Bound For Eternity

Part 1

I grinned triumphantly down at Dimitri. His cheeks were flushed, and he was out of breath, his hair sticking to his temples.

"Who's the big man?" I taunted with a grin.

"I am, you just got lucky," Dimitri breathed, lifting his hips up to knock me over. We grappled as we rolled, each of us fighting for control. It took a few moments before I retained the upper hand, my legs wrapped around his neck as I lay on my back. Dimitri grunted and tried to pry my legs from his neck, but I flexed them tighter.

"Say it," I sang.

"You're the big man," Dimitri grunted, and I let him go, his head resting against my calf after he collapsed.

"You fought dirty," Dimitri panted, turning his head to look at me.

"I sacked the first Strigoi I ever fought; I have to fight dirty. I'm upping the ante," I said with a shrug. Dimitri barked a laugh and rolled so his face was right in front of mine, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. We were both out of breath, our breath washing over each other's faces.

"Yes, and if you followed Dhampir traditions, your neck would have seven molinja marks instead of one," Dimitri said as he pushed himself to his feet. I grinned up at him and took his hand as I pulled myself up.

"Yeah. I've thought about it, but I don't want to dodge the questions all the time," I said as we walked to the bench that we had set our things on. I picked up my water bottle and took a long drink, gasping for breath when I pulled the bottle away.

"That is also true," Dimitri chuckled as he took a drink, "But I think it'd look hot."

I smirked at him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "You think I look hot with ink?"

Dimitri grinned and gripped my hips gently. "I think you look hot, period."

I hummed with a smile and kissed his jaw and pulled away, tucking my bottle into my bag. I picked up my engagement ring off the wood and slid it onto my finger, smiling at Dimitri as I did so.

"Then you're going to die when you see me in my dress," I snickered as I lifted my bag.

"Oh I'll just about keel over," Dimitri said dramatically as we headed for the stairs, swatting my ass as I climbed in front of him.

I just graduated from my program a few months ago with honours. I was a little surprised that I did that well, considering I hated high school, but I really loved university. Dimitri proposed during my third year, surprising me when we went to Russia to visit his family. We wanted to wait until after I graduated to get married. We only had three months to go until the big day.

I glanced over my shoulder at him when we reached the top of the stairs, pressing my finger playfully against his nose.

"Good workout?" Ivan asked with a grin.

"Great workout, put the man on his ass," I grinned as I swiped an apple off the counter.

"That was because you wrapped your legs around my head. What exactly am I supposed to do?" Dimitri grumbled, pinching my ass. I shrieked and turned, smacking his chest.

Ivan laughed at our antics and shook his head. "Well, can I borrow the not-so 'big man' for a few minutes?"

I nodded and took another bite from my apple as Dimitri kissed my cheek. I walked towards Alberta's office and plopped down in the plushy chair, my legs dangling over the arm.

Alberta glanced up at me as she graded papers, a grimace on her face.

"You stink," she said dryly.

I took another bite of my apple and mumbled at her. "So? It's not the worst thing you've smelled."