Page 40 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2
RITE OF BLOOD AND VOWS
ONE
I turn over in the bed, the last tendrils of sleep drifting away. Warm arms wrap around me, pulling me closer and reminding me that I'm not alone here. I push myself back into Linc, enjoying how it feels to wake up beside him.
"I could get used to this," I murmur.
He chuckles. "You're going to," he reminds me. "We'll be married in a couple of weeks."
"It feels like an age away," I respond.
"It does," he agrees. "But also not long at all."
"Especially as I'm sure our fathers will have plenty of things to keep us busy between now and then." I turn around in his arms so I'm facing him.
His eyes are still heavy with sleep, but I can see the adoration shining through when he looks at me. "We'll find moments for ourselves."
"Mmm, which should be easy if your servants keep letting me into your room." I trail my fingers over the contours of his face. "Though I miss Pip."
"We could take her on a walk later," he suggests. "Will Bastian be there for your history lesson?"
"If Lord Fallmartin has anything to do with it, he will," I respond. "If Bastian has a say, then no. He's angry enough about learning to write and do arithmetic, but he can see the point in that at least. History is something he's even less convinced he needs to know."
"And you?"
"I find it fascinating," I admit. "But perhaps that's simply because you're the one who started teaching me."
"You think that, but I remember you being the one who came to the library in order to find out what you could by yourself."
"Mmm, I was feeling pretty hopeless then," I admit. "I was in a strange place, having just learned I was a vampire and that I was expected to suddenly be this perfect noble daughter, and I needed to do something."
"Wasn't there also a mysterious stranger who confused you the night before too?" he teases.
"Oh yes. He turned out to be the most dangerous thing about my new life." I shift closer to him.
"And why would that be?"
"Because I fell in love with him."
"That doesn't sound so bad." His smile is contagious.
"No, it's really not." I lean in and brush my lips against his.
He kisses me deeply, a hand trailing down my shoulder and over my waist. I love how it feels when he touches me. It's not even about the desire for more, but about the closeness it brings between us.
His hand dips lower still, skimming against my hip and igniting a need within me that only he can scratch. I suppose I could deal with it myself, but it wouldn't be nearly as good.
"Linc," I murmur into our kiss.
"Mmm?" He kisses my collarbone, bringing his fangs close to my pulse point and distracting me.
"Have you heard from your sister yet?"
He pulls back. "You want to talk about my sister right now?"
"Not particularly. I guess I was just wondering whether you'd heard from her about what we can do in order to not get pregnant," I respond. "Then we can go a little further..."
"Ah, I see what's on your mind."
