Thank you for reviewing! I'm so happy you all still want to read hehe. Thank you for staying loyal!
Review. Thanks
x


Chapter 9: Rose

"You made it!" Red called as she ran up to us in a bikini.

We had just pushed through the thick branches of a low tree and into the lake area, having to let our hands go. I smiled at her and noticed that most of the groups were here, but a few must still be in the forest.

"I don't think I told you my name last time we saw you, you rushed out so quick." She smiled, I liked her already. "I'm Georgia. And you're Rose."

I grinned back and searched my wrist for a hair-tie to tie up my hair.

Dimitri reached forward and held his hand out, my tie sitting in it. I looked up into his eyes and saw his boring into mine. A spark of mischief in them reminded me of when he had taken it out of my hair.

"Thank you." I blushed and turned away from them both, pulling my hair up into a messy pony tail.

"Are you swimming?" Georgia tugged on my hand excitedly, she reminded me of a little girl.

I glanced at Dimitri and saw him smile darkly and move his hands to the back of his neck. I watched in a daze and he yanked his shirt off and dropped it to the ground as he kicked off his shoes.

"Yep." I turned back to Georgia, trying to ignore that Dimitri's flawless chest was on display.

I noticed she was facing me, but her eyes were checking him out. When she looked back at me, I raised an eyebrow at her, she giggled and pulled my hand.

"Do you have anything to swim in?"

I nodded and made sure Dimitri was watching before I eased my shirt up and over my head.

Good thing I packed my bikini. His eyes racked over me, as I had, and I smiled in satisfaction as I tugged my shorts down too. I dropped my clothes to the ground and let Georgia pull me to the water. I glanced at Dimitri quickly as I went, and saw the hungry look back in his eyes.

I winked at him and got in the water. Georgia and I wadded out to all the other dhampir's -guardians and novices. The water wasn't as cold as I thought it would be, it was refreshing but not very clear.

"Wow! Your Marks are amazing!" A girl gushed from behind me.

I smiled my thank you and turned to watch Dimitri make his way over to us.

"How do you cope with a mentor so hot?" Georgia sighed, the other girls mumbling in agreement.

I winked at them and went to meet Dimitri half way.

They had no idea. I had never been able to cope.

I got to his side and smiled at him.

"This is a very unfortunate situation." He whispered, his voice rough as he watched me intently.

"Why is that?" I asked, knowing the answer as we treaded back over to them together.

He gave me an obvious look and I grinned smugly, grabbing his hand and putting it on the small of my back.

The water was up to my shoulders, so we were concealed. The fact gave me butterflies and made me more than a little shaking. I giggled and we made it back to the girls, their eyes all taking his Dimitri's visible chest.

Damn his stupid abnormal height, the water only came up to his waist.

"I need to talk to the other guardians. I don't want to leave you but we have to be careful." His voice was quiet, his eyes full of sorrow.

"It's okay." I smiled my encouragement, even though I wanted to hold him and not let him leave me. "I'll talk to you soon." I took his hand a squeezed it.

"I'll make it up to you." He smiled sweetly, unaware of the double meaning to his words.

I blushed again and turned back to the other girls.

"Rose, I got to talk to you. Come with me." Georgia said, towing me away from the rest of the group.

"What's wrong?" I asked when we were away from the others.

"What's with you and your mentor?" She wagged her eyebrows at me.

I was stunned silent.

No! This can't be happening! Dimitri worked so hard to keep us a secret. If he finds out that she knows, he will go back to his old self. I was in a complete state of panic on the inside but managed to smooth it over on the outside.

"What? Me and Comrade?" I laughed, jerking my thumb in his direction.

She cocked her head to the side at the name but shook her head out of it and flashed me a full teeth smile.

"I won't tell anyone. I think it's romantic." She smiled sheepishly, but I felt like I could trust her.

And what could be the worst that would happen? It would spread and the guardians might find out. But then they would probably just think it was some stupid teenage crush anyway.

Either way it had the chance of spreading.

"Okay, yeah, we sort of are together." I spoke in a hushed voice, glancing around quickly.

"Oh my gosh! That is too cute!" She gushed, her face alight. She glanced around and then lowered her voice, giving me an intense look. "Have you kissed?"

"Yeah." I blushed, unable to stop a giddy smile spreading across my lips.

"Oh that is so cool! I bet he's amazing!" She pulled me into a tight hug quickly before pulling away and giving a dazed sigh.

"Are you going to always keep it secret?"

I told her about us both being Lissa's guardian and how we are going to go public after I graduate, she just listened to it silently, her eyes glistening alight the entire time.

"That's so cute!" She squealed, giggling before her eyes darted behind my shoulder.

I spun around and saw Dimitri coming towards us. He reached us, standing an appropriate distance from me.

"She knows, Comrade." I whispered, feeling it was better to get this over and done with now.

His smile dropped off his face as he looked down to my face, then over to Georgia's. His eyes told me that he knew exactly what I meant.

His hand snaked around my waist as he returned his eyes to mine.

"She won't tell anyone." I pleaded, turning to face him completely, I held up my hand, palm out to him. "Scouts honour."

His face warmed at that and he smiled down at me, seeming to forget that we weren't alone and trust my judgment entirely on this. The water concealed his arm around me and his hand caressing my hip slowly. I grabbed his free hand and squeezed as he turned his eyes to Georgia.

"I promise." She smiled, her eyes trying to show she meant it.

"Thank you." He told her solemnly before looking back to me with all the love in the world.

"I'll leave you two for a bit." Georgia grinned, winking at me quickly.

I turned to face Dimitri. We were standing close, but not too intimately close, although if anyone could see under the water we would be snapped.

He ran his hands up and down the lower part of my spin, but when they slipped over the back tie in my bikini, his eyes shot to mine, the look of urge taking possession of his eyes again.

I had an urge of my own too.


Thank you for reading. Review! x