Primal Desires

Chapter 32

Dimitri's POV - 1 month later.

"I want to do something this weekend."

Rose stood directly in front of me, hands on her hips as she looked down to where I sat sprawled across the sofa reading a western. I drew my attention away from the book and looked up at her, eyebrow cocked in curiosity.

"Like a date," she added. "Out."

I set my book down and sat up, taking one of her hands and pulling her to join me on the sofa. She instinctively nestled into my arm, resting her head on my shoulder as I twirled a lose strand of her hair around my finger.

"Really, Roza? Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course I am."

It had been nearly 3 months since Rose had returned home and although everything had returned to normality between us, we had yet to go out just the two of us and do anything remotely similar to a date. Rose had eventually returned as Vasilisa's guardian, and when I wasn't guarding Christian, my time was dedicated to tracking down him. A feat which was consistently proving difficult...

There hadn't been time for Roza and I to go out and just... be.

"I just wasn't sure you would want to," I told her, "I know you still get uncomfortable sometimes."

"Dimitri it's been months," she sighed. "I'm fine now. I've gone back to work, I can be around other people, I've moved on."

"And you still get frustrated when people stare at you or whisper."

Rose had been so angry after her first day back as Vasilisa's Guardian. The rant spilled from her lips as soon as she set one foot through the door that evening. Vasilisa had had meetings all day with various people, and Rose was angry that no matter what Vasilisa was saying or doing, all eyes had been on her the whole day. She said she could practically hear what they were thinking... questioning... speculating...

Where had she been?

Why wasn't she here?

She probably got sick of Belikov and ran off to be a Bloodwhore...

Maybe she was pregnant and disappeared to get rid of it before anyone found out...

Why didn't she do her duty and stay here for our Queen?

Why...

Where...

Maybe...

I bet...

"People have been staring at me my whole life," she huffed. "It gets to me sometimes, yes, but I'm sick of being cooped up in here. I love you and I want to spend some time with you where we're not just in the apartment or working or... searching for - you know."

"Okay, Roza," I agreed, steering the conversation away from darker territory. "Where would you like to go?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Somewhere with pizza?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. It was such a typical 'Rose' response.

"Of course," I laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

Rose turned her head and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. "Thank you, Comrade," she said with a grin before pushing herself up from the sofa. I watched as she walked away, just briefly catching her smile faltering when she thought I couldn't see her.

Rose was happy, she would tell me. But I knew that it was an act. A mask. Around people she would be the perfect picture of happiness, bravery, resilience... but when she thought she was alone, that facade would fade.