Dinner went by quickly, with Blair eager to discover what Jim's surprise was, and Jim even more eager to show him. At last, after sharing a Spumone and clearing the dishes, Jim disappeared upstairs.

Blair sat on the couch below, as par Jim's orders, and waited. He found he could barely sit still, he was so excited. He had no idea what his big, romantic lover had planned, but he knew it was sure to be wonderful.

With Jim, sex was always an adventure. The big man was the most sensitive lover Blair had ever been with, always thinking of the young man's pleasure first. Nothing was beyond the limits of Jim's love of experimentation in the bedroom. The sex they shared was about love, tenderness, adoration. Blair felt Jim's devotion to him through every caress, every kiss. Each worshipping touch spoke of belonging, and dedication.

Blair was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Jim's return. He jumped a bit, startled as the big hand lit gently on his shoulder. He looked up at Jim and gasped, mouthing dropping open.

Jim was dressed exactly as he'd been in the dream. He wore long flowing white robes that dragged the floor, falling in graceful folds across his chest and belted at the waist. A veil was draped across his lower face, leaving only his lustful blue eyes visible, and his head was crowned with a turban.

The whole costume gave the big man an aura of romance and mystery, and Blair found himself unable to form words. His lover took advantage of his open mouth by pulling his veil away and swooping down to kiss him.

Blair's eyes drifted shut as the strong arms wound around him, drawing him to his feet, crushing him tight against the robed body. Blair reached up to grip the sturdy shoulders as Jim gracefully dipped him back, one hand cupping his head, the other supporting his lower back. Their lips never parted for an instant. The kiss went on and on, until Blair was weak and dizzy from the combination of lust and oxygen deprivation. He gasped as he drew back at last.

Jim smiled down at his love as Blair looked groggily up at him. "Well?" the big man asked softly.

"Yow," Blair said quietly, waiting for the room to quit spinning. He looked again at his lover's costume, noticing the tiny details. "I take it was talking in my sleep, then?" he asked, smiling.

Jim chuckled as he straightened, and set Blair back on his feet. "Confession time," he said, blushing. "You aren't going to believe this, Bug, but you and I were sharing that dream." Jim watched the expression of awe mixed with scepticism pass over his love's face.

"Really?" Blair asked. "You mean this wasn't just a lucky guess?" he asked, gesturing at Jim’s attire. He cocked an eyebrow at his big lover. "I dunno Jim...," he began, shaking his head doubtfully.

Jim held up a hand. "All right, tell you what," he began. He pointed up to the bedroom. "I have a costume for you, too. Go on up and put it on, and then you can decide if I'm telling you the truth or not, OK?" Jim smiled.

Blair smiled back, then reached up to kiss him again. "You're on," he said, turning to scurry up the stairs. "Be back in a jif!"

Jim chuckled as he moved to sit down on the couch. He heard Blair open the box, and the gasp of surprise that followed. There was a long silence, then the sound of cloth rustling.

Long minutes later saw Jim standing at the balcony doors looking out at the Cascade skyline, all glittering lights. He didn't turn when he heard the soft footfalls descending the stairs, and crossing the floor toward him. The footsteps stopped, and the soft sound of a throat being cleared urged Jim to turn. He did, and stared.

Blair looked beautiful. Every detail of the costume was exactly as Ellison remembered it from the dream, right down to the tiny gems accenting the golden armbands. Jim's eyes drifted down Blair's body, and he smiled as he saw the 'sapphire' sparkling in his belly-button.

Blair's face was a mask of disbelief. "How did you..., I mean...." He gestured down at his elaborate costume. "Everything is perfect, Jim."

Jim smiled. "Well, the fact that we both had the same dream is something I really can't explain," he said, moving to frame Blair's face in his hands. "As for the costumes, I called up an old friend before we left the beach house. His wife is a costumier for the Cascade Playhouse. I told her the details, and she did the rest." Jim sighed, and ran a hand through Blair's long curls.

"Fortunately," Jim added, "The last performance the company did was The Arabian Nights, so Liz had the basic costumes already. She just had to make some adjustments." He smiled as Blair looked up at him with a gaze of pure love.

"Well, this is amazing, Jim," Blair said softly. "I mean, it's not everyone who gets to act out their fantasies like this, you know?" He looked up his big lover, eyes aglow with love.

"I dunno, Bug," Jim replied, wrapping his arms around the slim figure. "Fantasy has a tough time competing with any reality that includes you." Jim punctuated the phrase with a soft kiss to Blair's forehead. They stood together for a long time, arms around each other.

"Now," Jim said at last, smiling seductively down at his harem toy. "I seem to remember something about... sex?" He leaned down to kiss the side of Blair's neck, running his tongue lightly over the warm skin.

Blair gasped, and trembled as Jim licked his neck. "Actually," he said softly, "I think the words were GREAT sex." he grinned as Jim chuckled softly in his ear.

"Great sex, huh?" Jim said, as he straightened, scooping his lover up in his arms. "I think I can manage that." He crossed the room, pausing to press his lips to Blair's before slowly carrying him up the stairs to the bedroom.

Blair squeezed his arms around Jim's neck as the big man carried him up to the bed. He nibbled and sucked on Jim's earlobe every step of the way, and smiled when Jim turned his head to capture his lips. The kiss deepened as the reached the bedroom, and Blair closed his eyes as Jim gently lay him down on the bed.

Jim lay out on the bed beside Blair, still kissing him deeply, running his fingers through the long curls. Then he propped himself up on one elbow, and just stroked the soft skin of Blair's face. He studied the graceful curves of the neck, the smooth throat, eyes following the contours of the lithe body.

Blair gazed up at Jim as the big man's eyes slowly wandered over his body. Then a thought crossed his mind, and he sat up.

"Blair?" Jim asked curiously, as the young man sat up on the bed.

Blair smiled down at him, then bit his lip and blushed. He shook his head, and started to lie back down.

"Nevermind," he murmured, reaching out to run his fingers over Jim's face.

"What was that all about?" Jim asked, smiling.

"Well." Blair looked up at his lover, uncertainly. "You know that bit in the dream, when Mendari had me tied up, about to ravish me?"

Jim nodded, grinning a little. "Yeah," he replied.

Blair looked up at Jim for a long moment, then sighed and looked at the ceiling. "Well, did it turn you on?" he asked.

"Which part, Chief?" Jim asked warily. "I hope you don't think I'd get turned on by watching someone else rape you...," Jim trailed off as Blair quickly sat up and pressed a finger to his lips.

"Oh, no Jim!" Blair exclaimed, blushing. He moved the finger from his lover's lips to run his hand over the rugged face. "Of course not, that's not what I meant." He kissed Jim, then laid back on the bed again.

"I meant, the idea of taking me while I was helpless." Blair grinned seductively, bobbing his eyebrows. "You know?" His smile widened as a look of understanding passed over Jim's face, followed by an aroused flush.

"Ohh," Jim replied. He suddenly tugged at the collar of his robes; it was getting hot in there. "Well.... I have to admit that... yeah, it is an appealing idea." Jim moved to lay on top of Blair, and kissed the young man's forehead.

"You want to?" Blair asked, closing his eyes as Jim's lips traveled over his face.

"Tie you up, you mean?" Jim asked, raising up to gaze down into the blue eyes. He grinned. "That's kinky, Chief."

"Yep!" Blair chirped happily, arching his hips up against Jim's. "So are you game or not?"

"You're serious, aren't you?" Jim asked, rolling off of Blair and sitting up. "It wouldn't bother you? Even after your... you know...," Jim murmured uneasily. "Your experience with bondage, so to speak?"

"You mean Lash?" Blair asked, rising up on his elbows.

"Among others," Jim replied, nodding.

"No," Blair said simply. "It's not the same thing. Those people were all planning to kill me, to hurt me." He sat up and cradled Jim's face in his hands. "You would be loving me," he continued softly. "Right?" Blair punctuated the words with a soft kiss to Jim's lips.

Jim returned the kiss, feeling his excitement grow as he thought over Blair's request. When their lips parted at last, Jim smiled, and reached down to remove the belt of his belt. He held it up, cocking his head at his lover.

Blair smiled as Jim held up the belt. Then he lay back on the bed and offered his wrists to Jim.

Jim moved to sit beside Blair, and gently wound the cloth belt around his lovers slender wrists, taking care not cut off the circulation. When he started to move Blair's hands up over his head, he hesitated.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly.

Blair smiled, and nodded. He closed his eyes as he felt Jim tying his wrists to the railing at the head of the bed. Then the warm, soft lips brushed across his brow, trailed down the bridge of his nose, and captured his mouth.

Jim tasted Blair's lips, the smoothness of the inside of his lips, the rougher, warmer texture of his tongue, the sharp ridge of teeth. As he kissed his lover, Jim moved one hand to gently stroke the smooth side of Blair's face, feeling the edge of the jawbone that gave the face such beautiful angles. When he ended the kiss, he just smiled down at Blair.

Blair gasped a little as the kiss ended, and gazed lovingly into Jim's blue eyes. He watched as the big man slowly moved backwards on the bed, down Blair's body to his bare feet. Blair felt his pulse quicken as Jim gently took one ankle in his warm, rough fingers.

Jim lifted Blair's foot, and admired the delicate bones, the smoothness of the skin, and the artistic curve of the ankle bone. He looked up at Blair's face as he brushed one fingertip lightly over the top of Blair's foot, smiling as the toes curled.

"Don't tickle," Blair warned, pulling a little at his bound wrists.

"What makes you think I'm going to tickle you?" Jim asked innocently, continuing to trace his fingertip very gently up and down the long bones of Blair's foot.

Blair rolled his eyes. "Because you always do, man! It's unbelievable, like a fetish or something."

"You don't like this, then?" Jim asked, scraping his fingernails down the sole of Blair's foot. He smiled as Blair's foot twitched, and the young man giggled.

"No," Blair managed through the giggles.

"Not at all?" Jim asked, pouting. He stroked the tip of his index finger in tiny circles over the pad of Blair's big toe.

"Not at all, at ALL!" Blair replied, as his giggling increased. "Jim!" he begged, as the rough fingers explored the arch of his foot.

"OK, OK," Jim relented. He stopped the motion of his fingers, and just ran his palm over the smooth skin, pushing his fingers up under the cuff of the harem pants.

Blair closed his eyes in relief as the fingers stopped. He sighed in contentment as Jim gently massaged his ankle, then moved to his other foot. Then he gasped, eyes flying open as a new sensation shot through his foot. He looked down to see Jim sucking on his toe.

"Ohhhh... man," Blair moaned.

Jim gently sucked Blair's baby toe into his mouth, running his tongue roughly over the sensitive pad, grazing his teeth over the tiny, perfect nail. He did the same with the next three toes, smiling as Blair groaned and strained at his bonds.

"Jiiiim," Blair moaned.

"I'm not tickling," Jim replied indignantly. He grinned an evil grin at his lover before lowering his head to nibble on the big toe.

Blair closed his eyes, breathing hard as Jim's teeth scraped over his toe. Then, the maddening touch went away, and he sighed in relief. The next thing he felt was Jim's fingertips sliding slowly up his legs, through the long slits in the trouser legs.

The rough fingers stroked over the tops of his thighs, then curved around to trail down the backs of his legs. Blair arched a little as the fingers passed over the sensitive spots on the back of each knee.

Jim noticed, and returned to explore the little areas. He pinched and stroked the soft, smooth skin on the backs of Blair's knees, grinning as Blair gasped and writhed on the mattress. He gave one last pinch, then trailed his fingertips lightly up and down the insides of Blair's thighs.

"Ohh.... my.... gawd...," Blair breathed as Jim's fingers danced over his inner thighs, teasing and tugging at the fine downy hair. Then the touch was removed and the bed bounced. Blair opened his eyes to find Jim's face a few inches from his own.

"Just wanted to make sure you were still having a good time," Jim said softly, reaching out to brush Blair's hair out of his eyes. He gently lifted the little headdress, the gold circlet with its dangling sapphire, and laid it aside so it wouldn't get sweaty. Then he leaned down and pressed his lips to Blair's.

Blair barely had time to acknowledge the fact that Jim's lips were on his, when they were removed again. Blair watched as Jim shifted, sliding down on the bed so his head was level with Blair's chest. Blair's body tensed as Jim laid his big, warm hand gently on his chest, over his heart.

"You're excited," Jim said, feeling the heart beneath his hand pounding. He smiled down at his love, and began to weave his hand through the dark hair covering Blair's chest.

"Mmm," Blair moaned. "Ohh, that feels nice." He closed his eyes as Jim's hand smoothed circles over his chest, moving down toward his belly.

Ellison smiled down at his young companion before lowering his gaze to admire the expanse of bare chest and tummy. He reached down, and stroked one fingertip in a circle around Blair’s navel, and the little glass gem sparkling there. He smiled as Blair's stomach muscles twitched and concaved inward, making the lower ridge of his ribcage stand out.

"You know, I don't know what it is," Jim murmured as he studied the glittering jewel in Blair's navel. "But I think this is just about the most arousing thing I've ever seen. There's just something about it that I love." Jim laid his palm flat on Blair's stomach, idly rubbing his thumb back and forth across the gem. He smiled as Blair giggled.

"Well, that's good, because I don't think I can get it out." Blair replied. "Took me forever to get it to stay in there, I was afraid I was going to have to use glue or something." He smiled and moaned as Jim's fingertips trailed lightly over his tummy, weaving through the dark hair as they stroked the sensitive skin. Blair dug his nails into the cloth binding him to the railing.

"Well, let me know when you get sick of it, and I'll get it out for you." Jim grinned lasciviously as he leaned down to run his tongue over the smooth muscles of Blair's stomach. He kissed and licked a path up toward Blair's chest, while letting the fingers of his right hand drift down to Blair's abdomen. When he reached the waistband of the trousers, he slipped his fingers under the elastic and traced them back and forth over the warm, faintly sweaty skin.

Blair gasped and arched as Jim's fingers ran over the sensitive skin of his lower belly. Meanwhile, the warm, moist lips had latched onto Blair's right nipple. He whimpered deep in his throat as Jim grazed his teeth over his nipple, then blew on it. The hand on his tummy slowly crawled upward, teasing the flesh in its path, to brush over his other nipple.

Jim kissed and sucked on one nipple while letting his fingertips pinch and tweak the other. Blair was writhing beneath him, making helpless little mewling noises in his throat. Jim thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world.

Blair squeezed his eyes shut as both his nipples were assaulted. Jim alternating between licking, sucking, pinching, and just tracing his fingertip lightly around the aureoles. Blair's breath began to come in harsh gasps.

Now Jim was tugging his trousers down his legs. Blair yelped a little as the elastic waistband bumped over his arousal before gliding down his thighs, and over his feet. He opened one eye as the big man quickly stripped off his own robes before coming to kneel at Blair's side.

Jim smiled tenderly down at his love, and leaned down to kiss the flushed, sweaty face. He reached up to gently rub Blair's wrists below the cloth bindings, then began to trail the tips of his fingers slowly down the sensitive skin on the underside of Blair's arm.

Blair hissed as Jim's rough fingers moved in an excruciatingly slow path down his arm, over the inside of his elbow, down the underside of his upper arm, over the armband with its glittering blue gems, and across his underarm, ruffling the thick hair in passing. There was a pause, and Blair took a deep breath.

Then the touch was back, moving along his jaw, under his chin, down his throat. He felt the bed bounce a little, and opened his eyes to see Jim on his knees now, leaning over him and reaching down with both hands. Blair closed his eyes again, and gasped as ten fingers trailed slowly down his chest, pausing to circle his taut, aching nipples, then continued down to bump over the ridges of his ribs, over his tummy, and past his belly-button.

"Jim.... Please.... PLEASE...!" Blair begged, arching as the fingers moved lower, gliding over his lower abdomen, outward over the sharp hipbones, down his thighs, over his knees, down his shins, across the tops of his feet, and over his toes to trail down the soles of his feet.

Blair just lay there, panting, moaning, the swelling ache between his legs become unbearable. Jim's fingers trailed back up the soles of his feet, then very slowly up the insides of his legs, slowly nearing the place where every single one of his nerve endings now seemed to pulse and throb.

Jim brushed his fingers lightly over the creases that joined Blair's thighs to his groin, teasing his lover for a few final seconds with the feathery touches. Then, at last he took pity on his young love, and quickly laid out on his stomach to take Blair into his mouth.

"Ungh!" Blair screamed through clenched teeth as he was engulfed by the hot wetness of Jim's mouth. He strained against his bound wrists in time with the thrusts of his hips, bucking up against Jim as the big man sucked him. He felt the explosion building, building, building, until he came, throwing his head back and screaming Jim's name.

Jim reached up to stroke Blair's quivering sides as the young man pumped into him. When Jim had milked him dry of every drop, he scrambled up onto his knees.

Blair's body had barely finished its rocking convulsions, when he felt the bed bounce again. he opened his eyes just as Jim grabbed his legs and threw them over his shoulders. Blair clenched his fists on the cloth bindings as he felt Jim's finger slip into him. The finger was followed by a second, and the two of them weaved across each other, stretching him, preparing him.

Jim reached with his free hand and snagged the lube from where he'd left it in easy reach on the nightstand. With trembling hands, he applied it to himself and to Blair, his lover urging him with a desperate voice.

"Yes.... Do it Jim.... I want to feel you inside me," Blair moaned, arching his hips as he felt Jim position himself at his opening. He held his breath, then screamed as Jim slid into him up to the hilt. They were both still for a moment, then Jim began pumping slowly into him.

Jim squeezed his eyes shut as he thrust into his lover, again and again, feeling his climax grow closer with each push. As he got closer, his hips began to move faster, almost of their own accord. Jim pumped three more times, then came, bellowing out a roar that echoed through the loft.

Blair gasped as he felt Jim come inside him, and in response, climaxed again himself. He lay there, totally spent as Jim withdrew from him and crawled up to lay beside him.

Jim reached up and untied Blair's wrists, sighing as his young lover immediately turned to curl into his arms. Jim held the trembling body, closing his eyes as he listened to his own heart pounding against his chest. Blair was gasping against his chest, and Jim ran his hands soothingly over the smooth back.

They lay together, recovering in each others arms. After a long, long time, Jim lifted his head to look down at his love’s sweet face, pressed to his chest.

"Was that great enough for you?" he asked softly. He smiled as Blair began to giggle.

"Oh," Blair said weakly, turning onto his back and reaching up to stroke Jim's face. "It'll do," he murmured, then shrieked as Jim growled, and nuzzled his throat.

"Hey Jim?" Blair managed, over the growling.

"What, Bug," Jim asked lifted his head to kiss the sweaty face.

"Do we have to return the costumes?" Blair asked.

Jim chuckled. "No, they're ours now, baby," he replied.

"That's good," Blair said, turning to snuggle into the broad chest again. "I'm sure we'll use them again sometime."

"No doubt," Jim said. "I already have some ideas. How does Aladdin and the Naughty Genie appeal to you?"

Blair giggled. "Sounds good to me. You gonna rub my lamp?"

"Among other things," Jim growled, sliding his hands down Blair's body.

The shrieks of laughter that followed could be heard clear down to the street.

EPILOGUE

"Well," Simon said with a grin as his favorite cop/anthropologist team wandered into his office. "How was the vacation?"

"Great Simon!" Blair exclaimed with a wide smile. "Tell your brother we really appreciated the use of the cottage."

"I sure will, kid," Simon said.

"Yeah, captain," Jim added. "This vacation was exactly what the two of us needed to get our heads together."

"Yep," Blair nodded enthusiastically.

"Great," Simon replied. "Then I take it neither of you will have any arguments about doing the paperwork for the Mendari case?" he asked, bobbing his eyebrows and grinning.

Blair and Jim groaned in unison.

Simon laughed. "OK, well, you two can have the office to work in if you want. I have a meeting with the mayor." Simon grabbed his jacket, and gave a final wave as he left. "Don't make a mess!" he called as he shut the door.

Blair watched him go, and snickered. "Make a mess? What does he think we are, a coupla kids?" He perched happily on the edge of the Captain's desk.

"More like a couple of horny teenagers," Jim replied. He glanced up to make sure the blinds were closed before leaning in to give Blair a quick kiss. "Let's get to work, kid," he said, taking a seat at the table.

Blair stood up, and walked casually over to stand before Jim. He just stood there staring until Jim finally looked up at him.

"What?" Jim asked curiously.

Blair grinned.

"What is it?" Jim asked again, amused.

Grin.

"Sandburg, WHAT?" Amusement gave way to annoyance.

Blair just shrugged. Then he grinned again, and pretended to yawn. He stretched his arms up over his head and arched his back, bouncing a little on his toes.

Jim just watched the stretch, not getting it. Then his eyes drifted down to where Blair's shirt had pulled out of his jeans, baring a two-inch sliver of tummy.... and the sapphire still nestled in Blair's belly-button.

Blair looked pointedly at the closed door and drawn blinds, then back at Jim. He bobbed his eyebrows.

Jim pounced.

Surprisingly the few people in the bullpen of Major Crimes were not disturbed by the muffled thumping and groaning that followed.

THE END