"Or I could show you one of the vamp traits," Alaric bellowed with a smirk.
Alaric's gaze was smoldering, his eyes locking with hers in the dim light of the library.
Shelves towered around them, casting shadows over ancient books bound in leather—volumes on dark creatures, forbidden histories, and secrets not meant for idle eyes.
But his gaze was on her, the only mystery he seemed intent on unraveling.
"You could?" Salviana asked, her voice barely a whisper, breathless with the heat of his nearness.
"Yes, my fiery one," he murmured, his voice low and intimate as his hand trailed up her arm.
Alaric shifted closer, his body brushing hers as he guided her back, pressing her gently against the bookshelf.
He raised one hand to the side of her face, his fingers tracing her cheek as he leaned in. "You know," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear, "I could stay here all night, just looking at you… but there are so many better ways I'd like to know you."
A shiver ran down her spine, and she struggled to keep her composure. "Alaric, we're… we're in the library," she murmured, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. Yet she didn't pull away.
He gave a low chuckle, one that sent her pulse racing. "Oh, I know. Isn't it thrilling, though?" His thumb brushed her lips, lingering as he took in every subtle reaction. "I'd whisper things in your ear that would make even these books blush, if they could."
Salviana's lips parted, and she found herself leaning into his touch, her own hand resting lightly against his chest, feeling the steady strength of his heartbeat beneath.
He dipped his head and placed the softest of kisses just beneath her jaw, trailing down the side of her neck, his lips warm against her skin, his stubble grazing her in a way that made her head spin.
"Alaric," she breathed, shivering as he continued, his lips brushing over her skin, barely grazing but making her ache for more. His mouth found the sensitive spot just beneath her ear, and she gasped, clutching the front of his shirt.
"Yes, Salviana?" he murmured, nipping softly at her earlobe before licking over the spot, tasting her, as though he couldn't help himself.
A soft, needy sound escaped her, and she was faintly aware of her fingers curling tighter into the fabric of his shirt. His hand slipped around her waist, drawing her even closer, so that her body was pressed flush against his.
She felt the solid line of his chest against her, her heart racing as her breasts pressed against him. He moved his lips lower, trailing them down to the base of her neck, where her pulse fluttered wildly.
Salviana bit her lip to hold back a moan as his mouth lingered at the hollow of her throat. He pressed a kiss there, then traced a path lower, stopping just at the swell of her breasts, his eyes never leaving her face as he watched her reaction.
"You're stunning when you're flustered," he whispered, his voice deep with a raw edge of desire. "I can feel your heart racing."
She let out a shaky breath, utterly lost in him, her hands resting on his shoulders as if to ground herself. "Alaric… someone might come in," she managed to say, her voice trembling but not wanting him to stop.
He smiled, a wicked, knowing smile. "Let them," he whispered, his hands trailing down her waist, holding her firmly, possessively. "Let them see how hungry I am for you." His hand slid up her side, grazing her ribcage, his fingers barely brushing the edge of her bodice.
Then, in one fluid movement, he captured her mouth in a slow, devastating kiss, one that seemed to melt every thought she had.
His lips moved with a tantalizing deliberateness, teasing, tasting, until all she could do was respond, her own lips parting for him.
Her breath came quicker as he deepened the kiss, his mouth claiming hers with an intensity that left her dizzy.
Her hand dropped, her fingers slipping from his shirt as she lost herself in his embrace, the book she had been holding slipping from her grasp.
It hit the floor with a loud thud, breaking the silence and shattering the moment's tension. She jumped, suddenly aware again of where they were, her cheeks flushed.
Alaric chuckled softly, his hand still at her waist, his thumb gently caressing her side as he looked down at her, amused and enchanted.
"Well," he murmured, his voice thick with humor and warmth, "perhaps we should take this somewhere a little more… private?"
Salviana couldn't help but laugh, the sound soft and breathless. She glanced down at the book, then back up at him, her eyes sparkling. "I think that's a very good idea, my lord."
With one last lingering look, Alaric took her hand, leading her out of the library, the promise of what awaited them sparking between them like a silent, shared secret.
As they left the library, Salviana, ever the curious mind had managed to convince Alaric to let her take one of the ancient tomes on vampire lore.
She held the book close, its thick leather cover worn from ages of careful handling. Alaric glanced down at her with a faint smile, charmed by her insatiable thirst for knowledge and the way she clutched the book as if it were some hidden treasure.
At the library's entrance, the elderly librarian appeared, bowing slightly as he returned a basket Salviana had left earlier. "Lady Salviana," he said with quiet respect, "your belongings."
"Thank you," she replied softly, smiling as she accepted the basket. She looked up at Alaric, her expression a blend of excitement and gratitude, her fingers wrapped around the handle as if it anchored her back to reality.
Alaric watched her with a sense of fulfillment he hadn't anticipated. Something about being with her—even just watching her gaze light up over a book—had filled him with a deep contentment that transcended any lavish meal.
They hadn't stayed long at the restaurant, hardly eating, yet Alaric felt oddly sated, a kind of fullness that warmed him from within.
"That book better not keep you from me tonight," he murmured, leaning close so only she could hear.
Salviana's cheeks flushed, her lips curving into a smile as she looked up at him. "I make no promises."
He chuckled, his hand settling at her back, guiding her out of the library.
They moved through the kingdoms alleys together, her basket swaying lightly at her side, the book tucked under her arm—a small but precious reminder of this night.
And though they walked side by side, a slight but thrilling charge hung between them, a silent understanding that tonight was far from over.
After a long, satisfying day of exploring Wyfellon, Alaric and Salviana made their way back to the stables.
Alaric paid the keeper, then mounted their horse, pulling Salviana up in front of him, steady and secure within his arms.
As they rode through the dimming light, a gentle hush fell between them, each savoring the day's memories—their shared laughter, Salviana's animated conversations, and the new beginnings they had sown together.
Upon reaching home, the maids welcomed them warmly, exchanging knowing smiles as they took the parcels of flower seeds, hand fans, and delicate cakes from Salviana's hands.
After freshening up and changing out of their travel clothes, they joined one another for dinner. The evening meal was quiet, with both of them sharing glances and soft smiles across the table.
Salviana felt a calming warmth settle over her, as if all the edges of her earlier anxieties were being smoothed away.
Once dinner concluded, they prepared for bed. As Salviana slipped into her nightgown and settled into bed, she noticed Alaric lying beside her, closer than ever before.
She felt her heart quicken, her cheeks warming as he moved nearer, his arm instinctively wrapping around her shoulders. She hesitated for a moment, her own anxiety mingling with a flicker of excitement.
He caught her gaze, a silent question in his eyes, as though asking if this closeness was what she wanted too.
She nodded, finding solace in the steady rhythm of his breathing, feeling all her hesitations melt away.
Gently, she nestled her head on his chest, her hand resting lightly over his heart.
The stillness between them held a comforting warmth, and in that moment, words felt unnecessary.
Alaric's arms tightened protectively around her, his hand smoothing gently down her back. They were silent, the anxieties of the day slowly surrendering to peace.
"Good night," she whispered, her voice soft with drowsiness.
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Good night, Salviana," he murmured, a hint of a smile in his voice.
He decided he would let her rest tonight and not bring up her promise from the library because she was probably exhausted from the day.
As they drifted to sleep, cocooned in each other's embrace, it was the first time they found completely true comfort in one another's presence—a quiet, unspoken promise of warmth and belonging that neither had known they needed so deeply.