Rose's POV

"D-Dimitri?!"

My heart is racing, my body still yearning for someone who's not the man in front of me.

We're in his car, I'm not sure how we got here so fast, but when I catch a glimpse of the redness around my wrist, I flinch. I know his tight grip on me is going to leave a bruise tomorrow.

I am still half-naked, my dress crumpled up in my lap and I suddenly feel extremely vulnerable.

I cast a tentative glance in his direction but he remains impassive. There's no point in apologizing. I don't feel remorse, I wanted to hurt him. But staring at him now I realize he's not hurt. His eyes are filled with rage and his lips remain pressed into a thin line.

I'm not sure what came over me. One minute I'm telling my life story to the sleaziest bastard at the party, and the next I'm pinned to a wall in nothing but my lingerie, making out with a wannabe artist. A very, very hot wannabe artist.

They say cheating leaves a guilty conscience, but I have yet to feel anything but dazed. Those sea green eyes, his cologne-those incredibly skilled hands. Ugh. Stop it, Rose. You should be ashamed of yourself.

"Well?" he finally says. I immediately avert my gaze. Why is it that the one time I don't want him there, he's all up in my face?

"If you're waiting for an explanation, I can't give you one." I mutter to the window. I squint my eyes as I notice a shadow near the alley I'd just been in. Adrian. He's still there; watching, waiting. I can barely make out his shape let alone see his gorgeous eyes, but somehow I know they are filled with concern for me.

For a moment, the only sound in the car is of Dimitri's shallow breathing. I've given up trying to decipher him, he's a complete mystery to me. Sometimes I think that's part of the reason why I've developed such strong feelings for him. No matter how hard I try to believe I'm the one in control, he always finds a way to remind me that he has the upper hand in our relationship. Or whatever the hell this is.

I sigh, breaking the silence. "Are we done? Can I go back inside now? Lissa's waiting for me."

"You're not going anywhere."

"You think I'm gonna stay here just because you told me to? You know me better than that, Comrade." I make a move for the door but he sees me coming a mile away and locks it before I have a chance to make my escape. "Open the door, Dimitri."

"No."

"You want me to make a scene? You know that's my specialty."

"We're alone, Roza." He doesn't say my name in an affectionate way this time, but as if he's talking to a misbehaving child.

He is patronizing me and I absolutely hate him for it. He's not the man I fell in love with. All I see is a possessive prick who got his favorite toy stolen and now wants it back. Did he ever even love me? I am such a damn idiot.

"Not for long." I murmur as my eyes scan my surroundings, suddenly spotting what I'm looking for.

Thwack!

"What the fuck are you doing?"

Steering wheel lock in hand, I aim once again for the passenger window. A triumphant smile spreads across my lips as I notice a small crack forming right in the center of the glass.

I finally look at him, voice flat. "Getting the fuck away from you."

I strike the window with all the strength I can muster and that does it. Tiny shards explode everywhere and I instinctively cover my eyes with my arm.

Dimitri is too stunned to say or do anything so I take the opportunity to climb out of the car with as much dignity as I can.

I almost fall face first onto the concrete.

Adrian is there in a heartbeat.

"What in the world— Who is that guy?!" His emerald eyes look so big I'm worried they are about to pop out of their sockets.

"No one important." I grab his arm for support and I notice I have tiny cuts all over. "Shit."

I shake my dress a few times, not wanting to accidentally stab myself with any shards of glass, before slipping back into the silky material. I ask Adrian to zip me up and I immediately shiver at his touch.

Did he have that much of an effect on me already?

But the shivering doesn't stop. And I am suddenly shaking uncontrollably from head to toe.

Too much alcohol, not enough food.

"Jesus Christ, are you okay?" He immediately slips out of his fancy blazer and places it around my shoulders, rubbing my arms over the material. "We need to get you home."

My body tenses as I realize Dimitri is still in the car, watching our every move.

"There's no way in hell I'm going back to the dorms tonight." Not when there's a chance Dimitri will come knocking on my door looking for me.

"Then where—"

"Let's go back to your place."

He stares at me like I'm an alien flying on a freaking bicycle.

"Relax, Art boy. I'm not doing you tonight."

Slowly, his dazzling smile returns to his lips. "Just the thing every sane man wants to hear, I'm sure."

-:- -:- -:-

Adrian's bachelor pad is exactly what you'd expect from a guy like him. The hardwood flooring and the classic vintage furniture gives it an alternative, old school feel. He lays me down on a goddamn Victorian chaise and with a click of a remote the fireplace on the far wall lights up; the crackling fire suddenly hypnotizing me. He leaves me there and saunters over to his liquor cabinet.

I am instantly at ease and I don't know why. I barely know the guy. He could be a serial killer for all I know. Then again, he is friends with Lissa. And I can trust Lissa… Right?

I heave a sigh as I lie back on the chair, staring up at the ceiling. I can tell my heart rate hasn't gone back to normal and I'm not sure if it's because of Dimitri or the events that took place before that. I can't help but wonder what would've happened if Adrian and I hadn't been interrupted in that alley.

He approaches me with a lazy smile. "Here you go—"

"Stop right there." He did, arching a brow at me. "If you think plying me with liquor will get me to open my legs for you you're in for a rude awakening."

"I'm offended that you'd think me capable of such a thing." he feigns shock for a moment, before lowering himself beside me on the edge of his fancy looking chair. He sets his glass down on the coffee table and reveals a first aid kit, which he now balances on his legs. "Besides, I'm fairly certain you were the one taking advantage of me tonight."

"You didn't seem to mind it when your tongue was down my throat." I blurt out, in spite of myself.

"Oh, trust me, I'm not complaining."

I completely forgot about my wounds and am only now realizing how much they sting. I can't help feeling grateful for this beautiful looking stranger who was there to rescue me when I least expected it. Not that I needed rescuing. Clearly.

Delicate fingers reach for my wrist and begin to clean the small cuts with antiseptic wipes. Honestly, they're not even that bad, I don't get why he's making such a fuss about it. But it feels nice to be taken care of. I don't usually let my guard down this easily around, well, anyone. Not even Dimitri. I don't know what it is about Adrian, but when I'm around him I feel like I can just be.

I clutch his overpriced blazer tightly with my free hand, breathing in his scent as the world around me starts to fade. The adrenaline I felt from before is finally starting to wear off and I can't help my droopy eyes from fluttering shut.

I hear a soft chuckle and before I know it I'm being wrapped in something soft and warm.

"Stay." I utter all of a sudden, not realizing I wouldn't have made that request in my right mind.

"Don't worry, little firecracker. You can always find me in your dreams."

I sigh a little as I drift off into blissful slumber.

I'm not surprised when I dream of drowning in an ocean of green eyes that night.

A/N I'm a shitty shitty person for waiting this long to update. Let me know in the reviews if you'd like me to continue and I will!