Page 40 of Vampire so Virtuous (Boston Vampires #1)

Cally awoke to the smell of coffee, and Eve sitting on the edge of her bed.

“You’re cute when you sleep.”

“You’re weird for watching me.”

Eve grinned. “No I’m not. Anyone would.”

They both froze, the banter landing wrong in light of where they were. Cally pulled the duvet up beneath her chin.

“Sorry,” Eve said. “Mouth ran away from brain. But I’m sure he hasn’t been in here.”

“Yeah? What makes you so certain?”

“Well… don’t you need to invite him across a threshold?”

“First, he’s fine with garlic, silver, crosses, UV light and wandering around in daylight, so why would a doorframe make a difference? Second, it’s his damn house, and he’s already inside it.”

“Not my fault. Brain doesn’t work before I’ve finished my first cup.” Eve was holding two, and offered the other to Cally.

She sat up in the bed and accepted it. “What time is it?” There were no clocks in the room, and her phone battery had died.

“About ten to seven.”

Cally blinked. Eve was already dressed—in yesterday’s clothes. “Why up so early?”

“Unlike you, sweetheart, some of us have to actually work.”

“I work,” Cally protested, taking a sip of coffee.

“You work from home , and we both know you finish everything in about a third of the time they give you.” She frowned. “And I’ve known you for fifteen years, and still don’t know what you do.”

“‘Course you do.” Another sip of coffee; it was helping.

“I really don’t. ‘Computers’ isn’t an answer, you know.”

“Yes you do,” Cally said patiently. “Remember when I had to go to Chicago last year?”

“Oh. For the bank thing?”

“Yes. They got hacked, right? ”

“Oh yeah. Security stuff, right?”

Cally rolled her eyes. “You’re hopeless, do you know that?”

“And yet you still adore me.” She smirked. “I’m off, babe. Marcel’s getting me an Uber on Antoine’s tab. Seems perfectly fair to get your boyfriend to pay for it.”

“Don’t call him that.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, finishing her coffee and rising from the bed.

“He’s a damn vampire. He is not boyfriend material.”

As Eve headed for the door, she threw over her shoulder, “I saw the way he was eyeing you last night. I know that look.” She opened the door and stepped through, glancing back. “It’s the one I hide from you often enough.” She flashed Cally a grin as the door closed.

Cally stared after her. Did Eve’s playful veneer hide a deeper pain? And how could she think that about Antoine?

She shook her head. Her best friend was lusting after her—that was weird, but manageable.

Cally was pretty sure Eve had come to terms with the situation, and she didn’t mind the teasing; it was fun.

Maybe Eve had mistaken Antoine’s attention for the same thing, but Cally knew better.

Antoine didn’t look at her with love or lust; he looked at her with hunger. Like a filet mignon on legs.

Great. He thinks I’m a cow.

She scowled and pushed herself up, padding into the lavishly appointed en suite of the palatial bedroom Marcel had found for her.

Half an hour later, dressed once again in last night’s clothes, she headed downstairs to see if Marcel was offering breakfast and walked into the living room, intending to continue through to the main hallway from which Marcel always appeared.

“Good morning.”

Antoine was sitting in his usual chair by the fire, wearing his usual black T-shirt and jeans, a book open on his lap. The same one Eve had pulled from the shelf the evening before.

Crap.

“Uh, good morning. I thought you’d be asleep.”

“I was thinking about it,” he said, resting a finger on the page to mark his position. “But the sun is only just coming up.” His eyebrows raised. “Would you like a coffee? I can call Marcel.”

“I’ve had one, thank you.” Cally realized she’d frozen just inside the door, and walked further into the room.

She’d hoped to avoid him this morning, slip away before he awoke, yet here he was—offering her a cup of coffee no less, as if it were a perfectly normal thing for a vampire to do. “Has Eve left?”

“Yes, about half an hour ago.” There was a wry glimmer in his eyes. “Lovely lady.”

“Lovely as in… nice? Or as in tasty?”

“Lovely as in feisty, irreverent, playful, brave, and loyal.”

“You got all that from one night?” But he wasn’t wrong.

“She has her own brand of humor that I quite enjoy, and it’s clear she’s devoted to you.

She said—let me see if I can get this right—‘If you hurt her, I will pour kerosene in your eyeballs while you sleep, then light your whole fucking coffin on fire.’” His lips flickered with a hint of a smile.

“Then she thanked me for a lovely stay, and wished me a pleasant rest.”

“That sounds like something she’d say.” Cally took a step in, then decided, to hell with it, and walked over to the chair opposite him, sitting down. “I’m guessing you don’t sleep in a coffin, do you?”

“No,” he said. “My room is opposite the one you used last night. I sleep in a bed.”

A shiver ran down her spine. “How do you know which room I slept in?”

“Marcel told me.” He looked back down at his book. “Don’t worry, I didn’t stop by for a midnight snack.”

Doesn’t mean you didn’t watch me sleep, you creep.

“Even though I’m sure you would’ve enjoyed it if I had,” he added. He turned the page with more care and reverence than he’d ever shown her.

Cally bristled. “Don’t you dare feed on me while I’m asleep.”

“Where would be the fun in that?” he murmured to the book in his lap. “Half the pleasure is feeling you writhe.”

“I don’t writhe ,” she ground out through clenched teeth. Have I been writhing?

“Of course not. Wriggle, then. Hmm. No, squirm.” He furrowed his brow. “That doesn’t work either. Are you sure you don’t ‘writhe’?”

Cally pushed herself out of the chair and marched to the far door, her cheeks flushed with humiliation and her irritation flaring—both at herself and at him.

“I thought I’d visit that club tonight,” he said from behind her, his tone light. “See if I can ascertain what might have provoked your vision.”

She paused, turning to him. “I thought you didn’t believe my vision.” Her anger flavored her tone, the words coming out sharper than she’d intended.

He was watching her. “I never said that, Cally. ”

“The room is beneath the club. You think they’ll let you just waltz on down?”

“If there’s something there, I should be able to sense it from anywhere within.”

“Fine. Then I’m coming with you.” Why the hell did I say that?

An eyebrow went up. “You’re coming with me?”

It was too late to back out now, but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. “Yes. If you walk in alone, you’ll stand out a mile.”

“You mean, go as a couple?”

“It’s just a cover,” she said, jaw tight with annoyance. “Nothing more.”

He nodded sagely. “That might be useful—in case I get hungry.”

“ Do feel free to snack on me right in the middle of the dance floor,” she said scathingly. “I’m sure no one will notice.”

“They might, when you writhe,” he pointed out thoughtfully. Then he saw her glare and his eyes sparkled with amusement. “I was teasing, ma chérie . I fed from you last night. It will be several days before I need to feed again.” He sobered. “Going to this club may be dangerous.”

“I can look after myself.”

“I know you are a warrior. I was merely pointing out the risks.”

A warrior? That was oddly flattering.

“Besides,” he continued, “I will be with you, and won’t let anything happen to you.”

That was less flattering, but oddly comforting.

“Fine. I’ll see you there tonight, then.”

He shook his head. “No, we’ll travel down together. You should stay here today, where it’s safer.”

“No, thank you. I’m going home. I’ll meet you there.”

“I think you should stay.”

“Your opinion has been noted,” she said dryly. “But I’m leaving now.”

He changed tack smoothly. “I would prefer if you stayed. There will be upheaval among the vampires for the next few weeks. I would prefer you to be where I can… where I know you’re safe.”

“Safe? Suddenly you care?” She gave a bitter laugh.

“Oh, of course—it would be so inconvenient for you to find another snack. Or is it more than that? Would it be embarrassing if something happened to your marked chattel ?” She glared at him.

“That’s what I am, isn’t it? Don’t try to deny it.

I looked the word up. Property. Particularly people treated as property.

Is that what I am to you, Antoine? A slave , like one of your thralls? ”

A frown marred his smooth brow, and he turned his attention back to his book. “I will go by myself tonight.”

Cally folded her arms. “You don’t get to dismiss me just because I’m an inconvenience .

It was my vision, damn it, and my friend was lured there.

I’m coming.” Even as she spoke, she felt the words ring true.

She wanted answers—there was too much she didn’t understand—and this was an opportunity to get them.

“Besides, you don’t know which club it was. You need me.”

“I don’t need you,” he said, his tone indifferent. “Noah has already told me which club you visited.”

“Noah?”

“My thrall.”

Another bitter laugh. “Oh yes, you’ve been having me followed, how could I have forgotten.” She frowned. “Was he on the T last night with me?” She’d felt uncomfortable ever since she left her apartment the night before.

“He was.”

At least he hadn’t denied it. “And in the BMW? Wait, you have more than one?” She took an angry step toward him. “How many thralls do you have following me, Antoine?”

“A few.”

He wasn’t looking at her, damn him. His attention was on the book in his lap, like the conversation bored him.

“I’m leaving. I’m going back to the club tonight. Come, don’t come—I don’t care. I’m sure your thralls will let you know when I arrive.” She turned for the door.

“I’ve already told you, I want you to stay here.”

She didn’t even look back. “And I’ve already told you to go screw yourself.”

“Marcel will look after you while I sleep.”

“I’m not staying, okay? I need to go home and get changed. I’m wearing yesterday’s clothes.”

“I can send a thrall to your apartment for clothes. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll have them brought.”

She laughed. “There is no way in hell I’m letting your thralls rifle through my apartment.” She opened the door. “Sleep well, Antoine. But then again, I’m sure nothing you’ve ever done in your life would keep you up, would it now?”

He didn’t try to stop her as she left, even though she’d thought he would. She had been so keen to get out of that room that the door slammed behind her harder than she’d intended .

Well, fine. If he thought she had left in a fit of pique, that was on him.

“Good morning, madam. Would you care for some breakfast?”

Cally took a deep breath and let it out before she replied. “No, thank you, Marcel. I seem to have lost my appetite.”

He bowed slightly. “I did pass your message on to him, madam, as you requested.”

Damn. How had I forgotten about that? He was so aggravating , that was how. And he hadn’t even mentioned it.

“Thank you, Marcel. I’ll see you later, okay?” See you later? Like this is a regular visiting spot now?

“Would you like me to call you a cab, madam?”

“No, I’ve got it, thanks.” That’s another hundred bucks you owe me, Antoine.

“Very good. Do come and visit us again soon.”