Page 6 of Wicked Dreams

He nodded, causing his black hair to bounce just the slightest bit. “Yeah, I uh, got into a bit of trouble and was sent here.”

“You were senthere? Are your parents divorced or something?” I was jumping to conclusions, but this guy couldn’t be much older than me — maybe a year or two tops.

“Yeah,” he agreed as he leaned closer. “So, why are you back here all alone? Don’t you have a boyfriend to be spending your time with?” A dark look swept through his eyes quickly. Or maybe I imagined it.

I wanted to laugh at what must be a sick joke, but I held it back. “No, no boyfriend.”

His mouth dropped open, but he snapped it closed, pressing his lips together and leaning back in his chair. “Really?No boyfriend?”

I giggled.Was it so hard to believe someone like me would be alone?If he only knew what everyone thought of me. “I’m kind of a loner. I don’t have a lot of friends.”

“That’s hard to believe,” he snorted disbelievingly.

“Why?” I questioned, not even realizing I was leaning closer.

He motioned toward me with his hands. “I mean, look at you. You’re beautiful and seem friendly enough. It’s just hard to believe a girl who looks like you spends all of her time alone. That’s all,” his voice was tight as he stared at me.

A laugh escaped my lips. This couldn’t be real. Seventeen years of paranoia exploded from my mouth. “Is this some sort of joke? Is Brent behind this? Did he send you over to sweet talk me as some sick prank?” I couldn’t help the anger I was sure was visible on my face.

He shook his head, a look of confusion sweeping over his face. “I have no idea who Brent is. He sounds like a complete dick if he’d do that though.”

“Eddie? Wes? Someone had to put you up to this.” I closed my book and pushed back my chair, ready to make a run for it before I got covered in pig’s blood.

I grabbed my book and was rounding the table when he stood directly in front of me, preventing me from making my exit. “Nobody put me up to anything. I saw you sitting here, and I wanted to get to know you. Why is that so hard to believe?” He reached out like he was going to touch me, but his hand quickly fell back to his side as his smoldering gaze locked on mine.

His closeness made my heart leap to life in my chest. “Nobodyhere wants to get to know me. If you’re going to be going to school here, you probably shouldn’t be seen with me or you’ll be the butt of their jokes too,” my voice was hoarse and pained as I admitted the truth to him. I was doing him a favor though. When I tried to step around him, his hands landed on my hips as he stepped in the same direction. The sensation of his hands on my body caused my skin to ignite. A tingle started swirling around low in my belly, and my breathing all but stopped when I looked up into his dark eyes that were still intently locked on me.

“I’m not like them, Olivia. I see who you really are, not who theysayyou are,” his voice was a low growl, laced with a passion I wasn’t used to.

My eyes were prisoners to his, unable to escape his stare. He had a hold on me I didn’t understand. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t look away. Something about him felt…familiar, but that couldn’t be. I’d never be able to forget a face as perfect as his.

“I-I have to go,” I stuttered, knowing that absolutely had to be my next move.

His breath whooshed out, and he nodded before stepping out of my way. I pushed myself forward, almost running through the aisles of books.

“I’ve found you, Olivia. There’s no running from me now,” his deep voice called out behind me, sending echoes of his words around me.

I didn’t let his words stop me. I kept going until I pushed my way through the doors, bright sunlight temporarily blinding me.

My eyes popped open. The sunlight from my bedroom window was shining in my eyes. I quickly sat up, looking around my room.What the hell? That was a dream?

It all felt soreal. I could taste the sweetness of the pancakes Mom made me for breakfast. Smell the musty scent of the old books in the library. Feel his touch on my hips like his hands were still on me. And I was still breathless from running out of the library. And my heart, it was still beating as fast as a hummingbird’s from that hungry look in his eyes.

I threw myself back on my bed, hoping to calm my body that was reeling from that dream, a dream that felt like anything but.

Donovan

"What the fuck,” I hissed, dragging my fingers through my messy, dark hair in frustration. My chest ached, making it difficult to gulp in air. I slammed the door to my apartment in Hell and flopped down onto my couch, cradling my head in my hands. The kingdom of Hell never slept. The howls of torment and pain, cries of debauchery and the revelry of all out hell raising happened every moment here. The sights and sounds of New York City had nothing on the kingdom of Hell. Getting any peace was a rarity. If someone wasn’t busting a bottle or shrieking in the streets, they were fucking loudly enough I couldn’t get a wink of sleep.

Add my thoughts to the situation and I was a wreck.

It was her.Mygirl. The one I’d becomethisfor. And she didn’t have a fucking clue who I even was. Ever since the Devil tore her away from me, I’d been searching for her. Over two hundred years of looking and never finding. Then she’d made a wish, her heart aching so much it had called me to her in her dreams—the very same place I could take her life from her.

She wasn’t the same… And yet she was. She was still beautiful. But she was so broken. So sad. When I knew her, she was strong, filled with spirit and defiance. Now, all traces of who she once was were gone. I hated that. I wanted to go back to her, infiltrate every dream she’d have for eternity. I yearned to make her smile, make her laugh. I’d missed the sound of her laughter for far too long.

I sat there with my head bowed in my hands for a long time before it struck me.I’d found her. I’d found her!The woman the blood in my veins pumped for. She’d been my entire world. Even after all these years, she still was. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t lost hope of ever seeing her again. The years had been long and unkind. I’d made my way through them, keeping my mind numb as I fucked and pillaged women to earn my stay, hoping that someday I’d be able to break the curse the Devil had put on me for stealing what was his.

Her words from so long ago still echoed in my head,“It’s not really stealing if it was never really his.”

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