Certifiable. “Well . . .” Lisette wasn’t sure what to say. “He is handsome. If he looks as good without clothes in real life as he did in your dream, I can see the physical appeal.”
“He does,” Tracy admitted grudgingly. “I accidentally saw him naked once when I was at Richart’s.”
“How did you manage that?”
Tracy rolled her eyes. “He was changing with his damned door open, and I walked past. The boy goes commando under those tight black pants and has no shame.”
“The boy is built,” Lisette pointed out, oddly surprised by the knowledge. It was going to be strange to see him in person again after seeing him naked and aroused in Tracy’s dream.
And feeling his hands on her.
She suppressed a shudder.
“But he’s just that,” Tracy responded. “He’s a boy. He’s so . . .”
“Young?”
“Yes. He’s like a puppy. All exuberance and energy and mischief.”
“All qualities that might not be so bad in a lover.”
Tracy laughed. “And inexperience?”
“With a body like that, I’m pretty sure that’s not something you’d have to worry about.”
“Maybe not with sex, but with everything else.”
“I don’t know,” Lisette murmured. “Now that I think about it, he’s come a long way in the past couple of years. He kicked ass when he backed up Richart and Étienne at Krysta’s house that time. And apparently did so again when we stormed the mercenaries’ compound.”
“I know. I was with him at the compound.” Tracy shook her head, her lips tilting up in a faint smile. “He was fierce. And freaking funny. I never would have thought I could laugh while so many people were trying to kill me, but damned if he didn’t say the most outrageous things.”
Hmm. Tracy said it with what sounded like affection. “I don’t think he’s made any other big blunders since he landed Marcus and Ami in trouble shortly after Ami became Marcus’s Second. Maybe he isn’t so inexperienced.”
“But he’s still young.”
“So are you.”
Tracy rolled her eyes. “Compared to you, who isn’t?”
Lisette laughed. It was true. All mortals seemed young to her. Even octogenarians. “So there’s a minuscule age gap.”
“I’m nine years older than he is.” Tracy frowned. “Wait. Are you trying to talk me into starting something with him?”
“Many more dreams like the one I saw,” Lisette offered dryly, “and you’ll talk yourself into it.”
Tracy sat quietly for a moment. (Was she actually considering it?) Then she shook her head. “No. No way. It’s Sheldon, for crap’s sake.” Rising, she headed for the doorway. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“Of course not. You know me better than that.”
She smiled. “You rock.”
“So do you.”
Tracy returned to her bedroom, climbed back into bed, and soon found sleep again.
Lisette lay back and stared up at the ceiling.
Why couldn’t that have been her dream and featured Zach?
And why oh why could she not banish him from her thoughts?
Jealousy seared Zach. He had attempted to lose himself in fantasies of Lisette again and instead had stumbled into one of her own. One of her making love with Sheldon, a young, strapping Second.#p#分页标题#e#
How could she want that . . . boy?
For days, weeks, he didn’t know how long, he dwelled on the image of her in bed with that man-child, writhing beneath him, a sensual smile tilting her full\ lips. Fury rose, irrational in the extreme, yet a very effective distraction.
He gritted his teeth as the whip opened new welts across his chest.
How long had it been since he had stumbled into Lisette’s dreams for the first time?
And how long did the Others intend to continue this shit?
Desperate for solace, for relief, for escape, he ignored the pain of the lash (Wasn’t that fucker’s arm tired yet?) and focused once more on Lisette. Deep breaths in, despite his cracked and broken ribs. Deep breaths out, ignoring the pull of cuts and the ache of bruises.
Lisette.
The cavern around him fell away, replaced by Stygian forest. The light of a full moon filtered down through tree branches and dappled his bare chest and leather pants. A cool breeze ruffled his hair, carrying with it the scent he craved.
Zach strode forward, following it to a slender figure who stood, silhouetted, before a break in the trees. Beyond lay David’s sprawling one-story home.
She didn’t hear his silent approach.
Zach stopped a breath away from her back. Tendrils of hair escaped her long braid and floated on the wind, tickling his chest. She smelled so good.