After the introductions, the three of them stood awkwardly.
"Let's sit," Janine suggested, sitting on the end of one sofa primly, Abe seated beside her, in stark contrast to the scene of a few minutes before.
"So I take it from before that you two are still, um, friendly?" Rose asked.
Abe looked at Janine and raised an eyebrow, at a loss for what to say.
"We've spent most of the last seventeen years apart, but we've always remained very fond of one another," Janine said.
Abe rolled his eyes at Janine's evasive answer. "What your mother means to say is we've stayed faithful to one another, seen one another when we could, and loved each other deeply all these years," Abe said, reaching over to take Janine's hand in his.
"Stayed in touch? How often? Are we talking every day? Once a week? Every month? A couple of times a year?" Rose asked. She was feeling shocked. She'd honestly thought her father was a part of her mother's past. A youthful dalliance discarded when more pressing worldly concerns took precedence. It was quite a surprise to find out not only had it been a lot more than that, but unbeknownst to her it had also been that way her entire life.
"We went four years without speaking when your mother left. We didn't know how closely I might be being watched, so it was safest that you and your mother dropped out of my life altogether. I didn't have any idea where the two of you were, and I don't mind saying it was the hardest four years of my life. Janine got in touch a couple of days before she brought you to America when you were nearly four, and I got to see you briefly then. I don't suppose you remember?" Abe asked hopefully.
Rose shook her head, too stunned by this new information to articulate a response.
"Never mind," Abe said with an encouraging smile. "After you came to the Academy, and your mother accepted an allocation with Lord Szelsky, it was a little easier. After a few years, Janine felt comfortable confiding in Lord Szelsky that she had a long-term partner of considerable means, so when he went on holidays, I'd arrange to holiday in the same place, and we'd spend a few days together. Disposable mobile phones have made life a lot easier, so we speak more often now, but my business has also become considerably less dangerous over the years, so the level of potential danger has decreased."
"Wow, you must have seen some amazing places together?" Rose asked faintly.
"Oh, we have!" Abe said enthusiastically, giving her a warm smile. "We've been to Mexico, Ibiza, The Maldives, Jamaica, Nepal, Mauritius, Morocco, Turkey as well as California, Quebec, New York and The Hamptons!"
"That's a lot of holidays together. Which was your favorite?"
Abe looked at Janine lovingly, missing the flash of warning in her eyes. "Probably the Hamptons. I rented an amazing house completely secluded with its own beach. It was magnificent!"
"It sounds it," Rose said sadly. "So tell me, while you were holidaying all over the world, did you stop to wonder how your daughter was going? You know - the one dumped at an Academy at four years old to grow up as an orphan? Did either of you think about me? Because while the Hamptons and all those exotic places sound like a blast, let me assure you growing up alone and forgotten wasn't!"
Rose stood on shaking legs feeling a dark rage flooding her. But this wasn't spirit darkness; it was years of bad feelings and resentment finally coming to the fore.
"Did you ever think about the four-year-old who eventually learned there was no point crying out in the night because no one was listening or cared enough to come? Did you know I relied on hand-me-downs and charity from the Dragomirs to clothe myself? That I caught pneumonia after making it most of the way through a Montana winter when I was five before anyone twigged I didn't have a coat or any shoes that fit? Does it surprise you I learned at a very young age the guardian life could be a lonely one and as a little girl that no one cared to protect, there were some guardians you never wanted to find yourself alone with?! I'm glad you enjoyed your happy vacations away together but let me assure you, being given away to grow up unloved and uncared for was definitely not fun," Rose bellowed in rage.
"Rosemarie!" Janine snapped. "Don't speak to your father like that! We left you here for a reason. We wanted you to be safe. Of course we thought about you!"
Rose spun to face her mother, eyes blazing.
"I always wondered why you couldn't get more leave. I'd only see you for a few days every second or third year. I used to cry every holidays. Every summer I'd sit on the stairs and watch as the other kids left to go home and I never did. Alberta used to tell me you were working so hard as a guardian you couldn't take time off. But now I know you could – you just didn't care to spend any of it with me!"
Rose spat the last words at her mother before dissolving into tears and turning to flee, running into six feet, seven inches of tense muscle.
Standing just outside the doorway to their room, Dimitri had woken at the first sounds of Rose's distress. And while he hadn't heard everything, he'd heard enough. His heart was breaking as he folded his arms around Rose, cradling her protectively against him. She wrapped her arms around his reassuring bulk and buried her head against his chest as huge sobs wracked her small frame. Janine stood, trying to explain, only to be met with a fiery gaze from Dimitri.
"Don't! This isn't a good idea right now. I think it's best we leave."
His teeth were gritted, and even in her distress, Rose could tell it was taking everything Dimitri had not to explode. Guiding her back into the room they'd slept in, he picked up his bag and Rose's before swooping her up into his arms and carrying her to the door. Janine was still rooted to the spot, but Abe stepped forward to open the door for them.
"I'm sorry, Rose," he said remorsefully. "Perhaps we can talk when you're feeling a bit better?"
Rose completely ignored him. "Comrade? Get me out of here," she whimpered, refusing to look up from where she was cuddled in against his neck. Dimitri stepped through the doorway, taking her goodness knows where. Honestly, she didn't care where he took her provided it was away from here.
Running it through his mind, the options were limited; her dorm room, Lissa's room or the infirmary. When he'd left campus he'd handed in the keys to his room, so he didn't have a safe space to offer her. Besides propriety demanded the presence of a third party. Rose still wasn't eighteen, and she'd been through a traumatic event. There'd be questions asked if he took her somewhere and they spent the night alone together – even if that might be the best medicine. That being the case, he ruled out her dorm room, deciding Lissa's was the best of a bad bunch of options. He was walking down the guest quarters corridor when another opportunity presented itself, literally almost stepping out in front of them.
"Belikov? Rose? What's happened?" Adrian asked in surprise as the former nearly ran into him as he was lovingly carrying the latter. Dimitri had forgotten Adrian was also housed in the guest wing.
"Rose met her father," Dimitri said ominously, shaking his head subtly at Adrian in warning not to pursue the topic.
"Right. Do you want to come in for a bit?" he replied.
Dimitri was about to politely decline, when Rose lifted her head from his neck.
"Ok," she answered giving Adrian a tentative smile.
Dimitri pretended not to notice the tender look Adrian gave her as he turned to open the door to his unit. "Mi casa es tu casa," he joked. "Sorry, I haven't cleaned up in a while."
The room was similar to Janine's, but the layout, fittings, and fixtures were where the similarities ended. This suite was a tip! There were empty alcohol bottles and overflowing ashtrays littering every surface, residing beside plates with food in varying degrees of decomposition. Rose had seen it before so took it in her stride, but Dimitri glanced around him in revulsion. He had no idea how Adrian could live like this; it truly beggared belief!
Clearing a space for Rose on the sofa, Dimitri gently placed her down, using the cover of his broad back to discreetly give her a kiss. Adrian flopped down onto the sofa opposite, dispossessing some dirty laundry in the process.
"Little Dhampir!" Adrian began, immediately engaging Rose in superficial, mindless banter as Dimitri stood around awkwardly. Dimitri was getting annoyed until he noticed Adrian's easy manner was helping Rose to relax and be herself. More relieved than he cared to mention, Dimitri shot Adrian a grateful look before turning his attentions to the filth surrounding them. While they mightn't have signed the paperwork, yet, Adrian was his charge, and if the choices were clean up or spend time amongst this filth, the stoic guardian chose the former.
Starting with the bottles, Dimitri walked around the suite quickly filling a garbage bag and then a second. He then moved on to disposing of cigarette butts, general rubbish, and rancid food, deciding the entire contents of Adrian's fridge could be disposed of other than the bottles of soda water, ginger ale, and cola he used as mixers when he didn't wish to take his spirits neat.
The bulk of the detritus removed, Dimitri started in on the washing up; listening to Rose's conversation with Adrian and contributing where he could. The suite was almost back to rights when Rose got up to use the bathroom. With a speed that surprised Dimitri, Adrian was at his side in the kitchen asking questions about what had happened with Rose's family. Giving Adrian a broad overview, he was surprised when the green-eyed Moroi offered them his second room.
"We'll work out later if you want to bunk here permanently or back in the guardian dorms, but tonight she needs to be with you. I haven't used the other room; it's yours for as long as you want it. Why don't you invite her to stay tonight?"
Dimitri was thanking him when Rose emerged.
"What are you two up to?" she asked mock suspiciously, in a much better mood than she was an hour or so ago.
"Adrian was saying it's almost dinner time."
"Ugh," she grumbled. "I'm not up to the cafeteria yet!"
"That's what I thought, little Dhampir, so I'll order in tonight from the kitchens."
"You can order in?" Rose asked in wonder.
"Sure can," Adrian said smugly. "They have a menu of what's on offer each day, but if it doesn't appeal then if you ring before midnight, they can cook something different to order."
"I so should have been Moroi," Rose grumbled. "What's on today?"
"Roast chicken and vegetables with gravy. Dessert is self-saucing chocolate pudding."
Rose groaned in pleasure, and even Dimitri's mouth was watering at the prospect of some decent food. That's one thing he missed about a private allocation. He and Ivan had eaten like kings, his erstwhile charge lazy in many domains, but not the kitchen. In fact, it had been Ivan who that had inspired Dimitri's love of cooking. While he'd assumed he'd stay in the Guardian dorms until Rose graduated, Adrian's small kitchen did make staying closer to his new charge appealing. It was something to consider.
Adrian rang through their order; two large Dhampir serves and one Moroi portion. Dimitri used a cloth to pick up Adrian's dirty clothes to pile into a garbage bag ready to be laundered, and by the time two Dhampir kitchen workers brought the hot meals to their door, the kitchen counter and small dining table had been wiped clean and the chairs were devoid of the clothing previously littering them.
"Would you like us to dispose of the rubbish?" one worker asked, looking disapprovingly at the garbage bags filled with bottles, cigarette butts and rotten food piled up inside the suite's front door.
"That would be appreciated," Dimitri said simply, giving them a look as if to say 'I know he is a filthy pig, but he's my charge and I'm stuck with him.' With the rubbish removed, the suite looked almost normal again. Light and day compared to when they'd arrived.
The three ate dinner companionably. As anticipated, the meal was delicious – well above the fare offered to students and even guardians.
"It seems unfair that Moroi get such good meals when they barely eat anything. Dhampir easily eat three or four times as much as Moroi – why should we be subjected to cheap, tasteless food?"
"Maybe because you shovel it down so quickly you can barely taste it?" Adrian teased, staring meaningfully at Rose's plate. She'd managed to consume almost half a chicken in the same time it had taken him to delicately eat a small chicken breast.
"Eat your vegetables," Dimitri warned, seeing Rose eye the self-saucing pudding covetously. "Both of you!" he added, noticing Adrian's broccoli, cauliflower and carrots had been left untouched. Given the Moroi's heavy alcohol intake, it wouldn't hurt to help him to eat healthy meals more regularly. The pudding looked good, so Rose and Adrian cleared their plates, passing them to Dimitri who scraped them then put them in the sink before serving them each a portion of chocolate pudding.
The dessert plates empty, Rose leaned back in her chair yawning.
"That was delicious, Adrian. If you have food like that here, I might visit more often!"
"You'd be welcome," Adrian said generously, meaning it. "Both of you. It's nice having company."
Rose yawned again, rubbing her eyes.
"You're looking sleepy," Adrian commented. "I'm going over to the feeders and to see some friends. Why don't the two of you crash here tonight? I don't use the second bedroom at all."
"Thanks, Adrian. I don't want to be anywhere near my family, and the only other option is my dorm room which is tiny!"
"No worries. I won't be back for at least an hour, maybe two, so if you're asleep when I get back, I'll see you both tomorrow."
"I'll wash those in the morning," Dimitri said about the dishes as soon as Adrian had left. "Are you tired, Rose? We could watch a movie? Or we could head to bed if you're sleepy?"
"Bed sounds good," Rose murmured.
"Do you need anything from your room?"
"I'm right. Mom brought some nightwear in my bag," Rose said, giving no indication of the mounting tension between the two of them.
"I'll have a quick shower then," Dimitri said, trying to steer his mind away from being alone in bed with his woman.
Quickly grabbing a fresh pair of boxers from his bag, he slipped into the bathroom, finding plenty of clean towels in the cupboard. Stripping out of the clothing he'd been wearing for more hours than he cared to count, he stepped under the warm spray, closing his eyes as the soothing water coursed over his skin. He was standing directly under the shower rose, his face only inches from it when he felt someone step into the stall behind him, small hands reaching around him from behind and stroking his broad muscled chest.
"Roza," he groaned, turning to find the stunning brunette standing naked behind him biting her lip nervously while gazing at him with desire. "Did you want to shower?"
"Not really," she said, a silent challenge in her eyes. She flattened her hands on his chest, pushing him back until he was leaning against the shower wall. "I want you to take me to bed and make love with me."
"It's been a big day – are you sure that's a good idea?"
"It's a great idea," she declared, standing on her tip-toes and pulling his lips down to hers, pressing herself against him.
He chuckled. "What is it about you and showers?" he asked, thinking about their night in the cabin.
"Hmm something about being hot and wet makes me think of you, I guess?" she quipped.
That was his undoing. Unceremoniously turning off the water Dimitri threw a clean towel in Rose's direction, quickly using one himself before lifting her in his arms and carrying her into the spare bedroom kicking the door shut. Placing her on her feet he pulled back the sheets, and she climbed into the bed, grasping his hand and pulling him down onto the mattress beside her.
As soon as he was in bed, she rolled him onto his back, lying on top of him. Securing her with his arms, he used one hand to stroke her lower back and bottom while the other toyed with the dark tresses cascading down her back. Here with his love pressed against him, the desire he felt was overwhelming. But even as they surrendered to one another's heady kisses, there was a warning sounding in the back of his mind.
Rose had nearly chosen to leave her life this morning, and since then she'd met her father, disastrously discovering he'd been a part of her mother's life all this time. She was in an emotionally vulnerable place right now - should he be adding sex to the mix? They hadn't even spoken about 'where to from here.'
"Please, Comrade? I need this," Rose moaned, sensing his hesitation. "I love you, and I need to feel that connection with you again."
He understood because he felt the same way. He'd nearly lost her, and he knew there would be hard times ahead of them, yet. It was selfish, but he wanted to lose himself in her – to feel that ecstasy when they were as close as two people could be. He wanted to hear her breathy moans, knowing he was the man to bring her such pleasure. But more than anything, he wanted to show her his love and reassure her that they were back together as they should be.
Grasping Rose around her waist, Dimitri rolled them onto their sides, his hands relentlessly roaming her body. This would be their second time as lovers, and he was reveling in every new part of her body he found to explore. Right now he was caressing the crease between her bottom and upper thigh; the spot where the soft curves of her ass met the toned perfection of her upper legs.
Rose squirmed under his touch. The sensitive juncture Dimitri was toying with was dangerously close to her core and more than anything that's where she wanted his attentions right now.
"Dimitri..." she whined, his amused gaze confirming her suspicions that he knew how crazy his touch was making her.
"Patience, Roza," he crooned, splaying his hand flat across the base of her spine and pushing her body hard against his – trapping his throbbing length between them and pushing it hard against her lower belly. The move had been intended to drive Rose wild, and it did, but what Dimitri hadn't counted on was the effect it would have on him.
Having her so close, the smell of her arousal surrounding him; it was too much for him to bear. Inaction threatening to completely unhinge him, Dimitri pulled back a little, focusing his shredded attention on her beautiful breasts. Lips firmly clamped on one nipple; he was flicking it with his tongue – teasing it into a taut nub before clamping down softly with his teeth.
"Oh God!" Rose screamed, her chest constricting with pleasurable tension as she snaked her fingers into Dimitri's hair, holding his head at her chest. He switched breasts, giving the twin globe the same treatment as the first. It was too much. Her need was too great. With a shuddering gasp, Rose pushed her Russian God onto his back, straddling and hovering above him.
The sight was magnificent! The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, naked and poised for him to enter her. His brain had discarded all other considerations, focusing on a single, concentrated, relentless train of thought; pleasuring his beautiful woman!
Grabbing his shaft, he ran it along the length of her slit before holding it steady as she slowly sunk onto him. He roared his approval as her hot, wet cleft encased him, nearly undone by the sound of her excited mewling as he filled her for the second time.
"It feels even better than I remember!" Rose gasped in wonder as she experimented moving her hips.
"It does!" Dimitri agreed, dropping his large hands to steady her hips as she flexed against him.
Watching Rose take charge was one of the singular hottest things Dimitri had ever seen. Excitement and instinct took precedence over uncertainty, and for the first time, Dimitri got a glimpse of the demanding, passionate lover his Roza promised to be. Setting a brisk pace, Rose was riding him, leaning backward to support herself on his upper thighs. The angle was excellent, the head of his cock sliding almost the full length of her pussy with every eager thrust.
With lips parted, Rose's sexy moans and gasps were coming hard and fast as she started to lose coordination, bucking frantically against her lover's rock hard cock. Her climax almost upon her, Dimitri used his hands to control her movements, sustaining the brutal pace as she bounced against him. Moving his hands slightly, he brought the pad of his thumb against her clit, giving it much-needed friction as his shaft slipped in and out of her just below.
"Yes yes! Dimitri, yes!" Rose bellowed, her uninhibited cries echoing through the suite and up and down the mercifully empty corridor of guest accommodations. The walls of her pussy were grabbing at Dimitri's cock as she clenched around him, her already tight channel constricting in a libidinous attempt to milk him of his seed.
But it was hearing her shouting his name that pushed him over the edge. Her cries had only just escaped her lips when he reciprocated. "Roza!" he loudly grunted, forcing her hips hard down against his, holding her in place as he pumped his cum inside her, the pulsing of his cock as he unloaded within her mirroring the subsiding squeezes from her own climax.
Flopping spent against his chest, Dimitri quickly encircled her in his sweaty arms. Rose had been right; they'd needed this. They gave each other lazy kisses as they nuzzled contentedly. Looking at the bedside clock, Dimitri noticed their promised hour was nearly up, so he suggested they shower and get cleaned up. Ten minutes later they were freshly showered, and lying back in bed, curled up tightly together.
"What's going to happen tomorrow?" Rose asked, knowing her brief respite from reality was nearly over.
"I thought we'd train, breakfast like normal, then classes, if you're up to it?"
"Ok. But I don't want to see my mother or Abe," she said quickly. "I know I have to, eventually, but not yet and not without you there."
Dimitri sighed. He'd had no idea the level of resentment Rose carried about being abandoned at such a tender age and hearing her parents had kept up their relationship and even vacationed together while neglecting her? Well, he could see why she was so hurt.
"I'll go see them after training tomorrow," he promised. "I'll explain that you need some space. I'd like you to see the counselor, though. You tried to take your life - there are a lot of things you need to work through."
"Alright." Rose had known she'd have to see the counselor, and while wild horses wouldn't drag it from her, it was probably a good idea. "Can you come with me? At least for the first session?"
"If you need me there," Dimitri promised, smoothing Rose's hair as he stroked it, feeling her relax against him as she fell asleep in his arms.