"Babe, you're staring and it's creeping me out." Dominic said with his eyes closed.
"But you're so beautiful when you sleep, like an Angel, I can't help myself." I stated.
"Well, that may be true, I am very good looking, but it's still weird for you to watch me when I'm asleep." he replied.
"You love it."
"I hate it."
"It turns you on."
"No it doesn't."
We laughed in unison.
I straddled his naked body over the sheets and slowly ran my hands over his bare muscled chest. "What about this?...Do you like this?" I asked placing open mouthed kisses on each one of his abs.
"Yes." Dominic hummed with his eyes closed in pleasure.
I trailed kisses from his waist line to neck, grazing his Adams apple with my teeth lightly, earning a moan from him in reward. I pressed gentle kisses along his chiseled jaw, and ran my hands through his messy bed-sex hair, which made him look incredibly sexy. My lips found his and I kissed him forcefully, surprising myself at how badly I wanted him after a whole night of love making, it must be Lissa's hormones.
Dominic gripped my hips roughly and flipped me over so I lyed underneath him, I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling his warm body closer to mine. I snaked my hands around his neck grabbing a fist full of hair and bringing his lips to mine again, kissing him urgently. Dominic broke away for air, leaving my swollen lips burning, he trailed fiery kisses along my exposed chest all the way to my belly button. I had to stop this now or I wouldn't be able to get out of bed.
"Dominic stop." I breathed, pushing him off me.
He smiled at me breathtakingly. His lips were swollen, face flushed, and eyes completely dilated with hunger, he looked irresistible.
"Let's go to the Gym." I whispered.
"Don't you think we got in a good workout last night? Babe, I'm sore." he said smugly.
"No we didn't. Besides, you shouldn't be sore...I did most of the work." I winked and jumped out of bed.
"Ouch, that was harsh. Forget it Rose, you're not touching this body for a whole week." he laughed. I smacked the back of his head.
"Idiot." I muttered.
"Come on Babe, I want to get in some spar time...I feel like I'm getting rusty." Dominic said grabbing my hand and leading us over to the mats, where a few guardians were fighting.
"That's because you are, you proved that in bed last night." I teased.
Dominic's eyes widen and he stared at me opened mouth. "Really you think that? because It didn't seem like it in bed last night, the sound of you screaming my name and frequent moans were pretty encouraging."
"Faster, harder, I'm almost there...oh DOMINICCCC!" he screamed mimicking a moaning high pitched voice. Effectively getting the attention of surrounding guardians, one in particular caught my eye, Dimitri. Oh god.
"DOMINIC!" I screeched shoving him and looking down at the ground in embarrassment, he stood there laughing his ass off.
"Just wanted to remind you that I am most definitely not rusty in bed." he shrugged.
"Alright let's fight! Who wants to volunteer to be my partner?" Dominic clapped his hands together.
He was obviously in a great mood today. Upon learning he was heading home to Germany Dominic has been ecstatic, I'd never seen him so happy before. I'd already spoken to Lissa and Christian about our departure, they both understood completely, and they knew how important it was for Dominic and I. Lissa had arranged for replacement guardians to come in and fill our absence. After hearing of Dominic's ill mother, Lissa offered to accompany us to Germany and heal his mother. Dominic politely declined and assured her everything would be fine.
"I will." Dimitri raised his hand and stepped forward.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." I said firmly.
"Nonsense, of course it is meine liebe. Now go stand over there and watch me fight." Dominic cupped my face and gave me a lingering kiss on the lips. He was trying to prove a point to Dimitri and I knew it, he'd noticed Dimitri watching me all throughout dinner and was unhappy about it.
I stared at the two for a moment, telling them with my eyes to behave. Once they nodded I reluctantly walked to the edge of the mats where guardians stood making bets on who would win.
"Go!" Guardian Ianov aka referee announced.
Dominic and Dimitri circled each other waiting for an opening, both held the look of battle lust in their eyes. As quick as lightning, Dominic raised his fist and shot out hitting Dimitri on his left shoulder, he stumbled back a few steps but quickly recovered. Anger emanated from Dimitri's dark eyes, using it to his advantage, he lunged forward and elbowed Dominic in the jaw. Blood dribbled from the side of his mouth and he quickly spat it onto the mat.
Dominic crouched down and whipped forward aiming a round house kick to Dimitri's head, which he effortlessly blocked. It was frightening seeing these two men fight, both were lethal and unnaturally fast. With Strigoi speed, Dominic winded his arm back and released it straight at Dimitri's face. I heard a sickening crack and his nose sputtered blood. I was about to run up there and call it quits, no way Dimitri could fight like this, he was in too much pain. I was also completely furious with Dominic, he knew the consequences of that moved he pulled, he intended to brake Dimitri's nose.
I saw pure hatred, fury, and pain seep into Dimitri's dark eyes and I knew he was beggining to lose control. He swiftly lunged forward, raised his right leg and kneed Dominic in the groin. Ouch. It was a low hit, but it took Dominic to his knees. Dimitri then shoved his elbow down the base of his neck and he collapsed. He quickly pinned him to the ground and slammed his palm over Dominic's heart.
"Dead." Dimitri growled.
I ran over to to them absolutely furious. Hell hath no fury like a pissed off Hathaway, I'd learned that from my mother many years ago.
"What the hell is your problem?" I shouted at Dominic, who was sitting on the mats with an angry expression. He calls me a sore loser?
"you knew exactly what you were doing with that moved you just pulled. How dare you!" I jabbed my finger at his chest hard.
Dominic glared at me with anger and regret kindling in his charcoal blue eyes.
"Dimitri go!" I pointed to the small bathroom inside the school gym. "I'll help get you cleaned up so Lissa can heal you properly."
Surprisingly, he obeyed and strode towards the bathroom with me hot on his trail. I took one last look at Dominic.
"And I'll deal with your ass later, don't think this is over yet."
Dimitri made himself comfortable on the little stool inside the restroom and closed his eyes.
Damn, he was in worst shape than I alleged. His usually perfect straight and narrow nose was now crooked, there lyed a nasty gash across it, and blood dripped all the way down his neck.
"Are you okay?" I asked concerned. Without thinking, I reached forward and grasped a hold of his hand. I loved the feel of his skin on mine, the roughness of his calloused palm scratched against my own, his large warm hand felt so right enclosed in mine.
"I assure you I'm fine Roza." Dimitri answered gazing into my eyes, those deep dark pools of chocolate were so intense, so inviting...
"you did pretty good out there, I guess you're still a badass like I remember." I said. Dimitri grinned widely.
"Snap, I forgot to call Lissa. Hold on one second." I said stepping away from him and snatching the phone out of my pocket. I quickly dialed her number and explained the situation.
"She's hurrying down here as fast she can in her pregnant state, It takes longer when you wobble like a penguin." I smiled.
"Roza, hold my hand."
"Huh?"
"Please hold my hand, I need to do something." Dimitri replied extending his hand towards me. I hesitantly grabbed it and immediately felt the wholesomeness return to my body. And I hated myself for being so weak.
Dimitri clenched his teeth, squeezed my hand tightly, and I watched in horror as he used his free hand to grip his nose and twist it. I heard the familiar cracking noise again that made my stomach churn, he'd just broken his nose back into place. Dimitri grunted in agony and leaned forward to rest his head against my shoulder.
I was frozen on the spot. I only hoped he wouldn't notice my body's reaction to him being in such close proximity with me. Very slowly, almost nervously, I reached my hand up and stroked his silky brown hair. I ran my fingers through it, simply enjoying the feeling of it.
"Let me get you cleaned up." I whispered.
Dimitri nodded and leaned back. Fresh crimson blood spilled out of his nose and the bruising was visibly more purple and blue since he re-broke it. I felt terrible, it hurt me to see him in so much pain.
I quickly grabbed a handful of paper towels and soaked them in soapy warm water. I gently placed the towels on his jaw, slowly dragging and soaking up a lot of blood in its path.
Several bloodied paper towels later, I had Dimitri cleaned up as best I could.
"Thank you, Roza." his velvet soft voice whispered, his Russian accent much thicker than usual.
Dimitri's eyes locked with mine, so many emotions and memories passed through us. I had to get out of here. Now. It felt as if someone had put a pillow on my face and pressed down, suffocating me.
Dimitri carefully and slowly, lifted his graceful fingers and brushed them across my cheekbone. I leaned into his touch and closed my eyes, savoring the moment. His four fingers remained cupping my cheek, while his thumb slowly trailed down and dragged across my lips.
"Roza." his deep voice came out strangled, his accent so pronounced, I found it difficult to understand him. But dear lord, did he sound sexy.
Rose what the hell is going on? Lissa chastised through the bond.
My eyes snapped open and I looked over to the pregnant woman standing in the door, hands on hips.
"You're here!" I sang. "Alright you get Dimitri patched up, I'm going to go speak with Dominic an-"
"Dimka!" Tasha shouted shoving herself into the cramped bathroom. "What happened?" she asked frantically grabbing Dimitri's face. I rolled my eyes.
"Alright, see you guys later!" I waved and stomped off.
I searched nearly everywhere in St. Basil's academy. Our house, the gym, cafeteria, dorms, forest...I could not for the life of me find Dominic and it was beginning to tick me off. I only had one more place to look, the pediatricians office where Lissa gets her monthly check ups. Lissa wasn't due for another one for three weeks, so I highly doubted I would find him here.
I whipped open the glass doors and stepped inside the comfortably heated building. I heard a man and woman's voice coming from the office, the mans voice sounded awfully familiar...
Sure enough, when I stepped around the corner, Dominic and the pretty Moroi receptionist stood there chatting away. She was the same one I met at Lissa's ultra sound. What was her name again? I noticed when she laughed that she'd reach forward and lightly touch his arm. Oh hell no...
"There you are Honey, I've been looking all over for you!" I said loudly. Making both of them jump. I sauntered over and gave Dominic a big smooch on the lips.
"Hello, Guardian Hathaway. How is your majesty doing? I assume every thing's going well with her pregnancy?" she asked sweetly. I nodded.
"What are you doing here babe?" I asked glaring at Dominic.
"Just catching up with an old friend in high school. Rose this is Lilly, the woman I told you about." he said politely, begging me with his eyes to be civilized.
Lilly. Dominic's first love. I felt incredibly envious towards the woman in front of me. Not only was she beautiful, she had the ability to have children with dhampirs, and my fiance was in love with her at one point of his life.
I felt incredibly guilty not being able to give my future husband a family. Dominic had assured me that he didn't want children if he couldn't have them with me. It was obvious that he was telling half the truth, he craved to have a baby just like I did. Granted, if I was able to give him a family...it wouldn't be for a long time. But it's upsetting knowing the fact that you'll never have any, I hate feeling not in control, especially of my own body. I've dreamed of having little Dominic's and Rose's running around our house...
"Yes, I've met her before when I accompanied Lissa on her ultrasound. Are you ready to go yet?" I asked sharply.
"Rose, seriously? you're not going to talk to me?" Dominic asked. I refused to look at him and kept walking home.
"I'm sorry Rose, I know what I did in the gym earlier was wrong, my resolve faltered. But you don't have a right to treat me like this."
"Wrong? you call that wrong? that was completely ridiculous. You broke a mans nose because you felt insecure, you're a jealous impulsive idiot!" I snapped.
Dominic stopped and grabbed me roughly by the arms. I struggled to get out of his hold but he tightened his grip, his fingers were biting into my skin painfully.
"Listen Rose, I don't need your shit right now. I have a lot going through my head with my mother's surgery coming up, I don't need to hear your bitching." Dominic yelled and abruptly released me.
I felt tears well up in my eyes. It was rare to hear him swear, he was usually so nice and gentle...right now he was being plain cruel. I took a step back and slapped him across the face hard, my palm stung from the blow. Dominic's jaw clenched, his eyes were black, and the sight of him actually frightened me.
I stared at him for a moment longer before taking off in the opposite direction, I could feel his burning gaze on my back the entire time. I ran as fast as I possibly could towards guest housing and pounded my fist against Adrian's door.
"Rose?" Adrian asked groggily.
"Were you sleeping?" I croaked.
Adrian nodded and rubbed his bleary emerald green eyes.
"Can I come in?" I asked.
Without another word, Adrian ushered me inside and wrapped his arms me. His body's warmth and familiar scent of cloves mixed with cologne were incredibly comforting right now, I needed it. I cried and sobbed in his arms until my tear ducts went dry, Adrian whispered soothing words into my ear and didn't complain once about holding me.
"Thank you." I croaked, my throat was so dry from crying and I felt as if I swallowed a bucket of sand.
"No need to thank me Little dhampir, I told you I'd always be there for you." he whispered leaning his forehead against mine, there was nothing romantic about the gesture, it was a way of showing me I had his support and friendship.
I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I love you Adrian. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I love you too Little dhampir. Here drink this." he said handing me a bottle of water. I downed the whole bottle greedily and Adrian chuckled amusely.
"Thirsty are we?" he asked.
"You have no idea." I mumbled.
"I think I do." he said, exposing his fangs. I laughed.
Adrian and I talked for awhile, watched some strange movies, and he even went out of his way to order Chinese takeout. When I finally felt exhausted, Adrian covered me with blankets and cuddled on the couch with me, where I fell into a dark dreamless sleep.