Chapter Six: Willpower

"So, you think, offering me only sweet words from your precious tongue will be enough to earn your clothes back?" He asks as he licks his lips hungrily.

Bargaining such a promise may not be a powerful gesture too many, but I may have a chance to him. The second I had made the offer, his body momentarily relaxed, and the grasps of his cool fingers around my waist side lightened up enough to help me back away. 

“How do you believe that is so, Katrina? Words are just nothing more than words. Nothing more.”

“Oh, come on. Even you don't believe that.”

“Oh,” He crosses his eyebrows and tries to come closer. “How are you so sure?”

“Because words affect everyone. Especially when used… appropriately.”

“Careful, Katrina. Don't push your luck with him.”

He stares me up and down from head to toe and thinks for a moment.“Hmm, true. You are right, Katrina.”

Gently, he tucks my hair behind my ear, causing chills to spread my spine. He leans in and whispers, grazing his lips against my ear.“Words can play perfectly on the right ear.”

“Mmm. And,” he pauses and smirks, “make them feel exactly what they need to feel.”

Ever so slowly, he lets his finger graze my jaw before pulling away. A part of me becomes dizzy and hot. It is as if everything I had planned on was going right out the door. My strength and willpower were being pushed away by some dark yet undeniable pull.

“Do you feel that, Katrina? Those are just words.”

Once more, he steps forward and slides his fingers down the nape of my neck, trailing his fingernail along the vein with a tempting smile on his parted lips.

His dark siren tone calls to me, "That's right, my love, accept it. Accept what’s meant to be." 

"If you are trying to scare me, I'm not afraid," I whisper weakly.

"I’m not, my love. We belong together." He slides his other hand down on my ass and pulls me closer. 

“Katrina, I feel you fighting us. Stop trying to be strong.” 

Up and down, his fingers play against my skin like a magic violin. "The quicker you accept us, the better it will be for everyone." A pair of razor-sharp teeth emerge inside his mouth. His inviting tongue grazes the tooth. 

I look towards his teeth and back into his soulless eyes. I want so badly to cry, but I hold it inside. 

"What is wrong, Katrina? You don’t want to bargain anymore?" He asks slyly.

I close my eyes and take a breath. As I breathe in, I take in every scent of what I thought could have been the perfect man I met at the restaurant. As I breathe out, I somehow clear my mind of any thoughts I didn't wish for him to hear. It felt like I could put a temporary safety lock upon my brain.

"You did it! You blocked him! Way to go!" The inner voice cheers.

As I open my eyes, I see he is looking more fearful than cocky. 

I answer plainly, "Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Do we have a deal or not?" 

His eyes harden, obviously not ready to bargain so easily. He leans forward, placing his tempting lips close to my ear, and whispers, "Hmmm, you are trying so hard to be strong. There is no need to be strong anymore, my love. I will be strong for both of us."

His muscular thighs rub up and down against mine. “No,”

“Come on, Katrina.” He bites his lip, trying to hold back his frustration. A drop of blood escapes from his mouth. “It's time to accept us.”

“No.” I shake my head back and forth. “I refuse.”

He slides his hand down the front of my stomach, letting his fingers weave across the goosebumps on my skin. With all my willpower, I don't look away from his mesmerizing dark eyes. He teases, "Hmmm, you're not trying to be strong, huh?" 

His fingers travel further towards the center of every part that should be forbidden from his touch. He continues to caress me slowly, up and down, around and around, making my breathing labored beneath his hardened stare. All of my senses were turning against my reasonable thinking. "N-no, I'm not." I stutter.

He caresses my clit as he watches me with lustful eyes. With his seductive voice, he asks, "Why are you lying to me, Katrina?"

I argue, "I-I'm n-not l-lying!"

He raised his eyebrow to me and said in a seductive voice, "Is that so?"

"Yes!"

And just like that, the blank canvas inside my head disappears. 

"There you arrrre," he hisses wickedly.

"Try not to block me again. It's useless, love." 

He pulls his fingers aways and suckles them dry like a delicate treat upon his tongue. He says in a matter-of-fact tone, "Hmmm, getting back inside your head was quite easy. Maybe you should practice being good at something else."

I stomp my foot against his."You cocky son of a bitch!"

Before I could say another word, his lips came smashing down hard upon mine. I try to fight back. I push my hands against his solid, built chest. The harder my hands attempted to push him away, the tighter he embraced me into his arms. His kiss becomes more passionate, more needing. He surprises me by pulling away. He rests his forehead against mine, giving me a chance to catch my breath.

He releases his hold upon me, looking up, lost, and confused. His eyes are dark-blue once again. He says remorsefully, "I am so sorry, Katrina! I didn't mean to hurt you!" He looks at me as I am a broken piece of glass, "Katrina... I know you will not understand this, but that wasn't me!"

I pull away and stare into his horrified eyes and trembling hands.

“I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, Katrina.” A single black tear slides past his cheek. “I would do nothing to hurt you, love.” 

Quickly retracting his fangs, another black tear slides down his face. “They are after you too. The demons.” 

Before he says another word, he looks at my lips and grasps me with the palm of his hands.“I wish I could believe you.” 

“I will find a way to prove it to you, my love. Someway. Somehow.” Before I could say another word, he surprises me and smashes his lips onto mine.

Part of me wants to pull away. Part of me just cannot. Losing all my willpower and every plan I had, I kissed him back with just as much passion. He pushes me towards the bed. Blindly, I follow his lead. The back of my legs hit the mattress. In one scoop, he lays me on the mattress, but he stops and stares down to the ground."What was wrong with him? Did I do something wrong? " I ask fearfully within. 

My inner voice yells back, "You gave in, you weak fool!"

A snarl came from the depths of his throat. His head lifted slowly up, revealing to me only pitch-black eyes. The once caring man now is distant and monstrous. I grab the sheet he had dropped and cover my trembling body. "Please! Don't hurt me!" I beg fearfully.

He grazes his lips, purposely allowing a single drop of blood to travel from his mouth to his chin. His tongue lathers up the drop, not allowing a bit to escape. "Miiiiiinnnee." A dark voice hisses. 

As I watch in fear, I back far away from him. "Please! Please! Don't hurt me!" I beg.

 He stops and steps backward. I notice his eyes have changed back to midnight-blue. His breath hitches as he looks at me, overlaying upon his mattress. I am wrapped in his wrinkled sheet and crying fearfully. He steps backward, looking as if he is scared beyond reason. He warns one word, "Run!"