a/n: Thanks so much for the reviews for last chapter!

After sitting at the table and eating in silence with Dimitri, Rose had returned to her bedroom. She'd turned the light off a while ago but had been tossing and turning ever since. With a sigh, she finally gave up and threw the covers back. She yelped in pain when her little toe hit the nightstand beside her bed, took a moment to recover, and began the familiar walk to the other side of her bed and back again. She didn't turn the light on; if Dimitri saw it, he'd probably come and check on her. His pity was more than she wanted to handle right now.

She wished Christian and Lissa would hurry up and get home. Knowing that Dimitri was in her living room was unsettling to her, though she wasn't sure why. It was Dimitri—if anything, she should feel safer with him here. After another ten minutes of pacing, her bedroom door creaked opened, and though she knew it was Dimitri, she flicked her lamp on.

Rose lifted a hand to shield her eyes, allowed them a moment to adjust, and then dropped it to her side. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"What are you doing?" he shot back.

"I was just…getting up to get a drink of water," she lied.

Dimitri leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his chest, giving her a stern glare. "Is that why I keep hearing you bump into things?" he asked dryly.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I can't sleep," she finally admitted. And him standing there—rocking a long-sleeved, cream colored t-shirt that had molded itself perfectly to his broad chest and a pair of the darkest blue jeans she'd ever seen—wasn't likely to help her situation.

"Do you want some water?" he asked softly.

Rose nodded, though what she really needed was a short reprieve from the sight of him. He gave a slight nod and pushed himself away from her doorframe, only to return a few moments later. He dropped his messenger bag just inside her door, shut it, then turned around and presented her with the glass of water she'd requested.

"Thank you," she said reluctantly, and then took a sip.

"You're welcome," he returned.

She watched as he toed off his shoes, and then made his way to her bed, climbing on and settling himself on the un-rumpled side as if he belonged there. These were not the circumstances under which she'd envisioned Dimitri in her bed, but a small thrill ran through her anyway just to see him there.

She walked hesitantly to the other side of her bed, put her glass on her nightstand and sat down. She took a deep breath before she pulled the covers back and crawled beneath them.

It was silent for a bit before she spoke. "I don't know why I can't sleep," she confessed in frustration. "It's not like he…did anything."

Dimitri scoffed. "He attacked you, Rose," he reminded her.

"I got away," she said in a small voice.

"You were still violated." When she didn't reply, he continued. "One in four women will be sexually assaulted by the time they're twenty five years old, Rose," he told her. "And fifty seven percent of rapes occur while they're on a date. And rape isn't about sexual gratification; it's an act of physical violence."

She turned over and studied his face for a moment. "You really did your research," she commented.

"We had a mandatory staff meeting after you were attacked," Dimitri remarked.

"Well, why are you telling me all of this?" she asked.

"Because you need to know that there was nothing you said, nothing you did…nothing you wore that made him do this do you. And I want you to be educated enough to keep yourself safe, Rose!" he answered harshly.

"I already know I shouldn't have gone up to his room with him, OK?" she said bitterly. "I was stupid."

"Not one of your finer moments," he agreed. "But it certainly wasn't an invitation to rape."

Rose closed her eyes and lifted a hand to her forehead.

"My concern is that this might be a habit for you," he said gently.

Her eyes snapped open. "What?" she demanded.

"Well…you came home from the bar with me, Rose. A total stranger. And I'm strong—I could've overpowered you."

Rose laughed. "You wouldn't have."

"You didn't know that at the time," he pointed out.

"I can't believe you're throwing that in my face," she said.

"I'm not throwing it in your face. I just want you to recognize the pattern."

Rose took a deep breath, then changed the subject. "You said that you didn't want me wearing short skirts to class because you wouldn't be able to control yourself," she said hesitantly.

He shook his head. "What I meant…was that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from becoming aroused, Rose. Not that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from sleeping with you. A man can always stop himself—no matter how far it's gone."

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded. "OK."

He looked down at her, his eyes filled with such tenderness, that Rose felt her heart tighten in her chest.

"You should try to get some sleep," he said quietly.

She nodded as she rolled up onto her side and pulled the covers up to her chin, her eyes glued once again to the snow falling outside of her window. There was a slight pressure when Dimitri rested his hand on her shoulder, then reached over her to turn the lamp off.

As he pulled away, he pulled her with him until she was on her back looking up at him. He reached up and pushed her hair back before framing his face with her hands and kissing her forehead. "I don't regret sleeping with you, Rose," he told her softly, but determinedly.

And this time…she believed him.