His smile, a subtle play of cunning charm, graced his lips as he lifted the glass of whisky to his mouth. Overhearing her quiet musings, he relished in the recognition, though the acknowledgment of his reputation fueled a cockiness that, in truth, he knew wasn't necessarily a point of pride.
"Well, you see," he began with a calculated pretense, "I've always wanted to share a drink with a beautiful woman. It seems I've finally found her."
While it wasn't untrue that he found her attractive, the words carried a veil concealing intentions far beyond the surface. The effects of alcohol may have loosened his inhibitions, but they hadn't dulled his caution. There were scores to settle, other vampires to pursue, and the awareness that the situation could sour at any moment hung in the air. Thus, he steered the conversation away from his true objectives, keeping his real goals shrouded in ambiguity for the time being.