*Waves* I'm baaaccckkkk. Yeah, my muse was chomping at the bit, so here's the next chapter. Again, thank you, everyone, for your wonderful reviews. For those without an account or who can't receive PMs (yes, I'm looking at you, PandaGirl01 *wink*), thank you as well! Thank you too for those who are following/favorited.

Oh, and a heads up, and I guess a spoiler. Chapter 8 will have a lemon. I've never written one, so I can't guarantee it'll be good. If it goes full-on lemon, I'll change my rating. I'll also warn everyone at the top, for those who prefer to pass those over.

TRANSLATION: Ебут - Fuck

DISCLAIMER: I own only the plot. Richelle Mead owns everything else.


Chapter 7: Save Me

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion. She sensed Dimitri moving and saw him step forward, slightly blocking her from Jesse's view.

"I wanted to talk to you. We never really resolved things between us, after…" he said, the sentence dropping off.

"After you left me the day of our wedding to run off with that tramp?" Rose finished.

Jesse quietly stood there, smugness growing across his visage. "Eh, what can I say? I'm a man. Men have needs, and you certainly weren't interested in meeting them."

Rose heard a low growl from Dimitri as he took another small step in Jesse's direction. Rose placed her hand on his forearm, stilling him.

"Jesse please leave. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to see you. We have nothing to say to one another." Her voice sounded weak and apathetic. She just wanted him to leave, lest he figure out who Dimitri was. She didn't trust Jesse not to cause trouble for him.

"Come one, Rosie. Let's have a drink and talk. I promise I won't bite."

Her hand was still on Dimitri's arm, as she felt the muscles tense. "The lady said she doesn't want to see or speak with you. I suggest you leave…now," Dimitri growled.

Jesse looked up at Dimitri, his face blank. Rose, however, could see the cold glint in his eyes. Jesse had always had a mean streak. She had been privy to it on occasion.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I've had the pleasure. I'm Jesse Zeklos, Rose's ex-fiancé. Who the hell are you?"

"No one you need to be concerned with," Dimitri spat. "Unless of course, you make it my concern."

Jesse let out a snort, thumbing at Dimitri. "Is this your upgrade, Rose? He seems a little tense. Guess you're not putting out for him either."

Before Rose could even voice her distaste, she felt Dimitri's arm pull away. A second later she saw his fist collide with Jesse's jaw, spinning him into the side of her car. Jesse stood still for a moment, his hands braced against the hood, before slowly turning back to face them.

Wiping his hand across his mouth, he looked down, seeing the blood from his now split lip. Laughing, he said, "Well I guess I was right. Sexual frustration will bring out the beast in a man. Don't get too comfortable, there, dude. She's as frigid as they come."

He turned to walk away, but after a few steps, turned back. "Oh, and if you ever touch me again, I'll put you in the ground," he said, his features now contorted in anger and venom.

As Jesse walked to his car, Dimitri stood stoically, ensuring he left. Once Jesse had pulled away, he turned to look at Rose. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She was shaking, but nodded. "I'm fine. Jesse's mostly all talk. Are you okay? How's your hand?" she asked as she reached for it, holding it up for inspection. His knuckles were slightly red but other than that he had no visible wounds.

"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about," he said, shaking out the hand in question.

"Well, you needn't be. Jesse doesn't realize he can't hurt me anymore. I let go of any power he had over me a long time ago," Rose replied. "Let's go back to the house. I only want to get back, relax and salvage our day."

Dimitri nodded as Rose walked to the trunk to put their things away. Getting into the car, she steered back to the beach and her haven. They drove in silence, neither sure what to say. Rose knew Dimitri had questions. During all their talks, she had never brought up Jesse or their past. She suspected Dimitri would bring it up again at a later date.

About a half hour later they pulled up to the house. Grabbing their things, they walked silently up to the deck and into the house. Rose walked to her bedroom, wanting to take a quick shower. Just being around Jesse had made her feel dirty.

After cleaning up, Rose threw on her shorts and her "Beach Hair Don't Care" crop top. Her damp hair was hanging down her back. She was too tired, physically and emotionally to dry it. Sighing, she sat on the end of her bed. She knew the minute she walked out, Dimitri would be expecting answers. She knew, as well, that he was worried about her. Rose had seen it in his face, in his tense posture. She had told him she was okay, but she realized now that she had been lying – to him, and to herself.

Rose stood and made her way into the living room. Noticing it was empty, she proceeded to the kitchen. Not finding Dimitri there, she continued to the deck. He was either in his bedroom or outside. Part of her hoped he had retired for a while. As she stepped outside, she saw him standing against the rail, looking out over the water. A bottle of beer was resting in his hand on the railing beside him.

She walked up next to him, keeping her eyes on the serene beauty of the ocean. She felt him look down at her, watching her. Not ready to face his inquisition, she snuck a glance up to see he was facing the water again. Looking down at the hand that was holding the beer bottle, she saw his knuckles were white. Upset that Jesse's presence marred what had so far been a beautiful day, Rose reached up and laid her hand over his, rubbing her thumb over his straining fingers. She felt the tension release slightly. He let go of the bottle, taking her hand in his.

Rose looked up at him. Dimitri was looking intently at their joined hands, studying them. "Can you tell me about Jesse?" he quietly asked.

Rose tried to pull her hand away, but Dimitri held tight. He was looking at her now, his eyes dark with anger. She knew he wasn't angry with her, but it still sent tremors down her back. She knew she had only seen an inkling of what he was capable of when he was angry. She also knew he would never direct that anger at her.

"There's nothing to say. As Jesse stated, he's my ex-fiancé. We were engaged, and now we're not. He cheated on me and mistreated me. I'm glad he left, and I've moved on," Rose said, her voice lacking any emotion.

Dimitri pulled Rose over to the two chairs, sitting down as he guided her to do the same. "Roza, I've shared so much with you, some of it things I've never shared with anyone, including Ivan. I hope you know you can trust me."

They sat facing one another. Rose squeezed the hand Dimitri was still holding. "I do trust you. I want to tell you, about it all, but it took me so long to move past that time of my life. I'm afraid by rehashing it that I'll let all the crap back in."

"I don't think that will happen. I don't know the old you, the one that was with that…man," Dimitri said, spitting out the last word with venom. "However, the Roza I know now is strong, amazing, and brave. Know that I won't let you slip into the past."

Rose was looking down as he spoke, trying to work up the courage to tell him her story. Looking back into his eyes, she saw true adoration reflected there. It gave her the strength she needed. "I met Jesse when I was twenty. We went to the same college. He was enigmatic and brilliant, and he set his sights on me from the first day. He wined and dined me, making me feel like the most special girl in the world. He was my first serious boyfriend, and I was entranced. At first, he was patient, claiming he understood why I wouldn't give in to his physical advances. I think I realized even then that he wasn't the one. As wonderful as he could be, I always felt like an afterthought. Eventually, I noticed discrepancies when he'd miss our dates or not answer my calls."

She felt her shoulders tighten as she found her memories slipping back to those days. Dimitri gently squeezed her hand again, encouraging her to continue. "One day, when I was walking to one of my classes, I spotted Jesse entering one of the practice rooms with another student from our class, Camille Conta. She had been flirting with Jesse all year. I approached the door and was going to go in to ask Jesse when we'd be meeting for dinner that night. Before I could open it, I saw them kissing through the small window in the door. Later, when he was driving us home from school, I asked him about it. I assumed she had thrown herself at him. He tried to play it off as just that. I wanted to believe it, so I let it go."

Rose shook her head at the memory. What an idiot she had been. Sighing, she continued, "When Jesse asked me to marry him, I was happy. Looking back though, I realize I wasn't as happy as I should have been. The night he proposed, he had taken me to a fancy restaurant in a nice hotel. After dinner, he took me up to a room he had reserved. He had ordered champagne and had already had quite a bit to drink before and during dinner. He…he…wanted to be with me, and I thought that's what I should want to. Hell, I had just agreed to marry him, so I should have been happy to make love to my fiancé, right?" Rose cried.

Dimitri's grip had tightened, the pressure not entirely painful. Rose knew he suspected what she was going to say next. "We were kissing, and he was starting to undress me. Instead of feeling excited, I felt nauseous and scared. I pushed him off me, telling him I wasn't ready. He grabbed my arms, pushing me on the bed. I was able to get back up, but he was in front of me, yelling that I was his and I should be on my knees showing him how grateful I was that he had proposed."

Dimitri released her hand, standing and stalking across the deck to grab his beer, throwing it back before slamming it onto the railing. He raked his hand through his hair, exhaling before turning back to face Rose. "Go on," he ground out.

Looking down at her now empty hands, Rose, continued with a shaky breath. "I was crying, trying to explain that I was nervous, but that I loved him and asked him to be patient. That's when he grabbed the champagne bottle and threw it past me, hitting the wall. He told me that if I loved him, I would be with him. Then he said that if I couldn't take care of his needs, he would find someone who could."

At that, Dimitri stalked over to the wall, releasing his fist into the side of the house, causing Rose to jump up. She stepped back, away from the maddened Russian. With visions of Jesse's violent tendencies, Dimitri's outburst, while not directed toward her, flooded her with fear. Dimitri saw her reaction, grief overcoming his features. "Roza, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I've scared you. Please, please don't look at me like that," he pleaded, slowly approaching her.

Rose put her hand up signaling him to stop. He froze, looking at her, silently beseeching her to forgive his outburst. "You must know I'd never hurt you. I'm just so pissed off right now at that jackass!" he roared.

Rose wrapped her arms around herself, digging deep for strength. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths, trying to find the courage to continue. As she opened her eyes, she saw Dimitri still standing in the same spot. He was looking at her, his eyes begging for her forgiveness.

"I know," she replied. "I get why you're upset, but I need you to reign in that rage right now. Bringing up all this now pushes all the feelings I had then to the surface. I can't relive those and handle your anger."

Dimitri simply nodded, "I understand, and I'm sorry I lost control." He retook a seat, trying to relax his body and appear calm. "Please, continue. I need to know."

Rose nodded, continuing, "Well, needless to say, after that night, I returned his ring. He tried to apologize and blame the alcohol. Jesse was once again the sweet, charming man I had met. He wooed me and again asked me to marry him. Like a fool, I accepted. I should have realized when he stopped pestering me to sleep with him, that something was going on. We had set the date for the wedding six months after the second proposal. The morning of our wedding, he strolled into the church, walked into the dressing room, and proceeded to tell me it was over. He said he couldn't be with a woman who couldn't satisfy her man. It was then that I noticed Camille was standing outside the door. The last time I saw Jesse was that day when he walked out of the church holding her hand."

Dimitri carefully made his way toward Rose, seeming to fear he might spook her after his outburst. When he was in front of her, he slowly placed his arms around her, pulling her gently into his chest. Rose slipped her arms around his waist. Dimitri rested his cheek on the top of her head, as a hand slowly rubbed her back. "Roza, I am so sorry. You didn't deserve that. He didn't deserve you."

Rose sighed deeply, stepping back a little to look up at him. "Thank you. I realize that now. It took a while, however. He had done such a number on me that I felt like it was all my fault. Dimitri, you don't need to worry about me," she said raising a hand to cup his cheek. He leaned his head into her hand, closing his eyes. "He can't hurt me anymore. I'm stronger than his malice."

Dimitri raised his head, looking into her eyes. "You are so strong, and brave, and beautiful, Roza. Never let anyone take that from you," he said as he lowered his head toward her. She lifted her face to his, their lips meeting in a soft, feathering kiss. Dimitri lifted his hands to cup her face, pulling her further into him as he deepened the kiss. Rose slid her arms up and around his neck, running her fingers through his silky locks. As their kiss intensified, Dimitri moved his arms around her, pulling her off the ground. They stood like this for several minutes, relishing in the moment and the unspoken words behind it.

Rose finally broke their connection, her need for air outweighing her desire. Dimitri lowered her, keeping her flush against his body. She rested her forehead against his chest. She could feel his heart racing as quickly as her own. Suddenly, a realization hit her. These feelings and sensations she experienced with Dimitri, she had never felt with Jesse. She knew then that she had made the right decision. These feelings are what I've been waiting for, she thought.

Looking up at Dimitri, she said, "Thank you. Thank you for helping me see that I made the right decision." He was looking at her, apparently curious, but she knew now was not the time to explain her revelation.

"You're welcome, Roza. Whatever decision you've made, you have my full support," he replied, rubbing her cheek gently with the back of his hand. After a moment, he released her and took a step back. "I'm going to grab another beer, do you want one?" Dimitri asked.

"Sure," she replied.

A moment later, Dimitri returned, holding out her ringing cell phone and a bottle of beer. Taking both, Rose looked at the display before answering. "Hey, Mia! Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it was a false alarm. The doctor is keeping me here overnight just in case. Eddie ran back to the house to grab a shower and bring me some comfortable sleepwear. I refuse to wear these tacky hospital gowns!"

Rose laughed, "Yeah, well don't think that when this baby comes, you'll be allowed to wear your designer pajamas. I've heard it can be a little messy," she teased.

"Ha!" Mia retorted. "Watch me! This delivery is going to be high class, all the way."

"No doubt, my friend," Rose replied.

"So, Eddie said he met People's Sexiest Man Alive. Two years in a row, I might add. He said Dimitri was a nice guy. I just knew he had to be, given how hot he is. Can you imagine how it would suck if all that yumminess were wasted by his being a total douchebag?"

Rose laughed, "I suppose. I'm glad Eddie approved." She winked over at Dimitri. He smiled, shaking his head as he took a drag from his bottle. Damn, he even made drinking a beer sexy as hell. She watched as he licked his lips and lowered the bottle, his throat contracting as he swallowed. That heat she felt whenever she was near him was pooling in her core. Her mind was drifting to thoughts of his lips on her, drinking her in instead.

"Rose! Earth to Rose. Are you still there?" Mia yelled.

Shaking her head, Rose snapped her attention back to the conversation, "Sorry, what did you say?"

Mia was laughing, "He's there, right now, isn't he?"

"Yes, that's right, Mia. Hey, I'm going to let you go. I'm sure Eddie will be back soon. You guys call me if anything changes. I'll try to swing by next week so that we can catch up."

"Gotcha. You can't talk while he's there, I understand. Rose, you will be filling me in when you come by. So be prepared with all the details." Mia said.

Rose set the phone down after they said their goodbyes and took a long pull from the beer. She needed something to calm her nerves. She knew Dimitri brought up feelings and sensations that no one else ever had, but she couldn't fathom how it was happening so fast. They had known each other for almost four days now. She worried this could be some vacation fling for him. But another part of her, the part that trusted him, doubted he would lead her on like that.

"So, I'm assuming it was a false alarm," Dimitri asked.

Rose nodded, "They're keeping her overnight just to make sure."

"Good. Karo had the same thing happen to her with Zoya. It turns out she ended up coming almost two weeks after Karo's due date."

Rose laughed at that, "I can't imagine Mia going that long. She's about ready to pull this baby out herself. Patience is not Mia's strong suit."

As they were finishing their beers, Dimitri's phone rang. "It's Ivan. I better take it," he said, excusing himself. He walked back into the house, answering as he walked away. "Hey, Ivan. What's up?"

Rose, wanting to give him his privacy, stayed on the deck. Setting her bottle down, she proceeded down the stairs to the beach. At the bottom step, she slipped off her shoes and walked to the water's edge. The small waves washed over her feet, sinking them further into the moist sand. Rose stretched, running her hands through her now dry hair. The salty air had added body, so it now hung wild down her back. The water was cold but not as frigid as she had expected. She waded out a little further, the water reaching just below her knees. The calm surface lulled her into a false sense of security as she stepped out a little more, the waves lapping just below her shorts.

She stood there for a few moments enjoying the sun on her face and the water caressing her skin. Just as she was about to turn around and head back, she felt the current tug sharply at her legs. Suddenly she felt her feet being pulled out from underneath her. Slipping under, she struggled, trying to push herself above the water to swim toward the shore. She was able to break the surface momentarily, gasping for air, before being dragged back down. In her panic, she suddenly realized she was in a dangerous rip current. She tried to remember what she knew about them. She recalled that she should be swimming parallel to the shore and to try to break free of the current. As she pushed back to the surface, she started to try and swim. She realized she was quickly moving further out to sea.

As she felt herself sinking once again, she fought to hold her breath. Growing lightheaded, she floated further underneath the waves. She was about to lose consciousness when she felt something grab her under her arms, pulling her up. She gasped for air, falling limp against the warm body that clutched her tightly. Glancing up and back, she saw Dimitri swimming toward shore, parallel to the beach. Once they were able to stand, Dimitri scooped her into his arms and carried her to the house. Once inside, he laid her on the sofa while he ran to his room. Returning quickly, he sat down on the table in front of her and began to rub her body with towels he retrieved from his bathroom.

Her teeth were chattering now. The deeper waters had been much colder. She felt Dimitri lift her shirt over her head, before pulling off his own. He picked up the blanket laying over the sofa and wrapped it around them both like a cocoon. She wrapped her arms around him, embracing his warmth. He turned to sit on the couch, pulling her into his body, the blanket still encasing them. Dimitri was placing kisses everywhere he could reach – her head, forehead, cheek, closed eyelids.

"Are you okay, milaya moya?" he asked, worry and fear lacing his words.

Rose could only nod, exhaustion consuming her. Her shivers were slowly fading, but the bone-chilling cold remained. Dimitri was rubbing her skin in an attempt to warm her up. Suddenly he stood, Rose still in his arms, as he made his way to her bedroom. Pushing open the bathroom door with his foot, he reached into the shower, turning on the faucet. Once it was warm enough, he set Rose down to stand on the tile floor, removing the blanket. Without his hands to support her, Rose felt herself sliding to the ground. He quickly grabbed her arms, keeping her against his chest. Dimitri helped her into the shower, his hands still holding her up. The both stood under the stream of warm water, Dimitri rubbing her bare back.

After about ten minutes, Rose's legs were able to support her weight. She stepped back from Dimitri. Realizing she was wearing only her bra, she quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"How do you feel, now, Roza," Dimitri asked.

"Better, exhausted, but better," she whispered.

"Let's get you into some dry clothes," he said, turning off the water and helping her out of the shower.

Dimitri grabbed another towel and began to dry her off, gently. He wrapped the large towel around her, as he said, "Take off your clothes." He turned his head as she attempted to do as he requested. She tried to remove the sodden material, but found herself too weak to muster the strength.

"I can't." she muttered.

"Ебут," Dimitri mumbled. He pulled the towel from around her, setting it on the sink. Turning her around, he undid the clasp on her bra. Rose's arms quickly reached up to keep the material from falling away. Grabbing the towel again, he placed it in her hands, indicating she should hold it against her chest. Pulling one strap down, he pulled that arm away, leaving her to clutch the towel with one hand. Mimicking the movement with the other strap, he let the offending material slip off from underneath the wrap. Turning her, he knelt in front, reaching up under the towel. Finding the button and zipper on her shorts, he unfastened them, dragging both her shorts and underwear down her legs.

Wrapping the towel around her now naked body, Dimitri helped her out to her room. He dug through her dresser, pulling out a pair of underwear, sweatpants and a t-shirt. Rose wanted to say something about his handling of her unmentionables but was too tired to protest.

"Can you dress on your own?" he asked.

She nodded, as she reached for the underwear. She didn't want to continue with the humiliation of having Dimitri undress and dress her. Her images of such actions had occurred under much more different circumstances.

Dimitri turned, still unwilling to leave her alone. As Rose tried to step into the underwear, she felt her balance waiver, nearly falling into Dimitri. He quickly turned around, grabbing her before she fell. Picking up the garment, he knelt before her, lifting one foot gently off the ground. She placed her hands on his shoulders for support. He slid the panties up her calf, before doing the same with the other leg. Slowly he raised the material until they were seated on her hips.

He did the same with the sweatpants, before standing up and lifting the t-shirt over her head. She raised her arms, pushing them through the holes, while he tugged it down over the towel. Once it was low enough, he unwrapped the towel, throwing it into the bathroom.

Picking her back up, he carried her back to the living room, laying her down on the couch. Covering her with a blanket, he then went to work building a fire.

As it roared to life, Dimitri turned to Rose, who was watching him work. She was struggling to keep her eyes opened. "I'm going to go change clothes, milaya moya. Close your eyes and rest. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Rose nodded, closing her eyes. A few minutes later she felt her body floating, as Dimitri lifted her. A few seconds later, he was wrapped around her, covering her body with most of his. He pulled the blanket around them, tucking her into the warmth.

She felt his breath on her hair, as he squeezed her closer, whispering, "Don't ever scare me like that again." He kissed her temple, leaving his lips resting against it.

Rose turned to face him, pushing her knee between his legs, as he repositioned them. He was wearing sweatpants and a sleeveless t-shirt. Clutching his shirt, she nuzzled his neck, trying to get closer. "I'm sorry, Comrade. Thank you for saving me."

His hands rubbed at her back, "You're welcome, milaya moya. Now, go to sleep. We'll take a quick nap before I make us some dinner."

Rose hummed in contentment, feeling him shiver. "Are you still cold?" she asked.

"No, Roza. Now sleep," he responded.

As she drifted off, she suddenly remembered a question she had wanted to ask. "Comrade? What does "milaya moya" mean?"

Hugging her close, he replied in a voice so quiet, she had to strain to hear it, "It means my sweet."