A/N:

Hello you beautiful people!

I was amazed by the reviews on the previous chapter! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Special thanks to the reviewers, honorable mentions, if you will, for me being a piece of shit and not answering you guys (in no particular order!):

Heydi Eliza, megamorr, LostInAFantasy33, Lizz91, Swimming the Same Deep Waters, debpreato, klozenicins, The Lonely Wolf Needs A Star, russia2774, makaylakat04, makaylakat04, LittleDhampir13, rose conde, unanatilla, katnipsc, DarkMoon2222, Gigi256, IsyRoseBelikova, ROMITRI TOGETHER FOREVER, PrincessDOOM, stardreamer2608, asideilogica21, JZIBE, PetalsOfRose, ohorpheuss, SKDanielle16, Elejahalwaysnforever, NB313, Guardian-Maleficent, Leokat24, Hshel, Fin0739, Merra Dawson, Anna, Alena Pfau, MisfitsBelieveInSherlockHolmes, Martianeskimo, tsoar03, Mrs. S Mikaelson, and all the guest!

It has come to my attention that the previous chapter was pushing the T rating to it's limits, so it has been upgraded to M.

Ah, this chapter! This chapter has technically been in the works for a year! The entire idea for the story started with this seed of a chapter and I'm thrilled that it's finally here. It a long time and a shit ton of editing and rewrites but I'm finally happy with the end product (Don't worry, it's not the last one!)

Sorry for the extremely long A/N.

Without further ado, I give you chapter 8.

Don't forget to review!

Cheers,

Kooki

"Rose, please get your feet off the coffee table", Christian begged. "Aunt Tasha is going to be here any minute!"

Christian was a bit nervous about his aunt's visit. For the first time, he was living on his own and he wanted to show her that he was getting along just fine and that she didn't need to worry about him.

Rose did as she was asked with an eye roll. "Chris, the place is spotless. You're golden".

Knock knock knock.

Christian rushed to the door and greeted his aunt with a warm hug. Tasha, being the affectionate woman she was, went around the room hugging every one else. She started with Lissa, then Rose. She moved on to Eddie and finally hugged Dimitri. A little too long for Rose's liking.

When she finally released him she cupped his cheek and smiled. "I've missed you Dimka".

Dimitri just smiled back and gave her arm a squeeze.

They're just good friends, Rose told herself.

Chris gave Tasha the grand tour and they sat down for dinner.

"Christian, dinner is absolutely lovely!" Tasha could not stop boasting at how talented Chris was in the kitchen.

"The guest room is ready for you Tasha", Lissa said when dinner was over.

"Thank you sweetie, but I'm going to stay at a hotel". Tasha opted for a hotel rather than staying in Christian and Lissa's guest room. She was only staying in town for a few nights, but she didn't want to cramp their style or be cooped up in such small living accommodations. Plus, there was no way she was sharing a bathroom with college students. She of course was staying in the nicest hotel in the area. It was only 4-star, but she could make do.

Before Tasha left for the night, she invited Dimitri to join her for dinner on Friday night to catch up on old times.

"I'm sorry Tasha, I have a shift", Dimitri declined politely.

"Oh, I'm sure Rose wouldn't mind switching", Christian interjected. "Would you Rose?", he asked hopefully.

How could Rose say no when they were all supposed to be one big happy family? Especially since she technically stilled owed Dimitri for her date with James. Daniel! Rose corrected herself. She shrugged non committally.

"Great", Tasha was gleeful. "It's settled".

"Do you need a escort to your hotel?" Eddie asked. Ever the gentlemen and the vigilant guardian.

"That's very kind, but no", Tasha answered. "I lived in the human world without a guardian for a long time. I can handle getting to my hotel", she smiled.

When she was gone, Rose felt like she could breathe again. She hadn't even noticed she was holding her breath. Tasha Ozera was an amazing woman. She defended Chris from strigoi when he was just a child and she herself barely an adult. She was strong, opinionated and didn't take any crap from anyone.

Rose should have looked up to her. But instead, every time they met since last Christmas, she felt uneasy around her. Rose never could pin point what it was about Tasha that didn't sit well with her, but she knew it was entirely to do with Dimitri. Tasha could offer him a better life, with wealth and ease and children. Something she herself could never do.

Once upon a time, Dimitri told Rose that Tasha didn't get him, but she did. Late at night, when she was alone, Rose wondered how long that would keep him tethered to her…

Friday rolled around quickly. Lissa and Christian turned in for an early night. (Everyone knew that was code for sexy times). Eddie went out with friends from class. And Dimitri was getting ready for his late dinner with Tasha.

Rose sought out Dimitri in their shared bathroom. He'd just finished shaving and was putting on his aftershave. The smell made Rose go a little week in the knees.

"So", she said nervously, "A date with Tasha?"

"It's not a date, we're going out to dinner", Dimitri answered.

Rose scoffed.

"What?" Dimitri asked.

"You know she just wants to get you in bed".

Dimitri took a calming breath. "No she doesn't. And it warms my heart that you think that's all she could want me for", Dimitri said sarcastically, hurt evident in his tone.

Rose crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "That's not all she wants you for", she murmured.

"And even if she were trying to get me in bed", Dimitri made a disgusted face, "I'm not going to sleep with her".

"Why not?", Rose was almost angry when she asked.

Dimitri answered, mirroring her tone, "Rose, you know why not".

"No, I don't know", Rose jutted her chin in defiance. "What you do in your spare time isn't my concern. Who you sleep with isn't any of my business, so don't let me stop you".

Dimitri was fuming on the inside, he ran his hand roughly thru his hair. "Do you want me to sleep with her?"

Rose shrugged.

Dimitri clenched his fists. "You've been avoiding me for weeks", he practically growled. "We'e hardly spoken since Christmas. So, what are you doing, huh? What do you want from me?".

"Nothing", Rose said, barely audible. It was almost the same question he asked her at Christmas. Her answered remained the same. She wanted that which she couldn't have. She turned on her heels and left.

Dimitri suppressed his urge to hit something, finished getting ready and headed for dinner with Tasha.

Rose did her security rounds, checked the perimeter and finished by plopping down down if front of the tv. She angrily changed the channels, damn near broke the remote control. She then polished off a tub of ice-cream.

Eddie strolled in well after midnight, smelling like alcohol. "Hey Rosie!"

"Try calling me that again!" Rose warned. Rose sniffed and made a face. "What have you been drinking?!"

"Nothing, some dude bumped into me and spilled his bourbon all over my shirt", Eddie yawned. "I'm going shower and bed", he kissed the top of Rose's head in surprise brotherly gesture. "Night".

Tick, toc, tick, toc, tick, toc

The clock was mocking her. The night ticked by and minutes turned into hours and Dimitri wasn't back yet. She finished binging 5 episodes of "Queer Eye". When the last episode was over and the clock showed it was the middle of the night, Rose was furious, even though in her own mind she had no right to be. Then she had a spout of worry. What if something happened to them? Maybe it was strigoi?.

Rose remembered the tracker app Dimitri had installed on all their cellphones, including his own. She unlocked her phone and opened the app, hoping that at least if she knew where he was and that he was most likely safe, she wouldn't be so worried.

But when the app stated that Dimitri's phone had been turned off and couldn't get a location, Rose went back to fuming.

Another hour passed and Rose couldn't hold back the tears even if she wanted to. She couldn't stop the imagines of Tasha's hands on Dimitri's body. Worse still was when she pictured Dimitri kissing Tasha, holding Tasha, making love to Tasha. Rose only furthered the torture when she decided that Tasha was no doubt making Dimitri the same offer from a little over a year ago - to be her guardian with benefits. The final nail in the coffin was when Rose convinced herself that Dimitri said yes. She blamed herself, really. She practically threw Dimitri at Tasha tonight.

Fury turned to despair. When the sun began to rise, and Dimitri wasn't home, Rose found herself wishing he would just come home already and break her stupid heart. Nothing he could say to her was worse than what she was imagining.

Rose went to wash her face and alleviate some of the puffiness in her eyes. She didn't know how long she'd been in there, but she'd manage to calm down enough to stop crying. She turned the faucet off and that was when she heard the front door. She heard his boots on the hardwood floors. Dimitri was making his way towards his bedroom.

Rose considered making a run for her room and avoiding him all together, rather than facing the heartbreaking truth she knew was coming. All her pondering delayed her escape plan and Dimitri walked into their bathroom.

He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Rose's face. Immediately he could tell she'd been crying. He wanted to say something but Rose literally just ran away from him.

"Rose", he called after her, but she didn't stop.

Rose was so preoccupied in the bathroom she didn't hear the whole house had woken up. Lissa, Christian and Eddie were already seated in the living room making plans for the day. Some guardian I am, Rose thought. They must have woken while she still had the tap on.

"Roza", Dimitri was hot on Rose's tail.

"Don't call me that", she hissed at him, but the tension was clear to everyone in the room.

"Hey guys", Christian said to Dimitri and Rose, "We were just thinking that since you didn't get any sleep, we're gonna get out of your hair and give you some peace and quiet". Then he turned to Eddie and Lissa, "Come on, breakfast's on me".

Rose looked to Lissa desperately. Lissa misread the redness of her eyes as sleep deprivation and the look on her face as worry. She actually thought she was helping by leaving. "Don't worry Rose", Lissa hugged her, "Eddie's with us and it's daylight outside", she kissed her cheek and pranced along, leaving Rose and Dimitri alone.

"Rose", Dimitri started.

"Shut up. I don't care", Rose wouldn't even spare him a glance.

"Then why are you crying?" he asked softly.

"I'm not, I have something in my eye", Rose didn't realize her eyes had teared up and spilled over again. "I hope enjoyed yourself", she said, completely insincerely. Her voice was dripping with disdain. She wrapped her arms around herself, thinking maybe she could somehow hold herself together and not shatter to pieces.

"I thought you said it wasn't any of your business", he raised his eyebrow.

"Whatever, I hope you two have a wonderful life together", Rose was practically growling.

Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose. "What are you talking about, Rose?".

"Didn't Tasha make any propositions tonight? Didn't she make you an offer you can't refuse? Like she did last Christmas, to become her guardian?! and her lover? Didn't she worm her way into your pants?", Rose ranted.

She was full on crying now. It broke Dimitri's heart to see her that way. It also made him mad as hell that that's what she thought of him. He'd already refused Tasha's so called 'unrefusable' offer last year. He attempted to get closer to Rose, but every step he took, she retreated. So he stopped.

Dimitri gritted his teeth. "Tasha did ask me again if I wanted to be her guardian and have children with her. She was very explicit about what would happen if I went with her back to her hotel room", Dimitri approached Rose at a much less obvious pace. He subtly inched closer to her without her stepping backwards. Rose was frozen in place anyway. She didn't think it would hurt that much.

"Can you imagine", Dimitri asked, "how awkward it was being stuck in an elevator with her all night after I turned down her offer for a second time?"

"What?" Rose managed to croak out one syllable. She was still crying, on the verge of hyperventilation. She felt like the air had been knocked out of her.

"At dinner", Dimitri explained, "Tasha asked me again if I would reconsider and becoming her guardian and start a family with her", the thought made Rose's skin crawl but she was still stunned silent and so Dimitri continued his tale. "And again I turned down her offer. She was disappointed, I can't give her what she wants", Dimitri took a breath. "When we left the restaurant the elevator stopped working with us in it. We were stuck there all night because the damn thing was so ancient they couldn't get a hold of a repair man who knew how to fix it, and the hatch in the ceiling wasn't big enough for a child to get through, let alone me. There was also no cell reception, so my battery died, which is why I didn't call you". He came closer bit by bit. "I didn't take Tasha's offer", he annunciated every word and made damn sure Rose was paying attention, "and I didn't sleep with her". He was so close to Rose he could smell the jasmine in her shampoo.

"Why the fuck not?!" Rose was still furious. Maybe now it was at herself, for the self inflicted torture.

"Because," Dimitri raised his voice, "you infuriating woman," by now Dimitri was so close he reached out and his hand fisted in Rose's hair with more passion coursing through them than ever before, "I'm in love with you". He leaned his forehead against hers.

Rose grasped his wrists, but not to push him away. She cried harder if possible. The relief that washed over her in that moment was more powerful and potent than the grief over what she'd been playing in her head all night.

When Dimitri pulled Rose to him, their mouths crashed gloriously. It was a clash of lips and teeth and tongue. Rose fisted Dimitri's dress shirt, Dimitri had his hand in Rose's hair and an arm firmly around her waist.
Too soon, Rose was out of air. Dimitri pulled back and stared into her eyes. "Tell me you love me", he pleaded breathlessly. He'd declared his love, now he desperately needed her to do the same.

"I love you", her voice was hoarse from all the crying and yelling.

That's all it took before Dimitri's mouth was back on hers. Rose's body moulded to his yet they still weren't close enough.

Dimitri pinned Rose to the wall. Rose loved feeling like she was engulfed by him. Everything that surrounded her, everything she tasted, touched and smelled was Dimitri and he was intoxicating. And warm. And safe. He felt like home. As he lifted her she wrapped her legs around him.

Rose wasn't quite sure how they got there, but the next sensation she felt was falling, as Dimitri sat on his bed, with Rose straddling him.

They began exploring each other more heavily. Rose dipped her tongue in Dimitri's mouth and massaged his tongue with her own. Dimitri returned the favor.

He kissed down her neck to Rose's collarbone. Soon his lips wandered to the spot behind her ear which he knew drove her crazy. She moaned and bucked her hips.

The friction of her sex on his manhood was so sweet and yummy, Rose began tearing Dimitri's shirt off. Dimitri pulled back just so he could rid himself of the now destroyed garment. He took the opportunity to rid Rose of her shirt as well and was surprised to discover she wasn't wearing a bra.

Rose didn't hide herself. She held herself tall and proud on Dimitri's lap, smiling at his awe. Tentatively, Dimitri pressed his palm to her left breast. Rose breath caught. When he rubbed her nipple with his thumb he was rewarded with a gentle groan. But when he took Rose's right nipple in his mouth Rose moaned loudly and bucked her hips again. She pulled him closer by the hair, only turning Dimitri on even more. She hissed when Dimitri bit a little to hard, but he apologized with a soothing lick and a kiss.

Rose pushed him back on the bed and trailed open mouth kisses on his chest and abs. Her hot breath tickled his skin. He'd never felt more alive. Rose took special care to bite him back and Dimitri was loving it. She worked her way back up his body and ended with his earlobe between her teeth. Dimitri groaned loudly and thrusted his hips upwards.

He kicked off his boots and pulled Rose's sneakers off with his toes. The perks of having big feet, one would assume.

Rose kissed her way down his body again, but she didn't stop at his belt, instead she slid down his legs till she was off his lap and standing. Dimitri propped himself up on his elbows, eyes hooded with desire, bottom lip caught between his teeth. Rose thought he looked sexy as hell doing it. He was all muscle and the only hair on his body was the small patch that peaked out of his jeans just below his belly button.
Rose popped her button and undid her zipper. She pushed her pants down her legs slowly, while biting her lower lip, her eyes glued to Dimitri's. Dimitri followed her movements hungrily, licking his lips. She stood before him in her panties, never wavering or looking embarrassed.

"You're a goddess", he murmured as he sat up, entranced by her beauty and boldness.

Rose smiled. She reached her hand out to him to pull him to his feet. She unbuckled his belt, undid his jeans and let them drop to the floor.

Now Dimitri's bulge was confined only be his boxers. Rose stared for a moment. She swallowed hard. Dimitri wrapped his arm around Rose and kissed the crown of her head. He let his hand slide down her back, from her neck to her round ass, squeezing it gently. Rose shivered.

Rose wanted him, she needed him, but she didn't know how to tell him. So she showed him. Without looking directly at his massive erection, Rose tugged down his boxers and let them pool at the floor with his pants. With a hand on his abs, she nudged him back to sit on the bed and started pushing her own panties down.

Dimitri stopped her when he grabbed her hands and placed them at her sides. "Let me". He hooked his thumbs in the sides of Rose's delicate underwear and ran his big calloused hands down her bare legs, taking the tiny cloth with them. Where is hands traveled downward, his lips followed, kissing along her tone thighs. As he was removing the last piece of clothing that concealed her, Rose noticed Dimitri inhale the scent at the apex of her legs and hum in appreciation. He skimmed his palms back up her leg. He made sure she was looking him in the eye as he draw his fingers closer and closer to her womanhood. He delicately pressed his fingers between her womanly folds. He applied a bit a pressure to her clit with is thumb.

Dimitri lifted one of her legs by the back of her knee and placed her foot on the bed so she was more open to his ministrations. Rose braced herself with a hand on his shoulder. He easily slid his index finger in and out of Rose's wet core. Her nails dug into his skin. She wondered if he knew he was the only man that had ever touched her there.

When Rose swayed on her foot, he place both his hands on her hips to steady her and kissed right under her naval. He placed her once again in his lap.

Rose sat astride Dimitri, kissing him fervently. For the first time since they entered Dimitri's' bedroom, Rose faltered.

"Are you nervous?" he asked Rose.

Rose let out a shaky breath and nodded.

"Why?" He was gonna make her say it.

Even if she didn't want to admit it. She huffed, "I've… never…", she couldn't even admit it. She was in college and still a virgin. "This is my first time", she answered, looking away, embarrassed. She was sure now that he knew, Dimitri wouldn't want her. Who would want that responsibility?

Dimitri didn't reconsider for a second. While Rose wasn't looking, Dimitri grinned from ear to ear. He felt more pride and took more pleasure than he had any right to at the notion that he was going boldly where no man had gone before. The caveman in him rejoiced that she was his, and his alone.

When he managed to wipe the smirk off his face, Dimitri kissed the tip of Rose's nose. She looked up and saw him smiling sweetly. He wasn't going to patronize her by asking if she was sure or if she was ready, or to tell her she didn't have to. He knew her well enough and they trusted each other completely. If she wasn't sure or didn't want to, she'd either tell him or kick his ass. The thought made his smile grow. "Just go slow", he said.

Rose smiled back and nodded. Dimitri was relinquishing all control to her, he was letting her set the pace and she loved him all the more for it.

Rose lifted herself up on her knees and guided Dimitri to her entrance. She was impatient and lowered herself too quickly. Rose hissed at the invasion of her body.

Dimitri grabbed her hips and held her in place. "Slow, Roza". He peppered her face with kissed until she calmed.

Rose nodded. The discomfort alone was enough to slow her pace. She lowered herself slowly, gently taking in more and more of Dimitri's massive manhood. The more she took him in, the more he stretched her out. Going as slow as she did was a very different feeling than what she felt as first. Now, she felt like Dimitri was warming her from the inside. She felt connected to him in a way she didn't know was possible. When Dimitri was fully sheathed in her, they let out a simultaneous moan.

Dimitri held her tight and caressed every inch of her body. Rose grew accustomed to his size and instinctually thrusted her hips. The sensation was new and incredible. She'd never felt anything like it. So she thrust her hips again. And again. And again.

This wasn't Dimitri's first rodeo, and it had been a while since his last time, but he didn't remember sex ever being like this. He could feel Rose in every cell of his body. Every one of his nerves felt the fire she lit in him. She filled every corner of his soul with her light.

Rose ground her pelvis against Dimitri's. She felt the friction everywhere, anywhere their bodies touched - from her inner thighs against his legs, to her core on his shaft, her nub rubbing against his corse hair, and her nipples brushing his chest. Her pace got faster and faster. Soon Dimitri had no choice but to lay back so he wasn't inhibiting Rose's movements. Not that he didn't enjoy the view of Rose impaling herself and bouncing up and down on him. It was the most erotic thing he'd ever witnessed. The way she rode him, the way Rose moved, the way her breast jiggled and her hair swayed, coupled with the sounds she was making would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Rose grew tighter and tighter as her climax came nearer. Dimitri could feel it with every move she made. The closer Rose drew to her climax, the closer Dimitri did as well.

Rose came with a satisfied scream. As she rode out her orgasm, Dimitri gripped her hips and pumped into her from below. The additional stimulation and Dimitri's magnificent erection pulsating and spilling inside her, brought Rose to another peak. She threw her head back and if Dimitri wasn't holding her in place, she would have fallen to the floor, head first. He sat up and pulled her to him, lulling her. He peppered her shoulder with kisses and stroked her hair while their breathing evened out.

They laid in Dimitri's bed, spent, legs tangled, her head on his chest. He was playing with the ends of her hair, completely content, smiling goofily. Dimitri fell asleep. It was the best sleep he'd had in a long time. Just because he had his Roza in his arms. He loved her. And she loved him. And compared to that everything else suddenly had the volume turned down.

He woke hours later to the sound of sobbing. He felt a strange wetness on his chest. Tears. Dimitri rose groggily. He didn't know how long he'd been asleep. It could have been hours or minutes. But he knew one thing - Rose's head was no longer cradled on his chest. She was sitting on the edge of his bed with her back facing him. She held her knees to her chest and she suddenly seemed so small to him.

"Roza, what's wrong? Does it hurt?" Dimitri's panic was obvious. More than anything he was afraid he hurt her during their amorous activities. Maybe he wasn't gentle enough.

"No", Rose cried. She hugged herself tighter. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you".

Dimitri planted himself beside Rose and put his hand around her shoulder.

Rose pulled away from him. "This shouldn't have happened", she said. "We shouldn't have done this".

Dimitri was horrified. "What? What are you saying?"

"I'm saying this was a mistake". Rose got up and started gathering her clothes.

"How can you say that?", he was sure the feeling of being staked in the heart hurt less than Rose rejecting their love.

"Because this isn't going to work. We're both Lissa's guardian. There's no way for us to be together. And right now, we're endangering her". Rose had thought this through as soon as Dimitri fell asleep. The sex was amazing and she truly did love him. But there was no future for them. She couldn't do that to Lissa, who was the only family she had.

Dimitri tried to stop Rose from running away, to stop her from leaving when he knew in his bones they were suppose to be together. "So, what? You're going to pretend this", he gestured to the bed, "didn't happen?" When Rose didn't answer he got angrier. "What about me? What about how I feel?"

"How do you feel?". Rose asked distracted, still gathering her clothes.

"Right now? Like you used me".

Rose stopped short and faced him. "I'm sorry". And she meant it. "I shouldn't have let it go this far".

Dimitri shook his head. "No. Roza, I l-"

"Please don't say it", Rose interrupted him and shut her eyes tight, as if that would make her un-hear what he was about to say, what he had already said a few hours ago. "Having to end this hurts enough as it is", she murmured.

"Then don't!" Dimitri half yelled half begged. "We can make this work! I'll ask for a transfer".

Rose's eyes widened. "No! You can't do that! I won't let Lissa lose the best guardian she'll ever have. I don't want a partner who I don't know and don't trust. Not to mention what it'll do to your career, asking to get transferred out of guarding the last Dragomir".

"I don't care about that. Lissa can get another guardian. I don't want to lose you. You're making this about choosing between me and Lissa and it doesn't have to be that way".

Rose was weeping, her heart was breaking. So was Dimitri's.

"They come first. We both knew that a long time ago", Rose said with a finality that Dimitri didn't like one bit.

"Roza", he'd never been more pained uttering her name.

Rose entered the bathroom with her clothes in her arms and shut the door behind her. She crossed the bathroom to her room, shutting that door as well, as if shutting the doors would give her space to mourn her fate on her own.

Dimitri did something he hadn't done in years. He cried. While sober.

Rose heard him rustle in his room and shortly after, the front door slammed shut. It was then that her weeping turned into wailing. What have I done?

A/N: Thank you for reading. I know that ending was torture and I'm sorry! This is not the last chapter! Don't forget to review!