A/N:

Hi guys!

Thank you so much for the reviews, the follows and the faves! I love it!

I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so let me know how you feel about it!

Kisses,

K

"It's time, it's time, it's time, it's time!" Lissa hopped around the apartment with glee.

Tonight was the first night they were going to a college party. In addition to Lissa's contagious excitement, this outing required all hands on deck, meaning Eddie, Rose and Dimitri would be on duty.

"You should get ready now", Lissa informed Dimitri who looked at her questioningly. "Rose is a notorious bathroom hog".

Dimitri looked to the heaven in a 'god give me strength' gesture. He'd only just woken up and was already in a bad mood. He hated parties, they were so difficult to guard.

Dimitri raced to the bathroom but Rose had already claimed it. So he waited for her to finish. He waited patiently. For an hour. Then his patience ran out.

"Rose!" he banged on the door. "You've been in there for an hour! What are you doing?" he called.

She roller her eyes. "Getting ready for the party!"

"But you're going to be on duty!", Dimitri's logic was not sound. At all.

"Yes, but this is the first college party we're going to and I wanna look… nice", Rose called back. "Besides I have to blend in, comrade. And speaking of blending in, you can't wear your duster tonight!" Rose counted to 3 before the outburst she was expecting took place.

Dimitri opened the door, too shocked to care what he'd see when he was in the bathroom. "What?!"

Rose wasn't wearing much. It was even less than what she wore when training. It made Dimitri falter for moment. He on the other hand wasn't wearing a shirt, which Rose was trying very hard not to notice.

"This is a college party", Rose explained, referring mostly to the fashion of the era. "That duster is going to make you stand out".

Dimitri had his hands on his hips, looking sexier than any one had a right to. The smoldering in his eye only added to it. "Rose I'm 6 foot 7, I'm going to stand out anyway".

Rose dutifully ignored him, resuming her hair styling.

"Rose, I need to shower!" Dimitri was practically whining now.

"Just go use Eddie's shower", she suggested.

He huffed, "All my stuff is here". Dimitri knew full well that he could take his one bottle of shampoo and his towel and shower somewhere else. But he didn't want to concede. He wasn't ready to give up. He'd been pushed out of joint bathroom by girls his whole life and he was done being a push over. He was a grown ass man, he deserved to get to shower in peace.

"I'll be done in a few minutes", Rose replied.

Dimitri hardly believed her. "You should have just let me get ready before you". He threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. "I would've been done in 2 minutes".

Rose smiled wickedly yet never looked away from her own reflection. "Words every girl wants to hear from a man".

Dimitri froze. He could not let this go. He let a lot of things slide between them. Flirty banter. The occasional innuendo. But this was taking it to far. He strode up to Rose, who was still facing the mirror. He stopped just short of pressing his body against hers. He leant his head down so he could whisper in her ear, his breath tickling her neck. She froze.

"It's not about how long you last, it's about making it count", his voice came out hoarse, his breath warmed her skin. "Besides", he met her eyes in the mirror as he ran his fingertip down her exposed arm, "I'm more of an all night long kind of guy".

Rose was stunned. Utterly in a state of shock. Goosebumps broke out all over her body and heat pooled at her core.

Dimitri turned to the shower, stepped behind the curtain, closed it and tossed his pants and boxers out.

Rose quivered and gazed at the mirror where she last saw Dimitri's reflection. She was freed from her daze when she heard the water turn on. It seemed Dimitri was showering whether she gave up the bathroom or not. "Tease", she muttered under her breath. With her hair done, she moved on to the make up.

True to his word, Dimitri turned the water off 2 minutes later. His hand reach out behind the curtain and grabbed his towel. When the shower curtain opened, Rose was sure her heart would either stop all together or beat right out of her chest. Dimitri was clad in a towel, water still dripping from his hair and body.

Rose's jaw dropped. As if she wasn't wet enough from his little stunt earlier. Dimitri hid his smirk as he exited the bathroom and shut the door behind him. What the fuck are you doing? Dimitri asked himself, leaning his back against the door. This was so out of character for him. Then again, maybe it wasn't, maybe Rose was just bring out the young man he used to be before Ivan died. Still, he would never do anything stupid and risk putting his charge in danger.

In the bathroom, Rose shuddered. She took a deep breath. Then another. It took her a while to calm herself enough to finish getting ready.

She knew exactly what Dimitri was doing, teasing her like nobody's business. So she planned her revenge. She wore the tightest most revealing party appropriate outfit that could still conceal her stake. Rose was a bit on the slutty side, but she didn't care. She was out for blood. Dimitri's blood.

"Fuck, Rose", Lissa slammed her hand against her own mouth at the expletive that escaped when she saw Rose emerge from the hallway dressed to the nines.

Christian whistled. "What side of whose bed do you plan on waking up on?"

Rose shrugged in answer. She didn't miss that Dimitri was staring at her from the corner of the room, trying to compose himself.

Eddie, who was already at the party, checking the perimeter and scanning the place for threats in advance, texted Dimitri and Rose to let them know that the place was as secure as it could be.

The two moroi and two dhampir made their way to the party. This was the first social function they'd gone to in the dark with no wards.

Lissa and Rose skipped ahead of Dimitri and Christian. Christian smiled indulgently at the two girls laughing in excitement and prancing along. He noticed Dimitri was staring at them as well. Though not quiet at them. More at Rose. Specifically, Rose's ass.

Chris lightly tapped Dimitri's chest with the back of his hand, getting the guardian's attention. Dimitri looked at Chris confused and raised his eyebrow.

"You're drooling", Chris pointed out.

Though Chris was exaggerating a bit, Dimitri wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Chris laughed, Dimitri scowled.

"I get it", Chris said. "Rose is hot, according to most. Do you think you'll be able to focus on guarding when Rose is shaking her ass on the dance floor?".

Dimitri was deeply offended by the remark. Not only because it showed a lack of faith in his abilities as a guardian, but also because Rose was regarded so derogatively. He realized with a sigh that all eyes would no doubt be on her this night.

Dimitri pulled out his phone and texted Eddie.

"What are you up to, Belikov?" Chris asked when he saw the smirk on Dimitri's face.

"Nothing", the dhampir shrugged.

Christian didn't buy it but let it go.

They walked into the party. Christian's arm firm around Lissa's waist. As soon as they were in the door Eddie approached Rose eagerly and hugged her so tightly that he lifted her clear off the ground. When he started spinning them around, she giggle.

"What are you doing?" Rose asked when Eddie put her down on her feet and slung his arm around her shoulders.

"We're both near guards. If people assume we're together, or even double dating, it'll make guarding easier", Eddie explained, but didn't remove his arm. "Plus, I'm making sure other guys won't bother you tonight", he smiled genuinely.

Rose wondered if this brilliant plan was Eddie's. But the way Dimitri smirked when their eyes met told her otherwise.

Now she wanted to make him suffer even more. If Dimitri wanted Rose to stay away from other guys, then she would stay away from other guys. That didn't mean she'd stay away from Eddie. Or even other girls.

Rose deviously whispered something in Eddie's ear. She said she wanted to have fun and dance like they used to in junior high. Eddie laughed and nodded. 'Danced like they used to in junior high' was actually code for dirty dancing. What Eddie wasn't expecting was that in the years since, Rose upped her game.

And while Eddie knew (according to what Dimitri texted him earlier) that Rose didn't want male attention, she sure as shit wasn't going about in the right way. Yes, if he saw a girl dancing like that with another guy, Eddie would know that girl is off limits. But he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off that girl either. Much like all the males currently couldn't take their eyes off Rose.

Rose was using everything the god lord gave, from swinging her hips, to shaking her ass, to running her hands down her body and licking her lips.

Rose danced with Eddie as if he was a pole. She dances with Lissa in a manner completely unbecoming a princess, though Lissa, tipsy as she was, went along with it. Other girls joined as well, coveting the attention Rose was stealing.

No other guys came anywhere near Rose. She suspected that it was all thanks to Eddie's glares. He was built like a brick shit house, after all.

Rose had not danced like that in years. Even through the haze of the party, she kept a close watch on Lissa and Christian. Being in the center of the room, dancing on a coffee table, gave her a vantage point to everywhere on the first floor. She'd make eye contact with Dimitri from time to time, both exchanging without words that the area was secure and their charge was safe.

But Rose caught Dimitri checking her out from the corner of her eye. And every time she felt his gaze on her, she pulled Eddie, or whichever body was nearest, closer.

Rose danced non stop for hours. She danced like she was getting paid for it. She danced till she couldn't stand on her feet anymore. Then she danced some more. Lissa had to beg to go home before Rose relented.

All this time, Rose knew she was putting on a show. A fun show. When "Swalla" came on, and Lissa was swaying on her feet from exhaustion, Rose knew this was her finale. She grinded on Eddie. She grinded on him as if he was about to get lucky. Christian watched in horror. Lissa gasped. Eddie got a little stiff, but went along with it anyway. And Dimitri… Dimitri couldn't watch anymore. He turned around and stood just outside the front door, waiting for them to leave.

On the walk home, Dimitri was silent as the grave. Which wasn't unusual for him, so no-one paid him any mind. Even though she was sure her feet were bleeding in her boots, Rose strutted home like she could go on for a few more hours.

"How are you still this hyper?" Christian asked Rose. "You haven't had a drop of alcohol!".

"Please", Eddie answered, "Like she needs alcohol to let loose".

Rose chuckled.

When they got back to the apartment Eddie wanted to speak to Rose. Alone. Lissa and Chris went to bed and Dimitri was doing a security check, so Rose plopped down on the couch. Neither she nor Eddie knew Dimitri was right outside the door, listening in to their conversation, despite his better judgement.

"What was with you tonight?" Eddie asked. "You were like a woman on a mission".

"A mission to have fun", Rose answered. "Thanks, by the way. You're a great dancer".

Eddie went a shade redder. He only danced a little at the beginning on the party. Later on he was more or less a prop. "That's all that was? Harmless party fun?"

"What do you mean, Eddie?"

"I mean", Eddie pressed his lips together, not sure how to phrase it. "I mean, you and I, we're friends. More than that, we're family".

"Of course we are, Eddie".

"Good. Because", he hesitated, "you're beautiful Rose and I love you, but not in that way". Eddie's tone was apologetic and final.

"Eddie, why would you-", Rose cut herself off. She wanted to ask where he would even get the idea that she was interested in him romantically. But she realized that's not what he thought. Eddie thought Rose was interested in him sexually. And it was all due to her little show. Rose knew she was convincing. But she didn't think for a second that she was so convincing that the people closest to her actually bought it. It dawned on Rose that she has some apologizing to do.

"Eddie, I'm so sorry that I gave you the wrong idea. That was never my intention", Rose was sincere. "I just wanted to have some safe fun with a friend that I trust", she hoped she was getting her point across. She emphasized the word safe.

"Okay then", Eddie seemed appeased. He lunged off the couch. "You going to bed?"

"I'm gonna get some juice. I think I'm a little dehydrated".

Eddie nodded and left Rose to her own devices.

In the kitchen Rose poured herself a glass of oj and decided to make Dimitri some coffee. She waited for him to return, biting her nails the entire time.

Dimitri sauntered back into the apartment and headed straight for the kitchen. Knowing Rose wasn't really interested in Eddie made him feel infinitely better. Even though he was mostly sure that Rose was only trying to get back at Dimitri, hearing her confess that the whole dance routine meant nothing, put him in a very different mood than the one he got home in. Much less murderous.

Dimitri was surprised to find Rose in the kitchen. Even more so that she pushed a mug of coffee towards him. Rose hated the smell of coffee and only ever brewed it when she was trying to be nice to him.

"What's this for?" Dimitri asked.

Rose shrugged. "No reason". She was not expecting Dimitri to act so calm.

"Did you have fun tonight?" he asked between sips. Obviously he had accepted her peace offering.

Rose nodded. "I haven't danced like that since before Lissa and I ran away from the academy".

Dimitri nearly sputtered his coffee. "You danced like that when you were fifteen?!"

Rose chuckled and changed the subject. "Why didn't you dance tonight?"

"I was keeping an eye on the party".

Rose tried and failed to raise her eyebrow. "You were keeping an eye on my ass".

"That too", he shrugged.

Rose full out laughed. She was relieved Dimitri was taking the whole thing so lightly. Then she remembered why she even behaved the way she did at the party and the anger that had subsided returned.

Rose crossed her arms over her chest. "You can't control me. You had no right to tell Eddie to do that".

"I know". Dimitri folded his arms over his chest, mimicking Rose. "You didn't have to act like a child".

Rose huffed. "You weren't checking me out like I'm a child!" That seemed to put Dimitri in his place. "I think the word you're looking for is bitch", Rose supplied.

That left Dimitri utterly speechless. It actually was the word he had in mind, though he'd never call her that, he respected her too much for that. "Actually, maybe the word was petty". He knew he was in the wrong, but so was she. "You used Eddie", he accused.

"So did you", Rose fired back. She was dead on. "At least I apologized to him for it".

"You're right", Dimitri deflated. "I'll talk to him tomorrow".

"And tell him what?" Rose asked nervously.

It's not like Dimitri could tell Eddie he did what he did out of jealousy. He could hardly admit that to himself, much less anyone else.

"There's nothing you can say", Rose added. "Just leave it alone".

Dimitri looked down, feeling ashamed.

As if that wasn't enough, Rose said, "We were stupid tonight. We might have done our jobs, but we certainly didn't put Lissa above all else".

Dimitri wanted to argue, but she was right. His behavior was less than stelar.

"Whatever this little game was, it needs to stop", Rose insisted.

"Agreed".

Rose nodded. "I'm going to bed. Good night". But when Rose made to get up, she stumbled and almost fell. That's how much her feet hurt. Thankfully, Dimitri was there to keep her from landing on her ass. He steadied her and sat her back down.

"Maybe you should take off those boots first, then try walking".

Rose didn't find that nearly as funny as Dimitri did. But she pulled her boots off non the less, moaning and mewling the entire time. At those sounds, Dimitri sobered up fully from his fit of giggles. Fuck being the only word that crossed his mind now.

Rose limped to her room, leaving Dimitri alone with his illicit thoughts. Dimitri's wondering mind had never been so smutty as it was now. He pictured himself where Eddie was merely an hour ago. The sounds Rose was making when she pulled off her boots, only added to the wildness of his daydream. Dimitri knew, sooner of later, he'd have to take care of himself. And he knew that no matter how hard he'd try to fight it, he would picture Rose while doing it.