face gently secure in his hold, Travis leaned in and pressed their lips together. It was the softest kiss she’d ever had, but it was also the best. She always thought the moment she and her mate claimed one another would be fierce. Passionate. This was so much better.
“I would be honored to be your mate as well,” Travis whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers.
Brynna’s beast rumbled, pushing her to claim Travis. Brynna pushed back. She wasn’t going to throw him down there on the concrete as much as she’d like to. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Travis, her sweet, shy, human, took control of the kiss and devoured her mouth. His hands moved from her face to her hair where he grabbed two fistfuls and angled her head to the right just a bit. His tongue was hot against her own as he expertly took control. Oh.
Oh. There was the passion. Travis slid a hand down her back, pressing her closer to him. With them being almost the same height, his erection was hard against her mound. Brynna wrapped her right leg around his hips, needing to get even closer than they already were. She needed him inside her.
Travis broke the kiss, his breathing heavy. “Wait.”
Chapter Five
Travis couldn’t believe what was happening. Now he understood why Banyan had questioned him about his feelings for Brynna. The fact that she’d waited to tell him the truth warmed his heart. Being around other Gargoyles, Travis had heard all about the mate bond and how hard it was to not claim each other immediately. Travis knew he was drawn to Brynna from the start, but he chalked that up to her being her. As he’d told both her and her brother, she was amazing. There was no other word for her. Well, there were plenty he could come up with, but that one encapsulated the female. Whether they were mates or not, he still would have been enraptured with her. But he had to wonder whether she would have chosen him. He now understood exactly how Trevor felt when Jasper claimed him as his mate. Travis also knew not to doubt the bond, because it would do no good.
In the grand scheme of things, Travis was nobody special, but he had been chosen for a reason, and he thanked the fates he wasn’t sure he believed in along with every higher power out there.
“I thought you wanted me.” Brynna dropped her leg to the ground and took a step back.
“Oh, I do. And as much as I’d love to take you here and now, I’d prefer we go to one of our bedrooms so we have a little privacy.”
Brynna blew out her breath and smiled. “Our bedroom. Now.” When they got to Brynna’s bedroom, she tugged him inside and closed the door. “We’re going to move your things in here later, because once I claim you, this room, this house, everything I have will belong to you as well. Please tell me you want that.”
“I do. But uh, can you explain how this works? I know you bite me, but do I have to do anything to you?”
“No. Since you’re human, my bite is all it takes for the bond to be complete.” Brynna gripped the hem of his T-shirt and yanked it over his head. Travis would have laughed at her impatience if he didn’t feel the same. Brynna pointed at his pants. “Off. Now.” She removed the dress she was wearing, and Travis’s hands faltered on his zipper. Brynna was flawless standing there in her matching pink satin bra and panties. “Travis!” He snapped his eyes up to hers. “Oh, screw it.” Her claws came out, and with one quick slash, his jeans were shredded at his feet.
Travis slapped his hands over his dick, which had gone from achingly hard to running as far away from the claws as possible. Okay, not literally, but fuck! “Holy shit! You could’ve castrated me.”
“Sorry, but you were just standing there.”
“Yes, admiring your body. Please don’t ever do that again.”
“I won’t. I promise. Sorry, I got a little carried away. Wow.” Brynna stepped closer, running a long, manicured nail – not a claw, thank goodness – down his chest. “Why have I never seen you without a shirt?” She licked her lips as she pressed both palms to his pecs. “Odin, you’re hot.”
Travis had never been called hot in his life. He tried his best to