Moving Objects

Chapter 25

"How do I know that you won't burn the whole house down?" he laughed, a cocky look crossing his face. I rolled my eyes and locked my ankles around him, tugging him a little bit closer. "I had to learn how to cook for myself. I can't do a lot, but I can do some."

Dimitri nodded and tucked a loose curl behind my ear, his finger brushing the shell of my ear. He rested his forehead against mine, his hand that moved my curl coming to rest on my neck while his other hand came to my waist, rubbing circles on my neck with his thumb.

"It didn't take long to heal, right? Your neck?" he whispered, his thumb stroking where his fangs had pierced when he was Strigoi. I pressed my hand to his and tilted my head up, brushing my lips against his.

"No, only a few days."

He nodded and heaved a deep breath. I could tell that he was staring there, but I tried to distract him with wit instead.

"C'mon, you know me. I bounce back from almost everything. I mean, remember the bench," I said, laughing at the memory. Dimitri chuckled and nodded his head, dipping his head down to kiss my cheek.

"Yea," he said with a small laugh, "I remember freeing your foot."

I rolled my eyes and laughed, pulling him down to my lips again. He didn't fight me and deepened our kiss, sliding his hand from my waist to my hips and gathering the fabric of my shorts in his hand.

I sighed against his lips in happiness. It felt freeing to have him closer and I felt selfish rejoicing that I finally could have him back.

Our kiss ended naturally, and my eyes fluttered open. I was blessed with his smile, only to be blessed even further. "I love you Roza, so much."

I felt like everything around me stood still. I hadn't heard him say that in so long.

"I love you too."

I wasn't sure who made the first move, but our lips came together again, more firmly than before, and I breathed him in, soaking in the feeling of his hands on my hips and the warmth that radiated off of his body.

"I know I promised I wouldn't come by without calling, but I really need help picking out the setting ideas for Christmas dinner tomorrow and ... oh!"

Dimitri and I pulled away, looking behind to see Lissa standing at the door, her cheeks red and her mouth open. She quickly spun around and cleared her throat.

"Well... I see I've done it again. I will call you later!" Lissa said, her voice pitched before briskly walking to the door and exiting. Dimitri looked back to me and started to laugh at Lissa's exit, making me laugh too. It was like a bit of comedic relief before his gaze set on me again, turning a little hotter.

"I need to go shower before I meet with my sisters," Dimitri said, his thumb tracing over my bottom lip. I looked at him for a moment before his look and tone clicked. I played with the hair at the back of his neck with a smirk.

"I could go for a shower too," I replied. Dimitri smirked and pulled me off the counter and into his arms, striding towards the bathroom.

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Lissa had a smirk plastered on her face as she placed the last of the plates on the table, counting to make sure that there were enough place settings. She invited not only my parents to dinner, but Dimitri's family too, so there were plenty of people. She also made it very clear to Eddie, Jensen, and Huston that they were to eat with us, as well. She didn't see them as just Guardians, she saw them as people she was entrusting with her life. They deserved to have a break, too, and celebrate the holiday.