La Petite Mort

Chapter Four

The second swallow cleared her head. By the third sip, all sense of trepidation had sunk into the floor. Bria cleared her throat and gave him her best smile before she answered. “I want to be fucked to death."

"Oh?"

Bammo! That one had his thick eyebrows crawling up into his hairline. She desperately wanted to look down to see if what she felt nudging her hip was what she hoped it was.

"It's my fantasy,” Bria reminded him.

"I understand that. And by all rights, that's what tonight is about. Very well, My Queen. How would you like to be fucked to death?"

"With a sex machine. Specifically, a fucking machine,” she told him, damning his poker face. Either the man had heard it all and had managed to grow a very thick outer skin, or he was a master at shielding his emotions. Even his eyes remained caring and interested. “Do you know what a fucking machine is?” she asked, needing to fill the void in their conversation. She also took another swallow of cold mojo.

"As a matter of fact, I do know what a fucking machine is,” he answered softly. “What I don't understand is why you prefer an unfeeling automaton over a real human being."

"For that exact reason. A machine doesn't feel. It doesn't try to sweet talk you, or feed you lies and useless promises while it tries to get between your legs.” Okay, that sounded bitter, but she had no reason to hold back. Not now. Not this evening. She wasn't surprised to see Hercules nodding.

"So you wish to end your life by extending your sexual pleasure to the point that your heart gives out. Or you give yourself a stroke. Or an aneurysm."

She managed a weak smile. “At least it won't be painful.” Poor joke, but she wasn't about to apologize. “Well?"

Instead of answering, Hercules took her by the elbow and began to lead her toward another open doorway. People continued to greet him, waving or calling out to him. One female dressed as a sexy vamp referred to him as Zel as she sashayed past. Bria glanced up, but Hercules didn't appear bothered by the woman's familiarity. She resisted the urge to call him by that name, but she satisfied herself by silently mouthing it to herself.

They exited the buffet room to a smaller foyer containing a staircase. Hercules took her glass and placed it on a corner table.

"Where are we going?” Bria asked as his hand slipped from her elbow to entwine his fingers with hers.

He flashed her a warm smile. “To fulfill your fantasy."

"Now?” Boy, they sure didn't waste any time, did they?

He paused, one sandaled foot on the first stair step. “Is there any reason to delay the inevitable?"