[ Lestat lets out a soft sound, like an exhalation or a sigh but so much heavier than that. His lungs seem to quiver with the effort, his body basking in the way it feels to hear Louis say such a thing so up front, because even if he knew the offer was on the table, it's a very different thing all together to hear Louis' voice form the words and ask it of him with such a quiet, desperate voice. ]

You must think my resolve much stronger than it actually is, if you think I could resist you asking me like that...

[ He knows it's reckless, knows he should have at least brought Louis a couple of bottles, maybe, considering he knew where this was inevitably headed, but he can't think about any of that now… Not when Louis moves so easily under Lestat's guidance as he carefully rolls and encourages him onto his back. Hair fanned out against the pillows and blankets like this, Lestat is caught by the sheer decadence of him, and has to brush his fingertips across his brow and down his temple, his cheek, his mouth, before he can bring himself to break their eye contact and lift Louis' chin with his thumb and forefinger.

He's so gentle, so impossibly gentle, more so than he's ever been with anyone, as he leans down to kiss the thick artery beating in Louis' throat. ]

I love you. [ He murmurs it almost without sound against his flesh, but he's certain he'll feel it anyway when he opens his mouth, bares his fangs and sinks them slowly but firmly into that waiting vessel. ]