a/n: Hey, guys! I try to respond to each review that's written, but some of you have your PM feature disabled or you review anonymously. I just want to take a minute to let you know how much I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you all so much! :)

Dimitri had no idea how he was able to finish his lecture while he was so infuriated. He couldn't remember a word he'd spoken, could only hope it pertained to the chapters his students had been assigned to read. The minutes had seemed to drag on and on.

At last, the clock read 8:50 and Dimitri dismissed his class. "Ms. Hathaway," he said. "A moment?"

He saw the silent exchange between her and Christian; he gave her a questioning look and she answered with a slight nod. Dimitri was sure he'd be waiting outside of the classroom for her, but he didn't care. He needed to talk to her.

Rose remained in her seat as everyone filed out of the room. When it was finally empty she stood, slinging her backpack over her shoulder as she approached him. "I'm guessing you don't want to talk about my paper," she commented.

He didn't say anything, just stood there with his gaze locked on hers. She finally crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.

"Do you have any other bruises?" he asked softly, unable to hide the menacing tone in his voice.

She cleared her throat and returned her gaze to his. "It's none of your business," she answered with a defiant lift of her chin.

Dimitri felt his jaw begin to tick. "This is a game you don't want to play with me, Roza," he warned between gritted teeth.

She sighed and then bit down on her lower lip. "I have handprints on my thighs," she admitted in a whisper, then looked at him expectantly. "Can I go now?"

He reached for her hand, and when she flinched Dimitri felt his fury escalate. He stopped and waited a moment before reaching for her again, slowly this time. He grasped her wrist gently and pulled it up, turning her hand so it was resting palm up in his. He ran his fingertips lightly over the red marks marring her flesh before dropping her hand and reaching for her chin. He heard her breath catch as he turned her face to the side and studied her cheek. As he'd expected, the bruises were worse up close.

He let his hand drop and cleared his throat. "Are you OK?" he finally asked.

"Why are you doing this? I mean—why?" she hissed, anger flashing in her eyes. "Is this supposed to make me feel better? You humiliated me in your bed and now…you're standing here studying me like I'm some damn…I don't even know what! And all for what?"

"Roza—"

"I told you. It's Rose!" she said angrily.

Sighing, Dimitri lifted his hand and pinched the bridge of nose in frustration. "Rose," he said pointedly. "What I was trying to say to you—"

"Oh my God!" she said shrilly. "You're going to keep me after class to clear things up with me? Are you kidding me?"

"Sometimes I can be…not so eloquent," he continued. "I was trying to tell you that I didn't regret anything that happened between us, and it came out…" He sighed as he searched for the right words. "I sounded like a dick."

"Yeah, you did. And now it's over and done with, and I don't need you trying to clear things up because you feel bad for me," she told him. "I'm a big girl, Dimitri. I'll handle this."

Her shoulder brushed his as she walked briskly past him. "I'll be home tonight," he called without turning around.

"Yeah? Well unless somebody else stops by, you're going to be home alone," she returned.

There wasn't a class directly following his, so after waiting a few minutes to give Rose enough time to leave, he walked over and slammed the door. The crash echoed throughout the empty room as Dimitri stalked over to the desk sitting in front of the whiteboard. He cursed as his fist came down on the cold metal.

If he hadn't fucked things up so thoroughly with Rose, she probably would have been with him on Saturday night, and this wouldn't have happened.

But what was eating him most of all was that he didn't know how far things had gone. Dimitri hadn't read the morning paper yet, and the president of the university had only had some of the details at the meeting he'd attended.

If someone had actually forced himself on her…he trembled at the thought. The notion that someone had even tried had him seething. If he'd succeeded…

Dimitri could only hope he had the restraint not the kill the bastard.

By the time Rose made it back to her apartment, she'd worked herself into a fury. Who did Dimitri think he was, keeping her after class to apologize to her? If she didn't think it would look like a desperate attempt to talk to him—which it would absolutely not be—she'd call him and give him a piece of her mind now that she'd regained her composure!

He'd taken her by complete surprise. How had he even known about what had happened? And that it had happened to her? Wouldn't it only have been a matter of public record if she'd actually pressed charges?

The whole thing had her in a bit of a tizzy. Was it going around campus that someone had been attacked? Rose had never minded being the center of attention before, but these were different circumstances. She didn't appreciate the fact that rumors might be going around about what had happened. It was bad enough without people talking about it…without Dimitri keeping her after class and trying to make amends because he pitied her.

Rose sighed as she headed for her room in search of a change of clothes. She needed to shower. Again.

Rose wasn't in class on Wednesday, and when she didn't show up on Friday, Dimitri went into a bit of a tailspin. He was already mad at the bastard for doing this to her without worrying about the emotional toll it was going to take on her. He couldn't help but think he may have compounded the problem by keeping her after class and scrutinizing her, but what was he supposed to do? Say nothing?

Once class came to a close, he began putting his things in his messenger bag. He was so consumed with thoughts of Rose, he didn't even realize that anyone was still in the room with him until he heard the deep voice.

"Mark Stuart."

Dimitri looked up and saw Rose's roommate still in his seat. He felt his jaw clench as he nodded. No further explanation was needed.

The young man hauled his backpack up on his shoulder as he stood; he hesitated as he began to walk out. "She's not sleeping at night," he admitted.

Dimitri stood there for a moment before speaking. "Why are you telling me this?" he finally asked.

Christian sighed. "Because you don't look at her like someone who's just banging her, that's why," he answered.

"She doesn't want to see me," Dimitri remarked as he put his hands in his pockets.

"How do you know?" the young man asked with a shrug.

"I told her I'd be home Monday night if she wanted to stop by," he admitted. "She didn't show."

"Do you know where she lives?" Christian asked mockingly.

Dimitri nodded.

"You got a vehicle?" he pressed.

Again, Dimitri nodded.

"Then I don't see what the problem is."