Carpathian 03 - Dark Gold

world.
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    His chin brushed the top of her head, lingering for a moment while he drank in her scent, made certain their scents mingled. His golden gaze held possession and hunger; his arms were gentle and tender.
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    "Come with me now, Alexandria. Come into the warmth of my home of your own free will.
    Share some time with me and mine. Forget everything for now but this respite from your nightmare. You need the relief, and there is no harm in it."
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    "In the illusion of normalcy?"
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    "If you care to put it that way, I suppose it can be said." His fingers, on the nape of her neck, were working a kind of magic.
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    In her life there had been too much adversity, no warmth other than what Joshua had provided.
    Aidan was so gentle, and even if that was the biggest illusion of all, Alexandria took comfort in his arms. On some level she was aware of clinging to him, of leaning on his strength, but she refused to dwell on it; for her sanity, she didn't dare. She needed to immerse herself in a small measure of normal life, if only for a short while.
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    She took a deep breath. "I'm all right now. Really. And I'm going to pretend you're a nice man, not some snarling beast about to eat me if I don't do everything you say."
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    Against the satin skin of her neck his mouth curved into a smile, his breath warm against her pulse, his teeth scraping gently. The sensation was far more sensual than frightening. "I do not know where you get these ideas, cara . Perhaps from Thomas Ivan's games? You should cease playing them. They seem to influence you unduly."
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    "But he is so good at what he does. You have played his games, haven't you?" she asked, guessing as much and trying to goad him a bit. She remained very still, almost holding her breath, enjoying the feel of his mouth on her neck, yet terrified of this strange reaction in herself.
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    "I will admit reluctantly to wasting my time investigating his foolish propaganda… but you are not to tell anyone. I might lose my status as a true vampire-hunter." His arm slipped back around her waist, and his body urged hers upward along the narrow tunnel.
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    "Aidan! Are you a snob?" she teased, trying to ignore the unfamiliar feelings his hard muscles brushing against her body were creating. He was so close to her, his arms made her feel protected, a sensation she had never experienced before.
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    "Probably."
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    His voice whispered over her skin, making her insides tremble.
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    "You forgot your shoes," he pointed out. "This floor is cold. You should have put on the slippers I left for you." There was a trace of censure in his voice.
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    Alexandria glanced up at him over her shoulder, a quick flash of blue eyes. "Actually, that's another one of my habits that will no doubt annoy you—I have many, you know. I always like to go barefoot in the house."

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    Aidan was silent a moment. She couldn't even hear his footfalls. He seemed to glide rather than walk. "So, just how many annoying habits do you have?" he asked.
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    His voice created a funny melting sensation inside her.
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    "So many I can't count them. And they're bad, really bad."
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    There was a teasing note in her voice, a warmth that hadn't been there before. Aidan searched her mind and found that she was trying to do as he said, put aside all that had happened and live only in this moment. Her natural warmth and humor were beginning to surface in spite of all the odds against it. He found himself feeling pride in her. She was constantly amazing him. This woman, so unexpected in his life, was certainly worth the effort and patience it would take to win her completely. No one had ever teased him before. Marie and Stefan had been in his life a long time. He saw their affection for him, but it was always tinged with respect for what and who he was.
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    "You do not know the meaning of the word bad . You have no vices. You don't even smoke, and you very seldom drink alcohol. And before you accuse me of reading your mind, let me explain that Joshua has spilled all your secrets. He wanted me to know of your virtues."
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    "Oh, did he?" There was a wall facing her, and Alexandria stopped abruptly. It seemed made of solid, immovable stones.
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    Aidan reached past her and casually placed his fingertips on one of the oddly-shaped stones. A panel swung outward, allowing them access to stairs leading up from the basement to