“Hasan,” I gasp, and he grabs my ankle, lifting it up. He thrusts in deep again, and holy fuck, his cock is so big it fills every single inch of me. Raising my leg into the air, he speeds up his movements. Reaching around with his free hand, he rubs my clit.
My head falls to the side and I fold the pillow over my face to stifle another loud moan as I come. The muscles in my thighs tighten and I grab the sheets, pressing my fingers into the mattress. Hasan’s breathing becomes ragged and he pushes in deep as he finishes.
Heart racing, I’m vaguely aware of Hasan moving me up in the bed and tucking me under the covers. My eyes flutter shut as I surrender to some much-needed sleep.
* * *
I wakearound three AM needing to use the bathroom. I’m alone in bed, and the bedroom door is shut. Shivering the moment I pull back the covers, I grab my PJ shirt and panties, get out of bed, and pad to the bathroom. After I pee, I go to the top of the stairs, following the sound of Gilbert and Thomas talking. Knowing they’re downstairs makes me feel safe, and for a brief moment I consider going down to see what they’re up to.
Then I remember I have to get up in three hours, and get my ass back in bed. I’m sinking onto the mattress when something catches my eye outside the window. Out of habit, I reach for my gun, which I stashed in the nightstand.
And then I feel him.
“Jacques?” I call softly, and go to the window. He’s sitting on the roof of the porch and the pained expression is back on his face. I twist the locks and push up the glass. “What are you doing up here?”
He turns, eyes softening when he sees me. “I’m making sure the vampires who got a taste for your blood haven’t discovered where you are yet.”
“Oh, thanks. Are you cold?”
He shakes his head, looking unsure. “No.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Want to come in and sit with me?”
“No.” He turns his head away, scanning the horizon.
“Uh, okay then. I’m going to go back to bed then.”
He nods but doesn’t say anything. I shut the window and hurry back to the warmth of the bed. I pull the blankets up to my chin, telling myself Jacques’s standoffish behavior doesn’t bother me.
I slip back into sleep and my dreams take me to Jacques. He’s human again, and we’re back in the little cabin. Something about this dream feels weird, like I know I’m dreaming this time. Jacques is reading to me, smiling as he looks down at the book. He’s speaking in a language I don’t know, yet we both find what he’s reading humorous. I stand from the chair I was relaxing in, moving to stir whatever I’m cooking over an open fire.
The same sense of total contentment washes over me. Bright sunlight shines through the windows, and Jacques puts the book down. He takes my hand and leads me through the open door. We walk through the field to the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean.
He moves behind me, arms wrapping around my waist, and we just stand there together, watching the waves rolling in and out. Everything around us is perfect. Peaceful. Calm and quiet. I close my eyes and spin in his arms, bringing his hands to my belly.
My lips curve into a grin as I tell Jacques I’m pregnant. Jacques smiles, lifts me up, spinning me and kissing me at the same time. I smile back at him, but the moment my feet hit the ground, the ocean turns red. Black clouds stretch over the sun and the air turns cold.
Jacques is standing at the edge of the cliff, face sullen and hands bloody. I try to go to him but I can’t move. It’s like I’m not there, not in a body at least, and I’m being forced to watch a film play out in front of me. I can’t talk, can’t call out to him.
The horizon starts to fade away and my ears ring. Blood starts to drip down Jacques’s face. His eyes fall shut to keep the blood from getting in them. An invisible knife slashes across his chest and red stains his white shirt. The air around us starts to buzz, and it’s like everything is closing in on itself all at once.
Something pops, and the world goes black. Everything hurts and I can’t move my arms. I blink, trying to get the blood out of my eyes, and realize I’m tied to a chair. Across the room, someone lights a candle, and soft, yellow light flickers around us, illuminating the pretty face of a woman.
A woman holding a knife in one hand and a spell book in the other. I’m seeing the world through her eyes, reading the thoughts in her head.
She is Braeya. The woman from the dreams. The one Jacques loves.
And she’s a witch.
Horror fills me as I realize she’s been casting spells on Jacques, making him see and feel things that aren’t real. The love he felt both for her and from her…the freedom of living together at the edge of the world…the baby. None of it was real.
It was only a spell.
20
Istretch my arms over my head, eyeing the clock. I have half an hour until I can leave work, and, assuming there are no occult-like murders, I get the weekend off. Thank. Fucking. God. It’s been a long day filled with briefings, meetings, and going over evidence. Nothing stacks up, and everyone is frustrated and confused. They’re looking for a killer who doesn’t exist. The baby vamps are dead and gone, but it’s only a matter of time before more rise from the ground and begin a new reign of terror.
I straighten up my desk, pull my notebook from my locked drawer and stuff it into my bag, and shut down my computer. Just a few more minutes. I need to go to my apartment, take another load of belongings over to the estate, and try to hunt down my landlord and ask for my money back. Then I’ll have to figure out moving, and it’s ironic, as I have four very strong friends who can’t be seen by anyone other than me.
