Story Name: Do you mind?!

Author: PrincessKooki

Background: In an alternate universe where Rose and Lissa never ran from the academy, Rose is assigned to guard Lissa after graduation. Lissa and Christian have bought a lavish penthouse where they reside along with their guardians, Rose and Eddie. The group live it up in the big city, partying, shopping, fighting strigoi and having a gay old time before they start college in the fall. But when a new additional guardian is assigned to Christian, Rose's world is turned upside down.

"I don't want to share my bathroom with Christian's stupid guardian!" Rose yelled in a rather childish manner.

"Well too bad!", Lissa yelled right back. "You had a choice, switch rooms with Eddie, move downstairs and get your own private bathroom OR share your bathroom with the new guardian moving in".

Rose's bedroom had an ensuite that was shared with the adjacent bedroom. The bedroom adjacent to Rose's was about to be populated by the new guardian who was due to arrive any minute.

"I didn't think you were actually serious about that, Liss! Why can't he just use the bathroom down the hall?!" she continued to whine. The penthouse was huge. Two floors, 4 bedroom, a open space living room and kitchen with a balcony overlooking the city. Surely this new guy could go somewhere else.

Lissa rolled her eyes. She expected Rose to be difficult about this, but this was getting out of hand. "Because it only has a toilet, no shower".

"Whatever. This is completely your fault sparky!", Rose yelled at Christian.

"Fuck you Rosie".

That comment earned Christian a smack upside the head from Rose and a dirty glare from Lissa. Lissa begged Christian to be the adult for a change and not antagonize Rose, today of all days. As far as she was concerned he deserved Rose's wrath.

And this situation wasn't Christian's fault. The new guardian was appointed to them to replace Mason. None of them wanted a new guardian. But Rose and Eddie were technically assigned to Princess Dragomir, leaving Christian without a guard. That's when Tasha stepped up and insisted that Chris be appointed a new guardian. She even provided one such guardian with a stellar record. Tasha had claimed that the only reason such a seasoned guardian was even considering Chris as an assignment was because he owed her a favor.

Lissa knew Rose was taking this harder than anyone. She didn't need a bond to know that her best friend blamed herself for what happened to Mason.

Rose stomped away from Lissa and Chris. "Where are you going, Rose? Don't you want to at least meet him? He'll be here any minute", Lissa pleaded.

Rose huffed. "I don't give a shit! I'm going for a run". Knowing she couldn't leave the apartment, Rose settled for a run on the treadmill. She went to the apartment foyer where she kept her running shoes. The doorbell rang just as she finished tying her laces.

"You're not even going to get that?", Lissa was pissed at how bratty Rose was being.

Rose walked away from the entrance as Lissa opened the door for the new guardian.

"Rose!" Lissa called after her, but all she was rewarded with was Rose giving her the finger without turning around.

Rose called back "I don't have to be nice when I'm off duty".

"You're not nice when you're on duty", Lissa mumbled and turned to the stranger at her door. "Hi, you must be our new guardian", Lissa waved her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you".

Lissa couldn't help notice he was staring in the direction Rose had disappeared to.

The Guardian was mesmerized by the sway of the hips that sauntered off. He'd only managed to see her walk away, but man, what a view. Long tone legs that ended in a perfect ass, which led up to a slim waist. Dark hair held in a high pony tale that swung from side to side when she walked. He was definitely going to like it here. The man suddenly remember himself and with an elegant bow introduced himself, "Princess Vasilisa Dragomir, my name is Dimitri Belikov. I'm here to guard Lord Christian Ozera".

Lissa smiled uncomfortably. "Please come in, Guardian Belikov. And call me Lissa." She could tell the new guardian was still watching where Rose disappeared to and added, "Don't mind Rose, she's just pissy about having to share her bathroom".

With a quick nod, Dimitri was lead to the living room where he was introduced to Christian and Eddie. They immediately explained that they were not what one would consider a formal household. No titles were necessary here, nor where any guardians expected to not be seen nor heard.

"You must be tired from your flight", Lissa showed Dimitri his room and let him get settled in after the long flight from Russia. "Dinner's at six", Lissa excused herself.

After unpacking, Dimitri decided to wash up before dinner. Incidentally at the same time, Rose had finished up her work out and was desperate for a shower. Still with her headphones on she stripped and entered the bathroom.

Rose stopped dead in her tracks when she got an eyeful of a naked Dimitri. She gasped, getting his attention. She took in his form slowly raking her eyes down his body. He was the finest specimen of the male form she'd ever seen. And she'd seen many. He was lean yet packed with just the right amount of muscle, not too little and not too much. His chest and abs may have well been a work of art. Trailing her eyes further, she followed the lines of is body down to the perfect v which lead to what Rose immediately considered the most beautiful cock she'd ever had the privilege of seeing. Licking her lips subconsciously, she noticed said cock was starting to get excited. It was only then Rose realized she was just as naked as Dimitri was.

And while she was taking him in, he was doing much the same to her. Though he was a tad bit more composed than her, watching her reaction to his nakedness got Dimitri hot and bothered. But the way she bit her lip as she stared at his manhood was what really got him half mast.

It was Dimitri who broke the silence. "See something you like?" He smirked.

He has an accent too. Rose thought. "Obviously you see something you like", she answered as she took notice of the twitch of his cock.

"Care to join me?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

And he can raise one eyebrow! As sexy as she found that, she still answered in Rose Hathaway fashion, "Do you mind?! You're using all my hot water. So just hurry the fuck up", Rose said before she stalked out of their joint bathroom back to her bedroom, giving Dimitri an eyeful of what he later dubbed the perfect ass. After a few minutes Rose heard a knock on the bathroom door and a deep voice called out, "It's all yours".

"Thank god!" She opened the door to the bathroom and half expected there to still be a naked Russian in there. She was almost disappointed to see the door to his room closed.

...

Soon after, Dimitri joined the others at the dinner table. "So, is there anything I should know?" he asked timidly.

"Well…" Lissa started. She filled him in about her and Rose's unique situation, their bond and Rose being shadow kissed.

"Good to know. Anything else?" Dimitri asked.

This time it was Chris who answered. "We have one house rule. No random skanks. We came up with that rule the hard way".

Dimitri immediately looked at Eddie. "Don't look at me, man. It was Rose who brought some douchebag home", Eddie said with a chuckle.

"What about Mia?" Lissa questioned, trying to defend her bestie.

Eddie shrugged, "That doesn't count, she's a recurring event".

"Besides," Christian added, "We've know her forever. She practically lives here anyway". Then he looked at Dimitri and explained, "She doesn't seem to go away".

Eddie looked smug as he stated "Maybe I'm so good she has to keep coming back".

"Or maybe you're just all that's available", Chris zinged. "Back to the point, no random skanks, for security issues. If you want to get your freak on with some strange do it somewhere else".

Dimitri nodded, "Good to know. What about Rose?" he inquired.

Eddie laughed. "Rose has a boyfriend who can barely handle her. Then again he is Moroi"

"Who's moroi?" Rose asked as she sashayed into the room wearing her pjs - a clingy white tank top and boxer shorts that read 'insert here' on the back.

"Adrian, your boyfriend", Chris said and immediately started making kissing sounds.

"Ugh, he is not my boyfriend".

"That's not what Adrian thinks", Lissa said.

"Can we not have this argument again?" Rose rolled her eyes.

Dimitri leaned in to whisper-ask Eddie, "What argument?"

"Adrian's in love with Rose, wants to spend the rest of his life with her, bla bla bla. But Rose says it's just sex".

"You know I can hear you, right?" Rose cut off Eddie and Dimitri's little pow-wow.

"You should give him a chance", Lissa said, ignoring Rose's request to not talk about. "You guys are so cute together. And you're already sleeping with him".

"Lissa, it's just sex. Adrian only thinks he's in love with me cuz I make him squeal".

Dimitri belted out a full on laugh that took everyone by surprise.

"But I need Rodrian!" Lissa pouted.

"What the hell is a Rodrian?" Dimitri asked.

"Rodrian?" Rose questioned. "that's stupid! who came up with that name?"

Eddie explained to Dimitri that Rodrian would be Rose and Adrian's ship name.

Then Dimitri needed an explanation what a ship name was.

"It's when you take the names of 2 people in a relationship and combine them into one name. You know, like once upon a time we had Bennifer or Brangelina. Oooh, or Everlark, or Stydia!" Lissa always got excited about Stydia.

"Stydia?" Dimitri questioned.

"Like from Teen Wolf", Rose loved that show.

"So Rose and Adrian is Rodrian?" Dimitri asked.

"Yes", Lissa answered when Rose rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time. "And Christian and I are Chrissa", she beamed proudly.

"Or Lisstian", Dimitri stated matter of factly.

Rose and Eddie burst out laughing while Lissa huffed in an un-princess like way.

"You keep that up comrade, and you and I will get along just fine", Rose smiled.

In a meager attempt to cheer Lissa back up, Chris pointed at Rose and Dimitri and said, "You guys would be Romitri".

"Gross!" Rose hollered. "Why would you even come up with a name for that! That's wrong and horrible and haunting and an array or other words expressing feelings of disgust".

Dimitri nodded in agreement. "Like a testicle with teeth".

When dinner was said and done, the gang retired to their rooms. As they headed upstairs, Dimitri and Rose decided to start the morning with a workout and sparring session in the home gym they had on the first floor.

"Ow!" Rose's back hit the mat. Again.

"That's 3 to nothing", Dimitri told Rose with a smirk. Rose was fuming. It had been a long time since she couldn't take down an opponent. Dimitri rubbed his shoulder, "Though I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed. Not many guardians can get a hit like that on me". And for a change, the look on Dimitri's face wasn't one of arrogance, it was one of awe. "Go again?", He asked, as he reached out his arm to help Rose off the floor.

Rose grabbed his hand and had a wicked idea. And instead of him pulling her up to her feet, she swept his leg and pulled him down to the floor. That started a grueling wrestling match that ended with Rose flat on her back. Again. Dimitri had her pinned holding both her arms over her head with one hand, while his other hand held her leg firmly against him to stop her from kicking him. Rose's other leg was trapped between Dimitri's thighs. She was completely immobilized and she knew it.

"That wasn't very nice Roza", Dimitri said, nostrils flaring with anger that Rose almost got the better of him.

"I'm not a very nice girl", she answered defiantly with a dark grin.

"Clearly." Dimitri said dryly. "Are you done now?"

Rose stopped squirming. She met Dimitri's eyes and nodded, not sure of how her voice would sound.

But Dimitri still didn't let her go. He just stared at her. She was sweaty as hell and her hair was sticking to her forehead. Her cheeks were flushed with heat and anger, her eyes blazed. Yet she was still more beautiful than any woman he'd ever met. And her smell was intoxicating. He couldn't bring himself to move away from her.

Rose wasn't only held in place by Dimitri's firm grip and the weight of his body on hers, which she absolutely loved, but it was also the smoldering in his eyes that kept her put.

Their gazing was interrupted by screams of agony, "My eyes! My poor innocent eyes!"

Dimitri and Rose chuckled at Eddie's ridiculousness. Dimitri got off Rose and this time when he leant her his hand she took it willingly. They both ignored the spark that shot through them at the simple gesture.

"First of all, your eyes are anything but innocent", Rose said to Eddie, "and second, I call dibs on the shower!" she call out and bound out of the gym, leaving Dimitri high and dry to explain to Eddie that he had in fact walked in on nothing at all.

Training each morning had become a routine for Rose and Dimitri. They'd alternate guarding and sparring with Eddie and the arrangement was working out for them. Even the joint bathroom was working out. Usually.

One morning Rose woke to the sound of trickling water. At first she thought she was dreaming about a stream. Then as she stirred awake she thought maybe she had left the faucet dripping. But when she fully came to, she realized what she was hearing.

"Ew! Dimitri close the door next time you take a piss!"

Dimitri chuckled as he shook it and put it away. "It's not my fault you left your door wide open!" He flushed.

"You are such an asshole!"

"Only in the mornings", he replied as he washed his hands. He walked over to Rose's room and leaned on the doorframe. "So who's Mason?" he asked, still with that stupid smirk plastered across his face.

"What?" Rose asked.

"I mean you're stringing Adrian along and now you call out for Mason in your sleep?" Dimitri playfully tsked, not knowing what can of worms he just opened.

"Get out", was all Rose said. It was the look in her eyes that let Dimitri know she was serious and quickly left shutting his door behind him.

For the rest of the week, Rose ignored Dimitri. And when she wasn't ignoring him she only expressed herself monosyllabically. That was even worse than ignoring him.

Finally, after days of bitchy-Rose, Dimitri broke down and asked Eddie what he did that was so bad.

Eddie swallowed hard. He got a misty look in his eyes. "Mason is… Mason was Christian's guardian. He was mine and Rose's best friend growing up at the academy. He died 2 months ago when a strigoi snapped his neck. Rose blames herself for his death".

Dimitri was suddenly ashamed of the way he acted. He realized Rose was much stronger than he initially gave her credit for. He needed to redeem himself. Quickly.

The next morning Dimitri asked Rose if she wanted to spar. Rose declined.

"Look", Dimitri approached her, "I'm sorry, ok? I didn't know about Mason and I was an asshole and I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I'll do anything".

"Anything?" Rose repeated. Dimitri nodded.

Rose hesitated for a while. In secret, she enjoyed watching Dimitri squirm. She finally took pity on him and nodded slightly.

"I'll forgive you if you tell me something about yourself. Something no one else knows", Rose said with an evil gleam in her eyes. She was expecting an embarrassing 'I peed the bed till I was ten' type story, or maybe even a kinky masterbation story. She was not expecting what Dimitri said next.

"I beat up my father when I was thirteen".

"What? Why?"

"He's not a good man. Not much of a father. He liked to hit my mother". Rose looked horrified but Dimitri carried on. "One night he came home drunk and came at my mother again. I'd already started training and was almost as tall as he was. I'd had enough. I pulled Randel off my mother and beat him to a pulp. He didn't come around the house any more".

"Dimitri, I'm so sorry. I had no idea".

Wanting to put that conversation behind them as fast as humanly possible, Dimitri motioned to the mats, "So, how about it?"

"I don't feel like having my ass handed to me again", Rose grinned.

"Well how about this? Every time I hand you your ass, I tell you what you could have done to hand me mine?"

"That's a deal comrade".

Hours later, Rose found herself on her back for the 5th time. In all fairness, she did manage to take down Dimitri twice. That gave her more self-pride than she'd felt in a long time.

Rose bound down the stair dressed to impress.

"Whoa. Were are you going dressed like that?" Lissa asked Rose.

"I haven't seen Adrian in a while, thought I'd pay him a visit," She answered and headed to the door. "Later losers!" And with that she skipped away.

.

Before he turned in for the night, Dimitri jogged down to the kitchen to get a drink of water when he found Rose crying in the living room.

"Roza?"

Though Dimitri was gentle Rose gasped. "I thought everyone would be asleep by now", she answered lamely.

"So I take it things didn't go well with Adrian?", Dimitri's tone was more accusing than compassionate.

She scoffed, "What is it with men?! Why do you automatically take each other's side?!" Rose whisper yelled. The last thing she needed was for Lissa to wake up and find her like this.

"I'm not taking his side. This isn't a bros before ho's thing. It's about a man who was in love with a woman who didn't return his feelings, a woman who should have known better and cut him loose long ago instead of selfishly stringing him along because she didn't want to be lonely".

Dimitri's accusations were all true. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt. "I found him in bed with another woman!"

Dimitri mock-gasped. "What do you even care?! You were never in love with the guy".

"He was with a human", Rose groaned.

"No accounting for taste".

Rose continued. "You don't get it, he never looked at me that way he looked at her. He was supposed to be hopelessly in love with me, pining over me, regretting breaking up with me, crawling back to me, not fucking some short, blonde human!"

Dimitri took a deep breath. He sat beside Rose and pulled his arm around her shoulders. "You had your chance to love Adrian and you didn't. He deserves better than to be stuck on someone who's just going to keep breaking his heart".

"I'm so stupid", Rose started crying again. "He treated me so well. He was always so sweet, and kind and he always took care of me. Why couldn't I love him?"

"You did, Roza. You just weren't in love with him". Dimitri kissed her temple. "One day you're going to find a guy that's going to bust your balls as much as you bust his. He'll sneak up on you and you won't know you're falling for him until you've already crashed".

Rose sniffled, "How do you know?"

"Because you're young and beautiful and strong and fierce. You're caring and loyal. I've never seen a guardian take care of a charge the way you take care of Lissa. Not many people could compete with Chris for most snarky award. And I've never met a newly graduated guardian who can almost take down a blood master 7".

With that Rose perked up. "You're a blood master 7?!" Dimitri nodded. "I took down a blood master 7!" Rose cheered victoriously.

"Almost", Dimitri added dryly, but there was no stopping Rose now.

"Thank you, Dimitri", she leaned into his embrace. "If you tell anyone I cried I'll kick you so hard in the balls every time you have a thought it'll have to tip toe past your scrotum".

"And there's the bitch we all know and love".

Rose rolled her eyes, got up and left. "Good night, comrade".

The following week, Adrian stopped by to check on Rose. But it was Dimitri who opened the door.

"Can I help you?" Dimitri asked.

"Is Rose here?" Adrian asked.

"Who wants to know?"

"Adrian Ivashkov. And you are?" Adrian extended his hand to shake Dimitri's.

"Dimitri Belikov." Dimitri shook Adrian's hand a little to roughly. "Rose is out with the Princess. I'm not sure when they'll be back. Thank you for stopping by". Dimitri answered curtly. He was about to close the door when Adrian stopped him.

"You're not Olena Belikova's son, by any chance, are you?".

Dimitri looked puzzled but nodded anyway.

Adrian looked relieved. "I've been looking for you for a while. Well, looking for your family that is".

"Why's that?"

"You're Randel Ivashkov's son which makes you my cousin", Adrian stated.

"So," Dimitri crossed his arms over his chest. "What of it?"

"Well he left your family a small inheritance. Technically all he had to do was die, and you're his next of kin…". Dimitri's silence was staggering, so Adrian just continued. "My father has known Randel had family for years. When the bastard finally keeled over my father tried to take what was left of Randel's estate. But I wouldn't let him. Your family had more of a right to that money than my father ever did".

Dimitri was finding it very hard to process what his new found cousin was saying. He wanted to tell Adrian to shove it up his ass. That he didn't want or need anything from that monster. But the truth was, whatever money Randel had inadvertently left his family would go a long way and he had no right to deny his mother or sisters of that.

"Dimitri, I'd like your help contacting your mother".

Dimitri nodded.

The rest of the afternoon pasted Dimitri in a daze. He called him mother to inform her of Randel's passing. He gave her contact information to Adrian, who would take care of all the arrangements.

While Dimitri secluded to the balcony, Adrian had waited for Rose and Lissa to come home. He had after all come to check on Rose. When they finally showed up, Adrian begged Rose for her forgiveness. Rose wasn't the forgive and forget type, but Adrian meant a great deal to her. And after the way she treated him, she was the one who should have been apologizing. The pair hugged it out and Adrian informed Rose about Dimitri's father passing.

Rose said she'd handle it and walked Adrian to the front door.

Dimitri was out on the balcony, leaning with is elbows on the railing, watching the city that never sleeps, when Rose joined him.

"So Adrian filled me in". She handed him a beer. "You alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Rose shrugged. "I don't know, you just found out your estranged father died. You have to be feeling something about that".

"I haven't seen the man in over a decade. Not since I kicked his ass. What do you expect me to feel?"

"I don't know. Relieved?"

Dimitri let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He expected Rose to assume he'd be sadden by news of his father's demise. He wouldn't even be surprised if she assumed he was happy about the man's death. But relieved. The word took him completely by surprise. Relief was exactly what he felt. Relief that his bastard of a father would never lay a hand to his mother again. That the monster would never again put his sisters in danger. Even after Dimitri had thrown him out, there was always a nagging in the back of his mind that Randel might come back while he was away. Now with him dead, Dimitri never had to give it a second thought. He was truly relived.

And Rose having having said it out loud, giving a name to his new found sense of calm, gave him the validation he desperately needed, to not be overcome with guilt about not caring his own father died.

Dimitri stared at Rose and felt like he was seeing her for the first time. They'd been living in the same house, guarding the same family unit for weeks, but here, now, it was the first time he saw her. How could she have possibly known what was in his heart? He shook his head as if to get rid of the notion.

"You're wise beyond your years, Roza".

"Meh" Rose shrugged dramatically. Then she got an idea. "Wait here, I'll be right back"

A few minutes later, Rose came back with 2 shot glasses and a bottle of vodka. Russian vodka.

"Where did you get that?" Dimitri asked amused.

"Guardian secret", Rose winked. "I've very recently heard about this Russian tradition. I know we're not drinking to the memory of, or mourning the loss of, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't drink". Rose grinned from ear to ear.

"You know that once you open that bottle we have to finish it". Dimitri stated. "Another Russian tradition".

They sat at the table and Rose poured Dimitri a shot. True to form, hours later the bottle was empty and Rose could barely see straight.

While Dimitri drank far more than Rose did, he was still in better shape having had more practice with what Rose deemed rocket fuel.

Dimitri helped Rose get to her room, practically carrying her since she leaned almost all of her weight on him.

When they got to her room Rose asked, "Are you going to tuck me in now, Comrade?", she giggle. When Dimitri cocked his eyebrow in question Rose admitted, "That is so sexy". She brushed her fingertips over his raised eyebrow, "I've never been able to do that".

"Okay, now you really need to get to bed", Dimitri told Rose. He knew she would never act that way with him if it weren't for the massive dose of Russian vodka in her system.

"Okay", Rose yawned. She bent over to take off her shoes and nearly toppled to the ground. Drunk as he was Dimitri still caught her by the waist. He sat her down on the bed, kneeled in front of her and slipped off her shoes.

Before Dimitri got up, Rose leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Her eyes were already closed so she didn't see the shocked look on his face. He pulled back the covers, laid Rose back, lifted her feet to the bed and covered her with the blanket.

"I guess I did tuck you in Roza", Dimitri murmured.

Before he had a chance to leave, Rose grabbed his hand. "Stay". It was one simple word uttered in the dead of the night. But that little word held so much power. When Dimitri hesitated, Rose squeezed his hand just a bit.

Dimitri toed off his shoes and got in be with Rose. It felt comfortable. Right. Dimitri had never slept with a woman. Even with the many woman he'd fucked over the years, he'd never stayed the night. But he was staying now. With Rose. And he had no idea why. He was too drunk to think about it any more, so he closed his eyes and let sleep claim him.

In the morning, Rose woke from what was the most restful sleep she'd experienced since Mason died. Despite the massive dose of alcohol, she remember the previous night vividly. Even the part where she begged Dimitri to stay with her. She didn't actually think he'd do it. But sure enough, there he was, sleeping calmly, with an arm draped around her waist. Rose was hyper aware of they way their bodies touched. They were facing each other, legs tangled. While Dimitri had an arm draped around Rose, she left her hand placed on his chest. She itched to push the hair from his face just so it wouldn't obscure her view of his chiseled features as he slept.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to stare?" Dimitri interrupted Rose's gawking, his eyes still shut yet obviously not sleeping anymore.

"Just admiring the view", Rose answered nonchalantly.

That cause Dimitri to chuckle.

"What are you doing here?" Rose asked.

Dimitri assumed that she hadn't remembered asking him to stay and started defending himself. "You asked me to stay. Nothing happened. We just slept together. That came out wrong".

Rose took pity on him, he was so cute when he was rambling. "I know exactly what happened last night. I mean why did you agree to stay?"

Dimitri shrugged. "I didn't want us being separated by that damn bathroom last night". It was a moment of true clarity for Dimitri when he admit that. And the words were already out before he could stop them.

That's when Rose took the stray lock of hair that splayed across Dimitri's face between her fingers. She pushed it behind his ear and left her palm pressed to his cheek.

Ever since she and Dimitri had met, Rose felt an unexplainable, inexplicable pull to him. At first she thought it was just sexual attraction that would fade in time. But after last night she was sure the feeling in the pit of her stomach wasn't going away any time soon.

Rose was sure Dimitri felt it too. Why else would he have admitted that he didn't want to be away from her? With a nervousness she never knew before, Rose leaned forward towards Dimitri.

This was it. The moment of truth. Dimitri could either lean in as well and maybe start something incredible with Rose. Or he could pull back and miss out on the most beautiful woman he'd ever met. Her beauty was beyond compare. And unlike most women he came across, Rose's beauty was inside as well as outside.

Dimitri pulled back.

But it was only for a moment. He stared at Rose as if he were committing her face to memory. He gazed in her eyes. His eyes wondered down her face to her lips. Dimitri lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. He grazed her bottom lip with the pad of this thumb, his eyes following the movement of his own finger. When Rose puckered her lips slightly and gently, barely kiss his thumb, Dimitri swallowed hard.

"You're so beautiful, it hurts me sometime", he whispered.

Not many men had called Rose beautiful. They called her hot or sexy, but beautiful was a rarity. She knew she was beautiful, but the way Dimitri said it did things to her.

When Rose's breath quickened at his words, Dimitri leaned in while pulling her closer. It suddenly felt as though everything was in slow motion. And when their lips finally met it sent a zing through them, like a current of static electricity that rocked them. The shock suddenly woke them from the dream like state they had been in.

Now Rose was the one to pull back Dimitri. When her eyes met his, she saw no hesitation. Just pure adoration and lust. No one had ever looked at her that way. They kissed again. And again and again. When Dimitri brushed his tongue on her lips, Rose opened her mouth to him greedily taking everything he was offering. Their tongues danced deliciously.

When they came up for air, Dimitri huskily asked, "What are we doing?"

Without thinking twice, Rose answered breathily, "Everything".

There was nothing holding them back as they kissed and kissed and kissed. Rose's hands slid under Dimitri's shirt and pushed it up. Dimitri only broke their kiss to remove the offending material. He also used the their momentary break to relieve Rose of her top as well.

Their time together was abruptly cut short when there was a loud knock on the door. "Rose?" Lissa called through the door. She knocked again. "Rose did you forget we have plans today?"

"Shit", Rose murmured. "I have a brunch thing with Lissa", she whispered to Dimitri. "No, I didn't forget", she called to Liss. "I'll be down in a little bit".

"Okay", Lissa answered. Through the bond she added, Maybe you shouldn't have drank so much last night. Remembering that Lissa added thought the door, "Have you seen Dimitri?"

"Uh, no. But I'm sure he'll turn up". Rose added, praying that Lissa wouldn't open the door and find them in bed together.

Lissa shrugged. "Okay. Well hurry up, I'm hungry!", she said, walking away.

Relieved, Rose looked up to meet Dimitri's eyes. "What's going to happen now, comrade?"

"What do you want to happen?"

Rose looked puzzled. "I don't know. I've never felt this before". Dimitri gave her a look as though he knew exactly what she was talking about. "Dimitri, what is this?"

"I don't know, Roza", he kissed her forehead. "But we'll figure it out together".