Hi Everyone, sorry I've taken so long to update... But here it is... Hope you all enjoy it! :-D
Twelve
It was only a few minutes after that that Hope came out after her feeding. "Rose," she nodded, but when she looked at Dimitri who was looking at the carpet, I couldn't work out if she was mad at him or not, but he didn't even acknowledge that she had even spoken to me. Hmm, a mystery to be solved I think. She walked out back into the commons without another word. My usual curiosity was gnawing at me, urging me to ask, but I kept my mouth shut....somehow. I looked up as Lissa and Christian came out and she looked a little concerned.
What's wrong Liss? I asked silently. As she looked up into my eyes I was already making my way over to her.
Just something the feeder said.
Which was? The guys were looking between us knowing that we were talking; Christian looked at us in amazement...
It was really weird actually. She said that 'Do not linger, otherwise all hope will be lost and the flowers will freeze' I looked at her confused.
"What?" I asked.
I don't understand either. She looked around and noticed the guys shrugging at each other and smiled. Come on; walk back so that you can get your lunch. I nodded to her and we walked out. I could hear the guys talking behind us in whispers, but I was trying to work out what the feeder meant.
Who was the feeder?
My regular. She said. I shook my head at her as Alice's face flashed into my mind and Lissa nodded. It still amazed me sometimes at the extent that our bond had risen to over the years. At first I could only hear her thoughts, get a feel for her emotions and see through her eyes, then she started to hear me and it wasn't long after that that she could come into my head. Now we could send each other images of what we were thinking and seeing. She stopped walking suddenly, grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her. You don't think she meant you....do you?
"No. I don't." I said to her, but she noticed the instant the doubt flashed into my head.
"You do. Don't lie to me." She said quietly. I looked at Christian and Dimitri who had stopped beside us and were just staring at us wondering what we were talking about.
We'll tackle this together, like we always do, alright? She nodded in reply. Please don't worry too much about this. Why would you even be thinking so much about what Alice says anyway? You know she's not always right, remember how she said that I wouldn't be your guardian because my life would go in another direction? "Remember?" I said aloud. Then she looked over to Dimitri and back to me, but I just shook my head knowing exactly what she was thinking. We went back to the tables but I kept walking over to the food, with Alice's two so called 'predictions' swirling around in my head, I needed a sugar hit...and a big one!
"Am I ever going to know what that was all about?" Dimitri asked from next to me.
"Just something that Lissa's feeder said, nothing to worry about." He pursed his lips deliberating on if he should press for more information but he decided against it.
"So, shopping huh." I looked back at him with a smile.
"Yeah, we need to see your awesome guarding skills in action." I said.
"Will it be a quick trip or a normal 'girly shop'?" Something about how he said that question suddenly made me wonder. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked seeing my confusion.
"No, not at all. Just something you said triggered a memory, that's all... Remember 7pm, don't be late or Guardian Petrov will leave you behind."
"And pass up the chance to spend the whole day with you... I don't think so. As much as I hate shopping, I have a feeling I'm going to have a lot of fun tomorrow." He said with that amazing smile of his.
"See you this afternoon; I hope you've been doing your wrist strengthening exercises, because you're going to be doing some serious working out later." He bent down to my level and whispered in my ear....
"If you'd like, I could show you just how strong my wrists are right now." His smile widened as he saw the blush that crept into my cheeks, the blush caused by yet another replay of the dream where he'd held me with those strong wrists.
"Dimitri." I said sternly.
"Rose!" he said back to me in the same tone. "Do you want me to show you or not?" I just shook my head and walked over to the table with Liss.
"So...Christian, what did you do while you were...on holidays." I ignored the glare that Lissa was shooting at me and just continued to look at Christian.
"Ah, schoolwork, parties...training. You know....the normal stuff."
"Training? As in....?"
"Defence. Dimitri's not the only one who can fight Guardian Hathaway." I was surprised to hear this. Moroi normally like to sit back and let us be the ones to get the shit beaten out of us rather than fight for themselves in any way. I just sat smiling as I thought that it might be good getting to know Christian a little better. "What? Don't ya believe me?" he added a little defensively.
"Oh I'm sure you're quite the accomplished fighter." I didn't mean to sound condescending but that's how it came out.
"Fine!" Said Christian abruptly. "I challenge you to a fight Guardian Hathaway." I couldn't help raising my eyebrow at this.... how funny is this guy!
"Ozera, you know damn well that I won't fight you...even if I wanted to..."
"Are you scared?" He said seriously. My mouth dropped open as I stared at him in disbelief. After the initial shock wore off, I saw that a lot of eyes were now fixed on our table and the commons had become awfully quiet.
"No, I'm not scared; you should be though." Maybe I didn't want to get to know him after all...smart-ass little...... There were a few snickers heard from around us and then I felt hands resting on my shoulders as I smelt Adrian's clove cigarettes waft my way.
"Didn't anyone ever teach you not to pull on a tiger's tail Ozera?" He said from behind me, and I had to laugh. "It's generally bad for one's health. Tigers have big teeth you know!" He moved to sit beside me... "Hello my love," he said with a kiss to my cheek. "Have you had your fill of young-uns for today? Wanna spend some time with a real man this afternoon?" I couldn't help but giggle at him and his cheeky smile that was plastered all over his face. I could see Dimitri standing behind him and his face wasn't as relaxed as it was a little while ago.
Without saying anything I stood up and bent forward cupping Adrians face in my hands and whispered.... "Actually I'd love to.... But I think Stan's busy right now." I smiled my best man eater smile and lightly kissed his lips. He put his hand over his heart and fell to the side of his seat.
"Oh Rose!" he said in mock hurt. "You're killing me!" I shook my head and picked up the last bit of my donut and popped it into my mouth. I had to start patrolling soon anyway, so I thought that I'd go to the bathroom and get away from all this baiting!
"Bye bye now kiddies..." I waved to them... I looked at Dimitri and continued. "I'll see you later." He could take that anyway he wanted to. I walked out of the ladies and went straight outside to the path that travelled along the wards. I loved being out here actually, it was a place that I could think, and all that I could hear out here were the sounds of the night... my little place of respite. I closed my eyes and smiled as the cool night air felt good against my skin. My heart rate picked up as I smelt his aftershave and even though my eyes were shut, I could tell that he had just walked in front of me. I waited until his scent was strong, letting me know how close he was and then I opened my eyes to look directly at him. His eyebrow lifted in surprise that I knew he was there.
"You're going to have to tell me how you do that you know." He said smiling, but I chose to ignore his statement.
"What are you doing out here Dimitri?" I asked as I looked at my watch. "Your classes are nearly ready to start."
"I know." He said. He stood in front of me obviously wanting to say something else, so I urged him on...
"Well, spit it out then. I don't have all day."
"Is that how you see me?" I gave a confused look as I didn't understand what he meant by that statement. "As a kid, a student; is that why you won't give me a shot?" I didn't know what to say to him. If I told him the truth and said no, that I saw him as a man, a very hunky, very desirable, very melt-in-your.... crap!....then I knew he'd take advantage of that admission, but if I said yes to his question I'd hurt him...a lot. But he took my hesitation to answer as something else; a green light.
He walked forward closing the distance between us and I unconsciously walked backwards into a tree. "You and me...we're a lot alike..." He whispered inches from my face. I wanted to disagree with him but in truth...we were a lot alike, we both had a strong desire to protect our friends, we both wanted to be the best guardians that we could be and we both had an unbelievably strong attraction to one another.
"No we're not actually..." I lied.
"Yes we are, and you know it. I can see how you try to control your emotions; shove you're feelings for me down to where no-one can see them. Most of the time....you're the good little Guardian, doing what she's been trained to do, but I can see you want a little bit of life that's just for you..." he said in a hushed voice. "Why do you keep fighting me? I'm offering you that 'little bit' that's just for you, because I want that little bit too; obviously I'm going to have to try harder. I'm going to kiss you now Rose." I swallowed hard as my eyes were locked with his, but I did nothing to stop him as he brushed his lips against mine. His hands came either side of my hips..."Say yes..." he breathed against my lips, his tongue ran along my bottom lip... "Say yes Rose..." He pulled me to him and one hand reached around to my back while the other one came up to my neck under my hair all while never taking his lips off mine. His lips finally took possession of mine and with our bodies pressed tightly together I could no longer hold back....
My arms wrapped around his neck and a soft moan escaped and before I knew it, the word 'yes' came out of my mouth. I threw myself into the embrace with everything I'd been holding back... The instant my arms wrapped around him, he pushed me back against the tree.... it wasn't my bedroom wall, but it had the same effect. The same feelings, the same desires swept through me... The hand that had been at my back was now making its way down my leg...his mouth traced kisses down my neck and found the lobe of one ear... Oh God! "Dimit..." I tried to say but was cut off by his mouth back on mine and I was now well on my way to losing my battle for control. Between the leg that was around his hip and the tree behind me, I lifted myself up to wrap my legs around him.
"Rose..." he said as his hand pulled my shirt out from my black guardian pants. As in my dream, my skin came alive at his touch and I arched my back to press my body into him harder. Our mouths once again came together, our tongues tasting one another and then I felt his hand move around to my back but before I could stop him, he'd released the clasp of my bra. Now that that was as undone as my resolve, he was free to explore unhindered. "You are...amazing." he said against my lips. I pulled my head back as he trailed kissed down my neck to my collarbone; I could feel his desire for me growing and it took all my strength not to reach down and take him in my hands but I knew that we'd have to stop soon, and I knew that I'd probably have to be the one to pull back first... His hand came down my stomach and started to unbutton my pants but I couldn't let it go that far...
"No..." I said, I pushed against his chest and looked into his lust filled eyes knowing just how much we both wanted to go further, but I had to be strong... "We can't... Dimitri, I..." I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against his. "Please..." I whispered.
"I can't stop Rose," he said, I pulled back to look at him again. "I won't. I've never felt this way about anyone before, I can't just walk away. I want you; I want you so bad it hurts to be away from you. I know we haven't known each other for very long, but it's like....like I've known you all my life, it's just taken this long to meet you." I knew what he meant because I'd felt the same pull towards him too, but what can we do about it? Nothing, a relationship between us would never be accepted, it would never work. Then a smile crept over his face, one that reached his beautiful deep brown eyes. "Plus....you said yes." I couldn't help but smile back... he had me there!
"Yeah I did, didn't I?" He nodded in reply.
"Can't go back on it now, not after this." I realised I still had my legs around his waist so I released them and moved out of his embrace.
"You need to get to class." I said while fixing my clothes back up. "We'll talk about this later." He closed the gap between us and held my face in his hands and then softly kissed me again.
"I think I've fallen for you.... Hook, line and sinker." He whispered with a smile. My heart jumped against my ribs and my head scrambled to make sense of how I let myself get into this mess. He turned without another word and walked away, leaving me breathless.
Rose. I heard in my head. I didn't think it would be too long before she called for me. I checked through the bond to where she was and walked towards her room. It had only been just over two months since we brought him and Christian back to the school, and I never thought in a million years that I ever have 'this' in my life, guardians didn't get to love, guardians only got to serve....and die. Could I? I thought.... Could I finally have what had been denied to me my whole life? I finally made it to her room but just as I got to her room I heard... Just come in Rose....
I opened the door to see her sitting at her desk writing and going through books. She looked up at me and smiled. "So... you've chosen?" I walked over and sat in the chair beside her.
"I've chosen not deny what I feel. But what's the use Liss? After this..." I said motioning around the room... "after he graduates...we can't be together, and if we take things further here then not only do we risk his expulsion from school, but I'll lose you too. Nothing good can come out of it." I hadn't realised how much I wanted this until now, I wanted him so much it hurt and just as that realisation hit, a tear fell from my eye. I felt sadness and regret and sympathy flood through the bond from Lissa as she reached out wiped the tear away. Suddenly all those feelings changed, the feelings of sadness and regret transformed into determined and optimistic resolve. But as soon as I felt them, I felt the walls go up in her mind. "What you are planning?" I asked her.
"Nothing." She said with a smile. "Shouldn't you be patrolling?" I tried to see what was going through her mind, but her blocks were airtight. She was definitely up to something alright. I got up and kissed her goodbye and then went back to my patrols. While going around the back of the classrooms, I caught a glimpse of Dimitri and Hope... They were close together but I could tell by his stance that it wasn't a pleasant conversation. I walked towards them but neither saw or heard me approach.
"Why are you two out here when you should be in class?" I asked them. Hope jumped and turned to look at me and I was right, she wasn't happy. "Well?" I asked them...
"Just catching up Rose. But we're done here." She said. She glared at Dimitri as she turned and left.
"Come on." I said as I pushed past him to walk him to where he was supposed to be.
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Thanks everyone.
Sandy
