Her voice was hoarse, partly acting but partly true, because she wondered if Lucius had lied about everything he had said.
“Excuse me for being so bold,” Travis said, “but I think that fae was a fool. I don’t know if fae are different from humans, but I would never speak to a woman like that.”
“And one of your beauty,” he added.
“You think I’m beautiful?” She finished the champagne and leaned over to put it on the side table.
He leaned back on the sofa, his eyes slightly widening.
“Very beautiful,” he said. It seemed as if he was almost a tad intimidated by Tavia’s looks.
She slid closer.
“I’m not around humans much,” she said, playing into the fact that he seemed enthralled with her, and maybe it was because she was fae. “But you're certainly handsome for one.”
His face reddened, and he stiffened a bit. She didn’t want to come on too strong, and she didn’t know how far she would need to take this, but she was absolutely not kissing him because her lips belonged to only one male—if he would have her.
“I . . .” Travis’s voice croaked, and his face reddened.
Tavia didn’t realize a human’s face could become so red with emotion, and she found it funny.
“Do you like fae women?” she asked.
Travis nodded.
“I do,” he said, gazing at her mouth, then his gaze traveled across her gown to her waist and back toward her neck.
His eyes blinked a little, and the stiffness in him relaxed. He licked his lips a few times and blinked again.
She slid across the sofa, moving closer to him. He didn’t move away, but he sunk into his side of the sofa, almost too stunned to move.
“You’re very kind,” she said to him
“I’m just doing what any gentleman would do,” he said, though his watery gaze gave him away because she was sure a proper gentleman would have tried to move away from her, but this was as close as she could bring herself.
Where was Lucius?
“I should really get going,” he said, yawning.
“Are you all right?”
He blinked again. “Just more tired. I guess I’ve been working too much.”
He went to stand, and suddenly she did the unthinkable.
She slid onto his lap, facing him.
“What are you doing?” he asked, eyes wide.
“I’m not sure,” she said honestly, because she had no idea how to keep this guard here, but she sensed the tonic was working.
“I should really get going,” he said, another yawn.
“Stay with me a little while longer.” She leaned forward, placing her hands on his face. She didn’t feel anything like she did when she touched Lucius.
In fact, she felt a little uncomfortable, but the guard seemed to feel the opposite.
His hands went to her waist, and suddenly, she was furious that Lucius was taking so long.
