Page 47 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“What do you know?”

Guilt flooded her as she realized she had barely even thought of him the last few days. Edgar deserved her focus, but all she could think about was Valeria.

“I don’t have details,” Valeria said as she stalked across the room. “But I know what my pretty sisters are like and he won’t be wanting for attention.”

“What type of attention?”

“I’m not sure it’s the type of attention I should discuss with such a proper, gently bred lady.”

Oh. She certainly didn’t have the most experience with either men or relationships, but she knew what Valeria meant. It should have bothered her to think of him doing such things, but she couldn’t find it in her to care.

“What he does in London isn’t my concern as long as he returns to me.”

Valeria’s lip curled. “Madame Gavreau, leave us.”

“I’m nearly finished⁠—”

“Now,” Valeria said with such authority it made Caroline shiver.

Madame Gavreau didn’t look happy, but she scurried from the room, taking her large collection of pins with her. Caroline turned to Valeria so she could see her and not just her reflection in the mirror.

“Do you really not care what your fiancé is doing while he’s away?” Valeria asked, stalking towards her like a predator ensnaring its prey. “Why he hasn’t come back or why he isn’t writing to you?”

It bothered her, but not in the way Valeria wanted it to. It was frustrating that he had been gone for so long and wasn’t communicating, but it didn’t hurt. Not in the same way it burned when Valeria mentioned The Count.

“I’m still going to marry him.”

“Because you need his money.”

Valeria accentuated her point by poking her stomach, and even though she wore her corset and didn’t really feel it, she still flinched.

“Yes.”

It wasn’t romantic, but it was practical. The kind of practicality she always knew would be her destiny.

“You don’t have to settle for a man who will always care about himself and his career more than you.”

“How do you know what I deserve?”

“Then what about what you want? Because there’s no way I believe this could be what you want.”

“What if all I want is you?”

Caroline could hardly believe the words tumbled from her mouth as she looked at Valeria’s deep brown eyes that swirled with more emotion than she could recognize. Telling her the truth felt like hurling herself off a cliff, but she had to know if Valeria would catch her.

“You want me? Even standing here in your wedding dress, you want me? In ways you will never, ever want your husband.”

“Yes.”

Valeria’s eyes blazed at her answer. Their eye contact was potent, and Caroline was powerless to end it, but her answer would have been the same if her eyes were closed, or if she were in another room. She wanted Valeria more than life itself, more than air. Even though she knew she shouldn’t, as Valeria could be the vampire she searched for and she was engaged and there was no future for them, Caroline couldn’t stop wanting her, and she was tired of pretending she didn’t.

Stepping off the stool, she grabbed Valeria and pulled her towards her for their first kiss in eight years. The other woman was stiff for a few moments, long enough that Caroline’s bravery wavered before strong arms held her and soft lips kissed her back. So much time had passed since their last kiss that Caroline had the chance to make it small in her head. Insignificant. The feelings of a confused girl on the cusp of womanhood desperate to grow up any way she could.

This kiss wasn’t any of those things.

Valeria’s lips were gentle, but the fire in Caroline roared. Her hands moved to grip the lapels of Valeria’s dressing gown. This kiss couldn’t end. Not now, not ever. Valeria fell to her waist as she deepened the kiss.

They broke apart for a moment, breath heaving and a ghost of a smile decorating Valeria’s mouth as they stared into each other’s eyes. “How are you even sweeter than before?”