After that day at Lissa's party Dimitri and I became inseparable. Waking up in his arms was amazing, falling asleep in his arms was even better.
I didn't think I'd ever wanted anything something so badly as I wanted him. There was something about him, beyond the kindness that always shown and his words and action, beyond the sexy disheveled look he wore so well, even more the way he always brought a smile to my face. Being with him just felt good. He made me want to be better and strong and good and I didn't want to lose that ever.
I didn't want to lose him ever. And I wanted to show him in my own way...But his reaction, his rejection was always the same.
"Relax," I told him, "I know what I'm getting into."
For emphasis I leaned down and kissed the corner of his strong angular jaw. Dimitri groaned, a low sound in the back of his throat that drove me wild. My lips draw a line down and neck when he finally makes a move. His hands find my waist and his fingers caress my back.
He reaches for me my face and our lips press together hard, I bit down on Dimitri's lower lip and gasped. He flipped me around so fast so that now I was the one flat on my back.
He grinned and my heart raced quicker. This was not that plan, I reminded myself. I was the one was supposed to be taking control. But this way definitely had its benefits...
Dimitri took off my shirt, than his, than kissed me again. Whatever my goal had been, I forgot. All I wanted was to get Dimitri's pants off and-
"Rose."
I froze in amazement. That was his wary, slight dejected voice. My amazement gave way to anger.
"I know you don't want to stop," I accused, breathless. "Do you?"
Focusing on his face wasn't easy what with half naked form and all but I managed to focus on his face. His intense gaze was almost as good.
Dimitri laughed, a genuinely sweet laugh that made my insides warm.
"Roza, there's no question about it. But," he paused, and a shadow of doubt highlighted his face. "You're only just getting yourself back. This wouldn't be right if we jumped into to things to fast. You should know everything first. Besides, I don't want to risk regretting it, do you?"
I sighed. Damn it, I hated when he was right. "Fine. I concede," I said, with great reluctance. "But I am kind of curious. How long before we..."
Dimitri seemed to take the hint because a sly look came into his eyes. "You're not going to like it."
I smirked. "Try me."
"A year."
"What?" I exclaimed. I would have been embarrassed but I was to surprised to care. "How did we restrain ourselves?"
Dimitri looked like he wanted to conceal laughter. "You ignored me for months, and it's complicated."
I slipped my shirt back on. Its not like we were making much progress here, nevertheless I scooted closed to him. His obvious lack of clothing was driving me mad. Already I was forgetting his silly excuse for waiting. "Define complicated?"
"We were friends for a while," Dimitri said softly, he looked far away, seeing something I couldn't. "And than you pretended to hate me-"
"Wait," I laughed, "What are you talking about?" I couldn't imagine pretending to hating Dimitri anymore than I could imagine hating Dimitri for real.
He looked away. "It's not important how. It just matters that we're here together."
I frowned slightly and touched his arm. "What is it? If you don't tell me, I'll just ask Lissa."
Dimitri sighed. "You realized, somehow, that Natasha had feelings for me," his voice surprised me, edged with bitterness I'd never heard before. "You didn't want to get between us."
For some reason my heart pounded harder.
Dimitri reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head. Anxiety came off him in waves.
"If what you're telling me is true," I began slowly, "In which case I believe you, than I never really tried to get between you two. Why else would I stay away?"
Stumbling on the she who must not be named topic was unsettling but it was a conversation we couldn't avoid either. Just because things were finally looking up between us didn't mean our issues would magically disappear.
"You never tried to get between us, that was Natasha's doing."
"Than why do I feel like the other woman?"
Dimitri cupped my face in his hands. His eyes were blazing. "You are no such thing Rose Hathaway, you never were. It's you, okay? It's always been you. Thee is no one else in this world for me."
His words elicited mixed emotions in me. I liked hearing him say things like that. How could anything else matter when Dimitri's words sent warmth through me like that? When his gaze consumed me?
I kissed him again, lightly this time. Balling my hands in his hair I was where of every inch where we touched. Dimitri's mouth open mine, his mouth was surprisingly soft despite its hungry intensity.
"Promise me you'll let this thing with Natasha go. She's the past."
I swallowed. Dimitri knew me so well. But I had picked up a few things of my own about him since being restored.
"I'll think about it."
I wasn't a fan of lying to him. Of going behind his back to get answers. But I couldn't move on or commit with Dimitri until I knew the truth.
It was decided than.
I was going to track down Natasha Ozera.
XxxxXxxxX
One more chapter before we see some familiar faces.
If anyone of you are interested I'm writing a one-shot for my other story, Happily Never After.