Gates of Thread and Stone

Gargoyles had been native reptiles once, before Rebirth happened more than two centuries ago. But the mass collection of magic and technology during the war had changed them and killed off their major predators.

1) We’d been friends for long enough that he shouldn’t have affected me anymore, but try

1) We’d been friends for long enough that he shouldn’t have affected me anymore, but try telling that to my stomach.

All right, all right. Nothing wrong with a few butterflies—or a stomach virus—so we'll continue reading...

2) He had nice hands, slender but strong, with long fingers. The muscles in his forearm shifted as he moved. I watched a few beats too long and hastily looked away.

Things are starting to heat up a bit now...because you know what nice hands, strong long fingers, and muscles in the forearms means...! *waggles eyebrows*

3) I was too worried about Reev to let Avan distract me—much. His long legs were clad in gray pants, and he held a cup of water in his hand. He looked like he belonged on a White Court poster, the ones with people too pretty to be real.

Pretty boys and cups of water in their hands? Wearing gray pants?! Be still, oh beating heart.

4) I avoided his eyes, dark and searching, and instead focused on his lips. They were great lips.

Yeah, girl, git at 'em lips, you saucy thing.

5 He touched my arm. This was the closest we’d been in weeks.

OH, IT IS ON.

6) Avan’s hand brushed my face. Heat shot down my neck, and I stumbled over the crooked boards of the bridge.

Gah, I hate it when I spontaneously combust. Damn inconvenient, that is.

7) I leaned away, catching his wrist. His arm tensed. The muscles in his forearm stood out. The inside of his wrist felt smooth against my thumb. My hand looked so pale next to his. Was I seriously ogling his wrist?

You're thinking about where that sexy, muscle-popping wrist has been you, aren't you? You naughty, saucy little horndog, you.

8) He was so close. Beneath the disinfectant, I could smell the earthy, almost spicy scent of his soap—and his own scent underneath it, fresh like a cool wind. He hadn’t trimmed his hair in months, and it had begun to grow past his ears. I almost gave in to the urge to skim my fingertips along the hair that fell across his brow.

Old Spice + skipped trip to Supercuts = be still, oh beating heart.

9) The angle of the seat forced me flush against Avan. My pulse fluttered wildly beneath my skin. Good thing the darkness hid my blushing.

One of the girls from Cruel Intentions 2 discovered a similar pleasure.

10) Without Avan in front of me, I felt unsteady. I leaned forward, resting my hands on the seat. It was warm. I drew away, flustered.

Pssst. It's called fresh fart fumes.

11) And sometimes, like now, with his body heat still clinging to the front of my shirt, the sight of his silhouette through the mottled windows left me unbalanced, and I didn’t know if reaching out would steady me or knock me off my feet.

If that window hadn't been mottled, homegirl would have fainted already.

12) The heat from the energy stone warmed the metal, but it wasn’t as hot as Avan pressed against the entire front half of my body.

YOU NAUGHTY, SAUCY LITTLE HORNDOG, YOU.

13) With nothing to focus on but the red glow of the Gray’s chest and the windblown smell of Avan’s shirt, I slept in intervals.

Either Avan's shirt was soaked in pine trees and sandalwood or homebody spilled caffeine all over his clothes.

14) It was almost like being with Reev. But Reev didn’t also make me hyperaware of every point of contact between us. The shift of his muscles beneath my cheek. The backs of his thighs. The way our hips aligned on the seat. For the first hour, my heart pounded so hard, it was like a battering ram against my ribs.

I'd like to point out that homegirl hasn't even kissed this boy yet, much less have sex with him. Wanted to clear that up because one could assume otherwise by reading these quotes.

15) The air became steadily hotter as the hour passed. Moisture gathered where our bodies touched, and although the feeling wasn’t exactly unpleasant, I tried inching back to give us some space.

YOU SAID "MOISTURE."

16) I dug my fingers into his stomach and felt his muscles contract. I slid my hand higher, my palm pressed to his chest, and was somewhat relieved to discover that his heartbeat wasn’t nearly as steady as his voice.

Well, sure, because you're mutilating his heart with your horny fingernails.

17) His fingertips brushed over my knuckles, coaxing the knife from my rigid hands. I had to remember how to uncurl my fingers.

Start with the middle finger.

18) I ran my hand back up to his shoulder and then trailed my fingers down his chest, searching for injuries.

He cleared his throat. My fingers stilled over his stomach. He gently pushed my hands away and stood. “I’m not hurt.”

I gripped my shirt. My knuckles stung in protest. I’d practically groped him.

It's okay, sweetie. I heard when you're a star, they let you do anything. Whatever you want. Grab 'em by the ****, even.

19) “Lay on your side,” he said, helping me down.

I did, blushing fiercely as he molded to my back. My head touched fabric; he’d arranged our bags as pillows. His shoulders curved around me, legs cradling mine as his arm draped over my waist. I felt light-headed and a little flushed, my skin tingling everywhere we touched.

Homeboy's just as horny as you now...

20) I traced my fingers down Avan’s forearm and wrist until I found the bumps of his knuckles. I could tell he was holding his breath. I pretended not to notice when I felt the light pressure of his lips against my hair. I imagined turning in his arms and meeting his mouth with mine.

Sure. Nothing turns me on more than a boy with a forearm, wrist, and bumps on his knuckles. *winks*

21) He leaned against my side to talk to G-10, his arm pressed against mine. Even now, after all the time spent clinging to him on a Gray or sharing his body heat on the cold dirt, his touch sent ribbons of warmth spiraling through me.

Riiiibons!

22) The clothes were much tighter than what we were used to, and as Avan brushed off his backside, I had to admire the view.

AWW, YEE-AAH, GIT IT. THE BEND AND SNAP.

23) Seconds passed in silence before I cracked open an eyelid and glanced over.

He was watching me. The moment our eyes met, he looked away, his neck turning red from having been caught staring at me instead of the sky. I could feel my own blush rising hot in my cheeks.

I wanted to say something, but my mind had gone utterly blank. I felt aware of every blade of grass prickling my arm, of the cool air against my burning face. I stretched out my fingers and touched his wrist.

This boy's freaking wrist is the new G-Spot, apparently.

24) Lying on my side, I reached over the bed, and Avan’s hand found mine. Even with everything on my mind, heat danced down my spine as warmth crossed from his fingers to mine.

Not for the first time, I wanted to tug on his hand, to pull him into the cot with me. I wanted him beside me the way we’d been that night in the Void. Close enough to feel his breath against my skin. The weight of his arm around me. Maybe this time I’d be brave enough to kiss him.