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O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me prov'd,
I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.
When he’s finished, I do my best not to pass out.
Or weep.
Or hurl myself at him and kiss him with every single bit of adoration in my overflowing heart.
“Annie,” he says, my name a husky warning that makes me want to be naked with him—immediately.
“Baron,” I echo, holding his gaze, willing him to see that we’re the treasure at the end of the rainbow we’ve both been too scared to believe was real. But it is real and close enough to touch, if only we’re brave enough to reach out and claim it.
He sighs, worry and temptation mixing in his dear face, accompanied by a very real fear that hurts my soul.
“Don’t be afraid,” I whisper. “I won’t bite. Not today, anyway. But once night falls, I can’t make any promises.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes,” he says in his usual, humorless tone. But he doesn’t push me away, and when I step closer, his hand drifts up to cup my face.
“It’s always the time for jokes. How else are we going to get through the hard times and celebrate the happy ones? Jokes are good for you.” I lean into his touch. “Besides, I saw that copy of The Importance of Being Earnest on your shelf. You have a sense of humor, Mr. Blackmore, I just know it.”
His forehead ripples, a silent war playing out in the furrows before he says, “We should go to your house tonight. Talk to the spider. She knows more about the coming danger than she was willing to share. At least with me. But since you’re one of the women under her protection…”
I pull back, unable to think clearly with his fingers sliding into my hair. “When did you talk to Jolene?”
“The night of the party,” he says, a guilty lilt in his voice. “I stopped by to make sure you made it home safely. The spider…caught me at your window.”
My brows lift. “You were spying on me? Was I…” I clear my throat and cross my arms over my chest, silently praying I wasn’t doing anything embarrassing like blowing my nose or trying to find two matching socks in the chaos of my sock drawer or furiously employing my new Succubus Satisfier 3000 while fantasizing about him naked. “Was I doing anything interesting?”
“You were sleeping. I apologize for invading your privacy. I just…couldn’t seem to pull myself away. You’re beautiful when you’re asleep.”
“And much less annoying,” I joke as my cheeks flush with pleasure at the compliment.
Goddess, I’m shameless with this man.
One grudging kind word and I melt into a puddle at his feet.
But he melts pretty easily for me, too, I remind myself as I lean in, pressing a kiss to his cheek before I whisper, “Next time come wake me up.”
“I’ll do no such thing,” he says, but his arm goes around me, pulling me close, making my sleep-deprived body burn. Instantly, I’m filled with enough energy to run all the way back to town.
Or to keep Baron awake for the rest of the day…
