Page 28 of Monster Daddies

I grab hold of his impressive chest and push up, up, up until my lips reach his. At first, it's nothing more than a soft, chaste kiss. But soon it builds into more, the fire raging inside me in a way that's impossible to ignore.

For me, at least.

It takes far too long for Viraat to react, and by the time he does my heart is beating so fast I'm terrified that he won't.

Two strong hands wrap around my waist as he gently lifts me from his lap and carefully places me down on the floor.

He gets up, steps away, taking my heart with him, but before I can call out in protest, he's back with a pillow that is quickly placed behind my head.

Jodrick moves to lie with me, his head resting on his hand as Viraat settles himself over me.

I'm surrounded by hard, warm, tantalising stone.

"You're infuriating," Viraat tells me. "You push, and push, and push, until I'm forced to snap. What would we do if we hurt you, Avalon?"

"You wouldn't," I tell him, my voice filled with confidence. "The only thing you could do to hurt me, is deny me."

His head moves down... closer to mine and it breaks my heart as he rests his forehead against mine. "You undo me, sweetheart. I don't know what to do with all these damnemotionsinside me."

I grab hold of his neck and pull his mouth down to mine, but before I can kiss him again I give him one bit of advice. "You don't do anything with them, Daddy. You just accept them. And me."

"Goddess be damned.”

I feel the exact moment Viraat lets go of his restraint—and claims me in a soul-searing kiss.

Chapter Twelve

Viraat

I shouldn't have kissed her again.

Well... not like that.

Now all I can do isfeelher—her soft body pressed against mine, the taste of her lips still clinging to my tongue, her scent lingering in the air around me like smoke I can't escape.

She's like an addiction.

One I have no intention of quitting. And I don’t like that. I don’t like thecontrolthis tiny creature has over me—or the emotions roaring through me like a storm I don’t know how to weather.

Emotions I don’t evenunderstand.

We’re not made for this.

Gargoyles are creatures of stone and stillness, of duty and tradition. When we mate, it's always with our kind. There are no questions, no risks. Just the steady certainty of fate.

And yet... here I am.

Half in love with a flighty, frivolous, fanciful, fragile human girl.

I've been pacing the rooftop for an hour now, trying to scrape her scent off my skin with the cold wind and self-recrimination.But it's no use. She's inside me now, under my skin and wrapped around every thought like ivy choking stone.

"Brooding is a good look on you, Daddy Vee."

Her voice—light, teasing and too damn sweet—floats from the other end of the roof top, and I damn near stumble over my feet.

Of course she followed me up after I ran away like a pup.

I don't turn around. Maybe if I don't acknowledge her, she'll flutter off like the sunbeam she is, and I can go back to wallowing in my shadows.