She had no idea what attracted her to the grotesque mirror in the first place, but there it was in the back of her car, catching her image as she turned the corner driving away from the antique shop. The mirror was like a reflecting pool, almost four foot in diameter. It was mounted on a heavy wooden stand, from which two snarling dragons carved into the wood glared at her menacingly. She shifted her eyes back to the road in front of her, occasionally sneaking a peek to the backseat to glimpse her prize. She had always had a thing for dragons, and when the shop owner talked about the difficulty of getting it shipped here from England, and how it had sat in a corner of his shop for the past four years, she impulsively made an offer that was eagerly accepted. The owner was even happy to help her load it into the backseat of her car, all the while mentioning how the mirror seemed to have magical properties.

"Yeah, right." She thought to herself "Maybe I can conjure up a prince!"

When she got home, she carefully carried the mirror from the car, lugged it across the driveway and set it down just inside her cramped apartment. She didn't imagine how big it was in comparison to the rest of the apartment, but when she finally decided to put the mirror against the wall at the foot of her bed, the mirror seemed to provide a panoramic view of every angle of the room. She jokingly thought about putting it on the ceiling but had no idea how to get it to stay up there. She never thought about that before. It was a hell of a wicked thought and she blushed.

That night, after she had undressed, slipped under the cool sheets, and turned off the lights, she suddenly felt that something or someone was staring at her from the other side of the mirror. She looked carefully at her new acquisition but didn't see anything else unusual and soon was asleep.

When she awoke the next day, she noticed that her night table looked in disarray, as if someone had sorted through her things. The dresser drawers where she kept her underwear were slightly disarrayed and she thought that she was neater than that. Oh hell, it's not that bad, she thought. No one wanders in here often enough anyway. She almost felt like looking under the bed, but tossed aside that idea. Soon she was going about her business, until she looked at the mirror again and thought she saw a shadow disappear. Must be the lights.

On the third night she learned the magic the mirror was capable of.

Having just turned off the light and settled in for the night. , it took her body a few moments to relax and adjust to the contours of the bed. Quietness surrounded her, eyes drifted shut. A faint sound of soft music started to fill her head and she was not sure if it was real or imagined. Leaning her head to the side, eyes opened and could vaguely make out the shape of the mirror. Sharply her eyes focused in on it, there seemed to be a swirl of smoke or mist forming in the glass. Looking quickly around the room to see what the mirror was reflecting she saw that nothing was out of the ordinary. Throwing the covers back and moved towards the foot of the bed. Approaching slowly, tentatively, she stood looking into the glass.

It was then she saw him. Knowing this could not be, he was on the other side of the globe from her, but there was no denying that it was her own true love. Always so far away and out of reach, her heart beat a rapid tattoo watching him come forward. The unmistakable dark hair, unruly in its thickness, the wicked smile that peaked from under his bold moustache. Through the haze in the glass, making it look as if he were coming from a distance, boldly moving to her, with an arrogant swagger that was so very familiar to her.

Soon the mist engulfed us both and he was standing before her. His smoky eyes narrowed with contemplation, and then, reaching out, he slowly began to unbutton her silk caftan, his big fingers surprisingly nimble with the tiny pearl buttons. For so long she had hungered for his touch, but distance had kept her alone and waiting for him to come. Now his touch burned across her like wildfire. He unbuttoned to the navel and slid his hands inside the gown to fondle her breasts, delighting in nipples which hardened at his gentle touch, thrusting forward like thorns on a rose, to push against his palms. She pushed his shirt off his strong shoulders and it opened easily beneath her touch, baring him to the waist. Slender fingers marched up his chest through the dark mat of hair, to clasp themselves about his neck.

His hands slid upward to work her caftan off her shoulders. It fell with a silken hiss to her shapely ankles, leaving her nude. His hands moved to tangle themselves in the light mass of hair, drawing her head to his so he might kiss her deeply. He hesitated just a second, long enough to see eyes close, lashes fluttering upon cheeks. Only then did his sensuous mouth begin a delicate exploration.

He kissed her tenderly, tasting her lips, sending delightful shivers of anticipation up and down her spine. He felt her response, and exerted more pressure upon her mouth, gently forcing it open. His tongue plunged into that sweet cavern to dance a mad caper with until suddenly they were stroking each other with sensuous abandonment. Their passions flamed simultaneously as he tore his mouth from hers and began to kiss her closed eyes, cheekbones, and the corners of her mouth and the tip of her nose with hungry ardor while she moved her hands to pull frantically at his shirt and loosen his jeans. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

She reached up and drew his massive body down to hers. His hands were sliding down her torso, molding themselves along her waist, filling themselves with her hips, and caressing her legs. She kissed him ardently and he groaned with the total pleasure that was beginning to envelop them both. She lay down upon her back and he lowered his head, with his hot tongue began an encirclement of one nipple. Around and around until She began to whimper deep in her throat, and he took the entire nipple in his mouth, sucking hard, sending a knife sharp pulse of rapture through her body. He began again, this time with the other nipple, and when he felt her trembling beneath him he ceased the torture, moving down the bed.

He settled between her legs, warm breath brushing against the most sensitive spot. She began to flame wildly beneath his impassioned touch, body twisting under his hungry mouth. She felt as if she would burst with desire as he tasted and teased the musky nectar of her passion. Finally he could control his own passions no longer, raising his head, he drew himself up and swinging over her to thrust within her honeyed sheath. Like some unearthly creature, she wrapped herself about him, moaning wildly, pushing up hips to meet his frantic rhythm. A soft scream told him that she was near her release and mercilessly he pushed her to the brink only to force her back. She cursed him and he laughed softly. She bit him and he bit her back, tongue gently teasing where teeth had scored. All she could do was give a pleading whimper of need.

In answer he drove deep into her, forcing her body into the mattress with each downward plunge of his hips. She had been grasping him tightly with her hands and now his subtle torture sent her nails clawing down his back.

She thought she would die in that very minute. Her love juices released themselves in a hot wild rush, crowning the head of his throbbing manhood, which liberated its own salute to her in the same instant. They shuddered together, lost in a world of white-hot desire that drained both of them, leaving them weakened and only half conscious.

As she slowly opened her eyes, his form began to take on a different shape. As he slowly began to soften inside her, she noticed that his weight upon her began to lighten. Reaching for him, she noticed that he was drifting away. She sat up and looked to the mirror. He was looking over his shoulder. She wanted him so badly. As she went to the mirror, he looked longingly at her as she at him. Sadly he turned and walked away. She reached for him but all she felt was the cold hardness of the mirror.

06/29/00