(lotsa) Business first!

This is a fixed version – I went back, read, & found errors, but (in my defense) I was writing this at 1 am under compulsion from my muse!

Thanks to all of you who have stuck through my frequent hiatuses. I do sincerely apologize, but I would rather write nothing at all than write something hastily thrown together without thought & care put into it. Luckily my muse has returned (thank you Twilight angst) and since I am on break from school, I am really going to try to get this story told! Thanks also to my wonderful reviewers. I always appreciate the encouragement. Finally, thanks to all those alerting or "fav"ing my story. I infer from your actions that you are enjoying what I have done so far and I hope I continue to intrigue & entertain you. (At a much faster rate, if possible!!!)

I have fixed some errors I noted while rereading previous chapters. Thank you to those who pointed them out to me.

Just an FYI . . . smut ensues in this chapter, so if you don't like it (which I can't imagine if you read Christine Feehan!) or you are too young to read it, exit now!!!

Just a reminder (in case anyone forgets) I don't own the 'verse, I just like playing here!!!

And now, on with the show!

Dawn was swiftly approaching. Dimitri moved quickly to check that all of the wolf pairs were safely denned with their pups. His world was bleaker now than it had ever been; his loneliness more desolate. Each day his ache grew deeper, stronger. Skylar would be returning to Europe on the next rising. Though her memories of the past would never fade, she had made her peace with them. She was stronger now than when he had left her in the Carpathian Mountains. As the traumas that had bound her heart and soul had been discarded her mage power had grown. Her touch in his mind was no longer a tentative brush; now it was more like a flood that swept through him. In those moments when they connected he could almost feel her beside him. It caused both intense pain and intense pleasure. Having her so geographically close was going to be torture. He felt her touching his mind; her words echoing clearly in his brain.

Dimitri, are you alright?

I am fine my love, just thinking of you; of how soon you will be so close, yet still so far from me.

So that is why you are so conflicted. Why do you endure your torment alone? Though I know I am both cause and solution, why do you not reach out to me? At the very least, you should call for the healer. Why do you not call to any of your people?

It has been long since I have called to anyone or been called to.

Ahem?

Besides you, of course; but speaking with you is different. We are one person, two halves of one whole. He felt her husky laugh whisper along the edges of her mind and his pain eased a little. As he entered his house, he thought to elude the questions he knew were coming. A number of excuses were available to him, but they all seemed superfluous. He sighed mentally as she asked the question he dreaded.

What happened to you Dimitri? Why did you leave your homeland and your people?

What does it matter now? It is over Skylar; it happened centuries ago.

How can you say that Dimitri, when it still rules your life? You know everything about me, every painful detail past and present, yet you continue to shut me out of yourself. How can we be equal partners if you constantly shield yourself from me?

It really does not matter.

It matters to me. She settled back in her bed & closed her eyes. Her voice sounded strong and commanding in his head. Tell me a bedtime story Dimitri.

With a sigh he continued, his voice resonating so clearly in her head it was as if he were beside her, whispering in her ear.

When I was a youth, I thought that the world was my playground. Though I was slightly older, I played often with Jacques and Byron. When I had lived 140 years, it was as if our world had gone mad! Our Prince and his lifemate were dead and Mikhail had taken up the reins with the help of the older Daratrazanoff brothers. Jacques, Byron, and I could feel the unease in the air. One day a few months after Prince Vlad was killed; I came home to find my father bent over my mother wailing as if in pain. At first I could not understand what had happened; and then he turned towards me and I saw my father's face. Her blood dripped from his mouth and covered his clothing. His eyes were gleaming red. I do not know what happened, but my father had turned vampire and killed my mother. In that moment, I knew that he would kill me too. To this day I do not know what happened next. I should have died at my father's hand; instead he died at mine. After that, I knew that I had to leave. I came to Russia and I lived with the wolves. I had very little contact with Carpathians until I was called to you at Christmas.

Didn't it hurt you, to be alone so young?

Skylar, I did what was necessary. There was no other option for me. Though he did not want to, Dimitri opened his whole mind to her and allowed her to see and feel everything that he had held inside for centuries.

Skylar felt the tears on her cheeks as the reason for his loneliness, pain, and regrets became clear to her at last. The hurt she felt in him was more than she could have imagined. Skylar longed in that moment to touch him, to hold him, to allow him to share the burden with her.

You should not cry for me lubyof maya.

Skylar inhaled a deep, calming breath and breathed in the scent of . . . him! Her eyes opened wide in shock and sure enough, there he stood, tall and intimidating, not 100 yards from her. At first she could do nothing but stand and drink in the welcome sight of him as her heart beat off-kilter in her chest.

How are you here?

I cannot answer your question little one, I did not bring us to this place. You did.

Are you mad? I couldn't have brought us here!

But you did, my love. I have no ability to bridge minds. What you have done is an unusual thing. It takes a great deal of magic to bring two people together from across continents.

For the first time Skylar looked around her and discovered that she was no longer in her room. They were standing about a foot apart in the middle of a clearing. The grass beneath her feet was soft and warm. She felt paralyzed, though she longed to run to him. Suddenly she knew why they were here and the knowledge liberated her. She walked towards him until she stood directly in front of him. He looked wonderful; his piercing blue eyes held her captive.

Dimitri, I have to ask you for something; a favor. I want . . . what I mean is that I . . . I have worked very hard to heal and I want to know, you know; if it worked, I mean.

I think what you are asking me is if I will touch you, here in this dream-world.

Well, if you would rather wait until . . .

"Lubyof maya" he said in a low voice that accentuated his unsteady breathing "there is nothing I want more than to touch you." As he ran his hands tentatively over her cheeks and threaded his fingers through her hair, Skylar allowed her eyes to fall shut and her body to soak up the sensation of his feather-light kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, her eyelids.

Dimitri could hardly believe that she had brought them together in this place outside of space and time. Had it not been for the sensuous feel of her hair slipping between his fingers, he might have convinced himself that he was truly dreaming. The bright colors assaulted his eyes as he painstakingly tried to memorize each one of her beautiful features. He leaned down to gently kiss her face, keeping his lips feather-light against her skin. As he pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth he felt her lips part and her hands slid up his chest. He felt their hearts beat synchronously as he claimed her mouth.

Skylar felt as if she was drowning. The kiss was everything she remembered from the year before. She felt Dimitri's large hands cupping the back of her head, holding her in place while his thumbs feathered along her cheekbones. Skylar ran her hand over his rock hard chest and gripped the front of his shirt in a desperate attempt to keep a grip on reality. When he broke the kiss her mind protested, but he tipped her head to the side and continued his assault in her neck. With what seemed to Skylar infinite patience, Dimitri explored her neck, seeking out every sensitive curve and hollow. Skylar felt her body begin to burn as his hands left her face to caress up and down her arms, his thumbs reaching out to tantalizingly caress the sides of her breasts with each pass. The slight trembling in his hands was the only indication of the tenuous hold he had on his control.

Just when she thought she would go mad from the torturous pace he had set, his hand came around to caress her breast through the fabric of her simple white cotton shirt. She nearly screamed as his palm passed over her already engorged nipples, but his mouth was there to catch her moan. Skylar felt his control slipping as she gave herself over to him, mind, body, and soul. He ripped her shirt over her head and bent her over backwards as he ravaged her sensitive breasts. This time Skylar did scream; the feelings of nearly unbearable pleasure coursing through her veins. Never had she felt such intense sexual pleasure. His mouth was relentless. She felt the heat coiling low in her abdomen; intensifying until she felt it washing though her whole body in an incredible release.

Feeling her body become limp, Dimitri lowered her down to the soft grass. After gently kissing her supple lips, Dimitri took up the assault again, determined to drive her to new heights; determined that every second they were apart she would remember him and be sure and confident in her own sexuality the day she came to him at last. As the thought of her in his home came into his thoughts he smiled against her skin. He kissed her fiercely and he ran one hand up and down her exquisite body. His other hand played gently with her hair. When he felt her breathing increase once again, he lifted his mouth from hers and began to kiss and caress his way down her body. Once again her worshiped the beauty of her breasts before moving on down to the gentle dips and curves of her abdomen. Her reaction to his touch along her hipbones fascinated him. Never in all his centuries had he imagined himself worth of such a treasure.

Skylar felt his gentle tug on her pajama bottoms. She knew that the moment had come. It both terrified and fascinated her. It had been amazing for her to feel the first orgasm roll gently though her body. Placing her complete trust in Dimitri, she lifted her hips and allowed him to guide that final barrier away from her body. The gentle whisper of the fabric against her skin had her pulse racing again.

Skylar had thought that once he had her unclothed he would simply pounce; she was surprised when she felt his hand gently caressing her feet and calves. His mouth soon joined them as he worked his way slowly and deliberately up her legs. Skylar shivered as he lightly but the skin on the inside of her left knee, then gently soothed it with his tongue. His pace was torturous. His hands ran lightly up her inner thighs and she nearly groaned with disappointment as he bypassed her throbbing center to caress her stomach. But in that instant she felt his cool breath over her. She nearly came apart with the first deliberate stroke of his tongue. No one had ever touched her like this. The heat built furiously inside of her as his tongue explored her; laving, stabbing sucking. Skylar was nearly sobbing when his hands returned to her warmth and began to caress her. She felt the swirling heat as he thrust his fingers into her wet heat. The pressure was too much; Skylar's back bowed as she let out a long, keening scream. Dimitri continued to stroke his fingers within her and lave her clit, prolonging her orgasm as few more precious seconds. As she came back down, Skylar felt Dimitri wrap her gently in his arms as he continues to stroke his hands soothingly up and down her back, his face buried in her hair.

Lubyof maya, you must send us back now, the dawn approaches.

Skylar pulled back to study his strained features.

"But," she began, unsure of how to phrase the question. "You, I mean, I, that is to say, must we separate so soon?"

"Yes, I can feel my body drawing me back; but I cannot go unless you release us."

"Then we must go." She looked around quickly, unsure of where her clothing might have been discarded. Dimitri brought her shirt and gently helped her to dress, his caress light against her sensitive skin. Skylar's cheeks tinged with color and she averted her gaze as she voiced the question she could not keep inside. "I'm sorry. You were not, um, satisfied."

Dimitri let his hand caress her cheek before lifting her chin so that he could look into her beautiful blue eyes. He did not like the uncertainty he saw there, nor the insecurity he felt in her heart. Everything he had done was for her. Lubyof maya, my heart, I am most satisfied. I have heard you screams of ecstasy and felt you tremble against my mouth.

But you did not . . .

When I take your body for the first time, my angel, it will be in the real world, not a dream. You and I will have no less than absolute perfection.

Skylar felt the laughter well up inside her at that arrogant statement. Only Dimitri would say something so audacious at such a moment!

"How do I release us then?"

"The same way that you brought us together."

"Well, that's helpful since I have no idea how I did that; and my brain wasn't even befuddled at the time." Dimitri let out a shout of laughter at that statement,

"Well, my little befuddled love, why don't you try closing your eyes and imagining us apart; you in your bed and me in the foyer of my house." Skylar closed her eyes and did as he suggested, but nothing happened.

"You must hurry Skylar, I can feel myself weakening with the sunrise. I need to return and close myself in the soil."

With everything she had inside her Skylar grabbed hold of Dimitri and kissed him. She poured her heart and soul into the kiss, all the while focusing on the need for each of them to return to reality. She felt his lips become a phantom touch and with regret she opened her eyes to her lonely bedroom. Immediately her mind reached out for him and felt him meet her halfway.

All is well, my love. I am here and I am going to ground now. Sleep and dream of me.

Goodnight, mi amor. Her last words were whispered, but she felt him smile as their connection faded. Skylar lay down and dreamed sweetly, just as Dimitri had commanded.