Champagne & Commitments: A Faery Bargains Novella by Melissa Marr

Author:Melissa Marr [Marr, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-06T18:30:00+00:00

9

When we reached our home, the one that bordered Elphame, not my apartment, Beatrice took my face in her hands and held my gaze. “Do not forget who you are, Geneviève.” She looked at Eli. “Or allow this wound with Eli to fester.”

Then she kissed my forehead as tenderly as any mother ever did and, in a moment that left me thoroughly speechless, kissed Eli on both cheeks.

“I will handle your Alice and your mother,” Beatrice said with a tone of voice that every Jewish mother could summon at will.

I smothered the smile that such a guilt-provoking tone brought to my lips. Beatrice had barely had the opportunity to be a mother, and both of the women she was going to “handle” were grown women. But seeing this moment of maternal exasperation was as endearing as seeing the gown-clad monster explode a wall to reach me.

“I am lucky to count you as family,” I told her.

“Indeed,” was all she said, but she looked pleased as a kitten in a basket of yarn for a sliver of an instant. Then she was gone as quickly as if she’d never been there. The draugr gift of speed was so remarkable as to mimic disappearing into thin air.

I took an uncomfortable breath before meeting Eli’s gaze. “I don’t want anyone but—”

“You are eternally my home, Geneviève of Crowe and Stonecroft. I share with you my hearth and lintel. May you find shelter in my heart and home.” He led me to the keystone of the doorway, echoing words he’d said to me several times. “In this world and my home, you are mine to safeguard.” He looked like each word was sharp glass on his tongue as he said, “And I failed you.”

“No!”

“If you would seek shelter at another hearth, I will release—”

“You will not.” I grabbed him. “You are eternally my home, Eli of Stonecroft. I share your hearth and lintel. I find shelter in your heart and home. You are mine unto death or beyond.”

I felt my birth magic and our fae magic swirl around us, as if we were in the center of a hurricane. Wind whipped around us, and I was no longer certain that the earth was solid.

Arms around his neck, I pressed my lips to his. I wasn’t sure if it was magic, love, lust or some twist of the three, but together we flowed into the house.

“Geneviève.” Eli pushed me back onto the bed and pulled my dirt-and-blood-stained jeans down almost at the same moment.

“Mine.” He breathed the word against my bare stomach as he kissed and bit his way up.

I plucked at his shirt, as I promised, “Yes. Yours. Always and eternally. Now, touch me. Two weeks apart is too long.”

He laughed, low and joyous. “I would free you if you asked, Geneviève. It would kill me, but if that’s what you w--”

“Not what I’m asking.” I unbuttoned his trousers. “Not what I want ever.”

I slipped my hand into his trousers and stroked. “This. I want this.

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