Page 42 of Must Love Libraries and Libations
Erasmus pulled back, and we looked around, the room finally coming clear. As a half-elf, I had good night vision. The room came slowly into view, revealing…
“Stevenson?” I asked, spotting the bookwyrm. He was sitting on a bookshelf, studying me curiously.
The bookwyrm trilled questionably at me.
“Oh my god, we’re in the library proper!” I squeaked, frantically looking around for anything with which to cover myself.
The witch had deposited us on a couch in one of the reading nooks in the back of the library. And there I was, in only my panties, Erasmus in a state of undress, his erection pressing dangerously at the seams of his pants.
I grabbed a pillow from the couch and rose, looking around everywhere for my dress.
“Erasmus,” I said, desperation in my voice. “My dress!”
He rose quickly and began looking frantically. “Library,” he said. “We need Miss Windsong’s dress. Will you please help?”
Nearby, the books on the stacks shuffled as if in agreement, then the shuffling set off in every direction as the library itself attempted to save me from the kind of embarrassment that would make me want to leave Moonshine Hollow.
“My mother! If my mother hears about this, she’ll die right on the spot.”
Erasmus turned, looking about for my dress, but then paused. “Wait. Something is not right…” Erasmus said, buttoning his shirt as he rose. “Wait here.”
“Erasmus,” I whispered. “Don’t leave me.”
“One moment.”
He stepped out of the nook, disappearing around a corner.
“Erasmus!”
The moment he turned the corner, I heard the bookwyrms call to him. They were so loud. I had never heard them so loud before. A chorus of clicks, honks, and whistles reverberated off the walls of the library. Usually, the creatures merely read or slept.
Once more, the bookcases gave a shudder, and as if carried on the wind, the vibrating books pulled my dress along and set it gently in my hands.
“Oh, thank all the gods. Thank you, Library,” I said, and began quickly pulling on my dress and hurrying to join Erasmus.
Against all odds, I’d penetrated his stone heart. He said he was falling for me. I hoped it was true, because I was one hundred percent falling for that stubborn, infuriating, and perfectly wonderful gargoyle.
CHAPTER 14
ERASMUS
What have I done?
The question rang in my head over and over again as I turned and headed back into the library.
The moment the reality of the situation hit me. We’d been moments away from joining completely. I’d told her I was falling for her.
What have I done?
I’d been poised to claim her completely. I wanted to. I’d never wanted something more in my whole life. She tasted like strawberries and summer rain and was the softest, sweetest thing I had ever encountered.
I wanted to make her mine.
And I had told her so.
I’d told her I was falling for her.
What had I been thinking? To bare my heart like that? Now what was I going to do?
