Stone Guardian(88)
“And your mother?”
“My mother’s Clan was one of the smallest Clans. They were also a Clan that had a greedy and unjust leader. His avarice caused the downfall of the Clan and the loss of many lives. The survivors sought my father to ask for admittance into his Clan.”
Larissa went up on one elbow to look down at him. “What happened?”
“My father told me he took one look at her and knew he wanted no other female. But she was not deemed suitable.”
“Why not?”
“Her mother was human.”
Larissa’s eyes went saucer wide. “Your mother was half-human?”
“Gargoyles can mate with humans, as well you should know,” he added, leaning up to kiss her where neck met shoulder.
She giggled, squirming under his mouth. “Yes, but I didn’t realize that there could be children.”
“Perhaps there is more to our origin myth than merely a story to tell around the fire. Any child created in such a union is born a gargoyle. While not common, it is also not unheard of for a gargoyle to take a human mate.”
The last humor left her face, and she worried her lower lip between her teeth. “But are such union s frowned on?”
“No more than a gargoyle taking as mate a gargoyle from another Clan. Until they prove themselves loyal to the Clan, they are regarded with suspicion.”
“But you said that your mother was not accepted as worthy.”
He brushed her long hair back, the multiple hues of blonde caressing his fingers. “What is acceptable for an ordinary Clan member is not always acceptable for the Leader of all. Is it not the same for humans?”
Her gaze flicked downward, her generous mouth turning down. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
He lifted her chin so she would meet his gaze. “My father defied his Clan and married my mother.”
Her expression could not settle on one emotion and flickered between hope and trepidation. “Where there any consequences?”
“My father was too strong for anyone in the Clan to take his title, but he was never seen in the same light again. When my mother died, he lost himself, for she was his world. That led to more talk on how he had been weak to mate with her. He died not long after.”
Larissa stroked his face. “I’m so sorry.”
He accepted her gentle caring and pushed his face into her hand. “It was long ago. But while I planned to return to my Clan’s tradition and mate with the strongest female, I never once believed when they said loving my mother made my father weak. I saw him with her. I knew better than anyone – loving her only gave him strength. I always envied that he could mate with the female he loved while I could not.”
“Then why go back to the old ways?”
“After the Great Collision, the various Clans needed to band together if we were to survive in this new world. This was not an easy process. While the Clans had always been allies, this did not mean the various factions were friends. I felt in order to bring some stability to the Clans, I needed to make clear my intention of honoring the old ways.”
She stroked his cheek with the back of her fingers. “Like I said, a good leader.”
He rolled her over underneath him, kissing her. “Terak-”
“You are still sore, little human. This does not mean I cannot kiss it to make it better.”
She was sighing as he kissed down her body. “Tell me secrets of yours,” he said, before licking a nipple.
“Mmmm,” she groaned in appreciation. “Let’s see. I’m allergic to peanut butter.”
“I’m very sorry to hear it.”
“I’m double jointed in a lot of areas.”
“This explains much of what you did last night,” he said, spreading her legs and anchoring his shoulders between them.
“And I was… oh gods, Terak. Do that again.”
“I am yours to command.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Terak leaned her over the bed. The sheet was cool as it slid over her nipples but behind her, Terak was an inferno, his thighs behind her, his cock rubbing the valley between her thighs…
A knock sounded at the entrance of the teacher’s lounge and Taneasha Jackson stuck her head in. “Miss Miller?”
Maybe fantasizing about her sex life during the school day wasn’t the best idea ever, even if she was on a break. Larissa drew in a deep breath and hoped her voice was steady when she said, “Yes?”
Taneasha looked nervous, her eyes darting to the side before coming to meet hers again. “I was wondering if I could talk to you?”
The girl’s worried tone was enough to shake off any vestiges of embarrassment. Larissa motioned with her hand. “Of course, come in.”