Page 143 of Vampire so Virtuous
She finished tying her hair and let her hands drop into her lap, grimacing. “Damn, I need a shower.”
“You wish to talk about needing a shower?” He glanced at the various doors leading from the room. “There is a bathroom behind one of these. Would you like me to scrub your back?”
His words were meant to provoke, but they didn’t come out that way. Her eyes flicked to his, her cheeks tinged with a blush, and he could smell the rush of blood even from across the room.
“I… er… no,” she said, and gave an irritated shake of her head. “Can we be serious for a moment?”
“I was being serious,” he said quietly, realizing it was true.
Her blush deepened, little spots of red growing high on her cheekbones. “Belle talked to me at length last night. Tonight.” She corrected herself. Then, fixing him with her glare, she asked, “Do you know what I am?”
The force of her question made it sound as though she were angry with him. He frowned. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
She waved a hand in frustration. “What am I to you, Antoine?”
His frown deepened. What did she want him to say? “Is this a…relationshipquestion?”
She laughed again, the sound strained and brittle. “That’s funny,” she said, in a voice that made it clear it wasn’t. “Fucking hilarious, in fact.” She glared. “Want to get married? You know, life-long commitment? Just you and me, forever and ever?” She paused, the words catching in her throat. “Til death do us…” She trailed off, blinking rapidly as she looked away.
Antoine stared at her. “What has Belle said to you? What is this about?”
Cally shook her head and dashed her hand across her eyes. “Is dawn too early for a strong drink?” She took another breath, then met his eyes across the expanse of carpet between them. “One last time, Antoine. What am I?”
It was clear she was serious, even though he didn’t know what answer she wanted. He chose honesty. “Strong, stubborn, beautiful, occasionally aggravating, fiercely independent, impulsive and dangerously reckless.” He checked if he’d missed anything important, then gave a satisfied little nod.
She gaped at him. “Impulsive and dangerously reckless?”
He shrugged. “You turned up at my house, walked into Minh’s club alone, and refused to stay out of the way when Belle arrived.”
“I didn’t know it was Minh’s club, and I wasn’t alone.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you described me exactly the way Eve would, after what, two weeks?”
“What is going on, Cally? What has happened?”
“I’m awitch, Antoine.”
He blinked twice. “Pardon?” Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn’t that.
“A witch. A real—apparently—witch.”
“Okay…” What was he supposed to say to that? “Do you have a pointy black hat? Ride a broomstick?” He grimaced. “Do you own a cat? I do not like cats.”
She studied him. “You don’t know, do you?”
“Knowwhat?”
“How vampires were made.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” He frowned again. “You’re not making any—”
“Antoine.” She cut him off. “Do youknowhow vampires were made?”
“Of course I do,” he said, trying to quell the flicker of irritation. “Belle made me, and it wasnotpleasant.”
“No.” Cally shook her head. “Not how theyaremade. How theyweremade. The first vampire, Antoine. Do you know the legends, the history ofthe vampires?”
“I…” Belle had obviously seen fit to tell her something she’d never told him—and he’d never cared enough to ask. “No,” he said stiffly. “Belle was nothing if not selective in her education.”
Cally leaned back against the sofa. “So you didn’t choose me because I’m a witch.”
