“Hands off. We’re being appropriate.”I pushed his hand away.
“I’m starting to wonder if you’re an exhibitionist,” he mused.
“You barely noticed? I like being watched. It gets me off.”I paused before adding,“Kinda like you with dominatingme.Speaking of, I thought you don’t go on bottom?”
“For sex. As long as I’m controlling where you are the rest of the time, it’s okay.”
“Mmm.”I bit my lip, contemplating. Now that I thought about it, hehadbeen the one to move me into a straddle. Ugh, the things I wanted to do with him right now.
“We could always…”his eyes strayed past me to his room.
“No. I shouldn’t.”
“You still don’t trust me with your rule?”
“No, it’s not that. I trust you. But it’s different this time. With you. It’s just,”I stopped talking.The truth was, I knew minds could change, even if he didn’t plan on it. Too many people had viewed me differently after sleeping with me. None of them had been relevant, which was even more reason to be extra careful with him.
“Just what?”
“Can you hear me?”I asked, praying he couldn’t.
“No.I’m trying to figure out what you’re thinking,”he said.“I do know you’re lying.”
“I won!”Mateo shouted. I jumped in surprise, making Dennis laugh.
“What the fuck? You never win!”Sean yelled. I twisted at the sound of cards and chips flying off the table.“We’re playing again. I want my money back.”
“You can’t have it.”Mateo started picking up chips while Sean stood to collect the cards.“I win for the night. We’re done here.”
“Bullshit. You call rematches every time I beat you. It’s my turn.”
“Stop being a sore loser.”Mateo laughed at Sean’s resulting stream of profanity. They were already setting up a new game.
“I changed my mind.I’m going to bed.”I moved my legs from Dennis’lap and stood. I was getting a little sleepy, but mostly I wanted to escape before I gave in and had sex with Dennis again.
“‘Night, Vixen.”
“Goodnight.”I smiled at him.“Goodnight guys,”I added, hoping Mateo and Sean could hear me over their ruckus. They both distractedly said goodnight as I got Frankie and left to join Ari in bed.
Alive
I couldn’t move. Something was shaking me. Nudging my hand. My eyes shot open to an unfamiliar face—piercing yellow eyes bore into mine. My breathing became shallow, my heart beating so violently it hurt. Suddenly, I could move. I sat up with an earsplitting scream.
“It’s just me!”
My eyes darted to find Ari beside me. The sheets slipped from my hands.
“What happened?”Dennis’panicked voice came as he and Sean entered the room.
I stared at them. My breathing was going back to normal, but my eyes filled with tears at their looks of pity.
“She had a night terror,” Arisaid.“It happens sometimes.”
“Are you okay?”Dennis’concern heightened when I rushed past them to the bathroom, locking myself in just before the breakdown started.
Flashes of the dream kept repeating while I blindly stripped down to shower. The demon’s eyes stared back at me, even as I sank against the shower floor, weeping uncontrollably. The taste of salt blended with water as both ran down my cheeks. I gripped my hair and doubled over. The crying turned to choked sobbing.
Ari was dead. She had died and everyone else left. No one wanted anything to do with me if she was gone. All of my friends here and my family. Uncle Tom and Aunt Helen were gone. I’d put a gun to my head before everything went black and someone started screaming.
