Page 90 of Vampire so Virtuous

His eyes flickered red—a brief, unsettling flash—before returning to their cool blue. “I’ll answer what I choose,” he said, his voice cold. “Butrespect is mutual.”

She swallowed hard and leaned back, the weight of his dangerous presence bearing down on her. He hadn’t even moved, simply altered his tone. And irritatingly, he was right. She had been rude. “I apologize.”

He accepted it calmly. “I had several reasons, I suppose.” He steepled his fingers once more. “One, you intrigued me. Two, you taste very nice. Three, Minh threatened me through you, and I feared for your safety.”

There was a lot to unpack, and Cally stared at him. “I taste nice? I intrigued you? How did Minh threaten you through me?”Way to keep your composure there, Cally. Repeating everything back to him and out of order, no less. Great priorities.

He gave that aggravating smile, the one that made his dimples appear. He’d shaved since the parking lot, and even tamed his wild hair, though it was still long. It made him look even more—

Concentrate, Cally, for fuck’s sake.

“You intrigued me because of your spirit and fearlessness—both of which I have seen more of today. Yes, you taste nice. Very nice.” He shrugged. “Like I said, I don’t eat junk food. I’m picky.” He waved a hand dismissively. “And Minh threatened to find you and rip your throat out. He knew it would irritate me.”

She blinked at him, trying to process the speed of the conversation. The day was becoming more surreal by the minute. “I’m sorry that the thought of me having my throat ripped out was potentially an irritant to you.”

“Well, in the end, it was Minh who came off worse, so we can put that one behind us.”

A chill ran down her spine. “Assuming he doesn’t come after me again.”

“Mmm.” The sound was deep in his throat. “I will have to keep an eye on you.”

Two vampires potentially interested in her. One wanted to kill her, the other was dangerous in a very different way. And he could easily keep an eye on her, whether she wished him to or not, courtesy of that cursed mark of his.

“I still don’t understand. You said you feared for my safety, but I’m just food to you. Why do you care?”

“I have been alive long enough that it is a delight to find something of interest,ma chérie. Initially, you were a curiosity. Now, something more.”

“So I’m apleasant diversion?” She laughed, the sound hollow, muttering half to herself, “I have a guardian vampire who wants to drink my blood on demand.”

“I can think of worse things.”

Cally stared at him. He returned her gaze with a playful curl at the corners of his mouth. Those infuriatingly full lips and those intense eyes. The problem was, she could also think of worse things, which wasn’t helping at all.

She looked away, clearing her throat. “I’m never going to be rid of you, am I? Not when your mark lets you find me.”

“Do you wish to be rid of me?”

“Of course I do!”

His lips twitched in amusement. “Yet you left, and now here you are again.”

“That’s… that’s different! I came back to ask a question!” She took a breath, glaring at him. “It’s not like I could be rid of you anyway. Your infernal mark keeps reminding me you exist.”

His amusement deepened. “Only when you’re thinking about me.”

It was useful to have it confirmed. The only problem was, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.Every single second.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way, was it?”

He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“The mark. You marked me, not the other way around. I shouldn’t have to feel it tugging, every time my thoughts turn to you.”

“Mmm, I must admit, I hadn’t expected that. Quite unusual.”

It was nice to know he could still be surprised.

“So it was a mistake?”