Chapter 25
Colette
The green garland hung across the inn’s mantle sparkles, the tiny candles magically lit by the inn itself. Strings of woolen snowflakes in red hang from the rafters. The whole place smells like clove and nutmeg.
Archer and I stand side by side, lifting a hand to get our publishers’ attention. Both Mistress Avalon and Quinn made it to Leafshire Cove just in time to hear our reading.
We take turns telling the short tale, each of us reading our character’s point of view chapters to the laughter, gasps, and murmured comments of our audience. When our characters break out of the wine cellar, the crowd erupts into applause.
After a half hour of answering questions about books and greeting our publishers, we head to our own table in the back, where a meal sits steaming and ready for us. There’s sweet frostberry tea for me and…
“Oh yuck. Is that more coffee?” I ask, staring at Archer’s mug.
He lifts it and sips. “Ah. The ideal drink.”
I shudder, and he snickers at me as I start on an orange bowl of soup. It’s creamy, spiced to perfection, and hearty—exactly what I need right now.
“This butternut squash soup is to die for,” I say.
Archer nods, digging into his own serving.
The sweet and salty spoonful is finally warming me up. That walk back was fun, but it was a cold one.
Archer lifts his bowl and drinks down the remainder of his soup. “Divine.”
The table spins suddenly.
“My soup!” I try to grab it, but the inn is turning the table too quickly.
When the table stops, the scent of fresh linens and wood polish dances through the air. The inn’s magic has refilled my bowl, and a plate of Snowlight cookies rests on a platter in front of Archer.
He looks around at the inn’s walls, black eyebrow raised. “Yes, yes. I acknowledge that the cookie incident was a delicious twist of fate.”
The platter shakes and he laughs. “What else does the inn want me to say?” he asks me.
“I have no idea.”
I take a cookie and bite into the soft, sugary icing. The cookie is warm and exactly the right level of both soft and crisp. Dew brings us a plate of her new cheese twists. We each take one and savor the chewy, cheesy bread. This whole meal is an absolute dream.
A panel in the wall flicks downward, and a blanket shoots out, slapping Archer on the shoulder before it lands on the chair to my left. I chuckle and wrap the wool around me.
Archer tilts his head, rubbing his shoulder. “Ah. I can guess what the Acorn Inn wants me to say.” He looks up at the ceiling beam. “I also acknowledge that your lady owner was right in kissing me at the book faire.”
All the candles in the inn flicker and flare brightly, making the rest of the crowd gasp and laugh.
Archer takes a cookie and enjoys a bite, his sparkling gaze on me. “I suppose we will have to live here, hmm? Will the inn ever let me win an argument with you?”
Mossette winds her way around my ankles, and I reach down to give her some chin scratches. “Yes, we will, Archer, my love, and no, it won’t.”
His head tips back as he laughs and I have never been happier in my life.
Archer stands. “Come with me for a minute, all right?”
I join him, and he leads me away from the table.
His arse looks rather nice in his new dark green trousers.
I look forward to removing them. He takes me to the dark corner where the stairs and the wall of my office meet.
Then he takes my hands, and my heart jumps.
His touch sends lightning through me every time.
What does he need to tell me? My pulse ratchets up.
Is this something bad? His narrowed gaze peppers my face like he’s concerned about what he’s going to say.
“What is it?” I ask, my palms growing damp.
I hope he isn’t upset that we didn’t end Valeria for good. Or does he regret committing to me in the runic circle?
“Colette, I didn’t want to put you on the spot in the Snowlight clearing, because it’s probably too soon to ask this, but…” He goes to one knee, kisses my hand, and looks at me with half-lidded eyes. My heart is beating hard in my ears and a thrill buzzes across my mate mark.
“Archer…” I don’t dare hope.
“Feel free to say no, and I will simply be yours as you see fit, but Colette, is there any chance you would consider marrying me?”
My face hurts from smiling too hard. I leap on him, wrapping myself around him like an octopus. I kiss his cheeks and his mouth. One of his fangs pricks my tongue in the mayhem.
“Of course, I’ll marry you!” I shout, unable to hold in my joy.
Those close enough to hear me over the music and the conversation cheer as they did in the Snowlight clearing. The gossip spreads through the room until everyone is toasting us with their mugs and cups.
Archer kisses me thoroughly, his hands everywhere, until it’s obvious we need to go upstairs. Now.
He picks me up and carries me to my room. Our room. He kicks the door shut. The shades over my windows roll down on their own, and one candle flickers to life. I hear the click of the door’s lock, then the scent of the inn’s power fades as if it is leaving us our privacy.
I undo the tie at Archer’s neckline and unbuckle his belt. He removes his belt and dagger and tosses them to the floor. I tug his shirt up, and he helps me by ducking out of it. His ruby necklace looks decadent on his bare, powerfully muscled chest.
“Do you want me to get rid of this?” He holds up the necklace.
“No, I like how it looks on you. I love the gold against your pale skin.”
His mouth lifts in a half smile and his gaze is foggy with lust.
I lick my way carefully over his mate mark, his necklace brushing my tongue.
He groans and grips my upper arms like he can hardly stand it to remain still for this.
I reach low and untie his trousers. He pulls his cock free and its weight settles on my hipbone.
He grins mischievously, then quickly sheds his boots and stockings.
He looks like a god come down to earth to torture me with pleasure. I’m more than ready to suffer.
Now, it’s my turn to undress. Archer turns me around, then he slowly unties my corset. It laces up the back and is a bear to do alone. He has no trouble with it, of course. His fingers brush my bare back, and I shiver. He drops a kiss on my shoulder.
“You’re a masterpiece, my Colette, my sunlight.”
I tip my head so that my ear touches his hand as he sweeps his palm over the base of my neck and my shoulder.
He lifts my hair. The cold air teases over my skin, making the little hairs rise.
His mouth is hot as he kisses me there too, the heat of his mouth chasing the chill away.
I let my dress puddle at my feet. He comes around to the front of me and kneels.
Closing his eyes, he whispers my name and leans into my body, his breath hot through the fabric.
He inhales, and I take his head in my hands and rub the tops of his slightly pointed ears with my thumbs.
With a low growl, he slides a hand between my legs and finds the slit in my underpants.
“So soft. So warm. Is this okay?” He looks up at me through the thickest, blackest eyelashes in the world.
I’m embarrassed by how wet I am for him, but I nod all the same. This is Archer. My mate. He loves me completely. I don’t have to be perfect for him. I only have to be me. My mark tingles with the truth of my thoughts.
He slips a finger inside the petals of my sex, and I grip his hair. It feels so, so good with that lightning touch of his on my most tender spots. His thumb finds its way to my pearl and runs over the place just above it. I’m biting my lip to the point of bleeding, and then I have an idea.
“Can you bite me down there?”
He leans back to look up. “Where exactly? Are you sure?”
“Just a wee bite? Maybe here?” I point to a spot on my inner thigh.
He licks the spots, sending pleasure rocketing through my entire lower body. I gasp and fall against him.
“Interesting,” he murmurs. He places his fangs and nips into my skin.
Pain and desire crash over me. I’m shaking. My knees are not nearly strong enough to keep me standing. He eases me to the plush rug at our feet. But instead of getting to the area I want him to, he decides it’s time to remove my stockings and boots.
“Archer,” I beg, my cheeks hotter than the crackling fire behind me.
He has one side done quickly. The firelight dances over his sharp features as he rolls my second stocking down.
He nips my ankle and fresh lust washes through me.
I arch my back, wanting so much more. After finally slipping my boot free, he lowers himself between my legs and licks my chosen bite spot once more.
I writhe beneath the steel grip he has on my thighs.
He bites into me and wonderful chills spread across my legs.
Tension in my core rises to a level that can’t last.
“Please…”
He puts his head down, parts the slit of my underpants, and drags his tongue over me. He doesn’t stop either.
“Blessed Stones,” I moan.
Then cold air hits my core and I open my eyes. He’s pulled back, his eyes hazy with desire and his body looking as though its made for nights such as this.
“Why? What’s wrong?” I ask, my words rough and breathy.
“I’m taking my time.”
“Do I get a vote?”
“Not this time,” he says, his eyes twinkling.
“You’re an evil half vampire.”
“Sometimes.”
He rolls me to my stomach gently but with a quick, fluid movement. I feel his thigh between my legs, and then he is drawing a finger down my back slowly. I shiver and my nipples peak against the soft plush of the rug.
“What is this from?” he asks, tracing an old scar.
I try to answer, but his other hand is smoothing its way up my thigh and I can’t think straight. It takes three tries for me to answer him.
“I was climbing a tree. Slipped. A branch tried to save me from the fall but we both broke a little.”
He kisses the scar gently, and his palm slides over the right side of my arse, his pinky rings catching on the lace.
“You’re so beautiful.”
The cold air finds my back again, indicating he has sat up once more. He touches the slit of my underpants again and I start to roll to my back. He stops me with a press to my lower back, and then he pulls off the final piece of my clothing.
“Gorgeous,” he murmurs as he lies half on me and half perched on an elbow.
His cock nudges my center. “Is this all right?” he whispers into my ear.
I tremble and nod.
He kisses the back of my neck and slides a hand under me, lifting my hips a bit. Slowly, he enters all the way to the hilt. I bite my forearm to stifle a moan.
He holds still. “It’s not like you to hold back. Are you suddenly bashful?”
“I don’t want,” I say, panting, “to scare the patrons from their party.”
His chuckle makes his cock move inside me and we groan in unison. He thrusts twice and pauses. I am dying of pleasure. Dying of want. Dying of love for this vampire-goblin.
Then he sets his teeth on my throat and moves again. He mumbles my name. “Damn it all, Colette. Damn it.”
My skin is flushed and trembling and I’m going to come right now. His rhythm increases in pace. He is less smooth and more desperate, and something about that and his continued cursing makes it all unbearable.
“Please… Yes. More,” I gasp out.
I finally stop trying to hold out and let the sensations take me leaping over the edge.
He follows me, his movements even more uneven.
I love the snarl that rips from his throat.
He drives himself hard into me until he collapses on the floor beside me.
With a rough and tender motion, he tugs me against him as he pants.
I drape an arm over his chest and he lets his hand linger over my hip.
My chest aches with how much I adore him in every way a person can adore someone.
He had my heart very quickly. My body was lost the first time he touched me.
My soul is now his too, and I have absolutely no regrets.
I might hurt because I love him so much.
In fact, I most assuredly will. He will die or I will die.
That’s life. Other terrible things can and will happen.
But this is living. The pain and the pleasure, both.
The shadow and the light.