Sultry

(from the monthly drabble prompt at labyfic dot dreamwidth dot org)

"Honestly, Sarah, you kind of look…"

"What? C'mon, I need to perfect sultry before the casting call tomorrow."

"Um...well…"

"Spit it out."

"Constipated."

I flushed. "Constipated?"

Eliza threw up her hands. "Look, I don't know what to tell you. Your current sultry isn't doing it. Have you tried imagining something that makes you want to project 'come hither' instead of 'my innards pain me'?"

I glared at her.

"Just try it."

"Fine." I closed my eyes, and let my thoughts wander sexy-wards. It didn't take long for them to land where they'd reliably landed since I was fifteen.

I mean, he was a sexy beast of a faerie lord. Those patrician features, lean limbs, and cornsilk hair were easy on the eyes. Now, where to put him….

I let my thoughts run a little more freely than usual, let them reach and stretch...

A Roman-esque bath filled my mind's eye, marble columns and sculpted arches soaring into the indistinct ceiling, the water a luxurious turquoise. And there he was, lounging half-submerged on shallow steps, distinctly sans clothing.

He smiled. "Don't you think you should be the one tempting me into these delightful waters if you're refining your come-hither?"

Imaginary-Jareth had a point there. Unless… "What if my goal is to entice you out?"

"You might want to update your look, unless that hideous t-shirt is meant as a handicap."

Jesus, even in my daydreams, he was a pain in the ass. "What would you suggest?"

He gestured, and I found myself wrapped in suggestive bits of diaphanous nothing.

"Oooh, fancy." I raised my arms and twirled. "Shall I unwrap myself for you?"

A masculine light danced in his eyes. "I might suggest you make me unwrap you. But first, you have to get me out of this water. And it's rather delightful water, as mentioned, so you'll have to really make me believe you."

"You are such a royal pain in the ass."

"Mmm, that pissed-off expression is rather delightful, too. You look like a little hellcat. Not sultry, but enticing in its own way."

Oh, for fuck's sake. This wasn't working at all. I was so out of here.

"Wait." The word unfurled between us, anchoring in my chest, strumming against lower places. The water splashed gently as he rose from it, and I could see the indistinct light highlighting every glistening contour of him. "Look at me, Sarah."

And, boy, did I look.

"That's it!" Eliza's squeal of excitement shattered my vision. "Whatever you were just thinking, that was...Jesus, that was smoking. Can you do it again?"

I blinked, then conjured my nude, wet, softly-lit goblin king commanding me to look at him.

"Oh, yes, Sarah. You got it!" Eliza gave me a quick hug. "You're gonna kill that casting call tomorrow!"

Oh yes, Sarah. And tonight, we'll continue our...conversation. The words strummed into me with velvety softness.

No. It couldn't be.

Velvet laughter echoed in my head. See you later, little hellcat.