Chapter 16

"Rose darling, you look so elegant in that beautiful cocktail dress" my gym coach and aunt Alberta said. She's my fathers half sister and I adored her, even though she crashed our christmas party. literally... She loved me too, I was her favorite niece. I gave her a hug.

"Thank you aunt Berty, you look swell yourself, thanks for dropping in also. Is my father coming?" I asked with hopeful eyes but she slowly shook her head. I sighed and took her in. Her pixie cut hair complemented the long golden dress she was wearing. It made my dress look retail. I've been downstairs chatting with my family for two hours now and I still haven't seen Dimitri yet. I looked around and bit my lip. Where could he be?

Suddenly I felt a cool breeze that made me shiver. I turned to see Dimitri walking to the living room with a beautiful young girl on his arm. My heart sunk when I saw her. She was beautiful but it felt like I've seen her before. I wonder where? She had long brown hair and tanned skin. She wore a very thick but cute white and blue coat with light blue jeans and white fuzzy boots. She had big brown eyes much like Dimitri's and full Cupid bow lips.

She was looking around then her eyes met mines. A big grin graced her lips before she ran to me and nearly tackled me to the ground. I would have fell on my ass if Alberta wasn't behind me. She caught me just in time. The girl wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed.

" Roza, its me Viktoria. Remember me hmmm? Hmmm? you emailed me about Dimka. And I sent you a picture of us. Remember?" she was talking so fast It took my mind a few moments to process what she was saying. Then it clicked. She was Dimitri's younger sister. But who the hell was Dimka?

" Oh yea, whats up Viktoria. Excuse my ignorance but who the fuck is Dimka" my aunt snickered at my language before Dimitri walked behind Viktoria.

" Language Rose, Dimka is Russian for Dimitri" Oh. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly as we just stood there not saying anything. Alberta excused herself before leaving me standing there.

" So, Rose... I heard you were a bad ass" Viktoria said. I choked on my water while Dimitri scowled Viktoria.

" Oh it's completely fine Dimitri. The girl knows what she's talking about. Of course I'm bad ass. Have you seen how your brother trains me. God, it's like I'm joining the mafia or something"

" Rose!" Dimitri said

" You should have seen him when he still worked in Russia. He was a manic. Getting up to train a four in the morning and coming back just before dusk. And he ate like he was a freaking cow. My mother had to teach him to cook because he was running her dry on food" Dimitri's cheek flushed with embarrassment as Viktoria told me more and more stories about how he was a meat head.

I had to admit. I liked the girl. She would definitely fit in with the group.

" That's enough Viki, I think Rose has heard enough" she pouted

" Awe Dimka, you always ruin the fun" I decided to join in on her tirade.

" Yea comrade, you never let us ladies have fun"

" Comrade?" Viktoria suddenly burst into laughter " Oh my gosh, you just can't seem to escape that nickname huh Dimka?" Viktoria asked. That caught my attention. Who had called him that before? Before I could ask, Dimitri cut Viktoria's laughter off with a sharp but very quiet " That's enough". She glared at him before asking me where the restrooms were. The slightly rectified look on her face caught my interest but for now i'll just put it away. I pointed toward the dining room and told her to take a right. When she walked away I finally got a good look at dimitri.

He was wearing a black pin striped suit with a silver dress shirt and plain silk black tie. His hair was tied with a black hair tie at the nape of his neck. He wore his old duster over it. I studied him from toe to head before nodding my head in appreciation.

" Someone cleans up nice" I said. And it was completely true. He looked good enough to eat and I was so very hungry. He looked at me as if he just noticed I was there and nodded his head. He was looking around. For Viktoria no doubt. But I was willing to bet all the money I had that she didn't come here to be watched over like a dog. I took his hand to grab his attention.

" Take a walk with me?" he looked back at me and quickly shook his head

" I have to watch ViKa" I shook my head with a grin on my face.

" Lissa will spot her and supply her all the attention you can only dream of giving her, she'll be fine. I promise" he hesitated before nodding his head and letting me lead him into the cold christmas night. I needed to get away from all the drama. The terror of family encounters were giving me a headache.

When I stepped into the night I shivered and instantly wished I'd thought about a damn jacket. But I couldn't go back into the estate. Dimitri would start looking for Viktoria again and I really wanted him to myself at the moment.

I pretended that the cold didn't bother me and started walking. A mile or two later and I was pretty sure I would develop frost bite before the end of the night. Dimitri stared down at me before frowning and taking off his duster. He offered it to me but when I refused he threw it over my shoulders anyway.

The thick ridiculous coat stopped just above my ankles and made me very warm. I could see why he loved it. Plus it smelled like him. Crisp cinnamon after shave. We walked until we reached the ski lounge. I took my key out of my purse and unlocked it before walking into the chilly room. I flicked on the lights while Dimitri walked to the heater and cut it on. The lodge wasn't very big. It had a den with a tv, sofa and coffee table and a tiny kitchen filled with hot chocolate, coffee, and toaster pops. And a utility closet filled with ski gear.

I sat on the sofa and shrugged off Dimitri's jacket while he walked into the kitchen. I turned on the tv and sighed in annoyance. The Christmas story was still on. But at least it was at my favorite part

A be be gun? You'll shoot your eye out kid.

You'll shoot your eye out! You'll shoot your eye out.

I chuckled before walking over to the tv and opening the tiny dresser cabinet It was sitting on. I looked through all the movies before deciding on a silly comedy . I've never watched it but it looked funny so I closed the doors and stuck the movie inside of the DVD player. When I sat back down on the couch Dimitri walked in with two steaming mugs. I grinned when he gave one to me. It smelled like chocolate. I took a sip and moaned. It was delicious.

" Damn Dimitri, what did you put in here, heaven?" he chuckled before taking a sip of his own.

" no Rose, it's a secret recipe," then he leaned in and whispered in my ear, " Two packets and warm milk" I giggled as he breath tickled my cheek. I turned and focused on the movie. It starred Jason Segal and Mila Kunis.

About thirty minutes in the movie I started to hate the blonde bitch that played Sarah Marshall. How dare she treat him like that. Poor guy. She left him for an ass hole rock star and then complained when she found out he was in the same hotel she was in. Like Hawaii isn't a small island or something.

" I wouldn't even forgive that blonde bitch. How can he still be into this chick? Would you still be into her after she treated you like that or would you have gotten over it by now?" I asked Dimitri. It took him a second to respond.

" Neither, she wouldn't have turned my head. I'm more of a brunette type of guy" he said. Then he turned his head to look at me. He was doing it again. Giving me a strange look. He reached over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I leaned into his hand that was still by my face and a shock ran through my entire body. Then his face started inching closer to mines and mines to his. Only a few more inches and we would be kissing. Something we haven't done since I lost my virginity a month and a half ago.

I know it was a short time but damn it a month and a half is long enough. When he was about to kiss me something loud came from the tv and his eyes snapped open before he quickly moved to the other side of the couch. I let out a breath I was unconsciously holding and glared at the tv screen before rising and grabbing my keys and clutch from off the coffee table. I stomped over to the door and opened it. Suddenly the door was closing and I pulled my arm out of the door just in time before it was shut by Dimitri. I glared at him and told him to open the door. Or more like open the fucking door.

He grabbed my wrist before pulling me back over to the couch with my many struggles. When I gave up and sat down on the couch in defeat he resumed to his hot chocolate as if nothing had happened. I glared at him. Why couldn't he just let go for a second and give in to me. I know he liked me. Loved.. Well undetermined but I know for sure that he liked me.

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

" I hate you" I said. He chuckled before shaking his head in amusement

" Watch the movie Rose" I rolled my eyes and kicked my feet up over the table.

" Don't tell me what to do Comrade, I'm highly capable of making my own decisions and controlling my actions" he sat his mug on the table before turning to look at me. I just stared at the screen until he looked away then I turned back to him and glared.

" where are you going with this Rose?"

" To the fucking moon Dimitri " he looked back at me and I glared.

"You change your moods like I change clothes Dimitri, you need to get that checked" he glared at me before running his hands through his hair.

" Rose, I've told you more then once that we," he pointed between him and I " Are never going to work okay?, so just drop it" I looked at him like he grew a second fucking head.

" Drop it?, Dimitri one second your acting like you never said such a thing and the next your... The next second your acting like I've ruined your life or something," I looked down into my lap before whispering " Am I really that.. Undesirable?" I don't know if he heard me or not but suddenly his fingers were on my chin making me look at him. But I didn't. If I did I was going to say something I couldn't take back. I snatched my chin away from his finger but he immediately grabbed it again.

" Rose, look at me" I shook my head and a tear ran down my cheek. His long middle finger wiped it away. He let go of my chin but grabbed my face with both of his hands. I had no choice but to look at him. No choice but to get lost into his chocolate orbs. No choice but to make a sweet mistake that would forever change my life.

" Your beautiful Roza, so beautiful that it hurts sometimes. It hurts to stay away from you for too long because I'm not able to see that beautiful smile. Or those deep muddy eyes. Or.. Or that gorgeous silky brown hair" I smiled and grabbed his face with both of my hands.

In my head I felt trouble. Deep trouble but I couldn't take my eyes off of Dimitri. " I.. I love you Dimitri" his eyes grew wide before his lips crashed into mines. It was sudden but my body immediately reacted. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me up and sat me on his lap. My fingers had a mind of their own as I pulled off his jacket and worked to undo his shirt buttons. My moves were frantic and a bit sloppy and I got frustrated when I couldn't undo a button.

Dimitri chuckled at my frustration and removed my hands from his shirt. Then without breaking the kiss he un did it and pulled it off. My hands found their way to his chiseled chest and roamed. I tried to memorize every single thing I could without looking. My fingers ran over his tiny soft nipples and down his torso. He pulled me off of him and stood up. I thought he was rejecting me again until he pulled my dress over my head. Unlike the first time I wasn't embarrassed and I didn't try to cover my body. His lips crashed into mines again with fierce hunger.

I broke away from him and stepped back to look at his eyes. They were clouded and dark. I smirked before sitting on the coffee table and bending down to take off my heels. One shoe at a time. When I looked up he was in nothing but black boxers and boy was it a sight.

" I always preferred a boxers over briefs kinda guy" I said as I stood. He growled and picked me up. I wrapped by legs around his waist and my animalistic side started to show. I started scratching his back and growling and biting his shoulder and it all felt ... Right?

He laid me on the sofa before straddling me. My fingers undid the low ponytail his Silky hair was under going. When I pulled it out I felt something on his neck. A tattoo maybe. Funny how I've never noticed it before. His lips attached themselves to my neck and I got a good look at the back of his. There was six X looking tattoos on his neck. I traced it and he shuddered.

" What are these for?" I asked before moaning loudly as he bit a spot right behind my ear. He felt the back of his neck before resuming his task at hand.

" Its for every Strigoi member I've... Taken down"

" Are you sad about it?" he sighed before detaching his lips to mines and answering the question. His eyes got a far away and glassy look. I wish I could wipe away every single bad memory he'd had to undergo.

" Im always sad when I've taken someone out of the world"

" but your doing good"

" Even so, I don't know if they had family members that loved them. I caused a family to lose a relative and that's hard to handle" I thought of losing Lissa or Mason or Eddie. I would hate the person that took them away from me. I leaned in to make my lips meet his. I couldn't take away his pain but I'd be damned if I wouldn't try.

He deepened the kiss by snaking his arm around my neck. His hand traveled down my chest before meeting my center. I moaned when he parted my legs and rubbed it. With his weight on me my heart shaped necklace was stabbing me in the neck. I coughed before trying to push dimitri off so I can take off the necklace. He lifted up slightly before looking at the problem. Then he softly touched it before gently ripping it off my neck. He placed it on the coffee table and suddenly I didn't feel like doing what I was doing. I was confused as to where I was and why I was laying half naked under Dimitri.

He seemed to be confuse to and quickly hopped off of me. Then he looked back at my necklace and picked it up. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to lay down with Dimitri and have him touch me again. His frown deepened before he walked over to the ski lounge window and chucked it out into the snow. I ran to window screaming as he grabbed his hot chocolate and pour it over the tiny silver jewelry. Suddenly I didn't want Dimitri on me anymore. This was so strange. It had to be... The necklace. Suddenly I was pulled into Lissa's head.

She was looking around screaming. Her hands were bloody and no one was moving around her.

" Why are you doing this" Lissa said. She turned and to say I was shocked was an understatement . How could this happen? Why would they do this? Correction... Why would SHE do this ?