The trays were placed on the coffee table, and Aidan reached with lazy contentment for the bottle of wine. Marie poured hot cocoa from the steaming silver pitcher into three mugs. “Joshua loves his hot chocolate before bedtime, don’t you, honey?”
The boy eagerly accepted the mug and grinned mischievously up at Marie. “Not as much as you and Stefan do.”
Alexandria’s stomach was rebelling at the sight and smell of the chocolate. Aidan handed her a wineglass and filled it with the ruby-colored liquid. Even as she shook her head, he was pushing it toward her lips, his golden eyes staring directly into hers. “Drink it, cara.”
She felt as if she was falling forward into the fathomless depths of his eyes, mesmerized, hypnotized. She could feel him in her mind, a dark shadow pressing his will on her. You will drink it, Alexandria.
She blinked, then found the empty wineglass in her hand, her eyes locked with Aidan’s. He smiled, that flash of white teeth, lifted his glass to her in a small salute, and drained the contents. In total fascination, she watched his throat work. She could barely pull her gaze away from him. Everything about him was so sensual.
Alexandria tasted the sweetness, the addicting spice that seemed so familiar in her mouth, on her tongue. Aidan was watching her closely, with that unblinking stare of a predator. She turned away from him, close to tears, afraid to spar with him in case she made a fool of herself in front of the older couple. She was confused and tired and scared. She lifted an unsteady hand to push at her hair.
“Aidan says we can get a computer just for me,” Joshua blurted out.
Alexandria glanced at Aidan. He was pouring himself a second glass of “wine,” and he held up the bottle, offering her more. Everything in her demanded that she comply, so she backed away from him, shaking her head. Why was it so important to her to do as Aidan wanted? It was unlike her to follow anyone’s lead so blindly. It frightened her to think he had such power over her.
“You know, Joshua, we haven’t really had time to settle in and think about what we’re doing,” she cautioned, her eyes never leaving Aidan’s face. “We don’t even know yet if we’re going to stay here. This is more of a trial to see if we can all get along. Sometimes roommates just don’t work out, no matter how much they like one another.”
Joshua looked as if he might cry. “But it’s great here, Alex. I know we should be here. It’s safe here. And you can get along with me, can’t you, Aidan? I’m not too loud or anything.”
Aidan’s hand rested in the boy’s silky curls even as his golden eyes held Alexandria captive. “You know you aren’t. I like having you here, and I don’t expect us to run into any problems. Your sister is worried that the two of you might be extra trouble for Marie and Stefan, but I know better.”
Marie was nodding in agreement. “We love having you, Joshua. You brighten up the house. And boys are supposed to be loud.”
“Of course everyone would want you, little buddy,” Alexandria hastily assured her brother, making a supreme effort to free herself from Aidan’s mesmerizing golden gaze. “Sometimes adults can’t live together. I’m used to doing things my way, and Aidan is set in his medieval ways.”
“What’s medieval?” Joshua wanted to know.
“Ask Aidan. He’s good with answers,” she replied resentfully.
“Medieval refers to the days of knights and ladies, Joshua. Alexandria thinks I would have made a great knight. They were men who served their homeland with honor and always rescued and took care of fair maidens.” Aidan drained the contents of a third glass of ruby liquid. “A fitting description, and quite a compliment. Thank you, Alexandria.”
Stefan coughed behind his hand, and Marie hastily turned to look out the window.
Alexandria found a reluctant smile curving her soft mouth. “That’s not all I could call you, but for now, we’ll leave it at medieval.”
Aidan bowed formally from the waist, his golden eyes warming. She could drown in those eyes. His palm cupped the side of her face almost tenderly, the pad of his thumb sliding over her skin in a brief caress. “Sit down, cara mia, before you fall down.”