Chapter 5

RPOV

Finally we came across an old abandoned warehouse near Lakeside. The journey had taken up most of the night and with the sun rising it was best to take a break. We managed to break into the warehouse quite easily and noticed there were just a few crates stored around the building. It was bare and only had one window to the east wall that seemed to emanate little sun light but Dimitri fixed the problem by using a ladder to climb and fix his duster to the edges of the window pane. As the sun rose, and Dimitri felt the perimeter was secured he walked over and sat down beside me sitting up with our backs against the far wall, studying every minuscule detail from my breathing to the new details that had significantly changed my appearance. I realised that I must have looked so different to him, sorting though the images of all the Strigoi I had defeated in the past. I knew that my skin color had changed that much I could see for myself, I no longer had the exotic tan that I was once so proud of instead my skin had a sickly pale tint to it. However I had no idea of all my other modifications, like my eyes for example having the red rings implanted around my once chocolate brown eyes. I could feel my new fangs as I kept unintentionally grazing my tongue over them and I tried to make a conscious effort to hide them from Dimitri.

While he was assessing me I felt myself doing the exact same thing to him with my new Strigoi eyes, and Dimitri looked absolutely beautiful. Things I never noticed before like his eyes. When once I believed them to be of a rich chocolate brown color now had strikes of molten gold running through them pulsing with every heart beat. As well there were details that I had noticed before but was limited with my weak Dhampir vision, such as the lines on his face. To anyone they would barley seem visible but to me I could see all the creases that reflected from the hardship and pain that went hand in hand with being a guardian. These precious lines made him all the more attractive with my new eyes and I wanted nothing more than to touch every single crease on his handsome face. It was impossible not to listen to the beating of Dimitri's heart, the intoxicating scent that radiated off of him as I felt desire and lust come creeping up through my body and it was so difficult to concentrate. I was not sure what Dimitri saw when he looked into my eyes but there was a certain shift in the way he was sitting and the longer we stared at one other I noticed we were slowly leaning in closer to each other. As if he could no longer hold back his thoughts he whispered.

"Roza what is wrong, do you need to feed again" There was a look of pure concern in his eyes that made my heart melt, but I didn't want him to believe all I thought about was my next feed. He had to know that I desired him as well. He had to realise that my need for him went beyond blood lust but an urgency to have him kiss me again the way he did in the cave. Not only that I wanted him more, so much more. I wanted to feel his body flush up against mine and never let him go. I needed to explain this to him somehow.

"No Dimitri it is not that" He seemed genuinely confused and it broke my heart. How could I explain to him my need without frightening him away. What if he doesn't want me like that any more?

"Then, what is it?" Here goes nothing...

"I... I need you!", Dimitri's eyes widened with shock as I could only think he truly believed that I wanted to feed off of him.

"No not like that." He genuinely look confused.

"Then what do you mean?".

I thought the best way to tell him what I needed was to show him so I slowly shifted myself so that I was sitting in front on him and brought my hands up to his chest. He remained seated with his back against the wall and his hands to his side, just watching me closely but he did not push my hands away which I took as permission to take the next step. I paced myself and crawled up onto his lap not taking my eyes off him while Dimitri just remained still with the look of intense curiosity following my every move as I settled myself right on top of him. Being so close that our chests were touching I kept a small distance not wanting to rush anything and to allow Dimitri to fully comprehend my intentions. After a moment I could see Dimitri coming to the realisation of what I was asking of him and just to make sure I was clear in my purpose I gently rocked myself against him to create friction whilst giving him my signature man eating smile. I could see so many emotions plaguing him. Worry, defiance, need but above all most...desire.