Right, here you go. This one is a little short and chock full of things that are sure to make Emmy1512 come after me with a knife or two BUT, I'm thinking if I get over a certain number of reviews (I know, pulling an Emmy much?), I'll post the next chapter on Wednesday. It won't mend your hearts but I think it'll take your minds off this chapter which, I promise, does have a bit of a point other than makin' y'all squirm. Anyway, I'll stop rambling now because today has just been terrible and I need sleep.

Enjoy (and don't kill me)

xx

"What are you doing?" Rosie queried, standing in the doorway. Nikola spun around, shocked he hadn't heard her approach. His hands momentarily froze, leaving his shirt more than half undone.

"Getting dressed," he answered snappily.

"Well, would you mind undressing?" Rose asked smoothly, her voice unnaturally even as she walked towards him lightly.

"And what exactly would the point of that be?" he asked, continuing to do up his buttons. Then his hands froze in place. He glanced down at his still open shirt before shooting Rosie a dirty look.

"I told you to stop," she said by way of explanation, coming to a stop a few feet from him.

"Well, if you'd be so kind as to give me back the use of my hands…" he said, his voice laced with frustration.

"You don't really need them," she said softly, her eyes dancing as she tiptoed towards him.

"Let me go Rosie," he said, his voice wavering with vampiric darkness. She smirked at him, getting closer and closer, dancing around his now frozen figure.

"Or what? You'll growl at me?" she taunted, reaching out to tap the tip of his nose with her finger.

"Rosie," he warned.

"Oh stop playing the angry vampire card, Nikki. I know you were just about to come and find me," she said, hands on hips.

"While I truly love to play these games with you, I have things to do," he said, coldly but she only smirked.

"I'd have thought that after all this time you'd have known better than to try and resist my abilities," she said lightly, stepping closer.

Nikola growled at her before realising that he was in fact a genius. Before she could catch on to his train of thought, Nikola sent the letter opener sitting on his desk whizzing towards her neck. Predictably, she stopped a centimetre from her skin with the very tips of her fingers but the anger and confusion in her eyes let Nikola know that he had won. She may not have let him go but perhaps now she'd throw him across the room, rather than holding him prisoner which was, despite the pain, preferable to letting her have all the fun.

"Nice parlour trick, Nikola," she said coldly, her lips curling back into a sneer as she tossed the letter opener away. "But I'm afraid I'm not that easy to distract." On her last word, Nikola found himself being forced to walk backwards, only stopping when his back hit the wall. Rosie, still standing in the middle of the room smiled at him prettily, hands clasped behind her back.

"Oh don't pretend to be all sweet and innocent," Nikola spat at her. "Even if you hadn't already proven you are neither, that delightful little dress speaks volumes."

Her smile promptly dropped away and her entire body tensed.

"Insolent, self destructive, painful, idiotic half breed…" she muttered, stalking towards him. Only when their bodies were almost touching did she stop moving, glaring up at him with nothing but pure hatred in her eyes. Suddenly, Nikola realised that somewhere in her tirade, she'd given him back control of his limbs. As quick as he could, his hands darted out to grab her but she was too fast, spinning just out of reach, eyes glinting dangerously. Intent on getting to his prey, Nikola followed her, fingertips just brushing against her sides as she twirled away from him again. He growled, stepping once again towards her and, predictably she spun away from him again, this time with a small, musical laugh.

"God I hate you," he growled, moving towards her once again, claws outstretched. This time, he caught her, pinning Rosie to the wall. She giggled at him but Nikola ignored the niggling feeling that she'd let him catch her.

"You are such a liar," she whispered, leaning forward to brush her lips against his ear.

"Nope," he said, shoving her back from him as firmly as he could. Rose's eyes widened at the action but he could see she was liking it. Plus, if she wasn't he had no doubt she could throw him off without a second thought. "I hate you," he said again and this time she let out a loud laugh.

"Keep telling yourself that," she advised, squirming so that he had to step closer to restrain her, his body pressed against hers. Taking in the gleam in her eye, he realised this had been her plan all along. With a growl, he tried to release her and step back but found that once again, he was stuck.

"Stop cheating," he growled, struggling against her mental bonds.

"Oh you love it, just give up already," she said flippantly, snaking her arms around his neck, letting her lips ghost across his.

"This is hardly fair," he said, now trying to lean into her as her legs wrapped around his hips. She chuckled and forced him back just a little, teasing him once more.

"I don't play fair, you know that Nikki," she chastised and Nikola felt his limbs come back under his control. With an evil smile, he stepped backwards, letting go of her. She fell to her feet gracefully, shooting Nikola a dirty look before pouting.

"All's fair in love and war," he said, quickly buttoning up his shirt. Rosie muttered something under her breath, crossing her arms as she continued to stare him down.

"Spoil sport," she accused but he only chuckled.

"Yeah well, after last night I figured I deserved some pay back."

"You deserve payback? Whose room is now in ruins, thank you very much?" she retorted, hands on hips. "You trashed the place!"

"Uh-uh," he said, wagging a finger at her carelessly. "We trashed the place."

At his waggling eyebrow and sinful grin the anger in her eyes dissolved and she let out a dark little chuckle.

"You are incorrigible," she said.

"Don't I know it," he replied, starting to stalk her. Rosie rolled her eyes at him before stepping around his now well dressed figure, heading to the door. "And where do you think you're going?" he asked, grabbing her wrist, spinning her back to face him.

"I only came to offer my assistance in dressing," she said formally. "But seeing as you've done so well on your own, I'll leave you be," she said with a kind smile as she slipped her hand from his. She bobbed a curtsey before spinning around and walking calmly to the door.

With lightening speed, Nikola dashed around her, blocking her exit.

"Perhaps I could offer you the same courtesy," he said, stepping towards her.

"That is very presumptuous of you Mr. Tesla," she said, pretending to be shocked at his words.

"You know, I think that's the first time you've ever called me Mr. Tesla," he mused as she began to play with the buttons on his waistcoat.

"Would you rather I called you Nikki?" she said mischievously, winking at him as he growled.

"Not if you want that skimpy negligee to remain intact," he warned.

"Now who said I wanted that?" she whispered huskily just moments before his lips crashed down on hers.