Page 13 of Dark Visions

“Like my work?” she said, staring at him. “I-I don’t know. I mean, no, no, I don’t like my work. I’m not even sure why I went to school for law.” She started laughing and stared at his concerned expression. “I’m sorry, Kane. I promise you I’m not losing my mind. You just may have asked the million-dollar question. I honestly have no idea why I chose my career path. I hate what I do. The law never seems to be on the side of the victims, but on the side of corporations or big dollars.”

“Well, then, I guess we know what you should do.”

“But what will I do to make a living? I can’t live off my trust forever.”

“All in good time, baby. For now, let’s get some sleep and hold hands while we do it.”

He grinned down at her, kissing her sweetly. Her bare breasts pressed against the heat of his t-shirt, and Kane cursed himself for not getting her something else to wear. Not that he minded her being nearly naked next to him, but it would damn sure interfere with his sleep.

Kane’s mind drifted back to the nightmare, the vision, whatever it was. He saw every detail, every drop of blood. He heard the laughter of the woman and the excitement in Krauss’s eyes as he strangled the butchered woman. It was like something from a horror film.

The soft breathing sounds emanating from Aislinn indicated that she had finally fallen back to sleep. Kane was reluctant to close his eyes, unsure if the visions would return. He admired Aislinn even more after seeing the images in her mind.

His time in the service had exposed him to humanity’s worst. Yet somehow, the images projected in Aislinn’s mind were nearly his undoing. Maybe because he felt her fear and panic as well. Either way, Kane was going to make sure that they figured out what was happening to them both.

Drifting off to sleep, his eyes fluttered at the still-falling rain outside the massive windows. The blackness of night covered the city in its veil of secrets and lies.

CHAPTER NINE

Aislinn woke to a warmth unlike anything she’d felt in her entire life. In nothing but her panties, cocooned in heat and comfort, she smiled. Opening her eyes, she stared out the windows to the early morning light. The clouds were heavy with more rain, but the day dawned as always.

Looking down, she saw the big, muscled arms wrapped around her waist. One large hand lay flat against her stomach, the other curved perfectly over her breast. Aislinn smiled again, looking at the odd sight. Kane’s hands were so manly, so perfectly formed. The veins protruded from the back of his rough, callused paws. The nails short and manicured, yet not manicured by a professional.

She let her finger trail down his forearm to the scar just at the bend of his elbow. She snuggled down further into his hold and laid a soft kiss to the palm of his hand.

“You keep moving like that, and I won’t be able to leave this bed, and neither will you,” he said in a gravelly voice. Kane always had a raspy quality to his voice, but mornings apparently made his vocal cords even harsher. Aislinn found it sexy and unsettling in a panty-melting sort of way. She giggled and turned to face him.

“Good morning,” she said, kissing the tip of his nose. In the light of day, she could see more clearly the vivid green of his eyes set off by the dark brown of his hair. She traced the long scar on his face and kissed the rough edge. “Does it bother you?”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I’m glad of that, but I was wondering if it bothered you that I touch it, that I kiss it. I like the way you look, Kane. I like everything about you, and I like touching you. I love that you survived.”

He stared into her eyes, brushing a long strand of hair from her face. He kissed her lips sweetly.

“No, honey, it doesn’t bother me at all. You can touch me wherever, whenever you like.”

“Careful what you ask for,” she said with a wicked grin.

“For a woman who has never experienced true intimacy with a man, you sure know all the right things to say,” he smiled.

“I may be a virgin, Kane, but I’m still a woman and know what I should say and do. With you, it’s not about what I should say. It’s what Ihave tosay. It’s like I can’tnotsay it. I know that sounds so awful, but my mind sort of just takes over, and my mouth can’t control itself.”

Kane laughed a full deep laugh. His head rolled back against the pillow.

“Aislinn, baby, you can always be honest with me. Do we risk turning on the news?” he asked cautiously.

“We have to, eventually,” she said, sitting up, pulling the sheet tight around her breasts. He clicked the television remote, and the screen came to life. “Don’t be shocked if it’s not on the news this morning. It may be several days before we see it.”

“Once again, our top story comes from Forest Gate, the exclusive gated community on the upper West Side, where this morning police are investigating a double murder.”

“That’s right, Jim. I’m here at Forest Gate outside the home of Andrea and Mark Wascom. The Wascoms found brutally murdered by their maid early this morning around six a.m. were native to this area. According to the maid, the house was locked as usual, and the alarm was engaged. She immediately suspected something when she noticed footprints of what she described as blood on the kitchen floor. Police say she found the couple on their bed in what can only be described as a gruesome scene akin to Jack the Ripper.

Mark Wascom is CEO of Wascom Enterprises, a computer software company that develops programs for the government, universities, and hospitals. The couple have no children, and it’s unclear at this time what the possible motive was. This is Allison Harvey reporting for KGTV. Back to you, Jim.”

“Shit!” said Kane.

“Well, at least this time, if I had reported it, you would have been my alibi. I didn’t see the man last night. I only saw Krauss and a blonde woman.”

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