Page 150 of Vampire so Virtuous

She caught up with him as he reached the shadows of the porch. “Sun a bit bright?”

“It is uncomfortable, yes. It’s harder when it’s not overcast, like today. I will be happier inside.”

She muttered to herself and opened the main door, leading him up the stairs. “You won’t like my apartment.”

“As it will smell of you,ma chérie,I expect I will like it just fine.”

She fished her key from her jacket pocket and unlocked the door, shaking her head at the chain of events that had led to this. Then she stepped in, andhe followed.

“You don’t need an invitation?” she asked, pausing by the door as he entered the living room, looking around and taking everything in. He seemed to be breathing deeply.

“Ah,” he said, pulling off his sunglasses and sliding them into his coat pocket. “You mean like inBuffy? No, I do not need an invitation.”

“You’ve seenBuffy?” she asked, incredulous. She closed the door and folded her arms across her chest. “You don’t burn up in sunlight, you don’t care about crosses, silver, UV light, or invitations to enter. You don’t sleep in a coffin.”

“I do drink blood,” he said, taking off his coat and draping it carefully over the arm of the couch. There was no hunger in his eyes, just a smile on his lips, so natural and easy and… it tugged at her. He was wearing his black T-shirt under the coat, as always, and the muscles of his bare forearms flexed as he casually slid his fingers into his jeans’ pockets.

It was distracting, and she looked away. “Why are the stories so wrong?”

“Why would we want you to know what we are? For example, I am not, in fact, dead. I am very much alive,ma chérie,as you are.”

“Then why does the sun bother you?”

“We are nocturnal creatures and born of dark magic. Reason enough, I suppose.”

“And you’re immortal.”

“Oui.The blood nourishes us, and we heal and regenerate so fast that we do not grow old or die.”

“All the pros, none of the cons.” She shook her head.

“Not true.” His eyes darkened, something colder flickering behind them. “Drinking blood to live is a heavy burden on the soul. And immortality? It is both a blessing and a curse.” His voice grew distant. “A long, lonely life can become your own personal hell.” Then his gaze softened. “Forgive my excitement, therefore, at the promise that you offer.”

It was said with such gentle sincerity that Cally shivered. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said. “Have a seat… make a coffee… stay the fuck out of my bedroom.”

He flopped down on her couch, looking as comfortable as he did in his wingback chair. “I will stay right here. Would it be possible to borrow a book?”

Cally felt her lips twitch at the thought that came to her. “Sure.”

She walked off into her bedroom, picked a vampire romance from her collection, made her way back, and tossed it to him. “You’ll enjoy that.”

He caught it without looking. “Thank you,ma chérie.Take your time. I will be quite content.”

Cally left him to it, returning to her bedroom and closing the door. She considered wedging the dresser in front of it, but it seemed like a lot of effort. Besides, it wouldn’t stop him if he chose to come in.

She kicked off her shoes, pulling off her clothes and throwing her dress into the hamper like she never wanted to see it again.

She had a vampire in her apartment, and at some level, that thought still sent a thrill of fear through her. But this was Antoine, and not only were they now apparently bonded for life—what a mind-fuckthatwas—but he’d never tried to harm her.

Other than taking her blood whenever he felt like it.

The irritating thing was that shelikedhim, with his polite manners, his sardonic sense of humor, his charming way of calling her ‘ma chérie’ while never seeming to mind that she didn’t respond. His thick, dark hair, gorgeous pale blue eyes, and those full lips that so often quirked at the corners—and, once in a rare while, curved into a particularly captivating smile.

Ironically, and most concerning of all, he made her feel safe.

She didn’t need someone else to feel safe—a third-dan black belt in taekwondo and a wide streak of independence, encouraged by her dad from an early age, had always taken care of that. She didn’t particularlywantto feel safe—so long as she wasn’t in danger.

Still. It was nice.