They splashed around for a while, Ruby getting used to being outside of her comfort zone with the soon to be king.
“Coronation is tonight. I'll have a dress ready.”
“I'd argue, but I don't have a dress that would suit your standards. How do you know my size?”
Dante chuckled, “I have an eye for these things.”
Ruby blushed, “You're insatiable.”
“Indeed I am…”
Ruby, feeling herself grow hot for him, thanked the gods he couldn't tell.
“Why am I getting special treatment?”
“Because I want you to be a good lay.”
“And if I'm not?”
“I'll kill ya.”
Ruby frowned, “No you won't. You're not….Never mind. “
Dante snarled, “What did my father do?”
“Why don't you ask Zeba?”
Dante glared at the little human for quite some time before shaking his head.
“You're friend's a liar.”
“I walked in on it.”
Dante's heart sank. There was no way his father cheated on his mother and he certainly wasn't a predator.
“He was, Dante. He tried to…he tried to take me and I bit him.”
Dante closed his eyes, recalling a bite mark on his father's arm.
“I'm sorry, Dante, but he was a bad man.”
Dante should have known.
Maybe he was in denial, but he himself had never forced a woman to do anything she didn't want.
Wasn't that what he was doing to Ruby?
“I'm hungry,” Ruby said, “Are we allowed to eat?”
Dante smiled, “Of course. I have supper coming soon.”
“Grapes and cheese?”
“Sure.”
“Oranges and cake?”
“Only the best.”
Ruby smiled, a little happy dance following.
“When's the last time you ate?”
Ruby frowned, “A few days.”
“A few-.. that won't be happening while you're with me. I'm not fucking a corpse.”
Ruby didn't seem to pay any mind to the young man.
“Ruby.. “
“Yes?”
“I want you to play the piano for me.”
Ruby watched him closely. She didn't want to be played for a fool.
“I'll play for you.”
“Tonight.”
“Alright.”
“In my robe…”
“I'm too small for your robe.”
Dante's grin widened, “I want it to smell like you.”
“Whatever you wish…”
“Whatever I wish. I will definitely remember that, little sparrow.”
Ruby blushed, “You know what I mean.”
Dante raised his eyebrows, “Whatever I wish. That's exactly what you said.”
“Dante…”
“Sparrow..”
Ruby stood up and began to get out of the tub. Dante quickly followed, both of them dripping water onto the cold stone floor.
“Here, before you catch your death..” he handed Ruby a towel and grabbed one for himself.
They dried off quickly and Dante stepped towards her, wrapping Ruby in his large robe.
“It looks good on you.”
“It's so soft and warm. Thank you.”
Dante felt proud, for what he didn't know.
“Let's go get some food in you…then I can get in you..”
“Dante!”
“It'll be King Dante soon.”
Ruby allowed him to lead her into the open space of his bedroom chambers.
“Wow…look at all of this food!”
“Eat up. You'll need your strength to handle a man like me.”