Your Body is a Temple

VYM

Regarding this MSD app, her profile picture does not do her justice. In any case, there is no harm in it. As soon as I observed this grace hovering among my club members, I was determined topossessher.

It's the way she looks... A fine dusting of pixie dust, stunning eyes, a sculpted figure, and lustrous locks. This could go on forever. Nodding, I attempt to shift my attention to another matter. The task is more challenging than it appears. She's navigating her gorgeous mauve legs between this strangeDavenportsofa and the coffee table. Those divine curves of hers have me twitching...

What is this? My eyes crease at a scent I wish not to have picked up.My chin reflexively lifts to it. Something else mingles with a wolf, salty food, and...

Oh, naughty Fayra... sex fragrances. It's assaulting my nostrils, and I grimace at this foulness. It has the distinct aroma of pepper, despiteful warmth, stealth, and labdanum.

Orc! The officer...

My fangs drill into my lower lip, and my body becomes furious for having detected its own blood. I cram this rush of nerves into fists before I swallow my emotional recklessness, calming thoughts slowly washing it away. She may not be mine yet, but eventually, she will be... andmeet my needs. Assuredly. From now on, it is just a question of patience and skill.

I watch her level her best serious stare on me. "Here, happy?" she scoffs adorably, thrashing her wrists into one violent collision of curtains.That is a grip I can certainly do with...

"Happy." I smile at her and remove my cloak, keeping a steady eye on this untamable creature. It has taken me many centuries to learn what I know today. A good rule is to never underestimate the tenacity of a fairy. And from the look of those wings, I must exercise caution. These are very particular wings, features I would recognize amongst thousands. Yet, I've only met threefaewho could near-rival hers...

Indeed, Fayra Jinksovan is one of a kind... I detect strong magic in her; I can smell it even as I stand across the room.

Oh, yes, I can.

A chuckle slips free, and she squeaks.

Fayra's afraid of me. "As I said, there is no need for such a fearful display," I say, throwing my cape over her eye-catching sofa. Interesting taste, to say the least. It's glittering like her...

I revise her body while her feet shuffle next to the window. This girl's a beacon of beauty. It's an aura that has this beat of ungraspable holiness. This exposed skin, radiant, like rainbow mercury. I cannot stop staring at her. The energy she possesses is one of a goddess, taking all my darkness and bending it into light.

This woman is fascinating!

Her ivory morning attire, though... It's not what I would call aesthetically pleasing, repellant at most. There is a shrug of my shoulders as I take it in stride.

However, I will not let this fashion faux pas spoil it for mydoe because there'snothing wrong with what is underneath. I can judge the quality of the product by the little flesh that shows between the top of myfawn'stop and the trousers she is wearing, as well as the oval I will soon lick and prick...

This temptress will simply have to be leather-strapped, and this horrible sight will soon be a distant memory.My canine seeps a little venom, exciting my tongue at the simple thought of it. The latter runs across my gums, and I shiver from my own thrill.

"Leave, please." Oh, dear, that stare of hers. Is she trying to offset me? What an adorable creature she is... And this winsomeness goes on as she brings her hair back, puffing about words too low to grasp.

"I will, Ms. Jinksovan. I just want to talk, that is all." Lowering my hands, my fingers fan through this foul air, showing her I'm not the threat she thinks I am...

Of considerable length, her damp, unruly hair is silkening my eyes. I can imagine its touch, smoother than a cub's fur. I would love to brush these strands, discipline them... But not only her hair. This insolent fairy is camped at the curtains, clutching one side of them, weaponizing some textile.Canny little thing...

I can't help a snigger from escaping me. "There's no need to worry, lady! It's me, Vym. I only came to return your belongings."

She lets go of the drape. "Thank you," she spits, and then she seems to hold on to a thought I was convinced I had altered. "How did you get in? Did you mind-spell me?"

Amused, one of my eyebrows goes astray, arching at her bluntness. "The lady is holding a grudge?"

"You did?!" Fayra is an emotional bird. Her wings begin to glow and flutter, and she seems mortified by this, because she turns toward them and grunts.

"Could you please allow me to explain?" I remain where I am, giving her mymostgenuine smile, attempting to calm this incredible storm in her eyes. Her eyes are crystal-blue, pupils hardly discernible, for these bore a similar color. Neon sharp, like ice blue sapphires glowing an energy I covet so much.

Fayra is immovable like a statue. Only her flushed red face indicates that she is close to steaming. Quite amusing, actually.

Without averting my gaze, I bring one foot forward. In response, her head jerks back marginally. It's hilarious. I add another foot to my stance. "May I sit?" I gently say, gesturing to her bizarre couch.

"Mmm... yes."

"Alright. Thank you." Exhaling, I lean against the backrest, something scrunching under my feet. Maybe it's time to ease the tension a little. "You know the saying?"

She's crossed all over, a true braid made of limbs. "What saying?" she asks flatly, determined to stay close to the window. I tame this grunt scuttling up my throat. There's something a bit insulting about her attitude.

"Your body is a temple?—"

"What I eat is none of your business," she cuts before rushing toward me.Such impulsivity... I like that.

My eyes widen when she actually makes contact with me, brushing her knees against my legs as she crouches to pick up the loud packet of crisps.

I bend forward a little, attempting to watch every detail of her, like how she puts her hand on the bag and tugs while I keep my feet well stamped on it.

"Do you mind?!" she mutters, focused on the sachet. The woman is a natural comic, so much a laugh nearly slips out. I mean, just look at her! She's now even trying to push my feet away. "Feeling a little embarrassed?" I tease, because please, this is simply too tempting not to.

"N-no. I wasn't expecting... intruders, that's all," she sneers in her huff, barely glaring at me before throwing her entire devotion on her trampled junk food.

Finally, it looks like the fairy won this battle, or did she? My feet lift enough for a paper to slide under.

"Argh!" Fayra sways back and loses her balance, her head about to greet this coffee table's edge. Well, I can't let that happen, now can I?

I catch Fayra's wrist and yank her forward. "I've got you."

A frown crosses my face as she seems to switch off in front of me. As of now, only her heaving chest and the light bobbing of her head tells me she's still breathing. "You okay?"

"Why did you mindfuck me?"

Oh, that is a trigger. One I like very much...

I keep my grip on her but won't invade her personal space more. She's already between my legs...

I want to touch her, but the creature is untamed. "You shut the door in my face, so... I simply wanted to prove I wasn't what you thought I was. Perhaps I went too far? My sincere apologies if I did." I brush some black threads out of my eyes. I want my frame of vision cleared to take her in.

"Okay... right." Fayra pushes herself up and spins around. She's voluptuously peachy from what is numbing my eyes. "You want a drink? Water?" she asks, walking behind the sofa to what I guess is the kitchen.

Tracking every move she makes, my voice is as responsive to her words as my eyes are to her body. "I'm thirsty, but not for water, thank you..."

"Of course," Fayra mumbles, the creak of an upper kitchen cupboardsoothingmy ears. It's one of near rupture, the sound wincing like a cry. There is nothing quite like it.

With an arm resting on the trench of the couch, I hedge, "Do you remember this app?"

Turning on the faucet, Fayra fills a glass of water and remains silent.

Leaning on one hand, her other soon disappears as she angles it to what I guess is her mouth. Listening to her short little gulps, I admire her petite silhouette, patiently waiting for the obvious.

It takes a while for her to finish her drink. The lady is not only thirsty, but she's also a very slow drinker.Come on, Fayra... tik tok. My patience is waning...

The glass hits the counter, and finally, I hear something come out of her. "Yes."

"Do you believe in second chances, Ms. Jinksovan?"

She brings her hands to the counter at an equal distance and decides to rest on them, and now I feel very insulted. Her head hangs low, a few nods accentuating what I take as over-exaggerated despair. "I do."

An intense line soon stretches up my cheeks. Seems like I still have a chance, after all. "Would you agree to meet me again?"

"No."

This very potent worddouble fucksme instantly.

At last, Fayra turns to face me, fiercely clamping the sink's edge. "I foundmy..." she's fuzzing, stretching this endlessly, "someone, sorry."

It requires self-control to smile, but I'm anold one, so I've got this. "Would you have coffee with afriend,then?"

Fayra is profoundly frowning at me. Did I say something wrong? From the way she sucks in her cheeks, I must've. And possibly I did from how she's taking a teapot pose, an aggressive hand clamping her waist. "Vampires don't drink coffee."

Well, no, but is that important!?

Vym, you can do better than this.

"I'm simply trying to make a friend, and I'm happy to enter the friend zone if that means having you as mine. In fact, you would be my very first friend in this town."

The sweetest air swirls out of her growing smile.

Congratulations, Vym, an uptight fairy simpered. Keep going...

"I'm new in town, recently acquired The Restless, and aside from the club, I honestly feel lost." I smirk and wait.

In place of her hostile eyes, I find her infamous puppy ones, and I won't be swayed by this play-acting. "Vym." Fidgeting with her fingers, Fay is twisting, pushing, pulling them as if screwing them into her hand. I must say, those fingers are very flexible...

I nearly jerk upon feeling her hand on my arm and tilt my head as she comforts me. What kind of fae have we here...

"Everyone feels lost in a new place," she says, stroking my arm. I find it very motherly, and I want to cackle, but I hold it back for now. I have to. For the first time, a mortal creature, who has no idea who I really am aside from being a vampire, touches me without flinching. And this is very intriguing...

"Talking to you already makes me feel less lost," I say, keeping my eyes on her. Warm-blooded conversations are much more arduous than one would think. But with her, it flows. And I gulp because it feels like I'm losing my gravity.

Don't let her get to you, Vym.

I don't know the wasp, and she's already posing a significant risk. Fae are known as na?ve creatures for common mortals, not for vampires. Certain faefolk can be wise, but it's rare—Fidr was the first. And when they realize how they are perceived, they will play on it until they get you in a bind. But it seems she's like the rest of them, as plain as a tablecloth.

"Really, I'm flattered, but I've got plans coming up, and meeting you right now isn't the best time."

Plans are meant to change, Fayra, and yours have taken a turn. You just don't know it yet...

Stubborn little thing... I need to expose myself more, maybe trigger some pity. She's seeing an orc, is she not? A little social norm breaker. A big-hearted rebel... a tablecloth. "It's been so hard lately. Everyone I meet is scared of me. It ain't easy being a species saddled with such a bloodied past."

She keeps her electric eyes on me, and I feign a nervous scratch on my right temple. Then add some shoulder shrug and a bashful head sway. Let's see if that works.

Fayra's chest heaves and won't drop. She's holding her little breath, perhaps wondering how to say no without sounding impolite.

I might need to incorporate something dramatic here. Fayra's a woman, after all. "Do you ever feel lonely, Ms. Jinksovan?" My tongue is dancing like a raging snake inside my mouth, and it's a struggle not to lick my watering lips. Hers part slowly, and mine suddenly move downward.

She's got something on me, and I won't leave without whatever it is. "Vym, it's not that... I understand, but..." She's pinned her eyes on her hideous slippers again.

My time is precious, and she's overindulging!

You're close, Vym. Be persistent. "It may seem strange that I am opening up to you in such a blunt manner, but I feel the need to say it. Although we are not acquainted, your company has given me a sense of freedom. I don't know. I just feel like a weight has been lifted."

She closes her eyes, and my smirk runs loose. It's short, but even brief victories deserve to be celebrated.

"Ms. Jinksovan?" Did she faze out?

Her gaze breaks open on me, and if it had been able to release the rush from her lungs, it would have come pretty much from there.

"Alright," she says.

Atta girl. "Next week? Tuesday? Eight p.m.?" There is nothing like a hint of envy disguised in a row of questions to make a fae woman feel wanted.

"For coffee?!"

"Well, I have issues with sunshine..." I grin.

This time, she gives me a formidable chuckle, and something inside me swells, forcing my carefully crafted grin to leave.

After walking me to the door, her gaze on me intensifies as her hand presses down on the handle. And as this cruel door sends me its message, the warm music that is her voice travels to my ears. "Just coffee. One."

My plan is successful, even though it started terribly, progressed mildly, and is finishing at an ever-increasing pace.

"Let's chat through the app, then. I'll let you choose the location because..." I scratch my head, faking discomfort. She's even more beautiful when she smiles. "This city confuses me."

She giggles and, before I can finish my sentence, says, "I'll let you know. Just... don't play with my head again."

I simply smile in response. I don't make promises I can't keep...

A cape over my shoulders later, I pick up her delicate hand. "You make me very happy, Ms. Jinksovan." As my kiss glides over her velvet-like skin, letting her feel the softest touch of my lips, a sudden surge of hysteria spreads through my bones. My breathing is increasing at an abnormal rate, but I won't let that show. I bring my head up, and this surge returns a second time, for her unruffled stare is more than bewitching...

I have to have her. It's not a certainty.

It's a necessity.

She frowns at me with a smirk that's trying not to be mocking because it's struggling to flatten!Why?!

My blood feels like it's catching fire!

"Save me the trouble, Vym. And let's keep it simple between us, starting by removing the 'very,' yeah?" Fayra says coldly. She then releases another of those chuckles and ends me with a, "See you."

And just like that, I'm planted in the corridor, observing a wooden door closing on me.

She shut the door.

In my face...

Again.

And this time, using Fayra's words, it feels as if Imind-fuckedmyself.

I want her blood and all the body parts that come with it. My plan is solely based on this. But why does it feel like something has struck me, burning in my chest, but not in the way that...

Shit.