Big, bad, vampire jerk!
I hate it when you do that, I snapped.
Why would you use your voice when we can converse perfectly well like this?
He had a point. Still, for good measure, I pouted. Seeing as my face was in his neck and he couldn’t see me pouting, this was a moot pout but at least it made me feel better.
Talk to me about last night, he ordered.
What do you want to know? I asked.
Everything, he answered.
I sighed then gave in. No sense fighting it, he was even more stubborn than me.
I had the dream again, I told him and stopped sharing.
When I said no more, he prompted, I guessed that.
I kept going, I don’t know what happened. I still don’t remember what I dream but it’s like the dream kept going even after I woke up.
How?
I shook my head but answered, It felt, I know this is going to sound totally unhinged, but it felt like I was being hanged.
His body went completely taut. I’d felt this before, of course, many times but there was something different about this time. Very different and very wrong.
Lucien?
Tell me more, he commanded, even his voice in my head sounded tight.
This alarmed me so I continued, I could feel Stephanie, sense the real world around me. I even heard the phone ring when you called. But I was still in the dream and it was more powerful. It felt like the floor went out from under me and the noose was strangling me.
Did you see anything?
Like what?
Like me.
This time, my body grew tight.
I know you’re dreaming of me, Leah. Now his voice was soft and coaxing.
I don’t know that.
You are, sweetheart.
What do you hear me say?
Let’s focus on you.
I’d rather focus on what you hear.
Later.
Now.
His arms grew tight and the breath went out of me.