Unforgiven - Complete

Chapter Eleven

"Tell me what happened, milaya," he said steadily, refusing to listen to the hope in his heart.

"I was unsure if I could forgive you," Rose explained, calming down herself now Dimitri was more composed. "I wanted to, and then I'd remember what happened. Lissa suggested maybe if I went on a date with another guy it would help me decide."

She could feel Dimitri tense within her arms, so she gripped him more tightly before continuing.

"And she was right. Jesse and I doubled with Lissa and Christian last Friday night. He's a friend of Andre's from College and was staying here last weekend. Anyway, as soon as I got there it felt all wrong. The guy is a wanker, but it wouldn't have mattered who it was. It felt wrong because it wasn't you. That's when I knew I wanted to talk to you about what happened. To give us another chance."

"And do you still want to do that?"

"I do," Rose replied, looking up into his eyes.

"Do you think you could love me again, milaya?"

"Comrade – I never stopped."

And then his lips were on hers. Gentle but full of love, his kisses felt like she'd come home. Arms wrapped around one another, they were pulling each other as close as possible; relishing the feeling as weeks of separation and despair gave way to the joy of being together again.

"I love you, Roza," Dimitri murmured against her lips. "I love you so much. I'm never going to hurt you again," he promised.

Even once they could drag their lips from one another's, they stood together, firmly clasped within each other's embrace. It was like they were afraid to let go. They'd finally taken that final step, and each was frightened to relinquish the other in case this feeling of contentment disappeared.

"Did you want to go in and get cleaned up?" Dimitri finally asked. Rose's makeup was everywhere, her shirt ripped and there was a tear up one side of her skirt.

Rose shivered. "I don't want to go back in there. He's there, and I don't want anyone to see me like this. Can we go somewhere and talk?"

Dimitri understood. After what happened that night with Tasha, this house wasn't his favorite place to be, either.

"Let's get out of here," he agreed.

"Can you go up to the room next to Lissa's and grab my phone and wallet?" she asked, as she did her best to put her clothing to rights and they walked around to the front of the house.

"Stay in the shadows in case he comes back out," Dimitri said cautiously, going back inside and taking the stairs two at a time, quickly locating the items Rose had requested and returning to his girl. Together they walked unseen down the driveway, Dimitri's arm carefully wrapped around Rose's waist as she teetered in her super high heels. The party was in full swing, so they were unlikely to be missed.

"My family are at a Church Saints Day function tonight. They'll be out until around midnight. We can go back to my place to talk and come back here later if you want?" Dimitri suggested.

"Thank you, Comrade," Rose sighed happily, cuddling in his arms as they waited on the roadside for their ride. Minutes later they were in the back of the car, Rose leaning her head on Dimitri's shoulder as they drove back into the city and to the apartment block the Belikovs called home.

"Home sweet home," Dimitri said nervously, as they pulled up in an area of town decidedly less well-heeled than where Rose lived. It wasn't a bad area - more an area that was run down and tired. Where people were poor but honest. "I suggest you take those shoes off because we're on the third floor."