Chapter 25:

RPOV

The field test. One of the most important tests of a novice's life. For three weeks we were to act as actual guardians and follow our assigned Moroi everywhere. And at random times we would be attacked by the guardians posing as Strigoi. How well you defended your Moroi made up a large part of your grade.

I was petrified. Not because I didn't want to spend 24/7 with Lissa for three weeks. That part was fun. And although having to stay away from Dimitri for three weeks was hard work I could get through that. I was allowed showers, wasn't I.

And although I had sparred with Dimitri and in class a million times, this was different. This wasn't sparring. This was mock fighting and I was afraid I would have to rely on the darkness to win like I always did. But here I couldn't. These weren't Strigoi that I could simply rip apart. These were teachers. But could I do it without the darkness? I knew I wasn't bad, Dimitri had trained we well, but was I ready for this? I relied on the darkness to keep me alive in Strigoi fights. But this was less about survival and more about skill. And there was no way I was letting out any of the darkness, no matter how badly the teachers would beat me. I couldn't. So in one word, I was petrified.

Dimitri and I had one last training session before all novices were to go to the main hall and get their assignments.

"You seem distracted Rose."

I sighed and let myself fall down on a mat. I lay down and had my arm over my face. I could feel the mat beside me dip a little. I looked to the side and saw Dimitri lying next to me.

"I am just worried. The field test is intense. I just don't want to hurt anyone." The last part came out a whisper.

He pulled me closer to him and I let myself breath in his scent. We had been training so he was sweating and he smelled good. That is such a weird thing. I read about it in my animal behavior class. Sweat contains pheromones. And the pheromones tell us if someone is a suitable mate. If he is, then his sweat will smell nice. It had something to do with immune systems. Apparently, you are attracted to a mate who has a different immune system than you, so your offspring has biodiversity in its immune system and can combat diseases better. It is funny how much we are still influenced by the animal part of our brain. Not that it should matter for us. I mean Dhampir's can't have children together. But I, like no other understand the animal part of the brain. When the darkness takes over everything becomes black and white. Fight or flight, Prey or predator.

"You won't hurt anybody Rose, well not more than you are intended to do. I know you, you can control this. And I have trained you, you are one of the best novices out there."

I smiled at him. He always believed in me.

"Don't worry, I'll be close if something does happen, but I don't think it will."

I felt better knowing he was looking out for me. Well actually for everybody else, but those are minor details.

I was suddenly aware that this would be the last private moment we would have in the next three weeks. We were always very good not to let our personal relationship affect training. Well, Dimitri was very good at that. But today I was going to make him make an exception.

I climbed a little further on top of him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. My hand on his chest. I could feel his breathing increase. He pulled me completely on top of him and kissed me back hungrily. He also knew the implications of the three weeks field test.

He moved his hands under my shirt and I put my hands in his hair. Pulling out the string at the nape of his neck. I stopped. After the debacle with Alberta, we knew better than to expose ourselves where everyone could come in.

I stood up and I walked back towards the equipment room. I motioned Dimitri to follow me and I seductively pulled out the string from my hair, letting my hair fall down my back in long wavy curls. Just like he likes it. I saw a moment of hesitation on his face but when I pulled the string out of my hair the decision was made.

He quickly closed the distance between us and pushed me inside of the equipment room. He closed the door and locked it. He wasted no time and pushed me against the wall his lip finding mine again. The kiss was frantic and desperate. I responded in kind. I pulled at his shirt and he quickly discarded it. But things were moving too slowly for Dimitri. Today there would be no foreplay, no teasing, no waiting. I could feel him hard against my core. He pulled down my pants in one swift motion. He pulled his own pants and boxers down only far enough to free his cock. And before I knew it he was inside of me, moving in and out of me at a fast pace. My cries of pleasure silenced by his mouth. My legs were around his waist and he was supporting me by pushing me against the wall and holding me in place with a hand on my ass. His mouth left mine and was slowly moving downwards towards the nape of my neck.

The front door of the gym closed with a loud bang. We both stopped. He let go of me and pulled out of me. I immediately felt the loss. I looked through the creek of the door to see who had come into the gym and if they had noticed us. It was two guardians teaching combat class to juniors. They were looking around for something.

I was listening and watching them when all of a sudden Dimitri enters me from behind, his breath hot on my neck. I throw my head back and it takes all my control not to scream.

"Don't make a sound." He whispers in my ear, while slowly picking up the pace. I try to turn around but he won't let me.

"Keep looking at them while I fuck you." I liked this possessive side of him. I place my hands in front of me at the door to brace myself. He places his hands over mine as he grunts in my ear. I try to keep the moans as soft as possible but it is getting harder and harder as I feel the coil tighten in my abdomen. I can also hear him struggling to keep quit.

"Watch them. Watch them while I make you come."

That did it. I release the coil and fall over the edge, all the while keeping my eyes on the oblivious guardians only a few feet away. I could feel Dimitri follow after me. He keeps me in this position a little while longer, slowly kissing my neck and running his hands lovingly trough my hair. Guiding us both back from our highs.

Eventually, I turn around and I kiss him one more time before we put our clothes back on. The two guardians left the gym with some dummies that were out in the gym. I suppose we ought to be grateful they didn't need anything from the equipment room.

Two hours later all senior Moroi and Damphirs were in the main hall. We were going to be receiving our assignment. I sat next to Lissa and Christian.

Alberta and Dimitri were at the front. They had a pile of folders in their hands. They started calling novices and their assignments alphabetically.

"Mason Ashford, Camilla Conta."

"Eddie Castille, Vasilisa Dragomir." I looked at Eddie and Eddie looked at me. Why did he get assigned to Lissa? He looked at me apologetically but walked up the front to get his papers. Lissa was looking at me for an explanation. I shrugged, I didn't know what was going on but I am sure it was a mix-up. When my name would be called and I also had Vasilisa as a charge they would see they made a mistake. Or maybe it was intentional. Lissa was to be awarded, two guardians. Maybe they wanted us to practice pair bonding in the field test.

"Rose Hathaway," Dimitri called my name and I was expecting him to finish with Vasilisa Dragomir, but somehow Vasilisa Dragomir sounded a lot like Christian Ozera. No, that can't be right. I looked at Lissa and Christian. I could see the look in Christian's eyes, he didn't want this either. I looked back at Dimitri but I could tell from his face that this was not a mix-up. This was intentional, more precisely his intention. Trusting he had a zen-lesson reason for this little stunt I decided to wait with bursting like a volcano until every name was called. I was furious. That was it, no sex for three weeks. My mind didn't want to acknowledge that that would have been the case anyway. No, this was his punishment.

I walked up to the front and collected the papers. I pulled them from Dimitri's hands a little too forceful and giving him my death glare. Anybody else would have recoiled at that. He just stood his ground. I walked back and sat down next to Christian.

When all names were called and people were leaving the main hall I walked over to Alberta and Dimitri.

"Are you sick of me? Huh? Do you want to get rid of me so bad? Because I am pretty sure they are going to lock me up after I kill Christian. And that is exactly what is going to happen when I am assigned to him for three weeks."

I heard a Hey! from Christian and two very heavy sighs from Alberta and Dimitri.

"Rose, it is not that bad. Besides, no matter how much you want to, guardians don't usually get to choose who they guard. Even if you are assigned to Lissa that doesn't mean you will never have another charge."

I was about to go all apeshit on him but he put up his hand to stop me.

"Rose, your bond with Lissa is an advantage when guarding her, but you have to learn to be able to guard someone without the bond. That way you won't rely on it too much and it will make you a better guardian. It will protect Lissa in the long run. I assigned you to Christian so you could still spend time with Lissa. I thought you would be grateful for that."

Damn it. I can't stay mad at him now. I was deflated by his word. He knew me well. The only reason I would let this go was if Lissa would benefit. I guess I did have to put up with Christian for the next three weeks.

But I still wasn't letting Dimitri off the hook even though I wasn't mad anymore, so I stormed out true Rose Hathaway stile. I swear a saw a small smile sneak its way onto Dimitri's face.