She sensed a presence and turned.
Armand stood tall in his half-naked glory. Dark hair hung down to an inch above his shoulders with a jagged part at the side. She loved to stare into his deep green eyes that smoldered when he climaxed. Somewhat slender, his body was an equal mix of sinewy muscle and smooth planes. He considered himself a student of Shakespeare and Keats. Favored plays, poetry, and fine literature. He loved to be in love and to express love with words. Love was art in his opinion.
"Evening, love." His voice echoed deep and seductive.
At once her pulse sped up. "Evening," she replied. His glance heated her body from the inside out.
"I don't suppose you've made your decision early?"
His self-serving question quickly tempered the blaze in her belly. It was the last thing she wanted to discuss.
"I'm afraid not."
He raised a brow. "It's been a year."
"Almost, a year," she corrected. "It will be a year tomorrow. I still have time to choose."
He sighed. "You know the life I can offer you. Riches. Luxuries. Anything your heart desires."
"Yes, and Bastian offers the same," she countered.
Armand chuckled. "He doesn't come from the same bloodline as I."
She knew he meant well, but sometimes his words came out downright arrogant. Bastian was every bit as handsome and debonair, but without the theatrics and conceit. At the same time she knew Armand couldn't help the way he was, and in the end she wouldn't change anything about him.
"I don't mean royalty and riches," she explained. "Just that he offers an immortal life with all the perks, and then some. The same as you."
"But I only have eyes for you," the vampire asserted.
"As does he."
Armand clicked his tongue. "So he claims."
"With the same fierce determination and loyalty as you," she added.
Annoyance streaked his handsome features. "Then he steals my lines."
She laughed and shook her head. "Always the actor."
He reached out and traced a finger along her cheekbone. "Not when it comes to my love for you." His expression turned serious. "That is all me. No acting required."
Shayla exhaled and felt her body weaken at his touch. Didn't he understand what they were putting her through? How it ate her up inside? The stress was wearing heavy on her.
"It isn't easy to have two men swear their undying love and have to choose between them."
Armand waved his hand. "Bastian doesn't even know the meaning of love."
She tilted her head. "Don't say that."
In the corner of the room, Bastian appeared, his brow raised. His long ice-blonde hair and pale blue eyes were such a striking contrast to Armand's darker features. The nomadic vampire's preference was for sword play and games. He too shared a passion for Shakespeare, but more for the violent side of love and the physical fighting than the poetic romance. He had a commanding approach which is why she deemed him the fighter and Armand the lover. Though Bastian didn't need any lessons in how to pleasure a woman.
He nodded her way and then frowned at Armand.
"Have you nothing better to do than hound her?"
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