Page 7 of Kiss of Seduction

Evie inspected her fingers. They felt the same, except there was a tingling sensation that was quickly fading.

“No. It didn’t.”

Natalya narrowed her eyes, looking Evie over with newfound interest. Then she turned her head, hearing or sensing something outside the room. Her face twisted into a grimace.

“Stefano is nearby. He found someone else to have his fun with.”

Her scarlet eyes were turning a darker shade of red, but there were traces of violet in them too. As the minutes passed, the scarlet waned in favor of mostly purple.

Evie sat awkwardly on the mattress. Guests ignoring her for a time was common enough, but then they always gave her something to do. Like pose in a specific manner, or they made her dance. Sitting on the bed so close to Natalya, doingnothing,filled Evie with dread. A dissatisfied guest meant Stefano got to use his pliers.

“You’re afraid,” Natalya said, and Evie flinched. Natalya was looking at her again, eyes bright and intense, but they didn’t drill into her anymore. Evie gave her best attempt at a flirtatious smile.

“I’m not afraid.” She got on her stomach and splayed out on the mattress, raising her hips slightly so her ass stuck in the air. “I’m just waiting for you to be ready.”

“I see… I assume this is what Varro has selected to be your purpose. To entertain him and his guests?”

“Oh, yes. Whatever you want of me, I’ll do,” Evie said, relieved. If Natalya could just get on with it, she could stop feeling so anxious. She knew it would come. It always did. Better it did on her terms.

“You came from Chicago as I heard it,” she continued. “That’s a long journey. You must be tired. I can help you relax.”

Please, Evie thought.Anythingbutthishorriblewaiting.

Natalya looked to be considering something. Then she gestured Evie over.

She returned to Natalya’s side of the bed, moving sensually and slowly. No women had requested her while at Varro’s, so any experience with it would come from her previous life.

The thought stung. Evie had only ever been with women before she came to Varro’s estate and only men afterward. To bring memories of that old life into this one felt wrong, but it couldn’t be helped. She couldn’t refuse.

She wondered what Natalya would do. Sometimes guests liked to kiss her before moving on to other things. Feed on her was guaranteed, however she’d do that.

Evie’s hands started trembling.

“Easy.” Natalya gathered up a bedsheet and put it around Evie’s shoulders. Her breath hitched as Natalya’s fingersbrushed against her skin, producing a barely present tingling sensation.

Natalya bundled up the sheet so it covered Evie’s body completely. She had to physically grab Evie’s hands to get her to wrap it around herself.

“Your name is Evelyn.” Natalya glanced down at her now-covered tattoo.

More confused than frightened, Evie nodded.

“Is that your real name or one they gave to you?”

“My real name.”

“You flinch every time someone says it. Is there something else you want to be called?”

Evie cowered. She hated when they did this. Sometimes,rarely, they liked to talk to her before doing anything. They asked about her life before, about her interests and hobbies. She’d come up with a story for them. That she’d gotten an opportunity to escape her old life and serve a powerful King. That her family had disowned her, and she’d found refuge acting as a servant to the Court of Night.

It was easier than the truth. That she had no family. That she was a foster kid turned stripper. That her girlfriend was dead, and Stefano had kidnapped her. He’d talked to Evie during a shift at the Love Light and followed her when she left the club. He’d been the first to taste her. She still had the scars.

“I asked you a question.” Natalya gently touched her hand, reclaiming her attention. “Would you like me to call you something else?”

Evie stared at her for another long moment before she found her voice. “Evie. I preferred that… before.”

She wasn’t sure what made her answer truthfully. It wasn’t because of the calm Natalya had produced in her. Natalya said herself she’d forced the emotion, so what else could she forceon Evie if she proved troublesome? It didn’t make Evie trust her any.

But the small act of covering her up, shielding her body, was a kindness. Evie had experienced enough trickery to not trust it from the vampires, but Natalya wasn’t a vampire. She was breathing, and her skin was warm.