My Lord Vampire (Immortal Rogues #1)(57)

He gave an impatient click of his tongue, still amazed that she would think for a moment that he could care about such a trivial matter.

“I would never turn from you,” he assured her. “Certainly not because your mother was not of noble blood. Such things mean nothing to me.”

Her eyes darkened with sudden emotion. “That is only a measure of why I came to you tonight.”

“Tell me why, Simone,” he urged.

“Because I could no longer deny that I had fallen in love with you.”

Sweet, heated pleasure rushed through Gideon as he allowed her words to sink deep within him. He never thought to feel this way, nor to depend upon another to bring him such happiness.

“Oh, my sweet, you fill my heart with joy,” he groaned softly.

Shifting awkwardly on the hard floor to place her arms around his neck she offered him a wry smile.

“I can think of more comfortable surroundings to continue this conversation.”

Gideon gave a rueful chuckle. He had been so enwrapped in Simone he had nearly forgotten the dreadful brewery.

“True enough.” Rising to his feet he carefully helped her to stand, assuring himself that she was not still suffering from her ordeal before slipping her arm through his own and leading her toward the door. Watching her carefully he did not miss her grimace as they moved through the flickering shadows. “What is it?” he demanded in concern.

“That horrible smell.”

Gideon’s features tightened, wishing that he could protect her from the truth.

“It is no doubt Tristan’s servants.”

She lifted her head in surprise. “He killed them?”

“No, but once they became trapped in his power they would no longer be concerned for their own needs. Most starve to death within a few days.”

She shuddered in disgust. “How horrid.”

“Yes.”

They walked in silence out of the brewery and into the alley before she inevitably realized how helpless she could have been in Tristan’s power.

“Dear heavens, why did he not do the same to me? I would no doubt have given him the Medallion without question.”

He placed his arm about her shoulder at the edge of fear in her voice. “Because the Medallion itself protects you. Not even I was able to use Compulsion to sway you to my will, although my talent is far greater than Tristan’s. It caused me no end of annoyance.”

Thankfully his teasing words lightened her dark expression and she flashed him a speaking gaze.

“Then I am not under some mysterious spell?”

Gideon paused to help her into the carriage before taking his own place and urging the horses down the street.

“Only the spell of my irresistible charm,” he assured her with a roguish grin.

She gave a loud sniff at his arrogance. “I would not claim it irresistible.”

He arched a dark brow. “You dare to question the power of my charm? Obviously I shall have to prove to you just how irresistible I can be.”

A smile touched Simone’s lips as they swiftly made their way back toward the more fashionable streets of London.

It was over.

Truly over.

Tristan could no longer threaten her, and most important of all, Gideon was safe.

It seemed unbelievable.

There would be no more glancing over her shoulder in fear that she was being followed, no more nights haunted by dreams of the vampire, no more pacing the floor in fear that Gideon would be taken from her.

Gideon.

Her smile slowly faded as she glanced at the purity of his handsome profile.

She had been so concerned that something might happen to him, that she had never taken the time to consider what would happen once this was all over.

Tristan was dead. There was no more threat to her. And no more reason for him to remain.

Whatever his claims to possess feelings for her, his place was not in London. And she could not go with him to the mysterious Veil.

A hollow emptiness filled her even as she struggled to hold on to her composure.

She would not make this difficult for Gideon, she swore to herself. He had given her too much to make him feel guilty for what he must do.

She would simply live for the moment and accept whatever he could offer.

Distracted by her dark thoughts, Simone paid little heed to their progress through town until the carriage came to a halt and she realized that they were in the mews behind Gideon’s home.

A renegade flare of excitement flared through her as she realized that their time together was to be prolonged.

Whatever he offered, she told herself, ignoring the tiny voice in the back of her mind that chided her scandalous behavior.

“You are very certain of your charms to bring me to your home at such an hour,” she attempted to tease in light tones.

“No.” He turned to regard her with a somber expression. “I just cannot bear to allow you out of my sight. I came far too close to losing you tonight.”

Her heart leaped at his words. “Oh.”

“Will you join me?”

She hesitated only a moment before giving a nod of her head. She might later regret her reckless behavior, but for now she needed to be with Gideon.

“If you wish.”

“With all my heart,” he murmured softly.

For a moment they gazed at one another in silence, then as a sleepy groom slowly shuffled toward the carriage, Gideon swiftly leaped down and moved to swing her to the ground.