“Then let me go,” she murmurs.

  I do, and she backs toward the garden gate, as far away from me as she can get. That hurts a little, but I have to remember that she’s human. There was a day I’ve almost forgotten—a day four centuries ago—when I discovered a world I wasn’t ready for. I have to remember that.

  Janet takes a few unsteady breaths. “Okay, vampires are real.”

  I try not to look too menacing. “I’m Archibald LaVere,” I say, offering my hand. “Archie to my friends.”

  She looks at my hand dubiously. “Janet Collins.”

  “Pleased to meet you.”

  She shifts from side to side, looking down at the stone path. “A real vampire.”

  “Yes,” I repeat. “I know it’s hard for humans to understand.”

  Her sky-blue eyes meet mine again. “Have you been to Paris?”

  I smile, keeping my fangs inside. “The City of Love is beautiful. I love the Eiffel Tower. The view is tremendous, especially at night with all of Paris sparkling.”

  She looks wistful. “I’ve never been. And I’ve always wanted to.”

  “Maybe I can take you sometime,” I say, and immediately regret it.

  I may be drawn to Janet in a way I haven’t felt before, but I shouldn’t be making promises. Not when I’ve been planning my death for over a year now. If she hadn’t popped up in front of my home today, I may have gone through with it. I’d been seriously considering it. How can I promise this vivacious woman something like that if I don’t know if I will be around to do with her? What if the novelty wears off and I step into the sun?

  “To Paris?” she asks, her eyes shining.

  “And who knows where your magic book will take you,” I mention, sidestepping the question.

  “Oh,” she says. “I hadn’t thought of that. I mean, if it really is magic, it might take me anywhere!”

  She’s so enthusiastic that I wonder, would seeing the world through her eyes give me new life? I’ve been so set on my fate, but I am beginning to glimpse another possibility now.

  “Would it be all right if I walked you home?”

  She nods. “I really should be getting back. Page is probably starving.”

  I offer her my arm, and to my surprise, she takes it.

  Janet

  I can’t stop sneaking glances at Archie as we walk along the side of the road. It’s sweet of him to offer to escort me home… even if he is a vampire who doesn’t own a car because he never learned to drive. Apparently, he never saw the need.

  “Are there other kinds of creatures?” I ask. I can’t believe I’ve just accepted that he’s a vampire, but there’s no other way to explain the fangs, red eyes, and super-speed.

  “Creatures?” Archie raises an eyebrow, but my gaze drops down to his lips. I've never been kissed like that—like I’m the center of a man’s universe. I’ve never felt the magic that was kissing Archie, and I can’t help craving more.

  I know I should be upset that he only kissed me to shut me up, but I can't stop thinking about the feel of his lips on mine—hard, demanding, making me forget that I had somehow magically teleported from the library to his house.

  “Werewolves? Mermaids? Fairies? Are they real?”

  “Yes,” he says simply. “Though many of them have retired from the human world. The fae, for example, haven’t interacted with humans in centuries.”

  I blink, unsure of how to process that information. Still, the world seems a lot more exciting knowing there were so many other kinds of creatures in it. I push on to safer subjects, if there is such a thing.

  “So you’re about four hundred?”

  He nods. He walks close to me, and our hands are nearly brushing. Despite my brain whirling at a million miles a minute, my body is definitely reacting to his. I want to reach out and take his hand, but that seems too forward. We just met, and he’s a freaking vampire. I’m not even sure he’s interested—or available.

  “Are you married?” I ask.

  “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I were.” Archie lifts his gaze and focuses on the horizon, where the barest slivers of the sunrise are peeking through. “But I was, a long time ago. When I was human. But I’ve been alone for many years now.”

  His voice is so sad that I find myself reaching out and taking his hand, then squeezing it in sympathy.

  “I’m sorry,” I say. “You don't have to talk about it.”

  “It's okay. I don’t mind.” He pauses, and for a second, I don't think he's going to say anything, but then he adds, “Those were different times. The marriage was arranged, and I hardly knew her before she fell ill. The plague,” he adds. “We'd been married less than a year. If I had stayed human, I’d likely have remarried. Had children. But I was turned before any of that could happen.”

  “Vampires can’t have children?” I ask, wondering if that bit of lore is true.

  “We cannot. But I’ve sired many vampires. Turned them,” he adds, even though I already know what he means. He looks down at our interlocked fingers, then back at the horizon. “The sun is rising.”

  “Oh,” I say, following his gaze. “Can you be out in the sun?”

  He shakes his head, then pulls me closer. “Do you trust me?”

  I shouldn’t. I just met him, and he's an actual vampire, but I say, “Yes.”

  He scoops me into his arms and runs at full speed to the library. My breath whooshes out of me, and I close my eyes at the blur of landscape. The slightest bit of smoke rises off him as he sets me on the porch. It takes me a second to get my bearings, and I lean against him unsteadily.

  “Do I need to invite you in?” I ask.

  “No. But I’d appreciate it if you could unlock the front door.” More smoke rises from his skin.

  “It’s unlocked. The library opens—”

  Archie pulls the door open and zooms inside.

  “—at five,” I mutter under my breath. “Maybe I need to get a large, neon ‘open’ sign.”

  I follow Archie inside. Tiny paws scamper up the steps, and Page appears. He races straight for our visitor, and I lurch forward to stop him. But the little ball of fur rushes right between my legs and launches himself at Archie. I expect my pet to claw the vampire, but Page settles comfortably on the man's shoulder.

  “I'll take him before he ruins your suit.”

  “It's fine.” Archie chuckles, patting Page like he's used to cats climbing him. Maybe he is.

  “Are vampires some sort of cat magnets?”

  “Not that I know of.” He runs his fingers through Page's fur. “Who's an adorable little kitty? You are.”

  I can't help grinning as I introduce them. “Page, say hello to Archie.” My cheeks flush as I belatedly remember Page is a cat and can't talk. “Archie, this is Page. I found him under the porch last week when I was taking out the trash.”

  Page meows, almost as if to say hello.

  “Nice to meet you,” Archie says, and I'm not sure if he talks to cats, too, or if he's just humoring me. Either way, any reservations I've had about inviting a vampire into this isolated library dissolve. Not that he actually needed to be invited in.

  “Can I look around?” Archie asks. “I’d love to see the library.”

  I nod. “It’s a public library. Everyone is welcome.”

  “Including vampires?” he teases.

  I nod. “Would you like a tour?” I glance at the fiction section and quickly look away. What if we pass by Pride and Prejudice and it sends me to Alaska or the middle of the ocean?

  “A tour would be wonderful.”

  “I just need to feed Page first. The little guy must be starving.” I lead the way across the foyer toward the stairs. “Thank you so much for walking me home. I really appreciate it.”

  He smiles. “Are you okay with letting me stay for the day? The sun’s up now, and I won’t be able to make it back to the manor easily.” He actually looks uncomfortable.

  “Will the sunlight kill you?”

  “Not immediately. I could get back in time, but it would hurt.”

  “Then, yes, you can stay.” My heart pounds at the thought. I glance at Page, snuggled on his shoulder. “I don't think my cat is letting you go any time soon.”

  Archie chuckles and follows me downstairs. My apartment is tiny and a bit embarrassing, but it’s mine.

  “I'm sorry your breakfast is late, bud,” I say as I open a can of food for the purring Page.

  “This is where you live?” Archie asks, looking around.

  “The apartment comes with the job.”

  Archie nods and runs his fingers along some of the handmade throw blankets I’ve collected over the years. “I love their bright colors.”

  I smile. “My mother made these. She loved crafting, but especially making throws. A color for every mood.” The familiar sense of loss settles in the pit of my stomach, but it’s the first time I’ve had the chance to talk about her since she passed, and the words flood out. “Chilly evenings were her favorite. We would each pick a throw, and I’d snuggle with a good book while she’d work on her next creation. She always said how she loved the interplay of colors and textures.”

  “They’re beautiful,” he says. “So lively.”

  I can’t help the snort that escapes me. A vampire calling something lively. Then I shake myself.

  “Cat’s fed. So… Let’s go upstairs,” I say. “I’ll give you that tour.”

  Janet

  Archie and I head back to the library, and he turns straight toward the classics. My heart leaps into my throat.

  “Stop!” I shout.

  Archie freezes and glances at me, eyebrows raised.

  “Don't go near Pride and Prejudice. Not until we're sure it won't teleport you somewhere.”

  “So that’s the culprit?” Archie chuckles.

  “You laugh now, but what if it dumps you in the middle of the field in broad daylight?”

  “Point taken.” He changes direction.

  I show him the non-fiction section and take him through the other fiction aisles, then end our tour at the board games.

  “That’s unusual,” Archie says, taking them in.

  “I thought it might bring in patrons.” I sigh, staring at the brand new, unused boxes.

  “I haven’t heard of most of these,” Archie says, perusing the titles and stopping in front of the chess set. “Do you play?”

  I shake my head. “I’ve always wanted to learn.”

  “I play chess with Freddie once a week,” he says.

  “Freddie?” I can feel my eyebrows rising.

  “My knight.”

  “Not your friend?” I ask.

  “Well, I guess so,” he says, shifting uncomfortably. “As king, I didn’t really have any friends.”

  “As king?” I ask, my voice rising.

  He nods but doesn’t elaborate. Is he a king? Or was he a king? My thoughts whirl, but I try to push it out of my mind. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.

  He settles on the couch, as far from the window as possible. It's meant for patrons who come to the library to read, but I'm the only one who's ever sat there in the two years since I got hired.

  I thought Archie would look out of place in the library, especially in his suit, but he seems at home. He leans back, his arms resting on the back and side of the small sofa.

  “Do you need to sleep the sleep of the dead?” I ask, half-joking.

  “No,” he says. “I’m old enough that I don’t sleep much. Five, maybe six hours, but a bit of extra blood fixes that.”

  “Blood…” I whisper, a rock settling in the pit of my stomach. “Do you… need to feed?”

  Archie chuckles. “I’m not going to bite you, Janet. Not unless you ask me to.”

  Something about the way he says it makes my heart race, and I suddenly can’t stop picturing his lips on my neck, his fangs buried inside me.

  “You’re safe with me,” Archie says. “I give you my word.”

  I nod. “You don’t need to bite someone? So you don’t starve?”

  He shakes his head. “There are blood banks now. I have a stash back home, and I just ate. It should tide me over for a day or two.”

  “Okay, then.” I settle next to him, my heart pounding. Now that I’m no longer thinking about being bitten, I wonder if he'll kiss me again, and my gaze drifts down to his lips.

  They move. “What kind of books do you like to read, Janet?”

  “Mostly romance and classics.” Which is probably the only kissing I'll be seeing. I doubt he’ll kiss me again. He only did it that first time because I’d been about to cry.

  “Who are your favorite authors?”

  I list off a few classics, and then a few romance authors, and Archie nods like he knows what I'm talking about.

  “Do you read romance?” I ask skeptically.

  He nods, and his cheeks take on a red tint. “Vampires have a lot of time on our hands.”

  I'm still not convinced. “What's your favorite romance book?”

  Archie gets to his feet and heads towards the romance section. He starts to reach for a book, spots the classics farther back, and detours.

  “Wait,” I cry after him.

  “I promise I won't touch Pride and Prejudice, or any glowing books,” Archie assures me.

  I swallow, nod, and follow him. There isn’t much I’ll be able to do if a book sends us on a trip, but I can’t stomach the thought of Archie teleporting out of my life for good. Plus, there’s always a chance that this time, we’ll end up in Paris.

  Archie almost makes it to the romance section before he changes his mind and turns to the classics. He stops and surveys the shelf. “Pride and Prejudice isn’t here.”

  “It isn’t?” I step up next to him. He’s right. All the other beautifully bound editions are there, but not Pride and Prejudice. “I don’t suppose someone came in while I was out?”

  He shrugs. “Maybe it disappeared when you teleported? One magical use only?”

  I nibble on my lip.

  “I’m glad you’ve kept my donations,” he continues.

  “Your donations?” My eyes widen. “Wait, you’re the one who’s been buying these for the library?”

  He traces his fingers along the spines. “Making them, actually.”

  My jaw drops. “You’re making them? How?”

  “I was a bookbinder before I was turned.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I’ve missed it, so I set up my own printing press at home.”

  “Those take way more than a printing press. They’re masterpieces.”

  “It’s kind of you to say so.”

  “I’m serious. Books like that…” I wave my hand vaguely, at a loss for words.

  “Thank you,” he says softly. “I’ve really missed the craft. The hand-sewn binding, page trimming, lettering, the designs.” He sighs. “Modern paperbacks just don’t have the same feel.”

  “Is that why you’ve been making classics?”

  He shakes his head. “I only create titles that are out of copyright. I considered getting permission from some of my favorite authors, but that would involve asking them to send me their original manuscript.”

  “So who are your favorite authors?” I press. I know Archie mentioned reading romance, but I still expect him to pick up mystery or horror. He grabs a paranormal romance instead. “If I could have my pick of titles, I’d hand-bind this one. Brown leather, gold leaf wolf on the cover.”

  “Not a vampire book?” I chuckle.

  “No. Books about vampires get so many facts wrong that I can't read them,” he says, leading me back to the couch.

  I can’t help but agree. Now that I've met an actual vampire, I'm not sure if I'll be able to read them, either. “Do authors get werewolves right?”

  Archie grins. “Can't really mess up howling at the moon, can you?”

  I smile back.

  “But, no. They get all the werewolf stuff wrong, too. I just find it amusing. Let me show you my favorite part,” he says, taking a seat and flipping through the book.

  I don't know what comes over me, but as I settle next to him, I say, “Why don't you read it to me?”

  The idea of the steamy romance read aloud in Archie’s voice does funny things to my insides, and I want to scoot over closer to him. I’m a librarian, and no one takes on this admittedly poorly paying career if they don’t love books. I love reading them, listening to them, and seeing them acted out.

  As he flips through the paperback, my heart races. And as he starts to read from the beginning of chapter nine, butterflies erupt in my stomach, and I can’t help scooting closer on the couch. His voice is deep and rich, and perfect for the story. He would make an amazing audiobook narrator.

  Somehow, I'm even more attracted to the man than I was before. I can barely pay attention to what he is saying. My gaze keeps drifting to his lips and his hands grazing the pages.

  I've already read the book, so I know exactly where the scene is going. Archie does too, and his cheeks flush. The scene doesn't even get heated before he suddenly stops, his fingers resting lightly on the page.

  Our eyes meet, and it's like we can't pull away. I don't know who leans in first, but suddenly the poor library book drops to the carpeted floor and we're reaching for each other.

  When Archie's lips touch mine, it's like an explosion of fireworks. The kiss is a thousand times better than our first, which shouldn't even be possible, but somehow it is. His lips are soft and gentle on mine, but I can feel his fangs, a reminder that I’m kissing a vampire. Somehow, that only turns me on more.

  Archie’s arms slide around me, and I moan and grab the front of his suit jacket and hold on for dear life. I want the kiss to last forever, but as suddenly as we are together, Archie is pulling back.

  He slides back on the couch, putting distance between us, and I can’t help but feel hurt. Am I a terrible kisser? Did I misread his signals?

  Archie

  My hormones are raging like a teenager, and I want nothing more than to ravish Janet right here in the middle of the library. Which is why I put distance between us, even though it’s the last thing I want.

 

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