Page 124 of Gilded Wicked Mirrors
“Yes,” he said slowly.
“Are you going to sleep in it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s foolish. Do vampires get kinks in their necks?”
“Yes.”
Quinn shut her eyes tightly, knowing that she was going to regret her next words. “Sleep in the bed. Just don’t touch me.”
He chuckled. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
He slowly laid down on top of the blankets as if not wanting to disturb her. For a while, they both stared up, neither wanting to say anything. Turning on her side, she made sure her back faced him.
His body felt close—too close. He tensed, clearly as uncomfortable as her. Quinn counted his rhythmic breaths. A soft, slow tempo. Controlled and steady. They were in contrast to hers, which were ragged and tight. Wild heartbeats pounded in her ears, and she knew he could hear them.
A flush crossed her skin.
Desire rippled through her stomach like eagles taking flight. She felt the phantom sensation of his lips on hers and how absolutely glorious he could be with his hands and tongue. And she wanted to feel it all again.
Her fingers hovered over her lips, desire a beast in her belly.
She wanted to roll over and kiss him, but instead, she said, “I’m sorry about the marking comment. That was not fair of me.” She tensed, still on her side. She could apologize, but she couldn’t do it while meeting his eyes. “I know that you saved me and extended my human life. I know that you asked before you did it.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I—I lashed out.”
He turned, his body warm and reassuring next to hers. She wanted more than anything to lean into him. To feel him against her. To let him comfort her.
“I was an overprotective asshole,” he said, all his usual swagger gone. “I just—I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Quinn inhaled sharply and rolled over, her eyes locking onto his. “I know. We were both being assholes.”
“So, our normal?” He laughed, a brilliant, low sound that reverberated through her heart.
“Yes,” she breathed.
The tension between them crescendoed. He leaned in and rested his forehead on hers, caressing her chin. A shiver ran through her whole body. Her want was slowly killing her inside. Itwas a living force, hungry, and demanding. But she wouldn’t be the one to kiss him. He had to do it.
“Emrys.” Her voice was soft like seduction, but she had no idea if she was seductive. “Will you touch me everywhere I touched you?”
A tense, needy silence lingered between them, and his eyes darkened to the shade of shadows, but he refused to lean in or say anything until . . .
“I promised I’d make you regret it.” He flicked her nose softly and ruined the moment. “Go to sleep, Quinnevere. You have a big day tomorrow. We will find the mirror and capture our murderer. We’ll have plenty of time later for me to ravish you.”
Forty-One
By the time Quinn rolled out of bed, Emrys was sitting in the armchair and dressed in a different suit, with a mustard vest and purple cravat. He always wore purple in some form. But usually, he preferred it in his vest.
“Good, you’re up. You need to get dressed.” Emrys pointed at the pile of clothing he’d picked out for her.
It was a ballet leotard and a simple skirt. Quinn stared at him, confusion pooling in her stomach. “We have to figure out where the mirror is and find a way to stop Seren. The ball is tonight. The threat. There is no time for—”Ballet auditions.
She swallowed the last words, unable to get them out. They hurt too much. But she was willing to give up her dreams if it meant saving her friends and all of the innocent people who might get caught in the crossfire.
“We have to go back to the Mirror of Midnight and bargain for the Blood Mirror’s location,” Quinn said, no longer caring about what the cost might be. If it would protect her friends, she’d be willing to pay the cost.
They’d discussed searching for the second mirror by strategically walking through the city and seeing if the blood necklacereacted, but that could take forever, so the mirror was the only way.
