large hand to her and she eyes me, her white teeth nibbling on her bottom lip. "Don't you trust me, my love?"

Her eyes narrow. "You know that I do. It's not fair to say that to me, Granite Zephyr."

"I think that that's exactly the point, Angela Zephyr." That's right. I married her within two months after meeting her. I knew right away, she was meant to be mine and I wasn't going to wait any longer than necessary to add my name to hers. And I wanted to claim our baby as well.

We are a family. Now and forever.

But right now? Now is just for us.

"Come with me, mate. Fly with me and be my love." Her face softens and the fear drains out of her gorgeous gaze.

"I love you, Granite. Fly with me."

She's wearing a pale peach chiffon skirt that billows around her, slits going up both sides to give her plenty of room to maneuver. A chiffon peach blouse that tears away covers her beautiful body and my mouth waters when I catch a glimpse of her rounded curves, even more lovely since our daughter's birth, through the sheer fabric that almost matches her pale skin.

I take her hand and lift her into my arms, my traditional loin cloth that covers me just enough for my wife's modesty's sake.

She smiles and her hand comes up to cup my cheek gently. I lean into her palm and kiss it gently, sighing when her full lips lift. Then I leap into the air. Her eyes widen but she stays calm and lies still until we reach an area where no people are, where it's safe. I lean in and kiss her desperately, one hand trailing down her body, finding her smooth slit under the veil of sheer fabric. I hiss and pull back.

"You're so wet, baby. Fuck, I love you. You are my whole world, my love."

"I love you too, Granite." Her hands wrap around my chest and she holds tight as I let her legs fall to wrap around my waist. One hand comes down to line my aching cock up with her weeping core and the other plays with her tight little nipple that beads even more under my hand. Then I come up and cup the back of her head, twisting my fingers into her long tresses and holding her steady, kissing her slowly, my tongue gently swiping her lips and tangling with hers in an erotic duel that has both of us breathless.

I slip inside her wet channel and feel her silken walls closing around me. Deeper and deeper I slip, her curvy body effortlessly matching my rhythm even as my leathery wings carry us gently on the wind's currents.

The cool air of the night glides along our skin and I break free of her lips and whisper in her ear. "Forever, my love."

"Forever," she sighs.

Twisting, gliding and caressing, we make love, our bodies straining together, perfectly in tune with each other.

Her breath speeds up and I reach my free hand down and gently tap her clit and then run my thumb across it, tweaking it lightly.

Her legs tighten around my middle and she wails, "Granite!" I feel the little pulsing flutters in her core and the wet slick that drips down my shaft and my teeth grind together as I drive into her harder and faster, sweat on my brow.

"Mate," I growl and my teeth sink into the spot where I marked her that first night. She screams and her pussy tightens around me again, her walls drawing me tighter and deeper until I growl and my release erupts into her body.

I can barely see, but I can feel. I can feel the cool air of the night, feel the warm slick of her cunt around my throbbing cock and feel the way the whole universe goes still when we come together, the stars colliding behind my eyes.

I don't leave her body the whole flight home and it's the most honest, loving feeling I've ever had in my life. I couldn't feel more in tune with my mate.

I glide into the concrete of the roof of the castle, my claws sinking into the hard stone and stopping us until I can walk.

And then I hold her in my arms, coming to my knees and wrapping my arms around her tightly.

"Thank you for trusting me."

"How could I not? You're mine and I'm yours. And nobody will ever break us apart." She pulls back, a slight smile on her lips. "But I'll tell you a secret…." I lean closer. "I can't wait to do that again."

I throw back my head with a laugh that echoes through the night. "Neither can I, my love. Neither can I."

I thought the curse would keep me from finding the love of my life but just one look was all it took. Our future stretches in front of us, one look, one flight, one night at a time. For all eternity.