"Rose!" A distant voice called. I stopped my trek to the dorms and turned around to see Dimitri jogging towards me from the field.

"Hey, Rose." He greeted when he reached me, placing a warm hand on my shoulder.I relished every touch his large hands could provide. Before my mind wandered, Dimitri asked me a question. A little too wrapped up in my own musings, I requested a repeat.

"W-where are you going for break?" He stuttered out. He was blushing, honest to God rosy cheeked, and looking down at his feet. I was very amused, and he had peaked my interest with his uncharacteristic bashfulness.

"Lissa invited me to go with her and Christian to Tasha's place," I winced out her name. Tasha had basically tried to steal Dimitri from me, and I didn't like her for it. It made me feel guilty, reminding me of all the things I could never give to my boyfriends, like stability, or babies. Things she could give him.

"Oh," He once again interrupted my thoughts.

"Jeez, just spit it out, Comrade."

"Welliwaswonderingifyoudliketogotorussawithmeandmeetmyfamily," He spewed within a single breath. I followed every single word, stunned into silence by the wonderful, honest request coming from the man I loved.

"I mean, of course you'd rather spend it with Lissa, rather than in that cold wasteland as you like to call it. I spoke to Kirova and told her it would be similar to a training exercise, with which she has no problem with. I thought I'd give you the option." He was rambling, and I found the unnecessary insecurity completely adorable.

Before he could even register the action, I pulled him behind a tree and tiptoed to meet his lips. I couldn't reach, though, not without him bending and meeting me, so I stood there awkwardly while he stared. And stared.

"You gonna kiss me now or what, Cowboy."

He leaned down slowly, his dark brown eyes alight with an undeserved adoration as he continued to stare at me. Our lips met briefly at first, until the fire that burned under my skin consumed us. Our mouths moved together in desperate love, my fingers winding through that silky brown hair and pulling out the ponytail. His large hands traveled down my waist, until he halted abruptly.

"Was that a yes?" He questioned uncertainly. I pulled him back down to me in response, kissing for a few more minutes until I pulled away.

"Does that answer your question?" I replied cheekily. His face lit up, though, a beautiful smile that spread until I was grinning back up at him.

He quickly lifted me into his arms and swung me around, ignorant now of the possible onlookers we may have around the campus. Even hidden behind brush and tree, we might have been spied upon. As I glanced around, I saw not a soul in sight, and sighed in relief into Dimitri's broad chest.

I snugged in and allowed myself to doze in his strong arms, aware that he would hold me forever if he could. I was rocked by gentle movements, lulled by the sway of Dimitri's gait and the sounds of the forest that surrounded us.

I consciously remember the opening of a door, and being set down on cold sheets. They were soon warmed, though, by the fire lit and the body that slipped in beside me and held me close.

I barely heard before I completely sank into sleep a soft, reverent, "Thank you, Roza."

I felt the bed jostle and I turned over, trying to slip back into unconsciousness. As I realized I would not achieve such a feat, much to my chagrin, I slowly opened my eyes to the most beautiful sight.

Dimitri gazed down at me, a gentle smile on his face. "Good morning," He greeted. My eyes widened, it couldn't be.

"Is it really morning?" I panicked. Lissa would be expecting me sooner or later if it was past 7 pm. Dimitri shook his head, though, and I relaxed.

"It's only 5," He commented, gazing down at me mischievously. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Ugh, boys, you only ever have one thing on your minds," I complained lightly, tossing a pillow at him and rolling over in mock protest.

"I've experienced heaven with you once already, you really expect me to forget so soon?"

"It's been a day, Dimitri, I'm sure you've abstained longer than that."

He climbed onto the bed, then on top of me, spreading my legs wide enough for him to kneel between, our epicenters almost in perfect alignment. He brought his face down to mine and skimmed his nose across my neck.

"And I know you've abstained longer. You are all mine, Roza," He began sucking at the tender skin under my chin. I moaned in rapt agreement, my skin suddenly scorching hot, burning eith desire. His mouth moved upwards and met mine in a harmonious affair, all warm and love and passion.

My hips bucked up reflexively, meeting his hardness quickly. I had only ever felt it once, and simultaneously moaned and blushed in pleasure.

When his hips ground down to meet mine again, I stopped, wincing in pain. My grimace must have been obvious, because Dimitri stopped and pulled back to look at me more clearly.

"What's wrong, Roza?" I lowered my eyes, ashamed and so self aware I felt a new burning in my chest, one that made me want to just disappear right then and there.

His fingers gently tilted my chin upwards, so our eyes were eyelevel as he asked again.

"Please, Roza," he begged, "tell me." My eyes wouldn't meet his, my face once again downturned when I replied.

"It's just, I'm a little sore from last time." I shifted uncomfortably in his arms, staring all around the room, anywhere but at him. He tipped my face up again, but I kept my eyes down.

"Please look at me, Roza," He was begging again, I had to meet his gaze. My blushed deepened even more when I saw his soft, understanding brown eyes.

"Roza, don't be embarrassed. Your body went through an enormous change. It's only to be expected." I cracked a weak grin.

"You really think highly of yourself. Enormous, huh?" I retorted halfassedly, touched by his warmth and honesty and adoration. He grinned and met my lips again. I knew he resigned not to anything more than kissing. I was a little upset with that.

"I'm sorry," I said weakly from between kisses.

"Don't be. You're always enough for me."

We continued our exploration of the other's mouth, our hands trailing down eachothers body, wrapped between the warm sheets with the promise of a new day pregnant in the air.

A cough erupted from the other end of the room, purposeful and rude. My heart began pounding, the adrenaline already pumping through my body as I gazed around Dimitri to acknowledge the intruder.

Standing at the doorway, clutching a duffel bag in one hand, the other unwrapping a scarf, stood the raven haired beauty I despised and admired so much.

Tasha.