Dating the Devil's Son

Chapter 9: The Rooftop Escape

Lila stared at the black text message glowing on her phone screen.

“Meet me at the rooftop tonight. 8 p.m. Don’t make me wait. Dante”

Her first instinct was to ignore it. She’d had enough of Dante Morningstar’s mysterious invitations and emotionally charged gestures, enough of the way he seemed to crack her open with just a glance. But then again, hadn’t she spent the past few days replaying every moment they had shared? Every smirk, every whispered word, every flicker of vulnerability he had shown her?

Her heart raced as she stared at the clock. It was already 7:40.

“Don’t overthink it,” she muttered to herself, slipping into a pair of comfortable black ankle boots and shrugging on her favorite coat. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door before she could change her mind.

The elevator ride to the rooftop of Morningstar Enterprises felt like forever. Each floor the elevator passed sent her heart pounding harder in her chest. She told herself this was no big deal just another one of Dante’s attempts to charm her, to break through the walls she’d so carefully constructed around her heart.

But as the elevator doors slid open, all the reassurances she’d whispered to herself disappeared.

The rooftop was bathed in the soft glow of dozens of string lights, their warm golden hues illuminating the space. A small table was set in the center, adorned with flickering candles and two glasses of wine that caught the light like tiny fireflies. Around the edges of the rooftop, plants and flowers framed the space, creating a sense of intimacy that made Lila feel like she had stepped into another world.

And then there was Dante. He stood at the edge of the rooftop, his back to her, the city lights stretching out before him like a sea of stars. He turned as she stepped forward, his dark eyes locking onto hers with a mix of intensity and something softer, something she wasn’t ready to name.

“You came,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

“You didn’t leave me much of a choice,” she replied, crossing her arms to steady herself.

Dante’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “You always have a choice, Lila.”

The tension between them was palpable as he gestured toward the table. Lila hesitated for a moment before taking a seat. Dante joined her, pouring the wine with a quiet precision that made her stomach twist in ways she didn’t understand.

“What’s all this about?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Dante leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady. “It’s about showing you who I really am. Or at least... who I want to be.”

Lila raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “And what makes you think I want to know?”

“Because you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t,” he replied easily, swirling the wine in his glass. “You’re not the type to indulge in meaningless gestures, Lila. You wouldn’t have come if you didn’t care at least a little.”

She hated how easily he saw through her. She hated it even more because he was right.

For a while, they sat in relative silence, the sounds of the city below fading into the background. Lila sipped her wine, her gaze flickering between Dante and the flickering lights around them. She hated to admit it, but there was something disarming about the way he had arranged this. It was simple but thoughtful, and that made it all the more dangerous.

“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Dante said after a while, his voice breaking the silence.

“Maybe I’m just tired,” she replied, though they both knew that wasn’t the truth.

“Or maybe you’re afraid,” he said, his tone soft but laced with a challenge.

Lila stiffened. “Afraid of what?”

“Of letting yourself feel something for me,” Dante said, his gaze unwavering.

The words hung between them like a live wire, charged and crackling with tension. Lila opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. Because, once again, Dante was right.

She looked away, focusing on the city lights in the distance. “Why do you do this, Dante? Why do you keep pushing me?”

“Because I can’t help it,” he admitted, his voice low and raw. “You make me feel... human. And I don’t know how to handle that.”

Her chest tightened at his words, and she turned back to him, her green eyes searching his face for any sign that he was playing a game. But all she saw was honesty.

“You’re not exactly known for your humanity,” she said softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Dante chuckled, though there was no humor in it. “No, I’m not. But you’ve managed to find something in me that I thought was long gone.”

Lila swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. “Dante...”

He reached across the table, his hand brushing against hers. The touch was brief but electric, sending a shiver down her spine.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just... don’t walk away from this. From us.”

The vulnerability in his voice took her by surprise, and for a moment, all of her defenses crumbled. She wanted to believe him, wanted to let herself fall into whatever this was between them. But the fear of getting hurt, of losing herself, held her back.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she admitted, her voice trembling.

Dante’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I won’t push you,” he said. “But I’m not giving up on you either.”

His words sent a rush of warmth through her chest, and for the first time, she allowed herself to wonder what it would be like to stop fighting.

As the night wore on, the tension between them softened into something gentler. They talked about everything and nothing, the conversation flowing with an ease that surprised them both. Dante told her about his travels, his favorite places in the world, and even a few moments from his past that seemed almost... normal.

And Lila, for the first time, let herself open up. She told him about her family, her dreams, and the fears that kept her up at night.

By the time the wine was gone and the candles had burned low, Lila felt lighter, freer. She still didn’t know what to make of Dante Morningstar, but for the first time, she wasn’t afraid to find out.

As he walked her to the elevator, the tension between them returned, heavier and more charged than before. Lila turned to face him, her heart pounding as she searched his face for any sign of what he was thinking.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For tonight.”

Dante nodded, his dark eyes locked onto hers. “Anytime.”

For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. And for the first time, she realized she wanted him to.

But he didn’t. Instead, he stepped back, his gaze never leaving hers as the elevator doors slid closed.

As the elevator descended, Lila pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the frantic beating of her heart. She didn’t know what was happening between them, but she knew one thing for sure she wasn’t ready to walk away.

And neither was Dante.