His golden eyes sparkled like rings of fire. "Then you believe me?"
As emotions both good and bad caught up with me, I went quiet for a moment. "If I'm being honest, getting myself into a new relationship is scary," I admitted. "After what Terry did, well... I felt like crap. How could I trust someone again?"
Maverick looked ferocious, like a beast about to rip Terry's head off and throw it in the ocean. The mental image amused me.
Before he could say anything, I went on. "But then I look at you, Mav, and I feel like everything's going to be okay."
The feathers on Maverick's chest raised, making him poofy. I laughed and smoothed them down. Had I flustered him by accident?
"Mav," he murmured. "I like the way that sounds on your tongue, my little mouse."
I grinned. "Leo and Mav. We sound like partners in crime."
Maverick's expression turned serious again. "But to address your concerns, Leo... Let me tell you something. Since gryphons cannot lie, there is something else we can't do."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Break a promise."
My heart flipped.
An air of magic flowed around Maverick, and in an instant, a gorgeous man had replaced the magnificent gryphon. My eyes were still glued on his as Maverick took his hands in mine.
"What that means is," Maverick said in a low voice, "when I swear an oath to love you forever, Leo Evans, I mean it."
A shiver ran down my spine. Emotion overwhelmed me. I threw myself at Maverick, embracing him tightly. My face was squished into his chest. Fuck, he smelled amazing.
Then I remembered he was naked after shifting.
My face burned as I pulled away. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry!"
Maverick smiled at me. "For what? It's normal for fated mates to be nude around each other."
My cheeks turned hotter than the sun. And yet, I couldn't help the powerful pull of curiosity. I peeked down at Maverick's naked body.
And holy fuck, that thing was big. It wasn't even hard yet.
My jaw dropped. "Oh, wow."
Maverick chuckled. He was obviously deeply amused by my human reactions.
I tore my gaze away from it before my own pants got tight. But the damage was already done. Fantasies of Maverick's dick danced in my mind, frolicking around of their own accord, refusing to listen to me and go the hell away.
"Leo," Maverick said.
My attention was on him instantly. "Mm?"
"May I kiss you?"
Fuck, how was he so sexyandsweet? My heart melted.
"Yes," I exclaimed. My outburst was too excited but I didn't care anymore. If Maverick said I was his fated mate and he was a gryphon shifter who literally couldn't tell a lie, there was no point in doubting it anymore.
I let the crumbling walls around my heart fall to the ground, and let Maverick in.
Maverick's hand slipped to my lower back, holding me in place as he leaned forward to brush his lips against mine. A small sound of contentedness slipped out of me. His mouth was warm and soft, yet firm and confident. He took the lead, parting my lips with his tongue and slipping inside. The surface of his velvety tongue captured me.
The passionate kiss went on until I felt lightheaded. I broke off in a daze, huffing for breath.
