Sierra was plucky, he’d give her that. Nothing he’d done had thrown her for long. Granted, she’d been surprised to find him naked, but she’d bounced back and hadn’t been intimidated. He didn’t know why she couldn’t be compelled. That was a problem. And he didn’t need more problems.
He’d check in later with Damon to see what the head of security in Vamptown had dug up on her.
Ronan couldn’t even flash his fangs at her because there was no way to make her forget what she saw. He certainly wasn’t going to kill her. He’d seen and done enough killing over the past ninety-seven years.
He had to keep the fact that he was a vampire a secret from her.
When he’d lived here as a human, he’d no idea that he was in the midst of a vampire enclave. The talk instead had been about the increasing hostilities in Europe and the possibility that America would be drawn into the war over there.
“Why weren’t you wearing any clothes earlier?” she abruptly asked him.
“I was changing.” Changing from a resting vampire to an awake one.
Since arriving in Vamptown, he’d been put through a vamp inquisition by the vampire council before they’d approved of him staying. Only after that had he been given the rules.
No killing of humans.
No sharing info about Vamptown.
Not that he’d been given much info worth sharing. He had access to blood, but wasn’t told where it came from. He’d been given a tattoo on the back of his neck and told he’d be able to handle sunshine in two weeks’ time. He still had one day before he got there, so he spent most of his daylight hours in total darkness. Apparently he was old-school that way. He had a casket stashed in the basement.
Sierra hadn’t looked down there yet.
She pointed to the door behind the stairs. “Where does that go?”
“The basement.”
She headed toward it.
“Whoa.” He put out his hand to stop her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I know I’m going to the basement.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” she countered.
“I thought you were going to write out an agreement for me to sign.”
“I am,” she said. “As soon as I see the basement.”
“It’s pretty dark down there. The lights are all out.”
She flipped the switch at the top of the stairs but nothing happened.
“See?” He moved to close the door.
She moved away but only as far as her purse, where she retrieved a slim flashlight.
Shit. This woman was stubborn and persistent, neither of which he found endearing in a human.
He didn’t realize he was blocking her way until she glared at him. “Is there some reason you don’t want me going in the basement?” she said.
“It’s not safe,” he said.
“Because?”
“It’s dark.”
“Which is why I have a high-intensity flashlight.” She turned it on and aimed it right in his face.
Ronan groaned and turned away. While it wasn’t sunlight, the beam of intense light still hurt.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “Are your eyes sensitive to light? I have a friend who is like that.”
Ronan doubted she had any friends “like that” or like him. Even the other vampires in Vamptown had no experience with an indentured vampire. He’d seen their looks of pity. They’d let him stay because of his claim to the house … this house, his house.
“Before you go down there, I have a question for you. You referred to my girlfriend when you first arrived.”
“Did I?” She fiddled with the flashlight.
“Yes. Why?”
“I just figured I may have interrupted you and some girl. I mean, you were naked.”
“I told you, I was changing.” He was changing again, into a sexually aroused vampire. He sensed her pulse quickening. He tried reading her mind again but she was blocking him.
“I’m doing the best I can,” she muttered. To herself? Or to someone else? He looked around but there was no one there.
“What about the stuff in your truck?” He pointed outside. “Don’t you want to unpack?”
Sighing, she returned the flashlight to her purse and reached for her set of keys.
She opened the door to find Damon and another man standing there with her desk. “Where do you want this?” Damon demanded.
“Come in. I, uh, wasn’t expecting—”
Damon interrupted her. “Where do you want this?”
“In my bedroom. Follow me.”
“She likes giving orders,” Ronan told his fellow vampires. The newcomer was Nick St. George, the head of the local business association.