a/n: Hey, guys. I just want to let you know that there will be more emotion involved once the story gets going, but for now I'm just trying to establish Rose and Dimitri's irrepressible attraction to each other.

Is it bad that I have their first love scene almost completely written in the 'notes' section of my phone? And that I did it between projects at work today? And that…yeah, it's making me a little hot? ;)

Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Rose awoke the next morning grumpy. If it wasn't the first day of classes, she'd probably skip...not a good start to her first semester of college. When she walked into the kitchen, Lissa had already left for class, but she'd left a note by the coffee pot:

It's all set. Just hit start. :)

Rose smiled as she hit the green button and then crumpled up the note to throw in the trash. Lissa was always so thoughtful. She pulled a mug out of the cupboard and grabbed the hazelnut creamer from the refrigerator. Once she'd poured the appropriate amount, she leaned back against the counter and yawned, crossing her arms over her chest. She shouldn't be so tired after nine hours in bed, but there was something about erotic dreams that really messed with a girl's beauty sleep.

Her slumber had been restless at best, and every time she finally talked 'dream Dimitri' into her bed, she'd wake up just before he plunged inside of her. It really was frustrating. She'd been so desperate that she'd eventually pulled the little purple bunny out of her top drawer, but even a trip through the patch hadn't been able to soothe her nerve endings. Of course, that could be because a plastic bunny didn't have lips…and hands…and naughty words to whisper in her ear while he screwed her brains out.

With a sigh, Rose turned the coffee pot off and stalked back to her room. If she couldn't have sex, there was only one other thing that might give her some release.

A run.

Of course it would be raining, Rose thought as she headed out for her run. Luckily it was just a light sprinkle; she'd run in much worse. And what the hell? A cold shower might be just what she needed right about now.

She took off at a slow pace to warm up, lifting her face into the rain. It felt good on her skin, but it wasn't enough to take her mind off of her sexy professor which was what she was hoping for.

She'd spent the better part of last night reliving the time she'd been in his bed. She suddenly shivered—and it wasn't from the rain. She could still feel him plunging inside of her, her body stretching as he kept going, holding out until the last possible moment before exploding. He'd managed to do what no one before him had—Rose had come while he'd been inside of her; that was all it had taken. He hadn't needed to reach between her legs to bring her body to the brink. The throbbing she'd been able to feel inside of her head been more than enough to get the job done, and when she'd come. When she'd come, she'd actually screamed his name. That was a first, too. "Dammitt," she hissed as she felt a rush of warmth between her thighs. Rose came to a stop on the sidewalk. "It's no use," she muttered, turning back toward her apartment building.

"Why are you so grumpy?" Lissa asked later that evening as the two of them sat on the living room floor, open books and notepads all around them.

"Because I'm…desperate to get laid," Rose muttered as she high-lighted a section in her American Civics textbook, then cursed as she realized it wasn't the section she'd intended it to be.

"See?" Lissa said animatedly. "It's different when you've really gotten off, isn't it? The first time Christian got me off with only his—"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Rose said shrilly. "No!" She shook her head for emphasis. "No sex stories about Christian. We've been through this before. I love you, Lissa, but Christian was my best friend before he was your boyfriend and…ewww!" she exclaimed.

Lissa rolled her eyes. "Silly me. I guess I just figured that since you've had a big girl orgasm you were ready for big girl sex talk. I guess not."

"Nope," Rose confirmed as she jumped to her feet. She walked to the window and groaned as she pulled the curtain back.

"What?"

"I need to go for a run!" she said desperately. "But it's still pouring out there."

"There's a gym just down the road," Lissa informed her.

"That's a good idea. Let's go to the gym."

Lissa laughed. "No. You can go to the gym. The closest I get to cardio is hot sex," she taunted.

"I'm leaving now," Rose said, grabbing her keys and wallet of the console table beside the door.

"Good idea. And Rose?"

"Yeah?" Rose asked without looking up; she was busy making sure she had her debit card with her.

"I might be in bed by the time you get back."

"OK," Rose said.

"So if you could keep the groans and buzzing down tonight, I'd really appreciate it. OK?" Lissa said with a wide grin.

Rose frowned. "Screw you, Liss."

She could still hear her friend's laughter as she hurried down the hallway.

Rose nearly tripped on the treadmill when she saw him. Had she conjured him, or was he really here? She supposed it didn't matter either way; she could hardly attack him in a public gym.

The treadmill she was on finally slowed to cool down mode, and when the belt stopped, she stepped off the machine and made her way to the weights. She did her best to ignore Dimitri, but when their eyes met in the mirror that served as one wall of the gym, she realized it was futile.

They passed each other once while they were heading to different machines, but before she could get a word out, he hurried past her.

"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.

She was almost done her reps when she saw Dimitri heading toward the exit, and deciding just this once that uneven biceps might be worth it, she left the machine she was occupying and followed him outside.

His legs were long, and he had quite a head start on her, but Rose quickened her footsteps in an effort to catch up to him. "You're just going to ignore me? Really?" she asked when she finally reached his side.

He didn't say anything, just kept walking.

"I know you saw me in there! I know you can hear me right now," she said heatedly.

Dimitri came to a stop and turned to face her; Rose's own footsteps faltered as she came to a halt. She reached a hand out to the nearest vehicle to steady herself. "Roza, you have no idea how much trouble I could in for sleeping with you," he told her in a low voice.

"I'm legal," she informed him.

Dimitri scoffed. "It doesn't matter. You're still my student!"

"And you're one hell of a teacher," she said with a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Ro—"

"I'm not looking for a relationship," she told him.

"I know that. And the fact that you want to give me exactly want I want makes you that much more tempting," he said. Even in the darkness, she could see the shadow of desire in his eyes.

"Look, Dimitri. I just want…" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her lids were heavy when she opened them again. "I want…" She reached forward slowly, her eyes never leaving his. She watched him struggle to swallow as her hand snaked inside the waistband of his sweatpants and boxer briefs. With an almost relieved sigh, her hand circled his cock, and it hardened immediately.

"Rose," he said breathlessly as his eyes closed. "We can't do this." His words weren't as firmed as she imagined he wanted them to be.

"Why not?" she insisted as her hand moved up and down his length slowly before coming to a stop. She covered the head of his dick with her thumb, and spread the small droplet she found over the taut skin. "You're obviously ready and I'm willing." Her tone was desperate, and she hated herself for it. But she couldn't stop it.

"Because I'm you're teacher," he rasped as his eyes swept across the dark parking lot.

"You know I could have you coming in a minute," she taunted, her eyes full of fire.

"Rose…you could have me coming in fifteen seconds," he informed her. "But…not here."

"Not here?" she said hopefully.

"Not ever," he amended, his fingers clamping around her wrist and pulling her hand out of his pants.

Rose licked her lips. "Dimitri."

"Just one more taste," he said huskily. His arms wrapped around her waist and he hauled her forward until her body crashed against his. He lifted his hands until they were pressing into her upper back, pulling her body flush against his.

With a curse, he lowered his lips to hers. His tongue thrusting forth forced her mouth to part, and the welcome intrusion caused her body to melt against him. Rose sighed as his tongue stroked against hers. She could taste a hint of mint and something else she could only describe as Dimitri.

When she began to shimmy her upper body back and forth against his, he abruptly pushed her away from him. "Goodbye, Rose," he said tersely before stalking away.

Rose's body sagged against the vehicle behind her as she struggled to catch her breath. What in the hell had just happened?