My Lord Vampire by Alexandra Ivy Page A

decent people she encountered he would not be bound by common manners. She was uncertain that he possessed any manners, common or otherwise.
    “What I do with my own time is no one’s concern but my own, surely?”
    “What is it you hide, Simone?” he demanded softly.
    “Hide? I have nothing to hide.” She regarded him with a challenging gaze. “You are the one who wraps yourself in mystery.”
    He regarded her for a long moment before his gaze deliberately narrowed.
    “I will have the truth from you eventually.”
    Simone refused to acknowledge the faint shiver of warning that feathered over her skin. Nothing short of death would ever make her confess her past. Nothing.
    “Why are you here?” she said in clipped tones.
    As if sensing she had firmly dug in her heels, Gideon favored her with a lift of his brows, but thankfully followed her lead.
    “I wished to make amends.”
    Simone couldn’t prevent her startled blink. He wished to apologize? She would have thought the sun would tumble from the sky first.
    “For what precisely?” she demanded. “Intruding into my home without warning? Attempting to terrify me with vague threats of danger only you can protect me from? Or arrogantly presuming I desire you?”
    Not surprisingly her taunts made not the slightest impression in his cool composure. She was uncertain what it would possibly take to actually ruffle this man.
    Absently toying with the heavy gold ring he wore upon a slender finger, he strolled toward her.
    “I do not consider my occasional visits as intrusions and I assure you that the danger that surrounds you is very real. And as for my arrogance”—he gave a lift of one broad shoulder—“there is nothing arrogant in the truth.”
    She rolled her eyes heavenward. “You are impossible.”
    “Ah, but I have not yet finished. I do regret leaving you so abruptly at the ball and again last evening. It was most inconsiderate of me.”
    Simone opened her mouth to readily agree he had been inconsiderate. She was unaccustomed to gentlemen who willingly abandoned her with such disregard. Then, the realization that she would be revealing the fact that she had been injured by his careless manner halted the impulsive words. Instead she forced a bland smile to her lips.
    “Did you leave abruptly? How odd. To be honest, I hardly noticed.”
    “You did not notice?” An unmistakable hint of amusement smoldered in the dark eyes.
    “No.” She paused before curiosity overcame her pride. “Although I am intrigued of this duty you spoke of. I suppose it is dreadfully important?”
    “A tedious business that would not interest you. Besides, at the moment, my only duty is devoting a few hours to a beautiful woman,” he retorted with smooth charm.
    Her lips thinned. She wondered if she would ever learn anything of the man beneath his cool sophistication.
    Or why it was so important that she should.
    “That is no answer.”
    He glanced toward the forgotten ball gown upon the table. “It is as good an answer as why you choose to make your own gowns.”
    The thrust slid home with annoying ease.
    He did not have to say he was not about to reveal any more of himself than she was prepared to do.
    She gave an annoyed shake of her head. He was like fencing with a master.
    “You have offered your apology and I accept. Is that all?”
    He mildly regarded her frown. “Actually, I had hoped you would agree to join me for a short drive.”
    Once again he managed to catch her off guard. “Now?”
    “Unless you have other plans?”
    She hesitated. The man annoyed her, mocked her, and if she were perfectly honest, rather frightened her. But the lure of spending more time in his company was undeniable.
    Hadn’t she promised herself to bring him to heel?
    She could hardly do so if she were cowardly avoiding his company.
    Sucking in a calming breath she managed an offhand shrug. “No, I have no other plans.”
    “Good.” He moved to hold out his arm. “Shall we