Chapter 17 Zaxon
So now I’m the damsel in distress?
On our walk back to my place I make sure to slow my speed so we can enjoy the stroll, keeping off the sand of course.
Bea doesn’t seem to mind the slower pace and walks at my side.
Her arms sway loosely through the fabric of her silver dress, brushing back and forth so hypnotically I have to reach out and grab one.
Lacing her fingers through mine she doesn’t argue or glower at me. Instead, she smiles up at me briefly before returning her gaze to the moon rising over the edge of the ocean.
“So now that you’re going to be working here, what is it going to take to convince you to move in with me?”
Bea chokes out a laugh and gives me an incredulous look but is still smiling.
It may be moving fast to her but to me there’s no question.
From the moment I saw her pert little ass in the air, I knew there was something special about her.
And after smacking her perfect ass and getting an earful of threats I knew she’d be mine.
Life isn’t interesting without a little spice in it, right? Bea is my spice. Salty, sweet, and hot.
“Let’s not jump the gun. I still have my own apartment and lease. Why don’t we see where this goes for a while before considering moving in together?”
“But commuting would be so easy. And it would save on gas. Not to mention cutting your bills in half.”
Bea sways her arms pulling mine along for the ride as we continue walking the mostly empty path.
There are no sunbathers on the beach, or families in the pools.
All the children are tucked in for the night while the adults linger in the bars and restaurants, giving us run of the place.
I stretch my wings out since there’s no need to hold them in so tight, brushing one around Bea protectively.
“That may be, but I may hate the way you brush your teeth, or how you talk in your sleep,” she weekly argues.
“I talk in my sleep?”
“I don’t know, you might. That’s something I should know before deciding to give up my own space and live with you. And since it’s your apartment if something were to go wrong between us, I would be the one having to find a new place.”
I can understand her concern, but I know she’d love living with me. Because I would do whatever she needed to make her comfortable, to let her know it was her home too.
And I most definitely do not talk in my sleep.
“Okay so what? A week? A month? How long we talkin’ here?”
She laughs again and I revel in the sound each and every time she makes it.
“How about I just let you know?”
“You’re killing me here, Starfish.”
“Well, you’re going to have to learn patience, Boulder.”
I find her little nick name for me hilarious. She doesn’t use as a term of endearment like I do, but as a tease and taunt.
“I can have the patience of saint, except when it comes to you. If you haven’t noticed I’ve become dependent on your kisses. If you leave me too long without, I may die.”
“Just go into your stone sleep and I’ll wake you with a kiss like sleeping beauty.”
“So now I’m the damsel in distress?” A wicked grin cracks my playful facade. “I think I like that. Are you going to save me Bea?”
I stop and force her to face me, capturing her in the security of my wings. Both my hands wrap around her waist and hers naturally find their proper place around my neck. Bea stretches her neck up to bring her closer to me.
“I don’t know what I could possibly save you from,” she says.
“Loneliness. Blue balls. Spending every night eating dinner with Torgan.”
The moonlight reflects off her glasses as she tilts her head back in laughter.
“I don’t know. Torgan’s a pretty cool orc.”
“Yeah, but he’s a shit kisser. Too much tusk.” I joke.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never kissed an orc.”
“And you never will.” A possessive fire burns in my veins thinking of her kissing anyone but me. She’s mine now.
To punctuate my point I lean down and devour her mouth with my own.
She tastes like mint and sugar from her mojito at dinner.
I growl in pleasure as she slips her tongue into my mouth before I can do the same to her.
But the kiss is over far quicker than I would like.
Probably for the best, we are out in public right now.
“How about you come stay at my place on your next day off?”
It’s not the yes, I was hoping for, but I’ll never turn down an invitation to sleep in the same bed as Bea.
“Is your bed big enough for me?”
“I guess we’ll find out. I can always sleep on top of you if not.”
“You can do that anyways.”
Bea’s smile softens and she steps out of the circle of my wings and arms, but I don’t let her go. My hand seeking hers out once again as we resume walking at our slow pace.
“What about your family?” she asks tentatively.
“What about them?”
“Do you have any siblings? Where do your parents live? Would they approve of you dating a human?”
Ah I see where she’s going with this.
“I don’t have any siblings, and my parents live in New York.
They come down to visit periodically but don’t much care for the year-round heat like I do.
” I look down at her without turning my head to watch her reaction.
“And they wouldn’t definitely approve of me dating a human.
Especially one as beautiful and smart as you. ”
She doesn’t show any visible signs of reaction, but her hand squeezes mine a little tighter.
“What about your family? Would all your brothers approve of you dating a gargoyle?”
She barks out an incredulous laugh and fiddles with the ends of her loose flowing chestnut hair.
“They would approve of me dating period. I think they’ll approve of you most though. You’re the first guy to get me to be so…at ease. To let go of my rigid rules. Hell, you got me to go to a nude beach. They’ll never believe that.”
“Does that mean I’ll get to meet them soon?”
“Soon enough.”
That’s not a no.
We’ve circled almost all the way back to my building now and although I want to get her up to my bed and naked, I’m also enjoying talking with her. So, I direct her to a large wooden bench in front of my building looking out at the cove.
The water is calm, and the jet skis are tied to a floating dock for the night. Lounge chairs are lined up perfectly for the morning with umbrellas folded shut. It’s quiet and peaceful, the sounds of the waves in the distance creating a perfect soundtrack to the evening.
“Did you live in New York too?” Bea asks as soon as we’re settled on the bench, tucked comfortably under my arm. I shift my wings to the side of the bench a little to be more comfortable.
“Yeah, for most of my life. Moved down here about ten years ago.”
“Why?”
“I like the sun, the ocean, the peacefulness of it. Plus, it’s much easier to see the stars down here than in the city.
When I decided to leave New York, my parents were both supportive of me.
I wanted to get away from the cold and snow and concrete jungle that is the city.
Sand and sun are more my speed. What about you? ”
I look down at Bea and play with the strands of her hair that lie over her shoulder. Then run my clawed finger along the curve of her skin reveling in the way it pebbled with goosebumps everywhere I touch.
“Born and raised Floridian. Wouldn’t know it by the way I hate sand so much, would ya?”
I laugh and relax back into the bench, Bea’s hand settling on my thigh. Not sexually or flirtatiously, just naturally, as if it is always meant to be there. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
We sit on the bench talking for who knows how long.
Only when Bea yawns do I scoop her up in my arms, flying us up the length of the building to my roof top patio.
Bea muffles her scream in my chest, and I bite back my laughter.
She’ll get used to flying with me eventually, because I plan on flying her anywhere she’ll let me take her.
She scolds me, of course, when we reach the roof, slapping me on my chest while smile scowling at me. She falls asleep on top of me when we go to bed, her body warm and soft against mine.
~
“Do you really have to go?” I pout like a puppy dog at Bea as she zips up her suitcase and rolls it to the door.
She’s finished her inspection, and even though she’s been staying in my room for the past couple nights, her stay at the resort is over. She has to report back to work and her next assignment. Not to mention tender her resignation so she can come to work at the resort in two weeks.
The next two weeks are going to suck. My bed is going to feel cold and empty without her, my days long and boring. I’ll have no one to tease and kiss. My tail drags despondent behind me not having her luscious skin to hold on to.
“Yes, I really have to go. Don’t pout,” she says resting a hand on one cocked hip. “It’s not like I’m going far. My apartment is less than an hour away.”
I allow my wings to droop dramatically. “That’s too far.”
“Aw poor baby,” Bea taunts. “Big tough gargoyle can’t handle a few nights without me?”
“Nope, not a one. I might actually turn to stone permanently. When you come back the resort will have one new gargoyle statue.”
Bea scowls at me, her pink lips pinching humorously. “Well, that’s a shame. I guess I’ll just have to find another gargoyle who knows how to use his tail to the extent of his ability then.”
“You most certainly will not.” My chest expands and my wings spread aggressively, posturing for the imaginary male who dares lure my Bea away from me.
“Then you’ll just have to make sure not to turn to stone while I’m gone.”
I grumble an unintelligible response, once again pouting, as Bea pats a hand on my bare chest. I want to use that contact and drag her back to bed and persuade her to stay, but I know I shouldn’t.
She had a life before she arrived at the resort, and I should be respectful of it.
Even if I know she has more fun while with me.
One day at a time I’ll wear her down until she sees that moving in with me is the best choice. I have a large bed, a roof top terrace apartment in a building on the beach, multiple five-star restaurants within a five-minute walk, all while within an award-winning resort. What could be better?
“Then maybe I should come visit you after work today,” I suggest hopefully.
“I think you can survive a night without me. You did just fine before I showed up.”
“Debatable.”
“You’ll be fine. I promise.”
Bea pats me on the cheek and strokes a finger through the hair curling around my ear, then tugs on it. Just to show her what she’ll be missing, I pull her into a tight embrace and lock my mouth to hers, devouring her in a kiss that has my tail curling.
My tongue reaches out for hers and finds it willing and wet and tasting of sea salt. I try to escalate the kiss to once again try to persuade her to stay but she doesn’t allow it.
When she pulls away her lips are pink and swollen from our kiss and her eyes hooded behind steamed up glasses. She looks beautiful like this.
“Nice try Boulder, but I’m still leaving. Walk me to my car?”
I growl so low in my chest it sounds almost like a purr as Bea rubs at my chest and presses her hips softly against mine. It’s not helping the situation going on down south, but I don’t press any further.
I walk Bea to her car and reluctantly say goodbye, already counting the minutes until I’ll see her again.