I turn to face Dante and trace my finger lazily across his collarbone and down his chest. He closes his eyes and then reaches for my wrist, pressing my hand against him with a sigh.
"What is it?" I ask quietly.
"It just...feels so good to be touched back," he murmurs. "And your hands are so warm."
"Mmmm." I reach out with my both hands now and put one to his face, stroking his side with my other hand. His stoic expression crumbles. He almost looks like he's ready to cry. I just keep running my hands gently over him, until his expression relaxes.
"You...really are too sweet," Dante murmurs, opening his eyes again.
"Everyone needs touch," I reply. "I don't think you've gotten enough."
"Hmm. Perhaps you're right," he sighs, and pulls me closer. "So don't hold back any more."
I nod drowsily and let sleep take me.
When I open my eyes again, I'm immediately greeted by the sight of Dante leaning over me with a very self-satisfied smile.
I shrink away slightly. "...What are you thinking?"
"I was right." He's practically glowing. "You are quite loud in bed."
"... shut up," I grumble, attempting to shove his face away, but he just leans in closer.
"But those expressions of yours...that was quite the treat," he hums. I try to bury my face in my hands, but he easily pulls my arms away. "Why so suddenly shy?" he teases, nipping at my neck. "You were so responsive only an hour ago."
"D-Dante, please…" My plea turns into more of a moan as he sucks at my neck, raking his teeth atop my skin. "I can't- I-" I gasp when he runs his hand up my leg, dancing along my inner thigh-
I shoot my arm down and grab his wrist, and he stops his advance. "You- I'm gonna be sore just from before," I huff, cheeks blazing crimson. "C-Calm down."
Dante leans back with a disappointed sigh. "That's a shame."
I scoot away to sit up. "I thought you would-"
"You thought I'd be satisfied with that?" he asks, amused. "Silly little bird. Now I'm never leaving you alone."
"Uggghhh." This time, he lets me cover my face, instead tossing my clothes over me.
"Come. You need to eat," he says nonchalantly, only wrapping himself in his zhong yi.
I get dressed, but I don't want to leave the room. Everyone will be there. And everyone certainly knows what happened. I hold my shoulders self-consciously, trying to find the courage to follow him out into the hall.
"It's not like they don't already know," Dante teases. "So you don't have to answer any embarrassing questions."
"On the contrary," I huff back, "I'm sure you'd happily answer all kinds of embarrassing questions for me." He chuckles and pats my head condescendingly. "Besides," I add, "Just knowing in front of me is embarrassing enough."
At that, Dante takes a seat next to me on the bed. "You said you wouldn't regret it."
"I don't."
"Then why are you so ashamed?"
"I'm not ashamed, Dante, I'm embarrassed," I reply, meeting his gaze. "It's not about the fact that you and I had sex. It's about the fact that now everyone is going to be chomping at the bit even more now…" I bury my burning face in my hands yet again. "And I'm not sure I can handle all that right now. I can barely handle you alone."
"Why, you've barely handled me at all," he replies, and I shove his shoulder as he chuckles. "If you won't walk, shall I carry you instead? I certainly don't mind."
Immediately I picture his smug grin as he carries me into the room like a prize. "Hell no," I shoot back. "I'll walkt."
Finally, we head towards the main room. I know the more obvious I am, the worse the teasing will be, but I can't get myself to calm down, blushing in embarrassment before anything's even happened. And I can't see Dante's face, but I just know that smug grin is back. I'm looking forward to hiding in the kitchen to eat.
But of course, I'm never so lucky. The table is spread with food, ringed by the other three vampires. Adrian's smiling a little too brightly, Lucien's watching with glittering eyes and a small smile of his own, and even Virgil's made a red-faced appearance. I should have known they wouldn't let me escape after what just happened. I take a hesitant seat next to Dante, gripping his hand tightly.
"Oh? Feeling possessive, are we?" he teases.
"No," I growl. "It's to burn you if you say anything I don't want you to."
Adrian's the first to speak, sidling up to me and holding onto my arm. "Adelaide," he pouts, "That's just not fair, is it? Leaving your lover behind like that." But he's grinning slyly.
"I-" I start to stutter, then catch my breath. I need to stay at least somewhat calm. "He was very persuasive. And I was tired of...resisting…" I hurriedly stuff some food into my mouth, trying to distract myself.
Adrian leans over me to look at Dante. "Tell me, Dante, was it just like we had imagined?"
I nearly inhale my bite of food and start coughing. I should have known they'd discussed this already. I squeeze Dante's hand in warning.
"I'm sure you'll find out for yourself, soon enough," he replies with a smile. I groan and keep eating, trying to ignore Adrian's squeezing hand on my thigh.
But Lucien won't let it be. "Well, there's one thing that's no secret. You're quite vocal, Adelaide."
I don't respond. I can't respond. I just cover my burning forehead with one hand and keep eating.
He continues. "Well, I couldn't hear it from my room. But Virgil was nearby, and, well, he was quite flustered when I found him."
I hear something whistle through the air. I look up to see Lucien with his hand outstretched, having caught a jab from a red-faced Virgil. "There's no need to be ashamed," Lucien teases him. "We all have urges." He catches another one aimed at his side. "Relax, relax," he says, leaning in with a catlike grin. "I didn't actually say that you-"
"Lucien, enough," I cut in, and he sighs and leans back.
"Fine," he replies. "But only because I don't want you upset with me tonight." I don't like his knowing smile.
I go back to concentrating very hard on eating.
"By the way, little bird…" It's Dante now. "You haven't been holding up your end of the deal. Whatever happened to calling me Master like a good little maid?"
"There is nothing you could give me that would get me to call you Master in bed," I shoot back with a glare. "And as for the rest of today…" I sigh. "Fine, I'll do my best, Master." I can feel his victorious smile above me. "But to match your scoundrel master, I reserve the right to be a sharp-tongued maid."
"Very well," he replies. "It's more fun that way anyway."
"Ugh." I go back to my food, then come to a realization. "Actually, Master, would you like something to drink?"
"No," he replies immediately. "Not if it will let you run away."
"Oh well, it was worth a try," I sigh. "What is your plan for the rest of the day, anyway? Master?"
"I think my plans might have changed," he replies slyly, but I sigh and shake my head.
"I already told you, that's not happening. I can't- I can't handle any more today." I'm acutely aware of everyone's gazes on me. "What did you plan originally?"
"Title," he reminds me gleefully.
"...Master."
Dante leans back with a sigh. "Actually, I had planned to rehearse." I see Virgil perk up from the corner of my eye. "I know what I plan to do, but I'm very interested in seeing how you respond."
I'm filled with trepidation, but I tell myself it can't be as bad as the bath. Not that I really have a choice…
Dante whisks me up as soon as I finish eating. "I can walk just fine, Master," I pout, but he ignores me.
"Do you know the lines?" he asks.
"Not as well as I'd like to," I admit. "But well enough to respond, at least."
"Good." He smiles. "We'll begin with the begging montage, then."
Of course. I should have known he'd want to rehearse the one where I have to grovel for him. I have a bad feeling he's going to find a way to twist it to seem far more inappropriate than it is.
Once we're back in his room, he clears away everything but a plush armchair while I find a short coat to use for the nettle shirt, and a few other props as well.
"Now," Dante begins, "I want you to show me, first, what you plan to do." He settles into the chair. "We'll move from there if I find anything unsatisfactory."
I sigh in resignation and move into the adjacent room to make my entrance. I walk in with an air of authority, though nervously clutching the shirt behind me. When I reach his side, I hold it out, hopefully. He barely looks at me. "Marry me, and I'll wear it. Plead for me," his eyes glimmer, "and I might." I slink away behind him, thinking, and reappear just behind his shoulder. This time, I hold it up like a gift, and kneel. I look up to him with pleading eyes. "Marry me, and I'll wear it." He slips his hand under my chin, lifting my face. "But would you wait on me, hand and foot?" I roll to the side and sit for a moment to think again, then stand with a spin, and approach from behind. With a game board to use as a tray, I lean over him and pass invisible food to his lips. Dante grins and takes my hand, pulling me over him. "Marry me, and I'll wear it. Unless you're willing to beg." I back away with a bow, and move behind him to approach from the opposite side again. I lay the shirt on the ground, and slowly, lower myself all the way to the ground at his feet. He uses his toe to lift up my head. "Marry me, and I'll wear it." His tone is a challenge now. "You would not lower yourself to the position of slave." I bow away, slipping away to pace back and forth. I switch sides again, and come crawling in and position myself in front of his seat. I had planned this before, but my face is still burning. He understands immediately and props his feet on my back. He sits there for a few agonizing moments, enjoying the feeling far too much. "Marry me, and I'll wear it." He moves his weight off of my back, but in the next moment, I feel his foot on my shoulder as he shoves me down. "Perhaps if you fawned on me like a dog for his master," he says, leaning on his hand with a victorious grin. I scoot away, at first, then pause. After a moment, I go back on my hands and knees, and crawl back to him, laying my head on his lap. He puts his hand on my head, stroking it gently.
"Very good," he purrs. "That was better than I had anticipated. I have no complaints at all."
"You better not," I grumble, and start to get up, but he pulls my head back down.
"No, no, this is a good position for you," he chuckles. "Well, perhaps not exactly where I want you, but close."
I put my hand on his bare foot, and he yanks it away as I burn him. Finally released, I look up at him with a smug grin of my own.
But he looks less irritated than I'd hoped. "This play was a wonderful idea," he says. "I shouldn't have been so skeptical."
I stand and start pulling over a chair of my own to sit in. "Does that mean I can have a day of freedom back, Master?"
"A deal is a deal," he replies, and grabs me by the waist to sit me in his lap. "Why would I, when I'm having so much fun?"
I turn around to face him. "It is quite the dampener on conversation, Master. I'm sure the novelty will wear off quickly once you realize that."
"Perhaps." Dante puts his hand to my face, and I start a little despite myself. "Why so jumpy? Still on edge from our rehearsal?"
"No…" I put my hand over his, looking away. "It's just a little surprising when your touch is...kind," I admit.
He doesn't respond. When I look back to him, I see a mixture of sadness and regret on his face, though it's just barely showing through his usual expression. "I suppose I shall have to work on that, then," he murmurs, and pulls me in for a kiss. For once, it's soft and gentle, not demanding like before, and I feel myself sink into him as I respond in kind.