Page 23 of Inception

“Is that it?” I raised my eyebrow at him. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stand the heat without liquefying.

He looked down at his own hand still wrapped around my arm and quickly released it. “Yeah. That’s it.”

I felt a surge of vindication the moment I left All Saints and realized that Nikki was still outside with Morgan, probably waiting on Trace to finish work. This could have easily turned into a really ugly situation had I walked out of here with him. It was fast becoming obvious that the more I avoided Trace, the better off I would be. I just wasn’t sure avoiding him was something I could actually do, or something I wanted to do, and I wasn’t sure which one scared me more.

I searched the street for Dominic, not entirely sure if we had actually agreed to meet or not, and secretly found myself wishing that I would see him again tonight. That I could escape my own prison and delay the inevitable grief I always felt when I was by myself at night—even if only for a little while.

Sadly, it seemed my hopes had been dashed upon completing a thorough scan of the area and coming up empty of any impeccably handsome, luminary blonds. I pulled out my cell phone and crossed the street, heading down towards the main Boulevard as I keyed in the cab company’s telephone number.

“Who are you calling?” asked a honeyed voice from above.

My heart jumped out of its cage as I looked up and saw Dominic walking on the cement ledge beside me. His black overcoat catching air as he walked the plank with feline precision.

My hand rushed up to tame my heart. “You scared me.”

“Sorry,” he said unceremoniously and leapt off the ledge. “You’re early.”

I flooded my sight with his profile as he continued to pace beside me. “They let me off early,” I said, glancing over his shoulder at the unfamiliar grounds. “What were you doing?” I asked, straining my neck as I tried to see what was up there.

“It’s a park,” he leaned in and whispered, answering my query as though he could hear my thought. “I was taking a walk.”

“At night?”

“Yes, at night. Don’t you like the night, angel?”

“No, not really.”

“Why not?”

One too many close encounters with the undead. Of course, there was no way I was opening that first-class ticket back to the nut house. “It’s a long story.”

“I have plenty of time,” he said without looking.

“Well, maybe not a long story. More like an embarrassing one,” I said and waived my hand dismissively, trying to seem detached and casual about it. “I’m just a little scared of the dark, that’s all.”

“Is that so?” He seemed amused by this.

“Yes, and I don’t find it very funny. I mean, it’s not like I sleep with a night light or anything, but I definitely try to avoid it if I can.” And for the record, I wasn’t opposed to a night light.

“Tell me, Jemma, what is it that you think is hiding out there in the dark?”

This was getting a little too close for comfort. “I don’t know, the usual I guess…goblins and monsters and ghosts, oh my.” I tried to laugh it out but it came out fake and pitchy.

His lips threatened a smile. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that tonight. Not while you’re with me.”

“Is that right?” I said with a hint of ridicule. “Are you going to protect me from all the big, bad monsters?”

“Angel, I am the big, bad monster,” he said grimly as he crossed his hands behind his back.

A cold chill traveled down my spine as I waited for a smirk or a wink, but neither came. I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how little I actually knew about Dominic. This man, as attractive as he was, could very well be some deranged serial killer just out on a midnight stroll, preying on his next victim. I mean, who takes walks at night anyway?

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as the scenarios played out in my mind.

“Relax, Jemma,” he said with a playful smirk on his lips. “You’re making it far too easy for me.”

Exhale.

I laughed nervously, trying to play it cool while feeling ten shades of ridiculous for allowing him to get the better of my fears so easily. Though who could blame me? After everything I’ve seen, there was just no telling anymore.

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