Chapter 7

After dinner, I offered to help Olena clean up all the dirty dishes. At first she brushed off my attempts of being a kitchen hand saying that no guest in her house has to clean up after everyone, but I insisted.

It gave me some private time with her, a chance for us to talk.

I offered to wash while she dried and put everything away in its rightful place in the cabinets and cupboards. They didn't have a dishwasher, well they did – Olena.

"You know, you really don't have to do this." Olena said trying to change my mind. "I don't mind doing this by myself. I do it every other night on my own." She confessed as I filled the sink with hot water and detergent.

I looked her in the eye. "I want to help. From what I've seen and heard you cook, clean and look after sick and hurt people all day, everyday." I said stubbornly while I dumped some of the used cutlery in the hot soapy water. When we were having dinner, I learned that Olena was the local nurse in the town for all the Dhampirs. "You have so much on your plate that you don't seem to have any time left for yourself." I said as I rinsed the bubbles of a now clean white plate and set it in the dish rack.

Olena laughed. "You sound just like him." She smiled at me in an affectionate way and picked up the folded tea towel.

"Like who?" I asked.

"Dimitri." She answered simply, like it was the most obvious thing. She walked over to one of the cupboards under the countertop and placed the dry plate inside.

"I don't think… really?" I haven't turned into the female version of him, have I?

"Really." She let out one of her gentle laughs that I becoming accustom to. "He says the exact same thing when he's home. Trying to make everyone do their own part." She explained. "I see he has an effect on you."

My turn to laugh. "You have no idea." I confessed. "I'm a totally different person then I was before I met him." I continued cleaning the plates and cups. She continued to dry and put everything away as we spoke. I could hear the TV in the other room along with playful cries and squeals.

Dimitri and his sisters must be mucking around in the living room.

"Rose… I don't want to be rude, but do you mind me asking how. How has he changed you? He's never been like this before and-" I cut her off before she could start babbling.

"It's fine, really." I interrupted with what I hoped to be an encouraging smile. "Did he tell you how we met?" I checked.

She shook her head and said, "He only mentioned that you were in your final year at St. Vladimir's. So I assumed you met there." She said truthfully.

"We didn't actually meet at the school. Remember how I said my first assigned Moroi is going to be Princess Vasilisa Dragomir?" she nodded. "Well, she's been my best friend since our first day at the academy. We're inseparable, literally." I explained.

"What do you mean?" she asked obviously picking up on my emphasis on the last word.

"You probably won't believe me… but… we're bonded." I said cautiously, trying to predict her reaction. Bonds were nearly unheard of, especially because of the rarity of spirit users.

Lucky Olena wasn't holding anything other then a towel at the time; she let it slip from her hands and fall to the tiled floor. Her hands moved to cover her gaping mouth, one over the other.

After a couple of seconds she moved to pick up the tea towel. "How? How did you create the bond? Did Dimitri notice when you first met?" she spoke so quickly I had trouble trying to work out what she asked me.

"We were in a car accident when we were younger. The princess' – Lissa's – mom, dad, older brother and I died. She was still alive in the seat next to me, and she put her hands on me and wanted me to be alive with every part of her being. She brought me back from the dead, and ever since I have been shadow-kissed and bonded to her. It makes me her perfect guardian, I can get into her head and I can feel what she feels. Dimitri noticed it as soon as he captured us." I blurted out without thinking.

"Captured you?" she asked clearly confused.

"Yeah," I gave a shaky laugh. "The academy sent him and a few other guardians to bring us back. A couple of years ago Lissa got really depressed and she needed to get out, so we ran away. For two whole years we hid in the human world. I know now it was a stupid thing to do, but at the time it was the only option. I did it all for her, and the unbelievable thing is that I'd do it again if she asked me to." I said just realizing that I would do it all over again.

"I'm speechless…you would give everything up for her. I'd love to meet Lissa." She said.

"I think she would adore you. You have the same kind nature as her. Where as I'm the opposite – she's pale and angelic," I said in a sweet voice, "and I'm dark and rebellious." I replied dryly. Olena laughed.

We had gotten into a routine as we talked and I was down to the last of the knives and forks. "I noticed that. You have this strength, this fire inside of you." She admitted with a smirk. "So is that how you two met. With him restraining you and Lissa?" she asked still holding that smirk in place.

"Not so romantic, huh?" I responded.

"No, it's not at all." She agreed slightly shaking her head.

"He was the reason I'm still at the academy. He made sure Kirova let me stay." I smiled to myself remembering how he fought for me. "She was planning to expel me and send me somewhere." I didn't dare say where. I will remember to never joke or make sarcastic retorts about the Dhampir communes ever again. "But he wouldn't let her, he said I had to much talent to just throw away. Then something happened I don't even think he expected. He got the job of tutoring me, and back then, I don't think he was too happy about it. I'm known to be a rather difficult student to teach." I said in all honesty. There's no point in hiding it, she's bound to find out about me sooner or later. "That's how everything between us started."

"Did a lot of people make a big deal about you two being together?" she asked carefully. Testing to see if this was safe ground to tread on.

"No one knew until a few days ago." I told her honestly. "What's the point in being in love with someone when people can't know about it?" I asked not expecting an answer.

"I've never seen him so happy." Olena said, her eyes seeming to glaze over as she lost herself in thought. "He's always been a positive and happy person, but this is the first time I have ever seen him genuinely happy." She opened up to me. "As much of an effect he has on you, you have on him. He seems so much more confident and sure of himself. Its as if you were the final missing puzzle piece he has been looking for all his life to complete him." She spoke metaphorically.

A burst of pure joy flowed through me from head to toe. She thinks I'm good for him.

She smiled to herself and looked down at the ground. I took that time to empty the sink full of dirty water and bubbles. Olena handed me the towel to wipe up the excess water that I managed not to splash on the front of my shirt and I dried my hands.

"Rose, remember that you are always welcome here in my house." She said out of nowhere. "Ignore Sonya, she's moody because of the pregnancy. She wouldn't normally be so nasty, so don't take it personally."

I nodded and smiled. "Thanks."

"And thankyou for helping with all of this." She gestured to the kitchen sink. She closed the space between us and gave me a tight hug, which I gladly returned. I would have loved to have her as a mother, but she was no Janine Hathaway in my books.

"Your welcome." I said quietly.

We pulled apart from each other in time to see Dimitri leaning on the doorframe watching us with his small signature smile that was becoming more common in his appearance as the days went by.

"I'll leave you two alone." Olena said as she gave me a light peck on the cheek. "Night, Rose." Then she walked over to her son and did the same. She left the room and I could her quiet footsteps as she went up the stairs to her room.

Dimitri remained where he was and just gazed at me. His eyes twinkling in that adorable way they do when he's happy or excited. I moved so my back was leaning against the kitchen sink and I rested my hands on the edge, either side of me.

I was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable and self-conscious with him staring at me in the silence, so I broke it.

"Everyone gone to bed?" I asked. It was the first thing that came to my mind.

He pushed off the doorframe and slowly drifted over to me. His hands found my waist and pulled me closer to him, his fingers glided softly down my sides and came to rest on my hips. The whole time his eyes never left mine, those beautiful dark eyes.

"Everyone has gone to bed," he finally said. "Tired?" he asked.

As if on cue, I yawned. "Maybe." I said and couldn't hold back a smile.

He bent his head down while chuckling a deep rumbling sound and kissed my lips softly. He pulled back and his hands came up to cup my face. My hands lay limp on his chest, his heartbeat pounding out a strong healthy rhythm that was slightly on the fast side; much like my own.

"I dreamed about this." He said suddenly. "About you being in this house, in my room…" he didn't need to finish that sentence for me to get the idea.

"Let's go to bed." I said. After I said it, I almost clarified what I meant by that considering we were just talking about him dreaming of having sex with me in his room, but when I thought about it I decided not to. To just leave it open to him to imagine what was going on in my head.

I grabbed his hand and started for the stairs. Being the good obedient guardian he was, Dimitri followed, more like a lost puppy actually.

When we reach his room he seemed to shake himself and opened the door for me, still holding my hand he followed me in and shut the door.

"There's a bathroom through that door," he pointed to the one to the left of me. "My mother felt I deserved my own, considering I live with five women."

"I'll be right back." I jumped up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then ran over to my bags to grab my tank top and sleep shorts that I normally wear to bed. After I dug them out I walked to the bathroom door, opened it, switched on the light, and looked back to see what Dimitri was doing as he moved around the room.

The bedroom lights were still off and he was on the standing on the other side of the room with his body slightly angled towards me, the glow of the bathroom lights causing a shadow behind him, and he was… taking his shirt off…

I gulped hard.

My mouth went dry.

I stopped breathing.

My body felt hot all over.

And I stared.

I watched as his biceps flex as he gripped the edge of his shirt, as he started to reveal those rock hard abs he kept well hidden under his clothing. I watched his pectoral muscles twitched as he brought the shirt up over his head and showed his smooth broad chest. His back muscles and shoulder blades moving as he lowered his arms down again.

Wow, I'd forgotten how hot he is…

Well, not really forgotten, just didn't think about it before hand.

I must have been drooling when he looked over because he asked, "What?" with a devilish grin and his eyes sparkling. He knew exactly what.

I blushed and retreated to behind the now closed bathroom door.

Dammit, why are you acting like such a kid? Act like a woman. A strong, sexy, dominant woman.

After my little self-pep talk, I changed and washed up. When I was done I took a deep breath, switched off the light and opened the door. I stepped out looking at the ground the whole time and closed it behind me. I stood there for a second not moving, steadying myself. And then I looked up to see him lying under the covers on the farthest side, propped up on one elbow, no shirt as far as I could see, looking over at me – waiting.

I smiled my man-eater smile and tried my 'all hips' walk the distance to the bed making my long dark hair slightly bounce in its freedom. The 'all hips' walk to put it simply is – swing your hips while you walk. It works better when you walk slowly, and you have to concentrate really hard not to make it obvious because guys can pick it up easily. Once they spot it, it losses most of its affect. Not all of it though.

I love it; it makes them take special notice of your legs and your curves – if you have any, that is.

Dimitri's eyes travelled from my ankles upwards. Drinking me in, inch by inch. When I reached the bed, I slid under the covers and copied his pose.

"You don't look so tired anymore." He stated in a deep husky low voice.

I wasn't. I was incredibly aware of him however.

His body heat.

The lingering remains of his aftershave.

His bare chest.

"I'm not…" I replied close to a whisper. I could feel the sexual tension between us, thick and irresistible.

His hand found my hip under the blankets and in the next moment he was on top of me. His hard masculine body pressed up against mine, head to toe. His heart beat as fast as my own.

I swear that alone is enough to give any girl an orgasm.

His mouth was hungrily attacking mine, and I can't say I was doing any different to him. One of my hands was in his silky hair securing his face to mine, the other behind his back, gripping on to him leaving small crescent marks where my nails bit into his skin. I pushed him off me, and rolled so I was on top. He made low deep incoherent noises as my mouth left his and travelled along his cheek to his earlobe. I took it between my teeth gently and pulled and sucked, moving on I followed the curve of his jaw with my lips until I reached his chin.

I was just starting to venture down the length of his neck when his restraint vanished and he flipped me on my back again taking charge.

He made me want to scream. The way he touched me; his hands, his amazing hands that travelled places only he has been. He knew what I liked, where I liked to be touched. Or maybe that was where he liked touching me… anyway, it felt mind-blowing.

He was just starting to push my tank top up to reveal my flat smooth stomach when a baby started crying, rather loudly in the nights silence. Shortly followed by Karolina's soft footfalls and hushed soothing noises.

It was like a bucket of ice cold water was splashed over us, we broke apart gasping for air. He rolled off of me and lay beside me, shattering all my hopes of continuing our lip crushing conversation.

I turned and laid on my side, my back to him. I was beginning to breathe normally again and I could feel my exhaustion coming back. I took a deep breath and sighed, shutting my eyes.

The mattress compressed as Dimitri scooted over and cuddled up behind me, his arm wrapping around me protectively pulling me closer to him. I could hear him lift his head off the pillow and I felt him press his lips to my cheek so softly.

"Goodnight my beautiful Roza…" he whispered. I smiled to myself, loving the way he made me feel, then I slowly fell into the deep fathomless darkness of unconsciousness…

That was until I noticed I was in a garden.

He had to ruin my perfect night, almost perfect…

"I miss you already, Little Dhampir." Adrian spoke as he stepped out from behind a blooming rose bush wearing a dark red shirt and worn out jeans with holes. No shoes.

"It's been like… two days." I remarked dryly, annoyed he was interrupting what could have been a dream all about Dimitri. I looked down to see I was wearing the same thing I was wearing right at this moment in Dimitri's bed.

"I have no one to talk to anymore, since you and Lissa decided to ditch me." He whined. "I would have even spoke to Ozera, but even he's not here." His usually handsome face settled into a pout.

"I'm sorry the world's treating you badly." I said sarcastically.

"Someone's grumpy." He finally picked up on. "You and the cradle-robber fighting?" he asked with a smirk.

Haha, payback time.

"Far, far from it actually." I said with a smirk much the same as his.

His face drained from any emotion. I suddenly had second thoughts about making him jealous, so instead I changed the subject.

"Sooo… you still at the academy? Or have you decided to migrate elsewhere?" I checked.

He stood there looking at me for a little while longer looking at me calculatingly and then decided to answer; "I'm still at the academy at the moment. The family jet arrives tomorrow, I'm planning to drop into Court, make an appearance like the good little great-nephew I am."

That made me smile.

"Little angel, huh?" I asked raising my eyebrows teasingly.

"Of course." He replied seriously and turned his face up like a rich snob.

Ironic, hey?

I snorted.

"Why, Miss Hathaway." He said in a sophisticated mocking voice, "You wouldn't happen to be suggesting that you see my behaviour and persona any different, would you?" he looked sternly at me.

I decided to play along.

"Of course not, Lord Ivashkov." I said innocently. "But, if Queen Tatiana were to discover the revelation that her well respected great-nephew was visiting young girls in their dreams, in particular Princess Vasilisa Dragomir and her faithful guardian, Rosemarie Hathaway. I do not assume her majesty will take to the matter lightly." I joked.

"Good thing I have no intensions of telling her about our late night get togethers." He said with a cheesy grin and turning back to his normal demeanour. I ignored how he vaguely suggested I actually took part in arranging these so called 'get togethers' that were actually all of his doing.

"She already thinks I'm trying to steal you and runaway." I spat dryly.

"She what?" he asked clearly shocked, with his eyes slightly bulging. He hadn't expected that one.

"Last time we were at Court, she said something along the lines of, 'Miss Hathaway. You are going to stop this atrocious affair you're having with my great-nephew. Immediately.'" I quoted, managing to sound just like the old hag.

He started laughing.

"It's not funny, Adrian." I complained.

"You're right," he agreed. "It's downright hilarious."

"Asshole." I said under my breath.

He managed to calm himself down enough to ask, "So what did you say back?"

"I denied everything!" I almost yelled. He was starting to piss me off. "I thought it was a joke to begin with, but she was dead serious. She said I was getting in the way of her plan, the one where you and Lissa get married and rule over Moroi and Dhampirs."

"Why me and Lissa?" he asked.

"Oh, gee, I wonder." I said sarcastically. "She would never give it straight to you even though you're her heir because you're not mature enough and you're drug dependent. Where as, Lissa, she's smart, royal, determined and disciplined – well, when she's not around you." I said. "And Tatiana has practically taken her under her wing with the whole college thing."

"I am not drug dependent." He argued.

"Yes, you are." I persisted.

"No, I'm not." He said defiantly.

"They classify cigarettes and alcohol as types of drugs, dimwit." I retorted back.

"No, they don't." he continued stubbornly, refusing to be caught being wrong about something. He crossed his arms over his chest.

I groaned getting really annoyed.

"Google it. You'd be surprised by what you learn." I said through my teeth.

"What's up with you? You're really moody." He pointed out, managing to switch the conversation topic to me. It was amazing how easily he could change the subject.

"I'm frustrated." I said angrily.

"With me?" he checked.

"Yes." I hissed.

"Sexually frustrated?" he asked.

"No!" I denied loudly.

"Why not? You seem-" I cut him.

"Shut up Adrian! I'm frustrated with you! That's it!" I started bellowing. "The only person I'm sexually frustrated with is Dimitri, because when ever we try to do anything, we get interrupted." I shouted without thinking.

I really hadn't meant to say that. Even if it was true, he didn't need to hear about my private life.

Adrian looked like he was trying to hold in his laughter.

Didn't work.

He started laughing so hard he doubled over.

I stood there and glared at him; embarrassed I'd slipped up like that.

"Trouble in paradise, huh?" he teased. "Second base out of reach? Can't seem to take the next step?" he continued to taunt me.

"For your information, ass wipe, we've already done it. A while ago, actually. The next step for us is to get married, and we all know that's not going to happen. Ever." I replied sounding disappointed, even to my own ears.

Deciding I was over this whole dream appearance he had made and wanting to go back to my own dreams, I said, "Goodnight Adrian."

"But-" he started up again.

"Goodnight Adrian." I repeated firmly.

"Fine. Night Little Dhampir." He said and everything began to blur and gradually turned into a peaceful darkness.

I woke up to find myself still securely under a strong familiar arm in a dark room that was slightly illuminated by the moonlight coming through the window opposite the bed. Dimitri was fast asleep. I could here his soft deep breaths as he lay beside me.

I turned over so that I was face top face with him, his arm tightened around me, not letting me go. He looked so vulnerable, so peaceful.

This is the beautiful man I fell in love with.

With that thought in my head, I snuggled closer to him.

He shifted in his deep sleep and mumbled my name, "Roza…"

I smiled; he made me do that a lot, smile. I closed my eyes and welcomed a peaceful slumber in which I fell, filled with thoughts of Dimitri.

***

I woke up the next morning to hear a door closing. I knew Dimitri was up and awake because the pressure of his arm wasn't there anymore.

I rolled onto my back and stretched out, letting all my joints and muscles pop and crack. I yawned and rubbed at the sleep from around my eyes.

"Up you get." He said.

"But mommy, I'm still tired." I complained in a little girl's voice. It was just starting to get light outside and most people would still be asleep.

"I don't care if you're missing a leg, we're going for a run." He replied. I looked over at him as he put a new shirt on; he looked over at me and smiled. "Get up, or I'll come over there." He said threateningly.

That sounded really appealing.

I propped my back up against the headboard and grabbed the pillow I wasn't using and threw it at him. He caught it, of course with his awesome reflexes.

"Make me." I goaded him.

He stood there looking over at me, contemplating what to do. He must have decided screw it, because he lunged for the bed, straight at me.

As scary as Dimitri can be at times, deep down he's a big softy.

In a few seconds he made his way to lay on top of me, not in the romantic way, in the I'm-going-to-squish-you-way. If the idea of being crushed alive by a Russian God wasn't bad enough, he started tickling me.

And boy, was I ticklish.

Between us laughing loudly and my squeals and cries of surrender, I didn't think many people were asleep anymore. I was proved right when Viktoria bashed on the door.

"Listen up Romeo and Juliet. Some people are trying to sleep, so, to put it politely, SHUT UP!" she yelled through the door and stormed back to her room.

We laughed quietly together at his sister who was evidently not a morning person and he gave up with his torture. He leant down and pecked my lips, looking into my eyes he said, "Up." He stood up and grabbed his runners.

I grumble. "Fine," I said as I threw back the covers and made my way over to get a pair of tracksuit pants and a t-shirt.

***

We'd been running together for a good half an hour and I was starting to get tired. We were about four yards away from his house when he said, "Last bit, push yourself as hard as you can." Still in mentor mode.

I took a deep and started pumping my legs faster and faster. I pushed myself harder and harder. My legs and like most of my body were screaming profanities at me, but I ignored them and focused predominantly on trying to out run Dimitri. It was no use really. He decided to push himself and he ran straight past me.

I met up with him in the front yard, his hands braced on his knees panting for air.

I wasn't as elegant; I reached him and flopped onto the ground on my back, my legs and arms splayed out on the grass. My legs felt like jelly and my lungs threatened to pack their bags and jump out through my mouth.

"How… do you… do that…?" I gasped out.

"Practice." He replied.

It was a nice day today, still a bit chilly but warm in the sun. Guardian the dog was tied to a post near a kennel with a water bowl and an empty food bowl. He was dozing in the sun, I felt like he was rubbing it in my face, because I wanted nothing more than to do the same.

"Let's do a some sparring, just to keep it fresh in your memory." He said. "After that, you can go have a shower and we'll get some breakfast." He sounded perfectly normal, as if he never did a lap around the entire bloody country with me a short time ago.

I stood up and forced my breathing to a normal pace.

"Sounds good to me." I answered.

We got into our sparring positions and started. I got a few good hits in, one kick he took to the chest made him take a step back because of the impact. I almost stopped and apologised because I knew it would have a nasty bruise, lucky I didn't because his next punch came fast and hard. I managed to duck and kick his legs out from under him in the same motion. He hit the ground, facedown, and I pounced like a tiger, trapping its prey. I pretended to stake him from behind and I whispered in his ear, "I win, Comrade."

I stood up, releasing him.

But apparently we weren't finished yet.

He knocked me off my feet onto my back on the ground and straddled me. Then he pretend staked me.

"Hey! I staked you! You can't do that!" I complained, cheater.

"No promises the Strigoi is dead. You might have missed your target, or not pushed the stake in far enough." He explained while standing up and offering me a helping hand. I stood up and brushed the dirt and grass off my backside.

"That's enough for today. Shower time and breakfast." He announced as he took my hand.

When we were showered and had eaten breakfast with his family, Viktoria announced that me, her and Karolina were going dress shopping for my party tomorrow night that she had unbelievably already organised and invited over fifty family friends too. She mentioned there would be a surprise for me aside from the presents that I said there was no need for, but she brushed off my complaints much like her mother did.

So I spent my day with Karolina and Viktoria looking at tons of gorgeous dresses. Poor Dimitri got stuck with babysitting his niece and nephew with his mother, but that gave him a day to be at home with her and help her with difficult jobs.

By the time it was four o'clock, we had all found dresses, shoes and the necessary accessories. I even managed to get some new lingerie that was more a present for Dimitri then myself, but I still enjoyed getting it. Viktoria pick this adorable little black dress that had an extra layer over the top of this gorgeous floral lace, Karolina's was a deep purple with a huge fake diamond butterfly buckle on the waist belt, and my dress was this wicked gold sequin dress that complemented my skin tone.

When we got home we all ran upstairs and hid our dresses in Viktoria's wardrobe and then returned downstairs to join the others.

Dimitri came up behind me and slid his arms around my waist. "Have fun?" he asked in a low voice just for me.

I turned my head back and up to look at him. "Heaps." I said honestly, "Your sisters are awesome, and they have great taste in clothes."

He laughed. "Do I get to see this awesome dress of yours?" he enquired.

I nodded. "Yep. Tomorrow night." I smiled up at him. You'll get to see more than just the dress, that's for sure.

He bent his head down to give me a quick kiss and then we listened in on the conversation going on in front of us.