Thank you for the review,RozaDimka, Lock Ness Monster13, Mrs. Damons, NotADreamYetNotANightMare, mylifemyrules1, LuPeters, Nellyrose1994, and to everyone adding this story to your alerts and favorites.

And I found about the Molnija Awards a few days ago, after voting close unfortunately. But I was pretty surprised—and crazy happy—when I saw Forgotten Roses was nominated for best romance. That actually makes me so happy, I don't need to win the award—I'm just elated over the fact that this story was even taken into consideration, and thank you, my wonderful and mysterious readers, for voting for me. And I want to know whoever you are because you inspired a fluffy moment in this chapter. :)

I hate to spoil the moment. But I think story is reaching its conclusion. I think there will only be a few chapters to come, and if you guys want an epilogue I can try but my stories don't usually have epilogues.

Chapter 29

Dimitri was waiting for me. He was leaning against his car and watching the ocean with a pensive expression.

Sydney wasn't happy when I told her we'd be going home. "I can't believe you're leaving so soon," she said and sounded like she genuinely meant it.

She surprised me with a hug and after a moment we both pulled back. I didn't think this was the last I'd see of her. "Thanks, Sage," I told her, "For everything."

"Anytime. And hey, maybe you can come down next summer. I bet things'll really be looking up by then," she looked at Dimitri and gave me a knowing look.

I smiled.

"You guys have to come to Palm Springs first," I teased, although I was completely serious. Janine and Abe were dying to meet them. Even Lissa and Christian wanted to know them.

She returned my smile. "I'd like that."

"You guys aren't going to cry now are you?"

I sighed, "Goodbye Adrian."

I slipped my arms around his waist and breathed deeply. "Thank you," I murmured, my face pressed to his chest and I tilted my head up to look into green, green eyes. "Thank you for saving me." And then I added quietly, "Don't forget the advice I gave you."

He patted my head, "I won't if you won't."


Dimitri hired a driver to take my corvette back to Palm Springs so that the two of could venture home in his Jeep. He'd been insistent and claimed I technically wasn't supposed to drive on freeways because of the whole amnesia thing. Despite my protests that I'd gotten to Santa Barbra on my own, I'd relented.

The car ride back home would undoubtedly be a long one and I was prepared to spend another long drive and irritating sun light but what I wasn't ready for was the sudden storm overhead. Rain poured down in currents as strong as waves and rained hard on Dimitri's Jeep.

Dimitri grumbled in Russian. "This is bad. If we don't find a place to stay we're going to have to pull over soon."

Despite how quickly the windshield was working it didn't provide much help and the rain certainly didn't look like it was going to end anytime soon.

"There's a sign," I pointed, squinting through the rain. "There's a gas station and hotel on the next intersection."

Dimitri nodded and the tension visibly left his shoulders.

It was hardly the Four Seasons but the need for a safe roof had taken precedence. By the time we were inside we looked like a pair of two fully grown half drowned cats.

"You two are lucky. There's one single bed room available. We get a lot of by passers in this weather."

Dimitri paid the receptionist. I tried not to stare at his soaked chest through his navy blue shirt but what else was I expected to do?

A moment later Dimitri opened the door to our room and flicked on the lights.

"Well, at least we have cable," I said slowly.

The room had a bad paint job and ugly matching yellow blinds. There was a lime green cushion chair in the corner of the room. And beside it in, in the centre of the room was a doubles bed. A rush of heat went through me and I recalled the last time Dimitri and I had been so close to losing ourselves in each other. I didn't think I'd ever wanted anything more than I wanted-needed-him.

Dimitri touched my arm gently and I winced. "There's towels in the washroom. You should clean up."

My suitcase was soaked but fortunately all my clothes were dry. I grabbed my pajamas, which was basically plaid blue shorts and a tank top with spaghetti straps.

My throat was dry so I just nodded and closed the washroom door behind me, just barely catching a glimpse of Dimitri taking off his shirt, revealed a stone hard body, with lean muscles and hard skin.

My heart exploded in my chest and I sighed unsteadily, emotions a tangled mess of nerves, fear, and excitement. Dimitri must have caught a wave of my feelings in that uncanny way he knew me.

My clingy wet soaked clothes fell on a pile on the floor. I took a step into the tub and yelped at the cold water that sprayed me. The water's temperature gradually warmed up and I finally relaxed, washing off all the sweat and excitement off me. But then I remembered a certain half clad Russian god waiting for his turn in the shower and I thought I would go crazy all over again.

But slowly my pulse started to slow and I reminded myself it was only Dimitri out there. There was nothing to fear when the strongest person I knew stood on the other side of that door.

In the process of drying off the fluorescent light suddenly went out. Damn it, I thought. Looks like we didn't even have cable to keep us company after all.


"I can sleep on the chair," said Dimitri.

He walked out of the bathroom with clad in a pair of dark boxers. I had to work hard to visibly refrain the smile creeping on my lips.

"Don't be stupid, Comrade. That thing looks like it would swallow you. Besides," that fluttery feeling returned, "There's plenty of space."

Dimitri looked like he was going to say something more but as if deciding better of it he slipped on under the covers with me.

Dimitri slid under the covers and laid on his back. And I was aware of him beside me, warmth built between us. The tension in the air was unmistakable. To my embarrassment my chest began to rise and fall quickly.

Dimitri's hand found mine in the darkness, lacing our fingers together. It was funny how that one touch managed to send myriad pointless little shivers through me.

"Relax Roza. Everything's fine. Don't worry."

I turned on my side so I was facing him. I studied his profile in the dark, the candle light casted an ethereal glow to his skin. Dark hair framed his face, the brown locks, still damp, looked like dark silk and the desire to run my fingers through them was growing harder and harder to resist. He hadn't shaved in a few days but the stubble across his chin was only that much more appealing than his usual clean look. He looked rugged and tired from the long drive, but somehow, it all just made him look more attractive in my eyes. More real. I decided I liked him like this best.

If he noticed me appraising him, he didn't show the slightest indication or maybe he just didn't mind. After a heartbeat of silence I tried to pick up the conversation again. "I'm not afraid," I said softly, a teasing note in my voice.

"I know," his voice emulated my gentle tone. His hand, smooth and warm, tightened around mine. "You're not afraid of anything."

I could tell he meant it. I just knew. Still lying on his back he tilted his head down to look at me.

The words spilled out without my permission.

"I wish that was true. But when I left..." Technically I ran away, "All I kept thinking about was that I'd lose you." I swallowed, yet somehow it was easier to voice my thoughts in the darkness that quilted us. "That scared me. You scare me."

I could feel the tension leave him as he turned on his side, jostling the bed with his weight. He removed the hand holding mine and cupped one side of my face, his long fingers caressed my skin, brushed my hair behind my ears.

Heat and affection that shown in his dark eyes, those dark eyes that seemed to see into me, knowing things about me that I didn't seem to know myself.

I think I stopped breathing. Well, that solved the heavy panting at least.

"You will never ever lose me and if something ever tries to get between us we'll fight it together because that's how it is with us."

My breath came out in a huge gust. "But why? Why would you want me?" I was puzzled and at the same time overcome with emotions. "I'm crazy and impulsive and you," I hesitated, "You're not."

A half smile crossed his face.

"You are those things," he agreed wholly, sounding awfully Zen like as he went on, "But those are parts of you that make you who you are. You're fierce and brave. You're not afraid to fight for what you believe in and you'd do anything to protect the ones you love."

I stared at him.

"And," he went on, his fingers still tracing my skin, sending heat and energy through me. "You're beautiful, so beautiful it hurts me sometimes."

Overwhelmed and lost in his scent, in his serious gaze. I shifted closer to him, resting on hand the nape of his neck and the other on his bare chest and I pressed our lips together.

Dimitri, clearly surprised, though he didn't have much reason to be, kissed me back and groaned softly. His hand which was on my face a second ago got tangled in my still damp hair, and pressed us closer together.

The kiss started out slow, like we were going at a pace that warned, 'proceed with caution.' And I was pretty sure we were both taking guilty pleasure in these soft, exploring kisses.

Rain spattered against the window, thunder shrieked outside. But for all intents and purposes I was just with Dimitri in this small shabby room we'd been lucky enough to be trapped in.

As the intensity of our kisses picked up our mouths became less hesitant and our movements became more sure.

when we both pulled away. Just for a moment our breathing was ragged. Just for a second.

Dimitri's gaze answered the silent question hanging between us, and oh so much more.

Our mouths came crashing together then, heat and power dancing between our lips. Dimitri's sure slender fingers slid beneath my shirt, caressing the bottom of my stomach.

Our kisses grew frantic as Dimitri pulled my shirt up. I helped him and yanked it over my head. His lips were already on my neck, sucking my skin and moving downwards so he could tease and caress every part of me.

My hands were trying to get his shirt off too. Sensing my struggle his lips disappeared but for only a second and his shirt went flying.

We were pressed skin to skin and it felt good. Like completion. But as more clothes came off and went flying in every corner of the room what we did then became so, so much more.

I loved Dimitri. So much. So bad.


I waited for my breathing to return back to normal. Energy burned through every part of me. I felt like I could run a marathon.

"Roza?"

"Yeah?"

Dimitri caressed my skin, his soft lips hovering in the crook of my neck. Our bodies were entangled under the sheets, pressed together, skin against skin.

I was having trouble forming any coherent thoughts, stunned by what our bodies had just done and how amazing it had felt. "That was..."

I felt Dimitri's quiet laughter rumble through his entire body. "Trust me, that wasn't the first time."

I blinked in surprise. And then my laughter filled the room, "I believe you," I bit down my lip while running my fingers ran down Dimitri's chest. Of course this wasn't the first time Dimitri and I had sex. Considering how things had just gone, I'd be willing to bet we'd done it a lot. Warmth spread through my face at the thought.

Dimitri growled softly, a low sound in the back of his throat that made me feel powerful, in control. His hand deftly caught mine and brought it to lay on his cheek.

"I love you."

I sighed, and rested my cheek on Dimitri's rippled hairy chest. "Me too."

I could hear Dimitri's heart, no longer steady in its rhythm. It was comforting to know I had the same effect on him that he undoubtedly had on me.

His arms tightened around me, pulling us as close together as we could get.

Despite the fire growing in me, the energy rapidly rushing through my veins. I felt comfortable in Dimitri's embrace to close my eyes and let sleep have me.

"Dimitri?" His eyes were closed.

"Mmm."

"I love you."

"I know."


Dimitri and I were back on the road, both of us unable to contain our smiles.

His free hand slipped into mine. "Now what?"

Dimitri's hand tightened around my fingers. His voice surprised me with the slightest edge. "And now we get answers."

I took a deep breath, overwhelmed by his words but comforted by him presence nonetheless.

This was it.

We were going to pay a visit to Natasha Ozera.

XxxxXxxxX

Luckily I wrote this a few days ago because I'm sort of up to my head with family matters and I can't seem to focus on anything lately. I feel like I owe you guys a better explanation but I just can't. And I'm going to UWO in the fall but I'm not sure if that's what I want anymore. I'm frustrated. I just need a little while to disappear, you know? But I'll be back. I promise.

Love you all,

Buria