The Dream Crafter(45)
He nuzzled into her hair, breathing her in, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight to his chest. “No, it isn’t,” he repeated, and he held her there close, crushing her into him.
“Merc-”
“Shh,” he interrupted. “I want to stay like this. I want to forget for a moment.”
“Forget what?”
“That real life intruded on our dreams.”
Amana tucked herself under his chin, getting closer. “Do you think we can get past this?”
His breathing remained even, the heartbeat strong underneath her ear. He took several moments before he answered. “I don’t know. I know we have to survive this next week first.”
“I feel like my emotional life is nothing but a roller coaster lately.”
“Well, I never had a typical teenage love life. Maybe this is the universe’s way of righting that wrong.”
Amana snorted, then covered her mouth as giggles escaped, turning louder and louder and she couldn’t contain it, but she was grateful to have this laughter here with him, even after everything.
He was looking down at her, the softest look in his eyes. “I don’t know what will happen. Let’s survive this next week and see.”
She nodded.
He pushed her to the stairs. “Go take first sleep shift. I promise,” his voice rose to overtake hers when she began to talk, “I promise I’ll get some sleep tonight.”
She nodded again and went to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
‡
Cool blue light bathed Fallon as she descended the stairs to the open archway. With no door to impede progress she stepped through, into a scene that at first glance gave the impression of a normal, upscale club – medium level music, loud enough to dance, quiet enough for conversation, with tables and booths surrounding a dance floor with a stage, all the while wait staff milling in the type of quiet competence only money seemed to bring forth.
Only on second glance did new details emerge. An overabundance of leather and corsets. Necklaces that upon closer inspection were collars. Chains and clamps of the finest metal, both attached to the furniture and some of it decorating various personages.
Not where she usually hung out on weeknights, and Fallon stood a moment to take it in.
“Black leather, instruments of pain, an occasional scream or whimper – I’m surprised I didn’t realize earlier this is just your thing.” Laire rounded a corner and came into sight. Laire was in leather as well, but black – not so much. How was it possible to get leather that shade of neon orange?
“What are you doing here? Or is this just luck I happened to catch you on one of your play days?” Sloppy. Fucking sloppy. She’d kick her own ass later for not realizing the pint-size nuisance had followed her.
With an abrupt sweep of her hand and roll of her eyes, Laire said, “Listening to you talk, you’d think I live in places like this. Besides…me? Let people give me orders? In what realm does this happen?”
A stunning Indian woman passed with a tray of drinks balanced by one hand, her corset so tight Fallon could have encircled the tiny waist in her hands. At the sight of Laire, a smile lit the corseted woman’s face. “Laire. I thought you weren’t coming back until next month. Do you need a collar?”
“I’m playing it by ear tonight, Sonal.” Sonal nodded, but by this point she was staring at Fallon, curiosity and interest clear in her gaze. When her eyes met Fallon’s, Fallon gave her a wink. Sonal’s cheeks flushed in a very becoming way, and without missing a beat went back to the bar, her six-inch heels giving a delicious swing to her walk.
Once the woman was gone Fallon turned to Laire, saying nothing and letting her raised eyebrow do all of her questioning. Laire shrugged. “I never said I’ve never been here. Girls with their college experimentation and such.”
“You’ve never gone to college.”
“I didn’t say it was my experimentation.” As Fallon’s hands settled on her hips and she made another visual sweep of the room, Laire continued, “I know you’ve never been here. I’d hear about nothing else for weeks if you were. Deciding it’s time for new scenery?”
“The Battle Mage has found you out. There is still time to leave.”
I am not discussing this again, and I’m not leaving. “Laire, if I wanted you to know, I’d have invited you in the first place – And don’t think we’re not having a long discussion about the whole following me thing in the near future.”
Laire pfttd. “Sure, mighty Dragon Slayer, watch me shake in fear.”
“Just…go home.”