“Aren’t all geniuses rather unsuspecting of just how great their minds are? It’s only later that other people decide exactly what level of intelligence such people are.” Still, the way he spoke about Shakespeare was strange to Maya. Most people just called the man by his surname, but Desmond actively used the man’s first name, as if he had known the man. That idea was ludicrous, though. “Whether he knew it or not, he was a genius, and he knew words well enough to toy with them in such ways that were understandable. The idea that he was great at marketing things didn’t hurt.”
Maya smiled and shook her head. “Well, I can sew. I help create a lot of the costumes the cast wears on stage. I also have a great sense of aesthetics.” Her dark gaze moved over him at that. “It helps when putting together sets.” Not to mention her sexual acuity of which she would say nothing. If he found out, it would be through experience.
“Well, if you really believe in something, there’s no reason why it can’t be a reality for you.” She chose her words specifically. The fact that she didn’t want it to be real for her, that she didn’t want anyone to really know her ensured that no one ever really would. The more a person revealed about herself or himself, the more likely it was another would understand them very well. Maya had no intentions of baring her heart – if she even had one – to another.
“A lot of people think they’re charming when they’re really not, especially in this country.” The United States was all right. It had its perks, but if it hadn’t been the closest school so highly rated for supernaturals at the time that she’d realized she wanted to go to college, she would probably have gone somewhere else, like one of Alden’s sister schools in Europe. “It’s refreshing to meet someone who’s actually good at it.”
“Well, if you look at acting as something you have to force yourself into doing, then you probably wouldn’t be very good at it. I see it more as creating something wonderful for others to enjoy. Our own lives aren’t always as interesting as one that’s written for the stage, so taking on the mantle of another’s life in order to provoke emotions in other people is sometimes a better way to go about it than if actors just got on stage and performed a dry documentary. Objective facts don’t entertain nearly as well, as you’ve already said in reference to historians. The same is true for theatre.” Maya giggled at his last comment. “Of course, I don’t think I’d mind a bit if you were backstage with me.”
As they leaned closely into one another, her eyes stared deeply into his, noting when his gaze broke from hers to look at her lips. She could feel the chemistry rising between them, and the jinni almost closed the distance between them but remembered herself, her role, very quickly.
Strangely enough, when he said that he’d been asleep for the last century, puzzle pieces began to fall into place, and she realized that she believed him. Maya could often get a good sense of honesty or lies from a person, but most weren’t nearly as good at the lying game as she was. However, this changed things greatly. He was a dhampir, and if he’d spent the last century hibernating, it was very likely he was very old. Maybe he was even old enough to have met William Shakespeare in the living flesh.
Her heart raced for a moment before she managed to get her nerves under control, and by that time, he was standing, bidding her adieu. Her face fell a little, but she took his leather-gloved hand in her own before standing. “So soon?” She asked with just an edge of sadness. She didn’t want to seem desperate. Hell, she could wait to break this one. He interested her. Getting to know him a little better before conquering him couldn’t hurt a bit. Also, with how he was likely a great deal older than she was, this sort of thing may take longer to accomplish. She could be very patient when she wanted to be. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Desmond. I hope I’ll get to see you again, too.”