Appreciatively.

Orus saw the gleam in this woman's eyes, and found her offer rather appealing, to be honest. It was rare to find a woman so openly willing in the company of a stranger. Perhaps if he played her game, she would be more amenable afterwards. Yes, that was acceptable.

“You are an enchanting sight yourself, madam,” he said, stepping closer to the chaise longue. “Any man would be lucky to know you so intimately.”

She smiled sweetly beneath dark, low-lidded eyes. “Why thank you, Sir Knight. I rarely receive compliments, so far removed from the kingdom as I am. Honestly... I get rather lonely, here in this old tower.” Her head tipped to the side, long black hair sliding over her shoulders and revealing her neck.

Orus removed his gauntlets and loosened the straps on his armor. “I suppose I might be able to help you, if you were able to help me.”

Her smile grew the slightest bit, and her eyes followed the lead of his own in their dance, aware of where they stepped. “It is very likely that I have that ability, but I wonder, do you have your own?”

He couldn't help glancing at her generously exposed skin, a fact that she did not miss. Her neckline was scandalously low, and her cleavage amply accentuated by her lax pose upon the seat. “My own... what, might I ask?”

She laughed warmly. “Why, ability. Ability to help me with my own needs,” she answered, her nail once again carving a path along the black velvet adorning her thigh.

“That would depend on what those needs were, specifically.”

The woman's tongue poked through her plump red lips, sliding along to give them an enticing sheen. Orus could confidently guess a number of answers to his question, yet he awaited her reply, finding himself not entirely disinclined toward those guesses.

“It is not unthinkable,” she spoke softly, “that one begins to miss certain aspects of companionship after so long a time lived in isolation. I must admit, much of my desideration stems from a rather base instinct. If you would be so kind, might you... share my bed?”

Her dark eyes turned up to look at him longingly. He wasn't sure if he could judge this woman as forward or not—such matters were complicated. What wasn't, however, was a simple need for love. Orus had no commitment that would be broken by accepting her plea, and it might even coerce her to share information he needed. Could he indulge in a momentary distraction on this mission?