"Thank you for agreeing to show me around," Dimitri said when he met Rose at the gym at 3:30 am. "I have my schedule, now, so perhaps you might show me around the places I'll be working?"
Alberta had already given him a basic tour of campus a few hours ago after they'd negotiated his roster, but Dimitri wouldn't tell Rose that. All day he'd been looking forward to an hour and a half in her company.
Rose glanced at Dimitri's printed schedule. His day started with Eddie and her in the gym. Breakfast, then the morning assisting in dhampir classes. Lunch, then guarding various Moroi/dhampir subjects. Break, then more training with her and Eddie, dinner, and twice a week a six-hour shift guarding Lissa from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.
"You will be so busy!" Rose gasped.
"It's a lot less than I am used to," Dimitri replied, his voice gravelly and oh so fucking sexy. The way his lips caressed the words as they spilled from his mouth… Rose had to bite her lip to stop herself groaning. "Why don't we start with the dhampir classrooms?" he suggested, knowing they'd be vacant by now, so he'd have Rose's full attention.
"Sure," she said, doing her best not to admire Dimitri's dark locks, height, and sexy profile. If there were a dictionary definition for tall, dark and handsome, there'd be a photo of Dimitri beside it. How was a woman meant to keep her composure when confronted with a man like Belikov?!
"Tell me about your subjects," Dimitri said as Rose pointed out various teaching spaces. They stood in the dhampir corridor, which was poorly outfitted compared to the spaces where the Moroi-specific classes were conducted. "Which is your favorite?"
"Animal Behavior and Physiology," Rose said sneaking another look at her companion. "It's nice to learn about something not based around guarding or Moroi."
"What are your other subjects?"
"Advanced Guardian Combat Techniques, Bodyguard Theory and Personal Protection Three, Weight Training and Conditioning, and Senior Language Arts for Novices. After lunch, it's Animal Behavior and Physiology, Precalculus, Moroi Culture Four, and Slavic Art. Lissa and I have the same schedule after lunch, except she's in Advanced Calculus."
"Then I will be with you most of the day," Dimitri said, giving Rose a smoldering smile. "Alberta asked me to work with the senior Novices during their morning combat classes. After lunch, I am to guard the Princess."
"Maybe you'll like Animal Behavior and Physiology, too?" Rose teased.
"I'll sure I'll find something in there to interest me," Dimitri replied, raising an eyebrow at Rose.
Continuing down the corridor, Rose showed Dimitri where each subject was conducted. While her words were innocent enough, her thoughts were all over the place. Rose Hathaway was no stranger to flirting—hell she'd perfected her man-eating smile when she was fifteen—but her victims, to date, were boys. Guardian Belikov was quite another kettle of fish. He was unmistakably a man. An Alpha man, at that. She couldn't explain her attraction to him, other than it was present, and it was strong.
Skirting the commons, where they'd no doubt be seen and potentially interrupted, Rose took Dimitri the long way to the gym, showing him the infirmary along the way.
"That's pretty much it," Rose said as they arrived back at the doors to the gym.
"Can you show me where the Princess' dorm room is? I need to know how to get to her if there's an emergency."
"Sure. She's in the Moroi dorm building. I'll take you there now."
The two walked side by side in silence, Dimitri opening doors for Rose and following her up the stairs, his cock hardening as his eyes stared at her sexy ass as she climbed the treads.
He did not understand what was happening and why he was so fixated on this beautiful Novice. Rose. Roza, in his native tongue, had him enthralled. He wasn't the sort of man who needed to pursue women, and he sure as hell didn't flirt. But that was precisely what he was doing with Rose. Being near her excited yet discombobulated him.
"This is it," Rose said pointing to a door. "Liss shares with Natalie Dashkov. Her father was good friends with Lissa's parents, so they've known each other since forever. Natalie's mom died when she was young, so when her dad died of Sandkovsky's Syndrome last year, they moved Natalie in with Lissa. It helps they can talk to someone who understands."
Before he could stop her, Rose rapped on the door. Dimitri masked his disappointment. He was enjoying Rose's company and would have preferred to continue appreciating it uninterrupted!
"Rose!" Lissa chirped happily as she opened the door. "Where did you disappear to after class?"
"Just showing Guardian Belikov around," Rose said indicating the man who stood beside her.
"Oh! Hello, Guardian Belikov," Lissa said sweetly, giving Dimitri a tentative smile. "Would you like to come in?"
"Thank you, Princess. I should familiarize myself with your quarters."
Dimitri stepped into the room, his sheer size making the suite immediately seem smaller. He listened politely as Lissa pointed out her bedroom, then Natalie's, and their shared living and study area.
Lissa blushed a little as Dimitri stepped into her bedroom. He was so big, strong and manly. For just a moment, she wondered what it would be like to go to bed with an Alpha. Pushing the guilty thought aside by sternly reminding herself of her boyfriend, the blush on Lissa's cheeks was gone by the time Guardian Belikov moved back into the living room having checked the security of her bedroom windows.
"Can you stop a minute? I can make you some hot chocolate," Lissa offered her best friend and her new Guardian.
"Sorry, Liss. Got to finish the tour then we have training. See you at dinner, though?"
"Of course. I'll see you then Rose. Good afternoon Guardian Belikov."
They left Lissa's room, Rose pointing out the various Moroi common rooms as they passed.
"We've still got forty minutes before training, but unless you want to see the gatehouse or the pond, there aren't many places to show you. There's the Chapel, but you don't need a map to find that," Rose said pointing to the prominent stone building visible from almost all of campus.
"I can think of a place you haven't shown me," Dimitri replied. "I should know where your room is. As the Princess' Guardian, I need to be familiar with all the places she may frequent."
Rose didn't bother telling Dimitri that Lissa hardly ever came to her room. Occasionally she might come by with something, or accompany Rose when she dropped something off or picked it up. The dhampir dorm rooms were so small, and unwelcoming if they hung out it was always in Lissa's suite.
"Looks like the boiler has broken down again," Rose commented noting the chill as they climbed the stairs to the third floor where her room was located, the difference between the Moroi and dhampir accommodations obvious, even in the stairwell! While the Moroi dorms boasted a wide, handsome carved timber staircase and balustrade complete with thick carpeting, the dhampir dorms had narrow concrete stairs with a metal handrail which hadn't been painted since Adam was a boy.
"Please—let me," Dimitri said when they reached the top of the stairs, moving past Rose to open the heavy fire door. The narrowness of the stairs caused his body to brush against hers. Rose gasped softly, shocked by the feelings that went right to her core. Dimitri's groan didn't help with those feelings. Whatever it was, they'd both experienced it.
"Is this door always closed?" Dimitri asked gruffly, attempting to draw attention from what had just occurred between them.
"No. It's open unless there's a fire or when the boiler goes out. It gets freezing up here when that happens, so we shut the door to contain the heat."
Rose stepped through the doorway, careful not to brush against Dimitri. Walking down the familiar corridor, today she saw it through new eyes. It was pretty dismal by all accounts. She wondered whether it was just St. Vlad's or if it had been like this where Dimitri trained.
"There's only four of us on this level," Rose explained. "There aren't many women in the Novice training program… On the plus side, we each get our own bathroom!"
Dimitri wished Rose had not said that. Now all he could think about was her hot, wet, and soapy naked body. He stuffed his hands in his pockets to disguise the start of a hard-on her words had provoked.
"And this is me," Rose said stopping in front of a plain door. "Did you want to come in?"
"Yes," he replied. Well, that's what he tried to say. It came out more like a groan.
Pulling her keys from her pocket, Rose unlocked the door and flipped on the lights, revealing the most depressing room imaginable. A single bed against one wall, a small study desk and chair and a closet the only furnishings. Rose flushed with embarrassment when she saw the chair had various discarded garments draped over it while the desk sported her washing folded and ready to put away; her only sexy panties neatly situated on top.
"It's not much," Rose said apologetically as Dimitri looked around.
"For dhampir it rarely is," he replied, looking at the small hints of humanity; Rose's fluffy bathrobe hanging on the back of the door, a photo board with pictures of Rose, the Princess, Eddie and another boy with red hair. Finally, his eyes fell on Rose's desk, taking in the tiny lace thong folded on top of her washing.
He was a man, not a saint. In her room, her scent was even stronger. So alluring, he'd later blame that for his next actions. Spinning on the spot and closing the door, in one fluid motion, Dimitri had Rose pushed up hard against it, his mouth on hers. Growling possessively between punishing kisses, it thrilled him when Rose opened her lips, allowing his tongue to dominate hers.
Rose had one hand buried in Dimitri's hair, the other clutched to his back, holding him hard against her. Not that he showed any inclination of pulling away. His growls caused her to reciprocate with enthusiastic mewls which excited him more.
Touching Rose, tasting her, was unbelievable. It was as if her essence was wrapping itself around him, ensorcelling him and pulling him further and further under her spell. The bulge in his pants got larger as he became fully erect. Much as he wanted to, it was too soon to do that, but Dimitri couldn't stop himself grinding against Rose's stomach, pushing his rock-hard erection against her. It thrilled Dimitri to hear Rose's astonished gasp when she felt him. He wanted her to know what she did to him - how aroused he was because of her.
Still plundering her mouth with his own, Dimitri wondered whether Rose, his Roza, had experienced this before. The idea that his woman might have slept with someone else enraged him, even though he recognized it was unfair to expect her to be a virgin when he was not. But there was no rationalizing with his Alpha side. As soon as he wondered about Rose's maidenhood, a deep, possessive growl escaped his throat. He'd bedded women before, always making sure they understood it would be a onetime thing. However, none of it had anything on how he was feeling right now. Moving his lips down to her neck, Dimitri nuzzled Rose's pulse point, close to frenzied by her scent.
"You smell so good," he groaned in confession against her skin. Rose moved both hands to Dimitri's hair, holding him in place as he licked and nipped her neck.
"Oh, Dimitri! Don't stop!"
Growling in satisfaction that she'd used his given name, Dimitri easily lifted Rose, settling her on his hips before pushing her back against the door again. She locked her legs behind his back, the height perfect, aligning his cock at the entrance to her core. While both fully clothed, Dimitri could smell her arousal as he kissed and dry humped her, each groaning and panting with need.
Rose's head lolled against the door. Her senses focused on Dimitri. His lips. His hands. And more than anything his manhood. She'd never experienced anything like this. Hell, she'd barely even kissed anyone before. Completely out of her realm of expertize, Rose knew that she wanted him. Badly!
Alpha, and what? Twenty-four? With his looks, there was no chance he was a virgin. Rose could tell that from the confidence of his actions. He was too sure and decisive for this to be his first foray with the fairer sex.
"You've done this before," Rose accused as Dimitri suckled just behind her left ear.
"Never like this," he replied, not denying his previous experiences as he panted into her ear. "Ты разбудил во мне давно забытое!I hardly know you, yet you're driving me wild!"
"You're driving me crazy, too! Is it always like this between a man and a woman?!" Rose breathlessly panted.
"Have you ever been with a man before?" Dimitri asked, confused by her question.
"No? I mean no. I've kissed a few times…" Rose replied, embarrassed by her dearth of experience.
Dimitri's lips slowed in their kisses, nuzzling her neck and hairline as he decelerated whatever was going on between them.
"You're a virgin?" he asked softly, his tone sweet and concerned.
"Yes?" More a question than a statement, Rose was really asking whether that bothered him.
"Как давно́ я тебя́ иска́л."
"What does that mean?" Rose asked as Dimitri set her back on her feet, kissing her nose, eyelids, then forehead.
"It means I should leave you to get ready for training," Dimitri said, his chocolate brown eyes regarding her possessively. "And Rose? Please shower. The scent of your arousal is so enticing - I might not be able to control myself if you come to training smelling like you do."
Before Rose collected herself, Dimitri had let himself out of her room. In fact, in the seconds it took her to get herself together, Guardian Belikov had left the corridor outside her room altogether.
"Mama? It's Dimka."
"Son! You said you would not call for at least a week once you arrived," Olena said, thrilled to hear from her second eldest earlier than anticipated. "How is the new allocation? What of your new charge?"
"The allocation is easy. At the Academy, there is little risk. Guardian Petrov, the Head of Guardians here, said my priority is learning the Princess' schedule and selecting graduates to join the guarding team when the Princess attends college."
"Yes—but what's she like?! Is she like Ivan?"
Dimitri drew in a long breath. No one would ever be like Ivan. They'd shared a bond like no other. Dimitri had never been so open with anyone, outside of his family, as he had with his best friend. Until Rose that is. Despite the brevity of their exposure to one another, he already had a strong connection with her. Different to what he'd shared with Ivan, Dimitri was sure, given time, it could become every bit as strong.
"I have only met the Princess for a few minutes," Dimitri explained to his mother. "I don't know her, yet."
"So you're calling because…?" With four children, Olena Belikova was an expert at recognizing when something was troubling one of her young.
"I've met my mate," Dimitri admitted, putting into words his thoughts and fears. "She's the Princess' best friend. A Beta, from the second I saw her, she intrigued me."
"Tell me about her," Olena said, trying not to sound too enthusiastic, the prospect of a daughter-in-law proving exciting!
"Mama she's beautiful. I have never met a woman so lovely. She is dedicated, funny and the equal top dhampir fighter in her year. She showed me around the Academy and she's so easy to talk to."
"Your mate is still in high school?"
Nothing got past his mother. Dimitri sighed. "Yes. She is seventeen and a senior. I will be mentoring her, and I checked her student file. She'll be eighteen, soon…" He didn't need to spell it out. While it wasn't ideal, everyone understood an Alpha finding their match just happened. There was no controlling when, where or how.
"I expect you to be honorable, Dimka. She is young. Do you know if she feels anything for you?"
"She does," he admitted, smiling despite the awkwardness of speaking with his mother about this. "We kissed, and she was attracted to me. I could tell."
"Is she attracted to you, or is she attracted to an Alpha?" Olena stopped short of saying it, but many Moroi and dhampir women had sleeping with an Alpha on their sexual to-do list.
"Rose is not like that," Dimitri said with a soft growl. He'd never fully growl at his mother, but it showed her he was already emotionally invested. "She's inexperienced…"
"She's never been with a man before?" Olena probed.
"She's kissed a little, but that's the extent of it."
"So your mate is a virgin?" Dimitri's mother clarified, liking the sound of this girl already.
"Yes. I'm not sure how to handle this," he admitted. "Before I declared, I thought I'd be Beta and a single Guardian for life. Then when I became Alpha, I dedicated my life to Ivan. I never thought I'd meet someone… I don't see how a mate could fit into my lifestyle. But the pull is so strong! I have to be with her, Mama!"
"Dimka… I think it's less about how she would fit into your life and more about coping if she wasn't part of it," Olena counseled her only son, secretly thrilled he might have found a woman to share his life with. "But she is a young woman starting out, and you are a man experienced in the world. If she is your mate, then I expect you to treat her the way you'd like a man to treat one of your sisters. Take things slowly. You have time to learn to love one another."
