Chapter Twenty-Eight

Previously:

I brought Rose with me up the stairs, the many, many stairs and finally brought her into my room, and locked the door behind me. I didn't want anyone walking in on us... not that I really planned on doing anything with Rose at this point. She looked dead tired.

I helped her pull down her skirt and socks, I watched her sleepily unhook her bra and slide the straps down her arms and like magic pulled it out from under her shirt. My mind briefly entertained a thought, but instead I pulled back the blankets and she crawled into bed. After that, I slid down my jeans and then slid my shirt over my head. I pulled on some navy blue sweats and got in with Rose. I pulled her to me, burrowing my face in the crook of her neck.

"Night, Dimka," she whispered.

I smiled and kissed her collarbone. "Goodnight, Roza. I love you."

"Love you..." she barely got out before she was out like a light. I drifted into a relaxed sleep knowing I had my Roza safely in my arms.

Currently: (Rose POV)

"Oh, right there..." I murmured. It was a really, really hot day. I was laying face down in the sand on a long sea foam green fluffy towel. Though there was an umbrella over us, it felt like the sun was still beating down on me as if there wasn't one.

Dimitri's hands worked magic on my back. I moaned in appreciation. He was rubbing sun tan oil on my naked back.

I turned my head so that I got a good look at his Godliness. He smiled, then leaned forward and placed a kiss on my forehead. Another kiss was placed on my nose, then my cheek and lastly lips. That one lingered for a while and when he removed his mouth from mine there was a buzzing feeling left behind.

"Mmm," I groaned. "More..." I whispered. I half turned around in my position and looked at him with half opened eyes. "Please?"

Dimitri smirked at me; a half smile that showed only his canines. It made me feel so much hotter, as if the heat wasn't enough. He leaned down, perched over my body with his elbows on either sides of my shoulders, and crashed his lips down on mine.

I moaned into the kiss when Dimitri pushed his tongue into my mouth. I smiled at this gesture, allowing his to intertwine with mine. I pulled my hand up and rested it on his cheek, pulling him closer; if possible.

Though my position was a little uncomfortable, the pressure of his six-pack on my back was amazing. I fought the urge to moan for the fiftieth time.

"Rose..." Dimitri whispered into my ear. I mumbled in reply, not really even sure what I meant to say, but hey, a noise was created.

"Roza..." Again it came. I murmured louder this time, the noise vibrating in my mouth.

"Time to wake up..."

And like that, my eyes snapped open.

I was on my stomach with Dimitri half over me and wide awake. He was stroking my hair as he smiled down at me. Never had I seen his face looking so Godly-like. With the early sun light streaming in through the windows, his face looked glorious.

Sun!

I almost forgot what it felt like to have the sun shining on my skin. I guess I had gotten used to St. Vladimir's nocturnal schedule. God, I have to say, sun must be the best feeling in the world... well... besides a lot of obvious things involving Dimitri, that is.

"'Morning Sunshine." His words were soft, but his voice was deep and husky. It was like hot syrup streaming down freshly made pancakes. Delicious.

"Howdy, cowboy," I muttered, smiling impishly as I dug my face back into the pillows.

Dimitri leaned in and placed a kiss on my temple. It lasted a good ten seconds before he pulled his soft lips away and I mentally cried for them to come back. I turned over so that I was on my side and I was facing Dimitri. I burrowed my face into the crook of his neck, and at this, he chuckled. I could feel the vibration of the simple gesture against my face, and I kind of liked it.

His stubble scratched my forehead, but I didn't mind in the slightest. If anything, stubble only makes Dimitri look more manly and sexy.

I felt strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me even closer to Dimitri's warm body. I was safely nestled next to him. I took in a breath of his smell.

"God, Dimitri. You always smell so good in the mornings..." I mumbled jealously.

Dimitri chuckled. "That's because I've already had a shower," he replied cheekily. I threw my head up to get a better inspection on him. He indeed did look very clean...

I glared at him and lowered my head back to a comfortable spot. "What? I needed it," he added in an amused tone.

"Whatever..." I muttered as I wiggled myself out of his arms and off the bed. I stretched first, taking in a big breath of fresh, cold air. Only then did I realize that it was winter, and that it was cold as a witch's tit. "Damn!" I shouted in alarm, diving right back under the covers.

He laughed once again. "I'm glad my antics humor you," I grumbled, still under the covers.

Dimitri snorted. "Come on, get up Sleeping Beauty. Let's grab some food," Dimitri said, motivating me to get up. After a second, I didn't move, so I guess it's safe to say that he took matters into his own hands. I was lifted off the bed by Dimitri's big, toned arms.

I squealed in surprise as I felt the air whoosh around me. "Dimitri!" I shouted.

I took Dimitri's head in a death grip, and then I heard his melodic laughter. I held onto him for dear life. Then we began to move. The door opened and closed behind us and then came the stairs.

"Put me down," I demanded before he reached the staircase.

"No, I actually kind of like you up there," he said, making brief eye contact with me. I glared at him.

"Sure you do, perv..." I mumbled that last part, but Dimitri for sure still heard it. He ignored it, thankfully, and continued to carry me. One hand was wrapped around his head, and the other one was free... and began to roam.

There were many stairs to come.

My fingers started at his naked collar bone and then trailed to his shoulder, then down to his bicep. Dimitri definitely knew what was going on, but he tried to keep the feeling from his face. He had on that perfect, absolutely flawless guardian mask on. I could tell that every second I continued to touch him, emotion slowly eased onto his face.

My hand went back to his chest and brushed over his hard pecks. Dimitri's breath hitched, and a deviant smile formed on my lips.

"Roza..." Dimitri warned.

"Put me down," I asked for a thirtieth time.

"No."

"Then I'll continue..." I began mischievously.

Dimitri smirked. "You have no idea how much I want you to continue, the thing is, dearest, that you can't when my family happen to be a mere floor beneath us." Dimitri looked deep into my eyes and smiled. "We wouldn't want them hearing those beautiful moans, would we? Though I have to say, they're quite irresistible..."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "So in simpler words..." I looked at him skeptically. "You don't want your family to hear you fucking me senseless?"

He licked his lips. "Essentially."

I hadn't realized we were already at the bottom of the stairs.

"S'Dnem Rozhdeniya, Dimka!" came a chorus of female voices. Dimitri's and my head spun around to view the group of people, or... Dimitri's three sisters and his mother. Abe walked around the corner with Paul on his shoulders.

"S Dnem Rozhdeniya, Dimka!" Paul said in a slightly higher voice. Everyone chuckled at him, and his face turned the color of a tomato in embarrassment. Karolina helped him down from Abe's shoulders and into her arms. Dimitri must've decided that would be a good time to put me down as well. So instead, he wrapped a firm arm around my shoulders and held me close to his side.

"Happy birthday, Dimitri," Abe said, approaching Dimitri to shake his hand. Dimitri looked at my father proudly and shook.

"We baked a cake for you," Olena said, walking up to Dimitri and placing a kiss on his cheek. She beamed down at me, as if she were looking at me for the first time, and in a way I guess she was. This was the first time that she had talked to the two of us together, and from the looks of it she was okay with it.

"Wow, thanks you guys," Dimitri said, walking with me through the front room and then into the kitchen. "This looks amazing; I'm so happy..." he said, a wide smile on his face.

"And it's alllll for you, because we love you, big brother!" Viktoria said excitedly, pointing to a big banner on the wall that said various things in Russian that I had no clue what the meaning was. "Look! I made that sign over there!" she shouted.

Dimitri's arm slid from around my waist and instead, went to ensnare Viktoria around the waist and lift her up from the ground. She screamed in excitement and wrapped her arms around his neck. They both laughed together, and only then did I realize how alike the two looked. Despite their eight year difference, they were very similar.

Viktoria's hair was long and curled, and Dimitri was shoulder-length and waved. Though the lengths were different, the colors were the exact same. Same with their eyes; they had the same chestnut hue and almond shape. Also, I noted, their face structures were both square, though Dimitri's was bigger, and more matured.

He put her down after another second, and I couldn't help but notice the proud look on Olena's face. I wondered where Yeva was...

"Dimka, Roza, come into the kitchen. I cooked a big breakfast!" Olena said happily, putting her hand at the base of the both of our backs, leading us towards the kitchen. "Come on now, before the food gets cold. I have to say, I expected you guys to come down a little earlier..."

I blushed, remembering what we had been doing earlier.

"Sounds good," Dimitri said, wrapping a firm arm around my waist. I looked up at him the same second he looked down at me and we shared a look of gratitude.

As we all sat down at the table, food was served almost immediately. We dug in with out a word.

"So we were thinking, honey," Olena began, but paused to wipe her mouth with a napkin. "We could go spend the day together doing whatever you want," she paused to smile at her daughters who appeared smug, "or we could just back off and let the two of you have fun together."

I nearly spit up my food in Karolina's face. Instead I gagged and choked on my food. Abe smiled deviously at me from across the table and Dimitri rubbed my back, trying to sooth me. I coughed, looking at Dimitri thankfully.

"No Mama. Just being here, with everyone is perfect already," Dimitri said with a big smile on his face. I only realized how much of a family man Dimitri was. It made me sad to think that it was impossible for me to conceive for him so that we could start a family of our own. As if Dimitri could sense my unease, he looked over at me and smiled a warm, sunny smile. I couldn't help but impishly smile in return.

"Yey!" Viktoria hooted at the end of the table. "Can Dimitri open the presents now? I want him to see what I got him."

"Yes, that sounds fine. Go get your present," Olena said. Viktoria hurried from the table and left the room, returning a moment later.

"Here," she said, handing him a craftily wrapped, rectangular shaped present. Dimitri looked up at his little sister and smiled.

"You didn't have to, Vika-"

Viktoria cut him off. "Just open it."

Dimitri did so, and when he pulled the string, allowing the tissue paper to fall off the thing, it turned out to be a picture frame. His eyes widened, then went back to normal size as a satisfied and happy look came over his face. "Oh, wow..." he mumbled.

I leaned over to try and get a look at the picture, but the glare of the sun was in the way. Dimitri put his arm around my shoulders and brought me closer so that I had a better view. What I saw astonished me. I chuckled.

It was a picture of the three of us: Viktoria, Dimitri, and then me. I hadn't even known someone had taken this picture. We were all huddled next to each other. Viktoria was smiling crazily with her arms in the air whereas Dimitri and I were smiling genuinely with an arm around each other. We were both looking down at each other, eye to eye. It was almost like a lover's gaze, but it was more intense. The contrast in the picture was funny as well; Viktoria was like a big ball of energy while Dimitri and I were just standing loopily, with longing eyes.

"Can I see?" Paul asked from beside Viktoria.

I looked at Dimitri and he looked back at me. "Sure Paul." Dimitri reached over and handed the picture frame to his nephew. Abe leaned over the kid and took a glance.

"Oh God. What a couple of lovebirds!" he chuckled to himself. Sonya got out of her seat and walked behind Paul and Abe. She ended up snickering as well. She rolled her eyes, smirked and looked over at Dimitri and me.

We went through the presents. Karolina had bought him some expensive wine; Sonya had made him a gorgeous card and bought him a bouquet of flowers. From Olena came a handsome cashmere sweater, and Paul: a noodle picture.

"You see, Uncle Dimka? Those noodles are you. And the smaller ones are me," Paul explained, using his small, pudgy fingers to point out the noodles.

"Oh wow, Paul. This is amazing." He leaned into his ear and whispered, "Don't tell your mom or anyone else, but I think this is my favorite gift." Paul brightened considerably.

"Really, Uncle Dimka? I'm so glad you like it so much!" he said excitedly.

I squinted at the picture. "Wait," I said, pausing their adorable uncle-nephew moment. "Is that me?" I asked, pointing to a couple of long noodles that had elbow noodles at the chest area. Dimitri gasped, but then started chuckling.

"Paul?" Dimitri asked in a stern voice. The boy cracked and began laughing like crazy. Karolina took the picture out of Dimitri's hands and looked at it.

"Oh Paul!" she said, and then began to say things in Russian. Paul stopped laughing, but still giggled. He in reply said some words that I, still, don't understand. Karolina turned to me. "I'm sorry. This perverted little shit sure takes after his uncle." She sent Dimitri a fierce glare.

Dimitri raised his hands in protest. "Hey now, I am so not perverted."

"Sure, Dimka. Keep believing that and you'll be fine..." Viktoria mumbled at the end of the table, everyone's eyes dragging over to her once again.

"For sure, okay, my turn!" I called out, jumping out of my seat. I wandered into the other room and ran up the stairs. Then I ran the next flight of stairs. When I was in my room, I had to take a second to remember where I placed my present. Under my bed I saw the three books I bought Dimitri wrapped up in cute pink and black wrapping paper. I pulled it out with ease.

I took a glance at it. "Shit!" I yelled to myself. I forgot to make a card. In a quick attempt at a card, I searched the room for some paper. I found a blank one and a red smelly marker. I quickly wrote:

Hey Birthday Boy!

I hope you have a good one. I love you sooooo much, baby!

Time for some birthday sex! ;)

Love, Rose.

AKA Roza

PS: Don't read this out loud.

I folded then taped the paper to the present. I mentally blew a sigh of relief. I took off out of the room, running down the numerous stairs until I was finally at the base level of the house; I walked slowly into the room.

"Hey guys!" I said, out of breath.

"Nice timing, Roza," Viktoria whispered. I smirked and got back into my chair. I gave Dimitri a million-watt smile as I handed him his gift.

"Thanks a lot, Roza. I really appreciate this," he said, looking totally tempted to make out with me on the spot. His eyes completely gave it away. But he restrained himself, not wanting his family to witness our strange little love life. I mentally pondered if it would be better if they knew or not. I mean, the only ones who don't really know are Sonya and Karolina, but then again at least we have some privacy.

Dimitri folded the card up and looked it over, smiling like an idiot. Some heat rose to his cheeks, but he ignored it, as did everyone around him. I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he didn't read it aloud.

He pulled the card off and discretely stuck it in his pocket. He next turned to his unopened present. "Hmm, I wonder what this is going to be," he said, giving me a dry look. I smiled again, urging him to continue opening it. He pulled open it and out fell the three new hardcover books. I was sure that he had these books already, but I noticed how beat down his books were.

Dimitri chuckled. "Thank you so much, Roza. I haven't read True Grit in a long time," he said ecstatically, looking the book over.

"You're welcome, cowboy," I said jokingly. Dimitri tried to hide his smile, but it burst through his lips, lighting up the whole room. Still, he stuck to his standards and didn't kiss me, which I was slightly disappointed about.

"So everyone..." All the attention was directed at Olena once again. She smiled exuberantly, lighting up the whole room. "Abe and I have decided," Olena began, but paused to take in everyone's curious expression at the table. She grabbed his hand in hers and smiled brightly. "We're going to move out!" I don't know if I should be happy that there will be less people in the house so that there's more room to fool around, or if I should be sad that she's actually leaving.

It was quiet, but I heard Viktoria silently whisper, "Yes!" under the table. Olena looked over at her and glared. Her glare lessened, and then a smug smile formed on her lips.

"What are you happy for?" she asked. Viktoria stopped, blushing a bit, looking at her mom in alarm.

"Wait!" her eyes went wide. "This doesn't mean-"

"This is exactly what it means," Olena said, smirking evilly at her daughter.

"Noooooo!" Viktoria cried, pulling at her hair.

I looked between Olena and Viktoria. "Wait, what's going on?" I inquired out loud. Karolina shifted the weight of Zoya on her lap and then leaned into me.

"Viktoria has to move in with mama and Abe," she said, then picked up some eggs and fed it to Zoya. I snorted. I looked over at Viktoria, noticing how she put her head in hand and she picked at her food with her fork. She looked miserable.

"That sucks," I whispered in reply. "I mean the whole moving part, not the being with Olena part..." I said, heat rushing to my cheeks in embarrassment. "Oh God that sounded really bad," I said more to myself than to anyone else.

Dimitri chuckled. "It's fine Roza. They're still bickering. I'm sure they didn't pick it up." I looked over at him and smiled thankfully.

I smiled at him, wanting to kiss him so, soo badly. His lips were right there, and looking as tempting as ever. I never really noticed how pink and plump they were, as if they were screaming at me, "Kiss me!" I would totally comply.

Karolina scooted back in her chair, placing Zoya in her highchair. The noise that the scraping caused made me snap out of my trance. I only then realized how close I had gotten to Dimitri. He was a mere couple inches away from me; it was evident that we had just been thinking the same thing.

Sonya soon followed after Karolina and the two of them began doing dishes. Dimitri and I leaned away from each other, sitting probably as far as we could from each other.

Olena pretended to ignore our little moment. "Vika, go help your sisters," she ordered, getting up and picking up hers and Abe's plates. Vika grumbled as she picked up her plates and brought it into the kitchen. An annoying ring tone started playing, and all eyes went to Abe.

He glanced down at his phone and opened it, walking out of the room speaking a whole different language than Russian or English.

Dimitri got up next and brought his plate to the kitchen, but Karolina stopped him. "Nope. Go sit down with Roza. We'll take care of the dishes." Dimitri smiled at her, and after a second Karolina broke out in a smile as well. Dimitri handed his dish to his older sister and kissed her cheek.

"Roza?" Olena called, taking off her apron. "Can I talk to you about something?"

I stood up and nodded. Olena led me into the living room. The sound of the water was barely heard. My eyes were wild. Oh shit! She's mad at me for almost making out with her son, I kept telling myself. Shit, shit, shit!

"Rose, calm down, its fine, sweetheart," Olena said, her words instantly calming me. I took a deep breath.

"Okay, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" I asked, looking up at Olena with big eyes.

"I just wanted to tell you that you don't need to worry about the whole 'Dimitri' issue." I raised a brow.

"Wait, what?"

She looked at me. "You know... How you accidentally let it slip that you two had intercourse... sexually?" My eyes widened. My face paled, yet I felt the heat rush to my face.

"Right... Right, that. I remember that," I said, wishing I could go dig myself a hole and then curl up and hibernate the rest of my life in there. Olena gave me a motherly smile and rested her hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay Roza. I just wanted to let you know that you two have my full support and Abe as well. He actually believes that he's the right one for you."

"But..." I began. "We're both dhampirs," I said, looking up at her, wondering what her input to that would be. "You don't mind? I mean, this means that we can't have children or anything..."

Olena only winked at me. "You two will figure something out," she said huskily in her Russian accent. "Now come on, I know you two have plans." My eyes nearly bulged out of my head.

"How did you-"

"Dimitri's a horrible liar." She smiled widely and that was her only response before she led me into the other room.