Page 20 of Seduce & Destroy

Suspense clung in the thick air, intensifying the longer we remained silent. Laney stared transfixed at the fire, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. A deep frown became engraved on her mouth.

She was thinking too hard.

“I had a dream about you,” I broke the silence, and her ears perked up. “Not recently. But it is strange that we have the same recollection of this moment. We were barely teenagers in secondary school, and you were in a tartan skirt.”

Questions began to form in her head. In all my time observing her at St James’, she was prettiest when she was thinking. Behind her eyes were worlds of intellect and if the piles of books were any indication, they would be filled with intricate stories. I could see it at play now as the frown she wore was replaced by confusion. I got her attention.

“What colour?” She asked.

I smirked. I knew she wanted to know if I thought of her the same way she thought of me all this time. But whether I corroborated her story wasn’t important. The truth wasn’t important right now, I just needed her to focus on this rather than my history.

“I remember a room, dimly lit with mirrors reflecting off each wall. There was a faint dripping from a tap in the corner. I thought I was alone in there. Confused.”

She tried to interject again, twisting in her seat to look at me, but I kept still and continued speaking.

“The light would flicker when the wind swept in through the stained-glass window. It caused a chill, so I tried to hide in one of the alcoves of the room.”

The cubicles hid me well enough as I observed the lonely girl who had been sitting alone at lunch. While the chatter of children filled the room, she remained quiet. I could hear that same quiet now as she clung to each word. “But then, I heard a slight crying in the dark and it drew me out of the shadows. It was you, most definitely. I saw you then as I see you now, long dark blonde hair, piercing grey-green doe eyes, and these wonderful lips.” I placed a hand on her upper thigh, leaning in. Her eyes fixed on me. “With your looks alone, you won me. I wrapped a comforting arm around you, wishing to ease the tears with my caress.”

I shook my head. It was cruel, making it seem like a dream when it was the truth, but it wasn’t fair to give her an illusion of connection when I needed to get over her. Truly, this obsession has brought me to this haunted house, and directly to the sight of an innocent dead girl. There was no future for us. Break the illusion.

“But–”

“And then you screamed a terrible screech, a light flashed, and my eyes flew open. I blinked to return to that place, but I just couldn’t do it.” I fixed my gaze on her portrait, lifting my hand from her thigh to her hip. “My mother was at the foot of my bed. Dad was ready to begin my lesson.”

Laney opened her mouth to speak but no words tumbled out. Vulnerable. Malleable.

My hand dipped under her hoodie; my thumb gently caressed the soft skin. She hadn’t recoiled from my touch, not even glanced at the journey of my hand. It didn’t feel sexual, just close. Very close. And it was new.

“I dreamed of you.” Her gaze focused on me, and I suppressed a groan at her softened eyes. “Your dark hair, the way you walk, and the way you eased my hurting. But it was all a daydream.” In an instant, she turned herself back around. “A teacher ushered me out the bathroom. Away from a ghost,” she spat underneath her breath, “Apparently.”

She turned back around and shivered when I tickled the fine hairs on her stomach.

“What did you think of me?” I said.

“I thought…” She began but paused as my fingertips grazed the top of her trousers and her breath became increasingly laboured. “I thought you walked down the corridors with strength, exuding confidence that I envied.”

“Uh-huh,” I urged.

“But you seemed lonely,” she said.

My hand slid below her waistband, “What else?” I whispered, my mouth in her ear.

“You looked hot in a skirt.” She blushed. “As you do now, in a leather jacket.”

Fingers thread through her pubic hair. “Oh yeah? You like that?”

“Oh yeah.” She said, “But I hate liars.” Suddenly, she slapped my hand away from her trousers and jumped from the bed to sit at her vanity. My hand stung. “Leave.”

“Laney,” I pleaded.

“Leave. Now.”

I left without another word.

Chapter 7

LANEY

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