It was hard to hide my tired sigh as our food was taken away and I lounged on the pillows as I closed my eyes. The food had only served to make me even more tired, and I struggled to stifle the yawn that wanted to come out. From Cissi and Stella's firm stance, I knew there was no expectation that we would be leaving soon and I chanced a glance at Luc.
The vampire was lying on the pillows across from me, staring up at the ceiling as he avoided making eye contact with me. I hummed softly with thought as I watched him, trying to consider what else Requiem could expect. We had gotten to Miroirs just fine, I had stood up for both myself and Luc and apparently my demeanor throughout dinner had at least been good enough for the guards to allow the night to continue. What else could the king possibly want from us?
I glanced at the vampire again, and was surprised to see his gaze meet mine over the table. His face was partially obscured by the collar of his jacket, and he quickly turned away, but I recognized the issue at that moment. Requiem had drained him of blood, just to ensure Luc would be blood starved for our date. My blood boiled as my heart pounded, trying to decide what I could do. Offering to relieve Luc's pain would be too kind-hearted for Requiem's rules, and I didn't want to fail when we had come so far. I also didn't want to allow Luc to be in pain for the whole night, angry that Requiem would do such a thing to his own son.
An idea crossed my mind and I closed my eyes as I mulled over the idea. On one hand, it technically didn't break any of Requiem's rules, but it toed the line very closely. Whether or not I could get away with it would depend on execution and Luc responding in the right way. If he seemed thankful or eager, I would have to refuse him, which would hurt us both. I took a deep breath as I opened my eyes, deciding to go for it.
"Lucien," I started, my voice firm and breathy as I placed my hands under my head, refusing to look at the vampire. "I require some attention."
"Atten… attention?" Luc stammered and I couldn't help my smile. Maybe this could work if he could pretend well enough.
"It's only right to pleasure a woman after feeding her, no?" I continued, watching as Stella leaned into our booth,
"Lin, I must-"
"Did I ask for your input?" I said sharply, sitting up as I met the demon's gaze with defiance. The slightest hint of a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth, but I merely scowled in response. "This is a matter between Lucien and I, and I will have my needs met."
"Requiem-"
"Is the Demon king such a prude that he would deny a woman her pleasure? Why allow such a venture if he was so worried about his son's purity?" I challenged, keeping my sour expression as I watched pure surprise cross Stella's face. Maybe he thought I wouldn't dare say such a thing about Requiem and under normal circumstances, he would be right. However, at the moment, my anger at the Demon King was stronger than my fear or hate and I would do and say whatever I needed to in order to take care of Luc. "Well?"
"Carry on, Lin." Stella finally acquiesced, standing up and closing the booth's curtains as he resumed his post. I turned to face Luc, my heart filled with relief that my stunt had worked. He was watching me with surprise, and I allowed myself a soft smile to reassure him.
"Now," I continued, making sure to keep my voice firm as I spoke. They may not look in, but if the tone got too loving, then Cissi and Stella would still be within their right to stop us. "Are you deaf, Lucien?"
"No." Lucien finally answered, and I was surprised by the tone in his voice. Either he was acting to play along with me, or my acting had awakened something in him. From the changed shape of his eyes and the hint of playfulness in his gaze, I was starting to suspect the latter. "More curious of who you are to order me."
"Your date, or have you forgotten?" I shot back, my heart starting to move into my throat as Luc chuckled. I wasn't used to seeing this side of him, and the hint of his horns that started to peek through his hair was not helping to settle both my rising hate and painful lust. A part of me was worried that my rising hate would limit how much time I had left with Azger's illusion but those thoughts were quickly squashed as Luc moved toward me. I could barely register the movement as the vampire pinned me down, leaning over me as he breathed in my scent. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I, dear Lin," Luc chuckled, looking down at me with a hungry gaze I had only seen on the faces of other demons. I resisted the urge to swallow my heart, knowing that I couldn't show my nervousness as I did my best to meet that gaze evenly. Luc's smiled widened as he leaned down to my skin, laying a burning kiss onto my chest. I moaned quietly with the gesture, surprised by how much I enjoyed it. When our eyes met again, I noticed that all three of his horns had appeared, the largest adorned with a single gold band. "Intend to give you exactly what you asked for."
I had no chance to say more as Luc loosened his grip on my wrists, gently dragging his nails along the metal bands that covered my wrists. Something about the vibrations caused ripples of pleasure through my body, but I did my best to hide it as I shivered, keeping my gaze defiant. It was a little easier to keep up my act now that Luc had given in more to his demon form, as the instinctual hate in me kept me from fully surrendering to the pleasure. All I needed was for Luc to indulge his thirst and then we could finally be done with this night.
"Did you know, Lin," Luc's voice was heavy with power, and my hate almost overpowered the pleasurable feeling as the demonic sound made my skin crawl. "Demons can cause pleasure in a similar way vampires can."
"I have yet to see it." I scoffed, gasping as Luc wrapped his hands tightly around my bare skin. The heat from his hands seemed to spread down my arms and toward my core, and I couldn't help the soft sound that escaped me.
"As you shouldn't." Luc growled, his expression dark as he pushed his face into mine. The look in his eyes was one I had only ever seen when Luc was angry about me being hurt, and seeing it now, with that pleasurable heat spreading from his hands, my heart nearly stopped. "Because you are mine now."
Luc gave me no chance to answer as he released one of my wrists, using his hand to expose my neck. His long, hot tongue dragged across my exposed skin, and I didn't even try to hide the sound it pulled from me. It was as if I was being attacked on every front, his vampiric aura telling me of the pleasure to come, his warm skin preparing me to enjoy every ounce he could give me, and his knee…
It took me a moment to realize amongst all the other sensations plaguing my body, but I suddenly became aware that Luc had one of his knees pressed against me between my legs. His hands were stroking me to cause me to rub myself against him, and perfectly adding to the rest of the pleasure his body was giving me. So perfectly, that I had failed to notice it until that moment. I barely had time to try and consider how Luc had figured out how to do such a thing when I felt his fangs brush my skin. My hands flew to his jacket, and I gripped the fabric tightly as I bit my own lip.
"I said, to please me." I finally managed to spit, my harsh tone not matching the squirming of my body, the gasps and sounds that escaped my lips as Luc perfectly worked my skin to maximize how enjoyable this feeding would be. I could only hope that Requiem draining him would not set his soul on fire, as I forced myself to met his smug expression. "Not to tease, Lucien."
"Perhaps, I know how to please you better than you do." Luc chuckled, leaning down closer as he whispered into my ear. HIs voice was finally softer and closer to the Luc I was used to, even with the demonic power the sound carried. "I know what you are doing, Lin and you should be careful. I only have so much control and I can't resist myself forever."
"Be quick about it, lest I grow bored of your games." I scoffed, nodding slightly to show Luc I had heard him. The vampire let out a throaty laugh, before gripping me tightly again, making sure I would be unable to move as he placed his free leg over mine. He buried his face into my neck, nuzzling the skin there as he prepared to drink his fill.
And send me back to Heaven.
The feel of his teeth breaking the skin made me want to scream with the feeling that washed through my whole body. Thanks to his demonic power, rather than the cold shivers of pleasure his previous feedings had given me, a powerful heat poured from his bite, setting my nerves on fire. I wanted more, needed more and I struggled to grind myself on his knee again. Luc's grip was firm though, and I could do no more than whine softly with my frustration as each pull forced another wave through my body.
Luc's sounds were throaty and wet as he drank and I felt as his weight shifted, although his hands kept my upper body pinned. A loud desperate sound escaped me as he pressed his leg against me again, and I moved against him, my entire body on fire from his combined powers. I felt as if I would melt, melt into a puddle of pure ecstasy as he finally released my throat, the sound a wet and loud 'pop'.
"There." He breathed, and my eyes fluttered open to see his face. Covered in my blood, his eyes a bright red with a fire that had not been quenched by drinking from me. No, the fire that now raged in those eyes was a fire of passion and from the shaking in his own body. I could see that Luc was fighting his desire to take me. To do away with this charade, and take what was in front of him. What he had so desperately wanted for years and was now lying panting underneath him. Helpless. Wanting. Craving a fire only he could give.
I did my best to close my eyes, trying to calm my own body down. Dracula and Requiem were right to want this power for themselves; when Luc focused and could use both powers together, he was a force to be reckoned with. Except there was only one person he wanted to use those powers for and my thoughts returned to what Azger had said.
"You can move now." I commanded, making sure to make a stern expression as I opened my eyes. Luc had yet to move and I could see that he did not want to. "Now, Lucien, or I'll have to talk to Requiem about his son's rudeness."
"Lin." Luc growled, clearly annoyed that I was still willing to play his father's game when he was right there. When he was the one leaning over me, pleasuring me, wanting to give me more. How dare I say his father's name?
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Luc's frustrations had grown to the point he was influencing my thoughts, trying to get me to stop using reason and give into his desires. I had known Luc could do so, but I had never experienced it myself, and it was terrifying how easily the thoughts seemed to be my own.
I flexed my fingers, quickly signing the words I could not say out loud without getting the attention of our demonic bodyguards.
"Luc, please. We'll have our time, but it can't be now." I quickly moved my fingers, relieved to see that he was watching my hand. It was good that he was able to understand without me fully making the motions, especially since he still had me pinned. "Please, I don't want to lose you."
Luc closed his eyes, growling loudly as he rolled off me, settling back on his pillows as I sat up. It was then I noticed his condition, and cleared my throat as I turned away, my body betraying my logic as I saw how much he craved me.
"Now, let's go. I tire of this place." I slowly stood as I tried to regain control of my body, barely waiting for Cissi and Stella to move the simple cloth that had shielded us from prying eyes. Luc soon appeared behind me and we joined hands as we left the restaurant, almost done with this never ending trial.