64
The masks do nothing to conceal the women’s identities, hiding only the top half of their faces. They do, however, make them bolder than usual, which I imagine is exactly why the producers had called for such an event at this juncture.
I scan the room, picking up snatches of conversation here and there. Not one person has mentioned Valérie, although I note Thorun’s looking a little down this evening.
Mostly they’re discussing my date with the Greek and undertaking rigorous post-mortems of her salacious details.
So far tonight I’ve already been questioned by several jealous contestants over Vasiliki’s claims that we made love for hours, and that I’d promised her my ring.
I’ve confessed nothing, saying only that a gentleman never kisses and tells.
Actually, we’d fucked hard and she’d spent the rest of the flight just as she had before our exercise — looking into her hand mirror.
I’ve never met such a self-absorbed, narcissistic creature, and can’t imagine leading one down the aisle.
Fortunately, if the conversations I’m hearing now are anything to go by, there’s no chance she’s going to make it out of this country, let alone into my castle.
The music starts, and I murmur my excuses to those surrounding me and make my way across the room to the Italian.
She’s the kind of woman who would attract attention in any setting, but dressed as she is tonight, she stands out more than usual.
She’s wearing a red and black gown that’s very flattering to her skin tone, and long black gloves.
A red velvet ribbon around her throat completes her ensemble.
As usual, the sight of the ribbon makes my fangs tingle, but I remind myself that she’s just an ordinary, mortal woman, ‘or so she says,’ and I have no excuse whatsoever to be thinking about her as a meal.
Nevertheless, tonight I’d like to have a few more of my questions answered.
“May I?” I hold out my hand and wait as she hesitates slightly before taking it.
Walking her to the dance floor, she stiffens as I pull her close.
“You’ll have to relax if I’m to lead, Cat,” I murmur into her ear as the music builds.
“I’m not used to it, that’s all,” she mutters. “And don’t call me that.”
We come to a standstill, and I lean back to look at her. All eyes are upon us, I know, but this conversation is important.
“I know you’re not used to being close to others, but as to your name, I understood your friends call you Cat.”
“I thought we’d already ascertained I don’t have any friends.”
“You saving Thorun’s life would negate that statement. Wouldn’t you say?”
“A life for a life,” she shrugs. “We’re even now.”
“If you say so,” I chuckle, shaking my head at her stubbornness.
“What makes you think you and I are friends, Jaguar? I don’t recall saving your life.”
I shrug.
“You claim you’re going to win the Game and become my wife.
At present you’re one of the strongest competitors.
You speak to me with candour because you don’t fear me as the others do, I imagine because you know I’m not going to kill you.
Consequently, I enjoy our conversations.
Shouldn’t we at least try to be friends?
” I catch the eye of the director, and sigh.
“I believe Mr Dott is going to have a fit if we don’t dance soon. ”
She nods, but her heart is hammering as I draw her closer.
“Will you let me lead you, Cat?”
“If you’re strong enough,” she whispers, “otherwise, no.”
My body stirs at her words, although I don’t know why, and I try to quell the obvious reaction that’s beginning to arise, but fail miserably.
‘Oh, Christ. Why here? Why now?’
Her gasp is audible as my arousal becomes undeniable, and she tries to pull away.
“Wait,” I whisper. “I apologise. Please, just give me a moment.”
She nods and we stand awkwardly on the dance floor as I try to think of battle scenes, bodies, earthquakes, anything at all to induce my body to STAND DOWN!
“Tell me something. Take my mind off it.”
“Friends don’t do this kind of thing,” she says, her voice strained.
“It’s not a conscious decision,” I mutter.
“I don’t want to be here,” she says through gritted teeth.
“Vietnam?”
“No, idiot!” She snaps, “I don’t want to be standing here pressed up against your thing!”
I guffaw at her terminology, my laughter rocking both our bodies and my hard-on becoming, if anything, harder.
“Stop it!” She hisses. “Che schifo!”
“It’s not disgusting, Cat, it’s a natural thing.”
My laughter is not helping matters, but catching another glimpse of Thorun’s downturned lips over the top of Cat’s head reminds me of Valérie.
I’d claimed she was bitten by a shark, but I knew immediately who was responsible.
Thinking about how I’m most likely going to have to catch and kill Asumpta in the coming weeks allows me to get myself under control.
“There,” I smile down at my furious partner.
“Thank God,” she whispers.
“I am the lead, Cat. For once in your life, trust someone else. Allow your body to completely relax.”
“Easier said than done,” she mutters. “Why did you even ask for the first dance with me? Are you trying to get me killed?”
“On the contrary, I believe you have nothing to worry about on that score at the moment, given the reaction to my date with the Greek and your rising reputation as a bloodthirsty murderess. I asked for the first dance because I wanted to apologise for kissing you.”
“By pressing your penis against me?” She asks, her tone incredulous.
“No, obviously not,” I laugh. “I’m a man, Cat, these things happen. And you don’t need to act so indignant, nor be afraid. I’m hardly going to ravish you on the dance floor, for Christ’s sake.”
“You’re not a man, you’re a vampire.”
“I still have needs. The same needs as a human man.”
“I don’t want to know about those needs,” she says quietly, almost inaudibly. “If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all,” I frown, suddenly aware we’re treading on dangerous ground and heading towards a very real conversation.
More real than I’d had with any other competitor.
“We’ve both agreed the marriage will be in name only, whoever takes the title of Viscountess.
I don’t expect my wife to share my bed if she chooses not to. ”
“Good.” She breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes enough that it doesn’t feel so much like I’m towing a statue around the room. “Your name, protection, and immortality, that’s all I want.”
“You won’t have immortality, Cat,” I murmur as the dance comes to a close. “But I can give you the rest.”
I spin her back into the waiting women and hold out my hand to Cherry as the music starts again, watching out of the corner of my eye as Cat tears off her mask and stares at me.
“WHAT?” She shouts from the sidelines.