Stone and Earth by Cindy Spencer Pape Read Free Book Online Page A

pieces of a puzzle.
     
    “I want you to convert me,” she whispered later, combing a hand through his hair. Dawn was only about twenty minutes away and she was delighted that this time he was in no hurry to leave her bed.
     
    He clasped her hand with his. “It’s too dangerous. I don’t want to lose you, Katie. I couldn’t bear it.”
     
    “But I’m only human, Damien. And though you haven’t said, I know our life spans are very different. I don’t want to grow old without you and I don’t want you to watch me age and die.” And she wanted more than anything to be able to bear his children.
     
    “You’d rather die now?”
     
    She shook her head. “I’m an earth witch, remember? Stone should be a natural extension of that.” She could see the yearning in his face and knew he was close to relenting so she pressed. “You agreed that we were made for each other. I have faith that the goddess will protect me.”
     
    He hugged her so close she could hear his throat work as he tried to speak. “I’m not used to being frightened.”
     
    “It was meant to be, my love. Trust me. I know this is the right thing for us to do. I need to be your mate, Damien.”
     
    He nodded against her hair and then pulled away. “I’ll be right back.”
     
    He walked to the dresser where he’d emptied his pockets after work and picked up his small pocketknife, then returned to Katie. He helped her out of the bed and stripped her of her clothes. The only thing he left was the necklace. She’d told him she never removed the heirloom and since it was easily more than a meter long, it should survive whatever transformation occurred. If the gods were with him, within the week she’d also be wearing his wedding band.
     
    He resumed his reclining position against the pillows then pulled her down on top of him, taking her lips in a brutal, ravishing kiss. It only took a second for his hormones to overpower his fear. As soon as he was hard again, he shifted Katie on his lap and slid back up inside her.
     
    “You’re sure?”
     
    She nodded, not a trace of doubt or fear in her clear green gaze—just love, trust and unshakable faith. He prayed that she had enough for both of them.
     
    He picked the pocketknife off the nightstand and sliced a small x on his palm. Then he reached for hers. “Give me your hand.”
     
    With no hesitation she did and he kissed her palm before making the same cut on it, keeping the incision as shallow as he could while still drawing blood. He interlaced their fingers so the two wounds pressed together, mingling their blood. Then he took one of her fishnet stockings and used it to bind their wrists together, ensuring the impromptu transfusion.
     
    “Our blood combines at the same time as our bodies join. I hope to hell you know what you’re doing, my love. But know I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my miserable life.”
     
    She rocked up and down on his cock, riding him slowly and easily as her fingers gripped hard on his. “I love you, Damien. I know this is the right path. I’ve waited thirty-two years for you and I don’t intend to waste a day now that I’ve finally found you.”
     
    She bent down and kissed him as she rocked, the taste of her warm and sweet on his lips. He pumped into her, mimicking her gentle pace, savoring the movement. He felt the magic flowing from his body to hers and from hers to his.
     
    By the time they both came in another glorious burst of pleasure, he knew the transformation was complete. Katie was now a gargoyle. Now they only had to wait and see if she survived the coming dawn.
     
     
     
    “So what will happen now?” She lay limp and sated on his chest while he unbound their wrists and pressed a kiss against the cut that was already closing on her hand. Goddess, she loved this man. She could feel the magic pulsing through her body and she was excited about what was to come.
     
    “Now we wait. When the sun rises, we both