Chapter Two (part 11)

Echo heard Dymetri walk into his father's office and close the door behind him. Her hearing, however, could not reach farther than the door. She was too exausted to strain herself that much. In fact, she was tired enough, that once the elvin prince was out of hearing range, she drifted into a light doze.

It felt only like seconds later that her door was opening quietly and Dymetri's carefully quiet footsteps crossed over to her bed. Echo kept her eyes closed, not having enough energy to perform the simple task of looking up at him.

Soft fingertips brushed the side of Echo's cheek and down her jaw line. In an automatic reaction to his touch, the woman nuzzled the side of her face into the palm of his hand; cat like. She heard his soft chuckle and her eyelids fluttered and flew open.

His voice was light and soft. "Sorry I woke you. You're just so cute when you sleep." Affection filled his tone as he smiled.

She smiled back at him and patted the bed next to her. "Stay." She whispered. Dymetri pulled back the soft satin sheets that had been put on the bed that morining, the same shade as the bedframe; a dark cherry oak.

He laid on his side to look into Echo's face. He could see the exaustion behind the well masked orbs of baby blue. Echo gazed back into Dymetri's eyes, seeing the stars in the gold that were just for her.

Suddenly, her lack of energy gone, Echo's face fell into a sullen expression. "So what did your father and you talk about?"

He was expecting this question, but not so soon. His eyes darkened. "It's nothing. I'm handling it."

The girl put her warm hand under his chin, pulling his face closer to hers. Her breath was hot and had a floral smell that he could almost taste as it touched his lips. "I'd like to know. And you can't always do things on your own. I should know." Her tone had a shadow to match the dangerous fury hidden in her eyes.

His tone turned light and teasing as the sparkle came back, but the smile he gave didnt reach his eyes. "Yes. You should know. But I have the power to handle my problems with ease. All you had was a set of little claws and tiny teeth." He held one of her hands nearly by the finger tips as his thumb traced her full, pink lips.

"Ohh. Little and tiny are they? Did you get a close enough look, my Prince?" Concentrating closely, the canines in her mouth lenthened to more than double in lengh as she smiled wickedly at him. Shock flitted across his still teasing features for a second before amusement took hold.

"Absolutly tiny." He mocked.

"Your just lucky I dont bite....hard." Her smile widened as her teeth slowly shrank to their normal size.

"And I can just as easily bite back."

"Your teeth might leave a dent in skin. I can decapitate someone's head with a single bite." Her eyes flashed.

"Would you like to test that?" Dymetri smiled in challenge.

She sighed, faking a dramatic display of thoughtful thinking. "But I can think of something so much better to do."

"And what would that be." But he already had a plan of his own.

"Maybe I'll just let your imagination wonde--" She was cut off. Dymetri pressed his lips gently to hers to shut her up.

She kissed back and he pulled her closer. His tongue traced her bottom lip asking for entrance. She gave in with a happy sigh while her fingers intertwined in his soft, dark hair. He deepened the kiss and Echo pressed herself even closer.

She was losing herself in shadows of fire as the kiss grew yet more passionate. Her fingers fumbled on the buttons of his silk shirt, lips still moving with his. He was sliding up her nightgown, a warm hand pausing on her thy.

The woman lost herself completely in her instincts like she so often did when she transformed into a cat form. But this time was different and the world was blocked by black. The only thing in sight was two gold orbs that sparkled with every star in the sky. When she could breathe, she whispered his name.

"Dymetri....I dont....Im...I.....Im still...."

He chuckled as she stuttered, his lips following her jawline and reaching down her neck. "I know." He found her weak spot.

Blackout!