The Seduction of Gretchen: Paranormal Erotic Romance (Anam Céile Chronicles) (4 page)

As we sat there, Giuliana looked about the dining hall, her
eyes glazing over as they fell upon our top male performer who I had clearly
noticed caught her eye last night.

“Who is
that
?” she asked, clearly enthralled. 

Expecting her to ask such a question, I laughed.  “
That
is Vincenzo.”

“
Vincenzo
,” she said, savouring the sound upon her
tongue as would a naïve girl in love for the first time.  “How long has
he
been here?”

Oh no.
  I knew right then she was headed for
trouble.  I needed to take this girl under my wing or she would lose herself
all too rapidly.  The reality of this place would eat her alive!  I had seen it
happen before.

  “I am not sure.  He was already here whenever I arrived several
years past,” I answered, unable to keep the concern from bleeding into my tone. 
I was quick to add, “Giuliana, be careful. 
Sanguelascivia
is
not
the place for love.  Love is something best forgotten while you are serving as
a courtesan.  It will surely bring only heartache.”

 
“Oh, I am not looking
for love,” she rebuffed, smiling defensively.  But she did not fool me one
bit.  “He is just quite a handsome man, is he not?”

“Indeed, he is, amongst other things.”  I smiled at her
nodding my head in agreement.  How could I not.  He had introduced me to my
sexual awakening, after all.  And a damn impressive first, he had been.  But I
was not about to tell her all of that.
 

As though she had read my thoughts, I perceived a hint of
jealousy coming from her.

After dinner, Giuliana and I leisurely walked back over to
the courtesan’s lounge to see if the list has been posted for the night’s
performances.  I knew she was only anxious to see if she had been paired with
Vincenzo.  I hoped for her sake that she had not.  If he were the first man she
had here, she may not be able to get over it…  But if she were to have someone
else, however, it may just be enough to distract her from fixating upon
Vincenzo. 

I resolved right then to speak to Lucia about keeping them
apart for as long as possible, if Giuliana was going to have any chance of
keeping her head on straight and make it there as a performer, for which she
definitely had the potential, if only she could fortify her heart a bit.

T
hree weeks had now passed with no sign of
him
. 
The one whose name I did not yet know.  The one whose face was imprinted upon
my memory.

I cursed this spell, wishing I could shake it, never think
of him again, forget ever I saw his face, and those eyes…

Those eyes!  Oh!  God, he has such a hold upon me.

Now fearing he was never to return, that he had finally
returned from whence he had come, leaving me alone to nurse my wounds, I strove
once more to block him from my thoughts.  Trudging through each day, I scolded
myself for ruminating over him no less than twenty times.

And then all the things I forced my mind to suppress burst
through into my dreams, attacking me where I was rendered helpless.  My mind
had remembered him perfectly as it presented him to me in all his glory, those
eyes of his communicating directly with my soul, though no idea did I have what
it was they said.  It was as though they spoke a language of their own— which I
did not— yet the universal message was unambiguous. 

Connection.

Yes, that was the best way to describe it.  I felt a
connection to him which I never had before— with anyone, with anything. 

It was simultaneously unnerving and exhilarating.

I
was on stage performing with Sven, a tall, boyishly
handsome Swedish man.  I always enjoyed my shows with him.  As was typical of
his style, he was making love to me slow and sensuous, which was a refreshing
change from the way most of the male performers just fucked the life right out
of me.    

Suddenly, I had the overwhelming sense of being stared at. 
That is, it superseded the fact that every member of the audience was already
staring at me.  Still, I rarely looked out at the audience.  I tried my best to
pretend they were not even there, preferring rather to let myself become
absorbed in my erotic activity.  After all, that was why I had chosen to work
here.  Being drooled over by Vampires certainly was never the motivating
factor.

Disregarding all that, I let my head fall to the side, and
looked out directly into the audience.  And, as though by magnetic force, instantly
my eyes were drawn straight to the mesmerizing eyes which had occupied every
moment of my thoughts for the past month.

It is him!  But am I merely dreaming?

At once disremembering everything I had previously endeavoured
to achieve, my heart leapt with excitement, as I gazed deeply into his eyes
again.  To my delight, he gazed right back into mine, just as evocatively he
had the other times.  Never before had I known a Vampire to exhibit so much of
themselves as he did.  He seemed nearly human.

He could not have been here this entire time.  Surely I
would have felt it earlier.  I am certain of it!  He must have just arrived.

As I maintained contact with
him
, the pleasure within
my body rapidly mounted and although Sven was devotedly pumping me in the beautiful
rhythm he had settled into, I knew it was not his efforts which stirred me so. 
The mounting pleasure in my body was evident in my eyes as I gazed at my
fantasy man.  It fell effortlessly into place, swiftly travelling through me, preparing
to ignite me.   At last, the orgasm washed over me like a tidal wave,
saturating my insides with intense passion… passion for
him
.

As I held my gaze on those enchanting blue eyes of his, I endeavoured
to convey how I felt for
him
… I made love to
him
… I moaned for
him
…
I writhed for
him
.

It was
all
for
him
.

But then, the force of the ecstasy was so that my eyes were affected
to shut.  I hated severing my only contact with him, even if just for a few
moments.  Still, I feared that when I opened my eyes to look in his direction
again, he would only be gone as he had before.  I was elated to discover that he
was indeed still there, gazing at me, a clear sense of intrigue embedded there
in his eyes.  I exhaled in relief. 

The already present elation in me grew stronger yet as Sven too
finished, signaling the end of the performance.  Which meant I was about to
have my chance with
him
, a chance I was not about to let slip away this
time!

The gentleman he was, Sven helped me to my feet.  My heart
pounded as I looked into
his
eyes one last time before turning to exit
the stage.

Not having sufficient time to go all the way back to my own
chamber before selection time, I cleansed myself meticulously in the
performers’ lounge.

Just before I was to step up to the platform for my mandatory
parade before my potential customers, Lucia pulled me aside.

“No need for that, Signorina Gretchen,” she told me
pragmatically.  I looked to her questioningly. 

 “Your services have already been reserved by a Monsieur
Lucius La Croix.  He is already waiting for you in room five-hundred
twenty-two.”

My heart nearly stopped.

Strange.  Never have I heard of someone circumventing the
compulsory selection process.  Could that be him?  Monsieur Lucius La Croix… A
French name… yes, I could certainly see him being French.

Part of me hoped it would be, while the other part feared
the same.  

If he has managed to have so profound an effect on me
from a distance, than being in his presence has the potential to literally ruin
me!  What if I never desire another man again, even become physically repulsed
by them and am left unable to perform forcing me to take to the streets?

Worse yet, what if he is not satisfied with me, becoming
disenchanted with me, never to return!  I will be shattered!

Considering all of the possibilities had my stomach working
its way into knots.

I could hardly believe I was finally going to be able to
service
him
!  Then for a moment, I decided I must be dreaming, which would
have been a rather disappointing realisation, indeed.

Well, I suppose I shall know soon enough if it is a dream
or not.

My nerves were really beginning to become agitated as I made
my way up the several flights of stairs to the fifth floor. 

It is a good thing I am in shape!

All too soon— or not soon enough, I am not sure which— I was
standing before the room in which she had told me he was waiting for me.   As
my hand moved to the lever on the door, I drew in a deep breath.  A moment of
fear shot through me.

What if it is not him, after all?  I don’t know if I can
stand to be disappointed again.  No, but it has to be him, I just know it is!

Turning down the lever, I pushed the door open.  “Hello? 
Bonjour?”

At first, I did not see anyone.  Thinking perhaps I had the
wrong room, I stepped back to glance at the number beside the door. 

Five-hundred, twenty-two.

“Please, come in,” came the voice, low and commanding yet
smooth.  Something about the sound of it told me it was him.  It was the most
perfect voice I had ever heard.

I stepped all the way inside the small room, shutting the
door behind me.  There to the far left side of the red velvet settee, sat the
man whom had occupied every waking— as well as non-waking— moment of my existence
in the past month. 

My heart stopped within my chest. 

He was dressed rather elegantly in a suit of ivory satin
which seemed to blend seamlessly with his smooth as alabaster skin.  The suit
was trimmed in baby blue velvet, accentuating his eyes which were penetrating
me in the same mesmerizing manner as they had the other times I had seen him.  His
soft waves of pale blonde hair grazed his shoulders and shone like silk,
framing his perfectly structured face. 

For all of my relentless fantasizing, I now saw that I had failed
severely in doing him proper justice.  He was absolutely beautiful, if one
could call a man that, in which case
he
would definitely be the prime definition. 

He is a God!

I realised that never had I been this close to him before. 
It was humbling.  The nervousness which had been dancing about my stomach now
flared up fully.  I feared I would choke and not be able to speak, ruining my
chance to make a positive impression upon him. 

Somehow, surprising myself, I managed.

“Monsieur La Croix?” I confirmed almost inaudibly in an
attempt to smooth over my shaky voice, which I consequently failed miserably. 
Never had any man had this effect upon me.  I felt so silly!

The corners of his mouth curled up to form a confident smile. 
Having not the opportunity to see his smile before, I became further enthralled. 
It was indeed something to behold!

“Oui, I am Monsieur La Croix,” he answered.  “But please,
call me Lucius.”

“Lucius,” I repeated, savouring the sound of his name upon
my tongue.  Out of fear at appearing daft, I quickly checked myself.  If he
knew the powerful effect he had upon me, how I had fantasized of him every day,
every night… 

Then realising I was indeed behaving precisely as a foolish
girl, I had yet to even properly introduce myself.  No wonder he stared at me
so strangely.  “Forgive me my pause.  I am Gretchen.”

“Gretchen,” he repeated sensually, as though caressing my
name with his tongue.  “A beautiful name.  What a pleasure it is to finally
meet you.”

“I agree, Monsieur… Lucius,” I promptly corrected myself.

He merely continued smiling at me, turning my knees to jelly. 
Though his demeanour was one of refinement, I could also immediately sense
something else lurking just below the surface, though exactly what it was, I
did not know.

“Won’t you please have a seat?” he suggested, placing his
hand upon the cushion beside him.

I swallowed, the thought of being even closer to him nearly
too much to handle.  Regardless, I knew that if I wanted even more from him, I
had better gain control of myself.  Taking another deep breath, my hands went
to the sash at my waist which held my robe closed and began to loosen it.

Much too courteously, Lucius held up his hand to stop me. 
“That will not be necessary, Gretchen,” he stated rather abruptly.  Then
smoothing over his tone once more, he continued, “Let us become better
acquainted, shall we?”

I was puzzled.  After all the lust filled gazes we had exchanged,
he did not want me nude?  Brushing it aside for the moment, I walked towards
him and sat upon the settee beside him. 

Oh God, how can I possibly be this close to him and not
want more from him?

 “So then, you are French?” I enquired for want of something,
anything to begin the requisite conversation, my voice shakier than I had hoped
it would be.

“Oui.  I live just outside Paris,” he replied proudly. 
“Have you been there?”

“No, I have not.  But I hope to one day.”

“And perhaps one day you shall,” he remarked rather
cryptically. 

What does he mean by that?

My heart began racing as I considered the possible scenarios. 
In attempt to disguise my nervousness, I grinned at him, which I realised came
out far more profound than I had intended.

“There is no need for anxiousness, Gretchen,” he stated
calmly, placing his hand over mine.  I shivered at his touch, but not because
of the coolness of it.

Is he able to read my mind, as well?

I chuckled.  “Oh, I am not anxious,” I fibbed.

Raising his brow, Lucius just tilted his head and stared at
me as a father who had just caught a child in a lie.

“Well, maybe just a little,” I corrected, a coy smile
touching my lips.  “To be quite honest, I have waited a long time to finally
meet you, Lucius.”

He remained silent for a long moment, leaving me to wonder
what he must be thinking.

At last, Lucius spoke.  “Yes, and I, as well.  Although I
promised myself I would not.”

His words caused the knots in my stomach to tighten.

“Would not
what
?” I enquired, a bit confused.

  Sighing, he replied, “Succumb to my desire to be closer to
you.”

Oh!

 Well, that was certainly something to take in!

“But you are here now…” I validated.

“Oui,” Lucius confirmed in defeat.  “I never said I was a
strong man.  Clearly, I was unable to resist my desire to know you any longer.”

What in the world am I supposed to say to a declaration like
that?

“Well then, I must confess, I am glad you are not a strong
man.” I smiled at him mischievously.

“I just had to give myself a chance to spend some time with
you, Gretchen,” Lucius expanded.  “My curiosity got the better of me.”

“And?” I prodded, my hand caressing his leg.  I was not
about to let him leave me hanging like that! 

Lucius looked back at me curiously for a moment before
placing his hand over mine firmly, hindering my ascent up his thigh.  “You are
most certainly a tempting woman, Gretchen,” he said.  And then so quietly that
I was not sure if he had actually meant for me to hear it, he added, “Tempting,
indeed…”

 
That is all he has to say?  What am I supposed to make
of that?!

“However, I believe it is time for me to go now,” he
declared suddenly, rising to his feet.

I did not understand.  It just did not fit everything I had
imagined our first encounter to be.  I wanted to give him everything of myself,
wanted him to taste every part of me and here he had taken nothing from me.

 “Already?” I questioned him, intensely disappointed.  “But
you have not even tasted me.” I sputtered hastily.  Then, realising how that must
have sounded, I quickly added, my face flushing, “I mean my
blood
…”

“That is not why I came here, why I requested you, Gretchen. 
I do not typically make a habit of feeding from random humans.”

So, he regards me as no more than a random human?

“Oh, I see,” I replied, the disappointment stinging me
deeper. 

My soaring heart plummeted.

It seems he wants nothing from me when all I wanted was
to give him everything.