Page 69 of The Vampire's Bride

I mean to thank him, but emotions lodge in my throat, and I cannot speak around them. This is the best gift I’ve ever received.

Tracing my fingers over the desk, I study the beautiful inlaid wood carvings around the edge. The only people who knew of my writing were my family, Lucy, and Jonathan. When they dismissed it as folly, it broke my heart.

And yet, my Vampire husband recognized how important it is to me, and it is as if my heart has been pieced back together again.

I cover my mouth with my hands to stifle a sob as tears gather at the corners of my eyes.

“Forgive me,” Valaric says, his tone uncertain. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I should have consulted you before I picked the desk. If you’d prefer a different one, we can have a new one made when we travel to Nightshade.”

“You misunderstand.” I take both his hands in mine. “It’s perfect.” Tears of joy roll softly down my cheeks. “I love it.”

The worried look leaves his face, and a smile quirks his lips. “It’s not just a gift for you. It is also for me,” he explains. When I frown, he adds, “I’m desperate to know if Sir Danric is going to defeat the evil Lord Soryn and rescue and marry Princess Cassia.”

Laughter bubbles up in my throat, and I wrap my arms around him. I’m so happy I could burst. “Thank you, Valaric. I love it.”

When we finally pull away, he studies me, some unnamed emotion flitting across his expression. He takes my hands and guides me to the sofa, turning to face me. “I have something else I must say.”

Worry fills me. “Is something wrong?”

“I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier, in the garden.”

Unable to look at him, I lower my gaze as embarrassment burns through me. “It is I who should be apologizing. Not you. I’m the one who initiated the kiss.” The one who tried to make our relationship into something more than just friendship. “I appreciate you trying, but some things cannot be forced, and I understand and accept that.”

He goes completely still. I lift my head and find confusion etched in his features. “I don’t understand.”

My cheeks already felt flushed, but now I’m almost certain they’re about to catch flame as the words tumble from my mouth. “I asked for a true marriage between us and you tried, but… you are simply not attracted to me in that way.”

“You think I am not attracted to you?” he asks incredulously.

Now, I’m the one confused. “I—you pushed me away when we kissed. So I thought—”

Valaric folds his wings around me. Embarrassed, I try to pull away, but he cups my chin, forcing my gaze back to his. “I pushed you away because my need was too great, and I worried I could harm you.”

“You would never do that.”

“You have so much faith in me.” He brushes his thumb lightly across my cheek. “Why?”

“Because you’re a good man.”

He drops his forehead to mine, closing his eyes as he clenches his jaw. “No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

He shakes his head. “You look at me as if I were a man, but I am not. I am a Vampire. Andthatis why I pushed you away.Thatis why I must be cautious for us both. I don’t want to hurt you. Ever.”

Cautious hope builds deep within. “Are you saying that you want me, but you do not trust yourself?”

Valaric opens his eyes, their normal crimson color shifting to black. “Yes.”

Happiness blooms in my chest. “Then we will work on your control.”

He frowns. “And how do you propose we do that?”

Swallowing hard, I push down the nervous flutters in my stomach as I whisper, “Kiss me again.”

His gaze drops to my mouth, and his eyes turn raven black. He hesitates a beat, his gaze flicking up to mine, searching for confirmation. I give him a slight nod, and he leans in.

His lips hover over mine a moment before he captures my mouth with his own. I part my lips and his tongue finds mine. He tastes of peppermint and spice.

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