Page 22 of Lured

She lifted an eyebrow and folded her arms as she considered my words. I knew I was making her an important offer and it would be a lot for her to think about.

“What do you mean by help me kill him?” she asked after a moment.

I settled in, knowing this was most likely to be the option she took, if she took any of them. “I'd help you get close and get the opportunity you needed to kill him. I can't be the one to do it, but I can stand by and let it happen. Especially if he was wounded, suffering already or on his own somewhere.”

“But the killing would still be on me?”

“If need be, I'm also willing to train you.”

This made her blink and shift back, the surprise my quick offer created making her pause. “Train me?”

I nodded. “I'd be more than happy to teach you everything I know of fighting vampires. It would almost certainly never be enough for you to kill a true-blood, but I could ensure that you hold your own against any turned.”

“You know some fighting techniques? She shifted again, relaxing once more. I had her curiosity now.

“Many. A vampire doesn't live this long without learning a thing or two. I could teach you many things, but I would be delighted to teach you how to fight.” I smiled letting my gaze wander over her body. If she'd let me I could also take her to heaven and teach her exactly what her body was made for.

She nodded and continued to think for a moment. I studied her, knowing that I was going to need to give her time, but also more than ready to get on with this job, or fuck her first, then get on with this job. I had to hope she got her questions out soon and let us move on.

“How do I know that I can trust you on this?” she looked up at his face again, studying him as intensely as he had been studying her.

I considered trying to give her loads of reasons why, but none of them came out of my mouth. I didn't want to make excuses.

“You could kill me at any point,” she continued. “You almost did a few minutes ago. How do I know that you won't kill me as soon as you're done with me, or, I dunno, if you lose your temper.”

At this I chuckled. “I had no intention of killing you earlier. I'm not sadistic. I don't torture people and I don't take delight in hurting others. If I wanted you dead, you would be dead. I was angry earlier because I thought you had played me for a fool, but I still gave you time to explain and I have taken you at your word that you aren't here with a team.”

“So you're saying that I'm far more valuable alive and you don't plan to kill me for no good reason?”

“Something like that.”

This time she chuckled and I smiled back. It lit up her whole face when she laughed and I liked the look in her eyes.

“How exactly do you plan on bringing me into your... whatever?” she asked next.

“I plan on having Ludis believe that you're my enthralled. It's the easiest lie to sell at this point.”

She gulped and looked up at me. For a moment she seemed to shrink and also looked younger. I straightened and walked over to sit beside her. “I promise to help you feel more comfortable for me in that capacity if this is the route you choose. Your consent in choosing this will be important to me.”

“And it will definitely include... sex, and stuff?”

“Yes. I plan to enjoy your body at every opportunity. But I promise to make sure you enjoy it as well.” I couldn't stop myself from reaching up and running the backs of my fingers down her cheek. She shuddered, but her eyes never left my face. “You're beautiful and you'd be my enthralled. It would be expected of me to take your body when it pleases me to do so. How else would we make it look like you belong to me and aren't a hunter?”

As she swallowed again it drew my attention toward her neck. I leaned in and kissed the soft skin on the side of her slender neck before inhaling her scent. Her heart was racing again, but she didn't pull away. Her arousal was evident, but I knew that being a true-blood vampire would be having an impact on her.

Our race was designed to seduce hers.

“I'll also feed on you now and then. Not enough to do you any harm. But enough to help sustain me.” I moved my mouth even closer to her neck again and she didn't pull away.

If I'd wanted to, I could have devoured her again and it was tempting to bite her and drink a little. To show her what she would be getting into, but she hadn't given me permission yet. She hadn't agreed to this and it had always been important to me to have a partner who chose life with me, human or otherwise.

Giving her a little space again, I backed up and waited. Silence fell between us as she composed herself. Her hands were in her lap, clasped together and she was breathing steadily to calm her body back down.

I was impressed with her restraint and the self control she was exhibiting and it gave me even more confidence that any answer she gave would be of her own free will.

“Would the first option also involve being your enthralled. Letting you enjoy me when you wanted?”

The question surprised him, but the answer was simple. “If we're not trying to sell an act, or placate anyone's opinion to get close to them, it would only ever be what you were comfortable with it being. No matter what you choose I won't deny one thing. I want you and in many ways. I've wanted you since the moment I set eyes on you earlier this evening, sitting at the bar, trying to make a single drink last all evening. And it's deeper than lust. You're different.”

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