25 25. The Library

Mauve blinked, the library was dimly lit. The rays of the sun slipped through the thick curtains but it wasn't nearly enough to brighten the space up or brighten anything up for that matter. She squinted and felt a slight breeze.

She looked up to see the library brightly lit. A reasonable amount of candles had been lit up though she could tell it was not all the candles. Her mouth fell open, "What did you…? How?"

Jael ran his hand through his hair again. "Do not act so surprised. You should know how fast we can be."

"I do, I just… I have not seen it in action before now." She peeked a look at him but quickly brought her eyes down.

Jael raised a brow but didn't say anything else.

In the silence, she raised her head to look at the library and she could not help the falling of her jaw. The space was big, she had been inside the library at the castle only about a handful of times and she had thought it was huge. However, this library was at least twice its size.

There were so many shelves holding so many books. She strained her neck as she tried to see all the way to the top. "What would I do to get to the top?" She asked absentmindedly.

"There is a ladder but it is not for you to use." His voice sounded stern.

"Why?" Mauve blurted out with a puzzled look.

"Just don't use it."

"Does that mean I can't read the books here?" Mauve asked while twisting her fingers, the order made her uneasy.

Jael frowned, "How did you get that from what I uttered?"

"You just said not to use the ladder. I cannot reach past the third space in the shelves and I can only reach the third shelf if I stand on my toes."

"Worry about the fourth shelf when you're done reading all the books on the first, second, and third shelves. No matter how fast you read you'd need at least a month."

Mauve opened her mouth to argue but quickly closed it. Books were expensive, and the fact that he was letting her into such a great library and giving her access to some books was more than she had ever gotten at the castle.

All the years she spent in the castle she was never allowed in the library until she began to play princess and even then she wasn't allowed in the library for more than an hour. 

"What?" Jael asked her when the silence dragged on.

"Um, well. What if I finish in less than a month?" 

He raised a brow and walked closer. Mauve's eyes widened and she quickly dropped her gaze to the floor. It was taking all her willpower to not take a step back and she knew it wasn't because of fear.

"Are you willing to bet on it?" 

"Huh? What?" Mauve blinked but didn't raise her head. There was no way she could and with her head bent she could still see part of his torso a little too clearly in her opinion. The pronounced abs made her think of a bumpy road. She wondered if it would be uncomfortable to lie on.

Mauve shook her head vigorously at the unbelievable thought that crossed her mind. She must be sleep deprived. Her face grew hot and she brought her hands to her face in an attempt to cool it down.

Why in the gods' name did he not put on a shirt? 

Jael took a step forward and closed the already tight space between them. Mauve didn't think, her body moved backward instinctively. Jael didn't stop, he took another step forward, and she took a step backward.

He took a step and she tried to take a step backward but then she realized she had her back to the shelf and there was no space for her to move. She gasped slightly but still kept her head down.

"I said," Jael started to say. He moved a finger under her chin and slowly raised her head. "Are you willing to bet on it?"

Mauve blinked, she was flushed from head to toe. His finger was cold against her chin but somehow the heat radiating from it was hot enough to burn. 

His blue eyes were staring intensely at her as if he could see into her soul. It didn't help that he was handsome. Lashes so long she didn't think it was legal for a man even if he was a vampire to have that amount of lashes.

His nose was sharp and perfectly molded. His jawline had the same sharpness to it. Mauve could stare at him forever but it was his lips that called to her. It was the only skin with color, pink. It didn't help that at that moment he chose to lick it. 

Mauve closed her eyes but she could still see his lips clearly. They were a little full but not as full as hers were. She remembered the texture and blushed furiously at the memory.

She slowly nodded her head, the silence, and enclosed space were driving her crazy. Instead of responding she was ogling him. She could barely recall what the question was about as he held her captive with just a touch.

"Are you scared of me?" He asked and Mauve's eyes flew open.

He was still staring at her and as always his expression was unreadable. "Yes," she answered and looked away from his eyes.

"Why? Have I done anything to make you feel afraid?"

Mauve quickly stepped to the side, her heart was beating faster than she could handle. He didn't go after her and she was grateful for that, she needed a moment to breathe and calm her nerves. 

She brought her hands to her chest and hoped that it would slow down faster this way. She couldn't explain what she felt but she was certain now that every time he touched her, she wanted to touch him back even though she was scared of him.

"Am I that scary?"