Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“I have been.”

“I’m grateful. My family is too.”

“There’s no need for gratitude. This is my duty.”

“I know. Your duty. You are very strait-laced.”

“Am I?” He watched her face in the dark.

“You’ve only let your devil mask spill a few times.”

“Well I’m half human,” he teased her. “And you are too lovely by far.”

“Am I?” She smiled like a little child.

“You are.”

“A devil makes a poor partner though,” she said.

“Unless his partner matches him,” he reasoned. “A devil needs someone sweet, pure, angelic.”

“Or someone equally demonic,” she said smiling in the dark.

She reached out to touch him and her hand skimmed inside his jacket.

“Caroline go sit on your side.” He commanded.

“Why should I?” She asked her eyes boring into his soul.

“Because it’s best.”

“You never said such things when you were trying to seduce me.” She told him lowly.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” He asked, his voice husky in his ears.

“I wouldn’t even know how,” she smiled.

Just look at me like that, he thought.

“I never tried to seduce you. I only kissed you.” He told her.

“Only kissed me? That’s the beginning. That’s everything.” She said breathlessly.

Val smiled. “What would a little innocent like you know of the beginning of a seduction?”

“I know things.”

“Like what things?” Why was his mouth suddenly so dry?

She pressed her hand to his chest and moved it downward. “You should tell me to stop.”

“Stop,” he said automatically.

“You should grab me as they do in those me

lodrama plays, that’s what they always do.”

“Why would I do that?”