I tuck my knees under my chin and hug my legs. "What now?" I ask.
He looks back at me, his eyes still bright. Oh yes. His bear's aware of how fragile this situation is. How he wants me. How right it would be. I belonged to Augustine, and he took me. The strong rule over the weak, and if you want something and you're strong enough to take it, it belongs to you. That's the way of the jungle. And when shifters and vampires are involved, everywhere's a jungle.
"Do you want me to take you to the secret club?" I ask, trying to diffuse some of the tension.
His eyes dim like a light switches off. "Not tonight. Tomorrow. Tonight we sleep."
Oh.
"Don't worry, Kit, I'm not gonna hurt you."
"I didn't think you would."
He prowls to the bed and lays his hand on my neck. A gentle move, but even a human would recognize it for what it is. I can snap your neck, but I won't. Another way to stake a claim. Being powerful enough to be violent, but being gentle instead.
I shiver.
"Sleep, Kit. That's all."
As I lie down and he turns out the lights, I don't know if I'm disappointed or relieved.
Jordy
THE DREAM STARTS AS SOON as I shut my eyes, like it was waiting for me. A dark monster in my head, snapping its jaws, swallowing me whole. I'm in the secret vampire club. Augustine is there, a menacing presence. That's not right-he should be a comfort. I strain to remember the times when he was a comfort before. But in this dream's time and place, Augustine is not benevolent. He's not my friend. He's just my master.
"This her?" another vampire asks. Augustine confirms yes. Their voices are muted in that dream state, but I know they're talking about me. Hands begin to crawl up my flesh, stroking and probing, taking liberties. I should lie still-Augustine orders me to-but I can't. I fight and get restrained for my trouble. Not with ropes. With hard hands.
"Feisty little thing," the other vampire comments.
"Not usually," Augustine grunts. His voice drips disgust. I know he despises shifters, and in this moment he makes no effort to hide his feelings. I feel small, inferior even as the hands on me dirty my skin. "Be still," my master hisses again.
"Let me." The strange vampire says and digs his fingers into my skin. I arch and try to cry out but my throat is a tomb. The aura of this predator is so strong, it's suffocating. The air's too thick to breathe. "That's it," the vampire says in mocking reassurance. "Be easy." His fingers are claws now, slicing my skin. The blood flows. "Be still and give me what we want." His lips find my chest. I jerk once, and still again. This isn't a dream. It really happened. "Good girl," the one-eyed vampire croons, and, lowering his head to my left breast, begins to feed.
Grizz
I LIE IN THE DARK, trying to rest. Jordy's breathing funny, soft puffs against my bare chest. It is not helping. Every time I try to relax, she whimpers and presses close to me, and it's all over. I'm sprung.
With a sigh, I roll to my back. My dick sticks up like a flagpole, tenting the sheet. Yeah, yeah. I'm hot for this chick, I get it. Enough already. I will my cock to go down.
A choking sound makes my eyes fly open. Jordy jerks against me, her little fingers digging into my raw chest. It hurts, but I don't fucking care.
Something's wrong. She's upset. Her face is screwed up tight, her mouth open like she's trying to scream.
"Kit." I thumb her cheek and she convulses so hard she nearly hits my chin. What the fuck?
"Kit. Come on, wake up. Jordy. Jordy!"
Jordy
SOMEONE'S CALLING MY NAME. I follow the voice down the dark tunnel, stumbling towards the light.
"Jordy!"
My eyes fly open and I heave in a breath like I've been underwater.
"Fucking fates, Kit, what was that?"
"I had a dream," I whimper, and flinch as he cuts on the light. "A bad one."
"It'd have to be bad. You were thrashing and crying out." He cups my chin, examines my face. "Here." He reaches over and grabs the glass of water by the bedside table and hands it to me. "You wanna tell me what it's about?"
"No," I say honestly. I don't want to relive it. I don't want to talk about that night. I don't want to remember it. Ever.
He waits, expectant. I'm grateful for the reprieve, a chance to get my heartbeat back to normal.
I open my mouth. I could tell him. I've already spilled so much. But this would be the final betrayal. Augustine took me to the one-eyed vampire and they-
No. I can't.
Grizz frowns at me, his forehead puckered as if he's trying to read my thoughts. I lick my lips. He could order me to tell him.
But he doesn't. "Okay, Kit," he says, and switches the light back off. He's given me a choice.
"Come here." He tugs me down next to him.
I shrink away from his beat up chest. "No. I'll hurt you."
His chuckle fills my ears, a dark, velvety sound. "You could never hurt me. You're too little."
"I am not that small," I protest, but he just tugs me down.
"You are small," he settles me against him. "But perfect." His scarred lips caress my ear.
"I don't know if I can go back to sleep," I inform him, a bit breathlessly.
A pause. "You want me to help?"
Another choice. I revel in it. "Yes," I decide. Even if it's just an order, I want it. I chose.
But he doesn't give me an order. Instead, he shifts me in his arms so I'm lying fully against him, my hips cradled in his. My head doesn't quite reach his chin, but he must bow his head because his breath stirs my hair.