I watch as he turns his back to me, stalking away down the hall.
My night is full of fitful sleep. I’m restless, tossing and turning in my sheets. The truth is, I haven’t slept well knowing that Kip is locked away. And after my run in with Tyson, I feel unnerved. What is with that guy? It’s almost like he’s in love with Kip. Obsessed.
I have a bad feeling about Tyson. I want to believe that he’s all bark and no bite, but that doesn’t track with what I know about him. I mean, the guy got Kip drunk weekly and fed off of him, and then erased his memories! What else is he capable of?
The longer Kip is away, the more I worry about him. I have no real way of knowing if he’s okay. Tyson made it seem like he is, but I can’t trust him.
What if Tyson is all part of this? What if Tyson is the reason that Kip is locked up? Tyson could be the one who locked Kip up so he could torture him or…I don’t even want to think about what else! But I feel like Kip might’ve told me that Tyson was behind it, if that was the case.
I have to know that Kip is still okay. I haven’t heard from him for a couple of days, and he hasn’t been in my dreams.
Can I reach out to him instead of vice versa?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kip
Dream Date
“You’re back! I was worried about you.” Charlie smiles up at me from the blanket he has spread over the grass in the clearing.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I’ve been working hard to get out of here, and I’ve been dead tired each night so I didn’t dream.” I collapse next to Charlie, resting my head on his thigh.
Charlies fingers thread through my waves. “Has it been alright?” He scratches my scalp, and I let out a quiet rumble of happiness.
I can’t see him in the real world yet, but seeing him in my dreams is better than nothing.
“I’m trying my best. And I’m getting better. Tyson doesn’t make it easy though.”
“Yeah, well, Tyson is a fucking dick.”
I huff a laugh against Charlie’s jeans.“I miss you. I can’t wait until I can see you for real. I wanna take you on a real date.”
“Oh, yeah? And where would you take me?”I can hear Charlie’s smile in his voice.
“Probably back to my bedroom.” I give Charlie a sneaky smile.
Charlie smacks my head gently, snorting a laugh. “How romantic.”
“What can I say, I’m a real Casanova.” I waggle my brows. “I’m teasing. I’ll take you anywhere you wanna go, Charlie.”
“Well, now is probably a good time to tell you that I hate going out in public, so honestly, a date in your bedroom doesn’t sound half bad. I’m not exactly a social creature.” He chews his lip, his cheeks darkening with pink.
“You say that as if it’s a big secret. I like your quietness. Andif a cozy date at home is what you want, then a cozy date at home is what you’ll get.”
Before Charlie, I was all about being a party boy. Going out several nights a week, taking a different person home every time. But I think I’m finally maturing or some shit, because spending time home alone with Charlie is exactly what I want to do once I’m out of my prison.
“I’d like that.” Charlie whispers, grinning down at me. “I mean, since this is a dream, can’t we make it into whatever we want it to be? We could treat this as a date. If you want.”
“Hmmm…” I hum, a devious smile forming on my lips. “That depends. Do you kiss on dream first dates?”
Even from here, I can see Charlie’s pupils dilate. His blood whooshes through his body, his heart thrumming faster.
Charlie’s breathing quickens. “With you? Yes.”
Sitting up quickly, I crawl up Charlie’s body, pushing him backwards to lay down. He follows my movements, settling gently against the blanket, with his dark hair fanning out around his head. His chest rises and falls rapidly as his pulse flutters in his throat. The sight of his racing pulse makes me groan. How I want to taste him again.
Charlie notices my fangs popping out. “You can have my blood, if you want it.”
