Page 8 of To Dwell in Shadows
He gave her that shy smile with the dimple that always made her insides flip.
“I love learning new things about you,” she said, reaching for his face.
She had meant to brush a soft kiss against his mouth, but when their lips met, he immediately deepened the kiss. Backing her against the door, her arms banded around him.
The rich flavor of his mouth, the feeling of their tongues twining, and the knowledge that they were completely secluded in his towering lair was intoxicating. Even within Eldridge’s barn, Selene sometimes worried that the moans and growls coming from their love nest could be heard by anyone outside. But the stone walls surrounding them in the tower were several feet thick, and it was a long way down to the ground.
When Selene rubbed herself against the growing bulge in Sam’s pants, he broke their kiss. His eyelids were heavy, irises flickering red.
“Later,” he rumbled, taking a step back. “Let me show you inside.”
Selene took a second to catch her breath, then passed through the carved door. She was immediately surrounded by bookcases. Each curved wall of the tower held a dark, polished wood bookcase that stretched halfway up the vaulted ceiling. The books were neatly stacked upright on each shelf, but there wasn’t an inch of space tospare. The continuous line of bookcases was broken up by pair of glass doors leading out to a balcony. A green velvet couch and leather armchair sat in the center of the room, facing a brick fireplace.
Selene moved closer to the books, skimming over titles likeQuest of Fortune,Nightfall’s Desire,andLustful Journeys.Sam leaned against the doorway, watching her closely.
“I knew you liked to read but I didn’t expect this,” she said, gesturing around the room. “It’s incredible.”
“Thank you. I bought most of them from traveling merchants.”
Selene pulled a book calledYearning of the Storm’s Kissfrom the shelf. Graphic descriptions of sex leapt off the page as she flipped through it.
“Sam!” she said in mock outrage. “You read smut?”
“What do you mean?”
She grabbed another book at random. This one contained detailed drawings of a furry Lycah couple involved in various obscene acts. The third book she pulled out from a different shelf appeared to be about a group of scaled Drago males and one very satisfied looking Drago female. The book next to that was full of poetry dedicated to the intimate folds nestled within a female Nereid’s tail.
“Are all these books about sex?” she asked.
Sam tapped a leather-bound book near his elbow. “This one is about an expedition through uncharted seas. But the others are mostly erotic texts, yes.” His eyes were hot on her. “I’ve been waiting for my mate for a long time.”
Her arm trembled slightly with anticipation as she re-shelved the poetry book. “Show me the bedroom.”
He led her through another intricately carved door near the fireplace. At the center of the room was an enormous circular bed draped in red brocade. A bathroom was nestled in the corner, while a tapestry rug lay before the dual-sided fireplace. Narrow windows, cut into the walls, allowed soft light to filter in.
“This is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen,” Selene said,trailing her fingers over the bedspread. She could feel the weight of Sam’s gaze and knew he was imagining her spread out before him. “Did you build this, too?”
“Yes.”
Selene held out her arms and did a little spin. “This is so cozy. I love it.”
“I’m glad,” Sam said, his voice low. “It’s also very private.”
He moved toward her with slow, deliberate steps, then pulled her firmly against him. She reached up to kiss him, then hesitated.
“Wait,” she whispered.
Sam let out a growl of protest. “What’s wrong?”
“I have an idea.”
“What?”
She wet her lips, then said, “Bring me your favorite book from the other room. One with something that you used to fantasize about.”
“Why?”
“I want to make it a reality.”
