Page 6 of Enchanted by the Gargoyle (The Crescent Coven #1)

Tamsin

M y hands are glowing again, and I hate that I have to break this up, because the look of pure ecstasy on his face was one that I absolutely need him to repeat again. It was as if my body was his entire focus, and holy fuck did he deliver on what I asked for.

But now my whole shop is shaking, and the entire store is bathed in yellow magic. I’m viscerally aware of the throbbing coming from deep inside my body, specifically, that my pussy is yearning to see this gargoyle’s cock, and she’s pissed that that will not be happening right now in this moment.

Ezren, ever the gentleman, takes a firm grasp of my waist and slides his thigh out from under me. The loss of pressure feels wrong, and I wish we could stay where we were. But, he lightly sets me on my feet as if I weigh nothing.

“What happened? Did I do something wrong?” His fingers are tracing the fine rose gold chain that he somehow hung onto all this time, worrying the thin strand between one giant hand to the next. I grasp his face, stilling him.

“No. It felt good, really good. But, something happens when you and I are together.” Just then, my phone rings, piercing our connection. “Awe, damn. I know who that’ll be.”

Ezren sits down on the steps leading up to my apartment above the shop with a dull thump.

He’s still staring at the necklace, his brow furrowed in confusion.

My heart aches for him. Barely leaving his property after years and years spent in solitude, just to cause a mini-earthquake the moment he touches me.

I feel like I’m a walking disaster at this point.

“Hello?”

Beryl has popped up out of nowhere and climbs into Ezren’s big paws, seeking ear scritches no doubt.

She is so incredibly tiny compared to him, but he is taking care to arrange her small body in one hand so he can smooth down her fluffy fur with the other.

Right away, her purring motor starts up, eyes closing.

“Tamsin, did you feel that? Something is up with these ley lines. There must be more malfunctions somewhere that we can’t see. How did it go up at Wyrdwood Cabins?” Merna sounds worried, a tone that used to never creep into her voice, but has been present in more conversations than not lately.

Giving a quick glance at Ezren, who is fully engrossed in playing with Beryl, I turn away from him.

“Well…ah shit. Merna, no easy way to say this, when I went out to check on that node, I was able to restore it, but then my knees gave out as soon as I disconnected. It was the damndest thing. And then…,” I lower my voice so Ezren can’t hear me.

“Well…did you know the owner of Wyrdwood is a gargoyle? And that he’s been bound to the property for who knows how long by the original Coven? ”

Merna coughs a little. “Yes, I knew. Well…he’s in our records as one who helped us set it up, but no one sees him much. Makes sense now. Wait, you collapsed? Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I was embarrassed. And then, well, I ran into Ezren later and he told me his story so I did my thing, you know. I was able to disconnect him temporarily from the binding, but then I collapsed again. Every time I touch him, my magic goes kinda haywire, it’s very strange.”

“What do you mean by ‘every time you touch him’? Are you getting in on with Ezren the Gargoyle?” The mirth is evident in her voice, and I can just imagine her face as she cracks a smile.

“Merna, the man is hot! And I’m in the worst dry spell of my life, pun not intended. And…he’s sweet and super kind. I…like him. There’s something about him.” I’ve admitted too much already, but it’s Merna, she’ll be supportive.

“Totally get it, I’ve had naughty thoughts about him when I drive by sometimes. Not gonna lie!”

“Merna!”

“What, you’ve hooked up, and you’re the only one who can think a gargoyle is hot now?”

“No, and we didn’t ‘hook up’ yet. You’ve been hanging around Sybil too much. We were…fooling around, I guess, and got carried away and then, well. Mini quake.”

“YOU TWO CAUSED THE QUAKE?!” I hold the phone away from my ear as Merna shouts. Ezren peeks over at me, eyebrows raised. I shake my head at him.

“Damn, you don’t have to shout at me. Be happy I told you at all. And yes, pretty sure, unless it’s an ill-timed coincidence from the malfunctioning ley lines or something, or maybe they’re mad Ezren left? Or…I don’t know. You’re the expert here,” I sigh, already exhausted by this conversation.

“You both need to go back to the node on his property and check it again. See how you feel then, and just take it slow. Take some protection with you as well, just in case.”

“I don’t think Ezren can get me pregnant, Merna. He’s made of granite.” I wait for my joke to land, clapping at hand over my mouth to stop laughing.

I hear her exasperated sigh on the other end. She’s fully sick of my shit, but it only makes me laugh harder. “Goddess help me. That isn’t funny. And that isn’t what I meant. I mean one of your protection necklaces.”

I can’t hold back any longer and start cracking up.

“Okay, love you, Tamsin, but also bye. Call me when it's done!” She hangs up with a clatter.

I turn to Ezren, and my mirth slides off my face as I see that Beryl is cradled in one of his hands, all her feet in the air, entirely asleep as he strokes her tummy, cooing.

He really is a gentle giant . A gentle giant who launched himself at me like someone who was starving.

For several minutes, I was fully hoping he was going to tear my clothes off. My body shivers.

“Ezren, we have to go back to the node at Wyrdwood,” I whisper, hoping to soften the blow. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to look around town, but I know we will get another.”

He stands up stiffly, transferring a sleeping Beryl into my arms. “I would like that. I’ll do anything you need. I want to be there anyway, I don’t want you to get sick again.”

“Well, you can start by putting that necklace on me, it will help to ward off anything negative. I have protection spells embedded into many pieces of my jewelry that I make.” Turning around, I pull my hair over my shoulder, exposing the nape of my neck to him.

He steps close to me, so close that I can feel his solid chest. His hand loops over my head as he clasps the necklace securely around my neck, and gives me a light kiss there, sending shivers down my spine. I wish we could stay here together, but duty calls.

◆◆◆

The behemoth of the boulder juts out from the earth, almost mocking me with its strength and sheer size. Ezren stands near me, arms crossed and staring down the boulder as though it were sentient and had done something to me personally. It's endearing.

“Alright, might as well get this over with,” I sigh, rubbing my hands together and taking a few steps closer.

“Wait!” Ezren flings out an arm to stop me. “What do I do if something happens to you? Should I call someone? I don’t want to leave you here, so should I carry you, or is that bad?”

I smile at him and rub his arm in soothing circles.

I remember his words from yesterday, to be honest and direct.

“If something happens, carry me to the office and call the bookstore in town and ask for Merna, and if she’s not there, then Kate.

They’re listed in the phone book. It will be okay to carry me, but I’ll also be fine to stay here while you make the call, it’s up to you, okay? ”

He nods, a look of pure abject worry still lining his face. I turn back toward the boulder when I feel Ezren’s hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll just hang onto you, just in case, okay?” His voice small.

I squeeze his hand. “It’s gonna be fine,” I hear myself say, more for me than for him. I have to admit I am a little nervous to be back here. The ground has this zingy energy to it, like it's been waiting. For what, who knows, but I’m about to find out.