Captive Of My Heart - Chapter Thirty Seven

After Dimitri gets me back to our room, he tries to calm me down. Ella's threats have me all tore up. Dimitri tries really hard to convince me to relax that I'm safe in his room with him. I head to the bathroom and take a nice long hot shower, which helps calm my nerves. To lighten the mood, I step out wearing just my underwear and bra. Dimitri's eyes shoot up and start from my feet and work their way up to meet my eyes. "Like what you see?" I smirk at him as I lick my lips.

It only takes him a second to have me in his arms and down on the floor. He's kissing me hard as his hands move up and down my body. Yes, finally, I got his attention. I knew it wouldn't be long before his will power broke.

"I'm sorry," Jen says as she turns toward the door. I never even heard her come in. Not again, I think to myself as I feel myself blush.

Dimitri releases me and pulls me up from the floor as he gets up. "Jen, this better be good for interrupting me," Dimitri says in a stern voice.

"I'll go get dressed," I say in a whisper as I leave them in the room.

I get dressed really quick and head back into the room. "Luke found a strange man snooping around the grounds. Luke says he knows the guy. He put him in the interrogation room downstairs. Luke wanted you to know about him before the Ella, and the others found out about him being here," she explains to Dimitri. "Why would Luke come to me?" he asks Jen. "He mentioned the name Chris," she replies.

I walk back into the room, and their conversation comes to a halt. I glare at them and see that Dimitri is hiding something from me. What it is I can't be sure of.

"If you have something planned, you better think of it fast," Jen says.

"Dimitri, what's wrong?" I ask.

Dimitri walks over and runs his hand through his hair. He only does that when he's nervous about something or trying to hide something from me. "Please tell me," I ask him.

"I have to go and take care of some things. Stay here with Jen, I'll be back soon," he says.

"No, don't leave me alone, take me with you. You said you wouldn't leave me alone, you promised," I beg.

"Fine, but stay quiet and follow me. Let me handle this," he says as Jen, and I follow him down the hall.

I follow Dimitri into a room that takes me off guard. It looks like a torture room that they seem to use very often. I see blood splatters with what looks like a torture table. A stand-alone chair sits in the middle stained with past victim's blood. As my eyes follow Dimitri, I see a man that I recognize immediately chained to the wall. "Chris," I choke out. My heart is in my throat as fear grips me. Why is he here? What plans do they have for him? My mind is running wild with all kinds of questions as I try to stay focused on the situation. I move toward Chris, but Dimitri shoots me a look of I wouldn't do that. I freeze in my spot.

Dimitri stoops down in front of Chris. Chris looks scared to death. I want to run over and comfort him, but I know Dimitri would get mad. "You should have stayed where I left you, but no.... you had to follow. Now you have left me no choice but to kill you," Dimitri sighs. "It's you, I thought you were dead! Where is Emily," Chris says.

Without hesitation, I pull at Dimitri, who darts around in almost a defensive move. My eyes grow wide as I drop to my knees in front of him.

"Please don't! He's the reason I'm here. He saved me, remember?  He took care of me. If you were to ever do anything for me, please do this. No one has to know that you set him free. I can't handle any more deaths. It will destroy my soul," I plead with Dimitri. "Emily!" Chris chokes out. Dimitri looks back at Chris with a cold stare. "Be quiet," he hisses through clenched teeth.

He turns back around, facing me. He sighs, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. "Emily, you still love him, don't you?" he asks. I don't want to tell him that I still love him, knowing this will break his heart. "Yes," I whisper. I can see the pain in Dimitri's eyes as he turns away from me. I know I have hurt him, but I can not lie to him. Dimitri walks over to Chris. 

"Say goodbye, I will be back in a few moments," he says as he leaves Chris and me alone.

I crawl over to him. "Who did this to you?" I ask as I take in his bloody face. "I'm not sure, I didn't get to see him," he replies. "I'm sorry, for everything," I whisper. "Emily, it's alright. I'm just glad to hear your voice, are you ok? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Chris asks. "I'm ok," I tell him.

I lean in and place a kiss on his temple. "I love you, I will not deny it. I will do anything to keep you safe," I say. "Emily, you can't put your life before mine. I'm supposed to protect you with my life. Do not put your life in jeopardy for mine," he tells me. "If I can save your life like you have saved mine, then this is what I will do," I say. He starts to protest, I place a finger over his lips.

"Live, be happy. Dimitri will keep me safe. I do love him. I know it's my destiny to be with him. I can only do this if you will do as I ask," I whisper only a few inches from his lips.

"Emily.......," he says as I cut him off with a kiss. I kiss his sculptured lips, putting every feeling I have and ever will have for Chris into it. I feel the tears start to run down my cheeks as I run my fingers through his hair. His lovely face that will only be a distant memory in my mind after this moment.  

I hear the door and leap up off of Chris as Dimitri enters. Chris sits silently in the chair, not moving at all this time. I watch as Dimitri walks over to Chris. I hold my breath as I watch him reach over, taking off Chris's blindfold. "Don't try anything, I don't want to hurt you," Dimitri tells Chris as he unties his hands.

Dimitri then reaches down to unclasp Chris's hands. Chris stands up cautiously, looking around the room at me and then to Jen. Dimitri walks around to face Chris. Chris's eyes grow wide when he focuses on Dimitri. I can see him shake his head as if he can't believe his eyes.

"Why are you doing this to Emily and me?" Chris asks Dimitri. Dimitri pauses and then looks at Chris. "You know that I love her more than anyone else. I never left her, I was taken from her by the Nightwalkers. It was not my fault that they killed everyone and turned me. Not a day went by that I didn't think about her and what she was doing. I spent over a year trying to find her. You know I'm nothing without her. I can protect her in a way that you can't" Dimitri tells Chris who looks angry. "You couldn't protect her, I was the one that protected her," Chris says with a bit of anger in his voice. I watch as Dimitri looks shocked then turns a little angry. "I can because I'm bonded to her as a Nightwalker. Other Nightwalkers can not kill bonded people, it's a rule that all Nightwalkers follow no matter how much they hate it," Dimitri explains to Chris, who still looks shocked. 

"Emily has asked me to let you go, but in return, I have something to ask of you. I need you to take Jen with you when I get you out of here. You need to take her as far away from here as you can. Protect her with your life. She deserves to be free of this world that she has been living," he tells Chris, who looks almost sick."So let me get this straight! You want me to walk away while you keep Emily here hostage against her will and take a strange girl with me to protect," he says with horror.

"Jen has been my bond since I was turned. I have protected her all this time. It's kinda complicated with Emily and me," Dimitri pauses. "Complicated doesn't even touch it," Chris says. "Trust me, I will protect her. They will not be able to kill her because she is now bonded to me. I love her, you know that. Even if I have become a Nightwalker, it has not changed anything on how I feel for her," Dimitri says. "I love her too, we were together because we grew closer after we both watched you die. I can't turn those feelings off, and I can't just hand her over to you just because you say you can protect her. I protected her while when you were not there. I was the one she depended on, not you," Chris says as he bucks up to Dimitri. "I know you love her, and I know she loves you, but the love that Emily and I have for each other goes deeper," Dimitri says. "I'm not handing her over to you," Chris says. 

 It's unnerving to hear them talk about me like an object. I stay still and quiet. Letting them plead their cases to each other. "Then we shall let Emily decide who she wants to be with," Dimitri says as he turns in my direction. 

Dimitri walks over to me, placing a hand on my cheek. "Listen to me carefully. If you love Chris and want to be with him then I will allow it even though it will rip my heart out, I will do this because I love you more than anything on this earth. I will let you decide who you want to be with," Dimitri tells me as his face grows sad. My heart is pounding in my chest as I take in his words. I know who I want to be with, and I know I will be breaking someone's heart. I turn to Chris, who looks devastated, he must know what I'm about to say. "You don't have to say it, I already know, I know I could never replace him in your heart. I know you love me, but you don't love me like you love him. It's ok, I understand," Chris tells me as he chokes back his tears. "I'm sorry," I say to Chris in a whisper. 

Jen walks over to Dimitri. "They don't know he's here. Whatever you have planned, you better do it quickly," Jen tells Dimitri.

 "I'm going to send you with Chris when I sneak the both of you out of here. 

"But they will find us, they will kill us to get back at you," she says with horror. "They want her, not you. Chris will keep you safe. I will send you and Chris where they will not be able to find you. You will no longer suffer at the hands of Nightwalkers again. You deserve to be happy," he says. "How can I truly be free?" she asks. "Chris has trained with me at the academy and can keep you safe. He served with me as royal guardians. He can keep you safe. I owe you and Chris this much," he says. I'm stunned. What does he have planned? My heart constricts with pain.

"I know I have been nothing more to you than a master. A role I did not choose. I hope that I was kind to you," he says. 

"You have been very kind to me. I hope you find happiness with her," she says as she hugs Dimitri, who stiffens when she put her arms around him. I find it kind of shocking knowing that they shared a bed for a long time, and he looks awkward with her. 

Dimitri makes sure it's safe to leave the room. He leads us down a hall that looks familiar. This house is so big it's easy to get lost in. Chris and Jen follow behind us, walking silently. 

We get to a door, and it was the room I was in when I first was brought here. "Wait for me in here, do not let anyone in while I make sure it's safe. We enter the room and shut the door as Dimitri heads down the hall. 

We all sat down, not saying anything, looking from one another with dead silence. Dimitri comes in and joins us. "When it gets daylight out, and everyone goes to sleep, I will sneak you and Chris out. I have arranged a car to get you to the airport. There you will board a flight. I have set up a place for you to go and be safe. I have all the instructions written down and will give them to Chris," he tells us. 

"What will they do to you when they find out that you have betrayed them?" Jen asks. "I plan on taking Emily out of here before they realize what we have done," Dimitri tells us. 

The Bond - Chapter Thirty Six

"I have something to ask you," he pauses and then takes my hand. "Ok, what is it?" I ask. "I need to bond you to me as soon as possible. This will protect you from the others," he says. "I thought you were already bonded to Jen, how can you have a bond with us both?" I ask. "That is true, I can only be bonded to one. I will have to unbind myself from her and then do the binding spell with you," he replies. "What will happen to Jen once you unbind yourself from her?" I ask. "I will get her out of here when we leave," he says. 

"Why can't we just leave?" I ask. "I wish it was that simple, I have to set some things straight, or we will be hunted and always on the run. I do not want to live that kind of life," he replies as he steps closer to where we're nose to nose. "Well, will you bond with me?" he asks. "It's not fair, you are playing the hot guy card. You know I can't resist you, and that's not fair," I huff. "Well, us men do what we must to get ahead, and if you have the card, then play it," he laughs.

"Yes," I manage to get out before he attacks me with a kiss.

"I'll be back, stay here, and don't let anyone in other than me," he tells me as he plants a quick kiss on my lips.

Dimitri returns with Jen. "I needed to talk to you both alone, away from the others. I have something to discuss," he says as he motions us to the couch in front of the fireplace.  

Jen sits down, crossing her legs with a dead serious look on her face. I sit down next to her as Dimitri comes to stand right in front of us. "I just explained the situation with Emily, and now I need to discuss it with you," he tells Jen. "I need to bond with Emily and release you from my bond," he starts.

Jen leaps off the couch. "Are you mad, they will kill me if they find out your plan. They will do it just to get at you," she cries out. "I will still protect you, I have a plan to get you out of here safe so you can lead a normal life. Don't you want that?" he asks.

"I do, but we have been bonded for a while, and it will feel like a part of me being ripped apart. You are not the only vampire I have been bonded to. Every time they unbind me....., I feel like a part of my soul is gone," she says. "I know, but you know this has to be done," Dimitri says as he looks down at the floor with a sadness in his eyes.

 Trust me, I will keep you safe," he says. Jen nods her head, then steps a few feet away from Dimitri."I'm ready, go ahead," she says as she prepares herself. He starts to wave his hands around, chanting something. A green glow of light sparks from his hands and then darts toward Jen.

I stand there stunned when the bright light hits her. Her body jerks, as the light, radiates through her. As the light fades, she seems to come to her senses. She looks sad, and I know she feels what she described before. I know that feeling all too well.  

She steps back and motions for me to take her place. "Ok, your next," he says as he smiles at me. After just witnessing what Jen went through, unbinding her makes me really wonder if this is going to hurt.

I step in front of Dimitri as he starts doing what he did with Jen.

I stare as Dimitri starts spouting words off that I don't understand as his hands glow a strange green light. He moves his hands around fast, causing dancing streaks of light. I can only watch with amazement.

He whips his hands in my direction, and now I'm a little worried that this is going to hurt. I find myself cringing as the anticipation of the spell increases.

I watch as the light comes at me. 

All a sudden, I'm hit with a bolt of light that sends waves of warmth through my body. I stumble a few feet backward. 

Then I'm hit like a ton of bricks. I come off the ground as the warm feeling grows stronger. 

When my feet hit the ground, I can see the strange glow of light wrap around my entire body. 

"Is it done?" I ask as if trying to prepare for something else to happen. I feel a strange pull toward Dimitri. "Now that wasn't so bad. You're now bonded to me," he says with a calm tone. "Jen, go to my room and do not leave. Go to the hidden place in my room till I join you there," he tells Jen. I watch as Jen leaves the room, leaving Dimitri and me alone. 

I hear the door open and turn to see a vampire women walk in. She locks eyes with me as her face grows cold. I recognize her from the attack at my house.

Dimitri wraps his arms around me, pulling me to him. "Ella, I see that Marcus managed to get in contact with you. Otherwise, you wouldn't be back so soon," Dimitri says with a flat tone. "Oh yeah, he did, and you think I shouldn't have been notified that you had her. You know we have been searching for her. Here she is, a guest in my own home. I must thank you," she says coolly. 

"Yes, I did find her, but not for you. She's mine, and you know it," Dimitri says as he steps in front of me. Ella looks enraged as she stares at Dimitri. "Oh, you will give her to me, I will not be denied. You know this. Don't be a fool," she scowls at Dimitri. Dimitri doesn't move. He stands his ground while staring down at Ella.

"I offered you a place by my side, and you refused. Now you are going to try to keep her from me. You are sadly mistaken if you think you can take me on. I will have her, and she will be mine to do with as I please. You are testing my patience," Ella hisses through clenched teeth. "I will not give her to you. She's been mine from the start and will always be mine, he says with a cool tone. "We will see about that," she hisses as she storms out of the room.

Emily Has To Make A Decision - Chapter Thirty Five

I give in....letting my guard down, I grab Dimitri, and crush him to me. My lips find his with an animal hunger. I kiss him with everything that I have. The love I have for him, the heartache of losing him, comes crashing in. I kiss him like my life depends on it. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me tighter that not even air can come between us. His lips kiss me with a fierce motion that our teeth collide a little. I find myself wrapped up in him, that nothing else exists in this moment. My heart feels like it's going to explode.

Finally, we pull apart to catch our breaths. I feel like I have run a marathon. When I eventually regain myself, I meet Dimitri's eyes, followed by his cute smile. Although his eyes are now ringed in red, they still melt me. 

Before I can say anything, Dimitri grabs my hand. "Come," he says as he leads me to the second story of this big house. "I have a surprise for you," he tells me as he leads me through another part of the house that I have never seen. 

     Dimitri seems excited about something. I can hear it in his tone. His fingers are laced in mine as we walk further. "I figured you would be uncomfortable being in the bedroom that Jen and I shared. So I thought I would find one that was just for us," he says as he opens the door to the room. I gasp, "Us," I say so small, I'm sure he didn't even hear me.

He pulls me into this beautiful room. It has everything you would want in a bedroom. I glance around and notice the windows. It has windows that I thought no Nightwalker would want in a room. It has a warm feel to it, but it's not home to me. "How, and when did you do this?" I ask. "While we were outside walking," he grins at me. 

Dimitri pulls me over to a dresser and has me standing in front of the mirror. He wraps his arms around me. His hand comes up to my face holding it in place while his other glides down my arm. His face is now only a few inches from mine. He closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them, they are red like fire. "You are mine, and only mine," he whispers. His tone takes me by surprise but also has that warning in it. I don't know either to feel happy or scared about it. 

He buries his nose into my hair, inhaling my scent as his grip tightens. "I have missed you so much. I thought I would only see you in my dreams. Now here you are in my arms like I have always wanted. It's like I have been pulled from the darkness into the light," he says as if he's under some strange spell. My heart beats hard in my chest as I try to control my breathing. 

He releases me and walks over to the fireplace. He leans in and lights a fire to warm the room. He sets down, motioning for me to join him. I sat down only a foot away from him. He leans back and watches the fires as he seems carefree. I look back at the fire and lose my thoughts to the dancing flames. We sit quietly for a while, neither one of us talking. 

It almost feels like old times when we use to sit by the fire many evenings.

Dimitri, all of a sudden, grabs me laying me back onto the floor. He's peering down at me. His eyes are so full of promise and love. Laced with red, that only reminds me of what he has become.

It makes me gasp, my hand goes up and strokes his cheek. He closes his eyes as he holds my hand in place. "I have missed your touch," he whispers. 

"Let me love you," he says as he hovers only a few inches above me. "Give me time. Please be patient with me. It's just too much to process," I say as I stroke his hair and then rest my hand on his back, holding him close to me. "Ok, I can do that. After all, that's all I have is time," he smirks at me.  

Dimitri's in the bathroom taking a shower as I strip off my dress, leaving me in my underwear. All of a sudden, I feel very aware that I'm going to be half-naked around Dimitri. I know he has seen me naked a few times, but I feel very vulnerable around him.

He comes out of the bathroom wearing his PJ bottoms that hang so delicious off his hips. His chest is still damp from his shower. I stand with my mouth gaping on the ground as he crosses the room to me. His eyes sweep up and down my body. "Emily, you are so beautiful," he whispers as he caresses my cheek, sending electricity through me.

I grab Dimitri throwing my arms around him. I find his lips and take him hostage.

 He pulls away and smirks at me. "Emily, you are making it really hard for me to take it slow," he whispers. "Oh, so now we are taking it slow now that you are standing there in those PJ bottoms," I laugh.

"I will not take advantage of the situation. I know you are overwhelmed, and a lot of stuff has happened. I can be a man about the situation. All I want is for you to be with me. And I don't mean in that way. I want you to trust me and love me before we go any further," he says. "I can't believe my ears, you sound like the Dimitri I first met, the stubborn one," I say as I smirk at him.

"I guess you could say that. You did want the old me back, didn't you?" he asks as he tries to look as innocent as possible. "I'm not falling for it," I huff at him.

"So, the pink undies are not tempting enough?" I ask with a smile. "Oh, it's hard, believe me, but I have waited this long, why not wait for when it counts," he says as he lays on his belly looking over at me. "You are so terrible, you are teasing me, and you know it," I tell him.

He peaks up at me through his dark lashes. "I plead the fifth," he says. Now come to bed so we can get some sleep," he says softly. "Oh, is that all?" I ask as I head toward the bed. "Yes, not until I know that you are my old Emily will I give in," he says as he closes his eyes. He's so frustrating. I can't believe he's actually going to play hard to get.

Dimitri turns the lights out and crawls into bed. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me to him. I feel him nuzzle at my neck before he gets situated behind me. I can feel the rise and fall of his chest as his arm hugs me tight. I wiggle a little too provocatively against him, which makes him gasp. "Behave! Go to sleep," he whispers. I can't help but smile. His skin is cool against my body, which is a comfort. We had the room hot to accommodate his body's temperature so I wouldn't get too cold.

We even added a few extra blankets to make it really warm. To my surprise, it worked. I found myself seeking his cool body to keep me cool. When he turned, I would turn with him. I slept very light that night. Every move he made I made with him. I took in his scent and the shape of his body. Dimitri fell asleep pretty fast as I found it hard to take my eyes off him. After what seemed like hours of studying his every feature, I found that I finally fell asleep. 

I wake to find Dimitri already awake and out of bed. I slide out of bed and walk over to him. "Did you sleep well," he asks. "Actually I did, I was surprised I actually controlled myself from ripping you apart….and your cool body temperature," I say as I look at him with a shy smile.

"Ripe me apart, you say. Hum……….now that sounds interesting. I have no doubt that you could try," he grins. "Try, what makes you think that I would not succeed," I say with a little shock in my voice. He cocks his head to the side and just grins. I have got to figure out a way to persuade him. Oh, the many thoughts that run through my head.