When A Gargoyle Flies (Gargoyles Book 3) (20 page)

Chapter Forty-Three

Annis on awaking, showered, dried her hair, brushed her hair repeatedly – for she found it exceedingly enjoyable – and donned one of her new dresses.  Her wardrobe was becoming increasingly large, and she took great pride in it.  She had even arranged all her garments by color to ensure ease when selecting which one she wanted to wear.

Tonight, she opted for a pink skirt and halter neck top.  Not that she planned on wearing them for long.  Chris much preferred her naked, and she certainly wouldn’t deny him. 

Life at the mansion had settled somewhat after Lief’s disappearance, although Luc and Kylie appeared to be tenser than ever.  Annis did not know what she could do to help.  She knew they were happy together, but the whole situation was not easy for them.

Chris, like Brenda, was staying in his house.  He said it would appear odd if he moved into the mansion.  It made her sad, but it could not be helped.  In the daytime, while she slept, he would need to be at work anyway, and they spent their nights together, either at the mansion or his house.  She could not decide which bed she preferred – his or her's.  Some more investigation was surely needed.  Although apparently, they could also copulate perfectly well in the shower, too - that was an eye opening experience.  It was a tight fit because of her wings, but she certainly would not complain about being squashed against Chris.

Castor was starting to settle more into the clan.  She could not rule out that he may wish to challenge for leadership one day, but she was content that he would not do it anytime soon.

Annis virtually skipped through the house.  She wondered if she would take her clothes off, or if Chris would rip them off her.  Either way.

She came across Ingrede bouncing baby Wolfe on her hip.  The female was smiling, and her cheeks glowed with the first flush of pregnancy.  Ingrede waved her over.

“Annis, watch Wolfe for me.”  The demand included Wolfe hurling his toy penguin at Annis’ head.

Annis was about to droop and take Wolfe from her when she felt a tingle of courage.  She straightened up and threw back her wings, as best she could and said,  “I am sorry, Ingrede, but unfortunately I have a prior commitment.”

Annis held her breath for Ingrede’s fury at Annis not bowing to her every whim, but it never came.

The female gave her a knowing smile.  “With your human?” she drawled.

In spite of herself, Annis blushed, and Ingrede virtually cackled with laughter.  “Go tend to him.  Trust me; I know how vexing a frustrated male can be.  One with a contented smile is much more manageable.”

Ingrede waggled her eyebrows and scooped up the penguin for her wriggling infant as she left to find another victim – or babysitter.

Annis felt proud of herself and warmed by Ingrede’s reaction.  This clan was very different to her old clan, and soon she would also take her place as their healer.  Although, truthfully, healer or not, she finally felt like she really was a part of a clan and it was glorious.

*

Beep, beep, beep, beep…

The alarm beat like a drum against his ear.

“Five more minutes,” Chris grumbled.  It didn’t matter whether he was sleeping during the day or night, he still wanted more time in bed.  For now, he put himself down for early shifts so he could sleep in the afternoons and spend most of his nights with Annis.

He made an ineffectual slapping motion against the alarm and was relieved when it managed to switch itself off.  He rolled onto his side, only groaning slightly as the bed dipped.

“No, not today,” he grumbled.  “No more licking.”

“What if I promise not to lick?” asked a teasing, sultry voice.

His eyes snapped open and instead of Bob, he found Annis on his bed, gazing back at him, wearing a smile and absolutely nothing else.

“Boo!” she cooed, on seeing his surprised expression.

“I thought you were Bob,” he muttered.

“So licking is permitted then?”

Chris quickly regained his faculties and treated her to a leer.  “Sweetheart, If you want to lick me, go right ahead.”

He reached out to her, dragging her closer, one hand curling around her ass and the other caressing her breasts.  Annis snaked her tail around one of his legs.  She kissed his mouth softly and licked her lips.

“You always taste wonderful.”

“You like morning breath?”

Her eyebrows drew closer together.  “Morning breath?  But it is already night.”

He pinched one of her nipples, and she let out a kittenish growl.  “Just an expression, sweetheart.”  He took a few moments to reacquaint himself with her body – it had been hours since he last held it after all – before asking, “How'd you get down here?  I thought I was coming to you later.”

“I wished to surprise you.  Ric was able to carry me and fly me down here.  It is quite foggy outside; we were not seen.”

Chris scowled.  “Great, so first he’s taking my niece, and now he’s feeling up my girl.”

“I assure you, there was no feeling up of anything.  You know you are the only male who has ever touched me intimately, or ever will.”

His smile returned.  “Yeah, I know.”  Maybe it was dickish, but he was pleased about that fact.

“And Brenda informed me of how much you like surprises.  She was very adamant that I shout boo at you for some reason.”

“Little devil,” Chris grumbled.  Annis frowned, and he explained, “When she was a kid, whenever she stayed with me she used to run into my room every morning and bounce on me shouting boo – used to scare the hell out of me.  The more I told her not to, the more she did it.”

“I regret that I too did not bounce on you.”

“There’s still time,” he breathed before taking one of her breasts in his mouth.

“We have all the time in the world,” she whispered before descending into moans.

Epilogue

Kylie bid farewell to Dr. White and immediately collided with Martha.

“Sorry,” both women cried at the same time.

“No, it was me, I got turned around,” said Martha, swaying a little.

“Oh!” Kylie exclaimed on getting a good look at Martha.  The usually perfectly coiffured woman looked, well, grungy.  Her golden hair was piled onto her head in a messy bun held in place by a pencil.  She was wearing ripped jeans, a sweater that had the slogan ‘without rain, we wouldn’t have rainbows’ – a sentiment Kylie heartily approved of – and running shoes.  Perhaps most shocking was the fact that Martha wasn’t wearing any make-up whatsoever, and she had bags under her eyes.  Plus, Martha didn’t seem to be the least put out at having been caught looking like that.

“Is everything okay, Martha?” asked Kylie conspiratorially.  If it was the case, she didn’t want the body swap aliens to hear their conversation.

Martha shrugged.  “Just tired.  I’ve always had trouble sleeping and the doctor’s diagnosed me with insomnia.  I’m here for a new prescription of sleeping meds.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, is there anything I can do?”

She cocked her head.  “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“Of course,” replied Kylie, puzzled.

“You just gave me more sympathy than my best friend of twelve years who told me to pull myself together, and that insomnia was just a made up illness.”

“If you need anything you can always ask Maggie or me.”

Martha nodded and said thank you, but Kylie doubted Martha would ask for anything.

“What about you, are you okay?”

“Hmmm?”  Kylie chuckled as she realized Martha was alluding to the fact that she was visiting the doctor.  “I’m fine, it was… ah, birth control.”

Martha nodded in understanding.  Since she believed Kylie was still dating Chris, then yes, it was feasible that Kylie was there for more birth control.  That was a white lie she still hadn’t mentioned to Luc – for fear that he would hit the roof and then hit Chris.

“I better go,” said Kylie as she noticed the sun crawling over the horizon.  Luc would be waking soon, and he did not like to wake and find her absent.

“Yeah, see you around,” yawned Martha.

Kylie gave her a worried look before shaking her head.  She was sure Martha would be fine.  Martha was a very independent and organized woman – there wasn’t much she couldn’t handle.

*

Dr. White peeked through the blinds of her office as she pressed her phone to her ear.  She watched as Kylie ambled away, waving at people she knew as she went.  Carey tapped her foot, waiting for him to pick up.

“Blackthorne,” snapped the man on the other end of the phone.

“Mr. Blackthorne,” she said, oozing obsequiousness, “thank you for picking up.”

“Ah, Carey,” he said, his voice warming as he spoke.  “Any news?”

“Kylie has just had her appointment with me.  She wanted to try some other birth controls, but I managed to persuade her that the pill was the right way to go.”

“Excellent, and you gave her the placebos as discussed?”

“Actually, and I hope you don’t mind about this, I had a friend of mine who works at a lab make me some other pills and…”

“This is not what we discussed,” he interrupted coldly.

“No, but the pills my friend created contain fertility drugs.”

The line went silent for a few moments before Blackthorne asked, “So instead of birth control, you gave Kylie Summers fertility drugs?”

“Yes,” Carey said smugly.

“Brilliant!” exclaimed Blackthorne, happier than she had ever heard him.  “At this rate, she’ll be pregnant within a month, and we’ll be one step closer.  Well done.”

“I aim to please.”

“Keep a close eye on her, and report back what you see.”

“Yes, sir.”

Blackthorne hung up, and Carey tried to levitate her phone and replace it on the desk.  It hovered in the air for a few seconds before plummeting to the floor.  Sighing, she retrieved it.  Her magic was pathetic at best, but if everything went to plan, one day, she’d have more magic than she could ever know what to do with, and Kylie Summers was the key.

*

Luc presented Kylie with a picture of two big cats.  He did so with a flourish and a smug expression.

She studied it for a moment before giving in.  “Okay, give me a clue.”

“Do you know what those creatures are?”

“Cats?”

“What kind?” he asked with a maddening smile.

“Big ones?  Wild ones?”  She was baffled as to where this was going.

“They are jaglions.”

“Oh!  Ah, yes, I… I still have no idea why you would show me this.”

Luc pulled her small body towards his.  “You told me that a jaguar and a lion may be compatible, but that it did not mean that they could produce young.  Here is your proof that they can.”

Kylie stared at the picture for a few moments before shaking her head and laughing softly.  “I am surprised you remember.”

“I remember and cherish every moment with you, little one.”

“Even the arguments?”

He pulled her flush against him and held her up off the ground.  “Especially the arguments – you are at your most fiery when angry with me.”

“Jaglions are certainly beautiful creatures.”

“As our younglings will be,” he whispered before trickling kisses down the column of her neck.

Kylie smiled and gave herself over to his attentions.

*

Martha climbed the cold steps.  She did not know where she was; she did not recognize the place, but she seemed to know where she was going.

“Are you here?” her voice came out tremulous and weak.

But he heard her nonetheless.  “Yes.”

She pushed ahead wondering why she had not taken the time to find shoes.  Why were her feet bare?  Nothing about this made any sense.  Since when did she own a white, diaphanous nightgown?  She looked like she’d stepped out of a production of Dracula!

The white material billowed around her body as she reached the top of the tower.  She shivered and hugged her body as frigid winds whipped against her.

“You should not be here,” rumbled a deep voice behind her.

Two enormous arms curled around her and she snuggled back into the safety of a huge, warm chest.

“Go inside,” he murmured; his breath hot against her ear.

“Come with me,” Martha entreated.

“Go, and I will join you as soon as I can.”

Martha wriggled to face him and gazed into his red eyes.  His mouth curled into a vicious-looking grin, but she didn’t feel scared.  She could never feel scared with him.

She pressed her hands against his rock hard chest, and he wrapped his wings around her.  His clawed fingers tilted her chin up as his lips descended on hers for a kiss…

Martha awoke, panting and shaking.  She sat up in bed, looking around her familiar bedroom.  Phillip lay next to her, snoring and completely oblivious to her turmoil.

She cradled her head in her hands, too tired to scream or cry.  It had felt so real and yet so distant at the same time – like a forgotten memory.  Maybe she needed to speak to a professional about her dreams.

No, no, she was fine – she was going to be fine.  Everything was going to be fine.

*

Drago snarled as he awakened.  The other gargoyles, as usual, gave him a wide berth.  Waking for him was always a violent affair, but not tonight.  Instead of the usual horrors he saw every day while he slept, he had only dreamed of a woman.  An angel of a human with a pale oval face, spun gold hair and sky blue eyes.

“Mate,” he growled.

To be continued…