Polyamory - Baia Bound
Songs: Everything is Free by Flock of Dimes, Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat, Do I Have to Talk You Into It by Spoon, Take a Slice by Glass Animals, Station - 2014 by Lapsley, Waiting - PAL Remix by Alice Boman, 1950 by King Princess, Stay by Cat Power
Adrian tossed a fluffy kernel into the air, sinking it right into Rose's mouth with a small crunch. Her butt bounced on the couch excitedly with her feet tucked under her knees as she readied herself for her quid pro quo. "Three to three, Ivashkov. This is the tiebreaker."
He stretched his long arms along the top of the sofa and leaned back comfortably. "Well, then you better not muck it up, Hathaway." She grinned as she chewed on the piece of popcorn and reached her hand into the bowl between them. Adrian didn't move from his relaxed position but his eyes zeroed in on the small white snack between her fingers like a hawk spotting its unsuspecting prey. There was an over-dramatic pause as the two of them suddenly became way too serious about the game—Rose's competitive spirit was contagious.
Her wrist tilted back as her hand dipped down and Adrian stiffened the slightest bit. Rose bit her bottom lip and flicked the popcorn into the air. Adrian's eyes widened as it soared towards him, his mouth parted and he prepared to catch it but a slam of the front door had both their focuses whipping towards the entryway. Dimitri came into view just as the kernel plopped against Adrian's cheek.
Something wasn't right. They immediately sensed it. Since the two of them had become closer, Adrian had started to see some of Dimitri's tells he hadn't initially noticed. Before, he sometimes felt like Rose and Dimitri had their own secret language that allowed them to understand each other without speaking, but now he had a small tap into that transmission—and he wasn't always so sure if he wanted it.
Rose sat up onto her knees and tilted her head as she watched Dimitri shrug off his coat and toss his keys onto the end table. He wasn't necessarily angry—that was an emotion he rarely showed—but was distracted. "Rough day," she easily called over.
Dimitri's brow scrunched the slightest bit before he inhaled a breath through his nose and smoothed out his expression. "No. It was fine."
Adrian turned back to Rose and mouthed, 'not fine'. Rose narrowed her eyes at him before looking over to Dimitri again. She was about to say something else when Dimitri began walking quickly to his room. "I'm going to have a shower."
Adrian's gaze followed the Guardian's long steps and realized something was missing. Normally when Dimitri came back from a shift, even the grueling ones, he greeted them in their own ways. A kiss on the top of Rose's head or cheek, a squeeze of Adrian's shoulder or a brush of his arm. It was the smallest thing, nothing he ever expected or thought he deserved, but until then Adrian hadn't realized that he'd come to look forward to it. Maybe there was more to it than just, not fine. Now that he was paying closer attention, he could see that Dimitri hadn't even looked in their direction, his focus so drawn on something that wasn't there. If he had, he would've given them a disapproving grunt over the mass of popcorn kernels sprinkling the couch from their miss-fires.
"We were about to watch a movie, wanna join us after," Rose gently asked, leaning an arm over the back of the couch towards him.
Dimitri glanced up at the TV, the opening scene to Miss Congeniality playing quietly in the background. It was one of Rose's favorites, and Adrian was always happy to indulge her even though they'd watched it at least a dozen times. Sandra B's makeover scene was iconic after all.
Dimitri's lips arched into a small smile that didn't reach his eyes, "You two enjoy." He turned around and deftly walked into his room, his feet not even making a sound. Apparently, he hadn't left work at work.
Rose turned back to Adrian and sunk deeper into the couch. "Something's up."
"Ya think?" The Moroi sat up and rubbed his hands on his knees. He wasn't sure what could be bothering Dimitri. From what Rose had told him, even the bravest Guardians didn't fuck with him. They may have said some things behind his back when this arrangement first started, but they were smart enough to leave the 6 '7 hulking Russian be. Maybe someone decided to get brave? It didn't look like he'd been in a fight though. They were leaving for Russia in a couple days. Was he nervous about seeing his family?
"We should talk to him." Rose stuffed a handful of popcorn in her mouth and Adrian's finger immediately shot to the tip of his nose. "Oh c'mon, Adrian. I know you care too." Her words came out muffled around the buttery snacks but Adrian got the gist.
"Nah uh, Little Dhampir. This is clearly a job for you and that fantastic rack. If those cans can't cheer up even the sulkiest of Dhampirs then what has the world come to?" She rolled her eyes, but her mood not totally derailed she jiggled her chest at him a little too. "Besides, he's far less likely to punch you in the face than me if he really is mad."
They both knew even if Dimitri wasn't the epitome of control he would never lay a hand on Adrian, but if he was being truly honest—he wanted Dimitri to be happy and right now, Rose was the best person to do that for him. It had been almost three weeks since their relationship had changed. For a few blissful hours, it had just been the two of them. Adrian connected with him in a way he never expected and it made him feel things he couldn't explain. However, when Rose came home there was a shift. They weren't sure what this meant or how they should act—and definitely didn't know how to talk about it. Adrian knew Dimitri didn't regret it. They no longer just got out of each other's way when they were with Rose. In fact, they often felt drawn to one another without realizing it. It never went further than sensual touches and deep kisses, nothing as profound as that first night but there was something there. Something they both wanted and didn't know how to seize without damaging their relationship with Rose.
As she sat on the couch across from him, Adrian could see that constant darkness around her aura begin to twitch. He knew she didn't like it when he did that though so he moved his focus to her face. The longer he observed her, the more he became sucked in by her beauty. He was only partially joking that her looks could bring anyone out of a bad mood. He brushed his fingers slowly up her thigh and a small shudder loosened her shoulders. He suddenly had the urge to pull her into his lap and crush her lips to his. When his hand tightened around her thigh, though, another thought ruined his amorous mood. Rose wasn't better suited to help Dimitri because of her looks. She was better suited because of who she was—and who Adrian wasn't.
Rose let out a small grunt and stood up off the couch. "Fine, but I'm taking this with me." Before Adrian could react she snatched the bowl off the cushions and sauntered towards Dimitri's room. She could hear a small whine coming off the couch behind her and smiled as she pushed another handful of popcorn into her mouth. "I won't be using these though," she shook her chest at him again.
"Oh?"
"We both know Dimitri's more of an ass man."
An image of Dimitri roughly grabbing Adrian's ass over his jeans as he nipped along his jaw had Adrian hiding a small smirk with the back of his hand. This only piqued Rose's curiosity. "What was that look for, Ivashkov?"
Adrian cleared his throat but couldn't completely rid the smile. "Nothing. Go on. Check on him before he does something crazy like buy half a dozen western novels on Amazon."
"Don't worry," she winked as her hand wrapped around the door handle behind her back, "I changed the Amazon password."
"Again? No wonder he's pissed."
The door shut and Rose was surprised to see Dimitri sitting at the end of his bed, not yet taken a shower. He still had that far-off look on his face that troubled her. She set the popcorn bowl on his dresser and walked over to him. Rose softly dragged her fingertips across his shoulder and down his back, a slow sigh coming out of Dimitri's lips in response. His head dipped towards her until it rested against her hip and his arm snaked up to wrap around the back of her thigh. She stood quietly for another minute, letting him relax into her. She hated when Dimitri was upset. Rose and Adrian had a lot in common, their hot tempers and flares for dramatics among them, so one of them in a state of disorder was a normal occurrence. But Dimitri was the rock. He was calm and rational, always the one to take the high road—so when he was agitated, it made her feel unnerved.
When he still hadn't said anything, Rose grabbed his hand that was wrapped around her and knelt down in between his legs. She brushed her lips across his knuckles and said, "Is it business or pleasure?"
He let out an amused huff and ran his free hand through his loose hair. "Neither."
"Ah," Rose breathed out. If the issue didn't involve work or their relationship, there was only one other option. "So it's Baia then."
He leaned back a little to look her in the eyes. "Yes."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Rose squeezed his hand a little tighter, encouraging him to talk but still giving him the option to say no.
Dimitri licked his lips, trying to come up with words for the thoughts that had been rattling his mind. "I'm anxious to be with them, we haven't seen each other in person since I returned." This was their subtle way of referring to him being changed back into his Dhampir state. He swallowed past those memories, forcing himself to stay in the present. "I'm ready to see them now, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for them to see me."
Rose got up off the floor and moved to sit beside him, her arm hooking through his and her leg pressing against his strong thigh. The warmth of Rose's touch was Dimitri's soothing balm. "My family has always supported me," he continued after a couple steeling breaths. "Even when I wasn't sure if I deserved it, they stood by me. And now I...I'm afraid what it would feel like if they didn't."
The thought had been like venom in his mind for days, and now saying it out loud he felt the poison manifesting as physical pain in his chest.
"What makes you think they won't?" Dimitri had been hesitant to talk to either of them about this, not wanting his toxin to seep into the warmness of their home. Looking at Rose though, he knew keeping it from her would only harm her more. He could only hope she'd understand.
"Things have changed so much recently and I have no idea how they will react. It would devastate me to know they didn't support this bond that has become so important to me."
Rose thought on this a moment, letting Dimitri's words sink in. She knew things had become complicated with Adrian and Dimitri. But she could also see how much they had grown to care for one another. Sometimes she felt guilty for putting them in this situation in the first place, but when she'd catch them in small moments of unrestrained admiration she knew this was right. It was the simplest things. Like Adrian telling yet another one of his elaborate stories that used to make Dimitri roll his eyes and instead, bringing a small smile to his face. The same smile that he used to only reveal to her. She thought it would make her jealous, seeing each of them care for someone other than her, but it didn't. In fact, it only made her love them more. She couldn't explain it and frankly hadn't tried. But listening to Dimitri now, realizing he may have to explain it and not know how or receive criticism regardless of what he said, she understood his anxiety surrounding it.
Being in a relationship with two people meant clear communication was essential, so she responded with, "Do you want comfort or solutions?"
He shifted a little, one of his long legs stretching out so that Rose's foot now ended just below his knee. "Solutions."
Rose nodded. "My perspective is a little skewed, having a mother who was constantly disapproving of things I did, but looking back it wasn't because of who I was. I'm not going to tell you not to be afraid, because you're right. Things have definitely changed. If you're not ready to show them who you are now, all of you, then we can take things slow. I can go with you if you're still comfortable with that, and talk to Adrian about staying behind."
Dimitri's jaw ticked. Rose wasn't sure if she'd offended him and neither was Dimitri. He tried to understand what the feeling in his gut was telling him. "You would leave him behind? Because of me?"
"We only want you to be happy, Dimitri. So just say the word if that's what you want. We'll both understand." Rose softly trailed her fingers down the inside of his forearm until they were wrapped with his again. He pictured standing like this in front of his family. Rose at his side hand in hand. It brought warmth to his heart being able to flaunt this beautiful, courageous, headstrong woman to the people he loved; however, in that image he felt there was something missing. Someone.
Rose had a bit of an advantage, having spent time with his family before, but he also knew that Adrian understood him in a way that Rose did not. There were things from his past that only someone who had been through a similar trauma could really wrap their mind around. Sure, Rose empathized and was compassionate on her thoughts surrounding Dimitri's father, but Adrian shared some of the same scars and knew how some of those wounds would never fully heal. Adrian also understood how his familial resemblance had been a struggle for Dimitri—another reason he was worried about bringing the Moroi in front of his family. But Dimitri felt like this would be the ultimate test to prove that Adrian was nothing like Randall. It was closing a final chapter on that part of his life and finally moving on. He wasn't sure if his family would see it that way. What if they rejected him? What if they feared him? But Dimitri had to decide what was more important, and what was worth the risk.
"No." He told Rose, claiming that feeling in his gut. "That's not what I want."
He turned his gaze to Rose and stared into those endless dark eyes. Sometimes the way the light hit them it was if they had swallowed it whole and were reflecting it back from the inside. It was a mesmerizing sight. He raised a hand and brushed his thumb along her cheek before tucking a strand of silky hair behind her ear. He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes, enjoying this closeness for another lingering moment. "Thank you, Rose. For thinking of me."
Dimitri leaned back only the slightest bit to press his lips against hers. He took his time, kissing her slow and sweet, moving his hand down to the back of her neck, his fingertips kneading into her hair. Rose clutched onto his shoulders, his kiss catching her off-guard and making her feel like she needed something sturdy to hold on to. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that Dimitri was really hers, that these moments were real and weren't just a daydream. She'd spent so much time wanting this, and now that she had it even small gestures like this felt almost overwhelming. Her full chest brushed against his, causing a groan to grumble through it. Rose's lips cracked into a small smile and Dimitri's did the same. He pulled back a little, not wanting things to escalate too much—he still had some things to think over and Adrian was waiting for her in the other room. Rose let out a small sigh, her eyes still shut and her lips turned up. Unable to help himself, Dimitri placed a few more light kisses on her lips, then her cheek, then her ear, whispering, "I love you, Roza," before finally pulling away.
Rose placed her palm on his cheek and replied, "I love you too, Dimitri." She stared at him the way she did sometimes, admiring this side of him that so few got to see. "Are you sure you won't join us?"
He gently tugged at her wrist and placed a kiss on the inside of her palm. "Not now. I have a few more things to take care of."
Rose nodded, her breath hitching from their close proximity. They exchanged a few more kisses before Rose was finally convinced to leave, taking the massive bowl of popcorn with her. Dimitri sat on his bed a little longer, thinking about what he wanted.
It was only recently that he'd realized he was officially in a relationship with a man. Their night together had opened the door in new and obvious ways, but there were little shifts that had made him realize it was more. Some things he had grown to like, and others—not so much. Just the other week Dimitri stood from the bed after one of their more eventful nights, and on his way to the bathroom Adrian walked by him, completely nude, and smacked Dimitri's bare ass. "Good match, Belikov," he'd said over his shoulder, causing Dimitri to grimace. He hadn't yet figured out how to separate his situation at home from the real world outside and Adrian loved to make it hard.
Those thoughts shed light on another one of his struggles. It wasn't just what this would mean to his family, but what it would mean to Dimitri. Taking Adrian home would solidify their relationship, make it real. With Rose, it was no question—he never wanted to be without her. With Adrian, it was still so new he wasn't sure if he was ready to make that call. He pictured standing in front of them again with Rose at his side, and the same feeling in his gut twisted. He didn't want to leave him behind, but was Dimitri ready to make this man his...partner?
Every once in a while Dimitri would hear one of them laugh and he considered going out to join them, but he didn't want to soil their good moods. He pulled himself off the bed and into the shower, hoping the warm water would still his thoughts long enough for him to read a few pages before falling asleep.
/
Rose joined Adrian in the living room, her lips a darker shade of pink than before she'd left and a dazed look on her face. Adrian knew that look. It bruised his ego a bit to admit he'd worn that look.
"Kiss it better," he asked.
She looked up at him as she sat down. "I'm not sure," she admitted, her brow furrowing a bit.
"Wow, he must really be going through it then," Adrian had meant it to be a joke, but it had turned true before it left his lips. Rose nodded, eyes moving down in thought.
"You're worried," it wasn't a question. It was all over her expression. Adrian opened one of his arms in invitation.
"Well, yes," Rose sighed leaning into him as he pulled her close. "I feel a little inadequate actually."
"Inadequate? You? Little Dhampir, you are far from it." Adrian kissed the top of her head and stroked her arm.
"I just don't know how to fix it. What to do. In case you haven't noticed I'm not that experienced in relationships."
Adrian resisted the urge to turn the conversation light, forcing himself to be serious. It wasn't always easy for him, having used it as a tool for so long to shy away from darker conversations he didn't want to have, but being with Rose and Dimitri had helped him want to try. "Maybe not in comparison to others, but that doesn't make you inept. There are parts of this that are new for all of us—not just you."
"Says the guy who's dated half the Moroi population," she looked up at him with a smirk, her cheek pressing into his chest.
"Excuse me, but I resent that," Adrian raised a brow at her. "A third of the population at best. I'm not a wild animal."
She rolled her eyes as Adrian sucked in a deep breath. It was strange, deciding whether or not to give her advice on how to help another man while she was cozied up in his arms. He waited for those old feelings of jealousy to arise like when they used to have separate arrangements. Nights when she'd leave him to go see Dimitri—he'd felt so alone. Like every bit of warmth and light she would give him when they were together was leached away until he was encased in darkness, the abyss filling his lungs to the point he felt like he was drowning in it. But now—now he wanted to be there for them both. "So what is it that you don't think you can solve?"
Rose thought for a beat, chewing on her bottom lip. Adrian reached down and gently tugged it free with his thumb. Her eyes moved up to his again, looking at him like she was seeing through them—finding something that was worth looking at.
"It's just that," she cleared her throat, strengthening her words, "Dimitri is always the one thinking about everyone else first. He may come off as guarded and stoic but he's so, so kind. I just don't know how to repay that kindness the way I should. Especially when he's down like this."
Adrian sat up straighter and pulled Rose back a little so their faces were aligned. "You're right,
I can say without a doubt Dimitri is the kindest person I've ever met. But he wouldn't want you feeling like you have to repay him. He only gives you the things you deserve—not because he expects you to give him something in return."
Rose's eyes widened and Adrian feared he may have said something wrong. "What?"
"Holy shit you have no idea how much like Zen Master Belikov you just sounded," her expression shifted into mild shock.
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, I guess the old man's rubbing off on me." Rose poked him teasingly in the chest causing him to laugh. He returned it with a small pinch to her side, her sweet giggles making him want to chase the sound and elicit more. He resisted the urge again, deciding it was important to finalize his point. "What I mean is, don't go searching for solutions just because you think that's what he needs. Find something that you want and seize it. That's one of the reasons he fell in love with you after all."
She tried, and failed, to raise a brow at him. "How do you know that?"
Adrian's hand moved up her thigh, his gaze following the trail before giving her a loving squeeze. "Because it's the same for me."
Adrian felt her hand snake around the back of his neck so fast he wasn't sure when she'd even moved. Before his eyes could find hers their lips were pressed together in a sultry kiss that sent a burning flame through his chest. Rose's lips parted when she finally took a breath and his tongue immediately sunk into her warm, inviting mouth, hunting that flame buried in the taste of her. She moaned against his mouth and his grip tightened around her thigh. He moved his lips along her jaw and down her neck, leaving searing open-mouthed kisses in their wake. "Adrian," Rose gasped, bringing his face back up to hers. Their breathing was harsh, their lips still touching the slightest bit as she whispered, "I know what I want to do."
There was a small tap on Dimitri's door and he called out to welcome whoever was behind it. Rose peeked her head through with a mischievous smile on her face. She had intended on waltzing into the room in a teasing, alluring show, but one glance at him made her pause. The ends of his hair were damp from the shower and he hadn't bothered with a shirt. He was lounging in gray sweatpants that looked too soft to be legal with a book in hand. His other arm was tucked behind his head showing off his toned muscles.
She had seen him actively using those muscles working out or sparring a thousand times, but when he was in this relaxed state, just laying there to be admired, he looked ridiculously sexy. Like Adonis carved to perfection. Her eyes trailed from his tight bicep all the way down to his pronounced deep v. He lowered his book and looked up to her, the expression on her face causing a carnal reaction in him.
His eyes darkened as they raked over her, his jaw tightening the smallest bit. Seeing that she could affect him the same way he did her brought back Rose's playful temper.
She opened the door and sauntered in, showing off the enticing ensemble she'd chosen. Dimitri straightened up, tossing his book to the floor. It was truly incredible that he'd managed to resist her all those months back at the academy, the biggest test to his willpower he'd ever withstood, and now he was grasping at that control again, tethering himself to it to keep from launching off the mattress.
The door frame creaked and Dimitri's eyes moved to find Adrian leaning against it. His silken jeans were unbuttoned, lazily hanging onto his hips—his chest covered with a cerulean cotton t-shirt. He slowly walked in behind Rose and a line on Dimitri's control snapped. He moved to get off the bed, but Rose tsked at him and pressed him down by his chest. "Not so fast, Comrade."
Dimitri's heart reacted under her palm. Rose's eyes sparked as she leaned into him. The closer she got, the more pressure she used until Dimitri was laying in the same place she'd found him when she opened the door. She was so close he could smell her peppermint chapstick, begging him to taste.
"That's better," she whispered against his mouth, an audible groan buzzing into her hand. "There's only one rule tonight."
Rose smirked as she crawled down his body to a seated position beside him. He sucked in a ragged breath holding it in a bit longer to reinforce the lines. She wanted to tease him, and he knew it, but all he could think about was pouncing on top of her and ripping that tiny excuse for underwear off her body. He let his breath out. "And what's that?"
"You," Adrian's deep voice pulled Dimitri's focus to him, "don't move."
Dimitri swallowed. The look they were giving him making him feel like he was starving, but also the meal.
Before he could say anything in response, hands and mouths were on him. His head fell back as the juxtaposing feelings washed over him. Strong hands gripping his hips, thighs, and arms. Soft lips trailing down his collar and abdomen. He couldn't think straight, little less speak. He wriggled a little, attempting to reach for one of them, but with a click of Adrian's tongue Dimitri obediently went still. His eyes shut when his body decided for him to just give in.
Every once in a while a pair of lips would find their way to his mouth. Rotating between feathering, teasing nips to clashing teeth and tongues. Soon his thoughts were consumed by their lips and only their lips. Everything else in the world completely faded away. As a pair greedily latched on to him, another sneakily made their way lower. He felt fingertips ghost over the growing bulge in his pants, the taunting and teasing almost becoming painful. The deft fingers began lifting away and Dimitri's hips chased after them, a low moan started in his mouth and ended in another when they were completely gone. Rose and Adrian chuckled in unison, loving the position of power they'd found themselves in. Dimitri, the Dhampir revered as a god, seemed unbreakable to the masses, but having the ability to subdue him with just a sensual touch was invigorating.
Dimitri felt like he was about to erupt from the tingling feeling radiating across his entire body. The lines inside him snapped one by one as each new touch brought on a different sensation. He wanted to grab, he wanted to yell, he wanted to soar.
Just as he was about to break all the rules and claim what he was internally screaming for, a gust of cool air rushed across him as his pants shot to the floor. Anticipation rushed through him with a sharp inhale. The kisses had moved to his thighs, so close but so achingly far from where his body craved. His nerves were on high alert, radiating from his legs; his right one sharply twitching under a bite.
His eyes shot open and the nerves scattered, racing to his heart. For a split second, he imagined the instant of pain followed by a rush of adrenaline from a venomous bite. When he looked down, it was Rose looking back up at him with a glint in her eye. Relief abated his panicked state, and instinctively he moved his sights over to the Moroi.
Adrian's gaze was waiting for him, determined, tender, and wanton. Dimitri's heart expanded, transfixed on his face. Rose was like a beacon for Dimitri, a constant comfort but also a pillar of strength. As he looked at Adrian though, he felt anchored in a way he never had before. Then without warning, Adrian's mouth plunged onto Dimitri's cock and the world became nothing but kindled pleasure again.
Dimitri's head pressed into the pillows, his hands destructively gripping into the sheets. Rose's fingers wrapped around him and slowly slid up and down just below Adrian's lips. The familiar combined with the new.
The pressure tightened around his member, causing a strangled sound to catch in his throat. The movement stopped and cool air brushed across him again. Dimitri looked down to see Adrian waiting again, a questioning look in his eye—silently asking if this was okay.
Dimitri's chest heaved, his mind desperately trying to catch up and bring forth thoughts about what was happening. He had never done this with a man before, should he consider this and think things through?
But he didn't want to think. He only wanted to feel. "Don't stop," he huffed, somehow out of breath despite being completely immobile.
Adrian obliged and sunk down once again, moving faster than before. This time Dimitri resisted the urge to close his eyes. He wanted to watch. He wanted to see the two of them bring him closer to eruption. Adrian's movements were more than he'd ever felt before. He was taking him in, all of him, with ease and swirling his tongue around him in combinations that had every line inside him completely disintegrating. Rose peppered feather-light kisses along Dimitri's abdomen, the faint tickling feeling combined with Adrian's aggressive pumping igniting his desire to rebel.
Without thought, Dimitri grabbed Rose's wrist to propel her forward, her full breasts pressed into his stomach eliciting a satisfied hum. It wasn't enough though. They were allowing him to be greedy—and he wanted more. His long arms reached for her waist and easily pulled her up to straddle his chest. Rose's arms shot out to the headboard to keep herself from falling, giving Dimitri the exact angle he'd intended. Rose's lips opened in either question or protest but Dimitri's were faster. His mouth moved straight to her core, one of his hands yanking the slim material away as the other firmly gripped her ass to move her even closer to him.
A breathy cry echoed above him and he repaid the satisfaction with a flick of his tongue. Rose's hands tightened against the frame as her thighs trembled against Dimitri's broad shoulders. He created the same patterns he could feel around his cock, moaning against her slit as his hands wildly traced her body up and down.
Changing his tactics, Adrian's fingers roughly squeezed Dimitri's inner thighs causing his hips to buck. Dimitri paused for a moment, afraid he'd lost too much of his control, but instead of pulling back as he'd expected, Adrian hummed around him and sunk his dick impossibly deeper into his mouth.
"Blyad'! Eto potryasayushche."
Dimitri felt like he was completely unraveling from inside out. Rose above him was the only thing keeping him together while Adrian below him was artfully working to pull him apart. He wasn't ready to let go yet, this feeling was too good, too rare. He sunk his middle finger inside Rose, curling it towards him as if he was beckoning her orgasm to him. He moved his thumb over her bead bringing out more sounds that made him sink his mouth back onto her instead. Dimitri's hips were rocking up in the same waves Rose's moved above him—the task at hand just barely keeping him hanging on. When his other arm pulled her close against him again she gasped as thrill and gratification skyrocketed through her core. The sight of her wracking with pleasure above him was almost enough to make him explode. She slumped down and Dimitri caught her in his arms, sinking her a little lower onto his chest as he angled himself up.
The Dhampir pressed his cheek against Rose's lower abdomen as her thrilled breaths and soft skin panted against him. He tightened his hold on her, looking down to Adrian around her hips. The sight before him had Dimitri engrossed. His breathing grew more ragged, his mouth parted in awe and rapture.
Rose nimbly grinded her sex against his chest, dragging out the lingering sensations of her orgasm. Her mewling sounds and fingernails scraping against his scalp had his heart banging against his ribcage.
Adrian's emerald eyes flicked up, locking on Dimitri's.
He was no longer his anchor. He was Dimitri's god. The Dhampir cried out against Rose's side as his hips jerked uncontrollably under Adrian's mouth. Pleasure simultaneously shot through him and out of him as his body mercilessly gave in. Every muscle within him tightened and pulsed completely free of any control, openly feeling everything it wanted and craved. The descend was prolonged, Dimitri coming longer and harder than he thought possible.
Rose gently stroked his back, mesmerized by the blissed-out state of him below her. When his eyes were no longer squeezed shut and the soft brown was revealed behind fluttering lashes, she easily moved off him. He kept one arm around her, barely holding it up as he lazily reached down with the other to latch on to Adrian's hand. Only when they were both nestled up beside him did he finally cave to his exhaustion and fall back against the sheets.
Rose and Adrian gently kissed his chest, occasionally whispering something to him or one another as Dimitri's breathing settled.
"That was…" Rose breathed out looking between the two men.
"Fucking awesome," Adrian finished.
Dimitri ran a hand through his messy hair before putting it back around Adrian's shoulder. "I couldn't have said it better," he lowly muttered.
"You will," Adrian smirked. "Once your mind comes back to this realm, I'm sure you'll think of several things to say."
Dimitri chuckled and Rose nipped at his ear. "That was an awfully naughty move you pulled there, Comrade."
He turned towards her and rubbed his nose against her cheek. "Well Roza," his lips twisted into a wicked grin, "looks like you're not the only rule breaker in the house." Rose felt her core land a backflip.
"Maybe we should find a way to punish him," Adrian haughtily said as he stroked a finger down Rose's arm.
"Me? What about you," Dimitri accused. "Was that even legal?"
Adrian beamed at Dimitri's light mood. "In some parts of the Netherlands it is."
"Fuck," Dimitri sighed.
His two partners mewled beside him, sensually rubbing up and down his body when he felt something hard press against his side. It was only then he realized how selfish they had allowed him to be, Adrian specifically. Dimitri reached down and pressed his palm against Adrian's jeans. "You're still…"
"Ah, so it appears I am," Adrian smiled lazily before licking his lips.
The need to please Adrian was slowly bringing him out of his blissed-out state as he turned slightly towards him and rubbed his palm against him. Adrian's lashes fluttered, the only sign of how much he was affected by that touch, before gently moving Dimitri's hand away. The Dhampir looked at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Trust me, Belikov. I'm more than fine with it. This," he lightly moved his hand along Dimitri's side, "was more than enough for me."
This wasn't the first time Adrian had acted this way. Despite his self-indulging reputation, Adrian was one of the most selfless people Dimitri had met and on more occasions than not, he seemed to get more satisfaction out of pleasing others than himself. It was just another solidifier that proved to Dimitri how unlike many other Moroi Adrian was, one greed-ridden Moroi in particular.
Adrian smiled at him, giving him a last bit of reassurance before turning to Rose and listing ways to punish Dimitri for his disobedience. The three of them joked in hushed voices until slowly drifting to sleep, a new blissful contentedness washing over them.
The faucet opened and water quietly spilled into a tall pint glass. Dimitri took a few gulps before filling it again. After lying awake for the better part of an hour he'd silently untangled himself from various limbs, snatched his pants, and snuck out of the room, not wanting to wake them.
He hoped quenching his mild thirst would help him fall back asleep, but as the water cascaded down his throat it still felt dry. Intrusive thoughts were creeping in, making his mind run instead of still.
The bedroom door slid open and a tall figure emerged. Adrian clicked the door shut behind him and casually waltzed into the kitchen, tugging on his shirt so he wasn't in just his boxer briefs. He was still the epitome of male pride and rightfully so after what he'd made Dimitri feel. He opened the pantry near Dimitri's head and walked behind him towards the sink.
"You look like you have something on your mind." Adrian turned the faucet and filled his own glass. "Which is surprising since I thought your mind would still be euphoric goo." He brought his glass up to his lips, waiting for Dimitri to decide whether or not he'd respond.
Dimitri ran a hand over his face, trying to fight the blush creeping to his cheeks. His glass clinked against the counter as he set it down and leaned against the hard surface. "It's something I've been thinking about for a while—even when I try not to."
Adrian took another large gulp of water, filling his mouth to keep it from running. After a couple quiet beats, Dimitri looked up at Adrian under his eyelashes, something unfamiliar and timid about that look made Adrian's muscles tighten.
"The biting," Dimitri spoke quietly. "Why haven't you ever tried...with me?"
The Moroi set down his glass and mirrored Dimitri's stance against the counter. "Because I know you don't want me to," Adrian said matter of factly.
Dimitri thought about the satiated bliss that oozed from Adrian's face when he'd sink his teeth into Rose, and the panic he felt when he thought he'd done it to him. "But you want to?"
"I dunno. Haven't really thought that much about it," Adrian shrugged.
Dimitri's brow furrowed in accusation.
Adrian pushed off the counter and let out a huff. "Believe it or not, when we're intimate that's not what comes to top of mind." His eyes dragged down Dimitri's bare torso, causing the Dhampir to squirm a little.
Adrian reached up to gently grab Dimitri's strong shoulder, his expression turning a bit more serious as he continued admiring the Guardian's dips and planes. "And I would never put you in a position where you felt like you had to do something to please me."
A mother's face, no longer holding anything of who she was, only what the rush allowed her. Limbs that had gone limp hanging over the edge of the bed in a dark room. A sister's sniffles the only sound louder than her mother's deep breathing. A father's footsteps shuffling down the stairs and out the door.
Adrian was not this. He was good. He was selfless, not selfish. Those emerald eyes moved up to Dimitri's, chasing away the grim images from his past. The Dhampir lifted his arm off the counter and placed his fingers behind Adrian's neck, studying his face. Even without those words, Dimitri could clearly see the man he was, the man he wanted for himself and wasn't tied to without a choice.
He leaned forward for the second time that night and let out a sigh as he placed his forehead against Adrian's. "Ty ne on."
Adrian's grip on his shoulder tightened as he repeated back, "I am not him."
Dimitri nodded, pulling back a little so he could look at the Moroi again. He worried he might have offended him like he did the first time they spoke of his father, but all he saw was understanding and reassurance.
He could feel himself moving closer, the urge to kiss Adrian becoming a force that pulled him. Those green eyes dipped down to Dimitri's lips and a spark of anticipation shot through his chest. Before their lips met, Adrian spoke just as quietly as Dimitri had before. "This goes for Baia too."
Dimitri paused, confusion melting into his magnetic expression. "I don't want you to do something you're not ready for just to please me." Adrian felt Dimitri's hand slide off his neck and he loosened his grip on him as well to give him some space.
The Dhampir briefly wondered if Rose may have mentioned his earlier reluctance to him or if it was his own astute observations, but realized it didn't matter. As the night progressed each one of those hesitations needling in the back of his mind washed away to make room for certainty.
"Thank you, Adrian," he spoke confidently now. "I want you with me. I want my family to meet you. And I also hope that pleases you." Dimitri's lips glided into a small smile and Adrian felt like someone just smashed a plate over his head.
"It does," Adrian swallowed, Dimitri's eyes darkening as they followed the movement of the Moroi's throat. "Very much so."
Dimitri sank forward, claiming that feeling in his gut along with Adrian's lips. The Moroi pushed closer, the tops of their abdomen brushing each others. He wrapped his arms around Dimitri's back as the Dhampir latched onto Adrian's jaw. This was the first time they had kissed alone since that first night a few weeks ago. It didn't feel weird, or wrong like they'd feared. It felt fucking incredible.
They kissed until their lips were swollen and their eyes felt heavy, peppering a few more until finally relenting to go back to bed.
Rose watched the tail end of their interaction quietly from the cracked bedroom door, padding back to the bed before they entered the room. She laid down facing away from them to hide the smile permanently glued to her face. The feeling of relief washed over her that things were not only normal, but more between all of them. As they slunk onto the bed, arms wrapped around her bringing her into their warm little bubble they'd created. An almost unhealthy amount of pride seeped through her as she reveled in the success of her plan.
Rose hated traveling. The idea of it, lovely! But the execution, dreadful. Especially after spending months on the road not only chasing after ghosts and demons but hiding to save her own skin. She hadn't really had that many great experiences when it came to getting out of town. Even a quick trip to Spokane turned into one of the most horrific moments of her life.
As excited as she was to see the Belikova women again, there was an ominous cloud following her at every stop they made. The connecting flights, train rides, and rental cars were all too familiar, reminding her that the last time she'd ventured this far was in pursuit of ending a Guardian's unnatural state. Her Guardian. She spent the last couple of hours of the trip trying to sleep, but images of his chalky white skin and dead red eyes were making her feel like jumping out of the car. At one point, a rough hand lightly rested on her shoulder and jolted her in her seat. When her eyes opened and she saw who it belonged to she almost screamed, but one glance at his smooth, chocolate eyes subdued her fear to deep breaths instead.
Dimitri flinched at the look on Rose's face. Every once in a while she'd wake up from a nightmare panting and sweating, searching the room in panic to make sure she was really there and not elsewhere. He knew the place that haunted her, where she dreaded being...it haunted him as well. Sometimes when the dreams were really bad, Adrian would enter her mind and settle her in her sleeping state, so that Dimitri didn't have to see her looking at him that way.
Rose shifted in her seat and smoothed her shirt, trying to ease her nerves in the process. She gave Dimitri a small smile, letting him know she was alright and hoping he was too. His face was unreadable, fixed on hers. Rose looked out the window seeing the familiar town of Baia closing in the distance. She let out a small sigh, "A lot of memories here."
She'd meant it to lighten the mood, letting him know there were things outside of those dark events that actually brought her joy. But Dimitri took the opportunity to raise her hand to his lips and lightly brushed them against her knuckles. "We'll make new ones," he quietly said when she turned to face him again.
"I'd like that," she replied, her dark eyes lighting up as her smile grew more genuine.
"Is it that one," Adrian called from the back. He'd spent the last fifteen minutes pointing at houses to guess which belonged to the Belikov family. Dimitri had insisted they weren't even on the right block yet but he continued with his game. When the car slowed to a stop in front of Dimitri's childhood home, though, Adrian went silent—anxiety and excitement washing over them all.
Dimitri muttered something in his mother tongue and Rose bolted out of the car. The fresh air hit her like a cleansing wave and she bounced on the balls of her toes in anticipation. When Dimitri approached her side, looking slightly blanched, she raised up higher and pressed a small kiss to his cheek. "They're going to be thrilled to see you," she whispered before wrapping her arm around his and giving it a tight squeeze.
He nodded and a small breathy cloud puffed out of his mouth. Rose nudged him forward as she turned around to help Adrian with the bags. She wanted him to have a moment alone with his family before they followed him in.
Dimitri walked through the front door, the time since he'd last done so suddenly feeling like an eon and just yesterday. The familiar smell of his mother's cooking filled the entryway, pulling him deeper into the house. He didn't bother avoiding that one creaky board that used to alert the entire house when one of his sisters would try to sneak back in. The sharp sound of metal clanking against the counter was the only indicator that his mother had heard. In an instant she was standing before him, a smile stretching a kilometer across her face and tears filling her eyes. Dimitri had seen his family on video chat several times over the past few months, but seeing Olena in person now made him feel like that small boy that had once lived there. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to embrace his mother, but would she still see him that way too?
When he was younger, and even after his Guardian training, she always knew when something was wrong—despite it being one of the things that was trained out of him. He'd become a master at hiding his emotions, but that didn't stop Olena from sniffing them out as soon as he walked through the door. Would she see all the evil he'd done, all the terror he'd caused? Now that he was standing before her in that same spot, would she no longer see him as the son he once was?
He opened his mouth to say something but fear gripped around his throat, denying the words escape. Strong, gentle arms wrapped around him, gripping him fiercely. His 6'7 stature was instantly reduced to that of a child within her loving embrace.
Dimitri dipped his head into his mother's shoulder and pulled her close. "Izvini mama."
"YA tak rada, chto ty vernulsya syn moy." Olena pulled back and placed her hands on each side of his face. She rubbed her thumb across his cheek, removing a smudge of dirt that wasn't really there. Dimitri smiled at the familiar gesture that used to embarrass him but now he coveted. An icy breeze from the open front door rushed in, but the warmth of their embrace pushed it away.
What sounded like a bowling ball tumbling down the stairs was accompanied by shrill cries of excitement. Dimitri turned towards them as the first body slammed against his side and another launched into his arms. His third sister cradled his other side more mildly and he was completely wrapped like a Belikova vareniki. They squeezed him so hard he could barely breathe, but he didn't care. He closed his eyes and a full-bellied laugh shook their bundled bodies.
"Ya skuchayu po tebe!"
"U tebya volosy khippi."
"Ty prines podarki?"
"Let the man breathe," Olena tsked and smacked Vika on the bottom, prompting her to climb down. Karo loosened her death grip on his side but kept a hand on his back as Sonya stepped back towards her mother, a baby on her hip.
Dimitri looked at the little one, joy expanding his already full heart. "She's beautiful, Sonya."
"Just like her Mama," she said proudly, planting a small kiss on the babe's head.
"Can't argue with that," Rose's voice called from behind Dimitri as she plopped a suitcase down on the hardwood floor.
The women's faces lit up and Karo finally stepped away from Dimitri to stand by the others. They were unnaturally quiet, in an almost rehearsed way. He could tell they wanted to launch a thousand questions at her and embrace her in the same way, Vika was literally leaning forward on the balls of her feet. But they patiently waited for him to officially introduce her since he didn't get the chance before.
Rose walked up beside him, beaming at his happy, relaxed face. He was devastatingly handsome when he looked at her like that. Dimitri reached down and pulled her hand into his, staring deep into her eyes—his beacon, his constant in all things that threatened to unravel him. Unable to look away from her, he said, "Sem'ya, this is my Roza."
A couple of them began to snicker but stopped when Olena bumped them with her hip. The familiar creak announced another party entering the room and their attention shifted. Adrian walked to the other side of Dimitri and placed a suitcase on the floor. Dimitri tore his gaze away from Rose to inspect their reception. Vika and Sonya lit up, no doubt admiring his handsome features, but Karolina's expression was suspicious, the familiarity of him drawn from having spent the longest with the former resident Ivashkov. A spec of that fear returned to Dimitri. Olena still wore her kind smile, with a hint of confusion creasing her brow. Again, they patiently waited for Dimitri to speak first before assailing him with questions.
Adrian felt nervous for the first time that day. He hadn't spent much time around a caring, loving family unit, and immediately he could tell how much all of these people meant to one another. The way they looked at their older brother with admiration, their arms delicately yet naturally wrapped around each other as they stood side by side, the trust and love oozed from them all. Was he about to ruin that? Maybe it was a mistake that he came.
He pushed his foot into the floor, the urge to run away pulsing through him. Not a completely unfamiliar feeling when he was around family, but this time it was for a different reason. Rather than fearing how a family would shatter him, he was afraid of how he would wreck them. His heart pounded in his chest, his breaths coming in raggedly through his nose.
An impossibly warm hand slid down the inside of his forearm and into his own. He looked down as fingers wrapped around his, clenching them tightly. The feeling solidified him, grounding him in place. He looked up to Dimitri to see him looking at his family, his earlier confidence still there but in his aura Adrian could see the smallest bits of trepidation encircling him.
Dimitri sucked in a silent breath and said, "And this is Adrian," waiting for them to react.
Despite the small differences their features possessed, one thing that each Belikova identically shared was their warm, inviting eyes. Seeing Dimitri reach for Adrian's hand and hearing the dip in his words, those Belikova eyes all widened in unison. This time they didn't hold back questions out of politeness, they were dumbfounded, words completely lost on them. Dimitri watched his mother the closest, hoping he hadn't sprung too much too soon, but also desperate to show her the man he was now. A man he was proud to be, no longer caged by the fear of who he was and things he'd done. A man that was hopeful for the future and no longer tied monsters of his past—whether they were in the form of a soulless demon or a malignant father. He was happy. He was free.
Olena looked from each of their clasped hands back to her son, her features melting and softening almost as much as when he'd first walked through her door. She smiled and Dimitri's aura burst with elation.
Zoya squealed as Adrian lifted her high above his head—the smile on his face was almost as big as the small toddler's. Paul ran up behind him with a stunted wooden sword, he'd undoubtedly made himself, demanding he put her down.
"Unhand her, pirate king, or I will be forced to take action."
Adrian whipped around and pulled Zoya onto his hip. "Yarrg, I'll never surrender. The girl is mine now. She'll be cleaning the poop deck til the end of her days." Zoya giggled and began shouting, "Poop deck, poop deck," on repeat.
"See there!" Adrian's pirate voice was so ridiculous one couldn't help but laugh, "She's already fallin' in line."
"I'll rescue the young maiden if it's the last thing I do!" Paul surged forward waving his sword in the air. Adrian quickly snatched up an umbrella from beside the sofa and dipped into a surprisingly decent fighting stance. "Enguard!" The two make-shift weapons clashed and Zoya applauded the turn of events.
The two parried around the living room, hopping over furniture and other domestic obstacles before swinging at their opponent again. "You're not so bad with that," Rose called to Adrian from the other side of the room. "I thought Paul would've had you on your ass by now."
"Twelve years of fencing," Adrian huffed as he blocked another strike. "But I'm glad to hear you think so highly of me, my dear." He looked over to flash her a quick wink, but it ended up costing him the game. The sword smacked into his leg and Adrian dramatically cried out, gently tossing Zoya onto the ottoman before collapsing to the ground. "Baahhh, you've bested me you vagabond!"
Several coughs, exaggerated gasps, and an extremely long-winded speech later, Adrian was finally dead. The children were on the floor beside him rolling with laughter.
Dimitri leaned against the entryway, the smile he had been wearing as he watched their interaction starting to fade. He picked at the crown molding beside him, the paint was starting to chip. He tried to divert his focus to the materials and time it would take to restore it, but another laugh from one of the children squeezed his heart.
It should have pleased him, watching Adrian play with his nieces and nephew and for a moment, it had. But without cause, that joy had slowly molded into sadness. It had always been a thought at the far reaches of his mind, never really holding much weight since Rose was in no way ready, but seeing them in this setting was making Dimitri's insecurity lie heavily on his chest.
No amount of want could change the fact Dimitri could never give Rose a family. And Adrian could.
There was no jealousy lining these thoughts, only inadequacy. Dimitri couldn't help but feel something was wrong with him—something preventing him from giving Rose the very scene before them, but in their own home. With children that had his brown hair and her captivating smile.
Karolina walked up beside Dimitri, gently nudging his arm. "On khorosh s nimi, ne tak li?"
Dimitri nodded and replied in a quiet, distant voice. "Da, eto pravda."
Karo's brow scrunched sensing the odd turn his mood had taken. As Adrian rose from the ground she waved him over, handing him a glass of water she'd fetched from the kitchen. He smiled at the Dhampir woman, huffing a little out of breath as he walked over to join them. "Spasibo. Mne nuzhno eto."
"Ah, vy khorosho govorite na russkom."
"Spasibo. Eto krasivyy yazyk."
"Adrian is fluent in many languages," Dimitri quietly added, welcoming the shift in conversation.
Karo began peppering him with questions about his studies and how he'd come to pick up each dialect when a small crash sent her to the living room to check on the children.
Adrian leaned against the wall beside Dimitri and glanced from Karo and the kids to Rose at the other side of the room chatting with Vika. "Can you imagine little ones running around our disaster of a place," Adrian asked, continuing the conversation in Dimitri's mother tongue. It's not that he was necessarily trying to hide what they were saying from Rose, but he knew Dimitri rarely got to speak Russian back home and wanted to indulge him a little longer.
Dimitri replied with an immediate, "Yes," eyes fixed on his family once again.
Adrian didn't need to know Dimitri his whole life like his sister to sense what he was feeling, his aura revealed enough. "I can see it now," he started, in an attempt to brighten those clouded colors. "A girl, defiant and rebellious, just like her mother, and a strapping boy full of wisdom beyond his years. His zen life lessons no doubt on par with his father's. We'd have to practically beg him or bribe him into breaking away from his books to join us in these types of silly games. As much as he'd protest, we could all see how much he loved letting loose. Another similarity he'd share with his contemplative old man."
Adrian wiggled his brows at the Dhampir, hoping the visual would cheer him up but Dimitri just shook his head with a grim smile. "Charming. But that's never going to happen."
The Moroi cleared his throat, becoming unsettled by this mood. "What would make you say that? I know you want a family, whether you voice it directly to her or not."
Dimitri went rigid, becoming as still as the wall he was leaning against. "I do," he said quietly, "but that's not something I can provide."
It took a minute for this to register with Adrian. He thought for a moment he hadn't translated it right in his mind but when he was sure he had, it sparked a determination to prove Dimitri wrong. "Of course it is. The only thing you need to provide them is the love and adoration that I know you possess. That our fathers didn't. You'll teach them how to be brave, kind, tactful. How to combat impulsiveness and think things through. Knowing the difference between being considerate and putting others first. You will be an incredible father to your children, Dimitri. I have no doubt about that."
"Adrian," there was a long pause as Dimitri took one last glance at his family before finally looking to the man beside him, "they wouldn't be mine."
A reactive response flew out of his mouth, "Like hell they wouldn't!"
Dimitri sat on his words for a moment, turning them over. Adrian wasn't naive enough to think they could overcome biology, but he really believed what he was saying. In his mind, it didn't matter who fathered their child—in the end, they would still be theirs. All of theirs. And if it didn't matter to him, why should it matter to Dimitri? He was offering a life Dimitri greatly wanted, even more so since seeing another person in their relationship with a similar aim. So Dimitri decided to take it—to not let his insecurities outweigh what really mattered. He smiled at Adrian, grateful for everything he'd already given him and the small promise of possibilities ahead.
Adrian bumped his shoulder and nodded into the living room where Rose was now sprawled on the floor beside little Katya. "Becoming a family will be easy." They watched as Rose hesitantly looked from the baby to the tiny rattle in her hand Sonya had left her with. After a moment of deep thought, she tossed it a few feet away and sweetly said, "fetch."
"Convincing her is going to be the hard part." The two men laughed, causing Rose's attention to shoot to them, squinting at their suspicious behavior.
"You know I hate it when you two talk about me in Russian."
"Who says we were talking about you," Adrian switched back to English.
"His face," Rose picked up the rattle and used it to point at Dimitri accusingly.
Dimitri was still chuckling, too amused to even attempt feigning innocence.
Adrian leaned over to whisper in Dimitri's ear, playfully chastising his inability to keep it cool. A lightness filled him knowing he was the one to help turn Dimitri's mood around. Not even a few days ago he was sure that Rose was the only one suited for such things, that he couldn't be serious enough, sane enough, or just didn't possess the ability others had to soothe their loved ones. He felt accomplished—something he rarely felt.
Not long after, another Belikova sister approached with refreshments. Sonya took the empty glass of water from Adrian and handed him a shot of thick, clear liquid.
"Ah, a woman after my own heart. I knew you were the fun sister," Adrian winked at her.
"After carrying that little one around for nine months and her glued to my chest for another six, this devushka needs a stiff drink." Sonya smiled back, raising her glass.
"Well, I'm happy to oblige," Adrian clinked his drink with hers and they both downed the shots.
Fire. He had swallowed pure fire.
Adrian thought he'd had Russian vodka before, but this was a whole other level. He tried his best to compose himself but his body rejected his efforts. Tears pooled in his eyes and a flaming breath shot out of his mouth. "You know," he sputtered between coughs, "I never understood why they call them stiff when ones such as this can have you swaying on your feet after one swill."
"Swaying already?" Dimitri put a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe we ought to put Katya's pacifier on your next one then."
Adrian looked up and clenched his shirt over his chest. "Belikov, you wound me."
Dimitri laughed again and Sonya joined in. Adrian looked over to her sniggering into her hand and realized she was laughing at something unsaid rather than the two of them. "What is it?"
She shook her head, still smiling. "Ah, I was just thinking that I should've known."
"Should've known I would be rattled by that lighter fluid?"
"Hmm, no." Her grin grew wider as she looked over to her brother. "I should've known that this would be a possibility. What with Dimka always so obsessed with cowboys and 80's music. He thought it made him unique, but seems a bit cliche now, no?"
"Ty mozhesh' zatknut'sya seychas!" Dimitri rolled his eyes.
"Uspokaivat'. YA tol'ko draznyu." Sonya smirked at him playfully.
"Well, I for one," Rose moved off the floor and walked over to Dimitri in that smooth, sultry way she did, "find those qualities to be very..very sexy." She ran her hands up his chest and locked them around his neck, rising onto her tiptoes to hold his melting gaze.
"Pfft, liar," Adrian mumbled, recalling the dozens of times Rose had teased him for the very same things.
Rose ignored him and placed a long, heated kiss on Dimitri's lips, wiping away any trace of embarrassment his sister had evoked. When she pulled back Dimitri's hungry eyes locked her in place, her arms still wrapped around him, her chest only an inch away.
"Alright, alright. Get a room already," Sonya scoffed, mildly disturbed by having to see her brother in a compromising position.
Rose suggestively raised an eyebrow at Dimitri, eliciting a wicked grin from the towering Dhampir.
Metal clinked against ceramic as Dimitri stirred his spoon in the last mug. When he was satisfied, he tossed the utensil into the sink and scooped up the other two cups. Yeva had brought home some cocoa powder from the market and he couldn't wait to make some for Rose and Adrian. His babushka didn't stay long, but the knowing look she flashed Dimitri when she greeted him in the kitchen told him long-winded introductions with the others weren't needed.
He ducked his head into the living room to see if there were any stragglers left, but it looked like everyone else had already gone to bed. Olena had laid out some extra quilts on the couch for him so that Adrian and Rose could share his bed. There was an awkward moment where his mother looked between them, unsure how the sleeping arrangements would work, but Dimitri was quick to end it by volunteering his room to their guests.
Quietly, he took the stairs two at a time and made it up to his room where he'd left Adrian and Rose to get settled. The smell hit Rose before Dimitri even closed the bedroom door. "Mmm. Chocolate," she purred.
Dimitri smiled and walked over to the bed where they were lounging. Rose took one of the steaming mugs from him and inhaled the rich, sweet scent. Adrian blinked drowsily at him and reached over to grab the other cup. Exhaustion was written all over him, but he still managed a lazy grin. "Thanks, Belikov."
They all took a few sips as Dimitri slyly watched them over his mug. Rose groaned so loud Dimitri was sure the entire house heard her. "Oh my god. This is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth."
"Third best," Adrian smirked as he took another sip.
Rose jabbed him in the side and Adrian snorted, trying to keep the hot liquid from spewing out his lips. "Perv!"
"You love it."
Dimitri watched them quietly, their light teasing and the melted chocolate warming him from the inside out. Rose looked over to him, her cheeks turning a tinge pink realizing he'd been observing her childish behavior. Sometimes when he did that, for a brief moment she felt like she was back at the academy. He the mature mentor and she the adolescent student. But one look at his reaction would squash those insecurities and make her feel that much more adored. Where before he would chastise her or roll his eyes when she acted immaturely, now he would flash her an affectionate smile or laugh at her jokes. There was a time Dimitri felt there was so much to teach her, that he couldn't fully be himself because what she needed was far more important than what he wanted. When the moment their roles reversed and she was the one teaching him, there was no turning it off again.
Rose moved towards him, her eyes tracing the panes of his torso without any ounce of shame. "Am I amusing you, Comrade?"
Dimitri swallowed hard under that pinning gaze, the air instantly shifting from warm to steaming. His visit to the room had purely meant to be innocent, a nightcap between the three of them before he said goodnight. Even though his family had been gracious and accepting, he wanted to make sure he maintained a respectful boundary. "You are equally amusing and terrifying, Roza," he softly replied.
"Terrifying? How so?" Rose lightly traced the tips of her fingers up Dimitri's bicep and across his chest. She could feel the smallest shudder under his shirt and beamed at the response she elicited.
"Terrifying because when you look at me like that, it makes me want to forget my entire family is in this house," Dimitri flirted with the line drawn in the sand.
Rose leaned in to whisper against his ear, "We can be quiet."
"Pfft," Adrian huffed from the bed beside her. "You, quiet?"
Rose looked over to him and gave him the most adorable pouty face she could muster. Dimitri knew how that look drove Adrian wild. His tired eyes sparked as he lifted his head off the pillow. "Little Dhampir, you are insatiable." Her hands slowly slipped down her thighs as she tilted her head towards him.
"Yes...I am."
Catching him completely off guard, Rose whipped around and plunged her mouth against Dimitri's. She climbed onto his lap and tightly pressed her chest against him, securing herself with an arm around the back of his neck. Dimitri would be the more difficult of the two to coerce into having some fun. Rose expected some resistance but instead, Dimitri molded into her letting out a deep sigh as his hands sensually roamed up her back. Testing how far he would let her go, she rolled her hips into his lap, his pants instantly becoming tighter. He sank his tongue into her open mouth, the taste of her peppermint chapstick and hot chocolate making his head spin. Rose's hand moved down from his neck to squeeze a sensitive spot on his waist, causing him to wriggle under her hold.
"Who knew the infamous Guardian Belikov was ticklish," she grinned against his wet lips.
"You keep this up, and we're going to spill our drinks." His voice was breathy and coarse.
Rose placed a few light kisses along his jaw before whispering, "Well, we wouldn't want that."
Dimitri hummed, somehow managing to tear his eyes away from her to the two mugs in their hands. He released his grip on her back to take the cup from her and leaned towards the bedside table. When they were at a safe distance he looked back to see Rose grinning at Adrian beside her, trying her best to hold in a laugh. When Dimitri looked down, the sentiment was the same.
Adrian was completely passed out, his mouth agape and the hot chocolate still in his hands resting on his chest. "I'm surprised he's not snoring," Rose quietly sniggered. The fanfare of emotions accompanied by a day playing with children and drinking Russian vodka had finally caught up to the Moroi. Dimitri smiled, admiring his peaceful state.
He turned back to Rose and rubbed his nose along the side of her neck. "We should all get some rest."
She nodded, trying to fight back a small yawn. Dimitri's smile grew and he planted a kiss against her cheek before effortlessly lifting her off his lap. He reached over to take Adrian's mug and placed it beside theirs. "I'll be downstairs if you need anything, moya lyubov."
He gave her hand a small squeeze and began to get off the bed when Rose tugged his hand back to her. "Could you...stay? Just a little longer?"
He looked at the bed, the majority now occupied by Adrian's unconscious form. He knew the three of them wouldn't be able to sleep there comfortably, his main reason for taking the couch in the first place, but the drowsy, pleading look on Rose's beautiful face was impossible to deny. He could at least stay with her until she fell asleep then retreat to the living room so the two of them could rest in peace.
Dimitri nodded and laid down beside her, careful not to jostle the bed and wake up Adrian. Once he was on his side, Rose curled up into him and nuzzled into the nook between his neck and shoulder. He let out another sigh, less amorous than before and completely filled with comfort and love. Rose's nose rubbed against his chest as she tilted her gaze up to the warm Dhampir. "What were you two talking about earlier," she quietly asked.
He knew this was coming eventually. Her curiosity and constant desire to be in the loop never failed to incite a line of questioning when he spoke Russian around her. Dimitri glanced over at Adrian, the memory of their conversation and Rose in his arms making him feel more at home than he ever did alone in that bed. He looked back down at Rose, her eyelashes fluttering heavily as she waited for his answer.
"I'll tell you about it later," he whispered into her hair.
Rose hummed against him and nodded, knowing he would. "I'm glad you're sharing secrets with him," her voice was breathy and sweet.
"You are?" This surprised Dimitri. Admittedly he'd been a little nervous about Rose's reaction to his growing closeness with Adrian. On one hand, he thought it would make her happy but on the other, he was worried it might make her a bit possessive as well.
"Yes," her eyes closed. "You make me so happy. You both do."
Dimitri brushed a piece of hair from her face, his heart expanding from her tender words. He reached his arm over her, pulling her closer and resting his hand on Adrian's chest. The warmth from Dimitri's hand caused him to stir, turning towards the other two and wrapping his arm over Dimitri's and Rose.
Dimitri admired them snug within his grasp and whispered into the night air, "Me too."
Despite his plan to leave, Dimitri soon fell asleep, overcome with joy of having spent the day with his family — enveloped in the warm embrace of his new one. His dreams filled with sweet words and new hopes that one day it could grow.
A/N: I was making updates to the first ch and decided to extend this shot to a couple more. I got a little carried away with this one but became wrapped up in all the different obstacles these three would face. Originally, I thought ending this with a sweet fluff scene would be the perfect cap, but I also wrote a steamy extended ending for my lovely friend TiA as a thanks for helping me through this monster of a chapter. I thought about messaging it to people who requested it but it looks like it's too long so I'll consider updating it here later if y'all are interested. Forewarning, it's probably some of the smuttiest smut I've ever written which makes me super nervous XD but if you guys tell me you want it I'll put it up.
As always, thanks for reading :)
