NINE
The next morning he stands by the window, watching me carefully. A sense of sadness sits at the pit of my stomach, taunting me as the inevitable goodbye lingers in the air.
"Fuck it," I muttered under my breath, and before I could second-guess myself, I crashed my lips against his. Dimitri responded instantly, his arms wrapping around me as I pressed closer. It was like every barrier between us had dissolved, the intensity of the moment building as if we'd both been holding back for too long.
He remained composed at first, letting the passion between us simmer and grow, but I could feel the restraint beneath his touch. It wasn't until his grip tightened and his breathing became heavier that he pulled back, the struggle for control evident in his eyes.
Dimitri stepped away, giving me the space he clearly needed. I bit my lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. "I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "I shouldn't—"
"It's okay," he interrupted, his voice rough but steady. His fingers brushed against my cheek, and he gave me a soft, almost understanding smile, despite the turmoil in his eyes.
"I have to go home," I said, hating how hollow the words felt. "And when I do… I have to try not to think about you. Especially with Edward around. I can't even text you."
Dimitri remained silent, his eyes searching mine. I could see the weight of the reality we were facing reflected in his expression, and it made my chest tighten.
"You don't even have a phone," I added, trying to sound casual, but my voice cracked. "This… this could be the end of us."
He let out an unnecessary breath, something more reflexive than anything else, and reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I have to return to Aro before he gets suspicious," he said quietly, his tone resigned. "And I'll have to avoid letting him touch me, or he'll know… everything. It's my hope that because of your ability he won't be able to see you through my memories."
My heart sank at his words, and I tried to swallow the ache building in my throat.
Dimitri took another step forward, closing the gap between us again. He leaned down, his gaze holding mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. "Avery," he murmured softly, "I trust myself with you."
The words hung between us, heavy with unspoken meaning. There was something so simple and sincere about the way he said it, like he was choosing to believe in the control he'd spent centuries perfecting. It was a moment that felt monumental, like a decision we were both silently agreeing to.
I nodded slightly, feeling the tension ease, and Dimitri leaned in to kiss me once more. This time, it was slower, more deliberate, as if he was memorising every second. When he pulled back, something shifted between us, and I felt the line we'd been toeing blur even further.
His hand rested on my hip, fingers grazing the bare skin just beneath the hem of my shirt. It was a light touch, but it sent a thrill through me, and I found myself leaning closer without thinking.
We got a little more frisky, the intensity between us building again as his hands explored cautiously, testing my boundaries. Part of me wanted to let go, to see where this could lead, but another part of me couldn't ignore the reality of what he was.
I wasn't a virgin—thanks to a prom night mistake that I didn't exactly regret but didn't hold in high regard either—but this was different. I was standing here with a vampire, and the rational part of me was screaming questions I couldn't ignore. The idiotic part of me wanted him in every single way.
Dimitri must have sensed my hesitation because he stopped, his eyes meeting mine with a silent question. "Are you scared?" he asked softly, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern.
"I—" I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Should I be?"
Dimitri didn't answer right away, his gaze searching mine as if trying to find the right words. "If I ever lost control," he began, his voice quiet, "you would be in so much danger."
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "And… can you promise that you won't?"
His expression softened slightly, and he reached up to cup my face, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. "I would do everything in my power to keep you safe. But I can't promise anything," he said earnestly, and there was something almost vulnerable in the way he said it.
The room felt heavy with unspoken words and the weight of impossible choices. I didn't know what to say, so instead, I just leaned in and kissed him again, trying to hold onto this moment for as long as I could, even if it couldn't last.
I pulled Dimitri back towards the bed, giggling against his lips as I let myself fall backward. He followed my lead, letting me guide him down with me, his weight pressing just enough to make the moment feel more real, more immediate. We were lost in each other, and the rest of the world faded away.
His kisses grew deeper, more insistent, and I moaned into his mouth, the sound spurring him on. His hands roamed, becoming a little more daring, and the mix of thrill and intimacy made my heart race even faster. I could feel the restraint slipping, replaced by something raw and intense between us.
I pulled back just slightly, our foreheads touching as I caught my breath. "Could we… cross that line?" I whispered, the question escaping before I could fully think it through.
Dimitri froze for a moment, his gaze searching mine. He took a slow, deliberate breath. "It would be so incredibly dangerous while you're human," he murmured, the words heavy with unspoken risks. "I could accidentally hurt you… or worse."
I pouted, feeling a mixture of frustration and longing. "But… I kind of want to anyway."
He shook his head, a faint, almost apologetic smile crossing his lips. "Kissing is enough," he said firmly, his voice gentle but resolute.
I pouted again, trying to hide my disappointment. "Oh, but I'm horny," I muttered, a little petulant despite myself.
Dimitri laughed softly, a low chuckle that rumbled through him. "I thought you had a three-date rule, darling," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I shrugged, doing my best to look nonchalant. "I thought you were trying to break rules now," I teased, grinning up at him.
He shook his head, the playful edge in his expression fading slightly as he became more serious. "Not when it risks your life," he replied quietly, his tone firm with finality.
The weight of his words settled between us, and I felt a complicated mix of relief and frustration. Part of me knew he was right—knew that there were boundaries we couldn't cross, not without risking everything. But another part of me couldn't ignore the way he made me feel—the thrill, the danger, the intensity of it all.
"Fine," I sighed dramatically, trying to lighten the mood. "But you owe me for all this self-restraint."
Dimitri chuckled again, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. "I'll consider myself in your debt, then," he replied, the warmth returning to his voice.
And with that, we settled into a quiet, shared understanding, the line between us clearer now but no less charged. For the time we had left, at least, kissing was enough.
Dimitri's chuckle faded, leaving only the sound of our quiet breathing in the room. As we lay there, the weight of what we weren't allowing ourselves hung between us, but somehow, the closeness felt even more meaningful.
He shifted slightly, his hand still resting on my hip, and I found myself instinctively curling closer to him. He reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from my face, his fingers trailing down my cheek with a featherlight touch that sent shivers down my spine.
We were close enough that I could feel the coolness of his breath as he spoke. "Come here," he murmured softly, his voice almost a whisper, coaxing rather than demanding.
I moved closer, my head resting against his shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of his cool chest beneath me. He shifted again, adjusting to wrap an arm around me, drawing me into the curve of his body. It felt strangely natural, like we'd done this a thousand times, and yet the tension humming beneath the surface was electric.
He tilted my chin up with gentle fingers, his eyes darkening as they met mine. There was a moment—a heartbeat of hesitation—as if we were both silently asking for permission to let go, just a little. Then, without another word, Dimitri leaned in, closing the distance between us.
The kiss he gave me wasn't rushed or desperate; it was achingly slow, a deliberate exploration that left me breathless. His lips moved against mine with an almost teasing gentleness, coaxing rather than taking, each movement so precise that it felt like a dance—one that he was leading, but with a softness that let me keep pace.
I felt his fingers trace the line of my jaw, the touch so light it was almost maddening, and I couldn't help but lean into him, my pulse quickening at the way he seemed to savour every second. His lips brushed mine once, then again, lingering just long enough to keep me wanting more, before pulling back just slightly to let the anticipation build. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a promise, and a temptation, all wrapped into one impossibly sweet moment.
The restraint in his touch was tantalising, like he was holding back a storm, letting me glimpse the intensity of what he was capable of without unleashing it fully. I felt my breath hitch, and he paused, as if gauging my reaction, before deepening the kiss with a tenderness that made my heart ache.
Time seemed to stretch, each second passing slowly, and all I could do was lose myself in the feel of his lips, the cool press of his body against mine, and the quiet urgency beneath his restraint. It was a kiss that left me wanting, needing more, but satisfied in a way that was almost intoxicating.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead resting lightly against mine, I felt like the world had shifted on its axis, leaving only the two of us in this quiet, stolen moment. We stayed like that, tangled together, our breaths mingling in the dark, and I couldn't help but smile, feeling an odd sense of contentment despite the chaos swirling in my mind.
"Was that enough?" Dimitri asked softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.
I nodded, the smile lingering on my lips as I tucked myself closer against him. "For now," I replied.
And so, we stayed there, snuggled up and wrapped in each other's presence, letting the rest of the world fade away, until the time came for me to head to the airport.
He paused, looking down at me with an expression that seemed to hold the weight of centuries.
"Goodbye, Avery," he said softly, his voice carrying a gentleness that felt almost surreal.
"Goodbye," I replied, my voice cracking despite my best efforts. But as he leaned in for one last kiss, something inside me rebelled at the finality of it. Without thinking, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, standing on my toes to pull him closer. I pressed my lips to his, pouring all of the emotions I couldn't name into that kiss.
When I pulled back, I let out a shaky breath and whispered, "You're the best kisser on earth."
Dimitri's lips curved into a faint smile. "I've had centuries to learn a thing or two," he replied, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
I ran my fingers through his hair, trying to memorise every detail of his face—the sharp lines softened by the morning light, the intensity in his eyes that never seemed to waver. "How," I murmured, more to myself than to him, "how on earth am I feeling so empty letting go of a man I didn't know a week ago?"
Dimitri studied me for a moment, as if contemplating my words. "Maybe," he said quietly, "our souls recognise one another."
The simplicity of his response, the almost otherworldly conviction in his voice, made my chest tighten. He leaned in for another kiss, this one lingering with the weight of everything left unsaid. When he finally pulled away and turned to leave, the finality of it all hit me like a tidal wave.
On an impulse, I reached out and cheekily smacked his ass, feeling a spark of mischief despite the sadness hanging over us. Dimitri turned back, one eyebrow raised in surprise. "Something you'd like to share?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
I smirked, trying to mask the emotions threatening to spill over. "I couldn't let you go without copping a feel," I said playfully. "I've been admiring your ass since that night at the hospital."
Dimitri grinned, a rare and genuine smile that made something flutter in my chest. "The feeling is very mutual, my dear," he replied, his voice dripping with amusement.
I laughed, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all. "You've come so far with modern dating and vampirism," I teased, feeling a bittersweet mix of pride and sadness.
He shrugged, the gesture almost casual. "I'm still team Damon, though," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
I gasped in mock horror and gave him a playful shove, which only made me stumble forward into his arms. He steadied me, and before I could say anything else, he kissed me once more—a kiss that felt like both a promise and a farewell.
"I really have to go," he murmured against my lips, his voice tinged with regret.
I nodded, knowing that prolonging the moment wouldn't make it any easier. Neither of us knew if we'd ever see each other again, and that uncertainty hung heavy in the air between us.
Dimitri turned and walked away, disappearing out the window as effortlessly as he'd arrived. I stood there, staring at the empty space where he'd been, trying to hold onto the memory of him for as long as I could.
Once he was gone, I sank down onto the bed and let the tears I'd been holding back finally fall. It felt foolish to cry over someone I'd known for such a short time, but the reality of our circumstances—of who he was and who I was—made it impossible to ignore the loss of what could have been.
And so, I sat there for a while, mourning the end of something that had barely begun, feeling the emptiness left behind by the most real spark I'd ever felt.
