Alexandra was starting to regret her decision to come to the party on her own. Since leaving the bar, she’d been propositioned by half a dozen men who needed lessons in the art of talking to a female. Geez, the guys at college had been smoother than that. Now she had a muscled chest encased in a black silk shirt, black cape, and a deep baritone voice blocking her view.

“You look good enough to eat,” he murmured silkily. She looked up to see a would-be Dracula staring down at her with a predatory look in his eyes. When he smiled at her to show off his fangs, she barely refrained from rolling her eyes.

Great, this one thinks he’s something special!

He’d pushed close to her, bringing his body within centimeters of brushing against hers. He brushed a finger over her upper arm. “Sorry, I make it a habit to never become a meal for someone whose name I don’t know.”

The man grinned. “We’re not supposed to reveal our names and unmask until midnight.” He lifted a hand to touch her hair and Alexandra resisted the urge to slap his hand away.

She shifted to move away and told him, “You may not bite, but I do.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. She glanced at his hand and decided he was about to get her drink in his face. She kept her face neutral, and said, “You have five seconds to remove your hand or I will do it for you. And you won’t like that.”

“Don’t be a tease. I’ve been watching you look around. You’re looking for a good time, aren’t you? I can make sure you never forget this night.”

Alexandra was just about to tell him she could do the same for him when another man in black swept in. “Sorry it took me so long, darling. Grab your drink and come with me. Brian has our booth ready.”

She looked up and barely contained a gasp. Dareios had come her rescue. He didn’t seem to recognize her, so she kept her eyes down and dropped her voice to a husky tone. “Thanks, darling.”

Taking the arm Dareios extended to her, she turned away from the vampire and followed toward the back of the nightclub.

Dareios dipped his head and whispered in her ear, “Do I need to take him out back and teach him some manners?”

A shiver ran down her spine. She bit her bottom lip, and then remembered she needed to refrain from acting like Alexandra tonight. She shook her head. “Thank you, but no. And thanks for the rescue.” She flattened her tones and spoke in English. She knew how to hide the faint Greek accent that usually colored her words when she used English. She’d had more than a few American friends in college.

Stopping next to an empty booth, he gestured for her to slide in. She did so and he took the seat next to her. He waved to a waiter to bring them drinks. “I can see why that neck biter was drawn to you. Your costume is… intriguing.”

Alexandra’s face heated beneath her mask. Be alluring! You’re not his sister so don’t act like it! She cocked her head and pursed her lips for a moment. “And you came as Zorro—and here you are, righting wrongs and saving innocent maidens.”

Dareios smiled. Behind his mask, his blue eyes glittered. The waiter brought over glasses of champagne and Dareios offered her one. “Innocent and a maiden? And here I took you for a goddess. I was actually saving that poor vampire from you striking him down with a bolt of lightning.”

“You’re mistaking me for Zeus.”

“No one could make that mistake. Are you Athena?”

“The patron goddess of Athens?” She thought for a moment and ran a finger over the rim of her wine glass. She tried to think of something witty to say, but being so near to Dareios had her senses spinning. Her heart was racing, and there was a distinct wetness gathering between her legs that was hard to ignore. She ignored the urge to cross her legs. “I believe in the battle with Poseidon I would have been just as wise in my gift to the people.”

“Ah, you know Greek mythology. Do you think Poseidon’s gift of sea water was in error?”

Alexandra shrugged. “It gave the people a source of trade, but the water couldn’t be consumed. The olive tree provided not only fruit and oil, but wood. A much wiser gift.”

He leaned closer. “I always envisioned Athena as being proud and full of herself. You seem more like…Aphrodite?”

“The goddess of love and pleasure?” Alexandra gave a small laugh. It felt heady to flirt with Dareios from behind her mask. “You’d like that, would you?”

“She was the most beautiful goddess. You are certainly the most beautiful woman here tonight.”

“I should thank you for the compliment. However, Aphrodite was unfaithful to her husband and countries warred over her.”

Touching his hand to hers, he asked, “Have we met before? There’s something…familiar about you.”

Alexandra’s heart quickened. She sipped her drink and smiled. “I was going to say the same thing. Perhaps we met in another life?”

He shook his head. “No, I would remember I think. Well, if you’re not Athena and not Aphrodite…ah—I know. Artemis! The smart one. The goddess of the hunt.”

She gave a small nod. She watched his eyes darken. “And since you didn’t come as Orion, you’re in no danger of dying this evening.” The more she thought about it, the more she could see herself personifying Artemis this evening. Hunting seemed like a good description of her activities this night.

“That’s good to know. We’re not allowed to reveal our identities until midnight.” He glanced at his watch. “That gives us more than two hours to get acquainted. Dare I ask the cliché—what brings you here tonight?”

“A worthy cause. Helping children. And you?”

“The same.” He leaned even closer.

She could smell his scent and his breath warmed her cheek. If she stayed in this tight space with him another minute longer, she was liable to embarrass both of them by throwing herself into his arms. “Do you like to dance?” she asked, her voice soft and huskier than she’d ever heard it before.

Dareios looked toward the dance floor and then back at her. “If it lets me hold you in my arms, I’m willing to suffer through it.” Standing, he held out his hand to her.