death incarnate & night triumphant

He can't help the way his dark hazel eyes travel her body, his gaze lingering on the hem of that absurdly short night dress. Though, he had practically seen the woman naked in the pool all those weeks ago, he had remained a gentleman and kept his eyes above the waterline... as difficult as it was for him. Yet, now was entirely different, the woman had no idea how close she was to snapping that control, the leash fraying more every moment he spent around her. Andras knew he should have walked away months ago, should never have walked her back to her car, and yet, he was too intrigued and now these unexpected feelings had washed through him. Shoving down those thoughts quickly, he decides he will deal with them later, right now he merely wanted to enjoy Lani and her presence. Those predatory eyes don't miss the way she trails her foot up her calf suggestively as she balances on one foot, her own blue eyes hooded with desire. Andras could hardly help himself as he stalks towards her, listening to those words that fall from beautiful lips. Arching a brow in amusement, he begins his inspection as he slowly walks in a tight circle around her. "Oh? And what would you keep me for?" He murmurs quietly as he pauses his circling, only to hear Lani voice her thoughts once more. His eyes darken at her words as he leans down to whisper in her ear, "You look more ravishingly than I could ever imagine," he purrs deeply.

As he stands behind her, Andras can easily detect the scent of her arousal wafting off the woman, and still, he wasn't sure Lani even knew he could scent such things. Again, her bright voice is flitting through the two of them, perhaps a touch huskier than it had been before. Quirking a half smile, he shrugs before snaking his arms around her waist to pull her back flush against his chest, "You weren't nearly as daring in Somnia, as much as I would have liked to see you try on all the lace-y things, I don't think you would have," he breathes into her ear just as he sucks her ear lobe into his mouth and begins to nibble on it gently. He can feel the way her body stiffens against him, a flood of desire coming off Lani as he smiles into her. How he loved teasing this woman. Feeling her dainty hands rest over his much larger ones, he lets go of her ear only to trail a line of kisses down her neck, only to feel her arm move up and rest behind his own nape. Nostrils flaring slightly, he continues to work on that tender skin, moving across her shoulder, nipping gently as he goes. As he softly murmurs into her ear, deep tenors rumbling in the room, he very nearly tightens his grip on her before relaxing as she turns to face him, her own rhetorical question falling from her lips. Dark eyes glance down at her, a predatory grin so curling the corners of his mouth. When she reaches out to begin undoing the buttons of his shirt, Andras hardly stops her and instead raises his brows at the daring woman before him. What had he done! The man had practically made a monster out of the woman, though, he hardly minded at all.

Settling his hands along her hips, he allows her to continue her administrations until those words fall from her lips. Utter panic races through him, his eyes widening as his hands tighten ever so slightly on her hips. Though, the woman had practically told him before, he knew if he took this step there was no turning back, he couldn't afford to hurt Lani nor did he ever want to. She had filled that empty spot in his life, made him feel like a man again, made him want to fight for something. Quickly covering the panic that broke across his features, he clears his throat and pulls the woman closer to him, wrapping her in a hug, his nose burying itself in her loose curls. "Lani," he murmurs into her hair, breathing in the scent of her, "We can't," he says after a pause, wishing he could explain but the words die in his throat, he just wanted to hold this woman who he had come to love, this woman who was without a doubt his mate. Yet, how could fate be so cruel? To give him a human mate, someone so fragile with such a short life span? Lani deserved better than him, someone who could fulfill her in ways he never could. Sighing into her hair, he finally releases the girl, his eyes looking down at her, the usual mask of amusement sliding into place, "We should go to bed," he suggests, reaching down to grab her hand as he walks her to her door. Pausing just outside, he doesn't open it, knowing full well that devil cat remained inside.

"I'll sleep on the futon, if you need anything I'll be right here," he says, pulling her close once more before planting a kiss on her forehead, nostrils flaring as he takes in her scent. Pulling away, he releases her hand and waits before she enters her bedroom. It was decidedly hard not to go after her, to explain to her why they couldn't be intimate. Would she understand his fear of hurting her? Lani had pushed him to the edge and as much as he wanted to follow her and tell her to ignore what he had stated earlier and ravage her until the early morning, he refrained. Running a hand through his hair, he releases a silent sigh, turning to move back to that futon, unbuttoning the rest of his shirt as he walks. Sliding it from his powerful shoulders he tosses it over the side of the couch and sits down, his arms slinging themselves across the back. Tilting his head back, he glances at the ceiling, he knew he wouldn't be sleeping tonight, not with Lani so close. It would take every ounce of willpower to not sneak into her room, to pull her close. By the gods, he had made a mess of things; though strangely, he found he didn't mind.

Andras Steinhello darling