Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch Page A

speak with you again?”
    “I will be around often.”
    “Yes, but unless you want me jumping up and down on the balcony and hoping you are on guard duty to answer, I was thinking there was an easier method of communication.”
    With rare exception he was the only one who watched her. Her worry was for naught, but to not scare her he said, “You may ask any gargoyle any question. They have been given orders to keep you apprised.”
    “Thank you for thinking to order that, but,” she licked her lips again, a pink and glistening temptation amidst silken hair and fathomless eyes. If he had not so much experience listening to those around him even as his concentration was directed elsewhere, he would have missed her next words. “I like talking to you.”
    Warmth lit up his chest, inappropriate and all-consuming. Clearing his throat, he gave a gruff nod and stepped back toward the balcony. “I will bring something the next time I guard you.”
    “Good. I guess I should see you out then.” She stepped out with him onto the balcony. “Try to get some rest.”
    “I shall.”
    She looked down at the ground, pushing her long hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture. “Next time you come, you don’t have to wait for an invitation. I wouldn’t mind if I saw you knocking on the door.” Without waiting to see his reaction to those words, she entered her home, turning off lights as she made her way to her bedroom.
    Terak leaned against the wall. If he quieted his breathing he could hear her going about her nightly rituals, hear the splash of water and the soft music she used as a background noise to lull her to sleep.
    Did he imagine it, or could he hear the graze of her shirt as it slipped from her shoulders and fell to her feet? The rasp of the pull of a zipper, and then those nimble little fingers tugging the coarse denim over the lushness of her hips, over the round swell of her backside, down those long legs.
    His groan resounded through the otherwise quiet night.

 
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Running in the middle of the day sucked.
    Early morning, great. Early evening, even better. In the middle of the day, she was a little too much white girl to enjoy the sun beating hard down at her.
    It must not be as issue for gargoyles. Not like they were pasty like her, and the odds were good sunburn was an unknown for them.
    That in a nutshell was why she had not been able to convince Terak to let her run at her usual times. He look mystified that she would equate something as insignificant as turning as red as a lobster to the possible danger from attack, and since she would be safest from attacks in the middle of the day, that was when she would run. So sayeth from on high.
    Damn stubborn gargoyle. The only thing she had to fear was heatstroke.
    It was a gorgeous day, and in good news for her skin, there was a decent amount of cloud cover, though not enough to lose the cheer of the day. She was running on her favorite trail through the largest wooded park to be enjoyed while still within the city’s limits. She might not have left the city, but darned if she didn’t feel like she was in her own woodland habitat.
    Two men came from behind and sped past her, both at a pace much faster than her own ten-minute mile time. One turned and ran backwards for a couple moments, smiling and winking at her before turning around and catching up with his friend.
    Ha, ha! Still got it. Nice to know she could get a glance or two, being on old maid and all.
    Up ahead a tall woman in a red running bra and matching spandex shorts came running toward them, jogging in the other direction. Both men slowed as they stared at her, eventually tripping over each other’s feet.
    Larissa half expected to see their tongues in that mass of body parts. The men righted themselves and took off at top speed to finish their run.
    Her own oversize shirt and baggy shorts were a hell of a lot more comfortable than that red number. Who put lace edging on