a/n: All I can say is wow. The support for last chapter was overwhelming in the best possible way! Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read and review! I hope you enjoy this one, too! :)

Rose's fingers flew over her phone's keyboard, and she couldn't help but attribute it to the fact that her adrenaline had just flown into overdrive. Hearing from Dimitri could do that to a girl.

How did you get this number?

Dimitri's reply came swiftly: University's database.

Rose bit down on her bottom lip; he'd looked her up. For some reason, that sent a rush of excitement through her.

I asked you a question.

Her eyes widened in surprise. He was angry that she was with another man. He, who claimed to be interested in her only for sex, was actually jealous. She had to admit, over the last few weeks, lots of things had run through her mind, and she had considered that he'd only used her for sex. It had certainly seemed easy enough for him to stay away from her.

But on the flip side, hadn't she been playing the same game? Acting like it was all about getting him into bed? That was definitely how it had started out, sure, but it had somehow evolved into more. Rose wasn't naïve enough to think she was in love, but she also wasn't stupid enough to think she wasn't on the verge of falling for him.

This is a surprise. And no. I'm not going home with him.

Good.

Rose grinned. It was time to have a little fun with the professor. He's coming home with me.

Dammit, Roza. You didn't have to tell me that!

"Here ya go."

Rose looked up at Adrian and grinned as he placed her water in front of her. "Thanks."

Should I have lied to you?

Yes!

Not my style, professor. I've held up my end of the bargain—fully clothed and leaving you alone. If you don't want me, that's fine. But you can't have it both ways. I'm not an 'at your convenience' type of girl.

I never said I don't want you.

Rose bit down on her bottom lip. This was getting better and better. Oh, that's right. It's 'unethical' for us to be together. Either way, you've made it clear that it's over. Good-bye, Dimitri.

Rose laid her phone back down on the table.

"Must have been one hell of a conversation," Adrian commented.

"Why do you say that?" Rose asked distractedly. She wanted to take her eyes off her phone; she just couldn't.

Adrian laughed. "Because I haven't seen you smile so much since the strap on Mia's dress broke at prom and she flashed half the senior class."

Rose's grin widened. "That was a good night, wasn't it?" she asked, finally looking at him.

Adrian shrugged. "It might have been. But my prom date didn't put out."

Rose socked him on the arm. "Serves you right for bringing condoms."

"How was I supposed to know you were so choosey about who you slept with?" Adrian asked teasingly.

Rose laughed. "That's the thing. I've really never been that choosey," she taunted. "You just didn't quite make the cut, Ivashkov."

"Oww!" Adrian said, lifting his hand to rest it on his chest. "Dagger to my heart, Rose."

Rose's phone lit up and she grabbed it.

Meet me out back.

"So, who is he, Rose?"

"Who's who?" she asked vaguely.

"This fella you're texting," Adrian answered. "He good to you?"

Rose sighed. "Sometimes," she told him truthfully.

"That's not good enough."

Rose rolled her eyes. "OK. You know what? Christian did this the other day, and it got all awkward. Let's not do this."

"Rose—"

"I'll be back." Phone in hand, she headed for the back exit of the bar.

Rose had only stepped one foot outside when a pair of hands clamped her upper arms and shoved her up against the brick wall. Dimitri looked down at her, eyes blazing, and her heart started thumping so hard Rose wouldn't have been surprised if it pumped it's way out of her chest. His head swooped down and his mouth captured hers, his tongue driving forth violently, forcing her lips to part.

The first thing that struck her was that he didn't taste like him. Not completely. There was enough scotch on his breath to put her over the legal limit. He tore his mouth from hers and placed a string of kisses along her jaw before catching her earlobe between his teeth and giving it a gentle tug.

"Dimitri," she breathed. "What are you doing?"

"Kissing you until you can't taste him anymore," he answered, his speech slightly slurred.

"You're drunk," she whispered as he ran his tongue down her neck, stopping just above the low neckline on her button-up. His mouth was so close to her chest, and she could feel her nipples straining in anticipation. "Besides I—" She shuddered as he reached underneath her t-shirt and rested his hand on her bare waist. "I thought you weren't into me."

He pulled away, his ragged breath warming her cheek. "No," he agreed. "I wasn't into you. But in about twenty minutes, I'm gonna be."

Rose gave him a hearty shove, the stepped out into the street and threw her arm in the air. "Taxi!"

Rose was certain that in her present state, she could have run back to Dimitri's apartment faster than the damn cab driver got them there. As soon as he unlocked his front door, Rose pushed past Dimitri and headed for his bedroom. He shut the door behind him and was at her side in an instant. When she reached his bed, she turned to face him, and he threw himself at her, sending them careening backward onto the bed together.

Rose tugged her skirt up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. She lifted his t-shirt and rocked her hips back and forth, letting the wet fabric between her legs slide over his lower belly.

"Roza," he rasped as he pulled away just enough to open the buttons on her shirt. His mouth lowered to the lace material of her bra and he licked her nipple through the baby blue fabric before his lips closed over the pebbled flesh. Rose gasped as she thrust her chest upward, clutching the back of his head.

"Oh, God, Roza," he breathed as he trailed a path of kisses back up to her jaw.

The cool air hit her skin when Dimitri pulled her panties to the side, and Rose shivered. As he thrust two fingers inside of her, her back arched up off the bed. He began a slow rhythm, his fingertips brushing along her inner wall as he plunged them inside of her.

"Oooh," she groaned as her feet pressed into the mattress. "Dimitri." She took a moment to steady her body before lifting her hips to keep tempo with his fingers. Her hands clutched the bed sheets as a flood of electricity made its way through her body.

Dimitri lowered his head so it was resting on her shoulder, his fingers still working their magic between her thighs. "Oh, Roza," he whispered in that accent she loved. "You're the best mistake I've ever made."

His words were like ice; Rose's entire body froze.

He must have known how his statement affected her, because he jerked his fingers from her and rolled away.

She lay there for a moment before slowly sitting up. Her chin fell to her chest and she closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. When she finally had, she moved to the side of the bed and stood, straightening her skirt before she turned to face him.

"I can only be your mistake so many times, Dimitri," she whispered. "And I've just reached my limit."