Chapter 223

I drove up to the mansion at around 7 p.m. I knew what I had to do—for Andrew, for myself, for werewolf kind—but my heart still ached at the very thought. I just wanted to get it over with quickly.

I rushed up the steps to the mansion’s entrance and knocked on the door. My heart leapt as the door opened, partially expecting Andrew to answer, only for Parker’s face to appear. His eyes widened when he saw me.

“Ms. Blanchard, it is a pleasure to see you,” he said as he opened the door wide, motioning me inside. “His Highness is in the dining room, finishing dinner. He will be so happy that you’ve come.”

My eyes stung with unshed tears, but I forced them back.

“I’m excited to see him as well,” I said.

We walked down the empty twisting halls. As we reached the dining room, Parker bowed to the guards standing in front of the double doors.

The guards’ eyes widened when they saw me, just as Parker’s had, but they nodded to Parker all the same. Each of the guards grabbed one of the handles and opened the doors for us.

My heart beat hard against my ribs as Parker and I walked into the dining room. It almost ripped itself out of my chest completely when I saw Andrew sitting at the head of the table, alone.

“Your Highness, I have Ms. Blanchard here to see you,” Parker announced.

Andrew dropped his fork on his nearly empty plate and stood up.

“Crystal?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

Andrew cleared his throat and spoke more loudly.

“Thank you, Parker. Please, ensure that we are not disturbed.”

Parker nodded.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

With a bow to each of us, Parker left the dining room. The doors closed behind him, leaving Andrew and me completely alone—or as completely alone as we could be with the servants in waiting and the guards hidden who-knew-where.

“Please, have a seat,” Andrew said, gesturing to the seat closest to his own.

As we both sat down, our knees brushed against each other. My pulse pumped even more rapidly than before. I smiled shyly up at him, and Andrew smiled back at me.

“I was starting to think that you didn’t want to see me anymore,” he confessed.

“I know. I’m sorry. I just…needed some time to think.”

Andrew nodded in understanding.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked.

I hesitated.

“I don’t know. I shouldn’t stay long…”

“Why not? I have not seen you in so long—” his eyes cast downward— “at least, not without us fighting.”

I pursed my lips and set my hand on Andrew’s.

“A drink would be lovely.”

Andrew set his other hand on top of mine, then turned toward the door to the kitchen.

“Daniel!” he called out.

A servant immediately ran to Andrew’s side.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Will you please get us some red wine and a couple glasses? The good vintage in the magnum bottle.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Anything else?”

“No. That will be all, Daniel.”

Daniel bowed to Andrew, then hurried to fetch the wine.

Andrew returned his attention to me.

“How have you been?” he asked carefully, as though walking on eggshells.

“I’ve been better,” I replied, glancing down at the table. “And you?”

“Same.” He hesitated. “Did you see the interview on Good Morning, Day-Walkers?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And do you understand now where I stand…both with Princess Aurora and with you?”

I bit my lower lip.

“It was a very eye-opening segment, yes.”

Andrew reached over and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers gently traced my lower jaw, causing me to tremble. Goosebumps raised from every inch of my skin.

I looked up to meet Andrew’s eyes. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as he stared back at me. Despite everything in my mind screaming at me, reminding me what I had come there to do, I leaned forward to steal a kiss.

Then Daniel set the magnum of wine and a pair of glasses on the table beside us, startling me out of my reverie.

“Thank you, Daniel,” Andrew said, though he sounded slightly annoyed. “You are dismissed.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Daniel bowed to Andrew, then rushed back into the kitchen.

Andrew popped open the wine and poured us each half a glass. He handed me mine with a slightly mischievous grin.

“Now,” he said, “where were we?”

We took a sip. Suddenly, I felt shy yet excited, like in the early days.

“I think you’re going to have to remind me,” I said with a sly grin of my own.

Andrew reached over and brushed his lips against mine.

I pulled away, sucking on his lower lip.

“Oh, now I remember.”

Several drinks later, we had taken the magnum back to Andrew’s sleeping quarters. We lay on the loveseat in his waiting room, Andrew resting carefully on top of me. His suit jacket and undershirt had been removed, and the straps of my dress had been pulled down to expose my breasts to Andrew.

Andrew kissed along my jawline and down my neck, stopping on my jugular. He sucked and licked until he certainly left a hickey, but all I could do was moan with pleasure. His hands wrapped around my back and unlatched my bra, tossing it aside like it was nothing.

He suckled at my left breast, pulling at the nipple until it stood erect. Then he left a trail of kisses across my chest as he went to tend to the right one and gave it the same treatment. I gasped as I felt his tongue on my nipple, trembling with joy.

“Dear Goddess,” I whispered, “I love you, Andrew Dubois!”

Andrew lifted up and held my chin so that I could not look away. He stared down at me with an intensity that I had never seen in a lover before. It twisted my stomach and curled my toes in the most deliciously warm way.

“I love you, too,” he said. “Never forget that. You are my one and only…you are my mate.”

I inhaled sharply. Mate. That was the one word that I had been waiting to hear from him for so long, and now that I finally got to hear it, it pierced my chest like a poisoned arrow.

“Mate,” Susan declared in my head, her demand that I take possession of what was mine.

“Mate,” I echoed, running my hands up and down Andrew’s arms, “my mate.”

Andrew grinned. His fangs descended, and his eyes focused on my shoulder. Immediately, I knew his intentions.

He was going to mark me.

Once werewolves found their mates, they marked each other by biting their shoulders and drinking some of their mate’s blood. It sounded vampiric, but it bonded the werewolf mates for life, affirmed the mates’ connection, and heightened the lovemaking (or so I had heard). It was also the most intimate act a werewolf couple could undergo.

No, I told myself. Don’t let him.

I had to remember why I had come there in the first place. It would be hard after everything we had been through that night, but it would be even harder if we marked each other. I couldn’t do that to him.

Andrew lunged for my shoulder, but I moved my hand in front of his face to stop him. He turned to me, an unspoken question written all over his face: Why?

“Not yet,” I said, my voice pleading him to understand.

His face still appeared puzzled, but he nodded.

“It’s okay,” he said, running the back of his hand down my cheek. “I won’t rush you into anything that you aren’t comfortable with.”

I smiled at him, hoping that he wouldn’t be able to see the sadness in my eyes.

“There is something that I am comfortable with…”

I reached down and slowly unzipped his pants. Then I pulled out his member and started to stroke it. Andrew growled as his eyes rolled back into his head.

“Yes, I’m comfortable with that, too.”

He ripped off his pants as I shimmied out of my underwear. He rubbed his member against my groin, causing me to tremble all over again.

“I’m going to show you how much I love you.”