Thursday, October 3, 247

Noon at the Dancing Dove

I woke up early, still jumpy and I had pretty bad nightmares. Achoo was whining when I opened my eyes. Pounce and her where in the bed with me. You've been screaming. I thought about the dream.

In it, the rapist wasn't stopped and I was hurt. I drifted my eyes on my legs. I had pushed aside all the sheets and they had fallen on the ground. I ran a hand through my hair. You have a guest. Just then, Rosto swung open the door and leaned against the frame.

"Morning love," he whispered, his eyes checking over me. I shook my head out to push my hair back over my shoulder. He was observing me too closely and I blushed but I didn't bother to pull the sheets up to cover my nightgown. I ignored what he said because he called a lot of girls 'love'. It was another reason I didn't want to be too serious with him.

Rosto stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. "Have you found anything?" I knew it was only a night but I had faith in Rosto as the Rogue. He figured out a lot of things and knew more than most Dogs did.

I stood up and Achoo was instantly at my side and glaring up at Rosto, being protective. I pet her hair and sighed. Rosto's silence said enough for me. Tears were close to forming and he was already sweeping me up in his arms. I had allowed that to happen too often but I didn't care.

Instead, I pulled him into a kiss. This was the first time I had kissed him instead of the other way around. He had soft lips and he was hesitant. For the first few seconds, he was still but he didn't push me away. I backed off for a few seconds. He smelled like cinnamon again. He eyed me in surprise but as I leaned up again on my toes to kiss he for a second time, Rosto shut his eyes and came down.

We had made our way to the bed. He rested on top of me but I wasn't haunted by what had happened yesterday. I could only focus on the hunger that I had to want him closer to me. I was the one to moan this time and I covered my mouth in shock, not really believing I had just did that. Rosto smiled at me before kissing my neck and making his way down towards the skin shown off by the low cut fabric of my nightgown.

"Rosto," I asked, my hands intertwining with his hair. He stopped kissing me but remained resting on top of me. I liked the feel of his body heat as the autumn breeze blew through the room. "Why did you change your mind? After yesterday-," I stopped, I thought we would never get to do this.

Rosto's thumb swept across my pulsing lips. Everything about me was racing from the thought and touch of him. He ran his hand through my hair, "After what you said Beka." A knock came at the door and I pushed him off before Eskren walked in.

"Are you all right Beka?" His eyes caught up on me getting off the bed while Rosto remained sitting there. Eskren coughed, "Oh, um. I didn't mean to…interrupt anything." He gave a quick smirk and I looked over my shoulder at Rosto who was completely serious. Why couldn't be like most men and try to be arrogant? Right now, he was sending Eskren this glare to shut up and respect our privacy. I didn't know if I should like that or hate it.

"Nothing's going on Eskren, but can you leave I be for now?" I watched as he shut the door behind him and I stared at Rosto. "I didn't mean what I was said yesterday. I was just thankful for you letting me in the Dancing Dove so fast and for chasing after the criminal when you didn't have to."

Rosto stood up and adjust his shirt. I saw a sliver of his pale, muscled abdomen and my heart stopped. He sighed and walked over to me. "Then why did you kiss me?" I blushed. I would just sound like the kind of person I thought he was. The answer I was lonely or I just needed a kiss that was something a puttock would say. Deep down, it wasn't the only truth either. I really wanted to kiss Rosto. I liked it a lot. But that does not mean I love him!

Rosto placed his hands on my face, "You meant every word you've ever said to me Beka. You're a damn awful liar." He kissed my forehead, "Just know that I'll wait for however long it take for you to admit your feelings for me to yourself."

"Rosto, you'll just get bored with me as soon as we canoodle once. I don't expect to be mistreated that way." He seemed hurt by my words. So, if I was the one who was supposedly suppose to get hurt then why did Rosto seemed the one right now that wasn't all right with the words being exchanged.

"Beka, I know what you heard about me when you left." I nodded my head, he had slept with a few mots after he learned of me and Dale Rowan. Rosto sighed, "There was only one for one night and after that I realized that I didn't want just a girl Beka. I wanted you and you alone." I couldn't deny the pleasure in hearing him say that.

His hands played with my hair and his eyes lingered for a moment of my body in the nightgown. Now I was shy and blushing once more. "Forget that you're a Dog and I'm the Rogue. Forget that before you, I was a stupid man thinking he'd never fall in love. Beka, it's not important. All that matters is you stay safe. I risked my life in the streets because I wanted that bastard dead. No one should be hurting you while I'm the Rogue." His eyes had tightened and become colder.

"Rosto, people will hurt me because you are the Rogue." I was slowly falling into a realization of how much I meant to Rosto. I would've sworn when I woke up this morning he was just curious and wanted me because I didn't want him. Even Dale…well, his words didn't seem to hold as much weight and meaning as Rosto's did right now.

"Beka," he was still holding my face. "I knew this was never going to be easy from the first time you knocked me on the ground." I blushed brighter than I had before. God, was I a mot trapped in love or was I not? I'm not! No, I didn't mean that! I swear!

Rosto's lips gently brushed against mine. I wanted more than that. He smirked lightly as if he knew it too. "Your eyes are scary beautiful, did I ever tell you that?" I shook my head. He stepped back and I leaned forward after him. What I was doing to myself?

Rosto smiled, "Just remember what I said Beka. It will remain that way for as long as I live."

After shift

NOTHING! The criminal has stayed hidden tonight and nothing was worth talking about. I was so angry that when I entered the Dancing Dove while the Court was still in session some of the coves and mots thought I was going to arrest them! Ugh, and Rosto simply smiled at me. I could've used a kiss- but it wasn't from him specifically that I need it from. I should've kissed some other cove and teach him a lesson. To bad I thought of it now. Pounce is beckoning me to sleep and that I need it. I won't argue with that.