He cleared his throat. He liked her wrapped in his shirt, surrounded by him. “Well, actually, as Joshua knows, that is one of your annoying habits. You like to run around in my shirts. You think they are much more comfortable than your own clothes.”
Alexandria regarded him with wide blue eyes. “Oh, I do, do I? I take it you grumble about it.”
“Often, to Josh. We laugh together about the idiosyncrasies of women. He thinks you look cute in my shirts.”
“And what would give a little boy an idea like that?”
He looked unrepentant. “I might have mentioned it a time or two.”
His golden eyes slid over her body, making her aware of her bare skin beneath his shirt, of every curve of her body, of the fact that they were completely alone in some secret chamber of his home.
“It is true, after all. You do look cute in my shirt.”
“Why do Joshua and I have to stay here?” She was going to keep this conversation on track and away from these frighteningly new sensual sensations.
“Joshua is a beacon to guide our enemies to us, as Marie and Stefan are. As long we have human ties, we are anchored to them, and those who wish to destroy us can easily find us. Where most of our kind can remain hidden at will, our enemies know that we will never be far from our human connections, especially Josh, a small child. You are far safer from our enemies, here in my home.”
“What enemies? I don’t have enemies.” Aidan spoke matter-of-factly, yet Alexandria could feel her heart begin to pound all over again. She sensed he was speaking the truth, and whoever the enemy was, it was no ordinary assailant.
“Paul Yohenstria was not the only vampire in this city. There are others, and they know I am hunting them. They will know of your existence quickly, and they will turn their powers to acquiring you.”
Alexandria felt her stomach muscles clench. “Why would they want me? I don’t understand any of this. Why is all this happening to me?”
“You are a true psychic, a human woman capable of becoming one of us. And even vampires are Carpathians before they turn. There are few women among our people, and they are greatly treasured.”
Her chin rose belligerently. “I have news for you, Mr. Savage. ‘Your people’ hardly seem to treat women like treasures. No wonder there are so few.” She touched the ragged wounds still visible at her throat. “I can’t imagine too many women wanting the honor. I can truthfully say I’m not happy about it.”
“I have asked you to call me Aidan. It is necessary, even when we are alone, that we continue to behave in the human manner and keep up the pretense that we are close friends until it becomes so.” His golden eyes glinted for a moment, nearly stopping her heart.
Her fingers twisted in the tails of his shirt, her agitation increasing at the quiet, soothing tone of his voice. “Who else lives here? I know there is a woman. I remember she wouldn’t call an ambulance even when I begged her to.” Despite her attempts at normalcy, Alexandria could not keep the fear and bitterness from her voice.
Aidan advanced a step, suddenly close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. “My housekeeper, Marie, was extremely distressed over your condition, Alexandria. It was not her fault, and I hoped that you would not place the blame with her. She knew no human doctor could help you. I was the only one who could ease your suffering. Just so you are aware, she was very angry with me over your condition. She has been my housekeeper and a member of my family for many years. She is the one who will look after Joshua for us while we are unable to do so in mid-afternoon. For that reason alone you should find it in your heart to become her friend.”
“Do you control her? Drink her blood? Make her do whatever you want, like a puppet?” Alexandria burst out.
“I have never taken blood from Marie, nor have I ever controlled her thoughts. She has chosen to stay with me, as did her family before her, of her own free will. She stayed by your side while you were so ill because she felt compassion. I will repeat myself one last time so that you might understand. She did not call an ambulance because no human physician could have eased your suffering.” He felt it unnecessary to inform her that, in addition, the human doctors would have discovered the new abnormalities in her blood, and his species could never allow such a discovery. They were often hunted by more than only the undead. Human “vampire-slayers” sought them out as well.