Page 13 of Mesmerised

“Phew, just a dream, then.”

He grimaced. “No, it wasn’t.”

My head throbbed. I prayed it didn’t hurt like it had over the past few months, but it appeared to be only a tension headache.

“Are you telling me that I grew claws and tore your hands to hell? If so, where are your scars.”

“Yes, you did, but I heal. Fast.”

He was still sombre, and I began to wonder whether he was the one with issues.

“I can assure you I have no issues whatsoever.”

“You read my thoughts?”

“You know I can, Donna. We’ve already shared a mind link, remember?”

And I did remember. Perhaps I’d retreated so far inside my own mind that I didn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality.

“So,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I guess next you’re going to say I was possessed and attacked you like a monster in a horror story. How stupid do you think I am, Antoine?” My anger was beginning to rise, but more out of fear than fury.

“In short, yes. Not the stupid part, but the rest is true.”

I threw back the duvet and headed for the balcony. Fresh air would clear my head and hopefully help me to figure this all out. With my eyes closed, I drew in lungsful of air, exhaling on long breaths. Even without looking, I could feel his solid presence behind me. My body reacted, and that scared me. It had been a long time since I’d been in a relationship. Perhaps that was why my hormones were raging. My thoughts went back to what he’d just said and an image of me tearing at his skin flashed through my mind.

“No. No, it wasn’t me,” I mumbled to myself.

Closing my eyes, I almost wished I hadn’t. More images came to me. I was certain I’d been flying… with Antoine. Another odd hallucination, maybe. I turned to face him.

“Is it all true?”

“Yes. You’re not mad. Everything that’s happened is real.”

“Turn around.”

He did so without hesitation. I touched his back, trying to find traces of where wings would be.Jesus, Donna. Are you really doing this?I said to myself. His muscles tensed under my touch and a tremor ran through him. When he turned to face me, his eyes were soft. Tender.

“No wings,” I stated.

“Would you like to see them?” he asked.

I nodded, afraid to vocalise the word. My jaw dropped when he hauled his T-shirt over his head. It was impossible not to gape at the hard planes of his chest, the corded muscles on his arms, the intricate tattoos, and the inviting little happy trail which disappeared under the waistband of his jeans. He was perfection, no word of a lie. A small, cocky grin lifted the corner of his lips.

Oh God. He looks so… so beautiful.”It was all I could manage without falling to my knees and begging him to take me.

Beautiful seemed such a dumb word to use, but my brain wouldn’t work, stunned into silence by the gorgeous creature before me.

He let loose a pained groan. “I need to teach you how to hide your thoughts.”

My eyes widened and my hand flew to my mouth. “You heard what I was thinking again, didn’t you?”

His smile softened as he touched one finger to my cheek. “Yes, and I’m glad I did.”

Even with all this crazy shit going on in my life, I couldn’t help but return his smile.

“Wings?” I prompted.

I watched in fascination as two wings appeared behind him, seemingly out of nowhere. They were a beautiful dark brown, the same colour as his hair. I backed out onto the balcony and gripped the railings, still facing Antoine. He extended them to the fullest, and a tear slipped from one eye. He was beautiful, blindingly so.

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