Dream So Dark: Book 2, Dream Maker Series (Dream Makers Series)
Page 25
The sun was beginning to rise when she finally stirred and then slowly opened her eyes. She had dark circles around them as if she hadn’t slept in a long time. Her eyes were red and bloodshot and the lids swollen and puffy. Sweat had gathered on her body, causing her hair to stick to her forehead and neck.
She looked up at him, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. “What’s happening to me?” she whispered as she broke, and her weariness and fear pulled her apart.
“I don’t know, Sarah. But I promise I will find out, and I will fix it,” Dair vowed. “I need to go out in order to look into this. Can you stay awake?” She nodded as she pushed herself into a sitting position. “I want you to stay close to Darla and Wayne,” he said.
Serenity nodded.
As if she’d heard her name, Darla pushed the door open and stuck her head in. “Hey, you two, I’ve got breakfast made. Y’all want to come have some?”
Serenity looked as though food was the last thing she wanted to think about, but Dair stood and pulled her by her hand, forcing her out of bed.
“Serenity was just saying how hungry she was,” Dair said as Serenity glared at him.
“What about you, Dair? Should I set out a plate, or do you need to go?”
“I’ve got to be off, but I’ll be back later to check on everyone.”
Darla waved to him and then turned back toward the kitchen, already distracted by what she was going to do that day
Dair kissed Serenity’s forehead. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Says the man who is supposed to have power over dreams, yet couldn’t stop my nightmare,” she said dryly.
Dair flinched. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s not your fault. I can’t expect you to be all powerful.”
“It would be nice if I had other powers though.”
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her body close to his. The warmth she exuded felt so good against his cooler form. Dair pressed his face into her neck and fought the urge to keep her with him. He knew he couldn’t drag her with him everywhere he went, but he hated leaving her.
When Serenity pulled back so she could look up at him, Dair sucked in a deep breath. Her eyes held such longing, and her lips were parted ever so slightly. She was breathtaking, and he needed no more invitation than that. He leaned his head down to hers and pressed his lips against her. He kissed her deeply, allowing his tongue to explore her warm mouth and giving her the same liberty with his. Dair’s hands skimmed up her hips to her waist and then around to her back. One stayed on her lower back, pulling her tightly against him while the other hand moved up until it was buried in her hair. She tasted so good, and she was an addiction he never wanted to be rid of.
Her small moan caused his own chest to growl, and he walked her backward until her back was pushed against the wall and his chest was pressed closely to hers.
“You are a temptation that is almost too much to deny,” he whispered against her mouth.
Serenity tried to pull him tighter against him, but he resisted. Dair’s hands moved from her body to the wall on either side of her head, boxing her in. He pressed his forehead to hers as he willed his heart to slow down.
“This lust and desire I have for you is much stronger than I ever thought it could be. I always wondered why humans were so drawn to physical pleasure. Now I know. There is nothing else that can compare to the intense pleasure that comes from kissing and touching you.”
Serenity shook her head against his. “It isn’t always like this.”
He pulled back just far enough that he could look her in the eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Sex is a very casual act in today’s world. People do it simply because it feels good,” she explained.
Dair frowned. “They do it with just anyone?”
“If you believe the television, then yes. If they are attracted to a person and that person reciprocates the attraction, it wouldn’t be taboo for them to sleep together.”
“So if you were attracted to another man, and he was attracted to you, it is possible you would have sex with him?” Dair felt sick at the idea of Serenity in the arms of another.
“No,” she answered quickly. “I’m in a relationship. Surprisingly, even in this culture, it is still frowned upon to cheat on your significant other.”
“And if you weren’t in a relationship?” he challenged.
Her brow rose as she looked up at him. He knew his eyes would be swirling black with strong emotion.
“If I wasn’t in a relationship, I wouldn’t be jumping into bed with every guy I was attracted to. I don’t do the whole casual dating, or friends with benefits,” Serenity said. “The idea of getting naked with a stranger is not appealing to me. Nor is it appealing to think he had possibly been touching a different woman the night before.” She paused and narrowed her eyes at him. “We’ve already had a similar conversation about this. Why are you bringing it up?”
He shrugged and took a step back. “I just like to make sure things are clear in our relationship. I never want to cross a line that you don’t want crossed. It’s important that we have a good understanding of our expectations, don’t you think?”
She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head slightly to the right. “Or maybe you were trying to distract me from the dream and you leaving?”
“Tell yourself whatever you need to, Princess. I’m just trying to keep open communication between us.” He pulled one of her hands free and tugged her toward her door.
“Have you been reading up on relationships? You sound like a self-help book for couples.”
He laughed. “No, but I can start.”
“Please don’t,” she pleaded, but Dair heard the smile in her voice.
He pulled her along until they’d reached the kitchen and then turned to give her one last lingering kiss. “I won’t be gone long.”
“That’s what the guy in the movie always tells the girl right before he gets in a car crash and never comes back,” Serenity said.
“Then it’s a good thing I don’t travel by car.”
“What about a large bird? Could one of those hit you while you’re traveling from place to place?”
He laughed. “I don’t fly, Princess. The way I travel is completely safe, and I’m virtually untouchable.”
He stepped away from her and motioned for her to go in to the kitchen.
“Virtually untouchable isn’t completely untouchable.”
Dair could see the worry in her eyes. She sounded like she was teasing, but there was real fear behind the words. She was afraid he wouldn’t come back, that she would have to face her nightmares alone.
“Do you trust me?”
She nodded.
“Then go eat breakfast with your aunt and spend time with your family. I will be back before you even remember I’ve gone.” He bowed his head to her and pressed his hand to his heart. He hoped she realized what he was saying without words—you humble me, and I keep you close always.
Dair left her before she could say anything more that might make it impossible for him to leave.
Serenity stood staring at the spot where Dair had just vanished and willed herself to quit acting like a desperate girlfriend. That wasn’t who she was and not even the scariest of nightmares was going to turn her into one.
She turned and walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. A second later a plate of food was set before her. Her aunt Darla was the rarest kind of gem. Serenity smiled up at her. “Thank you.”
Darla waved her off. “Feeding people is what I do best.”
“And making people feel at home no matter where you are,” Serenity added.
“I just talk to people. With all the devices and computers these days, a person can go all day communicating and not ever speak to one person face to face. There was a time when perfect strangers waved when they drove by one another and when someone smiled at a person walking on the same sidewalk. I do
n’t do anything special, hon. I just treat people the way the good Lord expects us to all treat each other.”
“That makes you a diamond in the rough.” Before her aunt could give her a rebuttal, Serenity quickly asked, “So what are your plans for today? And where’s Uncle Wayne?”
“He’s making sure the truck’s going to start. It got mighty cold last night. Then we’re going to the county courthouse to see what we need to do about getting our Emma back.”
This made Serenity perk up. “Can I come?”
Darla placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot while staring at her. “Do you really think you need to be getting out so soon? It’s only been a couple of days since you were in the hospital.”
“I need to get out of the house. I’m already going stir-crazy. I promise I’ll take it easy.”
“That means no lunging at the judge if he doesn’t say what you want him to,” Darla said, waving a finger at her.
“Deal.”
Darla shook her head as she walked out of the kitchen. “Why do I feel like I just made a deal with the devil?’
Acknowledgments
As usual, there are so many people to thank when it comes to the journey of writing a novel. It takes more than just an author to achieve such an endeavor. First and foremost I thank my Lord and Savior. He is the ultimate creator, the ultimate being with incredible imagination and I am daily in awe of the world he fashioned together for me to live in. Thank you to my husband, my love and my best friend all rolled into one. I couldn’t do this without him. Thank you to Jessica for your unending humor and willingness to delve into the scary place that is my mind. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you to Candace, after all these years you are still a huge part of my writing process and I love you. Thank you to Jamie, you are a source of encouragement and joy. God brought you into my life and has continued to use you as a positive influence. You have also made me a better writer and for that I am so very thankful. Thank you to my readers. Without you all I’d still be a nurse while writing part time but because of your support and faithfulness to my books I get to do what I love full time and I am incredibly grateful. There really is no way for me to show my thanks.
About the Author
Quinn Loftis is a multi-award winning author of 20 novels, including the USA Today Bestseller, Fate and Fury. Once upon a time, she was a nurse, but God had other things in store for her. In 2011 Quinn published her first novel, Prince of Wolves, and the rest, as they say, is history. She gives all glory to God for her success because He is the one who made her. She is blessed to be married to her best friend for over 17 years and they have three boys, two dogs and a cat that wants to take over the world.
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Quinn’s Bookshelf
More Titles by Quinn Loftis
http://www.quinnloftisbooks.com
The Grey Wolves Series:
Prince of Wolves
Blood Rites
Just One Drop
Out of the Dark
Beyond the Veil
Fate and Fury
Sacrifice of Love
Luna of Mine
Piercing Silence (Novella)
Den of Sorrows
The Burning Claw
Resounding Silence (Novella)
Next Book Coming Winter 2018
Gypsy Healer Series:
Into the Fae
Wolf of Stone
Jewel of Darkness
Wolves of Wrath
(Coming Fall 2017)
The Elfin Series:
Elfin
Rapture
Surrender
Queen of the Warlocks
(Coming 2018)
The Dream Makers Series:
Dream of Me
Dream so Dark
Upcoming New Series:
The Viking’s Chosen
(Coming February 2018)
Stand Alone Novels:
Call Me Crazy
Quinn and Bo Loftis Novels:
The Alloy Heart