Devilish Grin

Dan didn’t answer. He just sat there, breathing heavily. There was no need for him to answer verbally. His body was answering for him. Lucian had a hand spread on his basket now, under the table and was taking the measure of Dan through the thin material of his golfing trousers.

“If you want the loan and my help, it’s your soul I want as collateral, Dan. I think that should be quite clear between us. If you want this, we will have to move our discussions to my bedroom. How about it, Dan? It’s decision time. What do you say?”

“Shall I put these drinks on my tab?” Dan answered weakly.

Dan was shy and wooden from the start when they reached Lucian’s house. Dan wasn’t the least surprised at the gothic décor of the house or the four-poster bed with its heavy brocade drapes, but they intimidated him. They only added to his foreboding about just how deeply he was getting into something beyond his understanding and control.