A/N:

Hi!

First of all, apologies. I'm sorry about the cliffy ending to the previous chapter. I meant to post the next chapter sooner and not leave you guys hanging for so long, I just didn't get a chance to write it. To make amends this chapter is quite longer than the previous chapters in this story. Also, there's a little tartiness at the end as my penance.

Second, people keep asking me when Dimitri is finally going to realize that Rose is Abe's daughter. My answer, all in good time! They say patience is a virtue. While I've never been the poster child for patience, I did want to build towards the awaited discovery. It'll happen soon, though maybe a chapter to two. Or three.

Third, I want to thank all the reviewer followers and favoriters. Thank you! I love reviews, said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a reviews whore! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, I can't help it. I didn't get a chance to send out a specific thank you too everyone, so again sorry. We hit 100 reviews and I nearly did a summersault.

Lastly, read, enjoy and review.

Cheers,

K

PS- not enough time to do too much proof reading so, you know, sorry, again.

Dimitri was slowly coming to. He was on the floor and had a horrible headache, but he was alive, which was more than he hoped for. He heard voices that he recognized but didn't want to alert anyone to his waking state yet.

It was Lissa at first. "Jesus, Rose, do you think you hit him hard enough?" Roza hit me? Dimitri couldn't believe it. Why would she do that?

"Just tell me that he's going to be alright", Rose voice cracked as she silently prayed that she didn't hurt Dimitri too badly, or worse kill him.

"He'll no doubt be concussed. He'll wake up with the worst headache of his life, but I won't know more till he comes to", Lissa answered. "Here, put this on his head", Lissa handed Rose an ice pack and Rose gently lifted Dimitri's head to place the ice pack where she'd hit him with the skillet.

"Maybe I should've called before I dropped by", said a voice Dimitri didn't know. It sounded oddly familiar, though. Then he remembered what happened. Dimitri had stumbled on an intruder but before he had a chance to react he had apparently been knocked out cold by Rose. Despite being put in his current situation by Rose he still needed to protect her. That's when he made a noise alerting the trio he was regaining consciousness.

"He's waking up", Rose said. "Dimitri? Dimitri, can you hear me?"

Coming back to consciousness, everything felt like slow motion. Dimitri immediately tried to get up and became very agitated when Lissa and Rose held him back.

"Dimitri, you need to lay still until we know had badly you've been injured", Lissa, always the voice of reason.

"Not when there's an intruder", Dimitri answered, thankfully coherent.

"That's not an intruder", Rose explained. "That's Lissa's idiot fiancé".

"Hey!", the idiot fiancé took offense to that.

"How did he get in here?" Dimitri asked, still sprawled on the floor, trying to ready himself to leap in case the fiancé attacked.

"Okay, maybe, technically he constitutes as an intruder. But he's an intruder we know and love. At least, Lissa does".

Dimitri glared at Rose. "What the hell happened and what the hell is he doing here?"

"Apparently, he really missed Lissa so he came to see her." Rose looked absolutely remorseful. "I'm sorry, Dimitri. I'm so so sorry, but I had to hit you upside the head, you were going to kill him".

"I was not," Dimitri defended. "I was going to subdue him and hand him over to Abe and Pavel for questioning".

"And then they would have killed him". Rose answered dejectedly.

"Let's get you up Dimitri," Lissa said as she and Rose helped him to his feet. He swayed a little leaning heavily on Rose for support. They walked him over to the bed and sat him down.

Lissa went to retrieve her medical bag. When she came back she checked Dimitri's reflexes and that his pupil dilation and reactiveness to light was normal, she did a basic neurologic test making sure he could stand straight without getting dizzy, walk in a straight line without falling over, didn't exhibit weakness in any limbs.

When she was done Lissa gave her prognosis. "You lost consciousness for all of 30 seconds, so you do have a mild concussion. It could have been much worse. You need to rest for a few hours, but don't go to sleep. We need to make sure you don't get dizzy, and your headache doesn't become worse. If you vomit or loose consciousness again, we're going to the ER".

"I've had a concussion before, Lissa. This is not the worst one by far", Dimitri tried to brush it off and get out of the bed. He needed to take care of this fiancé situation.

"Oh, no you don't", Rose pushed him back down. "You're staying in that bed even if I have to tie you to the fucking headboard". Dimitri raised his eyebrow as if in challenge, but he knew from the look on Rose's face she meant every word. And in his current predicament, she'd succeed too.

"Damn, Rosie, that's kinky!" said the nameless fiancé.

"Do NOT make me regret letting you live!", Rose retorted. She hated when he called her that.

"Alright, I need some facts. Now", Dimitri demanded. Despite his better judgment, he was willing to not report the young man, solely on Rose's faith in him.

"This is Christian Ozera- my fiancé", Lissa introduced.

Rose added, "They're the perfect fucked up couple. She's perfect and he's fucked up". That earned her a glare from Lissa and the finger from Christian.

"What is he doing here?" Dimitri questioned.

"I missed Lissa", Christian said as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"How did you even get in here?"

"It's what I do, darling." Chris answered in a southern drawl. "It's what I do". The imitation of his favorite captain didn't go too far with Dimitri.

"He's right", Rose stipulated, "his aunt used to be a cat burglar, a high-end thief. But she was caught and the only way to escape punishment was to work with the government testing security systems and recovering stolen artifacts. She's the best in her field and she taught Chris everything. He's probably one of a handful of people in the world that could get past Abe's security".

"You're Tasha's nephew?" Dimitri asked. Leaving Rose and Lissa in the dark.

"You know my aunt?", Chris's question answered that he was indeed Tasha's nephew.

"She used to come to my house and pretend to babysit me with my older sister Karolina", Dimitri answered. "She always brought her annoying nephew with her".

That's when the bell dinged in Christian's head. "No fucking way! Dimka?!"

"I take it you two know each other?" Rose asked, as the two were shaking hands. They would have hugged it out if Rose hadn't confined Dimitri to the bed.

"We go way back", Chris answered. "His sister Karo and my aunt Tasha used to hang out all the time. They were 20 while Dimitri was 14 and I was 12. Dimitri had the biggest crush on Tasha".

Dimitri smiled nostalgically. "How is Tasha these days?"

Chris got a sullen expression. "Tasha died a couple of years ago. Ran into the wrong people when she was recovering a stolen painting and was shot and killed". Lissa had already heard the story, put a comforting hand on Christian's back. She knew that when Tasha died, he lost his last living relative. It was still difficult for him to talk about.

"Christian, I'm so sorry. I had no idea". Dimitri was saddened that someone he considered a close family friend had died and he never even knew about it.

Rose broke the awkward silence that had managed to build up by clapping her hands and declaring it was lunch time, remembering that Chris had in fact interrupted them practically mid-bite. Rose insisted that Lissa and Chris go off to do what ever it is they do while she'd take care of Dimitri.

Chris looked squarely at Dimitri, "Are you sure you want her to take care of you? She is the one that hit you over the head with the frying pan".

"Guess who I'm going to hit next with the frying pan?" Rose asked Christian pointedly.

Dimitri chuckled at their antics. "I'm fine, I don't need taking care of".

"Whatever", Rose said. "I'm going to go get our plates and we're having lunch in bed", she insisted. "Lissa, why don't you and Christian go… do whatever. I've got this. If I need anything I'll yell for you", Rose answered Lissa's hesitation. As soon and Lissa and Christian left, Rose had no doubt that she wouldn't see them for at least a few hours. Good thing Lissa's room was practically on the other side of the wing.

After Rose and Dimitri had what was left of their lunch in bed Rose permitted Dimitri to get out of bed, but only so they could move to the living room and watch tv. Halfway through a mindless comedy they were watching on Netflix Dimitri fell asleep. Since he'd already been up for 2 hours after she'd rendered him unconscious without displaying worrisome symptoms she deemed him fine-ish and let him sleep, figuring it would only do him good.

Rose let him sleep till it was time to prepare dinner. Of course she didn't make Dimitri prepare the meal. That's what Christian with for.

During dinner Rose devised a plan that would allow Christian to stay with them without Abe having him axed. It would even explain how Christian got onto the premises.

They would tell Abe that Christian was an old friend of Dimitri who he called to test the security, find it's weakness and flaws. That's what Chris did for a living anyway. It was almost too easy for him to break into Rose's room. He would stay on to help make improvements in the security.

Dimitri still had some doubts about Christian. They hadn't met for years and as much Dimitri wanted to believe in Christian, he knew the boy Christian was, not the man he'd become. Who's to say he wasn't hired to keep tabs on Rose, like Mason had been. The easier way to assimilate into her life would be through Lissa.

Dimitri had brought these points up with Rose when the two went to bed later that night. Rose was adamant that Chris was trustworthy. She admitted that she didn't like him at all when he and Lissa first got together, but he proved time and time again that he was loyal to Lissa to a fault. Loyalty to Lissa included loyalty to her. Dimitri would have to have faith in Rose's judgement.

The events of the day and the nap he took that afternoon prevented Dimitri from falling asleep. He was so pent up with anger that sleep alluded him. Since Rose had already drifted off, he figured it'd be alright if he got up for a while. He'd planned on reading in the living room but somehow found himself in the gym putting the hurt on the punching bag instead. Dimitri had left the door wide open so he could hear Rose in case she had another episode of night terrors.

As he was taking out his frustration on the punching bag, Rose woke up from the grunts Dimitri was unaware he was making. Dimitri was so lost in the thoughts he was trying to escape, he didn't hear Rose had awoken until she entered the gym.

When Rose saw the expression on Dimitri's face she started second guessing coming to find him. At first glance she thought he was angry with her for the frying pan incident. "Comrade, I'm sorry that I hit you. I don't know how many times I can say this. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you but I didn't have a choice".

Dimitri huffed. "I know you think that, but you did have a choice. You could've trusted me. And that's not what this is about anyway". He turned back to his unrelenting abuse of the poor punching bag.

"Then what is it about?"

Dimitri ignored her at first, but Rose was persistent. "Come on, how am I supposed to help you if you won't let me?" Rose tried to encourage him by smiling. When he continued to ignore her with punch after punch, Rose pleaded. "Please, Dimitri".

Stopping his assault momentarily, Dimitri said, "It's about that fact that someone got the drop on me. I didn't do my job". He took a deep breath.

Rose bit her lip. "I won't tell Abe. You're record will still be spotless".

"That's not why…" He turned back around to punch the punching bag with a grunt and continued his assault.

"They why?" Rose didn't like being ignored. Especially by Dimitri. She stepped between him and the punching bag. If his reflexes hadn't been so fast Dimitri would have punched her in the face. Lucky for her, Dimitri held back at the last second.

"Dammit Roza! Are you crazy?!"

"Talk to me! If you're not mad that I hit you upside the head with a frying pan then what are you so upset about?"

Dimitri slumped in defeat. "I failed! It could have been someone else that got the drop on me and then you would have been in danger. Real danger from a real threat, not just some lovestruck kid trying to see his girlfriend. I. Failed. You".

Rose tried to calm him, "It's alright, though, nothing happened. I'm fine."

"Don't you get it?!" Dimitri grabbed Rose face with both hands, cupping her cheeks. It wasn't rough or even unpleasant, but it was intense. It took Rose completely by surprise, but more than that was the pained look in Dimitri's eyes as he brushed his thumbs across her cheeks. She didn't mind the roughness of his taped up palms as he gently pulled her closer. Looking down into her beautiful brown eyes, he swallowed hard. When he spoke again it was much softer. "Don't you get it? I won't be able to live with myself if anything happened to you, Roza".

Every word he spoke sent tingles down Rose's spine. She'd never experienced what others called butterflies in their stomach, but when she felt a flutter she suddenly knew what all the fuss was about. It wasn't even conscious on her part when she stepped forward. When she placed her hands on his waist and pressed her body to his, Dimitri gasped. He couldn't control his eyes when they glimpsed at Rose's lips. The gesture did not go unnoticed. Tentatively she rose on her tiptoes. They were a mere inch apart. All Dimitri had to do was lean in and they'd be kissing.

Dimitri started to lean in but pulled back at the last second and stepped away from Rose.

"I'm sorry. That was inexcusable and unprofessional of me. Please forgive me".

Rose shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for". Rose received the message loud and clear. Dimitri wasn't interested. The moment she thought they had must have been her imagination.

Dimitri nodded once, never meeting her eyes. He turned his back on her and left the gym. He didn't see the tears that ran down her cheeks, he didn't hear her heart break.

Dimitri tried to unwind with a long hot shower. Returning to his room from the ensuite bathroom, he found Rose sitting on his bed. While he was cooling down in the shower, Rose decided she wasn't giving up so quickly on Dimitri. If he wasn't interested in her, he'd have to say so, not just walk away from her leaving her hurt and confused. The fact that Dimitri was only in his towel did nothing to deter Rose from her course of action. It only made her breath catch.

"What are you doing here?" Dimitri asked Rose.

Not wasting any time, Rose made her accusation. "You wanted to kiss me"

"So?"

"You're not even denying it?" Rose asked incredulously.

Dimitri shrugged in answer.

"Why didn't you? Kiss me, I mean".

"Because you're my assignment", Dimitri answered flatly, "My charge".

"That's bull", Rose left her perch on the bed and approached Dimitri slowly "Is this because of Abe? Because you don't have to be afraid of him".

Dimitri shook his head, "You don't know what he'd capable of".

"I do", Rose took another step forward. Then another. She placed her hands on Dimitri's bare chest. "But you don't know what I'm capable of".

Dimitri caught Rose's wrists but didn't push her away. "Clearly. Look, it's not just about Abe".

"Tell me".

Dimitri took a deep breath. He already knew as soon as he saw Rose on his bed, he'd do anything she'd ask him. "Can I get dressed first?" He asked rhetorically, already moving to his dress to grab clothes.

"Only if you really want to", Rose smirked.

That was almost enough to get a full smile from Dimitri. Almost. Dimitri disappeared back to the into his ensuite with clothes and came back dressed his cotton pajama bottoms. He grabbed his shirt from his dress and pulled it over his head.

Dimitri leaned on the dresser across from Rose who decided to take a seat on the bed again. He crossed his arms over his chest before he began. "I've noticed that there aren't any details in my file about why I worked for the Dashkov's or any mention of the gap in my resumé before I started working for them".

"I hadn't really paid attention to that". Rose said.

"For my first assignment I guarded Ivan Zeklos", Rose needed no explanation regarding the Zeklos clan. They were a bunch of goodie goodies. All law abiding do-gooders, had a hand in every charity known to man and were generally well liked by the public. They were practically royalty. The only exception was young Jesse Zeklos. He was an entitled asshole. But Ivan, he was the best of them. "I went to high school with Ivan, we were best friends. We lost touch for a while when I went into training and he left for college. We'd send the occasional email or text each other every once in a while". Dimitri positioned himself in a less guarded manner, unfolded his arms and lightly gripped the edge of the dresser he was leaning on, his stance opening up to Rose, as much as his heart was. "But when the time came he requested me as a bodyguard. He and I quickly fell back into our friendship". Dimitri smiled at the memory. He cleared his throat before he continued. "I hadn't taken any time off in the two years since Ivan had hired me, and when he got word that my mother's birthday was coming up he insisted I go visit her. They day I was suppose to board my plane he was shot and killed. I was off duty, running errands while he and my substitute were bleeding out". A single tear ran down Dimitri's cheek.

Rose couldn't stand the being away from him any longer. She got up determinedly from the bed and strode up to Dimitri without hesitation. She didn't stop when she reached him, leaning into him. Rose pressed her palm to his cheek and wiped the tear with her thumb.

"It wasn't your fault, Dimitri".

Another tear rolled down his cheek. Rose caught that one too. She pulled him into a hug, knowing she couldn't chase away his demons with a small embrace, but hoping it would ease some of his pain.

"I didn't want to guard after that for a long time. It took the Dashkovs a year to get me to sign with them." Dimitri murmured.

His grip on Rose tightened as he leaned his head on her shoulder. She stroked his hair affectionately. He pulled back meeting Rose's gaze. "I've already lost one charge I cared too much about. I can't loose you too, Roza". They held their gaze for an immeasurable amount of time before Dimitri finally gave in and his lips were on Rose's. In that moment he needed her more than he needed air. He didn't care about consequences or what would happen the next day. All that mattered to him was Roza.

Rose reveled in the feel of his lips on hers. Her heart raced to the point she thought it'd burst. All her fantasies did no justice to what she was experiencing now, which was pure bliss.

What started out as a comforting gesture soon turned into hot desire. Everything they held back for weeks exploded in a haze of lust and want. Rose deepened the kiss, pressing her tongue to Dimitri's. He responded with vigor, fisting her hair.

Rose's hands quickly found the hem of Dimitri's shirt and she pushed it up as she ran her fingertips up his body. She longed to run her fingers on his taut muscled chest and his perfectly chiseled eight-pack. Rose's hands sent shivers through Dimitri body. He helped her by completely removing the offensive garment. Rose explored this perfect specimen of manhood with her hands, first. Her mouth followed, kissing every inch of Dimitri's exposed body. She worked her way up to his pulse point and sucked delicately. Dimitri's head fell back as his hands drifted lower and lower, finding perch on Rose's ass.

Wanting nothing separating them, Rose started tugging her own shirt off. She'd only managed to pull it over her stomach before Dimitri grabbed her hands, halting her. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

Rose smiled at Dimitri's chivalry. Even now he was trying to be a gentleman. Rose pulled back just enough to tug off her shirt, her smile growing wider at the look on Dimitri's face. Standing there with his arms wrapped firmly around her, biting his lower lip, his still damp hair falling to his face framing it, his erection pressed to her hips, his eyes smoldering, he'd never looked sexier and Rose had never been more turned on in her life.

With lightening speed, Dimitri lifted Rose by her ass, turned around and sat her on the edge of his dresser. Instinctively, Rose spread her legs to accommodate him. Now, Dimitri's massive manhood was pressed against Rose's hot core. Running his fingers through her hair, Dimitri tilted Rose's head back trailing kissed down her neck, to her collar bone, down her breast to her nipple. Rose had explored his body, now it was time to return the favor. He had one hand on her breast, rubbing her nipple with the pad of his thumb. The other nipple, he was pleasuring with his tongue and teeth. The moans and whimpers Rose emitted got Dimitri even harder.

"I've wanted you for so long" Rose panted.

Dimitri kissed his way back up to Rose's lips. "You have me", he murmured as he looked deep into her eyes. Rose knew Dimitri would never lie to her, but the way he said that, the way he was looking at her, she knew it to be the truest of trues. With her legs firmly wrapped around Dimitri's waist, he pulled Rose off the dresser and stepped back towards the bed.

Just before the back of Dimitri's knees hit the bed he stopped. Rose untangled her legs from Dimitri's body and let her feet slide down to the floor.

Suddenly, Dimitri murmured something in Russian that distinctly sounded like profanity. And not the good kind.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked worriedly, thinking she'd done something wrong.

In a brief moment of clarity Dimitri realized something very important. "I, uh, don't have any, em, protection".

"Oh," Rose answered. "I do. That is, I'm on birth control".

Dimitri's lips were immediately on hers again, soft but determined. "I'm clean", he said breathless.

Rose nodded, "Good, me too". Their lips met again in a collision of teeth and tongue.

Dimitri pulled back first, nudging Rose back just a bit so he could kneel before her and remove her shorts and panties. He stood before her, taking her in. "Krasivaya", Dimitri murmured.

Rose giggle, she wondered if he noticed he wasn't speaking English. "What?"

"It means beautiful".

"You think I'm beautiful?"

Dimitri pressed his forehead to Rose's and answered in a low gentle voice. "So beautiful it hurts me sometimes".

Rose proceeded to remove Dimitri's cotton bottoms. When she unleashed mini-Dimitri it became very evident that there was nothing mini about him. The sheer size of him almost made Rose recoil thinking of all the delicious damage he could do to her and how she'd be wonderfully sore by morning.

Dimitri knew he was hung like a fucking horse but he loved seeing Rose's reaction.

"Magnificent", Rose whispered so low Dimitri wasn't sure he heard her right.

Dimitri pulled Rose close, but Rose lost all patience and pushed Dimitri back till his knees hit the bed and he sat involuntarily. He didn't complain though as Rose immediately straddled his lap. Rose's wet core was rubbing against Dimitri's throbbing cock. She teased herself with his tip. She was about to slide his shaft into her but Dimitri wasn't having it. As much as he loved a woman who took charge in bed, he had different plans for their first time. As much as he wanted to watch Rose impale herself on him and ride him like Seattle Slew, what he wanted more was to thrust in and out of her while she screamed his name. He wanted her writhing beneath him, begging him to go harder and faster.

Faster than she thought possible, Dimitri flipped them, pinning Rose to the mattress, giving her a look that promised 'next time'. Rose couldn't help the smile that spread on her face.

Dimitri lined up with Rose entrance. He paused before he sliding in. He wanted Rose to look at him while he was doing so.

As Dimitri thrust into Rose slowly and gently, he could feel he was stretching her. The entire time they never broke eye contact. When he was fully immersed they both let out a sigh of contentment. Dimitri held still to let Rose adjust to his size, before he pulled out almost to the tip and thrust back in. This time Rose moaned loudly. He did it again and again and again before setting a pace.

Rose bucked her hips to meet each of Dimitri's thrusts. She never felt any urge more powerful. She wrapped her legs around Dimitri. The new angle allowed him to thrust deeper.

Soon the room was filled with moans and hisses, groans and grunts. Hands running down bodies, groping flesh. Mouths collided, hair pulled. It seemed the entire room was heating up from the friction between their bodies, both tearing and pulling at each other to become one.

Rose ran her nails down Dimitri's back, she bit his shoulder to keep from screaming. Dimitri gripped Rose's hips, thighs, breasts. She'd no doubt have bruises in the morning. He'd have claw marks down his back. Neither of them paid any mind to that. All that mattered was the intensity of the pleasure they were giving each other.

Dimitri knew Rose was close. Not wanting her to hold back, he commanded, "Cum for me Roza".

The roll of his R was all it took for Rose to loose control. Her whole body shook and convulsed. Everything she'd ever experienced in life paled in comparison to being with Dimitri. The way he made her feel, the way he made her cum. He was like a supernova. Forever changing Rose.

Rose came long and hard, milking Dimitri for everything he was worth. Him throbbing inside her climaxing only prolonger her orgasm and made Rose cum that much harder.

As Dimitri released into Rose he knew he was a goner. He'd never want for anything as long as he had her. For a spec of a moment he selfishly wished Rose had lied about the birth control hoping that their love make would result in something that would tie Rose to him forever.

They laid in bed out of breath and curled together. Dimitri wondered what tomorrow would bring. Rose tracing random patterns on his hipbone with her fingertip brought him back from his dark thoughts. The now was all that mattered.

"Dimitri?" Rose mumbled.

"Mmmhh?" Dimitri kissed her temple.

"My room has a bigger bed and the ensuite has a bathtub". Rose yawned.

Dimitri chuckled at her implication. "Next time, Malaya".

"Next time", Rose repeated.

Rose fell asleep instantly, Dimitri wasn't far behind. He had the presence of mind to cancel his 5 AM alarm, seeing as it was only a couple of hours away. He wanted Rose to get as much sleep as possible. She was going to need it to keep her strength up. Dimitri pulled the covers over them and fell asleep with Roza in his arms.

A/N:

Well, what did you think? how was the lemon?

BTW, I've decided to start a Quote of the day. Let me know if you recognize, without googling!

"You are the weak, and I am the tyranny of evil men".