Hey! Thanks so much for reviews! :D

I listened to All The Way and Teenage Hearts, by Allstar Weekend before I wrote this chapter, so they inspired a lot of what happens... :)

I hope you're ready for what's coming up in the next few chapters, because things get a lot more serious soon. Anyway, hope you like it!

Alina

Later on that evening, when the sun was setting like a fiery ember on the horizon, I opened the door to Aleksander's room. I poked my head inside cautiously, but there was no one there. Slipping inside, I closed the door behind me and glanced around. The room was empty. The orange light of the sunset bathed the balcony outside, and spread over the floor and the silken sheets of the bed. I was halfway across the room when I heard the noise of the shower running. So that's where he is, I thought.

Relieved that he wasn't being attacked by more Heartrenders, I continued farther into the room. I paused next to the bed and trailed my fingertips over the soft sheets. I remembered what it felt like to sink back into his mattress, his hair in his eyes, his body lean and smooth under my fingers. A little shudder tightened my skin. There was no denying it: I was helplessly in love with him. No matter what anyone else thought. He was a piece of me now and I would never be able to give him up.

Just then, the bathroom door swung open. I jumped and turned around, ready to tell him that I'd wanted to make sure he was okay. The words died in my mouth. Aleksander stepped into the room, completely shirtless, and dragging a hand through his damp, rumpled hair. He noticed me standing there and a half-smile pulled at his mouth. "Hey," he greeted. "What're you doing here?"

"I, uh, wanted to see how you were doing," I stammered, because damn, he looked good. I stared at him stupidly, at his broad shoulders and at the deliciously sculpted muscle of his chest and stomach. To say he was gorgeous would be an understatement.

"I'm better than I was a couple hours ago, so that's something," he replied. He leaned with his shoulder against the doorframe, looking lazy and tempting. "I should've known the others wouldn't accept me forever."

Defiance flared in me. "Well, they're going to have to," I stated, knowing that this sounded childishly stubborn. "Because you're probably going to be staying here forever."

He glanced up at me, his smile widening slightly. "You think you'll want me that long?"

"Yes," I answered, smiling now too. "You're not getting away that easily, Aleksander."

He dropped his eyes at the sound of his name, the smile still curving his mouth. Then he pointed to something on the bed. "Can you get that for me?"

I looked down and saw his shirt lying on top of the covers. "Sure," I said, and picked it up. I could've tossed it to him, I supposed, but I didn't want to. Walking right up to him, I held it out. Getting out of a shower two minutes ago had magnified his addicting scent of soap and night winds, flooding my senses and making me lightheaded. He took the shirt from me, but before he could put it on, I cupped his face in my hands and brushed my lips over his. It was hardly a kiss, nothing more than a small touch. He froze, holding the shirt loosely in his hands, and I touched my mouth lightly to his again. When I daringly nipped his bottom lip, he made a soft sound and dropped the shirt to the floor. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in close.

At first, his kiss was gentle, under control. Then I ran my hands down his chest and he shuddered, kissing me harder. It was hungry and wild. I couldn't get close enough. My fingers slid down over the strong ripple of his abs and both of us gasped. I hung my fingers on his belt and left a path of kisses down his jaw, tasting his skin. His arms tightened around me, lifting me up the way he had before. I buried my hands in his hair and wrapped my legs around his waist. He backed us into the room and eased me back onto his bed.

"Say my name," he breathed into my mouth, his hands skimming over my body.

I rolled us over, pressing him down into the mattress. "Aleksander," I whispered and he trembled, closing his eyes. Without thinking, I slid down to kiss his stomach, his skin warm under my lips. I traced a line of kisses up his middle, letting him feel the slightest touch of my tongue. He arched his back in response and tilted his head back, letting out a soft moan of pleasure. The sound made me smile against his chest.

"Alina," he murmured, hands at my waist, holding me against him. My body rose and fell with every breath he took. "Stay with me tonight." I hesitated and he kissed my mouth briefly. "Even if it's just to hold you while you sleep. Please." He kissed me again and slipped his hands under my shirt, fingers splayed over my back. "Please, stay with me."

"What if I want more?" I asked softly.

He stroked his thumbs over my sides, gazing up at me. His quartz-gray eyes were half-lidded and foggy with desire. "I won't push you into anything," he said. "You know that. But, if you want me, I won't ask you to stop."

I slid one finger down his shoulder to his arm, feeling the hardness of the muscle beneath my touch. "I want you," I admitted. I bent my head to press my lips against his neck, inhaling his wonderful scent. "Badly."

He flipped us over again and pinned me beneath him. I slipped my leg around his, locking him against me, and he kissed me hard, consumingly. His fingers were hooked deep into my waistband, searing my hips, and I whimpered into his mouth. He broke away and kept our foreheads touching. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered breathlessly. I snagged his belt, pulled him closer, and his breath hitched. "I love you, Aleksander."

"I love you too," he murmured, leaning in to kiss down the center of my neck. His voice trembled with emotion. "Saints, I love you so much."

I cradled his face in my hands and brought his mouth back to mine. I wanted to know him better than anyone had ever known him before and I wanted to make him mine, completely.

I didn't know that this was one of the last times we would have together, before it all crumbled down around us.

Aleksander

I snapped awake in the middle of the night, gasping. Moonlight silvered the ceiling and shadows crept from the dark corners of the room. I lay back against the pillows and waited for my heart to stop racing. I couldn't remember what I'd been dreaming about, only that it had been enough to jerk me awake.

Something was pressed to the bare skin over my heart. I glanced down and saw that Alina had slid her hand onto my chest in the night. She was fast asleep beside me, her hair spread out over the pillow behind her. The smooth sweep of her shoulder was visible above the covers, skin touched by moonlight. I watched her for several long minutes and was struck once again by how beautiful she was, curled up against me. A fierce, awful ache of affection rose inside of me. I was so in love with her.

I touched my fingertip to the back of her hand on my chest, and drew imaginary lines down her fingers and over her knuckles. Alina Morozova, I thought, shaping the name in my mind. I wanted to give her that part of myself. I wanted to wake up like this with her every day. I had already told her my real name, heard her gasp it to me when her body was covering mine in the dark. But I wanted more: a lifetime with her, a safe place for both of us, a ring. Maybe someday, I could have those things.

I can wait, I thought, watching her eyelashes flutter as she dreamed. I had waited for her to love me for a long time. I would've waited forever, if that's how long it took.

Alina

Morning light burned my eyelids, dragging me out of sleep. I opened my eyes and stifled a yawn, stretching my arms above my head. Dawn was turning the sky outside to striking gold and set the lake aflame. I stared up at the ceiling and dropped my arms back onto the covers. Then confusion hit me. This wasn't my room or my bed. And why am I...? I glanced at the figure beside me and memories came rushing back. Oh. That was why.

Aleksander was asleep on his back, one arm flung over his stomach. His broad shoulders were caressed by morning sunlight and his black hair was ruffled, falling rakishly over his forehead. His chest rose and fell as he slept and I found myself watching him dazedly. Even in his sleep, he was stunningly attractive. I huffed to myself, thinking of my sleep-mussed hair. That is just not fair. But I think I can get used to this, I thought, as Aleksander made a tiny, adorable noise in his sleep, my name leaving his mouth in a sigh. I couldn't help but smile as he stirred and his eyes opened, misted with sleep. He glanced over at me.

"Were you staring at me?" he asked in amusement. His morning voice was low and husky, indescribably sexy.

"No, just..." I cast around for an excuse. "...looking."

"Uh-huh."

"Oh, please," I said loftily, working to hide my grin. "You aren't worth the effort."

He tossed me a wicked smile. "That's not what you said last night," he reminded me. "When I was—"

"Shut up," I interrupted, flushing crimson.

He laughed, and his laugh was even sexier than his voice. I mock-glared at him and gave him a shove in his shoulder. Before I could pull my hand back, however, his fingers closed around my wrist. I yelped as he yanked me to him. In a heartbeat, he had me under him, his body flush against mine, skin on skin. Sparks shot down my veins at his closeness. "You know," he murmured, trailing his hand down my side, "for a saint, you seemed to enjoy giving yourself to me." His palm melted into my hip and my heart sped wildly.

"I'm a saint," I replied, knowing he heard how breathless I sounded. "I can do what I want."

His hand slipped farther down my leg, sending shocks of electricity down my skin. He curved his hand under my knee and brought it up to his side, urging me to wrap my leg around his waist. "And what do you want, little saint?" he asked softly.

I wasn't thinking clearly at all. His fingers were inching up my thigh, teasing my skin and clouding my mind. I locked my gaze onto his. "You," I answered, right before he covered my mouth with his. He kissed me deeply, with the darkness he'd had inside, black and devouring. I ran his hair through my fingers, feeling the feather-like softness of it. His hand on my thigh slid higher and I looped both legs around his waist, moaning into his mouth. I felt his smile and the way he shuddered, unable to control himself.

A knock on the door made us both freeze. Quickly, I thought about all the people that would come here, looking for me.

"Genya," I whispered.

"Damn," Aleksander muttered.

The knock came again, soft, but insistent.

I started to untangle myself from Aleksander, but he brought his hands to my legs, keeping them around his waist. "Ignore her," he murmured, kissing my neck. "She'll leave eventually."

"She's my friend," I protested.

"She'll be fine," he whispered, kissing down to my collarbone. His tongue lightly grazed the hollow at the base of my throat. "She doesn't know that you were here all night." He kissed me again, lips gentle. "In my bed." His teeth brushed my skin and I began to fall apart. "With me."

"She's gonna know if she comes in here and sees us like this," I hissed. I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back.

He sighed and let me slip my legs from his waist. "All right," he said. "Go talk to Genya." Then he traced one finger down the center of my chest to my stomach, making me gasp. "But afterwards," he whispered, "you're mine."

I was halfway to deciding that Genya could wait. I brushed my lips onto his and whispered his name to him, just to watch his eyes close at the sound. He still didn't understand that effect on him, how hearing me say it made him unravel in my arms. I loved it.

When I opened the door, Genya took one look at me and burst out laughing. "What?" I snapped, tugging nervously at my shirt.

"Oh my gosh," she laughed, shaking her head. Her face was alight with dark amusement. "Did you...did you spend the night here?"

I wasn't sure how I should answer that. "Um..."

"You did, didn't you?" she asked, grinning broadly.

"I didn't say that!" I protested. Of course, she didn't listen.

She clapped her hands together. "I knew it! I knew it! All right, tell me everything. And I want details," she added, placing her hands on my shoulders.

"I am not giving you any details," I told her.

"Aw, come on! Why not?" She dropped her arms to her sides, pouting.

A new voice suddenly joined the conversation. "Yeah, Alina, why not?" Genya beamed at me as Aleksander stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was still shirtless and the strength of his arms slid up against my sides.

"Are you both going to bother me now?" I asked. Genya nodded vigorously and Aleksander flashed me his devil-may-care smirk. I sighed. Yes, they were. I glanced at Aleksander over my shoulder. "If you say one word about this to her, I will never hear the end of it."

"Fine then," he said, with an apologetic look at Genya, who pouted even more. "I won't say anything."

"Well, if you won't tell me, I have to make her talk," Genya stated. She pointed commandingly at me. "So, unfortunately, I'm gonna have to break this up for a while. Alina, you have to let me do something about your hair while we...discuss things."

I irritably blew a strand of hair out of my eyes, knowing that this was going to be a long day. "Okay, fine," I mumbled. Genya giggled gleefully, bouncing up and down. I scowled at her in reply.

"I'll see you later then," Aleksander told me, still holding me against him. He pressed his lips tenderly against my ear before letting me go. He disappeared into his room as I watched him, smiling idiotically.

"Okay, Alina," Genya said, grabbing a hold of my arm and pulling out into the hallway. "Let's go. You have some explaining to do."