Page 142 of Vampire so Virtuous

But the door was now unguarded, and he put them out of his mind.

Antoine squared his shoulders, ready to face Belle down yet another time. Why was it that even after all these years, the thought of seeing her still tied his stomach in knots?

He pushed open the door, not bothering to knock. She’d have heard the commotion anyway.

Her suite was an open-plan living area, washed in uninspiring shades of cream, but Antoine hardly noticed. Belle wasn’t there, but Cally was limp and lifeless on the sofa, like a discarded toy.

She mirrored Éliane—just as broken, just as helpless.

He crossed the room in a blur of speed, unaware of his steps, sinking to his knees beside her on the carpet.

“No…” The cry broke from him, sharper than any pain the taser had caused. Why had he let Belle take her?

Cally stirred. “Antoine?” she said, her voice thick with sleep.

The words broke from him. “You’re alive!”

Of course she is, you fool. You can smell her blood.

Her eyes opened, gradually focusing on him. Would he ever get over how startling and gray they were? So beautiful they took his breath away.

It was a momentary weakness, but he gathered her into his arms, crushing her to his chest and burying his face in her neck. Her scent washed over him—her faint natural musk, fresh with a subtle citrus edge. But there was also Belle’s scent, the sharp tang of perspiration, and the lingering trace of Cally’s arousal clinging to her clothes.

Belle had fed on her.

“I missed you too,” she said dryly. “Let me breathe?”

He reluctantly released her, drawing back and clearing his throat, surprised by his own sudden outburst. “I was… checking for injuries.”

“Uh-huh,” she replied, a note of disbelief in her voice. Then her brow furrowed. “What did you say when you woke me? Alive?”

Why had he thought she wasn’t? It seemed so foolish now.Damn it, Belle has been here a day and she’s already messing with my head.“No,ma chérie, I said ‘I’ve arrived.’”

She gave him a funny look, then shrugged. “Is it dawn already?”

“Not quite. Where’s Belle?”

“She went to a meeting.”

Antoine stilled. “She left you here alone?” In a house full of vampires, and she leaves her alone?

“She said I’d be safe, that she left orders for no one to come in here,” Cally said. “Clearly, that doesn’t include you.”

Antoine pushed himself up and turned away, taking a steadying breath. Just her scent had him on edge, and how badly he wanted her blood! It had been years since he’d felt so little control. Decades.

Longer than that, even.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “We need to talk.”

“We should go. Belle could be back soon. We can talk later.”

“We should talk now. This concerns Belle anyway.”

He turned back, eyes narrowing as he took in her determined expression. Aside from Belle feeding on her, she was unscathed. Maybe there was no harm in staying for a few minutes longer. Besides, with Cally, ‘determined’ could easily become ‘stubborn’.

With a measured breath, he walked to the sofa opposite hers, needing the space, and sat facing her. She pushed herself up and straightened her hair with her fingers, retying it in a ponytail. She was still wearing the thin body-hugging dress she’d had on at the nightclub, and it pulled taut across her breasts and toned stomach as her hands worked.

“About what?” he asked.