Page 31 of Master of My Heart

I shake my head and try to back away, but feel cold metal shackles at my wrists. My arms are pulled over my head and I can’t escape. Ramon reaches out with a decaying hand and grabs my chin with cold fingers.

“You think death can stop me?” he says, giving me an icy smile.

I scream as his deathly hand slides down my body.

“Murderer,” he whispers. “Whore. Slut.”

A knife appears in his hand. He flicks it at my body as he repeats the insults. “Murderer... Whore... Slut... Murderer... Whore... Slut...” With each word, he slices at my skin and my heart bleeds. Over and over... Never stopping.

He’ll never stop.

Sabrina screamed and sat up in the dark room, drenched in a cold sweat. Where is he?

“Sabrina.”

A gentle voice broke through her confusion as strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her against a warm body.

She pushed against him, trying to tear herself from his embrace. “No, please don’t cut me anymore,” she whimpered.

“Sabrina, I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe. It’s Jayson. Remember?”

She stopped fighting when she recognized Jayson’s voice and scent. Seeing light shining in from the hallway, she realized she was no longer with Ramon. Jayson held her tightly, her back against his chest. “Shh. You’re safe, Sabrina.” He rocked her back and forth until she calmed down.

“Is she all right, Jayson?” a female voice asked as the room dimmed slightly from a shape standing in the doorway.

“I think she had another nightmare. I’ve got her, Liz.”

“Okay. Let me know if she needs anything.”

“Thanks.”

Gently, Jayson turned Sabrina around to face him. She could see his handsome features in the light from the hallway. “Sabrina, do you know where you are?”

She nodded, remembering everything now. “At your apartment.”

He smiled. “Good girl.” Warmth spread through her at his words. “Who was hurting you?” he asked in a gentle voice.

She shivered, trying to push away the thought of that horrible man. “His name’s Ramon,” she said hesitantly. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to share. “He... wasn’t a nice guy.”

“That’s who you ran away from?”

She didn’t answer for a moment. Could you run away from a dead man? “Kinda.”

Jayson nodded and brushed back her hair. “Is he always in your nightmares?”

She shook her head and looked at her hands clasped in her lap. “No.” There were worse things to have nightmares about. Things that terrified her, but ones she couldn’t remember when she was awake.

Jayson took her hands in his. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep Ramon away from you.”

Sabrina looked up and saw the determination on his face. She didn’t think he knew Ramon was dead. She certainly wouldn’t tell him she was the one to kill him. Besides, it was easier to let him think she’d run away from a person. What would he think if he found out she hadn’t always been human?

Jayson pulled her into his embrace again. She leaned her head against his chest and sighed. She couldn’t remember the last time she was held... No, she remembered. It had been when her parents were still alive and she woke in the middle of the night with nightmares.

She was pretty sure he didn’t want anything from her. It felt weird, but so good. He stroked her hair, but didn’t ask any more questions. His warmth helped her relax, but she still let out a shiver every once in a while, especially when memories of Ramon’s cold hands on her body pushed their way into the forefront of her mind.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” she whispered, noticing the bedside clock indicated it was almost three o’clock in the morning.

“I’m fine. I’m not the one who has to dance tomorrow.” He chuckled softly.

---