Page 18 of Valkyrie Unknown

The sound reached my ears, and my eyes flew open.

I was alone. In a hotel room in Elko. Sunlight was streaming through my window, blinding me.

The dream lingered on my skin, and the sensations of being a part of something bigger ached in my chest. I fucking hated dreams like that. I needed a shower, to wash away the clouds and the unrealistic sensations plaguing me. Those of safety and security.

I was already moving toward the bathroom, stripping off the T-shirt and panties I’d slept in, and yanking the shower door open, to turn on the faucet. I stepped into the tub without waiting for the water to be the right temperature.

Icy drops bit into my skin like pellets assaulting me, and drilled away the lingering sensations. But the heat was back too quickly. A waterfall of warmth, falling around me. Blanketing me and threatening to draw me back into the safe cocoon my brain had trapped me in while I dreamed.

The water drew my desire and need to the surface, and the sensations of the dream flooded my body. But with consciousness here, it all felt more real.

At the phantom touch of being pressed to the wall, I leaned my back against the tile. The shock of cold jarred me but didn’t yank me from the shapeless fantasy settling in. A mouth was on mine. It was also on my breast, sucking one nipple. Licking furiously.

I moved a hand up, to mimic the sensation. To make it more real. I kneaded my skin, rolled a nub between my fingers, and pinched until I ached with need.

The pulse between my legs grew more insistent. In the dream, there had been a touch. A penetration. Two of them. One from the front, one from behind. Why had my brain decided I was fucking the physically impossible? More importantly, I was disappointed I only had one hand free to recreate the feelings.

I slipped my hand between my legs, and drove my fingers inside me. I was slick—soaking wet—from the intense dream. The penetration wasn’t as good as a hard, thick cock, but it was something.

Not enough of asomethingto get me off. I neededmore.

I didn’t have more. I didn’t have that security and love. I only had the physical, which was all I needed.

I slipped my fingers to my clit and focused on the sensations. The jumbled dream had me near climax, and the right touch would finish me.

When I bumped my clit, a jolt of desire rocked my body. I chased the feeling, stroking the swollen nub. Homing in on the spot that felt the best. Pushing and working myself, as need built inside. I was so close. Right there. If I could just?—

Orgasm spilled through me, and my body jerked. I kept teasing myself, as I clenched from wave after wave, until my touch was too much. Part of me ached for thatmore, but I wouldn’t find it here, and I needed to get on with my day. The wall held me upright and I breathed jaggedly until I caught my breath.

“Okay, that’s enough of that.” Saying the words out loud helped forge that final bond to pull me the rest of the way into reality.

Other people had nightmares about monsters chasing them. About running for their lives and losing the ones they loved.

I’d lived that. My bad dreams were about being loved. About sex that came with a connection and healed the ache of loneliness inside.

How fucked up was that?

I turned the water to lukewarm, to keep myself grounded, and moved through the rest of my shower on autopilot. I towel-dried my hair enough to keep it from dripping everywhere, and pulled it into a braid, then dressed.

A quick check of my phone confirmed what the too-bright sunlight implied—I’d slept far later than normal. It was after eleven in the morning. There were two texts from Gwen, about an hour and a half apart.

Gwen: We’re at the diner for breakfast if you want to join us. To hang out, not work.

Gwen: Heading home. Thanks for everything.

An ache pinged in my chest at missing out on another hour or two of fake-friend time.

It was for the best. No reason to get attached. Not to them and not to Davyn.

There was a phone call as well, and as soon as I saw Enid’s number, I called her back. Enid was helping me uncover a path to force my powers to appear. Not because I had some overwhelming desire to become omnipotent, but because I wanted these fucking prophecies done and out of the way.

“Hey,” she answered cheerfully..

“How have you been?” I stuck to the small talk as a polite opener.

We’d promised more than once that we’d never get too involved in the details of each other’s lives. We were acquaintances, not friends. I didn’t make friends anymore.

“Same as always.” There was a shrug in her voice. “You make it to town okay?”

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