The Devil's Temptation!

Anna’s eyes relatively widened after seeing his hands reach to fix the lace on her front dress, but she instinctively placed her hand on his, stopping him and refusing to let him do any of this.

“I_I can do it myself.” She tried to sound as firm as possible, shaking her head and indicating she doesn’t need his help with it, but he casted her disapproval aside and kind-heartedly helped her fix the lace of her dress properly, deliberately ignoring her remark.

“You still have this attitude of not showing appreciation whenever I choose to help you.”

His beautiful gaze was fixated on her dress as he carefully pinned the lace to a small hole meant for it, expertly bringing it out and doing the same to the next.

Anna wasn’t really concerned about the fact he was trying to help her, but they were standing outside the front yard where they can be openly spotted by anyone, even the guards that normally take control of clearing the front yard.

Why doesn’t he seem to understand that??? And does he even know the process of fixing a woman’s dress?

“Roshan–”

“My authority still stands.” His clipped tone threw her off guard and when she met his stare, a slow smile tainted his lips.

.....

“Done.”

‘He’s done?!’ thought Annalise as her eyes went round.

Looking down at her dress, he didn’t just fix it, but fixed it more perfectly that it left her blinking in surprise.

How is he...how is he familiar with a woman’s dress??

Instead of thanking him, her eyes constricted as she met his gaze, narrowing it into an accusatory slit that left Roshan staring blankly, unsure of what he had done to get such looks from her.

“Did something happen? Is it too tight?” Those were the first thing that popped in his head but to his surprise, that wasn’t the case as she shook her head, still giving him those stares that made him feel like he committed some sort of crime.

“It’s not tight, it’s actually perfect.” But based on the tone she used in responding, he didn’t seem to find her happy about it.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You fixed it perfectly, that’s the problem!”

“Huh?”

Roshan blinked in puzzlement, obviously taken aback that she was moody all because he fixed her lace properly. There was nothing that was said between the two of them after that, even the sound of crickets making their noises could be heard from the garden bushes in front.

Anna folded her arms, looking away from him while twisting her lips in displeasure. She stole a glance at the glacier who wasn’t asking her why she’s all moody all of a sudden, he wasn’t even looking at her to be precise and she had to urge to walk out on him.

“Are you really not going to say anything?” She broke the silence, gaining Roshan’s attention back and he shook his head.

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“Cause it’s never a good idea to tell a woman to calm down.” He admitted, avoiding her gaze for the second time and Anna pointed a finger at him, her mouth hanging agape at his words.

“You..!!.. How many women have you possibly spent your time with to even discover that?”

Her question made him look at her and he blinked, obviously dazed by her question.

“What?”

Anna averted her gaze, almost grimacing as a thought suddenly hit her, “I should have known this, you learnt to fix a lady’s dress and also know the do’s and don’ts about women, I should have known you had more women around you.”

“What are you saying?” Rather than taking her words seriously, he found them surprisingly funny due to her reaction. She looked like a child who’s favorite toy got snatched away from her and he couldn’t help but admit she looked too cute.

Cute enough to make her heart palpitate in his chest.

Anna returned his stare with a glare and folded her arms at him, “don’t talk to me, just you watch and I’ll make sure to meet a lot of handsome noblemen in this lifetime so I can–”

“And this is why I shut you up, silly woman.” He tossed a cloak at her which she caught out of involuntary means.

“But I’m not done yet.” She countered, but he didn’t bother to say anything in response.

He couldn’t believe she was making such a stupid choice all because he knew how to handle a lady’s dress and... it’s not even worth getting worked up about but then again, he’s never going to understand this creatures called women cause they weren’t even made to be understood.

“Put it on.”

“But I haven’t finished my words yet, you interrupted me.”

“Cause I have no time to listen to the rubbish you nearly spat out so just put the cloak on so we can leave.” He said, already turning away from her not until he heard her sniffling to herself and it left him speechless.

This woman!!..!. He couldn’t even yell at her properly.

“What is it now?” He sighed.

“You’re scolding me again, do you do this to every other woman who comes to you?” She wasn’t asking a question, she sounded accusing as she pointed a finger at him and only then did it occur to him that maybe, maybe she was jealous of the ‘other women’.

“No I don’t do this.”

“That means you only scold me?” She was nearly shattered after hearing him say that and he shook his head.

“No, I mean... seriously..”

“You don’t care about me?”

“Of course I do,” he admitted, “you mean a lot to me than any other woman could and if I didn’t, you wouldn’t even be standing here with me right now, cause I easily get irritated with things that hold no importance to me.”

“Do you like me then?”

“Saying I like you isn’t enough Anna, I admit I’ve had women in my life but none of them can possibly be compared to you, I have no memory of them but I can’t even get you out of my head for a second.” He confessed, meeting her watery brown eyes and Anna’s heart skipped when he looked deeper into her, as though he was searching for something and just like that, the tenderness that glimmered in his irises for her made her feel weak on the knees.

He continued, “I’ve never given a single being my energy but I was willing to drain them all out just to save or even please you, you matter that much to me so don’t even think about comparing yourself to the other women out there.”

He hated it, at first he found it funny at the beginning, carrying the mindset that she was messing with him but when she started to go deeper, joke or not he didn’t find it funny anymore and it stung him to see her comparing herself to them.

“And also you don’t need to meet different men in your lifetime, speaking about them in front of me isn’t healthy to me at all.”

“It pepper’s me,” he admitted in a carking whisper, “I can tolerate anything else, but I won’t stand and listen to you talk about another man, or the fact that something I say reminds you of someone who isn’t me.”

“Am I really not allowed to speak of another man?”

“No.” His clipped and straight response threw Anna off guard and the look on his face showed he was serious about it, “I guess I’ll have to prepare a space for you in my chamber’s where only my eyes are capable of seeing and shielding you, I don’t trust the intention of other men out there.”

And he meant it, if he eventually leaves the world then he’d make sure Levi keeps an eye on her, protects her, most especially from the men that would dare to take advantage of his woman when he’s gone. She died once and he had a feeling it had something to do with him, he wouldn’t let her do the same in this lifetime.

Annalise on the other hand could barely utter a word as she heard him speak, there was nothing in his tone that proved he was faking it, and the look in his eyes made her believe he was actually serious about everything he just said to her

A light wistful wind blew by, fluttering their hairs and bringing along the silence that came with it, as well as the unsaid emotions that neither could possibly utter.

“So you do like me.” She suddenly smiled amidst the tension she herself had caused, giggling at Roshan’s dumbstruck reaction as he equally went through everything he had said.

His eyes widened slightly and his face turned morbid, realizing she actually tricked him into revealing his emotions.

“Let us go.” She shyly wore the cloak he had given her and left the frozen Roshan, making her way to the beautiful dark horse and sitting atop of it. She balanced herself properly before turning her attention to the flustered demon.

“I’m waiting for you.”