A/N: And now the chapter that some of you have been waiting for. Enjoy!
Rose
Chapter 9
One Month Earlier (week 1, day 4)…
Dimitri was in the living room waiting for me to finish getting ready for our first official shift at the nightclub. It was easy for him to get dressed, he just had to wear black pants and a black muscle shirt. Easy considering that was ninety percent of his wardrobe.
Me on the other hand, I had to fit my body into a really uncomfortable and rather revealing outfit. Not that I ever minded needing to show any skin when needed. I had a banging body—one that Dimitri thoroughly ravished and appreciated twice last night.
However, some aspects of the outfit made someone with my curves and size of breasts have a bit more difficulty trying to shove into the tight restraints.
When the time came for Dimitri and I to get into our characters for tonight, I could see the way his brows pinched together once I laid out my uniform. I couldn't blame him. Even though he was mostly covered up, the muscle t-shirt they made their security wear showed every ounce of his sculpted muscles. It was no doubt intended to be intimidating and remind anyone that attempted to get rowdy, that someone like Dimitri was ready to pummel their face in if they didn't comply.
Didn't ease my concerns though. I took notice last night in our recon how much of the nightclub clientele was females that dressed with their tits and butts out. Not that I was above such things as I jammed my breasts into my top. It was one thing if I was wearing it for Dimitri, but that didn't mean I didn't like that woman would be attempting to do it to get his attention all the same.
Because let's be honest. As soon as they saw Dimitri enter the building, he was going to be the shiny new toy to go after. I didn't like that one bit.
Once I had my outfit on, I looked in the mirror dreading to have to go and put on the final touch. A wig. I was practically offended. I had awesome hair. Long, wavy, and luxurious. It was actually my favorite feature, especially because it was one of Dimitri's favorite things about me—physically that is.
When we had been on the run a couple of years back, fighting in an ally after he had only been restored for a short period of time, we had come across a Strigoi, and the Dimitri I knew had disappeared. He had closed himself off and turned into a fraction of what I had seen him become when he had been a Strigoi. I had been so scared in that moment, that I had lost him again. Lost him to the person he had been so grief stricken he had been forced to be.
It had been my hair that had snapped him out of it. That brought him back to the Dimitri I knew and loved.
But…we were undercover, and as it was; I did nothing to try and conceal my identity. It was either wear this short black wig that stopped just above my chin, or dye my hair. I wasn't touching a hair on this head, so a wig it was going to be.
I wrapped all my hair up into a tight bun, before I slipped the wig over my head. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I shoved my feet into the pleather knee high boots and fastened them up. I took one last look in the mirror.
"I'm the goth version of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman," I muttered as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
My nonexistent outfit, which consisted of black shorts, the kind of shorts women volleyball players wore, and a tight black corset that practically had my larger breasts pushed all the way up to my neck and knee-high boots to finish out the look.
I leaned into the mirror doing a quick apply of mascara to my lashes and painted my lips with the bright red lipstick before my outfit was completed.
I couldn't help but picture what Dimitri's face would look like once I stepped into the living room and he saw me dressed in this way. The devious side of me actually couldn't wait for him to see. The other part of me wished we actually didn't have to go out tonight. Because I knew once Dimitri saw me in this get up, he would want to throw me over his shoulder and throw me on the bed. Round three? Yes, please.
I had to fight the urge to picture that moment, because if I did, we wouldn't make it out of the apartment. This job was too important and too many lives were at risk. For now, I would have to shove down my want for him and get this show on the road. It wouldn't look good for either of us if we ended up late on the first day.
"Rose, you almost ready?" Dimitri called from the other room.
I took one last look in the mirror and stepped out into the doorframe of our bedroom and the living room where he was waiting.
"I'm ready," I announced.
Dimitri looked up from where he had been pacing back and forth, putting a hole in the floor, to give me a once over. As I suspected, his eyes went wide, his mouth literally hung open.
It was too good for me not to pass up. "See something you like?" I asked seductively, recalling those words I had used on him once before.
It hadn't been the first time I had teased him in that way. I had done it once when he had been my mentor, and then again when he claimed he didn't want me and couldn't love me anymore after being restored, even though I could see the want and lust in his eyes. Like I saw it now.
He nodded mutely, his eyes burning with fire and desire. It made my mouth suddenly go dry, and butterflies fill my stomach. His appraisal of me gave me the opportunity to appreciate every toned muscle on display. He had amazing shoulders and arms. I licked my lips, as my eyes traced over those delicious biceps of his.
My eyes snapped to his when he shook his head violently. "Don't do that," he warned.
I couldn't help but shoot him a teasing smile, my eyes sending him an innocent look. "Do what?"
He growled as he stepped forward. "Don't lick your lips. Not when they are…" his words cut off as he tore his gaze away.
He muttered something in Russian that I couldn't quite make out. I for sure was driving him crazy if he was muttering in Russian. It was usually something he reserved just for me whenever I pushed him towards the edge as we made love. And…I was definitely pushing him to the edge with this outfit.
I took a step closer to him, but I could see him put a visible guard up. His hands clenching into fists at his side. My poor Comrade. It was taking all of his well-practiced self-control to not reach out and touch me. It was hard to deny the exhilaration coursing through my body knowing I had that type of effect on him. Although, he had that same effect on me, if I was being honest.
"Rose…" my name coming out with a warning tone.
I stopped. It wasn't fair. It was bad enough we both had a ridiculous amount of sexual tension between us right now, and we hadn't even left the apartment. A good fiancée would back off and not make things more difficult for either of us.
I sighed. "I guess we should get going."
He turned back, his guardian mask in place, even though his eyes betrayed the passion and want there. It was then I actually noticed his entire ensemble.
"A duster? Really?"
It was black as night, and much longer than his normal one, going all the way to his ankles, but it was a duster. And it was just as tight and formed to mold his body like his compression shirt.
He shrugged. "Fits with the outfit."
I put my hands on my hips, which only accented my breasts to pop out even further, Dimitri's eyes flashing again with desire, his hands clenching even further at his sides.
"We were supposed to be going undercover. Altering our appearance so we don't look like our normal selves," I argued, crossing my arms over my chest. Another mistake, in pushing my breasts higher.
Dimitri shook his head, focusing his attention back on my face. "Rose, I'm not the one they will be looking at."
I scoffed. "Right. More than half of the population in that nightclub is females and you are going out dressed like sex on a stick."
That actually got a chuckle out of him, which was rare. Dimitri rarely laughed since he was always more stoic in his, be prepared at any time mode. So, when I could make him laugh, it felt like I won the lottery.
"Roza, are you jealous?"
I scrunched my lips together. "Are you?" I countered.
"You have nothing to be jealous about," he answered ignoring my question.
"And neither do you," I said, making my move to walk past him, taking extra care to sashay my hips from side to side giving Dimitri a nice view. I stopped at the door to grab my bag and half-turned back. "I guess we'll have to wait until later to deal with that problem," I said my eyes drifting to the front of his pants. "Seeing that once we leave here, we've never met."
Dimitri
The ride over to the nightclub had been a tense one. Neither Rose nor I spoke unless it was questions that only required quick answers. It wasn't uncommon when we prepped for a mission, but mostly because of Rose's parting words to the both of us as we left the safe house.
"Seeing that once we leave here, we've never met."
We had both been aware of that fact when we had gotten our field assignments, but now that the time was actually upon us, seeing Rose dressed in the way she was, made me curse at the idea that to anyone…she would technically be available.
When she had walked out of the room, with her long-tanned legs on display, her tight shorts just covering enough so that her ass wasn't on display. Her corset bodice was accenting every curve, her tops of her larger breasts on display.
The thing that had shocked me the most had been the wig they had sent as part of her disguise. The black chin length bob that framed her face. I loved her hair the way it was, but this wig turned her even more into a vixen that she already was.
That instantly got me thinking about all the heads she would surely turn once they saw her dressed like that. It was bad enough I was going to have to do a good enough job at my undercover position of security detail on top of looking for clues and information on our task, but now adding having to fend off men going after Rose…I had my work cut out for me.
I parked the SUV in the back of the club where employee parking was designated for us. I made sure to park the vehicle furthest from anyone else. Rose and I would have to be careful considering that we weren't supposed to know each other, so that meant staying out of watchful eyes of others and our interactions with each other.
Rose's hand lifted to the door handle, mine coming out to grab hold of her wrist before she could open the door. It was risky and stupid on my part, but I just needed another minute before we both had to go in.
Her face whirled on mine, looking at my hand, before her eyes met my questioningly.
"Be careful, Roza," I said sincerely, my expression telling her how much I cared. How much I loved her and needed her to know that.
Her hand left the door handle, as she leaned in, placing her hand to my cheek. She looked into my eyes, her thumb slowly caressing it. "Always am," she replied, before leaning in and placing a sweet slow kiss to my lips.
I wanted so badly to deepen that kiss and hold on to her and not let her go, but we both had a job to do. Many lives were depending on us.
She pulled back, just enough so that we could look into each other's faces. "We've got each other," she pointed out, knowing that we would in fact have each other's backs.
I nodded. "I'll see you after."
As we had planned, she left the car first, making me groan as I watched her form get further and further away. She looked around the back entrance, before opening the door and heading inside. As soon as she went in, I got out of the SUV, checking to make sure my stake was on my hip and the stake in my boot were both in place.
Once I entered into the building, my full-on guardian mask was already in place. The nightclub walls were dark, music blaring from the speakers as different color strobe lights spun in circles all throughout.
One of my new security details stood at the "employees only" area, his arms crossed in front of his waist as he took a long appreciative look at Rose who was standing across from me before his eyes finally met mine.
My eyes gave all the warning needed. As his new boss, it would appear my scolding was on point to make sure to refrain from being distracted, and not because of the fact that he was also ogling the woman I loved.
Rose, for all her part in getting into character, leaned against the wall, her legs crossed in front—only making them look longer and leaner—while she pretended to look at her nails and chew a piece of gum rather loudly. Where did she even get the gum?
She shot me a quick wink, blowing an obvious large bubble as she shouted asked over the music, "I take it you're the new muscle?"
I gave her a curt nod, before looking back to the security guard. Showing him exactly how he was supposed to behave if he was going to be on my staff.
"Alright. Your kind of cute," she said, her voice going up a pitch as if she was some kind of dippy airhead. I could see why, even if it was throwing me a bit for the loop. She slapped my arm. "Don't worry cowboy—" another hidden meaning wink— "—I'm just kidding with ya. But if I need mouth to mouth, don't be surprised if it's you I pick."
The security detailed grinned at the exchange, earning another glare from me. I pushed forward, only for the security detail to put up a hand to block me.
"I need to see Zachary Webster," I demanded.
"Uh-oh," I heard Rose mutter, my right eye taking in a quick peek out of my peripheral vision to see her twirling her hair with her finger.
The detail cleared his throat. "Nobody gets past without approval." He leaned into me trying to be threatening. "And you aren't getting past me."
My brow shot up. I grabbed hold of his wrist, twisting his arm in an unnatural way, causing him to groan out and instantly go to his knees. He patted at his arm as a means to have me let go, but I didn't ease up. This wasn't just a lesson as it was a warning to him as his new boss.
"Radio Zachary Webster that Dimitri Zolotov and—" I looked over to Rose— "—Ma'am, what's your name?"
She pointed at herself, her face looking a little flustered as she brought her hand up to fan herself. "Me?" When I nodded, she added, "Rose. Rose McDaniels. I'm the new cocktail waitress."
My head snapped back to the security detail. "You tell Mr. Webster that Rose and Dimitri are here to see him."
A slow clap came from behind us, a satisfied smile crossing what I knew to be Zachary's face from the dossier.
"No need," the voice behind us said.
He looked to me and then Rose, spending a lot longer on Rose as his eyes took her in from head to toe and then back up to her head again.
"Very nice," he added, a lascivious gleam in his eye.
I released my grip on the security detail, who instantly gripped his arm to his chest, rubbing at the soreness that I had obviously caused. Zachary stepped forward.
"Good to meet you, Dimitri Zolotov." He looked over at his detail who was slowly climbing back to his feet, his arm tucked into his side. "I have heard many good things about you. If I needed a test, I think you just proved yourself."
I offered another curt nod. "Happy to be here," I said dryly.
He turned to Rose, and then back to me, beckoning us forward with his finger as he took us out of the alcove and into the club. The back entrance was directly next to the spiral staircase that went up to the second floor of the nightclub.
As we went up the stairs—me allowing Rose to go first so only I would be able to appreciate her assets—I took the time to survey my surroundings. There were at least four security guards on the floor of the nightclub scanning as the guests moved and gyrated to the beat of the music. There had to be a at least a couple hundred in the massive club, which either told me they were severely understaffed in security—which could work in either favor—or they radioed for more backup when needed.
At the top of the stairs, two additional detail stood facing us with their hands clasped in front of them. As soon as Zachary reached the top landing, they moved off to the side to let us pass. They scanned Rose from head to toe, only briefly glancing at me before they returned back to blocking the landing again.
As the hall spanned out, I moved so I could be side-by-side with Rose. I leaned in to keep my voice low so that only she would be able to here. "What was that back there?"
She was still chomping loudly on her gum, blowing a bubble right in my face. I shot her a pointed look. "Improvised," she hissed quietly. "I figured, if they think I am some dumb bimbo, they won't even suspect me."
It was a smart play, Zachary turning towards us, Rose and I quickly broke apart and back into our characters. It didn't mean I was happy when she winked at him when his gaze lasted on her a bit longer.
We walked all the way to the end of the corridor, which I guessed had to be his office. Once he opened the door, and stepped in, my guess had been confirmed the size having to be tripled what I figured the other closed spaces probably were.
Off to our left, was another man not as tall as me but at least six-two or six-three in height. Unlike the others, he only passed a glance at Rose, before his eyes settled on me.
Marcus Parker, I assumed. The supposed head of security here at the nightclub.
"Dimitri, this is Marcus Parker, our head of security. Marcus, this is your new number two, Dimitri Zolotov."
Marcus stepped forward and outstretched his hand. "Russian. Zachary failed to tell me that we were getting the gold standard."
I took his hand, tilting my head to the side and the recognition that he was already inserting his dominance and knowledge in referencing my undercover surname in Russian translated to gold.
"Happy to be here," I remarked.
"Ah, hello!" Rose's voice broke through the room. "I know all you boys love your muscles and everything, but I would love to get started and make some tips."
Zachary flashed a smile. "And this is Rose McDaniels. Our new cocktail waitress."
She waved, twisting back and forth in a demure manner. "Hi," she giggled.
"Harry, why don't you take Rose downstairs to meet the other staff," Zachary ordered.
The other security detail that had been standing behind me stepped forward at his boss's request.
"Thank you," Rose beamed.
"I have a feeling you are going to get along quite well here, Rose," Zachary added.
She winked. "You betcha, sugar!"
She turned towards me, our gazes meeting for a second. Each of us telling the other to be careful as she passed by me and out of the office.
I spent the next hour getting the rules and expectations of the position. The number of questions that Marcus hurled in my direction, I swear I was actually still interviewing for the position. Once Marcus was satisfied with my background and the ability to do the job to his standards—which was definitely below mine—he handed me coms, plan layouts, and finally the official tour.
As I came back downstairs, the vibe of the club seemed to be even more lively then when I had gone up. I scanned the room, instantly finding Rose leaning over the bar talking to two women also dressed in the same outfit, and a male bartender behind the bar.
"Let's go, Dimitri, I'll show you the rest of the space," Marcus said, slapping me on the shoulder and breaking my attention.
"Show the way," I said, turning from Rose and in the opposite direction.
Rose
"Hey Martini, got your new girl," the security detail, Harry said, once he deposited me off at the bar.
A small brunette that had to be no more than five-three with long brown straight hair, turned with a tray in her hand. Her face looked flushed as if she has been running around for hours without a possible break.
A look of relief flashed in her expression. "Thank god. I was wondering when you were going to show up!"
I clapped my hands together and shrugged. "Well, I'm here. Got tied up with the boss man."
She eyed me suspiciously for a moment, before she nodded. A second later, another girl with fiery red hair, green eyes, and pale skin, saddled up next to her. She could almost pass for a Moroi with her long thin body and pale complexion, but she was just a human.
"Hey Martini, this the new girl?" she asked, dropping her empty tray on the bar.
Martini?
"Hi Merlot. She is. Fresh off the press," the brunette, or Martini, answered.
"Are those really your names?" I asked, looking between the girls.
They laughed. "Heavens, no," answered Merlot. "Zachary has this thing that he likes all his employees to have cover names. The only stipulation being that since we are in a nightclub, the name has to coincide with a drink."
I had to fight to not roll my eyes. I could understand the ability to have a fake name when you had guests that got a little to handsy or wanted to try and follow you home. It was why strippers had names like "Cookie" or "Candy" for their stage names.
The bartender came over to drop a few drinks down on one of the empty trays. He reminded me of a hipster, wearing black pants, black shirt, and a black fedora hat. His skin was tanned, and his eyes were as blue as the sky on a clear day.
He turned to me, flashing the whiteness of his teeth. With tanned skin and features, he appeared to me to be more of Hispanic descent.
"What do we have here?" he asked, his eyes roaming over my face and then my body.
"This is our new girl," supplied Martini as she picked up the tray with the drinks, he just placed on them. "I gotta run these drinks, do you two mind showing her the ropes until I can get back?"
The bartender's lips spread even wider as he leaned into the bar. Even though there were quite a few guests lining up to the bar to get a drink, he made no move to leave and take their orders.
"Name's Jack," he offered.
I chuckled. "Let me guess…after Jack Daniels?"
He thrusted his forefinger at me as if he was shooting a gun. "That's the one. Jack never disappoints, and neither do I," he said, his eyes flashing suggestively.
He was over the top and a little much for me, but from what I could tell already, he seemed harmless. He reminded me a little of Mason and Jesse mixed together. He might at least provide some entertainment while on the assignment.
"So, what's the name your gonna pick?" he asked, his forearms leaning on the bar in front of him.
I thought about it for a moment. Honestly, the whole idea was pretty ridiculous, but it might be easier to just have to answer to one fake name instead of my full one that I currently had.
"Let's stick with Moscow," I answered. A slight grin to my lips, since it made me think of Dimitri.
Jack grabbed a glass from the bar, his expression of one of surprise. "A vodka girl. I like your style."
I grinned. "What can I say, Russian is my favorite kind."
"Well, then let's go, Moscow," Merlot said, thrusting a tray in my hands. "I'll show you all the drink stations and how it all works."
Two hours later, I was standing off to the side, the crowd currently content with their drinks filled and bumping and grinding to the music. My feet were killing me in the boots, and I was about two seconds from ripping the corset right off my body.
"How's it going, Moscow?" Jack asked, coming over to me as he bent down to grab two more beers from the fridge behind the bar.
"It's going," I replied.
What I really wanted to say, was that this night sucked. I had only seen Dimitri in passing for a few seconds at a time while he was getting the tour of the nightclub. He had been glued to Marcus's side since we had gotten here.
The music was so loud, and the place was way to crowded with requests for drinks every couple of seconds, for me to actually do any sort of actual investigation work.
"Hey Jack, can you cover for me while I run to the restroom?"
"Sure thing."
He nodded in the direction for the restroom, earning a smile from me. He was far too agreeable—probably thinking he would have a chance—but I wasn't going to shoot him down just yet. He might be more inclined to help if he thought he had a chance.
When his back was turned to me; I turned and blended into the crowd. While had pointed to the restroom for employees that was behind the bar, I weaved my way through the crowd towards the back for the bathrooms for the crowd I had seen earlier in my rounds of the club.
Surprisingly the line to the ladies' room wasn't that long, but I didn't have to go. I was hoping to use the time to snoop around and see what I could fine.
Luckily, those waiting in the line, were either on their phone or sucking face, that they didn't even bother to pay attention to me. The exit at the end of the hall wasn't guarded, so that made it even better in the event I needed to slip out or make a getaway. Something I would have to confirm with Dimitri later.
The men's and women's bathroom were at the end of the hall, but there were four other closed doors in between the beginning of the hallway until the entrance to the bathrooms.
I discreetly opened the first door, which only turned out to be a storage room of cleaning supplies. The room right across, ended up being a mechanical room. Moving on to the third room, when the door opened, it was a basic powder room with a mirror and chair. There were already four drunk girls crammed in there trying to reapply more lipstick and fight for the mirror. I backed out of the room and shut the door.
Turning, I approached the last room. As I rested my hand on the door, I could hear voices on the inside. Pressing my ear to the door, I could make out two voices.
I slowly opened the door, my eyes narrowing as soon as my eyes took in the scene in front of me. A girl was sitting on a small size chase, her head lulled to the side, her blonde hair pushed to one side of her shoulder, her entire neck exposed. A tall, lean male was bent over her, hands on either side of her head, as his mouth clamped on her neck.
The girl moaned in ecstasy.
A Moroi.
Our research and surveillance had informed us this nightclub was frequently visited by Dhampir and Moroi alike. This Moroi thought he was being discreet, but the fact that I just walked in on them, angered me. There were severe consequences to outing our kind to the human world that were sanctioned. Like feeders. And even then, they were made to forget when it was their time to leave through compulsion.
Some Moroi felt they could do whatever they wanted. Having compulsion allowed them to just make anyone forget anything that happened. On a small scale, no problem, but if someone else had walked in and screamed or worse…made my blood boil. Moroi might come first, but cleaning up their dirty laundry wasn't on the order.
As if the Moroi could sense I was there, he pulled back, his eyes narrowing. "Do you mind?" he asked, a note of annoyance in his voice. So…he wasn't drunk enough to know I was a Dhampir.
He turned away to go back for another drink, but didn't quite make it. I grabbed the back of his shirt, shoving him towards the other side of the wall.
"Hey!" he screeched.
I picked up the girl who was already in an ecstasy state. Her eyes were glazed over, and I could see she wanted more. "Is it your turn?" she slurred.
I growled. I dragged the Moroi over by the lapel. "Compel her to forget," I demanded.
He scoffed. "I wasn't done yet."
I punched him hard in the stomach. He bent over, wheezing as he gripped his stomach and coughed.
"Now!" I barked, letting him know this wasn't up for negotiation.
He groaned, but did as I asked. He stood; as I held the girls' shoulders, the Moroi gripping her chin as he forced her to look into his eyes. He compelled her to believe she had gotten too drunk and came in the room to just sit for a bit. I made sure to put her turtleneck back up, before opening the door and sending her on the way.
I shut the door behind me, turning back only to have the Moroi right on top of me. His right hand flat against the door as he leaned in to me.
"I like it a little rough," he said suggestively, looking down at the chest.
I pushed him back with far more force than was necessary. "Back off, asshole."
He scoffed. "Since when did a Dhampir blood whore think they can get choosey?"
My hands balled into fists. "What did you call me?"
His face lost some of its color, but he was too stupid to know when to quit. "Why else would you be coming to a club dressed like that," he rebutted, his hand slowly drifting downwards as if to prove his point. "What else should I expect?"
I took a threatening step forward, wiping the smirk off his face. "Expect this girl to give you a bloody nose."
He put his hands up. "Alright, alright. No need to be a bitch."
The sound of my fist connecting with his nose filled the space.
"Ow! What the fuck!" He gripped his nose before looking at his hand to see if there was any blood.
I had hit him hard enough to make it hurt, but not enough to have it gushing. The last thing I needed was to send someone out of the room with a bloody nose. Dimitri wouldn't be happy if on the first day I was already calling too much attention to ourselves.
I poked him in the shoulder until he backed up, his legs bumping into the chase behind us, falling straight on his ass.
"Wh—what do you want?"
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Answers."
He grabbed at his nose again. "Answers to what? I don't know anything."
"How often do you come to the club?"
"Once a month, if that," he answered hesitantly.
I could see he was unsure about answering my questions, but after clocking him in the nose, he was smart enough to get that not doing what I asked was going to get him in far more trouble than just complying.
"Do you go to St. Anna's?"
He made a noise that was a combination of a scoff and a laugh. "Do I look like I go to school?"
I squinted my eyes at him. "No, you look like a cheap attempt of someone attempting to be a man, with the shittiest cologne I have smelled in a while."
He stiffened, his eyes growing hard. "Who the hell do you think you are, a Dhampir talking to me like that!"
I leaned in, my expression turning lethal. "The kind that will kick your ass, unless you finish answering my questions."
He slapped his hands on his thighs, his lips turning into a pout knowing he wasn't going to get out of here until I said so. He should be thanking me, because had it been Dimitri who found him, he would be pissing himself by now.
"How did you hear about this place?"
He rolled his eyes in defiance. "From friends at college."
"What college do you go too?"
He was about to make another remark about the want and need of the questions, but realized it would be better to just answer the question. "University of Denver," he answered.
"You drive thirty miles to come to a club out here? Why not just go to a nightclub in Denver?"
"Why do you care?" he countered.
"Official guardian business," I replied.
He sneered. "You…a guardian?"
"If my punch to your nose wasn't enough, I can give you another demonstration," I offered, winding up my fist again.
"No, no, no," he said, putting his hands out in front of himself. "The kids on campus talk about this place. Said the experience isn't like anything other."
My brows knitted together. "What kind of experience?"
He grinned. "The kind that leave you flying…"
I heard voices outside the hall. "Does this experience involve blood?"
He grinned; his cocky smugness returning. "Guardian my ass. You are a blood whore, aren't you? You want a fix, I got it right here for you," he said presenting his fangs into view.
"We have to go," I snapped.
He sat back in the chase feeling as if he now somehow had the upper hand. "No sweat, baby, I'm Moroi, remember. Anyone comes in, and I will just compel them to leave."
"Shut up!" I hissed, yanking him to his feet.
The voices were just outside the room now, my eyes going to the handle as soon as it opened. On the other side of the door, was Marcus and one really pissed off looking Russian as he looked between myself and the Moroi whose shirt was still bunched in my hands.
Before either Marcus or Dimitri could open their mouth, I slapped the Moroi in front of me and pushed him back on the chase.
"I told you, hands off the merchandise."
Dimitri's eyes narrowed as he looked at me and then the Moroi that was now cowering on the chase. I would be too, if Dimitri was looking at me like he had.
"What? She's lying. I didn't do anything!" he screeched.
"Somebody tell me what is going on?" Marcus demanded.
Lucikly, thinking on the feet was my specialty. "I caught this jerk trying to take alcohol behind the bar. I tried to stop him but then he got handsy, and pulled me into this room."
"What!"
Marcus's eyes burned with anger. "How dare you? You think you can steal from us!"
"What! No! I didn't…she's lying. She punched me, she…."
Marcus turned to Dimitri not even bothering to listen to the rumbling Moroi. "Take care of this trash, and then come see me in my office." Marcus turned back to me. "Nice job…"
"Moscow," I answered, giving him my fake name.
Marcus grinned. "Keep up the good work. There might be a more permanent place for you here."
"Thank you," I said sheepishly, immediately looking down figuring that Rose the waitress would be too intimated to meet his gaze head on.
As soon as Marcus left, Dimitri stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine.
"She's crazy. I swear, I didn't do anything!"
"Shut up!" We both snapped in unison as we turned to look at him cowering.
He clamped his mouth shut immediately.
"What the heck is going on here, Rose?"
I lowered my voice so only Dimitri would hear as we stepped a little away from the Moroi. "I was snooping around, when I found this idiot openly feeding on a human. I was in the middle of questioning him when you and Marcus interrupted."
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Anything useful?"
I looked over to see that the Moroi was in fact looking between us and watching. Dimitri followed my gaze. "Later," I said.
He nodded; moving over until he yanked the Moroi up. The fear in the Moroi's eyes as held onto the collar of his shirt, shut up him instantly.
Dimitri was staring down the Moroi, but his next words were aimed at me. "Did he hurt you?"
I looked over at the Moroi, tilting my head to the side, making his eyes go wider. "I…I.."
Dimitri's grip yanked tighter letting him know he wasn't interested in whatever he had to say. The guy might be a complete jerk, but he didn't deserve the level of wrath that I knew Dimitri would dish out if he had harmed me in anyway.
"No. He might be a pompous jerk and an idiot, but we came to an understanding," I answered.
Dimitri's grip didn't lessen as he made sure the Moroi looked at him. "What is your name?"
"An—anthony," he stammered.
"If I catch you in this club ever again. If I find out that you ever put our kind at risk again by feeding so carelessly, I will come and visit you."
"Y-y-es, sir."
Dimitri's threats had gotten even more intimidating over the years. I had remembered when he had done the same thing to Jesse after our make out session. Jesse cowered anytime he saw me in the halls, half the time turning away and the other half looking over his shoulder expecting Dimitri to pop out and stake him.
"Dimitri Belikov."
The Moroi's forehead creased in confusion.
"Remember the name," Dimitri added. "Ask around."
He nodded emphatically. "I promise. I swear."
Dimitri pointed to the door. "Run."
When he turned back to face me, I grinned. "That was kind of hot."
His eyes widened, as he remembered we were in a closed tight space, and I was practically half-naked, uttering words that I knew just how to produce the desire effect.
"Rose…"
I sighed. "You know…sometimes that self-control of yours can be a real drag."
I took a step forward to go past him, when his arm snaked around my upper arm, spinning me so my back slammed against the door to the room. He pressed his body tightly against mine. I could feel the blush rising to my cheeks, my chest heaving to the point that it was more on display than what would be considered decent.
His eyes grew heavy-lidded as he looked down at my chest, only making my instant need for him ache worse. I wiggled underneath him, not to get away, but because I wanted him closer and he was denying me that request.
Damn self-control.
The heat in his eyes intensified, as he dipped his head to my ear, and whispered something in Russian. My breaths came out low almost making me breathless.
My heart. That was what he had said in Russian.
His lips crushed mine, giving me no time to even prepare for the onslaught. I tried to bring my arms up to either pull him close or wrap around him, but soon realized he had been holding them tightly at my side.
His mouth claimed mine, and I let him. I wanted him. I needed him.
Just when I thought he was going to take it deeper, he pulled back, the look of frustration in his features that he had to do so.
"You're so beautiful," he said, his voice all throaty and strained.
I went to open my mouth to say anything. That he was too, or that he was in fact a god, whatever he wanted to hear to just keep kissing me in the way he had.
Like the ever-dutiful guardian he was, he reached past me, opened the door and turned me so that I was facing away from him. I groaned in frustration, as he suddenly pushed me out the door, back in the open so I couldn't do anything further.
Just before we rounded the hallway and back into the center of the dance club area, I felt a hard smack right on my ass. I peered over my shoulder at him, an intense look of lust in his eyes.
"Behave."
Even Dimitri knew that when it came to me, I only knew how to do the opposite. Just before he was completely out of my reach, I called out to him, Dimitri only stopping just enough to turn back.
"What's your club name?"
His eye twitched. "White Russian."
He was going to pay for that later. And I couldn't wait.
