Warning: This chapter contains some 'M' rated material.

Rose soon found that she was literally starving for knowledge about all the things that had happened in the world during the twenty years she'd been asleep. On her first morning at the library, she became so engrossed in reading back issues of 'Time' and 'Newsweek' that she lost all track of time.

"Rose?" She was so startled that she nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked up to see a smiling Dimitri holding a picnic basket.

"I packed us some sandwiches," he told her. "I thought it would be a nice day to have lunch on the bleachers."

"Gosh, is it lunchtime already?"

Dimitri laughed. "Aren't you hungry? I'm starving!"

"Come to think of it, I am, just a little bit," Rose admitted.

"Come on." Dimitri took her hand, and they walked out into the sunshine together.

"I haven't held hands with a guy since..." Rose's voice trailed off as she realized that the last time had been with Adrian, before she'd lapsed into the coma.

"Don't you like it?" Dimitri asked anxiously.

"Oh, yes! It's very nice," Rose said quickly.

They reached the bleachers and sat down, then ate together silently for a few minutes. "You mentioned you were married before," Rose remarked.

"Her name was Tasha," said Dimitri. "She just couldn't get used to small town life. She talked me into accepting a teaching position in Chicago. I didn't want to move, but I did it to make her happy. The marriage failed anyway."

"I'm sorry," said Rose.

"That's all right," Dimitri replied. "We just weren't compatible, that's all. Better to find that out sooner than later."

They ate in silence for a few more minutes. "Do you think we might be compatible?" Rose asked at last.

Dimitri grinned. "What do you think?"

"Are you sure this is really what you want?" asked Dimitri.

"I'm positive," Rose replied.

Within minutes he was pulling into the driveway of his home. He led her up the front steps, then opened the door and held it for her.

"Thanks," said Rose.

"My pleasure," said Dimitri. "Now for the grand tour. This is the living room, here's the kitchen, the laundry room, guest bedroom number one, guest bedroom number two, bathroom number one, my bedroom, and bathroom number two."

"Everything looks so nice," Rose said as a golden retriever trotted toward her.

"And this is Goldie," Dimitri said, patting the dog's head.

"Hi Goldie." Rose knelt to pet the dog, who licked her face. "You sure are friendly."

"She's been a real lifesaver," Dimitri told Rose. "Please, have a seat."

Rose sat on the sofa and felt herself sink into the luxurious material.

Dimitri switched on the CD player and inserted a CD.

"It sounds really nice," Abigail said. "Who is it?"

"Daniel Bedingfield."

Dimitri was in the kitchen now, and Rose heard bottles clinking. "Say, would you like a wine cooler?"

Rose looked at him, shocked.

Dimitri laughed. "It's all right. You're of age now."

"Oh, yes. Of course." Rose felt really stupid.

Dimitri brought two glasses into the living room and handed one to Rose.

"So how was it?" he asked after Rose had tasted it.

"Not bad. Kind of like a grape soda."

Dimitri sat on the sofa beside Rose and put his arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and listened to the music and sipped the wine cooler. After awhile she began to feel slightly drowsy.

"Would you like to dance?" Dimitri asked her.

He stood and took Rose's hand, and she rose to dance with him. Rose felt a sense of elation and imagined that it must be a result of the wine, which she had never tasted before tonight.

Dimitri began to kiss her, softly at first, then more passionately. She felt his tongue slide into her mouth and was startled, then relaxed and savored the sensation.

"Let's go into the bedroom," Dimitri whispered, taking her hand and leading her down the hall.

He began to kiss her again, and to touch her breasts. Rose began to feel a yearning, a desire she had never felt before. It both frightened and excited her at the same time.

Dimitri unzipped her dress and tugged it off.

"Let's get on the bed," he whispered.

Wearing nothing but her bra and panties, she lay back on his bed, and he lay beside her, still kissing her deeply and touching her breasts. Gently he removed her bra and took first one nipple, then the other, into his mouth.

"That feels so nice," Rose murmured. White hot excitement shot through her, and she began to feel a throbbing ache between her legs, and she suddenly wanted very badly for him to touch her there. As if reading her mind, he peeled off her panties and did just that, which caused her to squirm and moan with pleasure. He gently took her hand and guided it to the stiffness between his legs, which she gently caressed, marveling at the velvety feel of his skin.

Dimitri inserted first one, then several fingers, inside of her, which she found a little uncomfortable.

"Are you all right?" he asked her. She nodded.

He removed his fingers and reached for something on the dresser. A few seconds later she felt him enter her. She felt a sharp pain which made her gasp and caused him to pause for just a moment. When he continued, she found that the sensations were very pleasurable, like nothing she had ever experienced before.

She heard him cry out and felt him thrust into her deeply several times.

"I'll be right back," he whispered, rolling off her and stepping away from the bed. He was back almost immediately, gathering her into his arms and holding her tightly to himself.

"It feels really nice to cuddle with you like this," she told him.

"Mm, I think so too." He kissed her nose.

"Did I do all right?" she asked timidly.

"You did fine, honey." He chuckled. "Did I do all right?"

"Well, of course you did...I mean..."

"What?"

"Well, you've been married and all."

Dimitri laughed. "So is that supposed to make me an expert?"

"By comparison to me, yes."

He was amused. "It's not a competitive sport, like football or leading cheers."

"I know that." Rose felt extremely awkward.

"You have no reason at all to feel badly, Rose. I'm not disappointed in you one bit. Very much the opposite, in fact."

"Thanks, Dimitri. I feel so much better now."

Dimitri didn't say anything, and to Rose it sounded as if he were crying.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"It's just that it's so unfair...you missed out on so much...Roza, I wish that I could give you back all the time you lost."

"It's all right, Dimitri. I'm here now. We're here now, together, and that's all that matters."

"You're a brave woman, Rose. A very brave woman."

He kissed her face gently, softly. She snuggled up to him and felt more secure than she had since she had awakened from the coma.