Kentoral stands in the shadows, watching. His eyes roam the ballroom and caress over every female within. None hold his interest for long, but he needs to feed soon. His hunger becoming painful and he was getting weak and desperate. He'd have to choose one of them before the night is over. The crowd parts for a moment and he catches sight of a particularly delectable looking pink and yellow morsel. If he's reading her sacral energy right, she could satisfy him for years, as long as he's careful. She's ripe for the picking, it's almost too perfect.

There's just one small problem…she seems to have a watchful guardian of some type.

The man watches her like a hawk, despite his best efforts to hide his attentions. 'Oh, what is that?' Kentoral thinks to himself. He can see the longing in the other man's eyes when she's not looking. 'Oh, the pain. Another possibility on my menu. Delicious!'

He's talking some technical nonsense to a few locals about their planetary defense systems. 'Twaddle', Kentoral snorts. If they think their worst problems came from off world, they have another thing coming. Oh, he's got no love for most of his demonic brothers and sisters, but he's not going to be stupid enough to get in their way when all hell broke loose either. Hell? Heh, excuse the pun… He was looking for a way off this world, to be honest, and with a long, hungry look at her, thinks he's found his ticket.

But first the fun in getting to her.

Rose has been standing dutifully beside the Doctor for over an hour as he talks about the planet's kelminium refracter beam, which is way over her head. She's dressed up for this, because the locals simply wouldn't let them go back to the Tardis and move on. So now she's got this leather halter dress with matching long sleeved bordello and high heel sandals. She wants to dance. If she was going to be stuck wearing this get-up for the rest of the night, damn it, she was going to have some fun. But of course, the Doctor wasn't being cooperative. Fine. She turns to him, determined look on her face.

"I'm going to go dance," she states, matter of fact, and goes out to the dance floor.

Kentoral watches as the blonde woman moves out to the dance floor. Alone. He smiles to himself as he catches his opportunity. Briefly, he turns his eyes to the other man who had been watching her and noted he still was. Perhaps more intently now. He smirks. Good, let the fool watch. He makes his way to her, brushing his fingertips over her shoulder, making the caress seem unintentional. Startled, Rose turns, staring up at him wide-eyed and open mouthed. He swallowed hard trying to restrain himself. She was even more beautiful up close and it had been a long, long time since a human woman affected him so much. Her scent and warmth wrapping around him like a blanket. Then there was the desire to not only consume, but to be consumed by her.

"Forgive me, miss. I didn't mean to frighten you." He gave her an easy smile and bowed slightly.

"S'alright. Name's Rose." She eyes him up and down, taking in his handsome features and smiles back at him.

His lips widen and bows to her again, a bit deeper, taking her hand lightly in his and brushes his lips to the backs of her knuckles. "My name is Kentoral."

The music in the background ends only to pick up again with a slow, even beat.

"Would the lady care to tango?" he purrs as he holds out his hand to her.

Rose blushes in embarrassment and looks away. "I…don'tknowhow," she rushes out in a breath.

He chuckles low in his chest and gently takes her hand in his again, pulling her to him. "I can teach you, Delicate Flower. It's quite easy to learn."

She blushes again, but rather than averting her eyes, she looks up at him through her eyelashes and a teasing tongue touched smile. "Yeah, alright. Show me your moves."

Oh, I'll show you my moves alright, he thought with wicked delight. And if I'm lucky, you'll have a trick or two to teach me. Tugging on her hand still held in his, he pulled her into the frame of his arms and wrapping his arm around her waist, hand resting between her shoulder blades. His hold was loose but firm on her back, pressing her against his chest as he looks deeply into her eyes.

"Mirror my stance. This dance begins, and mostly remains in an embrace. It has been called 'The Dance of Lovers'." Rose straightens her posture and rests the hand he's not holding on his shoulder. He smiles down at her and takes a small step back.

"Follow my lead. The most basic steps are just walking. A step forward, a step back. But it's one of the freer form styles of dance you'll ever find. Feel the music. Feel me, the steps I take, and follow my lead," he whispers seductively in her ear.

Seemingly spellbound, eyes locked with his, Rose nods her head and relaxes in his arms, allowing him to lead her around the room. Slowly, he shows her the steps and reassures her when she messes up and encourages her when she gets it right. By the time the song was over, Rose has mastered the basics.

"You're a quick study. Care to take the advanced class?" his lips drip with honey, wriggling his eyebrows at her. She giggles a bit and nods.

"Yeah," she answers with more confidence this time.

Kentoral looks over her head, noticing the man who was with her watching them intently, ignoring everyone else around him including the small group he had been talking to. The other man's eyes narrow at him, but has yet to move from where he stands.

"Are you sure your lover won't mind?"

"No. I mean, he's not my lover." He notes the disappointment in her voice.

"Husband?"

Rose shakes her head. "No. We're not…we're not like that. Just friends. Maybe he's a bit over protective. But we're just friends."

Inwardly, he smiles, but looks at her with something close to sympathy as he leads her into a spin and dips her low when she comes back in.

"But you want more than that, don't you? You want more than his eyes on you." He can smell her arousal build as she thinks about just what she wants, making his own harder to hide. He turns her so her back is to his front, resting his left hand low on her stomach. He brings her right hand up to rest on the back of his neck and slowly slides the fingertips of his own right hand down the underside of her arm and down her side. Her back arches slightly and her head lolls back to drop to his shoulder, eyes close as she seems to lose herself[BM1] .

"I can be him for you. I can be anyone or anything you want." He brings his hand back up, brushing the side of her breast as he travels it up to find her palm and turns her to face him again.

Kentoral then encourages her to wrap both her arms around his neck as he drifts his left hand back on her lower back and then grips her left leg, gently pulling it up over his hip and begins to walk backwards, Rose's right leg dragging behind her, as he draws slow circles onto her thigh.

"He won't touch you like I will. He wants to keep you all to himself, but he won't fulfill your needs and desires. And such desires you have, Delicate Flower. He doesn't deserve you and he's a fool for denying you. I won't deny you anything," he whispers sweetly, brushing his lips along the shell of her ear. Suddenly he realizes, a bit to his surprise, his promises aren't as empty as they usually are.

He reluctantly lets go of her leg and clasps her hand again, pressing his lips to her warm, soft wrist as they continue to move together along the dance floor. He catches a glimpse of the man she is with just before they disappear into the crowd of other dancers, and if the storm that's brewing behind his eyes is any indication, he'll be coming for Rose soon.

"Kiss me," he beseeches her. She tilts her head up and he lowers his, but he's miscalculated how long it will take her self-imposed guardian to reach them. The Doctor grabs Rose's wrist and pulls her back behind him leaning in close to Kentoral.

"Mine!" he growls dangerously soft, a hint of murder on the trace of his breath, and so low only Kentoral can hear.

"What the hell are you doin'?!" Rose yells.

"It's late, Rose. You should get some sleep," he answers lamely, voice trailing off as he realizes his position, but he keeps his eyes on Kentoral, who only stares back.

For a second Rose stares at the back of his head in disbelief but then her pride kicks in and her blood runs hot. She rounds her shoulders and pulls her wrist out of his hand. "I'm not five, Doctor! Stop treatin' me like a child! You can't act that jealous and not…an' you don't!"

The Doctor whips his head around toward her and sees her eyes shining with unshed tears, and he knows he's screwed up, again. He tries to reach for her hand, but she turns on her heel and walks away. He looks back at Kentoral, shooting him a glare before running after Rose. Kentoral followed, keeping his distance. For now.

"Rose. Rose!" the Doctor calls after her, but she keeps walking down the corridor. They're nearing their rooms and Rose pulls the key card to hers out of her purse. She reaches her door only a second before he gets there. She's just about to slide the key card to open the door when she feels his warmth behind her. It's odd, she thinks, he doesn't radiate heat like a human would. But she shakes off her train of thought.

The Doctor skids to a stop behind Rose, gripping the door frame. Her back is turned toward him so she doesn't see how his fingers dig into the door frame as he tries to maintain some semblance of control. It's a monumental task considering he's staring down at her neck and wanting noting more than to plant his lips there and leave his mark[BM2] . To take her long and hard against the doorframe, here and now. Damn the consequences.

"Rose." He speaks her name like a prayer, voice husky and coming from deep within his chest. "Rose, I'm sorry."

She can feel his breath next to her ear and closes her eyes, praying he does something, anything to quiet her doubts, to prove Kentoral wrong. But then his breath is gone and she can't feel him behind her anymore. Rose looks over her shoulder to see him standing a bit further back, hands in his pockets and looking down at his trainers. He at least has the decency to look contrite. She wishes he… but it's clear to her he isn't going to do or say anything further without her prompting. If she was honest with herself, she was tired of dancing around their feelings and being the one to open up first. Not like he was ever going to tell her just how he feels anyway. She turns back to the door and opens it. Stepping in before she faces him again; she can see the expectant look in his eyes. It's nearly enough to make her give in when Kentoral's words came back to her.

'He won't touch you like I will. He wants to keep you all to himself, but he won't fulfill your needs and desires.'

"Good night, Doctor," she states matter of fact, tone unwavering and she lets the door close in his face. She kicks off her shoes and drops her purse on the desk against the wall and walks to the ensuite.

Panic shows in the Doctors eyes as he realizes she simply let go of the door knob and let it slam shut in his face. He wanted to beg her to let him stay with her. Of all the times to be given separate rooms, why now?

"Rose?!" he squeaks, but she ignores him. His shoulders slump in defeat as he hears the ensuite door slam shut. With hearts heavy as stone, the Doctor quietly shuffles his feet toward his own room, collapsing on the bed and curling in on himself, wrapping his arms tightly around a pillow as if sheltering something precious. But it doesn't hold her warmth or her scent. As much as he wanted to shut himself off, he couldn't keep his ears from pricking at every sound, listening for her.

Rose showers and pulls out a shirt from her pack. The locals had actually allowed her to go back to the Tardis and pack an overnight bag. What she so boldly packed for a night shirt is one of the Doctor's oxfords. The dark blue one she's always favored, which the Tardis had provided for her. Normally she wouldn't have, but normally, they were forced to share a room. She pulls the shirt on and buttons it up most of the way, leaving a little cleavage showing. She doesn't bother with knickers. Mad as she is at the Doctor, she knows her thoughts will eventually wander before she falls asleep.

Sure enough, her mind drifts to the Doctor and what she'd like him to do to her. But other, unbidden thoughts of Kentoral and the dances they shared came to the forefront of her mind as well. She can't stay focused strictly on either man and knows she whispers both names as she worked herself into release.

Kentoral doesn't so much hear Rose call out his name as feels it. She has summoned him and he smiles to himself eagerly and walks down the stretch of hallway that leads to her room. It's like instinct, to find the one who summoned an incubus. Even without her scent wafting down the corridor he could have found her. He takes to the shadows and melds with them so he can slide under the doorframe and enter her room. He lingers there for a moment more before making his way under her bed sheets and solidifies his form above her. Taking the finger she just had pumping into her core a moment ago into his mouth, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he hums appreciatively. He looks down as he releases her finger with a pop and sees her eyes are closed tight and her body is ridged.

He leans over her, supporting his weight with one hand while drawing soft circles into her thigh with the other as he whispers honeyed words into her ear, "Relax, my Delicate Flower. Open your eyes and see your heart's desire."