Aleksei’s mouth moved over her ear, causing a slow roll in the pit of her stomach. “This one, kislány, take this one. Use your voice. Draw him to you. Bring him into the shadows. I am here, watching over you. I will ensure nothing goes wrong.”
She licked her lips again, hearing her heart pound. Could she really do it? Walk up to a man and enthrall him with her voice alone? Draw him back into the shadows with her and leave him with the vague impression he’d had a conversation and nothing else had happened?
She studied the man approaching the pub. He was young, in his early twenties, and he looked strong. She felt Aleksei’s arms drop away from her and she took a step out of the shadows, on a path to intercept the young male. His eyes came to her immediately and he instantly smiled, slowing his purposeful stride.
Gabrielle smiled in return, and his head jerked up. She stopped where she was and allowed him to come to her, one hand going to her hair, sliding her fingers through the silky mass as she waited. His gaze dropped to her breasts as they lifted beneath her blouse with the action, and then moved back up to her face.
“Come with me,” she said softly, using a mesmerizing tone. “Come with me now.” She held out her hand to him. “I have need of you.”
She couldn’t believe the way her voice was so sensual. She knew Aleksei had given her that—the confidence she’d never had in herself as a seductress. He made her feel beautiful and sexy.
You are beautiful and sexy. Reach for his mind, kislány. You need to know you have complete control, not just that he’s seduced.
Aleksei’s voice not only was gentle, but she could feel his pride in her. That made her want to glow and it surprised her at the same time. He was a man who would be jealous and not want another man touching her. This was truly the last thing she expected him to help her with. She admired him all the more for it.
The man took her hand, moving in close to her. She didn’t like it. He didn’t feel like Aleksei felt. The burn of his sexual desire felt wrong. She could barely stand the touch of his skin against hers. She almost pulled away, but Aleksei was there, in her mind, supportive and strong.
I like that you do not like his touch, Gabrielle. You are doing very well. Reach for his mind. Take control of it so he cannot weave fantasies of you.
She hadn’t considered that he might do that and again was grateful for Aleksei’s guidance. She took a breath and forced past the barriers in the male’s mind. For a moment she felt sick, her stomach protesting the invasive act.
You are not hurting him in any way. You are protecting him. Do not worry so much. We will remain to ensure he is well after. If possible, always do that. You never want to inadvertently take too much blood and leave them unprotected. Aleksei’s voice stroked her mind. Gentle. Supportive. Persuasive.
She knew if she backed off, told him she couldn’t do it, he wouldn’t be upset with her, but she wanted his approval. She wanted him to have reason to be proud of her. More, if he was ever in trouble and needed her to get blood to feed or help heal him, she was determined to know how.
The man’s mind was filled with all kinds of images of the two of them writhing on the ground together. She ignored that, and took control, soothing him, planting a brief conversation about directions. She walked him right up to Aleksei.
Aleksei reached for her, his hand curling around the nape of her neck, pulling her to his other side and away from the man who docilely stood in front of them, keeping her close to him as he reached for the man. Gabrielle watched as, without preamble, Aleksei took over, pushing into the man’s mind, calming and soothing him, as he sank his teeth deep and drank. All the while he reaffirmed the idea that the young man had had a conversation with a pretty tourist asking for directions.
Gabrielle stayed in the man’s mind, to assure herself that he wasn’t afraid, or that he even knew what was happening. She couldn’t help but see that he was a good man, hoping to find the “right” woman to settle down with, but he knew all the available women in the village and they weren’t for him. He was a hard worker, loved his parents and was well educated. He was wrestling with the idea of staying and helping his father in his business, or getting out so he had a chance of finding a woman to love. She liked him all the more for that and found herself feeling protective of him.
Aleksei’s hold tightened on her. He clamped her firmly to his side as he finally raised his head. With one hand he lowered the man to the ground and allowed him to rest against the crude wooden bench there.
“You cannot get attached, kislány. It is not healthy. Nor would I like it. I prefer that you allow me to hunt for you and feed you. I will take you on the hunt with me to help hone your skills, but you do not need to collect other men.”