Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

MORGAN

K laus bites down on my shoulder, and the first flash of pain has me gasping, all my senses going on high alert. What the hell was I thinking, begging an apex predator to sink his supernaturally large fangs inside me?

Just as panic threatens to take hold of me, the pleasure hits, a rush of joy so powerful, my vision tunnels for a moment. My nerves, already stimulated by the pain, now flare with the most intense climax. Klaus presses down hard on my clit and shoves me over the edge.

But it's more than that—more than a simple orgasm, no matter how powerful. It's Klaus I feel, his essence thrumming right beside me, his life force surging through me.

I cry out, squeezing my eyes shut against the pulsing sensations. It's almost more than I can bear, and I'm sobbing and laughing at the same time, all while my pussy clenches around emptiness, needing to be filled. Klaus snarls, his growls completely feral, and twitches around me, his big muscles caging me in.

It's the most confusing sexual experience of my life, and I want more . Not because I've never come so hard I nearly blacked out but because I've never been this close to another person—Klaus is peeling me open, drawing my blood into his mouth and at the same time, laying himself bare, showing me his innermost being.

Tears streak down my cheeks, and I'm barely aware of Emmerich, who has come to crouch beside us, petting first one, then the other. He hums, and it's his touch that grounds me, bringing me back to earth. He seems to be doing the same to Klaus because the older gargoyle lets out a long sigh, then slowly releases my shoulder, his grip on me gentling.

The sensations that were so intense just moments ago still simmer in my belly, the awareness of Klaus' essence remaining even after he gently licks my wound and draws his hand from my pussy, resting his palm on my belly.

Huh .

Is this how it will be from now on? I keep my eyes closed for a moment longer, testing the feeling, trying to work out where he ends and I begin, but maybe we've become so completely entwined, we can no longer be pulled apart.

The thought should terrify me. I've willingly bound myself to a mythical creature I only met yesterday, but the realization of just how deep the bond goes doesn't bother me at all—on the contrary, an intense flush of satisfaction flows through me.

He's mine .

"Morgan?"

Emmerich's voice breaks the silence, so I force myself to open my eyelids, blinking to clear away my tears. Emmerich is staring down at me, his handsome face creased in concern. He cups my cheek and rubs his thumb under my eye to wipe away my tears, pauses—then brings his thumb to his mouth to suck the moisture off his fingertip.

I raise my eyebrows at him, amused, and his wings droop a little as if he's embarrassed by his actions.

"I'm good," I croak, my voice all scratchy from crying. "Um, this was intense."

Klaus moves into my field of vision. He's so damn beautiful, I don't know where to look—his straight eyebrows, currently furrowed in a frown, his firm lips, pressed together, or his magnificent horns that I want to grip and tug him down for a kiss. Finally, I settle on his gray eyes and see worry reflected there.

So I reach up and palm the back of his neck, even though I'm still limp from the experience. "I'm okay, I promise. You made me feel so good, but humans get tired after an orgasm." I pause, focusing on the glow inside my belly. "Hey, can you feel me inside you now?"

He nods, still not speaking. He wraps his big hands around the edge of the tub and grips so hard, his fingers leave indents in the metal.

I purse my lips and send him an admonishing look. I've grown quite fond of this tub, and I don't want him to rip it apart because he's worried about me.

"Try to focus on that feeling inside you," I tell him. "Does it feel like I'm agitated? Or can you tell I'm just completely blissed-out after you made me come so hard?"

He closes his eyes for a moment, obeying me. The corner of his lips turns up, and when he looks at me again, there's an unmistakable smugness in his expression.

"You enjoyed it," he states.

"I did," I agree. "More than I thought. And you didn't hurt me."

Emmerich leans in close. "It didn't hurt? At all? I didn't know humans were so resilient."

I put my hand over his, stopping him. "It did hurt a little at the start." I speak quickly so Klaus doesn't get worried again. "But it was very brief and well worth the pleasure that came after."

They don't seem entirely convinced, but hopefully they will be by the time we do this next and I beg them for their bites. I want Emmerich's especially—now that I can feel Klaus like this, I want it with Emmerich, too. As soon as possible.

Glancing down at my hand, I wince at how pruney my fingertips are. "I'd better get out, I've been in here long enough."

Emmerich's eyes flare with alarm. He takes my palm and traces his fingers over it, prodding at the folds of skin that are so normal for me, but apparently not for him.

"What happened?" he demands. "Is the water hurting you? Klaus, she's disintegrating!"

I gently pull my hand from his grip. "I'm not. This is how human skin gets in the water. It helps us grip on to things underwater."

Emmerich plucks me from the tub regardless of my assurances and wraps me in a large, fluffy towel. Behind us, Klaus is washing in my bathwater, which could be weird but somehow isn't—and he does need it, since he apparently climaxed right after me, only he'd still been wearing his leather pants then. It must be super uncomfortable for him, but I feel a little smug, knowing I wasn't the only one affected by his biting.

I'm pretty sure my panties and bra are still upstairs, next to our nest. I snag my t-shirt from the floor and give it an experimental sniff, then grimace."Yikes. You guys don't own a washing machine, do you?"

Emmerich tilts his head to the side. "How do you think we wash the bedding? And our towels?"

I flush, embarrassed. "Well, you did a very good job convincing everyone this tower was abandoned. I was surprised to learn you had running water, let alone electricity."

"We are civilized," he tells me, his expression somber. "And I will wash your clothes if you let me."

"That's okay, just show me—" I start to say, then shut up at the sight of his frown.

Maybe I should just let him take care of me?

It doesn't come easily, giving up this much control over my life. It's not just about the clothes either—I literally cannot leave this tower without their help. If I tried, it would be a very long drop from the roof, and I'm not a fan of that idea.

For better or for worse, I chose them, which probably means I'll have to…adjust a little.

Before I can assure Emmerich that I'm more than happy to let him wash my stinky clothes, he tightens the towel around me and scoops me up, too quickly for me to even protest. I let out a yelp, unable to move my arms, but he just laughs and gathers me closer to his chest.

"I like carrying you," he confides as he climbs the stairs. "You're a perfect armful. And you smell so nice."

He carries me from the bathroom all the way to the top floor of their tower. My bare legs press up against his leathery side. The tips of my toes brush his left wing, and it twitches open, and I wonder if I gave up on my tickling test too soon—maybe it's his wings that are the most sensitive. I want to explore more of him, find out everything that makes him different from a human—and from the way he's staring at me, I think he feels the same. His grip on me is secure, and he rubs his thumb over the naked skin on my shoulder, the gesture so small it seems instinctual, but when I glance up at him, he gives me a broad, wicked smile.

This gargoyle knows exactly what he's doing .

The main room of their roost is toasty warm, though not stuffy. Emmerich must have added more wood to the fire because it's blazing. He sets me down gently in the nest of blankets and pillows in front of it.

"We must dry your hair." He fingers the damp strands with care. "Wait here."

He disappears back down the stairs, leaving me sitting in my nest with only a towel wrapped around me. Klaus, who must have finished washing downstairs, walks slowly to his armchair and sits, his gaze on me. We stare at each other, and I wonder how we'll proceed now that we have this full-fledged connection between us. He must have had a change of clothes downstairs because he's in a fresh pair of pants, dark denim this time, and he looks delicious , sprawled in the armchair, his wings fanning out on either side of him.He doesn't even blink, he's so focused on watching me, and I stare right back, studying his stunning form.

This is the moment when you wrap yourself in blankets, Morgan .

Even if we aren't going to do anything sexual right now, it's not exactly proper to be sitting in a man's living room, wearing nothing but a towel.

But I don't move. Because Klaus' gaze tracks from my eyes to my lips, then trails down to where I'm holding up the towel.His chest expands on a deep breath, and the vein in his neck throbs faster, testifying to the fact that he's affected, too.

Footsteps on the stairs announce Emmerich's return, and I snap my gaze over to him, embarrassed to be found staring like that. But the younger gargoyle only grins and sits behind me, his massive wings flopping on the floor on either side of us.

"You smell delectable, Liebchen ," he purrs. "I am glad you find Klaus so attractive."

The gargoyle in question drags his palm over his face in an exasperated gesture. "Emmerich, must you say everything that comes through your head?"

Emmerich shrugs, unrepentant. "Why shouldn't I say what is true?"

I hide my grin behind my palm, cheeks heating up. "Um, most humans aren't really used to saying things like that out loud."

Emmerich produces an intricately carved wooden comb and reaches for my hair. His touch is gentle as he teases it through my tangles. I try not to shiver at the touch of his warm fingers on my neck and shoulders. The rhythmic tug and slide of the comb has me closing my eyes in pleasure.

"I am not human," he says at long last. "But I will try to keep that in mind if you want me to."

My heart skips a beat at his words. He's so unique, so perfect, that I don't want him thinking he has to change himself in any way.

I turn in the nest, facing him, and take his wrist to stop him. "I don't mind," I say honestly. "It might take me some time to get used to it, but I like how straightforward you are."

Emmerich's dark eyes light up. "Does that mean I can tell you I want you to drop your towel so I can feed my cock into your pussy and show you how well I can take care of you?"

Behind me, Klaus lets out a choked sound.

My face flames, but I force myself not to look away. "You can tell me that," I reply, my voice higher than before. "That doesn't necessarily mean I'll do it."

Emmerich tilts his head to the side and draws in a big inhale through his nose. "But you want to, yes? I can smell it on you."

Okay, so maybe Klaus had a point, and having Emmerich declare what he can scent on me isn't the best idea .

I clear my throat. "I'm not saying no to your idea, and I do want it, but I think I need a little break. I'd like some breakfast and maybe a chat before we try that ."

Emmerich's eyes widen in horror. "Morgan! Why didn't you remind us that you need food?"

"It's okay, I'm not going to starve if I don't eat immediately…"

I try to reason with him, but he's already on his feet, pulling me along and marching into the kitchen, still buck naked.

"Klaus," he yells over his shoulder, "come on, we have to feed our human!"