“Aidan?” Instant fear caused Alex’s voice to tremble.
Aidan simply caught and held Joshua’s gaze with his own. His voice dropped an octave, becoming like pure running water rippling over the child, seeping into his mind. “You remember Alexandria falling because she was so weak with illness, do you not, Joshua? Remember? She ruined her beautiful suit when she fell on the path. You were very upset until I came and carried her to the big black car and brought her here to our home.”
Joshua was nodding in agreement, the suspicion and tormented look gone as quickly as they had come. Thankful, Alexandria held out her arms for the boy.
Aidan shook his head. “We will go into the living room and sit down before you hold him,
piccola
. You are still shaky.”
His voice felt like a caress, yet she knew it was a command. Velvet in iron. He was clearly in charge. She tried not to let it annoy her and meekly followed him down a wide hallway. She stumbled several times because, instead of watching where she was going, she was staring in awe around her. She had never been in a house as beautiful as this one. The woodwork, the marble floors, the high beamed ceilings, the paintings and sculptures were all magnificent. A Ming vase sat gracefully on an antique mahogany stand near a wide stone fireplace. Aidan had to catch her arm twice to keep her from walking right into a wall.
“It is customary to watch where you are going,
cara mia
,” he reminded her gently. “It is not as if you have never seen the house before,” he added wickedly to make her smile.
She made a face at him. “Don’t you think this is all a bit much? What if Joshua comes tearing through the house and knocks over the Ming vase? Somehow, I’m beginning to think we made a big mistake in accepting your hospitality. Some of these things are priceless.” Two could play at his game.
“I believe we already had this conversation,” he said smoothly, steering her into the living room. “We agreed that if Joshua broke anything, we would not cry over spilled milk.” His golden eyes gleamed at her, daring her to continue.
“Aidan, really, a Ming vase?” Horrified at the thought of destroying such a treasure, Alexandria considered grabbing Joshua and running from the house.
Deliberately Aidan leaned close so that his warm breath stirred the tendrils of hair falling over her ear. “I have had centuries to admire the piece. Losing it might give me the incentive to patronize a modern artist.”
“That is sacrilege. Don’t even think it.”
“Alexandria, this is your home. This is Joshua’s home. Nothing in it is as important as the two of you.” His golden eyes glittered at her as his gaze ran up and down her body. “Now sit down before you fall down.”
She swept a hand through the hair tumbling across her forehead. “Would you just try not to sound like a drill sergeant? It’s getting on my nerves.”
He looked unrepentant. “One of my annoying habits.”
“And you have so many.” Alexandria chose a leather recliner to curl up in, and at once she realized just how weak she really was. It felt good to sit even after a short walk. Joshua immediately came to sit in her lap, needing the closeness to her as much as she did to him.
“You look so white, Alex,” Joshua pointed out with a child’s candid nature. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m getting there, little buddy. It takes time. Do you like your room here?” She again examined him for marks.
“It’s great, really big. But I don’t like sleeping up there without you. It’s kinda
too
big. Marie and Stefan let me sleep downstairs near them.” He hugged her bruised, lacerated neck and didn’t notice when she winced.
Aidan’s golden eyes narrowed to slits. With deceptive indolence he reached out a lazy hand and drew the child to his side. “We have to be careful of Alexandria for a while. Remember what I said? She needs tender care. It’s up to you and me to see that she gets it. Even when she rebels, as she’s thinking of doing now.”
“I’m okay,” Alexandria said resentfully. “If you want to sit on me, Joshua, of course you can. “
No one
, except her, told Joshua what to do.
Joshua shook his head, his blond curls bobbing in the way that always made her heart melt. “I’m big, Alex, not a baby. I want to take care of you. That’s my job.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I thought I was the one in charge.”
“Aidan says you only think you’re in charge but that we have to let you think that because women like to think they’re in control, but men have to protect them.”
Her blue eyes met golden ones over the blond curls. “He said all that, did he? That’s a lot of
thinks
, Joshua. I
am
in charge, not Aidan.”
Joshua smiled conspiratorially at Aidan. Aidan mouthed, “I told you so.” Both looked at her in complete innocence, their expressions so similar, it unexpectedly turned her heart over.
Joshua moved closer to Alexandria, playing with the braid hanging over her shoulder. She could hear his heart beat, hear the blood pounding and surging through his young body. All at once she was aware of the pulse beating in his neck. Every stroke, every beat. Horrified, she thrust him away from her and jumped to her feet, searching for a way out. She had to run as far and as fast as she could, away from Joshua. She was a monster!
Aidan moved so swiftly, she didn’t even see him coming, yet he was there with her, his arms surrounding her, holding her captive and still. “It is nothing,
cara
, only your heightened senses.” His voice was barely discernible, yet she heard him clearly. The tone was soft and gentle and calm. “Do not be alarmed.”
“I can’t risk being near him. What if you’re wrong? What if I still have the vampire’s blood in me? I couldn’t bear it if I harmed Joshua. I can’t be here with him.”
She kept her voice low, muffled against his chest, a whisper of sound that tugged at Aidan’s heart. He pulled her closer into the shelter of his arms, felt her relax instinctively against him. She didn’t trust him, didn’t know him, but her body did. “You could never harm the child, Alexandria, never. I know you feel hunger, that you are unusually weak. Your body has been through a tremendous ordeal, your mind has suffered a trauma, but nothing could ever induce you to harm Joshua. I know it absolutely.” His voice was soothing black velvet seeping into her mind, a balm.
She allowed him to hold her, to calm her, as she rested her head against his hard frame. She could hear his heart beating the same rhythm as her own. He was so calm, so gentle, his voice never rising, always so certain, so confident. A solid rock to lean on. Of their own volition, her lungs slowed to match his breathing pattern.
Aidan stroked her hair, massaging the nape of her neck as he drank in the scent of her. “Better now?”
She nodded and stepped away from him just as an older couple approached. Alexandria recognized the woman carrying a tray with two long-stemmed cut crystal wineglasses and three English bone china mugs. The man behind her carried a tray with a bottle of red wine and a pitcher of something steaming.
Marie flashed Alexandria a tentative smile. “It’s good to see you up and around. Are you feeling better now?”
Aidan’s hand on Alexandria’s neck tightened perceptibly. His thumb stroked across her pulse, once, twice, a gesture meant to soothe even as it served notice that he was in control.
Alexandria’s chin lifted. “I’m fine, Marie, thank you. It was good of you to try to help me while Aidan was gone.” She sounded sweet and polite, wishing the entire time that she could detect a hint of corruption in any of these people. She was determined not to like them, not to be drawn into their circle. She didn’t want to be lured into a trap by the silken web of this fantasy home, this place of beauty. The older couple seemed warm and giving, looking into each other’s eyes with love, looking at Aidan and Joshua—her Joshua—with great affection. She wanted to see none of it.