Page 46 of The Seducer
“Then what are you waiting for?”
I looked deep into his eyes, while I spoke in Latin; a dead language used only by scholars and theologists, like myself. Studying religions of the past required knowledge of languages, since the books that were uncovered in archeological excavations were often written in languages other than English. It complicated our work that our forefathers had buried the old world with everything in it. The horrible deaths of billions of people had left the survivors with major health concerns in regard to the pollution that had been spread, but also the number of corpses decomposing in the buildings and the streets. Whole countries were left empty while the survivors focused on rebuilding the areas of the world that were still inhabitable. As a result, large amounts of knowledge and technology had been lost back then, and for hundreds of years the sole focus of the Council had been to clean the planet and nurture it back to life. For centuries, the old world was considered better left alone, and that attitude made archeological excavations underfunded. Only these past fifty years had brought back an increased interest in what had once been, and we were reclaiming bits and pieces now.
“What did you say?” Finn asked.
I repeated the words in Latin again.
“What does it mean?”
“The direct translation would be that you’ll find satisfaction and fulfillment in the arms of a woman.”
“Good.” He nodded. “I like it.” Tasting the words, he repeated “satisfaction and fulfillment!”
“It will work,” I said with conviction.
“Maybe it already has,” he pointed out, and narrowed his eyes. “We should test it, just to see if it’s already working…”
“I told you, I’ll have to repeat it at least three times, and no, I can’t just say it three times in a row. There has to be at least twenty-four hours in between.”
“But we could still test it,” he said again and gave me a charming smile that softened me.
“Finn, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, why not? It’s not like I’m busy right now.”
“Do you really find all women beautiful or is it just something you say to get sex?”
I could tell from the humor playing in his eyes that he was going to give me one of his sarcastic answers, so I silenced him with a finger to his lips. “Be honest, please.”
We looked into each other’s eyes and he grew more serious. “I’m not blind, Athena. I know you’re above the others in looks.”
“You would say that to every woman who asked you that question.”
“Yeah, but with you I mean it. I’ve always found you beautiful.”
I was skeptic of his words and looked for signs of his being untruthful. There were none.
“I even find the tattoos on your forehead sexy,” he added.
“Why? They are symbols of wisdom.”
“I know, and it turns me on that you’re so damn wise.”
My heart hammered a bit faster. “But you would still prefer a new woman every night?”
Finn tensed a little. “Of course.”
“Have I distracted you enough now?” I asked and rolled back to lie on my back with a deep disappointment taking root. For almost two decades, I had worked hard to eliminate my ego, and rise above petty things like vanity and pride. But the pressure in my chest was a sign that I still had a long way to go. Finn’s comment that one woman wouldn’t be enough to keep his interest had hit me as a declaration thatIwouldn’t be enough, and it stung.
Finn grew silent and we lay next to each other in the bed for a while.
“Athena,” he whispered.
“Yes.”
“Why do you keep asking me that same question?”
I thought about it before I answered. “From what I know about your kin, Nmen like to bond to a woman. Yet you’re different and seem almost afraid of getting too close to anyone.”
