13. Dream
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DREAM
“Lady Zaza, guess what tonight is?” I asked the vibrant-colored tarantula chilling in the palm of my hand. “That’s right…Felix is coming home.” I smiled, beyond excited to see him. “Maybe next time he has to leave, we can go with him.”
A loud knock on my door startled me. “One second!” I carefully returned the spider to her enclosure. The knocking continued, becoming more aggressive the longer it took me to answer.
That’s not normal.
I cautiously walked across the living room. “Who is it?” The banging continued as I approached the locked door. “Hello?”
The banging stopped.
“Danika.”
“Ray?” I shot back.
What the fuck is he doing here?
“Hey…I need to talk to you.”
Even though he couldn’t see me, I shook my head. “No…no, you need to leave. Now!”
He hit the door, the hinges rattling faintly. “I’m serious, Danika! I just—open the door. Look, I’m not going to hurt you, I just—”
“Go away, Ray!” I grabbed my bag, searching for my gun.
“Danika, please! Just talk to me!”
I felt the textured grip in my hand, securing the weapon. Slowly, I made my way to the door and unlocked it, swinging it open and immediately holding the gun up. “Get the fuck away from my door, Ray.”
He raised his hands, his face fucked more than I had left it the last time we ran into each other. “Easy, mija.”
“Shut up,” I growled. He took a step back as I walked closer. “I told you to leave me alone, Ray.” He slowly descended the concrete steps while I kept my distance, holding the gun firmly toward him.
Ray looked around the empty street. “Put that thing away before someone sees it.”
I smiled. “You think I’m scared of someone seeing me? What about you?” I tipped my chin at him. “Think anyone will listen to a convicted drug dealer, fresh out of jail? Stalking his ex?” The tip of my finger hovered over the trigger. “I doubt it.”
“H-hold up now—” We both stopped as the sound of a motorcycle hit our ears.
Shit. Felix.
I turned my focus back to Ray, knowing he had to disappear, and fast. “I suggest you leave before my man sees you. Who knows what he might do?” I asked, tilting my head.
Ray snarled. “You think you’re so untouchable, so safe next to him.” He motioned toward Felix. “You have no idea what demons follow him. Your psycho stalker can only protect you for so long.” He grinned, dropping his hands. “You’ll see.” He turned around and walked away.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? Was he talking about Kief?
I lowered my gun, trying to understand his words.
Didn’t Indi say Kief was their cousin? Why is he interested in me?
The sound of Felix’s motorcycle grew closer and I spun around, spotting him instantly. “Felix!” I shouted with a big smile, running towards him. It was like a scene out of a movie the way I ran to him, jumping as he caught me and pulled me into a hug.
His smell surrounded me and nearly brought me to tears, I missed it so fucking much.
Without saying a word, Felix lifted his visor and gripped my arm, looking at the gun still in hand. “Why are you waving this around?”
Oops.
I bit my lower lip. “No reason.”
He looked closer, touching my face, and noticed the bruise from where Ray had kicked me.
I thought I did a good job at covering it up, but I guess not.
“Dream—” He shot up from his bike. “What the hell happened?” His eyes narrowed, staring into the depths of my soul.
“Who did this to you? Who touched you?” The possessive anger in his voice made me both scared and excited.
I tried to focus, but it was hard to think straight when he was so close and behaving this way.
Focus.
“I-I’m fine. Honest.” I smirked, feeling all tingly. “Everything is fine.”
Felix shook his head. “Someone hurt you, Dream…there’s nothing okay about that.” He looked around. “Who fucking did it? Huh?” I didn’t answer. “Who hurt you?”
I stuttered. “N-no one.”
“Don’t lie to me, Dream.” He stared at me and then spoke in a low, hurt tone. “Please.”
Fuck…I can’t do it…I can’t keep this from him any longer. Not after that.
“Ohhh,” I whined. “Why did you have to go and say it like that?” I stomped my foot, pouting. “I really am fine.” He didn’t speak. “But, uh…” I blew a stray strand of hair from my face. “It was Ray.”
Felix’s brows furrowed. “Who the fuck is Ray?”
Why am I surprised that he doesn’t know who Ray is?
“Ray…he’s an old ex. One who went to jail for dealing drugs, but now he’s out—it doesn’t matter. I didn’t think he’d bother me again after that night at The Red Eye, but then I ran into him in the alley—”
“Wait. You’ve seen him? More than once?” His breathing picked up. “Where is he now?”
I shook my head. “It’s fine! I handled him just fine on my own. I mean you should really see his face—” I turned to look in the direction Ray went.
“Now? Dream, is he here?” He frantically searched around. “What does he look like? I’ll take care of him—” He reached for the gun he kept on him and went to move but I grabbed the bottom of his helmet and roughly held him back.
“Hey!” I snapped. “No.”
Felix tried to brush past me, but I shoved him back. “Dream—”
“No, Felix. I said it was fine. Besides, I don’t think he’ll be bothering me again.” At least, I hoped not.
“Dream,” he growled.
I shook my head. “Leave it, Felix. I promise, I’m okay.” I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Especially now that you’re here.” My head rested against his chest, listening to his racing heart beat. “I don’t like being away from you…”
Felix held me tight, stroking my head. “Then come back to my place.”
I lifted my head. “What?”
He removed his helmet, shaking his dark hair. “Come home with me.” He smiled.
My heart fluttered. “Are you sure you’re not just saying that cause you’re worried about Ray?”
Felix’s expression lightened. He leaned down and kissed me gently, tasting like that sweet hard candy he loved so much. “You know me so well.”
I kissed him back, wanting more. “I’ll go, but not to ease your fear about Ray. I’ll go cause I’m curious to see where my stalker lives.”
He laughed. “Oh, yeah?”
I kissed him again, gently stroking his dick through his jeans.
He moaned, pulled me against his body, then flicked the roof of my mouth with his tongue.
“As long as you stay, I don’t give a fuck what the reason is.
” His warm hand slipped under my shirt and glided up my back.
A moan escaped my lips and I felt his dick flex beneath his jeans.
“I don’t think I can wait much longer,” I breathed into him. His eyes caught mine and I knew he was feeling the same. “Hurry up and take me home.”
Felix grinned, then handed me his helmet. “Let’s go, cottontail.”
Felix’s place was so far away, so isolated from everything else in the world, I was shocked he had willingly made the trip to see me so many times. But it also confirmed how head over heels he was for me.
His home was modern and spacious, filled with all kinds of security systems and technology.
Everything had this warm, welcoming aura to it that made you feel safe.
He owned a pretty decent sized property, his home placed perfectly in the center of it all, surrounded by thick woods.
It was a recluse's dream home, which made perfect sense for him.
Only Felix would live way out here.
After a quick tour, Felix grabbed a blanket and led me out back. “I have a surprise for you.” I followed him eagerly.
The sun had set on our way here, which meant the night sky was wide awake and in full bloom. Stars smothered the deep blue night, stretching as far as the eye could see. It was beyond breathtaking to see such a thing.
I covered my mouth and gasped.
This has to be heaven.
Felix laughed softly, taking my hand as he guided me down the stone steps and further into the yard.
“Not used to seeing so many stars, are you?” I shook my head.
“Most city lights drown out their brightness, so people only see a portion of what’s really there.
” He stopped and laid the blanket out. “Come here.”
Felix helped me as I lay down next to him, draping my body over his. We sat there and gazed up at the night sky, listening to the nightlife lullaby playing around us. “What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered. “I get why you chose to live all the way out here.”
He chuckled gently, stroking my arm. “Yeah, I’ve never been a big fan of the city. And after everything in my life, I’ve learned to separate myself from it completely.”
“Sounds lonely."
He sighed. “For the longest time, I was convinced isolation was the only way to keep me safe. But what’s the point in living if all you do is hide yourself away from the world?” His head rolled as I looked at him. “Now, I don’t want to spend it alone.”
“Neither do I.”
He kissed me softly. “Then let’s promise each other something.”
I rolled onto my stomach, laying along his chest with a smile. “Name it.”
Felix beamed. “Promise…” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Promise that no matter what, you’ll always be mine. And even if fate tries to pull us apart, promise that we’ll always find our way back to one another. No matter what.”
“Only if you pinky promise to always be mine and never leave me.” I raised my little finger. “Even in death.”
He raised his finger, looping it with mine.
“I’ve already told you…death can’t keep me from you.
” He sealed the vow with a kiss and leaned forward until his lips met mine.
“I’ve spent my whole life trying to outrun my nightmares…
my dark past.” He kissed me again. “Every part of my existence has revolved around my skills, measured by how many lives I’ve taken.
My value, weighed by nothing but blood and violence…
until I met you.” His emerald eyes began to water.
“You saved me, Dream, in the most unexpected way possible.” We both released a faint, tear-filled laugh.
“And once all of this is over, I plan to spend the rest of my life with you. My Dream.”