Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,35
can play something you’re good at, and I’ll be the one biting my lip. Not that I don’t do that anyway.”
A rumble in Kai’s chest shook Josie’s cheek. “Oh, you like that idea, huh? Or did I piss you off talking about kicking your ass? I know how you macho types can be. Hating to lose to a woman. I think you mentioned Tessa shooting pool. Maybe she and I can go run the tables against some unsuspecting men and win some money. Not that I really need the money because we already talked about my portfolio. But I could use a new tattoo. Maybe another turtle to match the one I already have. Oh! Have you ever seen sea turtles while you were surfing? That would be so cool. I saw some in Hawaii when I was on vacation with my parents. That’s what started my obsession with them. I swam with them in a lagoon at the resort we stayed in. It surprises me you don’t have any ink. Not that you need any. You’re distracting enough without it. If we’re going on vacation, I need to get it done soon so it has time to heal. Or I could wait until we get back. Wow, look at me. Quitting my job. Going on vacation. Getting ink. You’d think I was having a midlife crisis. I prefer to think of it as an awakening. You did that. You woke me up, Malakai Palamo. Now you need to wake up so you can enjoy the new me.”
“I like the old you just fine.”
“Well, yeah. You only know the… Kai?”
“Hello, Sunshine.”
Kai’s heart and soul mended a little bit with each word Josie rambled. There was no deception in what she was saying. She wasn’t talking merely to get him to come back to the real world. His Sunshine spoke from the heart, with conviction.
“I’m glad you’re putting in your notice, but I like the Josie you are. I don’t want you to change. I told you already, you’re perfect.” Kai ran a hand through her sweaty hair.
“Oh, god. I need a shower. I’ve been sweating, and…” Josie sniffed the scrub top someone had dressed her in. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
Kai gingerly sat up, taking his mate with him. His body wasn’t hurt, but battling his beast had taken a toll. Settling Josie on his lap, he held her to his chest and kissed her hair. She smelled of sweat, sadness, and fear. But beneath all the bad was something else. He reached out with his shifter senses… there it was. Happiness. For all she’d been through in the last several hours, there was joy in his mate.
“I can’t wait to take you on vacation, and yes, I’ve swum with turtles. Most animals shy away from Gargoyles because they can sense the animal within, but for some reason, turtles and dolphins don’t. I love your tattoo.” Kai ran his fingers over her shirt where the ink colored her fair skin. “As for me not having any, my skin is too thick. Gargoyle skin is virtually impenetrable. We can get shot, and the bullets bounce off. We can live a thousand years or more unless someone takes our head. There are a few poisons that can take us out, but those are rare.”
“What about the mates? How do you deal with them dying centuries before you do?”
“Most mates are also Goyle, but the human mates’ lives are extended after the bond has been completed. There’s something transferred through the bite that helps your immune system become stronger as well.”
Josie leaned back so she was looking at him. Wiping her tears, she asked, “The bite? You have to bite me?”
“Yes, but it won’t hurt. From what I hear, the bite is euphoric for both parties involved.” Malakai touched her shoulder where he would sink his fangs. “There won’t be a scar either, so nobody but us will know about it.”
“Your family out there won’t know? Won’t they hear me scream?”
Kai snuggled Josie closer. “They will only know because you and I will be a mated couple and won’t be able to keep our hands to ourselves. As for screaming, I would never make love to you when someone is around to hear us.”
“Oh. Oh. You bite me during sex.”
“Well, I don’t have to, but that’s typically when it happens. Thus, the euphoria. But I don’t want you to worry about that right now. I want you to get