Chapter 13 – Steven
STEVEN
My head aches as I lie in the warm lake near our campsite. I reach up and touch the space around my head wound, wincing. A human would’ve died from a wound like mine, but lucky for me, my gargoyle body is already healing. I only wish it’d heal faster.
It also doesn’t help that so much happened in such a short period of time. My mind is swirling with the implications of everything that’s occurred since rescuing the woman—who's a freaking mermaid— and something isn’t sitting right with me.
Okay, so there's a lot that doesn't seem right. Our mission is to hunt a dangerous monster. That should be our main focus. Instead, we now have a new problem… one I’m not even sure how to handle. We possibly have the powers of sea dragons? Of gods?
That’s… a complication we didn’t need.
And then, of course, there’s the mermaid.
Just thinking of Sirena has my dick hardening and my balls tightening. The way she sucked me off was unlike anything I’ve imagined. Yes, it’s been twenty years since a woman sucked my cock, but unless my memories are scrambled, it was never like that before.
Closing my eyes, I picture the moment. Sirena on her knees, staring up at me with innocent eyes. When her hot mouth closed around my shaft—Fuck. I'm hard again just thinking about it.
I need to push it out of my mind. Just having her on this mission will make things harder for us. I can’t be attracted to her, too. I can’t spend every free moment remembering how I’d gripped the back of her head and fucked her mouth like I owned her.
Torturing myself won’t help anyone.
“Steven?”
I open my eyes and inhale sharply. Sirena is in the water just a few feet from me. I never even heard her approach. I must be more out of it than I thought.
“Are you okay?” she asks, tilting her head.
It takes me a minute to find my voice. “Yeah, my head just aches a little.”
She comes closer and rises out of the water. My gaze instantly goes to her breasts, which are bare yet again. My cock jerks ever-so-slightly at the sight of them. This wasn’t what I needed. I’m trying not to think about her. Staring at her pale skin and pink nipples doesn’t help.
Rising up higher out of the water, she gently tilts my head down until she is literally pushing her breasts into my face.
I know that's not her intention, but DAMN. All I can do is stare. My mouth goes dry as I imagine myself sucking on her rosy peaks. She runs her fingers lightly around my injury, and it’s strangely nice to have such a soft touch.
I’ve been lonely. The thought hits me like a blow. I’ve never imagined I was lonely. I mean, how could I be with gargoyles around me all the time? But her gentle touch? It’s almost the touch of a lover. And that I have missed. Even if I didn’t realize it until now.
A very old memory drifts into my mind. Of the first lover I ever had. Just the memory of her makes everything inside of me tighten, old dread and heartache flaring back to life.
“I’m fine,” I tell her, and my voice comes out gruffer than I wanted.
She pulls back, her eyes wide, as if frightened.
I silently curse myself. This woman was a slave, hurt and abused. She deserves kindness, not the wrath of my old injuries.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s not you, it’s my headache.”
She wraps her arms around herself. “Are you sure?”
I try to smile. “Yeah, don’t mind me.”
She looks up at me, uncertainty in her face. “Are you upset about what happened on the island?”
My mouth goes dry. Upset she sucked my cock? Could that even be a thing? “Uh, no.”
“Because… I’ve never done that before. If I did it wrong… if you didn’t like it—“
My entire chest tightens. “Are you a virgin?”
“Virgin?” she repeats, and a darkness comes over her face. “No. I’ve had sex.”
I don’t want to pry, but every protective instinct in me flares to life.
There’s just something about her. Everything she says and does speaks to an innocence I don’t understand, but then a dark look comes over her and I know that she's seen her share of evil.
Whatever this woman has gone through, I doubt it was good.
“I’m sorry you had to do that,” I tell her, watching her every movement. “I know you did it to save us.”
Her arms ease from around her body. “That’s okay. I liked it.”
“You liked it?” I repeat, and my fucking cock gives another twitch.
She nods and slides closer to me, resting her hands on my thighs. “It was nice. You tasted… good. And I liked the way you touched me.”
Fuck. Fuck. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
I close my eyes, fighting the urge to do something reckless. I want to grab her, kiss her, and show her just how much I enjoyed what we did.
Her touch spreads warmth straight to my cock. It takes me a second to realize I’m panting. She moves closer, and one of her hands strokes my cock.
My eyes flash open. “Don’t do that.”
Her eyes widen.
“No,” I correct, before I scare her again. “I like it… too much.”
She relaxes again and continues to run her hand along the length of my cock, sending my nerves screaming in pleasure. “Then, let me touch you. You’ve had a long day.”
“I’d rather— talk,” I say, my heart racing. A groan slips from my lips. “What do you know about the sea dragons’ powers?”
She slides a little closer, and her hand closes around my cock, stroking slowly in the water. “There’s Nereus the shapeshifter.” She presses her lips gently against my neck. “And Okeeanos who controls the planets and the stars. And—“
“The planets and the stars,” I pant out. “Oh fuck,” I groan. I should stop her, I really should, but I don’t. “I’ve had this… feeling… like I can sense all the stars and planets.”
She kisses higher up my neck, and unable to help myself, I reach out and stroke the tips of her nipples. A gasp slips passed her lips. “That feels… good.”
“I’m glad,” she whispers. “I want to make you feel good.”
“Why?” I ask, aware of every inch of her body touching me.
“You saved me. You’re protecting me. And… you’re nice to me.”
Fucking hell. “You don’t need to do this to thank me.”
She draws back, those dark eyes of hers locked onto mine. “Sorry. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to act. I’ve been alone for so long.”
Reaching out, I cup her chin and tug her closer, brushing a gentle kiss against her lips.
It’s like she’s speaking the words deep within my soul.
Until our celibacy, there were women. Any gargoyle had who we wanted.
We fucked our choice of women, and I had my share, but it’s been centuries since I touched a woman I truly care about.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “I understand.”
“Are you lonely too?”
Her question is so innocent I can’t help but answer honestly. “Sometimes. I mean, I have family and friends. I have the guys, but that’s different.”
“There’s no special woman?”
I shake my head. “Not for a long time.”
She nibbles her bottom lip, her touch so incredible soft as she strokes me. “This woman you loved, who was she?”
I tense. I don’t want to think about that. Those times were filled with so much death, so much loneliness and confusion. Memories of my failures are all I have left. “It doesn’t matter,” I tell her.
After a time, she nods and leans closer.
Wrapping my arms around her, I lean back, shocked by how comfortable it feels to hold her. She fits so damned perfectly in my arms. This tiny woman relaxes against me like she trusts me, and I want to melt inside.
And that… it warms my gargoyle heart. It makes me feel possessive of her in ways I never imagined.
“Steven!”
I stiffen, turn, and spot Clark on the shore of the lake, his arms crossed angrily over his chest.
“We’re just talking,” I say, too fast.
He raises a brow. “Well, when you’re done talking, dinner’s ready.”
I feel strangely guilty as I move Sirena back from me.
She frowns. “Did you not like what I was doing?”
I’m shocked. “Of course I liked it! What man wouldn’t?”
For a second she studies me, looking uncertain, but then she finally speaks. “What do men like?”
“Like?” I clear my throat. “What do you mean?”
She opens her mouth and then closes it. “I don’t know. I just want all of you to like me.”
My heart squeezes, and I move closer to her, gently placing my hands on her arms. “You don’t have to… do any of that to get us to like you.”
“Then what should I do?”
Who the fuck hurt her so badly that she’s worried about this? “You’re beautiful, smart, and interesting. You don’t need to do anything to get us to like you. We already do.”
She frowns and says nothing.
What’s going on in her head? Why is she worried?
“Come on, let’s go eat.”
She nods, and we emerge from the water.
When she walks ahead of me, my gaze instantly goes to her ass. The blood in my dick pumps harder. How is that even possible? I can’t believe just a minute ago I had a beautiful woman stroking my cock, and now I’m supposed to go and eat dinner with her naked.
This is not going to work.
“Uh, you want to get dressed?”
She looks back at me and shrugs. “I guess.”
We both dry off, and she pulls on a grey shirt. I want to say it helps a lot. But it doesn’t. She’s still beautiful, wet, and not wearing pants. And I can barely zip my pants over my massive erection.
When we seat ourselves around the fire, Max dishes out stew for all of us. For a while we eat in silence, but then my thoughts start to swirl. She said one of the sea dragons could control the planets and stars. Could that be my power? Or am I imagining this strange connection?
After I get my second bowl, I clear my throat. “Did she tell you guys about the dragons' powers?”
They all nod.
Clark’s spoon hits his bowl. “So, I’ve got the shifter’s powers.”
“I think I have Okeanos’ powers, the blue dragon,” I say.
We turn to Arthur and Max expectantly.
Arthur shrugs. “I don’t feel any different.”
“Me neither,” Max says.
Clark and I exchange a look, but I’m the first to speak. “Could it be because you two were born? Your connection to the earth isn’t as deep.”
Arthur rolls his eyes. “Not this again.”
I put up my hands. “I’m not starting anything!”
“Weren’t you all born?” Sirena asks.
We all hesitate. She doesn't need to know gargoyle business.
“Some of us are born and some are made,” Arthur explains.
Clark glares. “That’s enough."
Arthur smirks in response. “Does it even matter?” Then he turns back to Sirena. “Basically, the made gargoyles think they’re bigger and better than we are.”
“That’s not what we’re saying,” I try to explain.
But, of course, Clark’s in a mood. “It’s a fact that we’re more in touch with the earth, so we’re just fucking wondering if that’s the reason why neither of you feel different, or if you didn’t get their powers after all.”
Arthur starts to eat again. “Who cares?”
Clark’s about to go off when Max interrupts. “I guess when we find the creature Sirena thinks can help us, we can find out either way. Until then, there’s no use fighting over it.”
“Yes, sir!” Clark salutes him.
Max shoots Clark a dirty look, and then looks back to Sirena. When there's no response, Max clears his throat.
“Tomorrow we’re sticking with the plan. We’re going to the Isle of the Demons to look for Keto. Anyone have a problem with that?” His gaze goes to Clark.
Clark ignores him.
Suddenly, Sirena stands up, her expression troubled.
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
Ignoring me, she turns and starts to run.
“What’s wrong?” Max calls after her, standing.
She doesn’t answer, nor does she look back as she takes off through the forest.
We all exchange a look, drop our bowls, and take off after her. Something here feels wrong. And we don’t have a clue what.
Away from the brightness of the fire the darkness closes in, but Sirena’s path is clear. She’s running for the ocean. I’m careful as I pick my way after her, watching for roots, branches, and whatever else is hidden beneath the shadows of the trees.
At last, we explode out of the underbrush and onto the white, sandy beach.
There, in the water, is a massive sea monster. We’re face to face with a hydra with two heads, and it’s towering over Sirena.
Oh fuck!
We race toward her, shifting into our battle mode. I pray we can reach her before it devours her. I don’t have my sword, but I don’t care. I’ll use my stone hands to rip it limb-by-limb!
The beast roars, a sound that shakes the air around us, and Sirena whirls around with wide eyes.
“Stop!” she shouts.
We freeze, exchanging a look and then glancing at the creature towering over her. Is she insane?
“Get away from that thing!” I command.
She shakes her head. “Stay back!”
I see Clark and Max starting to inch closer, and I know what they’re planning. They’re going to attack it before it can hurt her.
Nice try beast, but get ready to die.