Page 31 of Malice
“The answer is the dreamwalks, I’m telling you,” Sin said.
It was so strange to be sitting here talking about this with them after spending weeks terrified they’d find out what I did and be furious with me. It sort of felt like I was being given a present, but now that I had it in my lap, I didn’t really want it anymore. Or maybe I still did. It was really hard to know what I was feeling right now. The conflict was real.
On one hand, I had no way of knowing for certain that these four men I was in danger of catching very real feelings for actually cared about me. There was no denying that I was ameans to an end for all of them, and that if they’d been given a choice, they’d probably all have opted out of this little protective detail.
On the other, I still wasn’t fully convinced that the dreamwalks I’d already had with them hadn’t managed to manipulate their feelings for me. And was that any better than what they had done? We were all using each other here, one way or another.
So, did I save the world and potentially break my own heart in the process? Or let it burn and lose it all anyway?
Like I said, it was really no choice at all in the end.
“Which one of you wants to go first?”
Chapter
Nine
GRIM
Warm night air enveloped me as I strode through my carefully crafted garden, the scent of rain hanging heavy above me, promising a storm but not yet delivering. The clouds wouldn’t dare open until I allowed it, and right now I had other plans. Tonight would hopefully be the first of many, but in case it wasn’t, I intended to make every second count. I was too intimately aware of the fickleness of time to ever take it for granted.
I pulled a pocket watch from my suit jacket and checked the time, more to have something to do with my hands than anything else. Just as it snapped closed with a satisfying click, I spotted the boat docking down at the lake. A thrill chased across my skin at the sight of her. Even from a distance, she was breathtaking, her red hair catching the beams of moonlight as they spilled from the parted clouds.
“Fuck,” I whispered, every step bringing me closer to the one thing I wanted. My wildflower.
Originally, I’d planned on letting her walk up the stone path to meet me, but I couldn’t stand being so far away from her, soinstead I half jogged down the path so I could reach her as she climbed out of the boat. She was dressed in a white négligée, the thin layers of gossamer fabric protecting her modesty. Her lips were curled up in a smirk when I greeted her, one gloved hand offered to help her to her feet.
“Someone’s in a hurry,” she teased.
I’d never hurried for a single soul in my very long existence, but she was right. I wanted to be surrounded by her for as long as possible in this dream. To savor every moment.
“You’re a vision.”
She looked down her body at the ethereal gown and matching robe I’d conjured for her. “What, this old thing?” Without prompting, she gave me a little twirl, allowing the material to billow out around her ankles. But it was the giggle that accompanied the move, so lighthearted and free, that had my heart seizing in my chest. “I’m honestly shocked dream-you would put dream-me in something with so much fabric.”
“Isn’t it all part of the process? Slowly unwrapping the most perfect present I’ve ever received.”
She returned my gaze with a flirtatious one of her own. “Why, Grim, I dare say you’re trying to seduce me.” Then she leaned in and filled my nose with her delectable scent, dropping her voice as she did. “You should know, I’m a sure thing. You don’t have to try that hard.”
“You deserve slow and deliberate pursuit. I intend to seduce you until you’re begging me to take you.” My voice was low and controlled, but inside I was already barely able to contain my need.
Merri’s eyelashes fluttered as she breathed in deeply. “I think it might be you who will be begging.”
“Why not both of us?”
Her smile was warm as she leaned into my side. “I can work with that.” Then she let out a murmur of contentment as she took in the garden. “You and your flowers.”
“Consider it a gift.”
“These are for me?”
“Every variety of night bloomers fills this garden, just for you to enjoy.”
She pressed her free hand to her heart. “Of course you wouldn’t do anything by half-measure. Other girls get bouquets, but Death gave me a whole-ass garden. I wouldn’t have taken you for a romantic, Grimsby. But it suits you.”
“I’ve never had the opportunity to stretch that particular muscle.”
She peered up at me, holding my gaze for several heartbeats before replying, “No, I suppose you haven’t.”
