Page 70 of Librarian

“Lambert.” I huff, not even needing to ask who could be behind this ostentatious display. “Of course.”

The petals are strewn everywhere, arranged painstakingly in a giant heart that covers the bed.

Dakari snorts. “Show off.”

He is, but I can’t help the secret smile that touches my lips as I head for my dresser, moving one vase out of the way so I can set my grimoire down in front of the mirror.

My makeup takes three spells, and taming my hair into soft, shiny waves that flow down my spine takes another two. I debate adding more length to the skirt again, but Eddy was insistent. The way Dakari’s dark eyes have dropped to admire the view as I bend makes me rethink the idea.

It’s nice to be the object of his attention. When he sees that I’ve caught him in the mirror, he offers me a rare, roguish grin.

“Did the others get you something for Valentine’s?”

My face warms. “Jasper woke me up with breakfast. Pierce brought me fancy chocolates while I was working, and North…” I turn scarlet as I remember the way he sank to his knees beneath my desk and ate me out while I tried to keep quiet. “He was a little more physical about it.”

There’s no need to mention the two beautiful foiled and leather-bound historical romance books that appeared on my doorstep. I know who they were from. The fact that he wrote a snám suad and tucked it into the first book gave it away.

Leo went to great lengths to find books set in the time period when I was born, then wrote me an obscure and tricky Ancient Irish form of poetry.

Urgh. He could’ve just slunk away and pretended not to exist. That would’ve been simpler. Instead, he found a gift that’s the perfect blend of both of us.

“Saving the best for last, then?” Dakari asks, drawing my attention back to him. I twist, looking over my shoulder, eyes widening as I catch sight of a silver chain hanging from his fingers.

His grip hides the pendant from view, but I catch a glimpse of blue before he tucks it behind his back.

“What is it?” I cross to stand in front of him, but he twirls the forefinger of his other hand instead of letting me see.

I do as he asks, letting him fasten the chain around my neck. It’s short—more a collar than a necklace—and my heart does a tiny skip as I read too deeply into that detail before I force myself to focus on the locket that rests in the hollow of my throat.

It’s a book, embellished with tiny blue crystals. I pop it open, craning my head to try to see what’s inside. It’s not a picture, just an engraving.

Dakari leans down, pressing his lips to the spot just below my ear.

“It says ‘mine’.”

His husky whisper sends a shiver running down my spine even as my heart resumes making a fool of itself in my chest.

“Am I?” I ask boldly.

His lips trail lower, and my head tilts to the side, giving him better access. “Are you doubting my intentions, baby girl?”

My head shakes before he can even finish talking. “No.”

His constancy is one of the most wonderful things in my life. I let the solidness of that bond soak into my skin, healing the fractures left by another man.

“I love you,” I whisper, the confession stark. He presses a deeper kiss to my neck, and I shudder. “You’re supposed to say it back.”

“You’re everything to me,” he promises, nipping at the over-sensitised skin. “I’ll spend every day of my life proving it to you, starting right now, if you let me.”

“We’ll be late.” The breathy objection is so weak that there’s no mistaking it for anything other than a token resistance.

He hums under his breath, hand coming up to rest right over the chain.

“No, we won’t.”

With his hips, he nudges me back to the dresser, pressing me forward until my hands rest on the surface. He guides my legs apart with his foot. The lace barely covering my thighs slips higher, and my whole body trembles.

“Watch yourself in the mirror,” he murmurs in my ear, carefully brushing my hair over one of my shoulders, then kisses the exposed skin of my back. “Don’t close your eyes.”