Kiss of Crimson by Samantha Coville (best love story novels in english txt) 📕

was a strange, yet wholly familiar sensation.

As though her hand had been there all this time.

Like it belonged there.

"Are we going back?" she asked as I led her back to the car.

"There is no need to stay here anymore," I replied. "I have shown you the truth. But also, there is something that I have for you. In the trunk. Now that I've shown you my beginnings, I think I would like to show you the future."

My words were somewhat more florid than I felt comfortable with, but underneath the bright moonlight, and her hair shining like gossamer, it felt right.

The way back was much easier as we had already eliminated all the obstacles between us, and as I went around to open the trunk, I could've sworn that my heart was approaching human-levels of activity.

Eloise peered over my shoulder, curiously, as I pulled out a small box next to the spare wheel.

“What is it?” She paused. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what to call you. Are you Arden or Oliver?”

The large rosewood box was smooth underneath my fingertips, no splinters to catch against the skin as I ran a hand down the slide-away box top. “I haven’t been Oliver in a long time. I have been Arden for much longer.”

Her laughter sounded nervous. “That’s good. I don’t know how I’d feel about having to call you a different name. I’d forever be messing up. But of course, if you prefer to be called Oliver, then I would try my best.”

“Arden is fine, my dear.” I closed the trunk and leaned against it, the box held out to her. “Like I said, you’ve seen my past. I’d like to show you the future.”

Our future was on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t want to come off as too maudlin. Even if she did make me want to break out into godawful poetry, I certainly didn’t want to plague her words with my clumsy prose.

She took the box in one hand, a small sound erupting from her lips at the unexpected heft of the container and that which laid within.

“Wha—what is this?”

Fighting hard to keep the smile from spoiling the surprise, I crossed my arms, head cocked to one side. “Open it.”

She pushed up the sliding lid and stared into the depths.

Her hands began to shake.

“This isn’t—” She licked her lips and looked up at me, her eyes large and luminous in the moonlight. “Arden, is this—”

“I told you.” I couldn’t stop my grin. I felt like a six-year-old child again, presenting my beautiful Maman with a grimy handful of wildflowers. “The future.”

I took the wooden box from her as she withdrew the contents, wrapped lovingly in a square of white silk.

She breathed out slowly, holding the book under the light to better read the title.

“La belle Au Bois Dormant,” I said quietly.

She ran a shaking hand down the thick leather, cracked cover.

“Sleeping Beauty,” she translated. “Oh my God, Arden.”

“First edition. Published in 1698. Rather difficult to procure, but my finder seemed to relish in the challenge.” I tried not to sound as though I was boasting, but I was failing miserably.

I wanted the world for Eloise.

She who had given me a reason to continue this life…

She deserved nothing less.

“I don’t understand.” Moisture shimmered in her eyes as she cradled the book against her chest. “My mother told me that the other books were in private collections. That no one was willing to part with their edition.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, I think perhaps they just needed a little more persuasion, that’s all.”

And a great deal more money, in fact almost all the funds I had left in the world.

But what was money?

I had Eloise now.

Quietly, she slipped the book carefully back into its box, treating it with such reverence that it made my chest clench painfully tight.

“I’m sorry about your library. I said I’d help you rebuild it. That book was just the first of many. I pro—”

Her kiss was sweeter than anything any mortal could hope to taste on this mortal plane.

“Thank you,” she murmured against my lips. “Thank you, Arden.”

Reluctantly, I pulled away.

“Let’s get out of here.”

She nodded, tucking her hair behind one ear. “Agreed.”

This was a place of death and the past.

Eloise did not belong here.

And now, neither did I.

As I drove slowly back onto the highway that would take us home, I glanced at her.

“You know I love you, right?”

She laughed softly and put her hand atop mine, her diamond engagement ring glistening against her skin.

“Until the end of the world, my love.”

Truer words may have never been spoken.

ABOUT SAMANTHA

SAMANTHA COVILLE is a fantasy author and alumna of the University of Central Florida. Her lifelong love of reading evolved into a passion for writing during the third grade and at the age of sixteen her debut novel, Blood Oath, was released. When Samantha is not writing, she is either exploring the local theme parks with her husband Marsean or watching movies with friends.

ABOUT FIONN

FIONN JAMESON is a USA Today bestselling author of heart-pounding urban fantasies, steamy historical romances, and just about any romantic sub-genre in between. She's a homebody who has lived in Seoul, Chicago, Los Angeles, Shanghai, and Taipei, but currently calls Ho Chi Minh City home. She also dabbles in game dev and illustrating, and is very slowly working on her first visual novel/dating sim game called PS: I Love You.