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“Did you remember where you came from?” Aerin asked, hoping the extra blood had sharpened his memory. She was eager to send him on his way before she got used to having him around.

“No, I wish. The smell of your shampoo and the water against the tiles beneath my feet triggered a memory. I saw myself feeding on a servant while another washed my feet.” His face softened as he reminisced. Any attraction she felt in that moment vanished at the thought of him feeding on some poor servant, but she reminded herself he was from a different time.

“I really don’t need to hear about servants washing your feet while you fed. Was there anything else that might identify the place?” she asked.

“I wish the flashes lasted longer, but the memories are only fleeting, a smell or a room,” Gideon replied, sitting on the edge of the tub as lukewarm water filled it.

“Don’t stress about it. Forcing the memories won’t help. They’ll come back naturally over time; we just need to be patient,” Aerin said. “A watched kettle never boils.”

“What kettle?” He frowned and looked around the bathroom for a kettle.

“Nothing.” She faked a cough to hide her amusement, resolving not to find humor in his confusion again and to have more empathy. “Just a saying about being patient.”

“I grow tired of waiting. It’s been a week of me haunting this damn house. I wake while you sleep, and my presence here is only a nuisance to you. I was not made to be idle. I feel I must do something, be somewhere.” His frustration made her heart ache. She knew how frustrating it could be to feel stuck.

“I’ll go into town to get you more blood, so you heal faster. I’m not used to having people in my home. I’ll try to be a better host,” Aerin said, deciding that waiting around for his memories to come back might not be the best for either of them. “But first, clean up; here’s the soap. You should handle the rest on your own.”

“Aren’t you going to help me dress once I’m done?” he asked, showing no shame about being naked. He leaned his head back against the tub, and she noticed scars on his ribs.

“I’m afraid your days of being served are over. If you can bathe yourself, you can dress yourself,” Aerin replied, grabbing the towel from the floor and hanging it on the rack beside the bath.

“I thought since you’re enjoying the view, you might offer a hand,” Gideon said, rubbing the washcloth over his muscles, and she tried to ignore the droplets disappearing below the waterline. “Since you’re already wet, why not join me? In my time, it was a shame to waste good, clean water.” His voice, smooth and enchanting, beckoned her forward, but she resisted.

A vampire and a siren would never work, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the view. We are both more animal than human. She rested her hands on the tub’s edge and leaned over him. She watched him swallow; she wasn’t the only one admiring the other’s form.

He sat up, his hand resting over hers, and a rush of heat traveled up her arm. That’s new, she thought. From the glint in his eyes, he felt it too.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” She smirked. There was no way she was getting too close to his naked body, to all those muscles. A shiver ran through her body, and she decided she needed a swim to cool off.

“I do have something that might get us some answers a little faster than relying on my memory.” Gideon reached past her to his jeans on the floor and revealed the plaque she’d hidden, along with his signet ring. “I’m trusting you with this and the plaque from my coffin. I found them in the basement when I was cleaning up.”

“I didn’t mean to hide them from you; I was going to see if I could find out some information from it,” she said, hoping it wouldn’t damage the trust they’d built.

“I figured as much; I’m not upset. I only want answers. I saw the antique store in town when I was looking for the blood bank. The plaque and my ring are my only connection to my family, or my clan. Since you could’ve staked me half a dozen times by now, and didn’t sell the plaque while I slept, I figure I can trust you. You want your house back, and I want answers. You’ve my permission to show these to those you trust,” he said, handing them over.

Aerin felt his reluctance as he hesitated to release the items.

“I understand what it’s like to have so little left of your family,” she said, resting her hand over his on the plaque. “I promise I won’t take this task lightly, and will return these items to you as soon as I can. The antique store in town can be trusted…”

“Are you sure?” he interrupted.

“I’ve brought countless finds to Miranda at Brightwell’s Antiques & Rare Books. A family crest won’t be unusual to her. They care about the antiques, and not only because of how much they are worth. I promise I’ll look after it. I’ve worked with them for years. I promise they can be trusted,” she said, touched by his vulnerability. It had been a while since someone had trusted her and her, them.

“If you believe it’s best.” He nodded, releasing his grip on the items.

“I’m sure they’ll be able to find the origins, and we’ll have you back home before you know it,” she reassured him.

“There’s not much else to do unless you want to stay here forever, slowly waiting for your memories,” Aerin joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“As charming as your home is, I don’t think we’d do well trapped together for eternity,” he said, leaning back in the tub. His sigh indicated he’d found the right temperature.

“Glad we’re on the same page,” she said, feeling unexpectedly insulted, although she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. What was wrong with me? He is a blood-sucking leech; I shouldn’t want to spend forever with him. Attraction and lust are a far cry from love and eternal devotion, she told herself, closing the bathroom door behind her before she was tempted to accept his offer to join him.

Chapter Nine

Aerin

The following afternoon, Aerin arrived at Brightwell’s Antiques & Rare Books, a renowned antique shop nestled inside an old, beautifully restored building with intricate woodwork and vintage signage. Inside, Miranda, the dedicated shopkeeper and experienced antique dealer, was carefully polishing a pile of antique dolls that creeped Aerin out. They had those eyes that seemed to follow her wherever she went.