CHAPTER THREE #2
“Pity,” I said, stretching my arms over my head.
“Especially when I can think of so many other positions you might take.” I used the tiniest bit of magic to enlarge my breasts, just enough to make them appear ready to burst from my bra.
The coins shifted from the strain, making a light jingling sound.
Then I pulled my hair off to the side, reaching for the clasp of my necklace behind my nape.
Slowly, with a deep sigh, I undid it. His eyes followed carefully as the thick golden necklace revealed my collarbone.
I pulled the chain down past my breasts before I set it on a small table beside me.
A glass decanter full of wine stood there, ready to be poured.
“You can make yourself more comfortable,” I suggested, just as more robins began calling to each other outside, their chirps sounding off in rapid succession.
A soft breeze blew against the glass pane.
“Why don’t you remove your cloak, at least?
The fireplace in my room can be a bit strong, especially in the spring.
” I filled the first glass with red wine and held it out to him. “Don’t want you to get too hot now.”
“Samara,” he said, his voice serious now. “I meant what I said. I don’t—” He shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed. “I don’t do this. I can’t.”
“You can’t share wine?” I teased. “Have a conversation with me? Of course, you can.”
His eyes swung furtively back to the bed, the muscle in his jaw tensing. “You know what I meant. We both know exactly what those coins are for.”
I ground my teeth. How the fuck was I the one trying to seduce a mark who’d already paid? A mark who’d already lusted for me enough to absorb his energy without touch, to tap into his mind. And yet …
I looked up at him through my eyelashes, again wasting a small surge of power to dust my irises with gold. “Who says we can’t talk and share wine before?”
“We can’t.” His arms folded across his chest. “Because there won’t be a before. Or an after. Not tonight. Not here. These things … this … It,” he frowned, making a noise low in the back of his throat, “it means something to me.”
I nearly laughed out loud. “That’s not true of most men.”
“Be that as it may,” the muscles in his jaw tensed, “I would not so easily count myself amongst them.”
“Neither would I,” I said, eying his purse.
The tassels were also embedded with the same golden thread from his cloak.
The same markings of his royal house. King Tirian.
House Lafir. I wagered when his clothes came off, I’d find the royal seal hidden somewhere inside his underthings.
He’d have the sigil somewhere. A blue moonstag, red flames behind its wings.
I set the first glass down and poured out a second. “We can still find some enjoyment together tonight. However we decide.”
His eyebrows drew together, watching me warily.
“Oh come now.” I shook my head, my lips pouting.
“It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s like you said, we both know why you’re here.
And while sharing something meaningful together can be great and wonderful, so can sharing something that’s just fun.
If we were to both agree to such an arrangement, wouldn’t that in and of itself be meaningful? ”
“Are we in another debate so soon?” he asked. “I did not expect you to be a philosopher, as well as a dancer.”
“Because I work here?” I challenged.
“Well, yes. I mean—no. No! I’m sorry. That came out wrong.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Honestly, I,” he sighed, “I don’t expect anyone to be a philosopher. Even at … I mean, even with my friends.”
“Well, change your expectations of me.” I winked and playfully shook my shoulders. “I am many things.” More than he’d ever understand.
“I have no doubt.” He bit his lip, his eyes searching mine. “You keep surprising me.”
“Then you should stay with me a while. I’ll surprise you again.” I eyed the bed, then shyly looked back at him.
He shook his head.
I smiled softly. “Do you really mean to tell me that every such encounter you’ve experienced has meant something to you?”
At this, he blushed, glancing toward the window.
A blue robin perched on the sill, spreading its wings in agitation before it flew, its wings a mad flurry.
“Well, no.” He admitted. “Not exactly. But I … I was telling the truth downstairs. I am to be betrothed. The negotiations are done. I expect the ink on the contract will be dry by morning. Then it’s done. ”
I let my eyes move pointedly back and forth across the room, like I was searching for someone. “She’s not here.”
“Even still,” he said, “I would not betray her.”
My eyebrows narrowed. “Do you love her?”
“No,” he said quickly. “I mean.” He shook his head again, and his fingers raked through his curls. “Gods. That’s an awful thing to say.”
“But it’s true,” I offered. And I was right. I knew it. He’d spoken too quickly, sounded far too sure of himself, and now looked far too guilty. Maybe I could use that against him.
“I don’t … love her.” He frowned. “But I mean to.” His eyes met mine, blazing like green emeralds. “And I mean to be loyal to her. I’m loyal to anyone I give my word to. Love will come. I just, I don’t know her yet.”
My heart pounded. “That’s quite gallant of you.”
“It’s no less than she deserves.”
Lucky girl.
“No less than anyone deserves,” he said, meeting my gaze again.
“Another one of your philosophies?” I asked and picked up the two wine glasses. “You must be quite educated.”
“Perhaps, though I imagine no more so than you.”
“You think so?” I asked, almost flattered.
But he was right, of course. I had the formal education expected of a princess, and though I was trained by witches, my studies had been as extensive as any noble in House Lafir.
My people weren’t originally from this continent, but we had been on the land for hundreds of years.
His lips lifted. “I know so. And I know that I like that about you, and that I like talking to you.”
“And I you,” I said, “Even though you seem entirely intent on denying me what I want.” Carefully I stepped before him.
He was honorable, or he at least wanted to be.
I’d give him that. But every man had a weakness, a chink in their armor.
A loophole in whatever philosophy they subscribed to.
He may have thought himself above them all—most likely for the coin he possessed—or whatever title he secretly harbored amongst the royal house.
But at the end of day, he was still a man, and as far as I could see through the tightness of his riding pants, he was very much in possession of a cock.
One I imagined functioned like any other.
It was only a matter of time. Much as I reluctantly liked him, I would break him. I was going to get what I wanted. I was going to find my way out.
I held out a glass for him, bringing the other almost to my lips. “Why don’t we have a drink together? You can relax. We can keep talking. Philosophizing. Debating.” I grinned. “And I promise you, no one has to know what we do after. Whatever that looks like, we can still enjoy—”
“He was hurting you,” he burst out, his voice low.
My hands fell to my sides, the wine sloshing out of the glass and spilling onto the floor.
“What?” All my composure was gone. An icy chill ran over my body, and I stepped away from him, my heart thrumming. I barely had the presence of mind to set the glasses back on the table.
“He was hurting you,” he said again, shaking now with a rage I could feel, one so strong I could feed off it, could feel it surging inside of me, filling me with power. It awakened the Azete inside, and it wanted more.
“Geoffrey? No—he …” I shook my head.
“I saw it,” he seethed. “Saw him grab you, saw the look in your eyes. You were in pain. You were—” His neck reddened. His hands fisted at his sides. “It was my fault.”
“No, I—I was fine. Am fine. I …” Fuck! I had to fix this. I took a deep breath. “Gods. I’m sorry for whatever it is you think you saw downstairs. Truly. But I can assure you, everything is fine. Nothing happened between me and Geoffrey. Nor anyone else. I’m not hurt. Not at all. I promise you.”
“But you are,” he said softly. “I know what I saw. What he did. And I think,” he clenched his jaw, shaking his head, “I think maybe there are different rules here in the town, in the tavern—I mean—ones I don’t know.
Customs I’m not used to, or don’t understand, because I wasn’t raised with them.
But I know this much. My eyes did not deceive me.
He hurt you. Because of me. Because of my decision.
” His nostrils flared out, the muscles in his jaw working, before he took a deep breath.
I stumbled back a step, feeling too hot and also too cold, my stomach churning.
“I didn’t mean any offense in turning down your offer,” he continued.
“Nor any offense in accepting it.” He swallowed roughly.
“I just wanted him to stop.” He stepped forward, the firelight showing off the deep blue of his tunic, the shine in the leather of his boots.
He held his hands open, his palms up in submission, like he was approaching a frightened beast.
I supposed in a way he was. Because what else was an Azete but a monster at their core? A shapeshifter who sucked out the life of others. A Demonos parasite always looking to feed.
“Samara, are you—are you all right?” he asked.
Suddenly I couldn’t take it. The intimacy of him knowing my name, of using it like he knew me, like he cared for me. Saying it, pronouncing it, just like my mother had.
“Please,” I said. “Don’t do this. It’s nothing.”