A/N: So this is quite a long chapter compared to the others, or maybe it just feels that way. I'm really enjoying writing this story so I'm hoping you're all still enjoying it as well. There is a bit of a lemon in here. I tried to keep it as PG rated as possible to keep the T rating but yeah. I hope you all enjoy that. Reviews are lovely; they make me feeling like I'm not just wasting my time.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Academy Series.

Chapter 9

Rose was laying out in one of the bathing suits she'd gotten earlier that day. The beach was quite and warm, the only sound she could hear was the waves crashing against the shore. "You've really outdone yourself this time." There was an empty towel to the right of her so there was only one guess needed to imagine who it was for.

"I really pulled the strings out for this one. For obvious reasons I don't make it to the beach very often and this one well...it took a lot of effort on my part."

Rose wasn't sure she wanted him in her dreams tonight. She rarely had what she considered being "adult dreams" but tonight would have been one of those nights she probably would have one if he hadn't shown up. "Why are you in my dreams tonight Adrian? Don't you have a mood ring for dreams and know when you shouldn't be in someone else's?" Looking up at him Rose knew instantly he knew exactly how she felt. "No way! This has to be some form of exploitation, seriously."

"Only if you don't want it, then that's something all together different." He crouched down in front of her, crawling over her body until he was completely on top of her.

"So is dream walking sex like real sex?"

He started kissing the exposed skin of her chest, "I'm not really sure, I've never done it. I'd think it would be real enough because everything we do in your dreams is real to me."

"So this would count as real sex then?"

After she had asked her question, Rose knew she'd hurt him. "Does 'real' sex with me seems that bad to you? I'm sorry I can't be Dimitri and that I'm just a drunken stand-in who smokes too much and invades your nighttime hours."

She woke up after that alone and frustrated, not so much at Adrian but for allowing herself to feel that way. Even in her dreams and with Dimitri dead, the thought of being turned on bothered her because it wasn't with him. Sometimes, when she was alone like this, Rose wished she could see Dimitri's ghost instead of Lissa's. While it was a comfort seeing her, Rose often felt that if she could see his face one more time she'd be alright. Thinking back to the sad look on his face as they had stepped into the elevator in the Hotel she wondered if she'd ever see him again.

Rose got up and crept over to Adrian's room. He had left a spare key to his suite with Cooper who had told her where he would keep it in case she needed it for some reason. As Rose slipped into his suite she was surprised he didn't wake up, it wasn't like she was trying to keep from waking him as she clamored around the room in the dark. As she walked into his bedroom she noticed that it smelled slightly of vodka and cigarettes. She smiled as she crawled into bed beside him noticing the smell got stronger the closer she got to him. Debating on whether to wake him up or not she finally decided to say his name several times to see where that got her. A few times proved nothing so she placed her hand on his shoulder to wake him up.

He woke with a jump as her hand touched his skin and he pinned her against the mattress. It took him a moment to realize who it was, but before he'd manage to make her out he had brought his fangs into full view and almost ripped a large portion of her hair out from pulling the back on her head. "Oh…it's just you," he replied in what she almost took as disgust.

"I wanted you to stay with me."

He rolled his eyes at her, "and I wanted to have a little fun in your dreams but we can't always get what we want now can we?"

"I actually came here for a reason, other than making you feel bad."

"What'd you come for then?"

"I'm a virgin Adrian, that's why I asked you if dream sex was real sex because I didn't want to lose my virginity in a damn dream." Replied Rose with a little more hostility than she meant to.

He laughed sluggishly, "I must have stupid written all over me if you think I'm going to believe that one."

"I'm being honest with you Adrian," she pleaded as she pushed him off of her to sit up a get a better look at him. "I wouldn't lie to you about something like this, I may act a certain way but that's because I don't want people to know I'm a virgin. It's not like I haven't had opportunities in the past, especially this past year. I'm sure Mason or even Dimitri would have allowed me to have my way with them on many occasions I just…I never wanted to, except that one time when Victor's magic almost forced Dimitri and I too. That's as close as I've ever gotten."

"You're serious aren't you?"

"No shit Sherlock, of course I'm serious. I'm not going to lie about still having my virginity card at eighteen, that's only mildly embarrassing and then you ran off before I even had a chance to explain myself forcing me out of my own dream."

Adrian grabbed a hold of her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it gently, "Well I appreciate you telling me. Although, if you've come here to have me deflower you there's no way I'm doing it now."

She laughed, "That's fine maybe I didn't want you to deflower me anyways Ivashkov, did you think of that one?"

He sat up, the bare expanse of his chest exposing itself as he did so. "You may be saying that little Dhampir but your eyes are giving you away. I could have you right here if I wanted."

Rose blushed, "You're so confident in your skills as a lover?"

Adrian laid her back down onto the bed and straddled over her, "most definitely." With that they started kissing. Her hands roamed freely over the vast expanse of his upper body. She had momentarily forgotten that he slept in the nude but soon realized it as she reach further down and felt that his hips were exposed as well. Rose gasped, as she looked back up at him. The mood had clearly changed between them now when she didn't stop her hands from roaming along his skin. He pulled away from her lips ever so slightly and looked down at her.

"I can't do this if you're going to regret it tomorrow."

"I won't," she promised. "I want to do this Adrian."

He kissed her softly on the lips once more, "We'll try something first but we won't go all the way tonight." He crawled out of the covers and positioned himself in front of her. Adrian's hands felt warm against her skin even through her night gown. Catching her hem in his hands he pulled it up past her thighs and up to her hips, "I'm going to need you to take this off."'

She smiled, "Take what off exactly?"

"This thing you're wearing or do I need to do it for you?"

"Maybe," she replied playfully.

"Sit up," he commanded, his voice deeper than she'd ever heard it before.

"If you'd like," Rose sat up and raised her arms over her head. Adrian made short work of taking her night gown off and tossed it on the ground beside the bed.

"Absolutely beautiful," he replied as he took in her naked body. "Do you know how long I've wanted to see you like this?"

"Not too long," she replied playfully.

"Semantics, but it's felt like ages."

He placed his hand on her chest as he laid her back against the bed. "All you have to do is stay right where you are okay?"

Rose nodded as she watched him curiously. He started kissing her again, but not her lips. Going straight for her neck he gently massaged her chest in his hand. "Can I bite you?" he asked. Unsure of what he'd really said because it had came out so softly, she thought he hadn't said it at all and that she'd simply imagined it.

"Can you what?"

He looked up at her ashamed, "Don't worry about it I take it back."

"Adrian, what did you ask me?"

He sighed against her neck. "I asked if I could bite you, but it was stupid of me."

She first thought back to the incident with Lissa and Dimitri, then to Spokane. Those weren't the images she wanted to think about so she shoved them to the back burner and remembered what it was like when she used to feed Lissa. She'd grown to love the feeling once and even got jealous when they'd been forced to stop. "Adrian, if we're going to be taking it to this level whatever this level may be we can't do it often and I mean it."

"So you'll let me?" He replied shocked.

"Yes, but I'm serious. Once maybe every few months but no more than that, I don't want to be like them you have to understand that."She brought her hand to his face to bring it up to hers.

"I won't let you."

"Promise me on your life you won't, because the minute I turn into one of those…those women. I'm going to have to take your ass out of the game."

He kissed her softly on the lips with a smile, "I promise."

She smiled back up at him, "at least if you're going to do it please do it where no one can see it."

Adrian smirked like a Cheshire cat, "I'd hoped you'd say that."

"Uh-oh," she remarked suspiciously.

"Don't worry my little Dhampir," he replied as he moved down between her legs. "I've only done this once, but it had a rather interesting affect on the person I did it to."

She looked down at him positioning himself right above her thigh. "Hmm…somehow I think you'd have an interesting affect on women no matter what you did."

"This will only hurt a second," he replied encouragingly. Rose held her breath as he sank his teeth down on the femoral artery that ran the length of her leg. She cried out with a mixture of pain and pleasure as he sank further down onto her leg.

"Adrian!" She moaned loudly, but before she got a chance to go any further he started caressing her gently. He continued in this manner for what felt like years but had only been a few minutes until she reach climax.

He came back up to her, lips red and covered in blood, kissing her like she'd never been kissed before. "I'm not going to sleep with you tonight Rose."

She looked up at him confused, "did I do something that offended you?"

He smiled, "No it's just because I don't want you to get used to the feeling of being bitten and have sex afterwards. It will help you stay as you are now."

"But I want to," she said simply.

"Which is why we shouldn't this time, trust me little Dhampir. I'm keeping you an honest woman."

She sighed, "Well what about you?"

He laughed, "What this?" Pointing down to his erection, "Minor setback."

"What are you going to do with it then?"

"Well I'm sure you could think of something to do with it if you wanted to."

She smiled over at him, "what like this?" Rose placed her hand on him and began stroking.

Adrian moaned, gripping the sheets as he did, "Yeah, like that."

It took longer for him to finish than it had her but it was nice all the same. Rose had never done that before and had been interested in his reaction. When she finished she'd placed a kiss on the exposed skin of his hips.

"What am I going to do about you little Dhampir?" he asked breathless.

"I don't know I rarely know what I'm going to do with myself on a daily basis."

She curled up beside him. "Well at least you won't have to feed later," replied Rose as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"Thank you Rose," he whispered against the side of her head.

"For that? I should be the one thanking you."

"But I know what it took for you to let me do that, so thank you."

"You're welcome."

He kissed her head once more and reach out to her through their bond, I love you.

"I know you do."

Adrian had fallen back to sleep not long after their time together. Rose couldn't for some reason and only dozed off for about an hour before waking up again. It was still early but she knew Cooper would be up soon so she dressed and headed back to her room. Curling back under her covers she decided to pull out her phone from the bedside table. Apparently her phone had been neglected a lot the past few days because there were several unanswered calls, texts, and messages.

The first message was from Eddie: Hey Rose, it's Eddie, give me a call when you get a chance.

Then from her mother: Rose? Hey it's your mom. Just seeing how you're doing, we didn't get a chance to say goodbye before I had to leave. Do be careful with Lord Ivashkov, he'll only hurt you in the end.

"If only you knew mother," she replied to no one in particular. She almost called her mom back but decided it was best just to send her a text back, no telling what she might be doing. U worry 2 much about me, I'm ok - rose

Most of the text messages were from friends who couldn't make it to the either of the funerals sending their condolences. The thought that someone would send their condolences in a text message was just so foreign to her. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to do something like that since she didn't text much, but she figured it was probably no different than e-mailing someone but definitely less personal than writing a letter. She looked for Christian's number in her phone and sent him a text like he'd asked her to last night.

Hey, I'm sure ur asleep but I'm up give me a buzz back when ur awake - rose

Rose decided there was no point in just laying around so she got up and took a shower to get ready. She wasn't sure what they'd be doing if they even decided to do anything at all, but she knew it probably wouldn't be anything fancy. So she put on this pair of jean shorts that came just above her knees so as to not show off her bite. Adrian while healing most of her ailments as of late had somehow forgot to take his brand off of her. I see how it is, she thought to herself.

Rose heard her phone beep and went to check it. You're up early, plans?

I was hoping u'd have some – rose

Minus the time she'd guarded him, they'd never spent much time together alone.

Come to my room, I'll plan a movie for us.

Room number? – rose

311. Knock first I may be naked.

Thinking about lesbians again are you? – rose

STFU K THX.

They sat there sharing a bottle of Vodka watching Donnie Darko. As she watched Jake Gyllenhall's struggle with Frank, Rose felt uneasy with herself. "It's kind of funny the mom's name is Rose"

He looked over at her, "why's that?"

"Because I see Liss everywhere like Donnie and Frank, so I could be Rose Darko what with my name and all."

"Sounds like a super hero," Christian joked, quoting a line from the movie.

"How do you know I'm not?" she replied back. They busted out laughing as they started watching Donnie and Gretchen make out in Donnie's bedroom.

"What made you pick this movie?" she asked playing with the bottle that rested between her knees.

"It's my favorite. I think I look like Donnie and you're seeing ghosts so together we might as well just be Donnie you know?"

She sank down into the chair chasing the feeling of her buzz. "Yeah, but I don't want to be Frank. I'm probably Grandma Death, I've died twice now."

"Have you really?" Christian asked surprised.

"Hell yeah man, first in the crash with Lissa and then when they were dragging me away from the death scene. One of those mothers threw a knife into my neck. Adrian saved me just like Lissa had, so maybe instead of being shadow kissing, I'm like shadow screwed over now," She started giggling.

"Why not just say the real thing?"

"Because it's not worth it, Lissa doesn't like that word."

He took her hand, "I wish I could see her like you do."

"No you don't."

Christian started to cry just a little, "I just…I should have been there. I was sleeping. Sleeping! Do you realize how pathetic I feel? I could have lit them up; I hear there were like 20 of them or more."

"You can't change the fact that you weren't there Christian. I was there and still couldn't do enough to save her. I blame myself everyday for her death."

"Yeah but it's not your fault. You did the best you could." She didn't believe him especially because of the way he was crying now. She sat up and pulled him into a tight embrace.

"But really Christian, don't beat yourself up over this you've got nothing to feel upset over when it comes to that."

"I just miss her so much." That's when he kissed her. Rose was set off at first but knew why he'd done it so she didn't stop him. They didn't kiss long and when they stopped he looked dreadful. "I'm so sorry Rose."

She smiled, "don't worry about it."

"I put into have you as my guardian but I don't think I'll get you."

"Why not?" she asked curiously know that it had everything to do with Adrian, but she figured he had just as good of a chance as Adrian did.

"Because Adrian's relentlessness is beginning to work on the Queen. I almost had you the other day and I went to get the paperwork but when I got back she said she'd have to think about it more because she wasn't sure what she was going to do with you."

"I don't understand why everyone wants me, I'm such a failure."

He leaned in and kissed her cheek, "No you're not."

Rose took another swig of vodka and stood up. "I guess you're right, I'm not so bad."

"What are you going to do the rest of the day?"

She wasn't sure but all of a sudden the mix between the tranquillizers she was on and the vodka was going straight to her head. "I think I need to go lay down for a bit."

"Are you feeling okay?" Christian asked standing up to catch her because she was a little uneasy on her feet.

"I'm not sure; I think I just need to lay down for a bit."

"You've said that already."

"Where's Adrian?" she asked absentmindedly.

Christian started walking her up the stairs, "I'm not sure but we'll go find him ok?"

"ok," she replied struggling just to make it up the stairs and down the hall back to her room.