Tala POV:

His eyes were studying me with the careful wonder that was Garrett. His beautiful sharp brown eyes. Garrett had thrown off his shirt, and shoes. His only clothing was his bottoms and boxers. I wanted to run to him, to throw my arms around him and let him take me in all the ways I knew he longed too, but I didn't. It would be all the sweeter if I made him wait. I stripped myself of my pesky uniform tie, slinging it over the bedpost. I undid the buttons on my shirt slowly; letting my fingertips brush against my skin with each button I popped open. I saw him shiver involuntarily and I smirked. Mercifully I reached the last button, ripping it off, no longer caring about the well fair of my shirt. I discarded the fabric with little more then a sideways glance. This was it, the moment I'd been waiting for. I was going to lose my virginity to the man I loved.

The lump in his pants grew to be a mountain in his Guardian uniform bottoms as I shimmied off my skirt. I had on lingerie, the kind you get full price at Victoria's Secret and get so much use out of it, well it's worth every penny. It was HOT pink with black lace trim, and the bra had a little black bow in the middle. The underwear was barley there yet they still managed to get lace on that thing. I pushed myself onto the high bed, crawling on all fours over to him. He yanked off his pants, pulling the boxers with them and dropped them on the ground with my clothing. I admired his toned abs; hard muscles that lay under that beautiful tan skin. His dark hair fell in his eyes and he ran a hand through it as to brush it away. I'd never felt so alive, or so much in love, or so trusting of anyone. I didn't feel dirty as I assumed I would, this felt right.

I was like an animal, a sexy lioness that was strutting towards the king of the jungle before I heard the small click of the door coming unlocked.

I only saw a flash of black hair before I flung myself under the bed. I heard the frantic shuffle as Garrett slung the comforter over his beautiful, bronze, naked form.

"Garrett?" Dimitri asked quizzically.

"Uh yeah sorry…I was just…what do you need?" Garrett stuttered, embarrassment heavy in his silken voice.

"It's fine I don't judge. I needed to grab the keys for the back of the school building I knew you had them. I'm sorry I just assumed you'd be on patrol," I could hear the smile in Dimitri's voice.

"Yeah they're over there on the desk. I switched patrol with Alberta. Why do you need them?" Garrett asked, his voice picking up volume, the humiliation no longer dripping over his every word.

"Rose came out of the building. I don't want her in trouble…why did you switch patrol with her?" I loved the way Dimitri sounded when he mentioned my little sister, he loved her.

"I just needed some...um…sleep," Garrett muttered. I could almost see Dimitri rolling his eyes at Garrett's obvious lie. I looked from the side of the bed and saw Dimitri's eyes land on my shirt, and the rest of my crumpled clothing.

"Ok Garrett. Where's Tala?" he demanded. My breath caught in my throat and my heart started pounding with such a force I thought it might break through my chest.

"Under the bed," Garrett admitted after a long pause. I peaked my head up just a little and gave a small wave to my second mentor. A rare smile broke over his face before he snatched the keys off the desk and left the room without another word. There was another clicking noise as he relocked the door. "Oh…God," Garrett groaned, covering his face with his hands. I pushed myself onto his bed and touched his shoulder lightly.

"At least it was just Dimitri," I reasoned.

"Just Dimitri? True, I won't get fired now but he's like my older brother! He has such control with Rose. He no longer hides his feelings for her but he doesn't screw her!" Garrett snapped. My hand recoiled as if his soft skin burnt me. Screw? Screw? Is that what we were about to do? My eyes narrowed dangerously and I snatched my shirt off the bedpost. I didn't bother to button it as I slid on my bottoms.

"Tala, don't…" Garrett began.

"Take a cold shower," I snapped at him, grabbing my purse off the desk and slamming his door behind me. I hastened to fasten the small buttons as I ran, towards the dhmpir girl's dorm. I waited for the snores coming from the guard and then pushed open the door, rushing past the lobby and up to the third floor. I launched a hand into my purse and dug around for my key.

"Damn it," I cursed when I heard the soft footsteps trotting down the hall. "Rose," I hissed beating on the door directly next to my own. A few suspenseful seconds past before the wooden door opened to reveal my half sister. Her dark brown hair was thrown into a bun and she wore black shorts with a red halter-top. Rose's slightly bloodshot eyes flashed from me to the invisible owner of the now louder footsteps. She hitched a hand around my elbow and yanked me into the safety of her room.

"What the hell?" she giggled. I glared at her.

"Were you out fucking Garrett?" she whispered.

"NO! I mean we didn't…we were going to but didn't. I'm still a virgin like you." I chocked out. Wow I really thought it was going to be tonight, I'd wanted it to be tonight

"How far did you guys go?" Rose asked curiously. If it were anyone but her, even Ginny I wouldn't have told.

"He didn't have any clothes on, I had on my underclothes… then Dimitri walked in because somebody snuck out of their room," I carefully hid my emotions from Rose and let a sly grin creep over my face. Rose looked sheepish for a moment—or as sheepish as Rose could and then delved into a new topic.

"We have to get ready. We're starting field practice today! Obviously we'll get Ginny and Lissa but I'm still excited." Ginny and Lissa we're fraternal twin sisters and the last of the Dragomir royal family line. Lissa had pale blonde hair and a very soft demeanor. Ginny was quite the opposite. Ginny had dark red hair, small freckles that fell over her nose and pale Moroi skin. She was more assertive then Lissa and more reckless. She was my best friend—rather then Rose—and had learned from me too much for my liking. I was almost exactly nine months older then Rose, and the oldest of our little group. I was ridiculously protective over all of them.

"Rose everyone else won't even wake up for another three hours." Her smile disappeared.