then, mixed with a little fear. I couldn't see Michel's face, what his returning look to her would have been, but she seemed to relax slightly. Maybe he'd said something telepathically to ease her worry. And then she stood up, vampire puppet-on-a-string up and offered me a hand.
When I was standing in front of her finally, I felt Michel move, a stirring in the air, a warmth at my back. Without even turning around I knew he was behind me, close.
“Leave,” he said over my shoulder.
I knew it was for Erika, because she instantly dropped my hand, winked at me and walked away toward the door. When I heard it click closed behind her, I took a deep breath in and turned slowly to face Michel. This would be interesting. I'd just kicked the butt of his favourite fighting vamp, the Sword in his arsenal, he was either going to shout at me or punish me. I had no idea which.
I hadn't expected the look I received though. Hunger, longing, utter desire.
“My turn,” he said in a low, growl.
Oh shit.
Chapter 5
Try Harder
I swallowed. Michel watched every movement like the hungry predator he was.
“What did you have in mind?” Yay for me, my voice was steady, if not a little lower than usual.
“You land the stake, you get to pick the prize. I land my fangs, I choose.”
I just stood and stared at him. He was serious, this was definitely a game, but he wanted it to feel real. He wouldn't hold back and fighting Erika was one thing, but fighting Michel, that was a whole different ball game right there. I knew I couldn't win, I knew he was stronger, faster, sneakier than me, but could I say no? Never show fear.
I smiled and I think it might just have been as wicked as those he tends to give me. He blinked slowly and wet his lips.
“Let's dance,” he whispered, eyes never leaving my mouth.
I've fought Michel before, I've even had a stake to his chest on occasion, but that was when he'd really pissed me off and our relationship has stabilised a little since then, so my heart wasn't really, truly, committed to the task at hand. And let's face it, even if he did get fang to neck, it was going to be pleasurable. I guess a part of me secretly wanted that outcome anyway. So, the fact that it took him mere seconds to breach my meek and extremely pathetic defences and place his lips on my skin above my pulse at my neck, was not surprising. But, the fact that he didn't extend his fangs at all, was.
“You are not even trying,” he growled against me.
I laughed a little nervously, I couldn't help it. Part of me was amused by his actions, longing for his bite and part of me couldn't help feeling just a little scared at the power that was rolling off him, the strength of his grip on my body.
“I think we should change the rules,” he whispered against me. “There is obviously not enough incentive to make you commit to this enterprise.”
We were standing in the middle of the mat, he had my body crushed up against his, hands gripping my arms, just below my shoulders, face still buried against my neck.
“I land my fangs and you move in with me, permanently.”
“Oh no.” I pulled away from him, he let me, his eyes shining in the light of the room, his smile wicked. “I am not playing this game with you, Michel.”
“It is only fair, ma douce . You have accepted a challenge, of sorts, but are not committed enough to honour it appropriately. Perhaps a higher risk is required to get you to play? Your apartment, for your failure to land the stake.”
I knew how vampires worked, on the whole anyway. Once a challenge had been made there was no going back and this, although a game of a fashion, it was still a challenge and I had accepted it. The fact that Michel would not let me just give up on the challenge and let him win, was just all him. I guess nobody likes to have their meal handed to them on a plate, it's so much more fun if you have to work for it.
“OK,” I said slowly. “But, not my apartment, not that.” I
When I was standing in front of her finally, I felt Michel move, a stirring in the air, a warmth at my back. Without even turning around I knew he was behind me, close.
“Leave,” he said over my shoulder.
I knew it was for Erika, because she instantly dropped my hand, winked at me and walked away toward the door. When I heard it click closed behind her, I took a deep breath in and turned slowly to face Michel. This would be interesting. I'd just kicked the butt of his favourite fighting vamp, the Sword in his arsenal, he was either going to shout at me or punish me. I had no idea which.
I hadn't expected the look I received though. Hunger, longing, utter desire.
“My turn,” he said in a low, growl.
Oh shit.
Chapter 5
Try Harder
I swallowed. Michel watched every movement like the hungry predator he was.
“What did you have in mind?” Yay for me, my voice was steady, if not a little lower than usual.
“You land the stake, you get to pick the prize. I land my fangs, I choose.”
I just stood and stared at him. He was serious, this was definitely a game, but he wanted it to feel real. He wouldn't hold back and fighting Erika was one thing, but fighting Michel, that was a whole different ball game right there. I knew I couldn't win, I knew he was stronger, faster, sneakier than me, but could I say no? Never show fear.
I smiled and I think it might just have been as wicked as those he tends to give me. He blinked slowly and wet his lips.
“Let's dance,” he whispered, eyes never leaving my mouth.
I've fought Michel before, I've even had a stake to his chest on occasion, but that was when he'd really pissed me off and our relationship has stabilised a little since then, so my heart wasn't really, truly, committed to the task at hand. And let's face it, even if he did get fang to neck, it was going to be pleasurable. I guess a part of me secretly wanted that outcome anyway. So, the fact that it took him mere seconds to breach my meek and extremely pathetic defences and place his lips on my skin above my pulse at my neck, was not surprising. But, the fact that he didn't extend his fangs at all, was.
“You are not even trying,” he growled against me.
I laughed a little nervously, I couldn't help it. Part of me was amused by his actions, longing for his bite and part of me couldn't help feeling just a little scared at the power that was rolling off him, the strength of his grip on my body.
“I think we should change the rules,” he whispered against me. “There is obviously not enough incentive to make you commit to this enterprise.”
We were standing in the middle of the mat, he had my body crushed up against his, hands gripping my arms, just below my shoulders, face still buried against my neck.
“I land my fangs and you move in with me, permanently.”
“Oh no.” I pulled away from him, he let me, his eyes shining in the light of the room, his smile wicked. “I am not playing this game with you, Michel.”
“It is only fair, ma douce . You have accepted a challenge, of sorts, but are not committed enough to honour it appropriately. Perhaps a higher risk is required to get you to play? Your apartment, for your failure to land the stake.”
I knew how vampires worked, on the whole anyway. Once a challenge had been made there was no going back and this, although a game of a fashion, it was still a challenge and I had accepted it. The fact that Michel would not let me just give up on the challenge and let him win, was just all him. I guess nobody likes to have their meal handed to them on a plate, it's so much more fun if you have to work for it.
“OK,” I said slowly. “But, not my apartment, not that.” I
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