Master of My Heart

by Marissa Honeycutt

  “I will find you, Sabrina. You are mine and cannot escape.”

  He runs toward me blindly, then I feel him wrap his arms around me.

  I push against him. I don’t want him to find me. I want to be free! “No!” I exclaim, grabbing his arm and trying to pull it away, but he is too strong. He pinches harder and kisses my neck.

  “Mine, Sabrina. You are mine.”

  I whimper as his hand slides down between my legs.

  “No . . . no . . . No!” I cry and twist away from him. His eyes flash with anger as he lunges toward me.

  “No!” Sabrina screamed, sitting up in bed, sweat streaming down her back and face.

  Her eyes snapped open, but she was blind in the darkness. Where is he?! her mind screamed. She still felt the ghostly arms around her. She tried to stand, but something twisted around her body and legs immobilized her. Sobbing, she desperately pulled against the restraint.

  Light appeared near her and she screamed again. Whatever held her loosened. She fell away from the light onto the hard floor. The impact knocked the breath out of her. She turned onto her hands and knees, struggling to suck in much-needed oxygen.

  A man approached. She yelped and crawled away from him, knocking her head into a hard object. She twisted around and stared in horror as the man towered over her in the darkness.

  “Sabrina? What—” He reached out, and she screamed and shook him off.

  He crouched down and held his hands up. His voice was soft and soothing. “Sabrina, it’s okay. It’s Jayson.”

  She froze, trying to place the name. Images flashed before her eyes. Trains. Drinking. Dancing. Cereal . . .

  “Jayson?” she whimpered.

  “Yeah, Sabrina. It’s Jayson.” He slowly reached out again. This time, she didn’t scream or shrink away. “You’re okay. Do you remember where you are?”

  After a few deep breaths to slow her racing mind and heart, she remembered. “Boston?” she whispered. “Your apartment?”

  “Yeah.” Jayson sat down next to her and took her hand. “Did you have a nightmare?”

  She nodded and opened her mouth to tell him what happened, but the vision was gone.

  “Do you have nightmares a lot?”

  “My life was a nightmare,” she said, then bit her lip, scolding herself for admitting such a thing.

  He squeezed her hand. Warmth spread through her body, helping calm her erratic heartbeat. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” he whispered. “I hope this is a new beginning for you.”

  They sat silently for a few minutes as her pulse returned to normal.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked after a while, breaking the silence.

  “Hungry?”

  “Yeah. Some buddies of mine come over on Wednesdays and we play poker. The pizza just arrived, if you want some. Or there’s healthier stuff in the fridge.”

  Sabrina took a deep breath, smelling the pizza, and her stomach rumbled. “That sounds good,” she admitted, thankful for the change in subject. How long has it been since I’ve had something as simple as pizza?

  Jayson stood and helped her to her feet.

  “How long was I asleep?” she asked, noticing it was dark outside.

  “About eight hours. I s’pose you needed it.”

  “I think I did.” She felt better than she had in days.

  Sabrina followed Jayson out into the dining room and squinted in the bright light. Three men sat at the table, one of whom she thought was the guy from the snack room that morning. He didn’t frown at her this time, though.

  “Guys, this is Sabrina. Sabrina, this is Micah, Kyle, and Scott. You met Micah’s grumpy ass this morning.”

  She only looked at each of them long enough to get a sense of their basic attributes. Micah had short, wavy black hair and dark brown eyes. Kyle’s eyes were greenish-brown and he had light brown hair. Scott’s blond hair was curly and his eyes were the color of cognac.

  “Hello, Sabrina,” Kyle said with a seductive grin, leaning back in his chair. Scott grinned in a similar manner. Micah only nodded.

  Sabrina pressed her back against the wall. Ramon had a few regular poker games at his compound and she was often awarded to the winner. This isn’t Ramon’s house. Jayson wasn’t going to pimp her out to the winner.

  “Give her a break,” Jayson muttered, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “She’s had a tough couple of days.” He turned to her, motioning toward an empty chair. “Sit down. I’ll get you some pizza.” Nodding, Sabrina sat gingerly on the edge of it. “I usually have more guys here, but my non-dancing buddies are out of town.”

  “Hence why I still have money in front of me,” Scott said, motioning to the pile of nickels, dimes, and quarters in front of him. The others laughed.

  Sabrina offered a timid smile.

  “Here ya go.” Jayson put a plate containing two pieces of pepperoni pizza in front of her. “Scott’s a terrible player,” he said in a stage whisper. “That’s why we let him come.”

  Scott frowned as the other guys laughed. Then he shrugged. “Can’t really argue that.”

  Sabrina closed her eyes and inhaled. The pizza smelled delicious and she grinned up at Jayson. “Thank you.”

  He looked pleased. “You want something to drink? Cola?”

  She nodded.

  A few minutes later, Jayson placed a glass of cola on the table, then sat in the chair next to her.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “Jayson says you made callbacks for tomorrow,” Kyle said. “Congrats.”

  “Thank you,” she said with a nervous smile, glancing up at him out of the corner of her eye as she took a bite. He looked at her curiously.

  “Where are you from?” Scott asked.

  She swallowed her pizza. “Arizona.”

  “I’ve heard it’s warm there,” Kyle remarked.

  She smiled. “Yeah. I nearly froze on my way to the studio this morning. I don’t know how I’ll survive the winter.” She bit her lip, realizing she didn’t know if she’d still be here then. “If I make it,” she added with a nervous shrug.

  Jayson squeezed her hand. “We’ll find you a nice warm winter coat.”

  She gave him a thankful smile, warmth spreading through her like honey.

  “You a soloist or principal back home?” Micah asked, picking up his pile of coins and stacking them neatly in front of him.

  Sabrina looked at him for a moment, trying to figure out if his even tone meant he was hostile or not. She couldn’t read him with any certainty, which scared her. She depended on her abilities to read people in order to know what they wanted and to keep out of trouble. Jayson was easy to read. His expressions were open and unguarded. Scott and Kyle, too. But Micah . . . He guarded his emotions, and it made her stomach clench. Did he hate her? Did he want her? She couldn’t tell.

  She swallowed. “I . . . Neither. The company I danced with wasn’t big enough to have titles like that.”

  Micah raised his eyebrow. “And you thought you should audition here?” He snorted.

  She looked at her plate. He definitely didn’t like her. That much was clear. And he was right about her trying to audition here.

  Jayson narrowed his eyes and pressed his mouth down into a frown. “Shut the fuck up, Micah. She spent days on a train and slept in the station before dancing with practically nothing in her stomach, yet she still made callbacks. I’d say that’s some serious talent.”

  Micah’s mouth dropped open. Sabrina stared at Jayson as he glowered at Micah. Why was he defending her? She was a stranger to him. Why did he care what others thought of her? Not wanting him to fight with his friends, she tried to think of something to say to calm their anger, but no words sprang to mind.

  “You slept in the train station?” Kyle asked, clearly bewildered. “Why?”

 
“My money got stolen on the train,” she mumbled, looking down at the table.

  “Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice sincere. Sabrina glanced up and saw it in his eyes. He turned to Jayson. “That’s why she’s here?”

  Jayson nodded and gave Sabrina an encouraging smile. “Martin asked me and Liz to look out for her. To give her a fair chance tomorrow. You should’ve seen her this morning. She looked like hell.” His smile turned boyish. “No offense.”

  “I cleaned up as best as I could.”

  “I’m sure you did.” His expression softened and she looked away. She felt her cheeks heat and saw Micah watching her, his expression softer, but still guarded. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully for a moment, then he gave her a small smile. Sabrina blinked, surprised, then returned it.

  “Do you play poker?” Scott asked, drawing her attention from Micah.

  “I’ve played a few times.”

  “You any good?” Micah asked.

  She shrugged. “I’m good at reading people.” Or I used to be.

  He smiled. “Here.” He slid a handful of coins toward her. “I wanna see this.”

  “No. I don’t have any money to play.” She pushed it away.

  “Consider it a loan that you don’t have to pay back . . . unless you win.”

  Sabrina shook her head, nervous. She used to be able to read people really well, but now that she was fully human, she didn’t know if she could do it. When Micah raised his eyebrows, Sabrina sighed. “Okay.” She didn’t want to offend Jayson’s friends.

  Sabrina closed her eyes and concentrated, focusing on each man until, miraculously, she felt them. It was faint, but she could sense them. She opened her eyes and studied their faces as Kyle dealt the cards. She had a decent hand and won by calling Micah’s bluff. The second win was courtesy of good cards. She lost the third hand intentionally because she saw Micah getting upset. She won the next by calling Kyle’s bluff. By the end of the night, she’d won about thirty bucks. They weren’t high rollers, but it was more than she had at the beginning of the night. She gave Micah back the ten bucks he lent her. He didn’t look happy about losing, but he actually smiled at her in a friendly way.

  A chill ran through her body as she realized that she was reading them accurately. Did it mean her Immortality was returning? Would Khyan be able to find her?

  Scott laughed. “You’re gonna give Chase a run for his money when he gets back.”

  The chill grew colder. Chase? How many men named Chase could there be in Boston? Oh God. Please don’t let it be the same man!

  “Who’s that?” Sabrina asked casually, glancing at Jayson, who was talking to Micah in the kitchen.

  “Jayson’s best bud,” Scott answered, scooping up the coins on the table and dumping them into a leather bag. “They’ve been friends since they were kids.”

  It felt as if a cord had wrapped around Sabrina’s throat, choking her. “Oh.”

  Scott rolled his eyes “Yeah. You’ll probably fall for him, too. All the women do.”

  Sabrina gripped the table and concentrated on breathing. It’s not the same man. It can’t be. Her Chase was as intelligent as he was handsome, and with one look at her, he’d surely see what she had become. She couldn’t bear his disgust.

  Chapter Twelve

  “You are a bad girl, Sabrina.”

  Ramon stands in front of me, but he doesn’t look right. His neck sits at a strange angle on his shoulders, his blank eyes partially hidden behind stringy, wet hair. His normally impeccable suit is torn at the lapel and his tie hangs loose.

  “You tried to kill me,” he growls.

  I shake my head and try to back away, but feel cold metal shackles at my wrists. My arms are pulled over my head and I can’t escape. Ramon reaches out with a decaying hand and grabs my chin with cold fingers.

  “You think death can stop me?” he says, giving me an icy smile.

  I scream as his deathly hand slides down my body.

  “Murderer,” he whispers. “Whore. Slut.”

  A knife appears in his hand. He flicks it at my body as he repeats the insults. “Murderer . . . Whore . . . Slut . . . Murderer . . . Whore . . . Slut . . .” With each word, he slices at my skin and my heart bleeds. Over and over . . . Never stopping.

  He’ll never stop.

  Sabrina screamed and sat up in the dark room, drenched in a cold sweat. Where is he?

  “Sabrina.”

  A gentle voice broke through her confusion as strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her against a warm body.

  She pushed against him, trying to tear herself from his embrace. “No, please don’t cut me anymore,” she whimpered.

  “Sabrina, I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe. It’s Jayson. Remember?”

  She stopped fighting when she recognized Jayson’s voice and scent. Seeing light shining in from the hallway, she realized she was no longer with Ramon. Jayson held her tightly, her back against his chest. “Shh. You’re safe, Sabrina.” He rocked her back and forth until she calmed down.

  “Is she all right, Jayson?” a female voice asked as the room dimmed slightly from a shape standing in the doorway.

  “I think she had another nightmare. I’ve got her, Liz.”

  “Okay. Let me know if she needs anything.”

  “Thanks.”

  Gently, Jayson turned Sabrina around to face him. She could see his handsome features in the light from the hallway. “Sabrina, do you know where you are?”

  She nodded, remembering everything now. “At your apartment.”

  He smiled. “Good girl.” Warmth spread through her at his words. “Who was hurting you?” he asked in a gentle voice.

  She shivered, trying to push away the thought of that horrible man. “His name’s Ramon,” she said hesitantly. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to share. “He . . . wasn’t a nice guy.”

  “That’s who you ran away from?”

  She didn’t answer for a moment. Could you run away from a dead man? “Kinda.”

  Jayson nodded and brushed back her hair. “Is he always in your nightmares?”

  She shook her head and looked at her hands clasped in her lap. “No.” There were worse things to have nightmares about. Things that terrified her, but ones she couldn’t remember when she was awake.

  Jayson took her hands in his. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep Ramon away from you.”

  Sabrina looked up and saw the determination on his face. She didn’t think he knew Ramon was dead. She certainly wouldn’t tell him she was the one to kill him. Besides, it was easier to let him think she’d run away from a person. What would he think if he found out she hadn’t always been human?

  Jayson pulled her into his embrace again. She leaned her head against his chest and sighed. She couldn’t remember the last time she was held . . . No, she remembered. It had been when her parents were still alive and she woke in the middle of the night with nightmares.

  She was pretty sure he didn’t want anything from her. It felt weird, but so good. He stroked her hair, but didn’t ask any more questions. His warmth helped her relax, but she still let out a shiver every once in a while, especially when memories of Ramon’s cold hands on her body pushed their way into the forefront of her mind.

  “I’m sorry I woke you,” she whispered, noticing the bedside clock indicated it was almost three o’clock in the morning.

  “I’m fine. I’m not the one who has to dance tomorrow.” He chuckled softly.

  She let out a soft laugh, but bit back a teasing remark. She didn’t know if she was ready to relax that much with him. She shivered again as she sat up. “I’m okay. You can go back to bed.”

  Jayson cupped her cheek and studied her eyes, then shook his head. “You still look terrified. Lie down. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
/>   She didn’t want to be a bother, but she didn’t want to be alone, either. His presence comforted her and she didn’t want him to leave.

  She lay down and he scooted in behind her, wrapping his arms around her. She wanted to cry at the simple sensation of being held. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feeling of his body pressed against hers. His breathing was slow and steady, and she felt her own slowing to match his. She didn’t want to sleep. She just wanted to enjoy the feeling of being safe.

  After lying there a while, she felt his hot skin on her lower back and realized her shirt had pushed up a little. His legs were curved against hers. Sabrina’s mind started to wander to more carnal ideas.

  She shivered again, but not from fear. His skin against hers . . . his hot, hard body behind her. She wanted to turn around and press herself against him.

  Why on earth do I want to have sex when I don’t have to?

  Maybe that was precisely it. Because she didn’t have to. He was a handsome man. And kind. She’d never been with a nice man before.

  His hand slid down to her hip. “Don’t you wear shorts or panties or something to bed?” he muttered.

  “I feel trapped if I do that.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered. She felt him growing hard against her rear. “I’m sorry, Sabrina. You’re a very attractive woman.”

  “Do you want me to help?”

  He stiffened.

  Long seconds of silence passed as her heart pounded in her ears.

  “Why did you ask that?” he asked, his voice strained.

  “Because that’s what I’m supposed to do,” she whispered.

  “Oh, Sabrina,” he choked out. “Why on earth would you think that?” His erection was gone.

  She didn’t have an answer to his question.

  “Go to sleep,” he whispered and kissed the back of her head. “You have a busy day tomorrow.”

  She stared out the window for a long time. She couldn’t say she felt lonely, but she definitely felt lost.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sabrina woke next to a man, her head on his bare chest and his arm around her. Without thinking, she trailed her hand down his flat stomach and onto his morning-hard cock. She stroked it a few times over his pants, then slipped under the waistband to feel his silken skin.