Authors note:

Sorry for the late update. You can all put down your pitchforks now! ;-)

This chapter wasn't edited by my beta, Dimitri. and. Roza. 4E, so blame the mistakes on me!

Two of my reviewers pointed out a big mistake that I made last chapter. Rose did get stabbed by Victor, but I forgot about it and failed to mention it again later in the chapter when I should have. All I can say is that mistakes happen and I'll try to be more careful next time.

I got a whole bunch of people asking if Rose and Dimitri made their relationship public. Well, this chapter should answer your questions.

Enjoy!

-Breanna

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead.

The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story are owned by Ms. Belikov. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without express written permission.

RPOV:

I woke up feeling content and blissful. My skin was really warm, like I'd been lying on a heating pad. I opened my eyes to find the most heartbreakingly beautiful face in the world. Dimitri. My Russian god.

"Good morning." he smiled, brushing his fingers along my arm.

"Good morning, indeed." I mumbled, stuffing my face back into his warm, bare chest.

I heard his rich chuckle. "Merry Christmas, Roza."

"Yeah, you too." I yawned. "Now let's go back to bed."

"Actually," he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I have other things planned for us."

My head snapped up. The drowsiness from sleep had worn off completely. I was wide awake now. "Making love?"

I started to straddle him but Dimitri grabbed my wrists and rolled us over so that he was now hovering above me. "Good lord. What have I done?"

"Turned me into a sex addict?"

He pursed his lips and didn't say anything, but his dark eyes spoke wonders.

"Ha ha," I laughed. "You can't blame me though, right? With a package like that you could turn any woman—or man—into a crazed sex addict. You're hung like a horse—"

"Rose." Dimitri clamped a hand over my mouth. "Stop it." I could tell from the way his mouth twitched that he was trying to contain his laughter. His large body rumbled with it.

I smiled. "Did you make me breakfast?"

"Actually, I was planning on doing that right now." I whined when he stood up from the bed, wanting him to come back to me, but then I caught sight of him buck naked and it put me to silence immediately.

My body heated up all over as I watched him throw on a pair of jeans.

"You know, I wouldn't mind if you didn't wear anything at all. I would love to watch you care for me, love me, bring me breakfast in bed…all in your birthday suit."

Dimitri brown eyes gleamed with amusement but his face didn't betray anything. "You should get dressed because Lissa and Christian are going to be over in," he glanced at his watch. "Two hours."

I yawned again. "Fine." I sat up. "But only if you take a shower with me."

He pursed his lips, pondering the thought. "But I have to make you food—"

I waved my hand to cut him off. "Just get me two chocolate glazed donuts and I'll be fine."

Dimitri chuckled, nodded, and disappeared.

A few moments later, he came back into his—our—bedroom and handed me what I'd asked for plus a glass of milk. "Yum." I immediately started scarfing down the sugary-chocolaty goodness.

My Russian god stared at me the entire time.

Once I was finished, I licked my lips and wiped my mouth. "What?" I asked, self-consciously touching my face. "Is there extra chocolate somewhere?"

"Actually, there's a small piece of donut." Dimitri reached up and brushed off a crumb.

"I was saving that for later."

"But that's not why I was staring at you," he smiled and glanced down—I swear—sheepishly. "I love watching you eat."

For some stupid and sappy reason, I blushed and smiled goofily, like a love struck teenage girl...well frankly, I guess that's what I was. Being around Dimitri, being his girlfriend, was an indescribable feeling. I was alive, fully alive, for the first time in my life. And I had Dimitri to thank for that.

As I stared at his heartbreakingly handsome face, I thought back to the first time he'd officially declared his love for me. It had been hours after Lissa and I were rescued.

Bright burst's of light, flashes of white, covered us, followed us, temporarily blinding us.

"Make them go away." I mumbled, hiding my face further into Dimitri's chest.

"Is it true that Mason Ashford was stabbed and killed tonight?"

That question was more painful than the hundred and thirty-seven stitches in my neck or the stab wound in my solar plexus.

The press shot question after question at us, shoving microphones in our faces.

"Mr. Belikov, Mr. Belikov." One blond reporter stepped right in front of him, clutching a tape recorder in her hands tightly, as if it was the most important thing in the world. "You're the general of St. Augustine's. Isn't it your job to keep the students safe and make sure the school is in order? How do you feel about failing to do your job?"

Anger flared in his eyes, turning them black. "No comment."

Dimitri pulled me tighter to his body as he ignored everything and everyone around him. "Don't worry. We'll be there soon."

I didn't have the energy to talk, so I just nodded, feeling incredibly numb.

I was so relieved once we reached the black SUV.

My legs wouldn't move no matter how much I told them to.

"I-I-I...I can't do it. I'm trying to, but I can't." I started bawling my eyes out like a baby.

A look of anguish passed Dimitri's face before he picked me up and gently placed me in the back seat.

My mind was distantly aware of two other people getting in the front.

I cried harder when Dimitri slipped in beside me and pulled me to him, wrapping his massive arms around me. I was so relieved to have him with me. I was positive I wouldn't survive if I didn't have him right there with me. He was the one thing that was keeping me holding on. Well, that and the hope of Lissa getting better.

"Thank you." I whispered, finally able to relax and close my eyes.

"I love you, Roza."

My eyes snapped back open, fully alert. "What?"

"I love you, Roza." he said, gazing down at me with intense and passion filled eyes.

The breath caught in my throat, there was a low ringing in my ears. That was the first time he'd ever told me that he loved me. And I wanted to hear it again.

I smiled with the smallest twist of my lips. "What? Can you say that again?"

"I didn't know how much I loved you, or how much you meant to me until I nearly lost you." Dimitri rubbed his thumb pad across my mouth. "I hope that you can forgive me for not appreciating you as much as I should of when I had the chance. But most of all, I hope that you can love me back."

I don't think I've ever cried so much in my life.

I nodded frantically, ignoring the stinging pain in my throat from the powerful sobs. "I wuv yew tewwww."

I pushed my hands together angrily. Damn, why couldn't I just calm down and talk like a goddamn normal person?

Dimitri outright laughed with relief clear in his eyes. "I know what you said, baby. Don't worry." He grabbed my fists and unclenched them.

"It's about fucking time!" Someone in the front made a loud bang, like they had slammed their fist down on the dashboard. "I just knew it!"

My head snapped up. I blinked in disbelief. "Alberta?"

She was in the passenger seat.

"Hey, honey." She offered a kind smile.

"Uh." Can you say busted?

I elbowed Dimitri in the ribs. "You stupid idiot! Why didn't you tell me—"

"Don't worry, Rose. I've had my suspicions about you two for quite some time." Alberta laughed, pointing to the driver's seat. "Although this guy wasn't so sure. Hand over the money, Tiny. We had a deal."

The man who was driving was…Stan. He grumbled, reached for his wallet, and threw two twenty dollar bills at her.

"You call him Tiny?"

Alberta nodded, a look of victory passing her face as she stuffed the money into the pocket of her black jeans. "Most of the time. When I'm upset at him, I'll call him Itty Bitty."

"Oh, god. Kill me now." I dropped my face into my hands. Dimitri flinched. Yeah, that probably wasn't the best thing to say at a time like this.

"Are you going to tell on us?" My heart dropped at the thought of Dimitri getting fired and going to jail because of me.

"No." Stan said. "Our mouths are zipped closed. But I don't think his is." He jabbed a thumb at Dimitri, who was grinning like an idiot.

The blood drained from my face. "You're not going to tell anyone are you?"

"No, not anyone." I immediately felt relieved. "I'm telling everyone."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

I started shaking my head. Dimitri countered it by nodding.

"No, no, no, no…you can't."

"Yes I can, and I am." He said, cupping my face. "It's not going to be as bad as you think it is. Trust me. I'll take any heat anyone can give me over being with you."

"But, but, but, but—"

Dimitri silenced me with a kiss.

"How about that shower?" That deep voice brought me out of my reverie.

I nodded eagerly.

"All right," he said. "I'll go start the water."

"Okay." I waited until he left to stand up and walk over to the closet mirror.

I stared at my naked body and wasn't pleased with the reflection. Sure, I was skinny and had a few curves here and there. But the marks I got from that day made me feel nauseous, every time I saw them I relived everything - the pain, the emotional torment, the hopeless look in Lissa's jade-green eyes...

I ran my fingers along the scar on my face, it started at my temple and ended at my jaw. It was a nasty little thing, nearly half an inch wide and it stood out like a sore thumb. I laughed cruelly at the irony. Tasha and I both had scars on our right cheek. That was the only thing we had in common. Well, that and the fact that we both had sex with Dimitri. The thought of them together made bile rise in my throat and I quickly swallowed it back.

There was a tiny scar about the size of my thumb right under my breasts. That one was from Victor and I was glad that it was very faint and nearly unnoticeable.

I stared at the massive white line on my throat. It was hideous. Every time I looked at it, I could feel the blade being pressed into my neck-

"What are you doing?" Dimitri wrapped his arms around me from behind. "Why do you look so sad?"

I ran my fingers along my throat and felt the urge to start crying.

"You are beautiful." he murmured, kissing my neck lovingly. "Absolutely beautiful."

"I'm disgusting."

"Look at me."

"No."

"Rose," he warned. "Look at me."

I reluctantly met his eyes through the reflection of the mirror. He pronounced his next words slowly and meaningfully, "You are beautiful. So goddamn beautiful it takes my breath away."

I smiled sadly as I laid my head on his chest. "I used to be prettier without all these god awful scars."

"They are a part of you, Rose." Dimitri said. "Just think about how Lissa feels."

That immediately made me feel guilty and stupid for pitying myself. The injuries Lissa had sustained were a hell of a lot worse than mine. She'd shown them to me right after we'd left the hospital yesterday and I had to fight to keep from gasping...I knew it would hurt her deeply if I did. Her stomach, lower back, and shoulders were covered in deep red and purplish lines. With her pale skin, it was as if she was a blank canvas and an artist had drawn on her with a knife. Victor had been that artist. Thank god that son of a bitch had been killed - and I didn't carry one ounce of guilt for feeling that way towards him. That bastard deserved what he got and I hoped he went to hell where he belonged.

"I'm sorry about your father."

His eyes flashed and he looked down. "Don't be."

"I killed him, you know that?" I said. "I was the one who did it. Me."

"Yes, I know that."

"Aren't you angry at me?"

"Should I be?"

I growled around my tears. "Yes, you should be. I killed your fucking father for Christ's sake! Be mad at me!"

"I can't be," Dimitri grabbed my hand. His grip only tightened when I tried to yank it away. "I can't be. Especially not at you."

"Why not?" I spun around to face him.

"You are the hero in this situation, Rose. It is a miracle the two of you survived that ordeal." Dimitri didn't seem affected by my outburst at all. "And if you ask why I am not mad at you, I think the answer is obvious. That man took away lives that weren't his for the taking. Just think of the families he's ruined because of what he did. He may be my father, but he is a monster and he deserved everything that came to him."

"But," I shook my head. "You have to miss him. You have to be sad that he's gone."

He shrugged, seeming angry with himself that he had to admit his next words. "He is my father; of course I'm going to miss him. No matter how much I despise the man, I still loved him. His life was sacred. But you did what you had to do, Rose."

"I'm sorry."

"Like I said earlier, don't be. It's the past. Let's get over it and move on."

"Okay," I nodded slowly as I leaned up on my tiptoes. "Under one condition."

He smiled. "And what is that one condition?"

"Kiss me."

Dimitri chuckled and cupped my face. "Anything you want, Roza." His warm, soft lips met mine in a slow and thorough kiss.

I gasped in surprise as his hands gripped my backside and abruptly lifted me off the ground.

"What are you doing?" I giggled.

"Taking you to the shower, of course." Dimitri started walking to the bathroom, his mouth never leaving my neck.

"We can just forget all of this and stay in bed all day." I moaned and threw my head back.

I felt him shake his head.

"Ugh. Fine. Your loss." And mine, too. I added silently.

The air inside the bathroom was thick with steam. I breathed in deeply, my lungs felt instantly relieved. I always found that steam worked best for my asthma.

Dimitri peeled back the shower curtain and stepped in. "Come on." He opened his arms.

I wiggled my brows as I jumped into his embrace.

"It doesn't hurt you does it?" He gently traced his fingers along one of my scars.

"No."

"Okay, good." Dimitri nodded, he lifted his arm up and adjusted the showerhead so that it hit my back.

"Is that better?"

"Mhmm." I sighed in approval and closed my eyes. The pressure was amazing in relaxing my aching muscles.

"Are you sore?" I heard Dimitri ask. I kept my eyes closed.

"Will you ever stop worrying so much about me?"

"No."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sore?"

I opened my eyes and gave him a comical look. "Ugh. Yeah, a little. After all, I was up late last night…thanks to a certain someone."

His dark eyes gleamed with amusement. "Do I know that certain someone?"

I nodded. "You know him…well."

"Oh, so it's a him?" Dimitri titled my head under the water, poured some green-apple shampoo into his hands, and started massaging pure magic into my scalp. "How well do I know him?"

"Very well." I grinned. "He's smart, sexy, has the body of a god. And he rocks my world."

His lips twitched as he helped me rinse the shampoo out of my hair. "Yeah, I think I know who you're talking about."

I playfully smacked his arm. "God, you're hanging around me too much. You've turned all cocky."

"Maybe I am. You tend to leave quite the impression on people."

I flipped him around so that the water was hitting his body. My gaze went down his throat, over his shoulders, and down his chest and stomach. His tan skin was glistening.

I licked my lips hungrily.

I watched his Adams apple convulse as he swallowed hard. "You must not do that."

"Do what?" I ran my hands along his eight pack.

Dimitri hissed. "That."

"Oh, you don't like it?" My voice was sweet and innocent. I leaned down slightly. "You want me to stop?" My eyes met his as I started to press my lips against his hard flesh.

He caught my hands and pulled up. He gave me a quick, hard kiss. "Not now. We'll do that later." Dimitri growled.

I hid my victorious smile by turning around and pressing my back to his chest. "Whatever you say, but your body is telling me otherwise. You want me. Right now."

Dimitri spun me around so quickly I felt dizzy. "God, I am so hopelessly in love with you."

My Russian god continued on where I left off.

We emerged from the shower an hour later, grinning like fools.

"Here." Dimitri slowly and teasingly draped his black robe over my shoulders. The fabric was silk and smelled of aftershave and his natural masculine scent. I never wanted to take it off.

He wrapped a towel around his waist. I bit my lip. God, would I ever stop wanting him? I just couldn't get enough. I was addicted. Once you got a little, you always wanted more and more and more and more…

Dimitri opened the door. "I'm going to get dressed. I've washed your jeans, they are folded on top of the dryer."

"Thanks." I gave him a quick kiss and sauntered off.

When I got to the living room, I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Damn, Rose. You've got a set of lungs on you." Christian said.

"Yeah, you ever thought of being a singer?" Adrian chimed in.

"Boys," Lissa smacked the back of their heads. "Be nice."

"Did you guys hear anything? Or did the shower drowned out the sound?" I grimaced.

"We heard everything."

My cheeks felt on fire. I glanced down at the floor. "Uh, uh…I-I th-"

"Cat got your tongue, Rose?" Christian smirked.

"No, I think it's more like Dimitri's got her tongue." Adrian said.

The two of them busted up laughing while Lissa just shook her head and gave me an apologetic smile.

"Oh, that was good." Christian gave Adrian a hard pat on the back before settling back into the couch.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked. "And how did you get in?"

"The door was unlocked." Lissa explained. "Dimitri told us to be here at Twelve. We didn't mean to interrupt or intrude."

I shook my head and glanced at the clock. "No, it's fine. It's our fault. I guess we just lost track of time."

"I could imagine." Christian said. Adrian snickered.

Dimitri strode into the living room, wearing a black sweater and dark jeans. He offered a polite smile and nodded, his gaze lingering on Lissa for a moment. She smiled.

Adrian and Christian roared with laughter the instant Dimitri glanced at them.

"Stop it!" The blush came back with vengeance now that my boyfriend was in the room.

He gave them a strange look. He glanced over at me. "Is everything okay?"

I pointed to the bathroom. "No."

Dimitri's head snapped back and forth a few times, then realization settled in his eyes. "Oh, I see."

"Yep."

The air filled with awkward tension.

"Well," Lissa shattered the silence by clapping and smiling brightly. "We just wanted to come by and say hi and wish you two a merry Christmas."

"I think they've already had enough merry for one day, you know what I'm saying?" Adrian mumbled. The two hyenas fell into a fit of laughter.

Lissa elbowed Christian, "Shut up!" Her lips twitched and I could tell she was having a hard time not laughing.

"Well, we love you and we left your gifts under the tree." Lissa came up and pulled Dimitri and I into fierce hugs. I could tell he was stunned at first—not many people ran up and pulled the general into a hug very often—but after a few rigid moments, he wrapped his arms around her petite body and gave a gentle squeeze.

"Don't be feeling him up now, Liss." I teased, giving a wink. "He's mine."

She pulled back and rolled her jade-green eyes disdainfully.

"We love you, too." I gave her one more hug.

"Thank you, Lissa." Dimitri smiled kindly.

Lissa and Christian walked hand in hand to the front door, while Adrian hung around the Christmas tree, studying it.

"What the hell is this? Coal?" He picked off a piece of burnt popcorn from the garland. "Isn't Santa supposed to put this in the stockings of naughty little boys and girls? Not on the Christmas tree."

"Hey! I worked hard on those." I marched over and smacked his hand away. "No touchy! And no, it's not Coal, it's…popcorn and cranberry garland."

Adrian laughed in my face. "Seriously?"

"Alright, it's Christmas and I'm feeling a little jolly, so I'm going to spare you and not punch you square in the mouth." I said through gritted teeth. "Now get out. You've warn out your welcome."

"What if I don't want to go?"

"Dimitriiiiiiiii." I whined, dragging my feet. "Make him leave."

Dimitri looked at Adrian. He cocked his head to the side, brown eyes challenging.

Adrian gulped and put his hands up. "Alright, alright. I'm out."

The three of them stood on the front porch of Dimitri's apartment.

"Bye guys! Love you! Merry Christmas!" Lissa shouted, waving enthusiastically.

"Love you too!" I said. Dimitri came up and draped an arm around my waist. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Dimitri offered a smile and nodded.

"Merry Christmas, Rose." Christian said.

"Yeah. Merry Christmas, Little Cadet."

"Bye."

"Bye!" I shut and locked the door.

"Now I've got you all alone." Dimitri whispered, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my neck.

My eyes snapped to what was under the Christmas tree. "Presents!" I shoved Dimitri away and ran over to grab the biggest one that was wrapped in gold.

I heard his rich chuckle. "You're supposed to open the small ones first, then the big ones. That's how it works."

"Not in this home."

"Since when did you make the rules of my apartment?" Dimitri asked, sipping on his hot cocoa as he looked at me with playful eyes.

"Since…I don't know. Forever." I tore open the package and frowned. It was a big box. The tag on the front said it was from Lissa and Christian. In horribly, crooked handwriting that I knew belonged to Pyro, the note read:

Hey Psycho,

The present was Lissa's idea. I just did the wrapping. Enjoy.

-C

"He's not a man of many words." I muttered under my breath.

"Here." Dimitri handed me a pair of scissors. "Don't hurt yourself."

I rolled my eyes. "And don't treat me like a child."

I stabbed the tape and eagerly opened the brown flaps to find…another box. It was just a tiny bit smaller than the first one. I pulled it out and gave Dimitri a puzzled look. He simply shrugged.

I cut open that box to find another box. I growled. "What the hell?"

I continued to open box after box until the sizes went down and down. The one inside my hand was the size of a chocolate bar. I shook it. "I think this is the one!"

Dimitri chuckled and shook his head. "And now our apartment is full of boxes. Christian must have gone through a lot of trouble putting your present together."

My heart skipped a beat when he said 'our apartment.' "Hey, Comrade?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

He smiled breathtakingly. "I love you too, Roza."

I cut open the next box and squealed. "Ohmigod! It's the charm bracelet!"

I jumped up and down. "Put it on me! Put it on me!" I ran over to Dimitri. "Ohmigod. I've always wanted this since like…two months ago."

He arched an eyebrow as he took the bracelet from me and studied it. "I can see why you'd want it so bad. It's beautiful."

The bracelet was gold with a whole bunch of charms on it. I'd seen it at the mall when Lissa and I had gone dress shopping and went nuts for it. I knew that she had put so much time into it.

Each charm meant something. There was a rose, a cowboy hat, a dragon, a flame, and an eye.

"That one symbolizes me." I said proudly, pointing to the rose.

"Obviously." Dimitri chuckled as he locked it around my wrist.

"And that's you. My big and tall cowboy." I touched the hat.

"Let me guess, this is for Lissa?" He ran his thumb along the dragon charm.

I nodded. "And the flame is for Christian clearly. Probably because he's such a hothead."

"If that were the case, then you could claim both the rose and the fire, Roza."

I smacked his arm. "I'm not a hothead!"

He arched a brow.

"Okay, okay. Maybe I am sometimes…"

"Sometimes?"

I pointedly ignored him. "I wonder what the eye is for."

"Adrian."

My brows drew together in confusion. "Why would it be for him? I don't get it."

"Because of his dreams and the ability he carries to foresee the future."

"Cool." I bobbed my head approvingly. "Okay, next present!"

"You have a remarkable attention span." Dimitri said dryly.

"Thanks." I ripped into the shiny red and green wrapping paper, and groaned. "It's a t-shirt! A goddamn t-shirt! Adrian could have done so much better."

"Have you even looked at it? Unfold it and see it."

I shook the black t-shirt, held it up in the air, and laughed. In bold, hot pink letters, the t-shirt read:

I'm a cold hard bitch,

And I'm damn good at it.

"Do you think anyone will get offended if I wear this to class?"

The tight pinch on his face told me he was displeased with Adrian and didn't find the gift amusing in the slightest. "No. I forbid you from wearing that."

I narrowed my eyes. "Shut up. Don't tell me what to do." I paused when Dimitri's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm only going to wear it to bed. That's all."

"Good." The bastard seemed satisfied.

"Well, that's it." I shrugged, picking the wrapping paper from the floor and tossing it in the garbage. "The fun is over."

"No, I think there's one more."

I grinned. "What?"

Dimitri walked over and slipped a small, black velvet box into my hand. "Open it."

"This isn't what I think it is, is it?" I swallowed hard. "Because you know that I love you, but, uh, I don't know if I'm ready yet—"

"Just open it."

I did.

"Ohmigod, it's beautiful." I gently picked up the gold chain. The emerald pendant was the size of a nickel and was surrounded by tiny diamonds. I twisted it back and forth and watched as the jewel sparkled in the light. "Did you know emerald was my birthstone?"

"Maybe," Dimitri smiled as he took the necklace from my hands. "Come here." He pulled me in front of the mirror and pushed my damp hair to one side. He placed a delicate kiss to the nape of my neck before locking the necklace in place.

I stared at our reflection. I know it sounded silly, but I felt like a princess with that emerald necklace on—especially with my prince standing next to me, with his arms around my body.

"So beautiful," he murmured against the skin of my shoulder. "So goddamn beautiful."

I blushed, a little. I wasn't used to all of the attention but I loved it. "Thank you. Where did you get it?" I turned in his arms so that I could face him.

"My mother. It was Olena's. She put it in my hand right before I boarded the plane to move to America. She made me promise her that I would one day give it to the woman I loved."

"And I am that woman?" I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"You wouldn't be wearing that necklace if you weren't." Dimitri gave me the most tender, loving kiss. "Merry Christmas, Roza."

"Just shut up and kiss me."

A loud knock at the door made me jump. Dimitri, looking angry that we'd been interrupted, walked over and flung it open.

"Hey, Alberta. Is something wrong?" he asked, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice.

"Nothing's wrong, General." I stifled my laugh. That voice. Her voice. She was so fucking with him to piss him off. "First of all, Merry Christmas—"

"Merry Christmas." He spoke in a clipped tone. He might as well have screamed go the fuck away!

"Second, I have an urgent letter for Rose."

"Urgent?" I ran to the door.

Alberta's eyes traveled up and down the robe I was wearing. She laughed and nodded. "Nice. I can see that you two are having a very Merry Christmas."

I laughed with her as Dimitri shook his head in disbelief. "Cows."

"Hey!" I smacked the back of his head. "Watch your mouth."

"Thanks, Rose." Alberta smoothed out her jacket. "I was about to do that myself."

Dimitri smiled a little and rolled his eyes.

Alberta handed me an envelope. I tore into it immediately.

Dear Rosemarie,

Your father and I are terribly sorry we weren't able to make it. The two of us were very excited to finally see you, but at the last moment, your father had been called back to Turkey for his business. We hope that you are enjoying your new school and adjusting well. Merry Christmas. See you at graduation!

Sincerely,

Janine Hathaway

"She's not coming." I angrily wiped a traitor tear away. "I don't even think she heard about the murders. Wow. Now that's a mom."

Sadness filled Alberta's eyes. "I'm sorry, Rose."

Dimitri pulled me into his side. I took instant comfort from his strong presence.

"Thanks, Alberta." I forced a smile. "Now you get on home and enjoy yourself. No more working."

"Okay, okay." She lifted her hands in surrender as she started backing away. "I promise I won't. You two take care and Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Dimitri and I said in unison.

He closed the door and turned to me with a wicked look on his face. "Go put on my present. Now."

I started backing away, a spike of fear and desire running through my body, causing me to shiver. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll make you." Dimitri's voice was so deep and distorted that I barely recognized it as his. The heat in my body kicked up a notch.

I ran in the opposite direction. My feet zoomed through the living room, my legs a blur. When I heard the pounding of his leather boots against the hardwood floor just a few feet behind me, I pushed my body to go faster.

I had almost made it to the bedroom when Dimitri grabbed me by the hair and arm, sending me flying forwards. He turned his large body just in time so it absorbed my fall.

I rested my head against his chest and laughed breathlessly. "That was fun."

"Are you going to put my present on?"

"I don't know…"

Dimitri slid the black silk off my shoulders, exposing my chest. The fabric fell into a pool at our waists.

His gaze turned hungry and carnal. "Put it on." he hissed.

I nodded and swallowed hard. "Okay, okay. I-I-I…yeah, I'll put it on. Now." It was a wonder I could form a complete thought, let alone complete sentences.

As I stood up, Dimitri held onto the tie at my waist. It loosened and the robe fell to the ground. I was now completely exposed to him.

I usually would have been embarrassed to be naked in front of anyone, but it was different with Dimitri. The way he looked at me like I was the most beautiful woman in the world made me feel confident, sexy, worthy. It was exhilarating.

He clenched his jaw. "Hurry up. Go. Now."

I grabbed the bag and ran to the bathroom to put on his present, a leather cowgirl costume.

Apparently, that was Dimitri's fetish.

APOV:

I dialed Sydney's number. She answered on the fourth ring.

At the sound of her soft voice, my body and mind relaxed. "Hey, baby." I laid down on my bed and propped my head on a pillow. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too. When are you coming to visit me?" Sydney groaned. "It's so boring here in Greece without you. Not to mention it's raining."

"Go to your window and open your jewelry box."

"Huh? Why?" She asked. I heard the shift in the background as she stood up and started walking. "Is something wrong?"

"Just look inside for me, okay? I think I forgot something the last time I was there."

"Okay." I heard the soft hiss of her shuffling things around. "I don't see anything—wait. What the hell is this?"

I grinned.

Bingo.

"Oh, my god!" Sydney screamed so loudly I had to hold the phone away from my ear.

"I take it that you like what you see?"

"HOLY SHIT!" I brought the phone back again. "Is…is this what I think it is?"

"Sydney Sage, will you make me the happiest man on earth by becoming my wife?"

"YES! Yes! Yes! Yes! A million times over, yes!"

I laughed in relief and pure joy. "Merry Christmas, baby."

I heard her soft sobs. "Merry Christmas, Adrian."

LPOV:

I stared at my naked body in the reflection of the bathroom mirror as the tears streamed down my face. Staples and scars glared back at me. Each time I looked at them, they took my breath away. It was something that I would never get used to. Slowly, I ran two fingertips along the worst scar, it was smooth and bumpy. I jerked, remembering uncle victor—no, Victor. Just Victor—pressing that scalpel into my skin, cutting flesh an muscles, ripping out my organs. I could still feel everything. The memories haunted my every thought and invaded my dreams. I sobbed loudly and dropped to my knees, feeling completely hollow.

God, I looked like Frankenstein.

I don't know how long I laid there against the freezing tile, crying what heart I had left out, when a brilliant idea popped into my brain.

Dragging myself to the cabinets, I grabbed the razor that was hidden under the cough medicine.

Bringing it to my wrist, I pictured Victor's monstrous green eyes as he operated on me—my most agonizing memory of that day. I dragged the razor across my wrist, gasping and biting my lip in wonder. I loved the way it seared my skin, the way it hit my bone. It was euphoric. An escape. Something that helped ease some of the emotional torment.

I ignored the loud and urgent bangs at the door, I was in my own world of ignorance and bliss.

I laughed as I watched crimson red liquid—my blood—drip onto the floor. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip...

It was fascinating.

Suddenly, I was yanked from the quiet buzz as my body jerked.

"God fucking dammit, what the hell did you do, Lissa?" Christian shouted, shaking my body violently. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! What the fuck!"

He grabbed a clean washcloth from under the sink and started wiping my hands and wrists. I glanced down. He didn't seem to care that he was kneeling in my puddle of blood, getting it all over his shoes and pants.

I laughed.

He grabbed the razor.

I screamed. "Get away from me! Get away from me!" I fought to get the razor back, kicking and clawing at his face.

"Stop." Christian threw it in the hallway, far out of my reach. I continued to scream and fight until he slammed my naked body against the tile and laid on top of me, pushing the air out of my lungs, immobilizing me.

"Leave me alone!" I growled like a wild animal. "I hate you."

"Stop it, Lissa please! Fuck. This isn't you."

I closed my eyes and listened to his voice, taking comfort from it, relishing in the familiarity of it. He sounded like home.

"Say my name again." I whispered, my throat burning from all the screaming I'd done.

"Lissa." he croaked. "Lissa."

"Again."

"Lissa." I felt his fingertips brush along my cheek.

My eyes snapped open, I stared into the most beautiful, anguished, ice-blue eyes. That's when I realized he was crying, too.

"Oh, god!" I threw my arms around his neck and bawled like a baby. The sobs racking through my body were viscous and unrelenting, they consumed me. "Christian. Oh, god...Christan. I'm so sorry!"

He sat up and pulled me with him, holding me tightly, cradling me in his lap and stuffing his face into the crook of my neck, like he couldn't get enough of me. The feeling was mutual.

He was my sun, my strength, my heart, and a part of my soul. I couldn't imagine being without him. I needed him like the air I breathed.

"I'm going to help you get better." Christian whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I swear to god if it's the last thing I do, I'm going to heal you, baby."

I believed him.

He was the reason I was going to keep fighting to claim my life back.

A/N: I've decided to prolong this story for about ten chapters or so. The end is NOT near! ;-) More drama to come...