It was late. Very, very late. Rose huffed once again as the itch to get up, move, at least talk with someone hit her again. Reading had been of no help, and laying in bed listening to the wind outside did nothing to help her sleep...not that she had a desire to.

It was about midnight, and she knew that he always stayed up late. Doing what, she did not know. But she was going to find out.

For some odd reason, other than feeling vaguely annoyed she wanted to talk to him, and bewildered that she did, she felt...nervous. She couldn't explain it.

Rolling her eyes, she got out of bed, pulling her white nightgown very tightly around her, and walked barefoot downstairs to his study. She still always marveled at just how big his mansion was.

Going to the adjacent room off the second floor hallway, she again felt her stomach dip at the sight of a lone golden glow coming out of the room.

Catching her breath, she went to the doorway and entered.

He was sitting there, looking no different than he had at dinner, and to her surprise, he was sitting at a small square wooden table, holding a black chess piece. A look closer told her it was the king.

She cleared her throat. He looked up, and, to her surprise, gave her not only a small smirk, but a small wave as well.

Entering the room more fully, she walked across to where he was and gingerly sat across from him.

The room was completely black, as was the rest of the house, save for that one light positioned close to the table. She could see him perfectly, and he could see her perfectly. The golden glow seemed to touch everything on the table, and seeing him up close only made her heart pound more.

Damn him for being so handsome!

"To what do I owe this pleasure, Rose darling?" he said. His customary smirk was in place, of course, infuriating her.

"I couldn't sleep. I...I don't know...I just wanted to do something worthwhile, something...entertaining."

He stared at her, his smirk broadening. "And yet you sought me out."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Yes. Yes I did. And just...I know you're going to be infuriating as usual...but I'm up for a game of chess. Are you?"

He just stared at her, face torn in that same infuriating, humorous smirk. On Cal, that smirk wasn't actually mean...it meant he was honestly amused. Or he was enjoying making her angry. One of the two.

She had learned that about him early on.

"Chess? Really darling, I can think of much more desirable ways that you and I could spend this lovely evening together. Much more." He winked at her, and as she glared at him, he began to laugh.

"But I suppose if you're not feeling particularly adventurous tonight, chess will have to do."

She stared at him in shock, aghast that one man could be so crass. "You...you were teasing me, weren't you!"

He laughed shortly as he threw the chess piece up and caught it expertly in his hand. "Well...maybe...I was going to suggest I'd carry you up to my bedroom and ravish you, but I decided that that probably wasn't the gentlemanly thing to do. And we aren't even married, so of course, that would be quite the scandal." Here he winked at her, smiling slightly, and for some odd reason, despite her anger and annoyance at his comments, she found herself blushing slightly and her stomach tingling slightly, even though it was a joke...a pigheaded one at that...and god did he ever annoy her!...

"You are such a pig! Goodness!..."

Her words were cut off by his laugh again. "Oh please darling, not a pig, surely! Madam, you wound me! And Rose darling, a word of advice: it's not ladylike to say what you really think about people. Some men may find it offensive, and just what would your mother say?"

His smirk grew as she glared at him, and she just rolled her eyes again. As he returned the king to the chess board, she asked, "What color do you want? White or black?"

Immediately, he said, "Black." She smirked, fighting the urge to laugh, biting her lip. Almost as black as his heart!

She cleared her throat, still smirking. "How fitting."

Cal smirked at her. "What, my color is black like my heart? Is that what you're smirking about over there?"

She blinked, shock visiting her features, before quickly making her face expressionless. "What...how did you...why that's absurd..."

He winked, smirking at her. "Oh Rose Rose, I know you were thinking that. Admit it."

Somehow she found herself blushing lightly. Damn it! And he was so good at that! Finally, she just said.. "It...may have crossed my mind..."

He snorted and leaned back slightly in his chair. "Well...ladies first."

She snorted at his mockery and moved her piece.

Almost immediately he moved his piece expertly close to hers, so he would be ready to capture it as soon as he saw fit.

Rose's mouth fell open. "How...how did you do that!"

He winked at her. "Well...see, I picked the piece up, and then I physically changed its location on the board."

She rolled her eyes. Of course he had to be so difficult!

Noticing her reaction, he gently said, "Rose." She looked up. He was smiling gently at her.

Cal said, "It's a simple move, really. All it requires is marking your opponent's position, and their predictable course of action. Then it's a matter of finding shortcuts and trapping. I can show you if you like."

She simply stared at him, intrigued, and dare she say it, impressed. "How ever did you get so good at chess?"

He smirked a little, shrugging. "Oh it's nothing really. Just something to do when I was bored out of my skull at boarding school and tired of reading. I started playing more and perfecting my technique at Harvard. And didn't you know I'm master of all things?"

Rose could only stare. Clearing her throat, she said, "Oh? And I suppose you were master of Harvard chess, I assume?"

Again he smirked a little, leaning back and tousling his hair a little. "Hardly. That would have been men's ice hockey, darling. I was voted captain my junior and senior year...we won the championship against Yale in 1904, my last year, due in part to my ten goals...not to mention the winning one."

Her eyes widened, and again she was impressed. She had never known he had played hockey! Of course she had known all about Harvard, but... "Impressive. Your parents must have been proud."

Here Cal snorted, and she looked at him, curious. "That's adorable darling. My parents never gave a damn about me...believe me. And I do believe it is your turn."

She stared, wondering how he could be so nonchalant about such a fact. She moved her piece, pale encroaching on dark, and here she was given the upper hand.

"Aha!" Rose smirked triumphantly at Cal, and found he was smirking back at her, something she couldn't quite place in his eyes...She almost felt as though she were drowning in his dark pools...

Breaking her eye contact, she looked at the board and said, "Looks as though Cal Hockley has finally met his match."

Curiosity piqued, she said, "Do you still have your skates? And...and pictures? Or even uniform?"

He smirked a little. "Actually I do. I haven't looked at the pictures or uniform in ages but I can show them to you sometime if you like."

"Please do."

Then she started when he said, "And what were you? Master of ballet, absolutely appalling taste in art, and making all your Headmistresses miserable at finishing school?"

Rose looked at him and it was clear he was only kidding. Fighting back a smile, she said, "You are correct. Except for the appalling taste in art...have you seen some of your furniture in here?"

He snorted. "Please woman. I do appreciate art, believe it or not...just when it's good."

She laughed a little, albeit sarcastically, and then said, "Your turn."

He moved his piece, quickly, efficiently and expertly, and again, he had her trapped, this time securing a pawn.

He winked at her as he set it down on his side of the board.

Desperate for a biting retort, she said, "You know for a thirty-year old man, it truly is sad most of your mansion looks so ancient and truly dreadful."

He smirked a little. "Oh but haven't you heard? I'm a vampire."

She smirked a little back at him. "You know that's one of my favorite books. Dracula. Bram Stoker is a simply amazing writer, and I remember buying it and hiding it from all the maids and Mother. She...she sold my copy, when..."

Her face crumpled a bit. When Father died and we went bankrupt.

Cal noticed the change and cleared his throat a bit, guessing what it must have been about. "Rose? You...you can have my copy if you want. It's a first-edition."

She started. "Mine was too. Oh...thank you," she said, surprised he would even offer such a thing. "But won't you miss it?"

He smirked. "Hardly. I enjoy it, but why would I miss it if I could just borrow it from you when I wanted to read it?"

Feeling silly, she laughed a little. "Fair enough."

Then she said, "Where is the library? This damn mansion is so big I get lost."

He smirked. "Fourth floor."

She nodded. "Ah. I'll have to visit there soon."

He winked at her. "And Rose? We can even go skating on the pond outside once it snows."

Realizing he was only half-mocking her, she smirked a bit. "Good."

Rolling his eyes, smirking, he said, "Your turn."

She moved her piece, and was able to capture two pawns in one move.

However, her victory was short-lived as he was able to capture four of hers in his next two moves.

As the game wore on, suddenly they were at an impasse.

"Let's make this interesting," Cal smirked. "Whoever loses has to drink a penalty glass of alcohol."

Rose stared at him. "Deal."

They shook hands.

Each time Rose moved Cal came up with some new astounding move to throw her off guard. But every time he moved she watched closely and concentrated, finding new ways to outsmart.

Finally, the game was over in less than fifteen minutes, Rose triumphant as she knocked down Cal's king, not even bothering to capture it properly.

"I do believe I won," she said, smirking.

He was still smirking at her. "Well you won, fair and square. I'll drink my poison now."

She snorted. Then a horrible thought occurred to her. He looked so...calm.

"Please tell me you didn't let me win, Cal. It insults my intelligence, and I'd rather, if I lost, to have lost honestly rather than win dishonestly."

He winked. "Rose I swear. I did not let you win. I have far more respect for you and pride for myself than that."

She stared. "All right. But still...if you did I will find out! And next time the penalty for losing will be much higher!"

He winked. "I'm sure you will...and oh, so there will be a next time? Shocking."

Not quite knowing what he meant by the first part, and realizing her grave, grave mistake in saying there would be a next time, she quickly said, "Oh I'll have a drink too."

He smirked, pouring two glasses of amber liquid and passing one to her before sitting back down again.

She drank and when she looked up she found Cal still smirking at her, his drink still pure, untouched.

"What?" she said, feeling self-conscious.

"Oh nothing. I was just thinking I wouldn't rather have any other woman from our circle, or in general, living with me than you. That was a compliment, by the way," he said, winking and taking a small sip.

Rose stared, blue eyes meeting brown. "All right," she said, feeling rather awkward and trying to interpret how she felt about that. "Thank you?"

He winked again and then said, "And also, I was thinking that you and I are actually very much alike. We're both stubborn, intelligent, competitive and cunning."

Now, oh now Rose could only stare in shock. She and Cal...Cal Hockley...alike? That was absurd!

She gave a derisive snort and said, "You and I are so different it's absurd. You see I...I am a moral, decent person, whereas you...you..."

The alcohol was beginning to get to her, and that, combined with that intoxicating scent of his godforsaken heavenly-smelling aftershave, combined with the way he looked, was quickly beginning to addle her brain. It was a lethal cocktail, a lethal effect.

Shaking her head slightly, she said, "Whereas you..."

He smirked. "I do believe you just said that darling."

She rolled her eyes, groaning a little. "Oh you knew what I meant to say!"

He laughed a little.

Silence giving way to peace, she was suddenly shocked when he smirked a bit and stood up and offered his hand to her after pulling up the sleeves of his white dress-shirt under his blood-red sweater-vest. "Give me your hand."

Bewildered, she complied. He led her gracefully out into the middle of the expansive room, and then she was shocked as she realized what he was trying to do. "Oh god Cal! Please, please tell me we won't have to dance together tomorrow night."

Cal smirked. "You do mean later tonight darling, as it's probably well after one in the morning right now."

Cursing herself, she said, "Oh you knew what I meant. Damn alcohol."

He smirked. "Oh my friends will love witnessing us dancing together. I knew you would hate it and I told them all about it. There's literally a bet going on right now of what dance of the evening you will finally snap at."

She glared at him. "Is that what you men do when you're supposed to be working? Hmm? Making damn bets-"

Her words were cut off as he stared at her. He smirked gently and said, "Give me your right hand and put your other on my shoulder."

She did, and then gasped as both of his warm hands skillfully went around her waist, drawing her close to his slender body. He pulled her against his chest. She could feel his heart beating. His body heat was quite literally searing her. She was acutely aware of the fact she was wearing nothing but a thin (though expensive and high-quality) white nightgown.

Smirking again, he said, "I figured we should practice after having alcohol."

Rolling her eyes, she started as they suddenly began to move. It was like she was floating effortlessly, and surprisingly, she was almost enjoying herself. He was an excellent dancer!

Trying to hide her shock, and failing apparently, as his now-customary smirk never left his face, she tried to hide the growing dryness of her mouth, the pounding of her heart as they danced.

Finally, when it was over, he dipped her and then smirked and let her go.

Her head was spinning.

Desperate for a drink, anything, she put her hand over her heart and laughed a little. "Goodness...you, Cal, are an excellent dancer. I am honestly and truly amazed."

His expression didn't change, that ever-so-familar smug look on his face focused on her, but somehow becoming...almost serious. God he could kiss her right now...

As she stared back at him, she again hated the fact he was so devilishly handsome, so smug, so infuriating...so Cal.

Then he leaned forward a little, moving towards her. They were so close she could feel his heart beating. He was going to kiss her! Oh goodness... She didn't know whether to slap him or...

But he only moved a long piece of hair out of her face.

Rose's heart thudding, she gulped and said, "Well...good night Cal."

His words of before rushed over her: "I was going to suggest I'd carry you up to my bedroom and ravish you..."

He winked a bit. "Good night Rose. Sweet dreams. And, darling?"

She turned a bit, and he said, "You are a most divine dancer if I do say so myself."

Rose turned back around and walked out, out, of the room, and even though she couldn't see him at that moment, she knew his smirk was watching her go.

Later when she was back in her bed, she could not fathom the fact that she had spent an entire evening with Cal Hockley, of all people, and had actually...almost enjoyed herself.

She couldn't remember talking that much to him at all either...ever.

As sleep gradually overcame her, her thoughts bled into a black wash, even though her unconscious mind was still thinking of all that had transpired.