“What?”

“You’ve done so much for me. I feel as though I owe you something.”

“You’re still making me dean of library studies, right? And you already advanced me money for my new wardrobe. And hey, you’re letting me live in your guest house. I think that’s a tremendous start.”

He sighed. “That’s not what I’m talking about. What about a new engagement ring?”

She made a face. “Are you asking me to marry you again after what I just said?”

“Well, I didn’t actually do it the first time.”

She reached out and took his hand. “I’m really not ready for that proposal yet. But I’m not going anywhere either. I promise. Let’s just take it day by day. Acknowledging my valkyrie side again is going to take some getting used to. And you’re about to be free of duty and responsibly for the first time since Evangeline’s father passed. How do you know you’re not going to want to date other women and…you know, do what men do?”

He snorted. “You mean do what Julian does? I know myself well enough by now, Tessa. I am not that kind of man.”

She smiled. “No, you’re not, are you? I think that’s part of why I like you so much.”

His eyes took on the hint of a glow. “I might be that kind of man a little bit. Say, if we’re talking about the two of us doing that thing you were referring to.”

Her cheeks grew warm. “That’s a very different conversation.” And one she was surprisingly ready to have. Sebastian was an excellent kisser. It was an easy leap to imagine he’d be good at other things too. “But one we could…start.”

A moment of silence passed between them until he finally spoke again. His voice was edged with something that sounded very much like desire. And maybe a little disappointment. “Day by day, then?”

She nodded. He might not be completely happy with delaying things, but it seemed like a solid plan to her. A chance for them to really get to know each other. And living in the guest house meant she wouldn’t be tempted to sleep with him until they knew they were right for each other. Well, she wouldn’t be any more tempted than she currently was.

Although, really, how could he be more perfect for her? She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from suggesting they do something very different than eating a meal.

He stuck his elbow out. “Dinner then?”

She looped her arm through his. “Absolutely. In fact, where’s that diner, Mummy’s? I could really go for a milkshake.” Because sugar was a good substitute for just about anything. At least that’s what she was telling herself.

“It’s just up ahead.” He sighed, a sad, melancholy sound. “This is not how I thought I’d be spending my wedding night.”

She made a noise in her throat and stopped in her tracks, staring at him. “Okay, this is not actually your wedding night since we didn’t actually get married and did you think I was going to sleep with you just because we got married to satisfy Evangeline?”

He frowned. “No, not at all. I thought we’d be celebrating or…I don’t know what I thought. I never thought I’d get married again, so I don’t know what I thought I’d be doing, honestly. Not having a milkshake at a diner, that’s for sure.”

She stared at his beautiful face. She’d known him three days. Three long, weird, stressful, mostly wonderful days. Plenty of time for her to realize he was exactly the man she needed and wanted in her life.

The other thing she realized is there had been a time and a place for her to draw her sword, just like there was a time and place for plans and doing things by the book. This wasn’t one of those times. A boost of valkyrie boldness charged through her. “Maybe we should get those milkshakes to go.”

He tipped his head to the side. “Why’s that?”

“Because I have a better suggestion about what we can do tonight.” She leaned up and kissed him, long and slow and deep, then she rested against him until his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her closer.

The kiss was deliciously languid and easy. They were a perfect fit, the recluse and the bookworm. The weapons collector and the sword wielder.

The vampire and the valkyrie.

When they finally broke apart, his eyes were as bright as Christmas lights and just as pretty. Anticipation created a haze around them, blocking out the rest of the world. “What’s your better suggestion?”

From the look in his eyes and the roughness of his voice, she had a pretty good idea he knew perfectly well what she wanted to do but was too much of a gentleman to say so. Well, she was a valkyrie, a class of women who weren’t afraid to ask for what they wanted.

She pressed her lips to his one more time, catching his bottom lip gently between her teeth and giving it a little tug before she let go. He let out a small, strangled noise that was something between desire and disbelief. It spurred her on. “Let’s go home and play pretend one more time.”

His words caught in his throat as he spoke. “D-did you have something specific in mind that you wanted to pretend?”

She nodded as she slid her hand down his chest. How she wasn’t trembling from the buildup of nerves, she had no idea. Being bold wasn’t something she was used to, but it was high time to practice. Which brought her back to her answer. “Our wedding night.”

“Our”—he swallowed—“wedding night?”