Free Marked: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance by Michelle Fox, Gwen Knight

twinkled in his eyes. “I was referring to your profession. What is it you do? Other than charming vampires, I mean.”
    “Nothing exciting, I’m afraid. University student by day, waitress by night.”
    “And that’s why you took this position as a courtesan? To pay your tuition fees?”
    I nodded absently. That was the party line I’d given the madam, couldn’t change it now.
    “The University of Chicago?” he inquired.
    “The one and only.”
    “What do you take there?”
    I smiled at his question, curious how the architect would respond. “Music.”
    He blinked, the hard planes of his face smoothing with surprise. “Music?”
    It was a typical reaction. Most people didn’t believe music to be a worthy major.
    “You play, then? An instrument, I mean?”
    “I do. The cello.” I took another bite of pizza.
    Delight brightened his face. “Is that so? As a young lad, I played the lute.”
    “Could this be possible?” I leaned across the counter. “Do we actually have something in common?”
    Ethen cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair. “I suppose anything is possible.”
    And just like that, we were back to being strangers. One brief moment and that was it. I finished the rest of my slice, unsure how to break down the wall he continually erected between us. After my second glass of wine, and an awkward silence, I folded my hands atop the counter and gave him my full attention. “Will you answer something for me?”
    “Perhaps,” he hedged.
    I refrained from rolling my eyes. “Why did you buy my contract?”
    “Excuse me?”
    My stomach tightened with fear. Perhaps this had been the wrong question to ask, but rather than recant, I repeated my question. “You rarely attend those type of events, right?”
    Ethen’s dark brow furrowing into a tight knot. Still and silent as the grave. Seemed the man had a taciturn side as well.
    “From what I understand, you are one of the few who does not hire courtesans. So, why me?” When his eyes hardened, I sat back and held up my hands. “I didn’t mean to offend, I only—”
    “I didn’t like the way the others watched you.”
    My mouth parted. He’d chosen me as his courtesan because he didn’t like how the others had looked at me? What did that even mean?
    I opened my mouth to inquire further, but Ethen chose that moment to down the rest of his wine and stand. “Come,” he said, offering me his hand once more.
    “Where are we going?”
    “I believe a tour of my home is in order.”
    A love of architecture, indeed. I chuckled under my breath and followed after him. Guess that was the only answer I was going to receive. The man clearly disliked answering personal questions, not that it would stop me from delving further.
    He led me through the brownstone room by room, pausing only now and then to inform me of the room’s purpose and whether or not I was permitted to enter. To my utter surprise, his permissions extended only to the drawing room— yes , a drawing room—kitchen, gardens, and my own personal room. The other five bedrooms were off limits, especially his own. I didn’t bother to question him on that. It didn’t matter to me which room we fulfilled the contract in.
    After a full lap of his home, he escorted me back to my door. “I hope you sleep well tonight.”
    Wait, what? I pivoted toward him. “Are you…I mean, didn’t you intend to…?”
    “The first bite is a precarious thing,” he commented, answering my apparently gauche question. “It should be reserved for moments of passion or tenderness. Not as a form of sustenance. I can wait, if you can.”
    I had to take his word on that one. As far as I was concerned, blood was blood… “When, then?”
    He lifted his gaze from the carpet and met mine, his eyes aglow in the darkest of shadows. But it wasn’t until his mouth crooked that my body erupted with chills. “All in due time.”
    His hand grazed my side as he reached around me. My breath caught, and all the