"Yeah, but I don't think we were ever properly introduced." Damian held out his hand. "Damian Petrescu, proud Rom and descendant of the Ludar line."
I shook his hand cautiously. "Right. I remember now. You're the guy who loves to put on gypsy airs. I'm Heidi Mackenzie." I raked my gaze over his entire body, and my tongue darted out to moisten my bottom lip. Not because I was attracted to him. No way. "Why are you dressed like Dracula's low-rent cousin?"
"Women love the way I dress." He smirked. "You do, that's for sure. I can tell by the way your pupils dilated when you saw me and the way you licked your lips."
"My lips are dry, and it's kind of dark in here. It makes everybody's pupils get bigger."
"Have dinner with me."
I blinked slowly, my brows hiking up. "Excuse me?"
"You heard what I said. Have dinner with me. I give awesome dating."
Oh yeah, this was exactly how I expected Damian to behave.Player alert."Yeah, I'm sure you think you're awesome at everything to do with women. But I'm not interested."
He leaned against the bottom post on the staircase, cocking his hip. "I bet you'll change your mind after a date with me. What have you got to lose? I'll buy you a nice meal, we'll have some laughs, and then you can decide how badly you want to get me naked."
"Oh please. Does that kind of talk really work for you?"
"Usually." He slanted toward me and lowered his voice. "I can give you the best time of your life, and I'll even talk dirty if you beg me for it." He grinned. "Actually, you won't have to beg. I love whispering filthy things into a woman's ear."
"I'm not into that." It was a lie, but sometimes a woman had to deceive a man to protect herself. I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm not interested in dating or sex at all."
"Come on, you must be joking. Aren't you the girl who loves to be naked and loves to suck every ounce of marrow out of life?"
Hearing him say the word suck sent a hot shiver through me. But that did not mean I wanted to sleep with him. Even if I did want that, I would not do it. "I'm not a silly, wild girl anymore. I've changed, for the better."
"Don't you miss having a good time?" he asked. "I guarantee I can make you feel good."
Oh God, that sounded amazing. Even before I made my celibacy vow, I'd gone without sex for months. A steamy, meaningless fling sounded perfect.
No, it did not.Focus, Heidi.
"I'm not having sex with you," I said.
"We can start with a date, then."
I shook my head, trying to frown but not quite succeeding. "You really are persistent, aren't you? Maybe I'm not being clear enough. I'm done with men, at least for a while."
"Have you defected to the other side?"
"What?" For a second, I had no idea what he meant. Then it hit me. I shook my head again, almost smiling. "Oh, I get it. I'm not a lesbian. I'm taking a break from dating, that's all."
"Hmm." Damian inched closer. "We can start with getting it on, and upgrade to dinner once you're over this no-dating thing."
"Do you have concrete for brains?" I made exaggerated lip movements to match my exaggerated enunciation when I informed him, "I am celibate. No sex. No dating. No men, except for platonic friends. Get it?"
"I can read lips, you know. You could've just mouthed all that, and I would've understood."
"You're so pigheaded, I figured you needed extra emphasis."
"How about a kiss?"
"No, Damian." Jeez, why was he so determined to get in my pants? I wore baggy clothes so men wouldn't pay attention to me. That tactic had worked out so well, hadn't it? "We can be friends—platonic, which means no sex, no kissing, no fondling—but that's it."
He sighed with no small measure of sarcasm. "Have it your way."
"Thank you."