I'm back! Thanks to all of you that reviewed! They really keep me going through the week and through my writing! On to the story!

DPOV

I sat on the chair beside my bed watching Rose, willing her to wake up. She had been unconscious for three days. I guess her body and mind just needed time to heal.

I had not left her side the entire time. I sat and watched and waited. Sometimes I drifted off to sleep but never for long. I had to be awake when she woke up.

I prayed to a God I wasn't even sure was there. I begged, I pleaded, I bargained—I just needed her back with me. I couldn't live with myself if I let anything happen to her.

"Dimitri…" Rose croaked. My head snapped toward her. She was awake.

I slowly made my way over to her.

"I'm here, Roza."

She turned her head to look at me. "Hi," she said weakly.

I smiled as the tears welled up in my eyes. "Hey," I said back to her.

"Umm, can I have some water?"

"Oh right. Sorry." Come on, Dimitri. Don't be an ass.

Rose downed the water quickly. She drank like her life depended on it. She was so damn cute just drinking the water.

She made to move so she could sit the glass back down on the bedside table.

"Woah, Roza. Be careful."

She sat up in the bed. "I'm fine, Dimitri."

I watched her take inventory of her injuries. A look of confusion came across her face.

"Did somebody heal me?" she asked me expectantly.

"Yes," I replied shortly.

"Hold up. So you know another spirit user that can heal?"

"I don't. Yeva does."

"Of course she does," Rose said, exasperated.

"I wouldn't be so quick to say anything against her, Roza." She immediately got the look on her face that I had scolded her. "No, Roza. I'm not scolding you. I'm just saying that you should be thankful that Yeva told me where you were."

Confusion flooded her face. "Okay, so obviously you know a lot more than you are telling me. So go ahead with the story…from the beginning."

I knew this was coming. I sighed and began, "Yeva is sort of a fortune teller, a witch of sorts. The term is lost in translation, so I won't try to tell you."

"So Yeva knew something was going to happen to me?"

"Not quite. She didn't know until it was happening. She says we are connected. She could feel it in me that something was wrong with you. She told me to go find you."

"Wow, thanks Yeva," she said toward the ceiling to Yeva's attic room.

I chuckled. "Anyway, you passed out on the way home. Yeva's friend Anita was already here.

"The spirit user?" Rose asked to clarify?

"Yes, she is the one. You had a pretty bad head injury. She was surprised you had stayed conscious as long as you did. You also had broken your leg in three places and some ribs were broken as well. One of them punctured your lung and also caused some internal bleeding.

"Damn, I was pretty bad off," Rose said with a shocked look on her face.

"Language, Roza," I said as I gave her a small smile, "and yes, you were. The adrenaline kept you going."

"So Anita fixed me?"

"Yes, but she said you would be out for a while. The injuries, plus the hit on the head and the healing wore out your body. She said you would wake when you were ready."

"Wait, so how long have I been out?"

"Three days," I replied, not quite sure how she would take it.

"Oh." Okay, not what I was expecting. She then turned to look at me. She took in my appearance. "Please, please tell me you did not sit here the whole three days!"

"Guilty," I said sheepishly. Even if I had lied, she would have seen right through me.

A knock sounded on the door. Mama poked her head in.

"I thought I heard voices," she smiled at Rose.

"Is that food?" Rose, always hungry.

Mama just laughed. "Soup. You need to start off slowly. You haven't eaten in three days."

Rose's bottom lip pouted, but once the aroma hit her nose, she immediately changed her mind.

"Wow, who knew soup could smell so good?"

"Probably anything would smell good right now," Mama said as she set the tray on Rose's lap.

"Thanks, Olena," Rose said sincerely.

"You're welcome, honey. I'm going to head to bed now. It's already passed one o'clock. Dimitri, you should get some sleep, too. I know you haven't slept much the past three days." Mama gave me a knowing look as she closed the door behind her.

Rose finished the bowl of soup quicker than I had ever seen her down something in my life.

"Either that soup must have been good or you were really hungry," I teased her.

"Ummm, both?" she said, laughing.

Rose yawned. I guess being unconscious didn't get her enough rest.

I cupped her face in my hand. "Why don't you go take a quick shower and get ready for bed, okay?"

"Okay," she said moving slowly to the bathroom.

I watched her go, thankful she had come back to me.

She turned once she got to the door, "Thanks, Dimitri, for taking care of me."

"I'll always take care of you, Roza." We held gazes for a few moments before she continued into the bathroom.

I took the opportunity to change the sheets on the bed. Rose's cuts had bled onto them before she was healed. By the time I came back from depositing the old ones in the laundry room downstairs, Rose was just coming out of the bathroom.

I didn't think Rose could get any more beautiful than she already was, but this topped all. She stood before me, her hair wet, clad in one of my shirts and a pair of my boxers.

A slight tinge of embarrassment tinted her cheeks. She looked down before saying, "I hope it's okay. I thought sleeping in looser clothes would be more comfortable."

I couldn't even reply. I crossed the room in seconds. My lips crashed to hers. I kissed her with all the passion and love I had in me. I needed her to feel special, protected, loved. Thankfully, she kissed me back with as much intensity.

I licked her bottom lip, asking for entry. She obliged and fireworks went off when our tongues collided.

I moved my kisses to her neck. She wound her fingers through my hair.

"Dimitri…I'm ready."

I removed my lips from her just long enough to say, "I love you, Roza."

I slowly moved us toward the bed. I gently laid her back on it, as I continued to shower her with kisses.

She moved her hands under my shirt, tracing the contours of my abs. My hands trailed over her body, exploring her for the first time since the lust charm.

I felt her tug at the bottom of my shirt. I pulled back enough for her to pull it over my head. Her hands continued roaming my body, as mine did the same. I slowly removed her shirt, not wanting to hurt her sore body.

I paused to get a good look at her naked torso. She was perfect. My lips attached to her left breast, while my hands gave attention to the other. She moaned in pleasure. With every touch and every moan, I could feel myself growing harder. Tonight, it was finally going to happen.

I slid my hands down to pull my boxers and her underwear off of her. I let my hands explore her wet folds.

"Oh my God, Dimitri," Rose moaned at the contact.

Her hands began to travel lower until she played with the button on my jeans. I pulled back and kicked off my jeans and boxers. Everything was out in the open now—no judging, just love.

My hard cock was begging for release. When Rose looked at the size of me, a look of apprehension crossed her face.

"Roza, we don't have to do this." I was serious. As much as I wanted it, I would stop in a minute if she wanted to.

She took a deep breath. "No, I'm okay."

I resumed kissing her, still playing with her slick folds. I readied myself to enter, pausing to look into her eyes one more time.

"I love you, Dimitri."

With that, I entered her. I saw the look of pain that crossed her face when I broke her barrier. I gave her a few moments to get used to me. I slowly built up a rhythm. When the look of pain was replaced with one of pleasure, I picked up my rhythm.

"Oh, God. Yes, Dimitri! Don't stop!"

We were both getting close to our release. I pumped harder. When I felt her close around me, I released deep into her.

I slowly rode her out. I kissed her once more passionately before I pulled out. She snuggled in close to me. Nothing needed to be said. This was our small piece of heaven.

Our breathing slowed and I could tell she was close to sleep.

I heard Rose sniffle.

Immediately alarmed, I moved to look her in the eye. "Roza, what is wrong?"

"I'm scared to sleep, Dimitri. They are going to come after me."

"I'm right here. Nothing will happen to you." I placed a kiss on her lips before holding her even closer to me. We then succumbed to sleep.

YAY! So they finally did it! Don't get too comfortable yet. A lot of drama is yet to come! Comments and constructive critisism is welcome! Review! xoxo-C