The Devil's Temptation!

“I_” the lady who was constantly yelling her worries at him, had suddenly gone mute at his question and her hands recoiled themselves from his collar and she met his gaze.

“I don’t know.”

“You saw my past.” He concluded, already taken aback by it without shifting gaze. Anna averted her gaze and shook her head in denial.

“I_ how is that possible?”

Anna’s mind was already on a quick rampage when she felt Roshan’s hand slide to the side of her neck as he moved her hair the other way, taking view of the bite mark on her alluring neck.

Just staring at it got him tempted to take another bite and taste her sweet blood again, but restrained himself, knowing he couldn’t do it without permission.

Could it be because of the bite mark??

Anna’s heart picked up speed after seeing how intently he stared at the mark on her neck and she shifted away from his heating touch, covering the side of her neck with her hair.

.....

“It doesn’t matter, what matters is what you went through, has life always been like that for you?”

Remembering the sight of how he cut himself and opened his flesh was a sight she couldn’t bear to recall, it was just horrible and to think a little child could do something like that to himself, he must have been really depressed.

Roshan stared at her face with a look of interest and when Anna was starting to get bothered about what he was staring at with such glint in his eyes, she felt his hand gently reach to wipe away the tears she didn’t even realize was rolling down her cheek already.

He brought his hand back and stared at the single bead of tear resting on his index finger. A slow smile curled the side of his lips before he lifted his gaze to meet her stare.

“What are you smiling about?” She asked and he returned his gaze back to the glistening tears at the top of his finger.

“Is this tears or water?” He popped a silly question at her, and he sounded very curious to know what it was, leaving Anna to shake her head in disbelief and she facepalmed before raising her head to meet his stare.

“Are you being serious?”

“I’m the one with the memories, but you’re the one in tears.” He pointed out.

Anna quickly wiped her face with her palm in case there were more tears on her face. She met his gaze and realized he was just teasing her, and it only added to her already sad mood. How is he still like this after experiencing all that? She was even scared to hear more of his childhood stories and she understood why it got so difficult for him to say them out.

She thought she had the worst time of her life but didn’t even realize how miniscule it was compared to that of Roshan’s. As scared as she was, she still wanted to know what happened after that, did he kill the rabbit? Was that why he’s like this? What happened to his father?

“Stop that, I honestly feel bad for you.” She truthfully told him and he knew, it’s the first time someone had to cry over him. He wasn’t someone who spoke about his past but he did and she saw it herself. What shocked him more was the tears in her eyes and they glistened with genuine worry.

He cupped her face with his palm and wiped another tear that was threatening to fall from the brim of her eyes.

“How cute.”

He smirked, looking breathtaking as she noticed his mesmerizing face was close to hers. Anna’s heart fluttered in rhythm to his words and she blinked.

“Cute?”

His hypnotizing gaze fell on her lips and Anna felt her breath seize. The forest grew quieter than usual and all that Anna heard was the sound of her own heart beat thrashing loudly against her ears.

Just when she thought he’d kiss her again, he moved back and lifted his gaze back to meet her stare.

“We should leave, they can get suspicious if we stay out too long.”

His words broke her from her thoughts and Anna’s mind returned to the forest that was beautifully glowing with fireflies.

Roshan got to his feet and kind-heartedly let his hand out for her. Anna smiled faintly and placed hers on his before getting to her feet.

“Can we take a walk? Even if it’s for a few minutes, please?” She begged, she wasn’t ready to return to the Mayor’s mansion just yet, she wanted to take a walk around the street of Ark Ville, if they were going to leave here soon, they should use the opportunity to view the beauty of Ark Ville.

Not only that, she wanted to spend a few more minutes with Roshan cause once they reach the mansion, she’ll have to check on Nick’s wound.

“Mmn.” He nodded to her surprise and her eyes shone brightly as though saying a silent ‘yay!’

He locked their fingers and together, they walked out of the beautiful forest that was glowing romantically with fireflies.

Reaching the street of Ark Ville, Anna’s eyes feasted on the exquisite stalls that were still open and the ladies who were selling kept calling them with sweet names to check their products.

The night was lit with lanterns and candle lights hanging on the shops of marketers and some lights had different colors. Roshan suddenly stopped at a particular stall that sells all sorts of beautiful dresses and his eyes shifted back to Anna.

“You wanted dresses, right?”

She nodded excitedly and he let his eyes roam the dresses before moving to speak with the owner of the stall. It was a young lady who attended to another woman who came to shop.

“This is wonderful miss, you look like an angel from heaven in this dresses.” Came the complement of the young lady to her customer and when her eyes diverted to Roshan, a welcoming smile adorned her Rosy lips

“Lovely evening to you young sir, what can I offer you?” Asked the lady in a polite manner.

“Not me,” he responded, “but her.”

The lady’s gaze shifted to Anna who offered her a sweet smile in return and she surprisingly tilted Anna’s head up with a finger, her eyes sparkling with interest.

“She’s beautiful, is she your wife?” Asked the lady and Anna’s face turned visibly red at her question. She was about to explain to the lady, already shaking her head in denial when Roshan spoke first.

“Something like that.” He intertwined their fingers romantically, meeting Anna’s dumbfounded stare and he winked.

“Right darling?”

‘D_darling???’ Anna felt a thousand butterflies swim up to her heart when he called her that, despite feeling all fluttered, she wondered if Roshan had gone crazy over the night. He’s probably teasing her again.

She tried to free her hand but he held it tighter, unwilling to let her ruin the moment for him with her boring lecture of decency.

“I see.” The young lady gave a knowing smile, “a lover then? You don’t have to worry, she’s in good hands with me and I’ll make sure to give her the best of our best.” She assured him and only then, did he let go of her hand and Anna hurried to the young lady’s side.

“I want to check a stall, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“What stall?” Anna asked, hoping he wasn’t leaving her here and running away, but he just stared with a dreamy gaze.

“That’s not your business, your business is here, and you better be done before I get back.”

He looked at the young lady, “I’ll be back.”

“Take your time.” She waved and Roshan walked out. Anna didn’t really trust that man but the young lady had her attention immediately when she took Anna deeper into her stall.

“I have all the most wonderful dresses in Ark Ville, I’m not called The Lady Of All Dresses for nothing.” She giggled cheerfully and Anna’s jaw nearly dropped after sighting a lot of beautiful dresses in her stall.

“Just tell me the one you want.” Said the lady with delight and Anna just smiled.

“Can I have a look at that please?”

“Sure, anyone you like. Is it a dress for a ball that you need? Or a simple glorious gown? Or maybe something transparent to attract your lover even more to you?”

Anna’s cheeks burned at her last word and she froze for a few seconds. When she met the lady’s gaze, she winked at her, signifying they were both ladies and had nothing to hide.

Few minutes later when Roshan returned, Anna was already done shopping for the dresses that she needed and as promised, he paid for the dress, surprising Anna herself. The young lady’s face lit up.

“Do come again!”

Roshan had no response to give for that and walked out. Anna returned her friendly wave before walking away as well.

She looked at the being who silently walked beside her and she smiled gratefully, holding the shopping bags in her hand, “thanks for the dresses.”

He suddenly stopped walking, leaving Anna to stop in her tracks as well. She was about to ask why he suddenly stopped walking when he held her right hand and to her surprise, he wore a gold and white designed enamel bracelet around her wrist. It was so beautiful that Anna’s mouth hung agape.

It had a large number of smaller silver white stones decorating each side of the bracelet and a bigger one at the center, giving that glistening effect of a magical, cold, winter night.

This must have cost a fortune!!

“For me?” She asked, still surprised and he nodded, feeling a bit bashful with himself since it’s the first time he’s doing something like this for anyone.

“I saw it when we walked past a stall earlier and thought it’d suit you. So I got it for you.”

After saying it, it finally clicked, he went back to a stall to get her this??

“It’s beautiful.”

“Come on, we have to hurry back,” and he walked out, quickly changing the subject and avoiding the conversation.