“Sydney Preston,” a nurse in pink scrubs calls from behind a large door holding a chart.
“Do you want me to come with you? I want to see the Monster,” Heather asks.
“You better come. I want you to see him, too.” I smile.
The nurse walks me into a room to take my blood pressure, which is perfect. They take my weight and I decide the nurse is automatically the enemy at this point after she says I’ve gained twelve pounds. I suppose it could be worse, but by the time I get back to Nick I will be a whale. I wonder silently if I can alter myself skinny again; I should be able to in dream world, at least.
The scan goes very well. As Nick told me already, the baby is perfectly healthy. Not that I questioned Nick, but she confirmed the fact that the baby is for sure a boy. He will be due the first of August. I imagine a very hot and sweaty pregnancy. Not that it matters; I am beyond happy right now. My head is in the sky with hopes and dreams for our little family. I can’t wait to go home and replay the ultrasound in my mind for Nick to see. He hasn’t been in my head for a while, but I think I will make an exception for this. I’ve also been considering another thing. I’m considering not ever telling Nick about his situation. At first I was completely opposed to the idea, but as time goes by I become more selfish. I want to keep him as long as I can. He doesn’t want to know anyway so I would only be granting his wish. I know it’s wrong but I want our son to know him. Nick is already the best father I could ever imagine for my child; I want them to have a long life together.
Once I’ve made up my mind, I decide this is news I should share in person. I will let the truth lie—taking it to my grave. I’m have to see him—tonight.
“Heather, are you working tonight?” I ask casually.
“Yeah, I have to go in for the night shift. I’ll be on from eleven until seven,” she sulks.
“I was just wondering, I’m so tired I thought maybe we could go shopping tomorrow. You might be too tired though, after working all night.”
“I don’t mind. Just let me sleep for a few hours when I get off then we can go. You want to go straight home then?” she asks.
“Yeah, I think I want a long bath and a nice dinner. When you go to work I can sleep.”
“What’s for dinner?” She cringes, waiting for the verdict on my latest insane concoction.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want crab and ketchup sandwiches again? “I giggle.
“’I’ve tried to forget about those. What then? Pickles and ice cream?”
“Actually, I was thinking some nice, juicy watermelon with sea salt, pita and hummus, and some tacos.”
“That’s quite a combo, but hell yeah. I like all of the above. It sounds far better than imitation crab and ketchup. That shit was so damn gross, Sydney. I ain’t trying to be mean or nothing, but I will never eat that again.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I had heartburn all night after that. You weren’t the only one to suffer. Never again.” I shudder at the memory.
***
After my bath and a wonderful dinner I can barely move. I ate enough to feed an army—not to mention the jalapeños I threw on top of my tacos are setting off some kind of lava flow in my throat.
“I hate to eat and run but I gotta get to work. It was good—strange, but very good,” Heather says.
“Thanks, hun. Have a great night at work.”
Before I can change my mind I grab my old apartment key, heading quickly for the elevator the second Heather is out of sight. I have to see Nick. It’s been so long.
I can barely contain my excitement as I walk through the door. Any uncomfortable memories of Lana dissipate to the recesses of my mind as excitement grows. I can’t wait to see him. Everything is just as I left it, aside from a faint scent of stagnant dust. I waste no time and snuggle into the comforter I chose so carefully just a few short months ago. After being here for such a short period of time, I can’t believe how much I actually missed this place. My eyes close eagerly and blackness surrounds me—finally, I’m home.
“Fancy seeing you here.” I sneak up behind Nick, smothering him in a huge hug.
“Baby! You’re supposed to be on bed rest.” His beautiful face waivers between excitement and disapproval.
“I’m in bed and I’m resting.” I smirk.
“You’re a bad, bad girl. Damn, I’ve missed you.”
He lifts me from the ground as if I were weightless, keeping me elevated by the seat of tight jeans. Our lips spark as they touch for the first time in ages. The same electricity pulses between us as our hands frantically grab and squeeze every exposed part of each other. He tugs my hair gently, pulling me into him. If we were any closer, we would qualify as one person—I love it. My heart thumps quickly in my chest, so full of every emotion life has to offer: determination, fear, love, lust—everything. I might only have one night, but I’m going to make it worth a million.
“I came to talk to you about something. But first, I want to make up for some lost time.” A devious grin covers my lips.
“Yeah? And what exactly does my lady want?”
“You—now. Make it hot in here—like sexy hot.”
“What baby wants, baby gets.” He gets right to business, as the room begins shifting into a new form.
I like his interpretation of hot. I could have shifted the scene myself, but I wanted to see exactly what drives him wild.
I have never been more grateful for being in a supernatural place like this, than right now. Being five months pregnant, I don’t think I fit the part for hot and sexy. I mend that right up, shrinking down to my pre-pregnant size.
Less than thirty seconds in and I’m dripping with sweat—it’s hot, that’s for sure. Steam rises from the floor creating an illusion that the room is ablaze. Everything in the room has been engulfed, including the bed I’m currently sleeping on—although, it’s clear that a simple roll around the bed is nowhere near what he’s thinking. My eyes are drawn towards a new focal point, lying center stage in the middle of where the bedroom floor should be, replaced by a smoldering pit of charcoal and ash. It radiates heat around us, glowing as smooth liquid amber and red hot orange—he wants me to walk across the fire.
I watch him closely as my body involuntarily pleads for him to come closer. He keeps his distance though—dragging out the intense burning beneath my skin.
“You want me to walk through fire for you?” My voice reflects my need.
“I don’t want you to walk through it. I want you to crawl through it—on your hands and knees. Stalk me—slowly.” His tongue grazes his top teeth as he speaks sensually.
His dominant command stokes the fire in the room. My own imagination sends the flames flickering around me like a dress of fire. I let it sear through every inch of clothing that remains. Completely uncovered aside from a tiny covering of black lace boy shorts, I drop to my knees, obeying my devilish commander. His eyes devour me closely as I slightly change my appearance to fit the mood. I decorate myself with charcoal black hair, long enough to wrap around my waist. Dark black eyeliner creates a wicked smoky ring around my eyes. I look good in Goth. He seems to agree as a sharp inhale pulls the muscles of his shoulders inward. He’s already shirtless and dripping with liquid heat that rolls into the waist line of his sexy black leather pants. He waits impatiently for me to move—crawl. I have a little surprise for him.
“On your knees, Dominick,” I challenge.
A smirk grabs that deliciously mischievous face of his as he sinks painfully slow to his knees. We begin creeping toward each other, meeting in the middle of the fire pit. His fingers grab the back of my hair, jerking my face closer. I roll my tongue along the muscle stretching from his neck to his creamy white shoulder blade, unlocking his beast—the beast that he must have tamed until now. I’ve never felt his fingers so urgent and ungentle—so ferocious. Fire licks the sweat from our skin like droplets of lusty sugar. He digs his sweet wet lips into my neck, biting down—hard. A s
cream involuntarily breeches my mouth, further driving him to devilish pleasure. His fingers pierce into the small of my back, thrusting me onto him. He rocks me to the rhythm of his tribal drum, placing the fire in a spot I never knew existed. His eyes won’t leave mine as he gets off on this hurt he causes in such a sensitive spot. I like the fire there, I like the burn—I love the pain. And he knows it. As we collapse into the ash, entirely spent of energy—bathed in pleasure. He whispers in my ear, breathlessly, how much he loves me.
“That was intense, Nick. You’re a freak—I like it.” I smirk.
“I wanted you to feel me—all of me. I wanted you to know how I feel every time I see your face, every time I hear your voice, every time you leave me. It’s a fire that stings, burns, and yet feels so damn good at the same time. Having you—losing you—burns me alive.”
If I had to I could never describe the intense pleasure he just put on me. I’ve never felt more alive than in this moment.
“That’s what I came for. I wanted to tell you something. I respect and agree with your wishes—I don’t want you to find out about your death either. I need you. You can’t leave me—ever.”
Nick and I are torn from our moment as we notice a visitor is standing next to the fire pit we still lay in—unclothed.
“What the hell are you doing here, Heather?” Nick shouts. “Sydney, put some clothes on.”
My mind is blown as she stands here in Nick’s world, a place I never thought she would enter again. She must be asleep in my room with me. Nick is as surprised as me, and from the looks of it, Heather had better either run or wake up—fast. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him this angry. He places himself inches from her face, clearly trying to restrain his anger from blowing the top off this awkward situation.
“I should cut your fucking eyes out. You like looking at my girl, don’t you? I knew you were weird, but what kind of freak watches her best friend while she makes love to her boyfriend?”
“You better back out of my face, Dominick. I came to get Sydney; I certainly didn’t want to see you. And by the way, lover boy, if that’s what you call making love, I might need to give you a lesson. I’d be happy to show Sydney what that really means. That was fucking—plain and simple. You don’t love her. And you could have hurt her, you stupid bastard, she’s pregnant.”
“It’s an illusion, Heather. Trust me, he didn’t hurt me at all.” I grab Nick, trying to calm him. “Why are you here, anyway?” I ask.
“You wouldn’t wake up so I got worried. I suppose you were deep into the dream and didn’t hear me, now I can see why. I have to say, though, I’m really digging your new curves, Sydney.” She smirks while looking Nick directly in the eye.
In a matter of a millisecond Nick knocks her to the ground, choking her off by putting his boot into her throat.
I panic and pull at his shoulders, trying to drag him back, but he’s too strong. She pushed him too hard and bringing him back to reason could be impossible.
“Nick, stop it. Let her up, now!” I order.
He has me tuned out. Like a wild animal focused only on his prey of the moment.
“Dominick!”
He releases his foot from her neck as she gasps for a breath, knowing I was not kidding when I used his full name.
“Calm down, baby. Remember, things here are only what you imagine; she only thought I was hurting her. Illusions.” He laughs deeply. “Dumb, bitch. Don’t fuck with me in my own house. You can go now.”
Heather still has that belligerent quality in her expression, leaving me wondering if she will ever learn her lesson on running her mouth.
“Sydney, let’s get out of here. I told you he was a fucking psycho.” Heather pulls to her feet, dusting her shirt off.
“You have no idea how psycho I can be. I could think up a thousand worse ways to hurt you, Heather. Say her name again, look at her again. Go ahead—I’m begging you,” he warns.
“Please stop, both of you,” I beg.
I’ve seen this side of Heather plenty of times with Cayden; that mouthy, sassy attitude always gets her in trouble. Why does she do this? After all this time, is she still jealous of mine and Nick’s relationship? She’s so wrapped up in her own anger that she bypasses the fact that I am absolutely tortured by their behavior. I turn from both of them as tears threated to begin.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I the last thing I want is to upset you. I just don’t like it that she thinks she can come into my world, watch us in an extremely private moment, and then disrespect me while you stand here humiliated and naked,” he calms.
“Oh good lord, Manning, save the melodrama. Sydney has no reason to be embarrassed; I’ve seen her, I’ve touched her, I’ve tasted her—shall I keep going?” she smarts.
Nick turns away from her, taking slow deep breaths, biting his tongue for my benefit—he’s trying so hard.
“Stop poking the stick, Heather. Nick doesn’t need to know any of that. Let’s address the real issue: what are you here for? You said you had to go to work.”
“A little birdy told me you were here. So, I didn’t really have a choice, did I now? I suppose I’ll be working from home from now on—nights too. I can’t trust you to stay put.”
“I’ve decided that I want to stay here—in this apartment. I don’t want to leave here. That’s my final decision, unless you intend to kick me out.”
“I’m not kicking you out, Sydney, but you are coming home. Upstairs, now,” she demands.
“Upstairs? I thought you were at a medical facility on bed rest, Syd?” Nick questions.
“Oh, is that what your story was, Sydney? Sorry, I think I blew your cover,” Heather remarks.
“Careful with your words, Heather,” I warn. “You wanted him in the dark on this, not me. I did my part and you just screwed it up. Nick and I have decided that we don’t really want to know anymore. We would like to live our lives together. Let’s drop it.”
“You know, if you’re willing to risk your life just to be able to see this piece of shit, then maybe he should know what kind of risk he’s put you in. This isn’t a game; if something happens, you can’t take it back,” she spits.
“What danger is she talking about, Sydney? What are you two hiding from me?” Nick asks.
“Nick, it’s complicated; don’t make me lie to you, please,” I beg, then turning to Heather hoping for some backup. “Heather, we need to go now—right now.”
I can’t wake up. I’m stuck and now he knows something is going on. He scowls as he realizes how hard I’m trying to wake up—eager to escape inquisition.
“I don’t think so, Syd. She said your life is in danger by being here; what did she mean by that? I won’t make you lie to me. I can find the truth myself if I have to,” he reminds me.
“Nick, you promised to stay out of my head. You swore,” I remind him.
He looks at Heather with a gleam in his eye. I cringe as he moves closer to take a dive into her mind.
“Now then, Heather, I certainly didn’t make any promises to you.” He smirks.
“Heather, wake up! He’s going through your mind.” I panic as she shrugs me off, refusing to fight off his mental attack.
My stomach drops as I realize I’m too late. His eyes dart my way, expressing something—surprise, perhaps. I’ve withheld information from him for months. I now fear the repercussions of my silence, wondering if he could ever forgive me for keeping this from him, no matter how pure my intentions had been.
“Nick, I’m sorry. I never meant to keep you in the dark. I agreed to their terms…I made promises. It was for you—all of it, I promise.”
I can’t interpret the look is his eyes, but for some reason I want to say he isn’t even angry. It’s almost as if a weight has been lifted from him. However, the more silent he remains, the more nervous I become. Nick has never been the type to have a loss for words. This situation itself would be a lot to absorb from a mentally stable person; I can’t even imagine what must be going through h
is darkened, damaged mind.
“Everyone lied to me—everyone.” His head sags slightly. “My mother, Lana, Peyton, Heather—you. Why, Sydney? Why would you keep something like this from me? I’m not angry; you didn’t ask to be brought into this fucked up situation. I just don’t understand what the gain is to keeping quiet on something so important. What about Cayden? What about Mia and the boys? Aren’t they in danger too?”
“I had reasons, Nick. One being I want you to see our child born. I know it’s selfish, but I wanted you to at least be able to take his image with you if you cross over. You know the truth now; you could disappear at any second. I thought we agreed earlier that we wouldn’t discuss this anymore. We chose to be together and leave the past in the past.” My lip trembles as I desperately fight off tears. “I’m not ready for you to go yet. I can’t let you go.” I lose control of my emotions, sobbing.
Heather stands beside me, rubbing my arm. Nick stiffens but allows her to remain at my side. He stands to the opposite side of me, holding my hand. Being torn has new meaning these days, stuck between my soul mate and my protector, between right and wrong—good and evil. I tightly squeeze my eyes shut, afraid that if I open them Nick will be gone now that he knows the truth.
“Open your eyes, Sydney. I’m still here,” he smoothly speaks as my sobs become louder. “I’m still here, baby.” He rests his icy palm against my cheek softly. “Now listen, I need to speak with Heather alone. There were things you kept from me because it’s what you felt was best, and now I need the same from you. Heather is right; this situation is way more complicated than I ever could have imagined. I want you to wake up and go back upstairs to your apartment. I don’t want you in this place again until Heather finds this mystery caller. You have a responsibility to our child’s safety. This is the first step in parenthood—putting his wellbeing above our own. Okay?”
Dreamers (The Dreamers Series) Page 23