I blow out the candles as I laugh, then I lead him out of the room. On the landing halfway down the stairs to the common room, the inn’s magical scent rises along with the carpet runner. Archer and I are pushed together. He yelps and catches me, looking down at me. His eyes are sparkling again.
“This inn is incorrigible.”
“Seems like that doesn’t annoy you like it once did.”
He glances at the empty main room. It’s a quiet day at the inn with everyone out enjoying the fresh snow and bright sun.
“May I?” Archer says to me, his hands gently holding me close against him.
He smells wonderful, and I lean closer, my heart beating wildly. “Are you wanting to kiss me, vampire?”
“I am.”
“Please, carry on.”
The corner of his lips lifts to show a fang, and desire sparkles down my body. He presses his mouth to mine, and I part my lips, welcoming the slide of his hot tongue over mine. The mate mark seems to shiver with delight. Archer nips my bottom lip and heat spreads across my chest and simmers low in my body. One of his hands finds my braid and holds it firmly while his other hand smoothes its way to my lower back. I can feel exactly how turned on Archer is.
I break away, panting and savoring the flush of his cheeks. “Are we going to strip right here?” I say, laughing.
He kisses me again, growling quietly in the back of his throat. He gently sweeps the tip of his tongue over my top lip and I’m more excited than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I’ve had plenty of lovers. Good ones too. But this is different. I feel like I’m home, like I’m flying, like I was born to kiss Archer.
With a quick movement, he lifts me into his arms and hurries back up the stairs. I forgot how strong vampires and goblins are. He makes the chore seem easy. The inn opens its door for us and then lights the candles once more. This is happening.
“I’ve wanted you since day one, Archer,” I admit as he lays me on the bed.
Thankfully,Mossette seems to have wandered off. I wouldn’t have wanted to subject her young eyes to what’s about to happen.
“I was in denial,” he says shyly. “But I’ve wanted you all this time too.”
“You have?”
And then I remember. He’s going to see my mark.
I freeze, and he draws away.
“We don’t need to do this, Colette. I’m satisfied with whatever you’re willing to give me.”
“No, it’s not that.”
He looks to the side like his mind is wandering to something unpleasant. “Actually,” he says, “it’s good you stopped us. I need to tell you something. I should have told you earlier.”
We sit up, side-by-side.
“I’m listening,” I say.
Fear frosts my heart, and I touch my dress, absently tracing the mark hidden under the fabric and the laces of my corset. The look on his face says this confession isn’t going to be something small. This is big. Is it his mark or something else?
Chapter 20
Colette
“How much do you know about vampire families and traditions?” Archer asks me.
“Basically nothing. You are a secretive bunch.”
He nods. “When vampires are born, their parents arrange their futures to benefit the vampire families’ network of wealth and strong bloodlines. The elder vampires are obsessed with continuing to produce powerful offspring.”
I want to ask if the fact that his father was a goblin affected this, but I give him the space to talk like he did for me earlier.
