page103 (2/2)
“I decided not to wear the a headache, and every time the curtains blew she winced, but she was deter to be without any interference When she’d seen him at the Salpêtrière, she had been too distracted by her father’s condition to pay any attention to her mate
“Hello, Phoebe” Miriam entered She was not in her usual black leather and boots, but in a flowing skirt Her long hair fell around her shoulders, and her neck, arers were covered with heavy jewels
“Excellent We can get started,” Baldwin said “Miriahter’s decision to mate with Marcus, a member of my family and the Bishop-Clairmont scion, son of Matthew de Clermont?”
“Are you actually going to go through the entire betrothal ceremony?” Miriam demanded
“That was lared at her “You wanted it to be official”
“Wait Don’t we need Marcus to be here before we go any further?” Phoebe asked “Where is he?” Her anxiety rose What if Marcus had had second thoughts? What if he decided he didn’t want her now?
“I’ht here”
Marcus stood just over the threshold, wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers with a hole in one toe He looked handsohtly mischievous, as he always did And he sh Phoebe had to tear her eyes away froive his aunt a proper hello
“Hello, Phoebe,” Freyja said, bea “I told you ould make it”
“Yes,” Phoebe said, her eyes fixed on Marcus Her throat felt dry, and she had to struggle to get that single word out
Marcus smiled Phoebe’s heart thumped in response
Her senses clicked into overdrive All she could hear was the sound of his heart beating All she could shts were only of Marcus Her skin yearned for his touch
And just like that he had her in his arms, his lips pressed to hers, the clean scents of licorice and bee bal with a hundred other notes she couldn’t yet recognize or name
“I love you, sweetheart,” heyour mind It’s too late You’re already mine Forever”
There were congratulations and chahter after Phoebe formally chose Marcus to be her mate None of it made much of an i days to announce her intention to irrevocably attach herself to another creature When it came time to do it, however, all she could do was stare at Marcus with rapt attention
“You have a bit of red in your hair,” Phoebe said, re a strand from his shoulders “I’ve never noticed it before”
Marcus took her hand and kissed it, his touch electrifying Phoebe’s heart skipped a beat and then felt like it was going to explode Marcus smiled
That tiny crease at the side of his mouth—she’d never noticed that before, either It wasn’t a wrinkle, exactly, but a light depression in the skin as though it rerinned
“Phoebe Did you hear me?” Miriam’s voice penetrated Phoebe’s consciousness
“No That is, I’m sorry” Phoebe tried to focus “What did you say?”
“I said it’s tio back to New Haven Marcus isn’t going to be ht as well be useful”
“Oh” Phoebe didn’t knohat she was supposed to say A horrifying thought occurred to her “I don’t have to go with you, do I?”
“No, Phoebe Although you uished at the prospect of spending ti you with hter”
Seeing Miriaht and one dark, was like watching two pri to achieve balance
“I have always looked after her She is randson’s mate,” Ysabeau assured her “Phoebe is a de Clermont now”
“Yes, but she will always be hter,” Miriam replied with a touch of fierceness
“Of course,” Ysabeau said smoothly
Finally, Miriahtly twined, Phoebe and Marcus saw them to their cars
“How et you alone?” Marcus whispered, his htly into the sensitive skin behind her ear
“Your grand to reh her knees felt bendy and after their separation she wanted nothing more than to spend the next ninety days in bed with Marcus If it felt that good to have hi to be like to make love?
“I paid Freyja to take Ysabeau and Marthe to Saint-Lucien for lunch”
Phoebe giggled
“I see that meets with your approval,” Marcus said
Phoebe’s giggle turned to laughter
“If you keep laughing like that, they’ll suspect we’re up to sohter in a kiss that left her gasping for air
After that, Phoebe was pretty sure Ysabeau and Marthe did more than suspect ould happen when they descended the hill to Madame Laurence’s restaurant
By the time she and Marcus were finally, coet nervous about as about to happen
“I’ yet,” Phoebe confessed as Marcus drew her toward his room
Marcus gave her a kiss that left her dizzy
“Do we exchange blood before or after we make love?” Phoebe asked once they were inside and the door was closed and locked It was a very stout lock, she noticed, probably fifteenth century in date “I don’t want to do it wrong”
Marcus was on one knee before her, sliding her knickers out from underneath her dress
“I’ the aquamarine linen up to expose bare flesh “Oh, God You smell even better than you did before”
“I do?” Phoebe stopped worrying about what she was supposed to do long enough to thoroughly enjoy what Marcus was actually doing with his asped
Marcus looked up at her with the wicked expression that only she saw “Yes Which is completely impossible, because you were perfect before So how could you be more perfect now?”
“Do I—taste—different?” Phoebe asked, her fingers threaded through his hair She gave it a little tug
“I’ll have to do rin before delving into her once more
Phoebe discovered that, like s in life, vampires had no need to rush when it ca into every , unconcerned about the ti or if it was her turn to please Marcus
Time just—stopped There was no then, no soon, only a bone-satisfying, endless now
Every nerve in her body was tingling, seconds orhimself with her body and Phoebe had explored his with the enhanced touch, taste, sht that she now possessed She had never iined she could feel so deeply, or be so co
When Phoebe was moments away from climax, Marcus rolled them over so that Phoebe was balanced atop him He was still inside her Gently, Marcus cupped her face in his hands He searched her face as though he was looking for soht, Marcus drew her mouth toward his breast
Phoebe picked up a scent—elusive,she had ever smelled before
Marcusscent grew stronger He put his hands on her hips, holding her tight to hi the friction between them
Phoebe felt her body begin to spiral toward co on Marcus’s chest, and she heard his heart beat Once