Page 100 of Pretty Nightmare

When we break apart, he rolls off to the side and unbuckles my belt. Still watching me for… something. A sign of resistance, maybe.

But I don’t resist. And just as he finishes tugging on my zipper I’m already dragging my jeans down my legs. He pops the button on his jeans too. And then, just a few moments later, we’re lying naked next to each other. His hand on my cock, pumping it in his fist. And my hand reaching under his balls to cup them. Squeezing gently, the way I squeeze my own when I’m jerking myself off.

I don’t know how far we’re gonna go.

I don’t know what this looks like tomorrow.

I don’t know anything.

And when he leans his head down to take my cock in his mouth, I stop worrying about it.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - INDIE

“Donovan!” I shake him awake.

He opens his eyes to find me peering down at him with worry.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I whisper, not wanting to wake up Maggie down the hall. “You punched me!”

“What?”

“I think you were having a bad dream. Or maybe I was having a bad dream?”

“Fuck,” he says, sitting up. “I was having a dream.” He looks over at the window, then glances at the clock. It’s still very early. Just past five.

“I was having a dream too.” I’m still breathing hard from the memory of it. “Fucking forest. I hate that dream.”

“Forest?” Donovan is still confused. “I was in a forest too.”

“It was that hypnosis. I know it. It brought back memories.”

“What kind of memories?”

I shake my head. “Running. I was running. Like… full on, heart-pumping running. For my life, or something.”

“Was someone chasing you?” His eyes dart back and forth as he looks at me. Like there’s something hidden behind them.

I squint my eyes, thinking. Then I shrug. “I dunno. It’s fading now. Fucking forest.”

“What kind of forest was it? Like the one here? Or—”

“No. Tropical. A jungle. What kind of forest were you in?”

“Same.”

I flop back on the bed, so close to him our shoulders are touching. “That’s weird, don’t you think?”

“Maybe?”

I prop myself up on one elbow so I can see him. “Maybe? You don’t think it’s weird that we have the same dream on the same night?”

“Was it the same? We don’t know. Maybe it was just the imagery from the relaxation tape?”

Relaxation tape? Is he for real?

“Was there a beach?” he asks.

“No. It was just a forest.”