27_ Thoughts

The scream still echoed in my ears as I sat in my bed, trembling. My breath came in short gasps, and my heart felt like it might burst from my chest.

Footsteps thundered down the hallway, and a second later, Dylan burst into the room, his face pale and panicked. “Katrina!” he exclaimed, rushing to my side. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

I shook my head, unable to find my voice immediately. The image of Sabina’s mother standing at the foot of my bed was still so vivid. Could it have been real? Or just a figment of my overactive imagination?

“I… I don’t know,” I stammered finally, my voice shaky.

Dylan’s hands rested gently on my shoulders, grounding me. “What do you mean? Tell me what happened.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I had a dream,” I began. “It was horrible. There were bodies everywhere. They all had silver wounds, like they were stabbed with a silver knife. They were werewolves. And then I saw her… Sabina’s mother. She was watching me from afar.”

Dylan frowned, his brow furrowing. “Sabina’s mother? Are you sure?”

“That’s the thing,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “I’m not sure. It felt so real, but when I woke up… she was standing right there.” I pointed to the foot of the bed, my hand trembling. “But then she disappeared. I don’t know if I actually saw her or if it was just the dream lingering.”

Dylan pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. His warmth seeped into me, and I felt my trembling begin to subside. “You’re safe,” he murmured. “I’m here. Whatever it was, real or not, it can’t hurt you.”

I buried my face in his chest, my hands clutching his shirt. “It felt so real, Dylan,” I whispered. “I’m scared.”

He pulled back slightly to look at me, his eyes soft and filled with concern. “You don’t have to be scared, Katrina. I’ll protect you. Always.”

His words wrapped around me like a shield, and for the first time since I woke up, I felt a semblance of calm.

“Will you… stay with me tonight?” I asked hesitantly, my cheeks warming at the vulnerability in my voice.

Dylan didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”

He kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist as I curled into his chest. His presence was a balm to my frayed nerves, and as the minutes ticked by, the fear began to fade.

Lying there with Dylan, I became acutely aware of how close we were. The steady rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his skin against mine—it all made my heart race in a way I couldn’t explain. But at the same time, I felt safe, protected.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the sound of his heartbeat, and slowly, sleep claimed me.

When I woke up the next morning, sunlight was streaming through the curtains, and I was greeted by the sight of Dylan watching me.

“Good morning,” he said, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

I blinked, my cheeks flushing under his gaze. “Good morning,” I murmured, sitting up slightly.

“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice sincere.

I laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I probably look like a mess.”

“Not to me,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine.

The warmth in his gaze made my stomach flutter, and for a moment, I forgot all about the events of the night before.

“How did you sleep?” he asked, his tone gentle.

“Better,” I admitted. “I think having you here helped.”

His smile widened. “I’m glad.”

He stretched, his movements slow and lazy, before looking at me again. “So, what do you want to do today?”

I shrugged, feeling a little unsure. “I don’t know. I don’t really feel like going out, though.”

“Staying in sounds perfect,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “How about we watch some movies?”

I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. “That sounds nice.”

\---

After freshening up and eating a quick breakfast, we settled onto the couch, a stack of DVDs on the coffee table in front of us. Dylan insisted on starting with one of his favorites, a romantic comedy he said I had to see.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as the movie played, I found myself laughing more than I thought I would. Dylan’s laughter joined mine, and the atmosphere felt light and carefree.

But then came the kissing scene.

I watched as the couple on screen leaned into each other, their lips meeting in a passionate embrace. Heat crept up my neck, and I felt my face flush. The scene stirred something in me, a feeling I didn’t fully understand but couldn’t ignore.

My heartbeat quickened, and I glanced at Dylan out of the corner of my eye. To my surprise, I could hear his heart racing too.

I turned to look at him, curious, and found him already watching me. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us felt charged, the movie forgotten.

“Katrina,” Dylan murmured, his voice low and husky.

Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a gentle kiss.

I froze, my mind racing. But then something inside me softened, and I kissed him back.

The kiss deepened, and I felt myself getting lost in the sensation. His hands cupped my face, his touch warm and tender. My own hands found their way to his shoulders, holding onto him like he was the only thing grounding me.

Every nerve in my body seemed to come alive, and I felt emotions I couldn’t even begin to name. Desire, longing, and something deeper, something that scared me just as much as it thrilled me.

His hands slid down from my face to my back, then my lower back. His kiss was getting deeper and more passionate, it made my insides knot. I had never felt that before. My heart was racing.

Suddenly I felt his hand on my thigh and I gasped, my reaction unexpected. Somehow that made him retreat. He pulled his hand away and slowly broke the kiss. We rested our heads on each other, our breathing ragged.

I had a feeling I knew where this was going but he didn't let it go there. I had no idea why.

"We should continue the movie," he said.

"Okay," I said.

We sat properly again, leaning back on the couch. My mind was still whirling with thoughts, amongst them was what would have happened if he didn't stop? I couldn't help but wonder.