Chapter 17 - Chapter Seventeen

Back in their apartment, Peony sleeping safely in her room, Elric remained in shock about how quickly Ann had forgiven him. He knew she was the kind type, one who was nice to others and gave them lots of chances, but he also had an idea of how badly he had hurt her. As she set down her things and walked into her bedroom to change, he followed her quietly.

She turned on the shower and waited for the water to get hot, he sat on the bed watching her. He wanted to sink into the moment, watching her change, feeling the steam fill the room, but he couldn't. Not until he figured things out. Knew they were really good for sure. He didn't want her to bottle it all up and explode on him later.

"Ann," he said and she looked over at him, mahogany hair already dampening from the steam. Her pale, curvy body wrapped in only a towel. Breathtakingly beautiful to him.

"Yes?"

"Why did you forgive me so fast?" he asked.

"I guess because as angry as I was that you left, I was that much happier to see you again. Plus, I had a talk with Michelle that helped. She sort of made me see your side of things. Or at least gave me hope that you'd be back. That the Oracle wouldn't accept your request to go back to sleep."

"She is certainly smarter than I am; that I know," he said.

She twisted her hair over her shoulder, gathering it all together, "Is it weird? Having your collar off?"

He shrugged, "Not as weird as I thought. I was worried about what was within me. Now I know I could never hurt you after all. Even my beast only thinks of protecting you."

"You seem very capable of doing a good job of it," she told him leaning on the counter, exposing more of her glorious curvy leg.

"I try."

"So, about your 'beast,' as you call it… Black diamond clouds?" she asked.

He nodded, "I have been called Black Diamond because of those gems I produce as they are so very hard."

"It's so beautiful. So is your gargoyle form. How did you get so lucky? Compared to the poison guy, I mean."

"Aloys was not always a bad guy," Elric explained. "It all has to do with a woman. One I did not want, but that is a long story and as he chose the side of evil, it is neither here nor there."

She nodded, "And who cares who else is out there? You're here with me."

He stood, pulling off his shirt, "Do you really forgive me?"

She nodded, swallowing hard as she looked down his chest which was still glistening with sweat from the fight.

He unzipped his pants, "Still want to see me grovel?"

She nodded, "Oh, definitely. It's payback time."

He dropped his pants and underwear, snatching her towel off her body, leaving them both bare naked. "Come here you," he said sweeping her up in his arms and stepping into the shower, which was pretty big, even for her small apartment.

"I shall buy you the biggest tub and shower in the world," he promised.

She giggled, "Stop reading my thoughts."

"I cannot. Not when we are together like this. I did want to make sure we were okay first. I know I hurt you."

He set her legs around his waist and she twisted her hands in his hair as she stared into his eyes. "Yes, you did. It wasn't fair of you to do that. Come into my life, make me fall for you, and then whip out of it again." She looked at the ring on her finger, "But I think one thing that helped was when that gargoyle attacked and I realized you'd still left a part of you with me. At first, I thought you were just being a coward and leaving, but when I saw what you'd done to protect me, I realized you really were just putting me before yourself. Otherwise, you'd never have left behind something so precious, because it wouldn't have mattered."

"It makes you immune to other gargoyle powers. That is why I had to be careful to ward off his poison in the air. I had given you my protection. He touched the ring, "We pass it down through families. It is very precious." He looked her over, then deep into her eyes, "As are you."

He loved the feeling of her soft thighs wrapped around his hard waist. He couldn't wait to be closer to her. Inside her. She leaned her face against his chest, "I want you. I'm fine with no groveling. I just want you."

He set her on her feet and knelt in front of her. "Oh no, there will be groveling. Groveling for the rest of my life." He looked up at her with a wicked gleam in his eyes, "Plus, I have already got a few surprises planned for you, as soon as I get to my treasure."

"Hmm, what could that be?" she asked coyly before gasping as his mouth moved over her curls.

His tongue searched down, finding her center, tasting her delicious essence. She arched and shoved her hands into his hair again. He thrust into her, licking and sucking as her knees quivered and threatened to buckle. His arms came up, supporting her. He would never let her fall. She was his to protect now. His to pleasure. The greatest, brightest jewel he ever found. As she came, gasping his name and twisting her hands harder into his hair, he stood crushing their hot, slick bodies together so he could no longer tell where he ended and she began. The feeling of unity, pleasure, safety. That was what he wanted to seek all his life.

With his ring on her finger, she would be safe. He knew very little about how to be mated to a human, but he knew whatever it meant, he would accept it. He had known in some part of him that she was his from the first moment he had seen her. He wrapped his hands over her hips and kissed her deeply, entwining their lips, savoring the perfect fit of her curves against his hardness. He could have kissed her forever, enjoying the way her moans became more frenzied, how she kept sinking as if her knees were giving way under her.

He picked her up again and put her against the shower wall, loving her wet, perky breasts thrusting out toward him. Her soft waist, her hips in his hands. He found her entrance and guided himself in slowly, feeling her writhe, her legs wrapping around him, urging him deeper. When they were fully together, he let out a sigh of relief. Sheathed deep inside her, he felt whole, complete. Her nails scratched his shoulders as she adjusted, and he bent his head to kiss and nibble her neck.

His body pinned her against the shower, holding her up, freeing one of his hands to rove over her breasts, tweaking a nipple as his lips caught her cry of pleasure with another deep, satisfying kiss. His hands returned to her hips and he began to move. Out, then in and against her, savoring every gasp, every sign of building tension. The tight grip she had on him, the way every bit of him seemed molded to her. The little gasps of air, the slight pain of her fingertips as they dug into his skin. The way pleasure rose in him, winding tighter and tighter like a cord twisting around and around. He held his breath, trying not to move for a moment so he could look at her, her brown eyes rapt with pleasure, her soft body accepting his.

He would give her everything. Forever. He would never let her down. He would be more than just a gargoyle, he would be the man she needed. Someone who would never leave her side.

He began moving again, and her legs squeezed around him, urging him faster. She began to thrust with him, holding onto his shoulders, and he took her lips again, enjoying the thrust of their tongues as it mirrored their bodies. Hot, wet, sensitive. Building to an unbelievable climax. There was nothing between them now. Nothing holding them back. No collar around his neck and no doubts in her heart. When she came, rippling against him as she whispered his name, he felt himself go rigid in shock at how good it felt to go with her. Their bodies were as close as possible and he kissed her all over. Her neck, her shoulders, in a frenzy to show her how much he loved her as his pleasure washed over him.

When she finally leaned back, sated and exhausted, he could feel his own body trembling from the strength of their combined pleasure. He came out of her, picked her up in his arms, and carried her back to the bed, laying her on a soft towel there so he could look at her. She breathed hard, her cheeks pink with blissful afterglow, her body soft and pearlescent in the light. She pulled the towel around her as she sat up, looking him over. He let her look for a moment then grabbed a towel for himself, wrapping it around his waist and ignoring her look of disappointment.

"I have no more energy to ravish you," he said, pulling her down on the bed with him and cuddling against her. "Too much fighting and worrying."

She turned toward him, "You were worried?"

"Of course," he said.

"Did you know what was happening?"

He sighed, "I did."

Her eyes widened slightly, "Would you have come back either way?"

"Of course. I left my heart here. I could never have lived without it."

"Me?" she asked.

He nodded, "The gargoyle coming after you simply gave me no time to think about how I would apologize and make things up to you. I was terrified you would hate me, but that was nothing compared to the fear of something happening to you."

She nodded and rested against him, "Then, I forgive you. I really do."

"Can I read your mind and see?" he teased.

"No!" She swatted at him, "No mind reading. Not unless I say so or it's an accident."

"Fine," he said. "It will make birthdays and any other gift-giving holidays difficult, though."

"Look at you," she said, stroking his face. "Sounding so human."

"I will be human for you, my love," he said realizing how he sounded, but he was so happy they were finally together. She was quiet as she snuggled contently on his chest and his put an arm around her, keeping her safe. "What are you thinking?" he asked, noticing she was twisting his ring on her finger thoughtfully.

"I'm thinking about what happens from here. What it means now that you're a gargoyle and I'm a human and a whole bunch of things are going to happen in the world."

"It is like you said," he told her. "It is simple. We love each other, and the rest will work out. I shall always protect you."

She nodded, "And I'll always protect you."

"I am an ancient gargoyle," he scoffed. "I do not need protection."

"You may be a gargoyle, but your heart is squishy as any human's. I'll make sure it never hurts."

He sat there, frozen in shock. He didn't think he needed to be protected, but it was sweet and unexpected. He smiled warmly, "You, my dear, are a true treasure."

She sat up on one arm, "Speaking of that, when do you want to go get it?"

"Right," he said. "I forgot about that. I suppose, next to you, gems no longer seem so bright to me."

She blushed, "Flatterer."

"No. But yes, I shall be able to give you anything. Where do you want to live? A penthouse? A mansion? A castle?"

"No," she said shaking her head from side to side.

"An island?" he teased. "Do you wish for me to buy you an island? Such a demanding mate."

"No," she laughed. "I don't care where we live as long as it's together."

"A cave, then?" he asked hopefully.

She glared at him, totally unamused.

"Okay, no cave." He cocked his head thoughtfully, "I believe I have an idea. I shall have to surprise you, though." She frowned and he curled her against him. "Trust me?"

"Sneaky gargoyle," she muttered wrapping her arms around him.

He traced a hand over her back, enjoying the smooth skin beneath his fingertips. She slowly fell asleep making little snores and he smiled to himself. Sneaky gargoyle, ancient gargoyle, awakened gargoyle? None of them compared to being hers.