Warning this chapter is a little more sappy then the others, sorry I was kind of listening to Skillets new album Awake and it had a bit of an effect on how I wrote this. I hope you enjoy it anyways. Also I need an answer from anyone who comments, let me know if you would much rather see Scarlett in a silk robe or one of Dante's shirt in a morning after chapter.

Intoxication: Chapter 10

Scarlett snuggled deeper into the warmth, and wrapped her arms tighter around the body next to her. "Oh, Dante..." She whispered, into his skin. His skin smelt of leather, gunpowder and cologne. It was an amazing combination on him, rugged and manly. He shifted on to his side and pressed his cheek to the top of her head. She held on to him tighter, as she slowly woke up. She didn't want to let go of him, she felt safe. He was still fast asleep, snoring in fact. She sat up and looked at him, his hair was a tousled mess that framed his face. She just smiled to herself as she climbed out of bed. She hadn't been interrupted by any dreams, she had slept soundlessly next to him for the second night in a row. She wasn't too happy that he had undressed her though, but she decided to let that go. She looked around the room, his cloths were scattered around the room, her dress thrown over the back of a chair, almost as if they had wild sex on every surface, which she knew wasn't true. She would clean up when she got back but first she was going out for a run before breakfast. Dante would probably still be out cold by time she got back. She changed and put on her makeup and pulled her hair back into a pony tail, and slipped on her glasses.

"Dante,

I'll be back in about an hour, I'm going for a run I have my cell if you really need me. I'll clean up the room once I get back.

Scarlett."

She left the note on the pillow next to him, and slipped out of the room. She made her way down to the lobby, and outside. She start to jog towards the beach. She could think about Dante and how much he meant to her once she had space to clear her head.

Back up in the room Dante was waking up. "Scarlett?" He asked looking around. She was gone. Then he saw the note, Out for a run eh? I could probably catch her if I hurry. Dante hauled himself out of bed, dressing in a pair of shorts and a muscle shirt. He brush his teeth and headed out after her. She hadn't made it far at all when he caught up to her.

"Scarlett." He called.

She stopped and turned around. Dante jogged up besides her, "I thought you were sleeping in." she answered.

"I thought I was too." He laughed.

"So what do you want to join me or something?" She asked.

"Why do you think I fallowed you out here." He answered smiling at her.

"I don't know, you probably wanted to check out my ass and tits, in tight spandex."

"Damn it you caught me." He laughed.

She just smiled, and started to jog away from him.

"Hey, Scarlett, wait up." He yelled.

"Hurry up devil boy, you could probably catch me if you wanted." She laughed breaking out into a full out run along the edge of the water. There were very few people on the beach this early.

Dante looked around, and straighten up, "Oh I see how it is." He yelled after her.

She stopped and looked at him, from her spot half way down the beach, "Come and get me devil boy." She called.

Dante just shook his head, and ran after her. She wasn't hard to catch up with. She laughed and ran harder the closer he got; trying to get away from him but he grabbed her around the waist sending them tumbling in the sand. They both laid there laughing, Dante sat up and looked at her. His breath was ragged but yet so was hers. "Don't ever tempt a Son of Sparda like that again." He laughed.

"Why not?' She asked.

"Because we know how to get what we want." He flopped back down into the sand closing his eyes.

"Oh, is that why?" Scarlett laughed getting up. She toed of her shoes and stepped into the cool water of the ocean.

Dante just lay there in the warm sand. His chest rising and falling, his eyes closed. So Scarlett to it on herself to give him a little wakeup call back to reality. She cupped water in her hands and threw it on him. "Hey." He yelled at her, sitting up and running a hand over his wet face.

Scarlett just laughed and walked out deeper into the water, to about mid thigh height. She could see Dante getting up. He stripped off his shirt and toed off his shoes before coming into the water. She could really tell how much taller he was then her. At thigh deep water on her, it was only knee deep on him.

"Scarlett what did I tell you like five minutes ago?" He asked approaching her.

The sun kissed glow of his skin became more apparent as he got closer, long white hair glistened in the sunlight. He really did look like a Greek God. Scarlett could feel her heart flutter as she stared at the man that now stood in front of her.

"Never to tempt you." she smiled.

"And why did I tell you that?" He grabbed for her but she jumped out of the way.

"Because you were trying to intimidate me?" she laughed splashing him a few more times. The water droplets looked like diamonds that ran down his chest.

He raised his eyebrows at her and lunged for her, grabbing her around the waist again and hauling her up over his shoulder. She screamed and trashed, trying to get out of his grip. He carried her out of the water and dumped her on the sand. She look up at him. He dropped to his knees in front of her.

"Are you going to behave now?" He asked, he leaned over her caging her with his arms. He stared down at her, his hair creating a curtain around his face.

She shook her head yes, and Dante stood up, "Good, now come on lets go for a walk." He pulled her up and she picked up her shoes. Dante tugged his shirt back on the fabric clung to his damp skin. They walked down the beach until they came to a set of rocks. Dante had pocketed a few flat rocks on their way over, and he climbed up on the jagged escarpment, in his bare feet.

"Dante, what are you doing?' Scarlett asked.

"Come on up, it's really nice up here." The waves crashed against the rocks.

" I don't think this is a good idea.' She answered putting her stuff down in the sand.

"You'll be fine. I promise." He held out his hand so she could pull herself up out of the water. She reached up and took his hand, he pulled her up the rocks to where he stood. She settled herself on a flat spot and looked out over the ocean. Dante stood just out of her view, he threw something into the water. She assumed it was a rock that he had picked up earlier. She watched as it skipped a few times across the top.

"What are you doing?' She asked.

He turned to her moving a agilely on the rock, "Don't tell me you've never skipped rocks before."

She shook her head no.

"Come on I'll teach you." He smiled pulling her up.

"No, Dante, I'm going to fall." She squealed.

"No you wouldn't I got you." He whispered wrapping an arm around her waist holding her to him, "Okay so take this rock in your hand." He pressed a nice smooth flat stone in the palm of her hand. "Now just feel how I move your arm, and let go when I tell you too." He gentle drew her arm back, and brought it forward. Scarlett let go of the rock when he said to. It skipped twice across the water.

"I did it." She giggled.

"See not the hard." he laughed. She was so cute. He continued to hold her.

"Where did you learn that?" she asked.

"My mom taught it to me a long time ago." He smiled placing another rock in her hand. Dante guided her through another throw. They both laughed when it failed miserably. She looked back at him. His boyish grin was painted on his face and she stared up into his eyes. The corners of his eyes creased slightly making her realize that he really was a few years older than her. She never really thought of the age difference that separated them. Not that it was a lot but it was at least 2 years. Dante was a immature 28 year old that was for sure. She had her heart set on him since probably the first time they had meet. He would've been 25 or 26 around then, his hair had been longer, a little less well kept, worn in his eyes. He had been clean shaven all the time back then too, now he wore a five o'clock shadow most days. She wasn't sure if it was because he just didn't like shaving or if he's facial hair grew so fast he didn't want to keep up with the up keep of it, she didn't mind though. The look suited him, it made his jaw even more prominent then it already was. He looked back down into her eyes. He's so amazing, can we just stay like this forever?

"Here last rock. I want to see you throw." He smiled.

"What?" She gasped.

"You heard me." He looked down at her. He didn't let go of her though. She fallowed through the motions he had taught her. The rock skimmed the top of the water a few times before disappearing. She looked back up and him, a smile on her face. He just leaned down slightly, "See I told you, you could do it." His voice was breathless, sensual almost, but then again when was he ever not sensual in any way shape or form. He let go of her, "We should probably head back for breakfast now?" He asked helping her sit down on the edge of the rock, before he hopped down into the shallow water. It splashed around him. "Jump down I'll catch you." He called up to her.

As much as she trusted Dante, she didn't have a liking for jumping from anything over 6 feet above ground or water and this was defiantly above 6 feet. "Dante..." She answered uneasily. "Oh, you'll be fine." He answered, "I'll leave you up there, if you don't hurry it up."

She closed her eyes and pushed off the rock, the fall was sort and there was little give when she landed in his arms. He carried her to dry land and set her down . She picked up their shoes and started back to the hotel.

Once they arrived back they placed their order at the kitchen desk and headed up to the room. Scarlett opened the door to find their room was a complete mess. The drawers were pulled out they're cloths dumped everywhere. "They were here, looking for something." She breathed looking at Dante.

"They were looking for these." He answered pulling out his two passports from his back pocket. "They wanted to see if I was really who I said I was." He dropped them down on the desk, and started to help her clean up. He picked up a drawer and slipped it back into the dresser. Scarlett sat on the edge of the couch and picked up a few items of clothing.

The room phone rang, and Scarlett picked up. "Hello?"

"Oh Scarlett it's Paris. Can I please talk to Tony?" He asked.

"Sure." She handed the phone over to him, but stayed nearby to listen.

"Hello," Dante's voice was rough.

"Oh yes Tony, it's Paris. Listen I would like you to come alone to the meeting today. I want to speak to you man to man. Alright."

Dante's eyes narrowed, "Oh, what's with the change?"

Scarlett, listened closer, something didn't sound right about this.

"It's just Scarlett worked so hard yesterday with the performance I think we should give her the day off, don't you?"

"Yes I think we should." Dante closed his eyes as he looked at her. He knew she didn't like the sounds of this. "Same place same time?" He asked.

"Yes. I'll see you then."

"See you later." Dante hung up the phone and looked at Scarlett.

"Dante, you can't go, it's a set up." She whispered.

"I know, but we've got to get this job done okay."

"Please..." she begged.

"Scarlett I'd rather put my life on the line then risk you're life or both of our lives okay. I'll be fine." He touched his hand to her cheek.

She reached up and grabbed his arm, gazing longingly into his eyes. She wanted so badly to kiss him right now. He really was a hero, her hero. He was willing to give his life, without question. She got up and threw her arms around him. "I can't lose you too." She cried out.

It took him a moment but he realized what she meant. He placed a hand on the back of her head, and rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I promise I'll come back. You wouldn't lose me too."

"Dante, you're the only person I have left." The events of the morning left her in a pile of hopeless emotions. She wanted to tell Dante she loved him, but she didn't want to guilt him into staying with her. So she bit her lip and kept herself from doing so.

"Scarlett, I've taking on a hoard of demons and come out alive, a few humans aren't going to come between us okay." He pulled away from her and rested his forehead against hers. "I'll come back to you. I wouldn't abandon you, you're my partner and partners stick together through everything. Why don't you believe me when I say that?"

His lips were so close, yet so far. She closed her eyes, a small tear falling from her eyes. She felt Dante wipe it away with his thumb, If only I had the strength to tell him. I don't want to leave it like this, I don't want this to be our good bye, if this is our good bye. A knock came at the door, and he let go of her.

"Coming." He called.

She heard him open the door, "You're food sir."

"Thank you." with that he closed the door and brought the food into the main area of the room. "Come on breakfast time."

Scarlett didn't move, she felt like collapsing and crying. She had her chance to tell him and she didn't take it.

"Scarlett..." He breathed.

"Sorry, I got caught up in my thoughts." She slowly stepped over the mess that remained on the floor, and stood behind a now seated Dante. She reached up and unclasped her sliver cross necklace. She knew demons didn't wear crosses but he wasn't completely a demon. She dropped it down over his head and fastened it around his neck. "Wear this, that way I'll be with you in a way. It may help to keep you safe as well." She sat next to him and began to enjoy breakfast. She knew he would have to leave for the meeting soon.

He looked up at her through his hair. I should've taken it a step farther and kissed her back there. I wouldn't feel so guilty for leaving her now if I would have. He licked his fingers and got up, and pulled off his shirt, heading towards the closet to find something to wear.

"Just dress pants and a dress shirt." Scarlett told him.

"Which ones?"

"The black pants, and the red shirt. No tie, just leave the top few buttons undone." She answered. She watched as he changed. He stood in front of the mirror.

"I'm sorry I'm doing this." He breathed looking at her. His shirt hung unbuttoned around his body. Her necklace looked tiny next to the large silver pendent he wore around his neck as well. He slowly buttoned his shirt, staring at her trough the mirror. He strapped on his holsters and slipped his jacket on. He tucked ebony and Ivory away. "I'll be back soon. I promise." She looked up from where she was, Dante could see fear in her eyes.

"I wish I could believe that, but I can't..." She whispered.

Dante closed his eyes and lower his head he knew why she didn't believe him when he said something along the lines of I'll be okay, I'll be back soon, he remembered how many time he had done this, told her the very say words so she wouldn't worry. She had made him dinner, and it had gotten cold, she sat up waiting for him, she had fallen asleep at his desk, on the couch or at the kitchen table waiting for him to come home. He walked out of the room, and closed the door. She watched him leave a feeling of dread manifesting in the pit of her stomach.

Once Dante closed the door he leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes. "I wish it didn't have to be this way, Scarlett..." He whispered, "I wish I could take you with me but I'm not putting your life in danger for some money." He took a deep breath, I love you...