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The door closes, and the automatic lights turn off, making it even darker. During the day, the inside of the car was dim, but at night, the space is almost pitch black with its dark-tinted windows. I fumble to find my seatbelt, blind as a bat.

“Allow me, ma souris,” says Julian, reaching across me to grab the seatbelt. His arm brushes the front of my breasts, and I have to catch my breath at the awareness that races across my skin at the innocent contact. He puts the seatbelt in my hand and guides my grip down to where it buckles. It’s so innocuous, him helping me with my seatbelt, but there’s a sensuality to it that is brought on by the darkness. I feel his breath across my cheek and again think of that kiss. How ill-advised it was. How I want to do it again. With less clothes.

Then the moment is gone, and Julian sits back in his seat. “Madame Pearl’s, Sebastian,” he says, reminding me that even though I can't see anything, we’re not alone. I blush a little. What is wrong with me? Am I really so shallow that I can't see past his pretty face? I mean, it is the prettiest face I’ve ever seen on a man, but still.

We drive in silence, the close darkness ruling my senses. I lean back in my seat, feeling tired, more tired than usual after a show. I did give it my all tonight. I’ll close my eyes, just for a moment.

Just for a moment . . .

∆∆∆

“MA SOURIS? ANDI?” A SILVERY smooth voice says, invading my slumber. “Time to wake, little songbird. We’re here.”

I slowly awake at the words, a little lost. My face is against something soft, a luxurious fabric, and I realize that my face has slid into the side of Julian’s expensive wool-blend jacket. I lurch up with a sudden intake of breath. How embarrassing. I hope I didn’t drool.

“Sorry,” I murmur, surreptitiously touching my face. No drool, thank god. “I must have been more tired than I thought.”

“You need your rest, as a mortal. I’d forgotten how easily humans fall asleep,” Julian says, sounding a little amused. “I had Sebastian take the long way back, but unfortunately, we are here, and I think you’d want your own bed. Or futon, as the case may be.”

“Thanks,” I respond, not knowing what else to say. The door opens, and I squint at the car lights. At least I can see and unbuckle myself. Julian exits the car and, for a moment, sniffs the wind, a little reminiscent of a dog. Then he shrugs.

“All clear, you may exit.”

Oh, right. He’s my bodyguard. It was almost easy to forget, since he just ferried me around all day and sat in the audience. I guess I don’t know what having a bodyguard is supposed to feel like. I suppose I thought it would be a little more intrusive, but really, it just felt like having a handsome man follow me around all day. Teasing me, kissing me, having my back against my boss.

I get out of the car, and once again, his hand goes up to help me out, like it’s a carriage. It must be an old, ingrained habit of his. Maybe from when he was human? How long ago was seven hundred years? What era was it? What was his world like before he was changed? I wish I had paid better attention in school.

I take his hand with mine and let him escort me out of the car. I try to let go, but he just tucks my hand in his arm like we’re in a Jane Austen movie about to go for a stroll. My cheeks heat. I suppose he did say that he was going to try to seduce me, but who knew that he was going to pull out all these old-fashioned moves? And who knew that they were kind of going to work?

We walk in tandem down my stairwell to my front door, and I ease my hand away from his arm to get my keys. Julian watches me with hooded eyes as I slowly undo all my locks and open the door. It’s as dark inside my apartment as it was in the SUV, and I fumble for a moment to find the light switch. I’m still not used to the place enough to have the muscle memory to just turn it on.

I turn as I step into the cramped apartment. “Well . . . thanks. For today. I felt really safe. It’s the first time in a long time that I didn’t worry about Colton.”

Julian steps forward, ducking under my doorway to loom over me. I take a little intake of breath as his presence crowds around me.

“Never thank me for keeping you safe, Andi,” he says, his tone low and rumbling. “We have a deal, you and I, and I will always keep my side of the bargain. I am most looking forward to you keeping yours.”

I blush, thinking of tomorrow. Of how intimate the feeding is, the pleasure that comes with it. Yeah, I guess I’m looking forward to it too.

Julian’s hand darts forward, quicker than my eyes can track, and gently strokes my cheekbone. “I do love when you do that. So fetching,” he practically purrs. Little sparks of pleasure dance on my skin, trailing his fingertips. My nipples start standing at attention, like they are waiting for things to escalate, begging for his touch. My attraction to this dangerous, changeable man is only growing, which alarms me. I step backward, away from his touch, and immediately miss his gentle hands.

“Well . . .” I hesitate, not knowing what to say to his obvious flirtation. Part of me, the wild, carefree part of me, wants to invite him in. To do what, I don’t know. My rickety futon wasn't made for sexy times. It would probably break under his muscular bulk. The part of me that is aware of him as a very sexy man still wants to issue the invitation. But the part of me that has learned caution the hard way stops me from making that mistake. Julian is too much like Colton. Handsome, charismatic, powerful, maybe a little unstable. I don't know him well enough to be inviting him into my apartment to break my poor futon.

So instead I just lamely say, “Goodnight, Julian.”

“It is morning, not night, ma souris,” he says, a touch amused.

He’s technically right. It is two thirty, but that hardly qualifies as morning. “It’s still dark, so it counts,” I smile back. Luckily, he doesn’t seem offended that I haven't returned his flirting.

“It is always good to be precise with these things,” he returns, “but I take your meaning. I will leave you to your rest and come see you tomorrow at the same time.”

“Alright,” I agree. “Same time. Good morning, Julian.”

Julian leans down quickly, stealing a light kiss from my lips like before, the barest hint of a caress, before murmuring, “Good morning, Miss Andromeda Lux.”

Then he’s gone, up the stairwell so quickly that my head spins. I quickly shut my door and do up the locks. My lips tingle where he kissed them and, unbidden, my trembling fingers reach up to touch my mouth. My stomach is fluttery, and I’m suddenly very aware of my body.

Fuck, I’m in trouble.