Page 60 of The Book Reader
I get to the end of the line, where a tall woman with perfect long, wavy blonde hair and blue eyes bows her head at me. Her eyes flick to Gaelan, who introduces her. “Ari, this is Leah, my head of security and my personal bodyguard.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says, smiling at me. Why is everyone down here so good-looking? It’s a little unsettling.
“Nice to meet you,” I say as she continues smiling at me. “I still cannot believe you are back, my lady. It has been too long,” she adds excitedly.
Gaelan turns to the people lined up and speaks, “We’re going to retire for the evening, tomorrow we’ll begin with breakfast and a tour.” He grins down at me. “Then you can get to know our guest more.” The word ‘guest’ stings a little, but I smile. Everyone bows before going off in different directions.
All of this is making me feel a little overwhelmed—there are so many people and so many feelings, and I don’t know what to do with them all. Gaelan retakes my hand and leads me up a stone staircase that’s in the center of the entryway. It’s huge with a blue and silver carpet going up the middle. When we reach the top, it splits in half, with one set of stairs to the right and another to the left. As we move to the left, I notice that it’s very medieval, but with touches of modernity, such as torches on the walls that light up as we pass. There is a radio sitting on one of the tables playing low classical music, and all the doors are made of what looks like wood, but the locks have keypad controls.
“This way, Ari, we can rest for the evening,” Gaelan says before stopping outside a door and placing his thumb on the lock. It clicks open, and I laugh, making Gaelan frown at me.
“Sorry,” I say. “It’s just your castle is amazing; stone and medieval with fingerprint keypads, it’s so weird and great at the same time.”
“Safety first, my Rose, even we daemons have to move with the times; locks and keys no longer work,” he says.
“You can shimmer to places; how did they work before?” I question. Daemons can shimmer anywhere, that’s why the witch’s topside have well-paid jobs in security; wards and protection are always needed to stop supernatural beings from getting into places they shouldn’t be.
“My castle is warded; no one can shimmer within these walls but me and Leah,” he answers as he pushes the door open and steps in.
“That makes sense.” I stop speaking when I walk into the room. “This is your bedroom?”
“It isourbedroom, while you’re here.”
“While I’m here?” I repeat, under my breath.
The idea of having to go home evokes a sense of unease within me. I don’t like the thought of leaving, ever since meeting Gaelan, something in my heart is telling me that I need to be with him, that all of what is happening right now is my path.
Does he feel the same? Am I completely insane for having these thoughts after only a few days? Probably. Can I stop them? No.
Further into the room, I notice a large four-poster bed in the center, raised off the floor. The frame is made of dark wood; a carving of a dragon sits on one of the bed posts, and at the top, carved into the frame, is a symbol I can’t make out.
On the right is a fireplace, one that reminds me of the one at my aunt’s house. The mantelpiece is black with a blue diamond shimmering in it. There’s a crest in the middle that looks similar to the markings on Gaelan’s chest. There is a dragon in the center that is curled around a blue gemstone. Surrounding it are dark vines; on either side are two daggers that appear to be removable, given how much they protrude from the rest of the design. I feel a pull toward it, so I run my hand over it, whichcauses a familiar spark —the one that tells me everything right now is leading me somewhere.
“It’s my family’s crest,” Gaelan says from where he’s watching me.
I smile at him. “It’s beautiful.”
There are two large bookcases on either side of the fireplace, and a comfortable sofa is positioned in front of it, accompanied by blankets. Curling up in front of the fire and reading a book sounds like bliss right now, which reminds me. “Gaelan, where are my clothes?”
I turn to him and see the smirk on his face.
“You won’t be needing them,” he states plainly with a shrug. I roll my eyes at him and watch as he stalks over to me. His eyes are hungry and glowing a brighter blue. I can feel my pussy getting wet, and I want nothing more than to do whatever he’s got in mind.
“I’m going to need my clothes at some point.” I point out.
“For what I have planned this evening, you will not. We’ll talk more in the morning as to whether you can have your clothes back.” He wraps one arm around me and pulls me into his body. “Tonight, I require you to be naked at all times.”
“Well, I’ll need clothes if I’m going to have a tour tomorrow, otherwise everyone will see me naked.” I go to laugh, but stop at the intense look in his eyes, a look of possessiveness. He chuckles darkly and then shimmers my clothes from my body before stepping back to openly stare at me. He licks his lips like he is already tasting me. “I am the lord of this realm; I will send everyone away if I choose to.” He smirks again, making me laugh.
“Okay, my Lord,” I mock and then bow.
Gaelan growls before reaching out and pulling me against him again. “I like the sound of you calling me ‘my lord.’ I might have you calling me that later when you beg for my cock, butfirst… let’s bathe.” Before I can protest, he takes my hand and leads me into what I think is the most oversized bathroom I’ve ever seen. There are twin sinks with gold mirrors in front of each one, and a claw-footed bath in the center of the room. The entire bathroom is decorated in whites and golds; it feels like one of those luxurious bathrooms you get at expensive hotels, the ones you could literally live in, cause it’s so relaxing.
“Gaelan, is everything huge here?” I turn to look over at him and roll my eyes at the look on his face… that smirk. His lip’s part, the witty remark on the edge of his tongue just as I cut him off, “Don’t even say it.” I laugh and walk over to the shower, which could fit at least four people! “It’s beautiful, I’m never going to want to leave.” I laugh and look at Gaelan, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me, watching me walk around naked. Something suddenly crosses his face, but it’s gone before I can make out what it is. He walks over and flips the light off.
“It gets better,” he says. With the lights off, the candles illuminate the room, as well as tiny lights in the ceiling, creating the illusion of stars.
I smile. “I’m not leaving this room; in fact, I’m going to be living in here.” I move over to him and look up into his eyes. “So… am I the only one getting naked?”
