Luxu
As Luxu allowed the close of their shared dance and offered his own bow in her direction—flourished and sweeping, with all the exaggerated cordiality of a proper gentleman—he considered a possible rebuttal to her panther problem—for how would she know that such specific creatures would exist on this particular island on which they might find themselves stranded? Why not lions or tigers or bears (oh my!)?—when her inquiries struck his intrigue at a peculiar angle. He hadn’t figured her to necessarily be the jealous type given her usually icy and logical demeanor, able to box out such unneeded emotions—though perhaps he was merely reading more into the questions than he should have been.
Standing back up to his full height and resuming his usual relaxed posture, he pursed his lips, as though in thought, then responded, “To be fair, my effort varies from person to person. Some of ‘em tumble right into my lap—some of ‘em need a few overtures before fully welcomin’ the attention.
“But for you?” he went on before she could possibly interrupt his reply, “I don’t believe I’ve ever openly and eagerly proposed such an adventurous first date—y’know, strictly hypothetically, of course.”
Though, admittedly, the prospect of engaging in such an extensive escapade with this particular lass—as he would affectionately call her during this special little swashbuckling caper—definitely had its appeal. Just the two of them, without the vast array of distractions that could hinder their bonding, and there had always been such an inherent sort of aphrodisiac for Luxu attached to the concept of danger.
And, as evidenced from previous interactions between the two of them, it seemed the same could be said of Neraine herself.
“The only question now is,” and here he extended his clawed hand in her direction, the invitation accompanied by the quirk of his brow, “wouldja wanna give the ol’ two-step another spin, but with music this time?”
Neraine assumed Luxu had the art of seduction down to a science. An unfathomable amount of time feeding off the lusts and wants of humanity. He was hunter and the feeble mortals were prey. He could make grown women blush, stoic men swoon, and his timing was impeccable. The right moment for the suggestive word, the correct joke to lighten the mood, and the delicious hint to intrigue the curiosity. Like the pathetic prince plucking the flower petal before he presented it to Giselle, to ensure the whims of fate fell in his favor. There wasn’t a trick in the book Luxu didn’t know. Including the ‘only you’ line. No one else has ever received such attentions from Luxu. This enticing story was for her alone.
Yes, and Neraine was born yesterday.
Her hand settled in his on its accord. Pure magnetism, the forces of the universe driving them together. Sparks on the dry brush, wildfires consuming entire forests in their passion. She’d put duct tape over his mouth if it meant one more dance without admitting her own sway. No idea what she’d agreed to or admitted. This is a distraction, hissed her inner voice, drowned out by her own blood rush. Places to be, things to do, lust demons to not fall for-- or she could have one more dance. Sign her name on the dotted line and forget for a half-second in a one-two-three of a waltz. A lapse in judgement or a crumbling, inevitable fall into weakness?
“What exactly are you planning?” Neraine queried. Eyes narrowed, peering up at him. As if she could peer into his golden iris and find a soul with answers inscribed. “There’s a reason you sought me out. Why you stayed so long. Put so much... thought into my particular seduction.”
Her jaw stiffened, chin lifting with stubborn reservation. Her grin was smug in its confident refusal to comply. In this game of complex cat-and-mouse, she would not yield. He called her special, unique, exciting and dangerous, she was all that and more. She was certain, that at some point, he’d give-up.
“It isn’t working.”
