Blood Vengeance [COMPLETED]

Chapter Fifteen - Competition

Selene chose a dress from the many that hung in Arthur's dressing room; costumes for his women. She flicked through them as they hung on the rail, feeling the rich fabric between her fingertips.

She pulled out a dark blue satin one and noticed it was identical to her white ceremonial dance dress; then she noticed there was a red one, a gold one, a black one. All made to measure for her; replicas of her original dress in every colour. As she ran her hands over them her heart began to beat, faster and faster; Arthur had had these made. Why? Had he been waiting for her?

Not wanting to succumb to the temptation to wear one of them, she chose something else. She dried her hair, allowing the thick gloss of it to fall freely over her shoulders and applied her make-up; her eyes dark and sultry, her lips smooth and full. Then she slipped on a black off-the-shoulder dress that clung about her breasts and waist, with a slit that rose almost to the top of her thigh on her left leg. She tried it on with a pair of high black strappy heels, admiring the way her toned leg was exposed as she walked.

She pressed her warm palms onto the fabric that swung around her thighs, flattening the silk, noticing how her breasts filled the dress, swelling as she inhaled; her silhouette was one of the ideal female form and she twirled in the mirror once more, delighted with the effect. She felt beautiful. Hell, she even felt sexy.

She opened the door and proceeded to walk through into the bedroom. Arthur was sitting on the end of the bed, a patent leather shoe in his hand, his black tie suit immaculate. He paused as she entered and looked at her for what felt like hours.

Their eyes met and she held his gaze until he broke it to look her up and down; she felt his eyes on her as though they physically caressed her, conscious of the way her breasts rose and fell in the thin black fabric as she breathed.

Had Hector merely been the warm up act for this? she wondered. She felt a sexual longing for Arthur that was more forceful than anything she had felt for Hector. She tried to dismiss the recognition of her feelings by telling herself that it was only because she missed Hector; because she was in Epershand; because the place was full of sex.

Arthur opened his mouth, but then shut it again and slipped his shoe on. He got to his feet and walked over to where Selene was standing. He took one step too many, encroaching into her personal space, standing just slightly too close.

He looked down at her, his gaze so mesmerising that Selene found herself unable to look away. She wished he would reach out and touch her; she felt her blood throbbing through her veins.

"Your heart," he said, never breaking eye-contact.

Her brow creased; an invitation for him to explain himself.

"It beats faster when I am near."

Selene began to breathe more heavily, and a sensation that mimicked drunkenness flooded her mind. He took a step closer.

Selene stepped back.

"It's because you are like him."

She watched as Arthur's muscles hardened and his fingers curled into tight fists.

"Don't lie to me! This has nothing to do with Hector and you know it." He moved towards her and pulled her into his arms.

Selene's heart began to beat so fast that she became light headed and was sure she would faint. He began to kiss her throat, her shoulders, her cleavage, her neck.

"I will have you," he whispered.

And just as Selene was ready for him to do whatever he wanted, just as her body was yielding to him in every way, he pushed her away.