I watched her dark figure slide down the wall of the west wing of the novice dorms. Her hair swayed with her movement. The light cascaded over the fine dark strands. Rose Hathaway; my prodigee. I couldn't contain a smile as I watched her slip fast and unnoticed to the Moroi dorms. She was stealthy, but unwatchful of her surroundings, oblivious to my presence or my observation. She gracefully swung her lithe figure onto the tree branch and into the Moroi room I was sure was Princess Dragomir's. I knew as a novice instructor I should have stopped her, alas my heart wasn't in it. She, as any other teenage girl, needed time with her best friend. And after recently witnessing the killing of her best friend Mason Ashford she deserved this secret escape. My head slowly filled with the ghastly images from that day and a scowl tugged at my lips. I often returned to these thoughts on my evening shifts. Rose and her fellow novices Eddie and Mason along with lord Ozera; Vasalisa's boyfriend had been captured by strigoi and were missing for days. Roza witnessed the death of her best friend and killed her first strigoi in the same afternoon. My heart wept for her. I turned on my heel and continued my slow walk along the perimeters of the dorm, blissfully alone I started to hum a soft song from home to pass the time and clear my head of such downtrodden thoughts. Rose was safe for now and stronger because of it.

While looping back I hear a soft footfall, nearly silent. I whip around ready to defend myself. And spot a tiptoeing Roza. She has the decency to look sheepish and gives a small wave. I usher her over with the wave of a finger.

"Kirova would not be happy if she were privy to your whereabouts." Disapproval laced my tone.

She rolled her eyes

"I didn't know you sang comrade, or hummed or did anything that requires joy."

She grinned devilishly while deflecting my accusation. I decided to throw her a bone.

"Believe it or not I do many things you are unaware of."

I let a small smile slip into my face with the challenge

"Sure you do comrade, sure you do." I forced the laugh to die in my throat and again took up the role as mentor.

"You should be in bed, just because we don't have training in the morning doesn't mean you don't need rest Roza."

The nickname slipped from my lips without my authority and an affectionate smile graced her lips.

"Will do even though we both know I don't need beauty sleep."

She closed the sentence with a saucy wink and a man eating smile that just about knocked me to the floor. She took off back to her dorm leaving me grinning to myself like a fool. I was surprised she didn't mention not training tomorrow as she has been against it ever since I suggested her taking a break. Kirova agreed and there's been no training in three weeks and I could see her getting antsy and agitated. I rid my head of distractions reminding myself I still had work to do. I kept my humming to a minimum.

Finally I hit the bed with a resounding thud and as usual my thoughts drifted to Rose. Ah my Roza, more complex than anyone I've known. I had never expected to fall madly in love with her and the prospect was frustrating. I thought back to the first time we met with fondness. She was the most devoted novice I had ever witnessed. She willingly let Vasalisa feed on her and still tried to defend her from three guardians not moments later. I had no doubts that she would be an incredible guardian to Vasalisa or anyone else for that matter. She always faced her adversity with courage and strength and it was indescribable. She was undeniably beautiful too, her dark hair was a constant in many of my dreams. Her plump lips pulled into a beautiful smile and her eyes could persuade anyone into her bidding without need for compulsion. It still struck me as unbelievable that despite her remarkable character and beauty she loved me. Fate meant that we would never be together but she loved me and knowing that was enough and too much all at the same time. She was like the sun beautiful and lively but impossible to touch because of her scorching intensity. Yet I had had the privilege to touch. I tossed and turned as thoughts of Roza plagued my mind only to be dragged into a fitful sleep.

after a long night I was dragging myself to the training room absolutely exhausted. My head pounded behind my eyes due to lack of sleep. I rounded the corner to find Rose already running and a small smile touched my lips. She was learning habits that would make her better in the long run. I sped to join her and pushed my legs. Soon I was beside her running at the smooth rhythm she had paced for herself. With my overtly tall frame and long legs it was harder to keep our distance equal as neither of us were pushing ourselves. It wasn't a leisurely run by far, but we didn't push as hard as we used to before our training break. I knew she was glad I had resumed her training even if it were lighter than usual. We had both just broken a sweat when we got to the gym and I wiped my forehead. We silently moved into stretches and I wish I could say I didn't watch her. Years of training had made her graceful but you could see the power pulsing under her skin. She was a livewire hidden under her grace and beauty. A watched her body move and as she stretched her arms back the swell of her breast expanded. I wish I could say I was unaffected. My mouth dried and I swallowed. I shook my head to rid it of such inappropriate thoughts.

"On the mats." My voice came out sharper than I intended and rang through the space. She didn't seem to notice as she hopped to the mats eagerly. I could practically see her dancing out of her skin with anticipation. She was going to be disappointed.

"We aren't going to spar today."

Her eyes shot to mine with agitation. I ignored her look.

"I'm gonna show you some new defensive moves and well practice them."

I could almost feel the frustration rolling off of her like waves.

"Don't baby me comrade I can handle a little sparring."

I gazed at her disapprovingly and moved past the statement. I pulled her into a headlock. Fast and deadly but I didn't weigh down on her neck I simply held her there. It seemed like a good idea at first but then she was pressed against me warm and inviting. My face was pressed into her shoulder and I made the mistake of inhaling. She didn't smell overly sweet like many girls her age do. She smelled fresh like lemon and a hint of something warm and unknown, it was intoxicating. Her sigh would have been unnoticeable if you weren't wrapped around her back like a snake. I released her abruptly and she stumbled a bit and I immediately reached to steady her finding a bare strip of skin. The shock sent through my arm completely unnerved and settled me at the same time.

"We'll keep you to practice dummies for now." I murmured. My voice betrayed me and came out gruff and breathy. I wasn't prepared for her to whip around and glare at me.

"I'm not made out of glass Dimitri!" Her voice exploded through the small gymnasium and I fought the surprise off of my face.

"Rose you've been through a lot rece-"

"You think I don't know that! I know more than you or Kirovabad what I need and being treated like a five year old isn't it!" She cut me off and I was surprised by the menace in her voice.

"Obviously none of you care about my mental state if you're keeping me on house arrest and forcing me out of training." She was growing in anger and my patience was waning

"Rose." She kept going and despite myself my voice crackled through the space.

"Rose!" She jumped and I felt guilty for frightening her.

"Everyone is trying to help it would be easier if you let them and gain some self control." Something clicked through her expression and her anger brightened rather than simmered.

"You are the master of self control aren't you?" I had a guess what she was referring to but I'd hoped she's avoid the topic. No such luck.

"One minute you're confessing your feelings the next I'm a leper. But I get it I'm an easy lay naïve young girl-."

I would not hear this a second longer and my body moved without asking me. She was bracketed between me and the wall before I could stop myself.

"Do not doubt my feelings for you ever. and do NOT disrespect yourself again by saying such vile things." I could hear the hardness in my voice and fought to rein it in the next time I spoke my voice had less edge.

"This isn't about us rose people are worried about you." At this she started to push against me and her anger surged once again.

"I can take care of myself I certainly don't need one of my hookups to enlighten me."

My lips were on hers in an instant and I was consumed by white hot fire. My hips bracketed her into the wall behind her and my hand slipped into her hair. I tugged. Hard. She gasped and I took advantage Of her open mouth and slipped my tongue into her mouth exploring. I could feel her nipples grazing my chest and I started to grow hard. I tugged her head to the side and assaulted her neck with my tongue and teeth. I nipped at a sensitive spot and a whimper escaped her throat. The sound went to my very core and I was determined to hear it again. I had left a mark where I had been a tad bit overzealous. I do others the spot with my tongue. Punctuating with a soft suck. Her sighs in my ear only made me harder. I didn't notice her hand had moved until she palmed me through my workout pants. I tried to hold back my groan of approval and it turned into a harsh growl. The pleasure was a shock through my system and I pushed myself back hard and fast and spun on my heels leaving the room as fast as possible. I took one look back and it was a huge mistake. She sti stood against the wall heaving. Fuck.

What in the world had I been thinking. Rose was a minor a child. She had always pushed on my control. I sped back to my room unnoticed. A sour mood had overtaken me and I was disgusted with myself. How dare I take advantage like that she's in a vulnerable state. It made me no better than a pervert. But she liked it. A small voice said I willed it to be silent. She even touched you. My whole body tensed at the memory of her hand on my cock. Warm a firm. I rushed to the shower and turned the water to frigid. I stepped inside hoping to calm my overactive body and fight all thoughts of Roza. I stepped out of the shower nearly 30 minutes later still half as frustrated. My body had calmed but my thoughts had not. I had to shovel through the reasons for loathing myself. I plopped into bed trying to rid myself of the day's events but it was no use. Her smell still ran through my mind and the noise she made. I would walk on my knees through glass to hear that sound over and over. The way he hand had encased me. My cock twitched to life at the thought. If her hand felt that good what would her mouth feel like. The thought was like an electric shock through my body and I was hard in an instant. Warm wet. I was achingly hard but refused to touch myself to such thoughts. They kept coming unbidden. What would being inside her be like. My heart full on stopped at the thought. I had to touch, the discomfort was too great. She was so wet before she probably tastes just as sweet. I fisted my cock and a sigh escaped my lips. I imagined how my name slipping off her lips would sound murmured against my shoulder. Screamed against my chest. My hips bucked into my curled fist at the thought. I wanted to hear her scream my name. An image of her coming apart was all it took and I came hard and fast gasping into the empty room. The name came unbidden through my clenched teeth.

"Roza"