Dancing With the Devil

Chapter 10

Rose's P.O.V.

Closing the door behind me, I make absolute sure to lock it, giving Dante a disapproving scowl through the window as he glares at Credo, of whom does the same. Walking over to the storage closet at the bottom of the stairs, I heave out the large case engraved with the insignia for the Order of the Sword.

"She's good as new, Credo," I huff, handing the case off to him. "Make sure Nero takes good care of her this time."

"How do you know him by name?" he demands, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "As I recall, I never mentioned it last we spoke."

"He stopped by an hour or so ago," I explain, looking to Kyrie and smiling at her when she stares at me, seeming to ask a silent question with her hazel orbs. "Said he needed something for a... Special someone."

"No matter," Credo huffs, pulling at least twenty grand in wads of hundred dollar bills from a pocket inside his jacket. "Don't object to this, just take it."

He hands me the money, promptly gives the case with Red Queen in it to his sister, unlocks the front door of my shop, and holds it open for her while she drags the case out. Following after them, I draw Ember and Spark from their holsters, just in case Dante decides to cause any more trouble. Fortunately, he's nowhere in sigh, but my heart gives a few painful beats all the same. I watch Credo and Kyrie until they're out of sight before walking back into my shop, locking the door behind me. Slumping back against the door, I hold my form protectively while it begins to tremble.

I can't let myself fall for him, I scold myself, holding back the urge to stomp into Devil May Cry and leave my handprint on his face. He's nothing but a playboy.

Then what do you call what happened last month? my conscience snaps at me, accusing.

"Fucking hormones!" I scream, slamming my open palm back against the door, unaware of the concerned icy-blue gaze of said playboy watching me from across the street as I march upstairs to my room.

Once I'm in my private living space, I sit down on the velvet couch in the center of the room, burying my head in my hands. Despite the overwhelming urge, I refuse to let myself cry, gasping fistfuls of my hair in a solid grip and pulling fiercely. I'm startled when there's a soft knock on the window across the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the red jacket and instantly get up, crossing the distance in three strides. Not even looking up at him, I pull the curtains across the window and storm into my bedroom. Dante's just arriving at my bedroom window as I reach up to pull the blinds down. He points to the latch and gives me that "we-need-to-talk" look. I respond in kind and give him a stone-cold "get-the-fuck-outta-here" glare while pulling the blinds down. I hear his displeased growl through the window and wait a minute before daring to check. To my relief, there's no sign of him. My heart stops dead when he swings down from the roof with his feet pointed directly at my window. With absolutely no time left to react, I end up pinned in a mess of broken glass, Dante straddling my waist and holding both my wrists down above my head with just one hand. He's got that trademark smirk of his, and I can't help but want to wipe it right off his face right now.

"What do you want, Dante?" I grumble, looking away to hide the blush that's creeping onto my cheeks.

"We need to talk," he answers simply, leaning into my ear and nibbling it teasingly, making me whimper. "I can't have you following me around on this job like a lost kitten, Rose."

"I'm my own person, so I can do whatever I damn well please," I snap at him, flinching when he gives me a glare that makes my eyes tear up. "And that includes looking out for you, Dante..."

"Rose, I'm not going to argue with you about this," he growls threateningly, his expression unreadable.

I'm just about to come up with a savage reply when he cuts me off, crashing his lips into mine in a heated, lustful kiss. Having no will to pull away, I tangle my hands up into his silken white locks, trying to move my lips in time with his as he picks up the pace. He stops after a while, earning a displeased whine from me. Without warning, he springs away from me, doing a flip in mid-air, and lands on the window pane, giving me a wink before he jumps and disappears without a trace. Left to my devices, I get up and walk downstairs to start making some weapons for my own personal use. Without anyone around to remind me of the time, I find myself working late into the evening and surrounded by at least a dozen weapons.

Face it, Rose, my conscience jeers quietly in a sing-song voice. You're smitten for him. You just don't wanna admit it to yourself.

"Fuck~!" I groan, letting my head fall heavily onto my workbench. "I always hate it when you're right."