Vincent pulls the blankets back and removes his shoes. I slip under the covers and he comes in after me, pulling me close to his body. His warmth radiates and I begin to relax.
“If you hear anyone coming home, dart like hell to hide.”
He laughs. “Of course.” He kisses my neck, and he holds me tighter. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For this. I’ve been so stressed for so long, and then I met you. You have given me nothing short of absolute happiness and you are the hope that stood at the end of my long, dark tunnel.”
His words make me feel guilty. He hasn’t had the best life and still, as his mom lies in the hospital, he’s here with me.
I kiss his hand and twist around to face him.
His eyes well and my heart breaks for him.
I pull his mouth down to mine and kiss him. I want him to know that I love him, that I care for him, and that I wouldn’t want it any other way. He brushes my hair back and caresses my face as he deepens the kiss. His lips are hot against mine making my heart pound faster. Heat pours over me as his hand slips under my top and touches my bare back. I catch my breath as his lips wander to my neck down to my shoulder and to my stomach. I clench my eyes and grip his hair at the soft caress of his lips on my naval. I feel my heart pounding everywhere, but I have to stop him, though I don’t want to. I want to feel his love like I do in the dreams.
But something keeps nagging at me.
Vincent drags his tongue along my skin upward toward my chest sending that hot ache throughout me. He pulls my shirt back down and kisses my cheek as I pant.
When I open my eyes, he’s gazing at me with a sweet smile, and I blush.
“Are you okay?” he asks, probably because I’m shaking.
I nod.
He pulls me close. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath.” His silky-smooth voice calms me.
I chuckle once my breathing levels. “I liked it. A lot.”
“Me too. I can’t wait,” he whispers. “Je t’aime, Megan.”
I smile as my heart swells. “I love you.” I want Vincent to be my first. Cherry said when you know the one, you know. Prom will be the perfect night.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
I search for the Jewel in Vincent’s room and even in the underground cells, but a man catches me. I don’t recognize him, but he pushes me against the wall, calling me a traitor and threatening to use me as his own secret rendezvous. He throws me in a cell like I’m a prisoner, leaving me.
A familiar pull brings me out of the cell, out of the palace, and I know I’m waking up.
“Megan.” Someone is shaking me, and I open my eyes to see Vincent leaning over me with a concerned look. “Megan, are you okay? You’re crying.”
I sit up and wipe my cheeks. The man in my dreams was Adam. I can’t catch my breath.
Vincent pulls me to him, stroking my hair, and I clutch onto him inhaling his woodsy scent.
“Good grief, you’re shaking. What happened?”
“I had a dream.” That’s an understatement.
“What about, baby?” He brushes his lips over my forehead.
“It-it was.” It takes me a moment to get my words together. “Adam.”
Vincent stills. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but the ominous tone in his voice scares me a little. Adam was shot. He is dead. Did Vincent read about that, too? “You heard?” I ask.
“Heard what?”
I turn, meeting his dark blue eyes. “He was shot and killed.” I see the shock register in his eyes, but it goes away.
“Oh. No. I hadn’t heard that.”
I don’t know why, but I feel paranoid or something. Is it from my dreams and how different I feel about Vincent that’s leaking into my real life? “What do you mean I don’t have to worry?”
“Because I’m here to protect you. Why?” He looks at me and a crease forms between his eyebrows. “You think I had something to do with it?”
I shake my head enthusiastically. “No. I’m on edge. The dream freaked me out.”
I feel him relax beside me. “What happened?”
“Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.” At least not with him. I can’t get rid of this stupid nagging feeling. What is it? It’s seriously messing with me.
“You know I’m here for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell me what to do.”
“There isn’t anything you can do. There’s nothing anyone can do.”
“Have you talked to someone about that night?”
“I told my mom.” I haven’t thought about that night or Adam in a while and I’m not sure why I dreamed about him. But I can’t help this sinking feeling that somehow Vincent knew Adam.
He holds me a little while longer, then he leaves. I’m on edge. I’m locked in a cell in my dreams and I’ve been stuck inside this house for several weeks. I can’t stand any of it anymore. I start pacing my room like a mad woman. I don’t want to sleep. I don’t want to lay down. I want out of this house.
I jog downstairs and walk outside in the backyard. I watch my dogs run and frolic with each other in the mist.
“Megan, what are you doing outside?” Mom asks from the door.
“I needed some air.”
“Get back in here.”
Rolling my eyes, I follow my dogs inside and she shuts the door. They jump on her and bark, excited that she’s home.
Once they calm down, Mom checks my temperature and says I’m running
