Dark Light (The Dark Light Series)(76)

Just as quickly as he grabbed me, Dorian releases my face and takes a cautionary step back. I’m panting, tingling, disoriented. My hunger for him is suddenly raging like a wildfire and only he can extinguish it. I will writhe and burn until he puts it out. I look up at Dorian with bewildered eyes.

“Go to work,” Dorian commands. His voice is aged, archaic again.

I can’t find my own voice. I can’t even form an intelligible response. I simply turn in a robotic fashion and walk out of the coffee shop, not stopping until I reach my store. It’s as if I am having an out of body experience. I can see myself; I can comprehend my actions. But I have no control. And I don’t want it. I’ve relinquished it all to Dorian.

Only when I’ve entered the stuffy stockroom do I begin to feel like myself again. I retreat to the tiny bathroom to assess my appearance. I look the same, though my eyes are wild with confusion. I splash some water on my face and finger-comb my hair, in hopes of bringing back some normalcy. When I step back onto the sales floor, the tingles have subsided and I feel coherent again. What the hell was that?

The evening drones on in slow motion. I can’t quite seem to wrap my head around what happened with Dorian. Every one of his touches is like a shock to my system. But he didn’t even touch me; what could have caused that rush of intense energy? All I know is that my body is craving him. I need release and no one can deliver that better than Dorian. He knows what he’s doing. This was no accident. I told him I couldn’t see him and he somehow awakened a beast within me, making it so I can’t not stay away. I can’t let him win. If I give in this time, he’ll know he can manipulate me whenever he wants. But would that be the worst thing in the world? Being manipulated by Dorian when the payoff is so damn good? I can live with being used for sex by him, can’t I?

No. This is what he wants. He wants me to crave him. He wants to constantly be on my mind so I give into my carnal desires. This is all part of his game; unraveling me to the point where I need him to stay sane. He wants me totally dependent on him. I wasn’t lying- he really is dangerous. If I’m going to maintain control of my faculties, I need to be able to fight fire with fire. I pull out my cell phone and head back to the stockroom.

To Dorian, 8:26 P.M.

-Nice try. See you Thursday.

To Morgan, 8:26 P.M.

-Can you meet me tomorrow at the mall? Taking my break around 6.

-Sure. I’ll be there.

Great, now I can put my plan into action. No one does hot and sexy like Morgan.

Ding! Ding!

From Dorian, 8:27 P.M.

-Nice try? What do you mean?

I decide not to play into Dorian’s text, though my fingers are itching to key in a response. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’s ruffled me once again. Instead, I busy my hands by folding a new shipment of denim until it’s time to go home. Only a few more days and then it’s time to show Dorian the magic in me.





Chapter Nineteen





These past couple of days will go down in history as the hardest, most emotional, sexually frustrating days ever. Every night, another vivid, sensual dream that leaves me throbbing and wet by morning. The days are no better- walking around like a zombie, feeling so sluggish and lethargic as if I haven’t slept in weeks. I can’t concentrate in class, no matter how hard I try and have even been caught zoning out by my instructors when called upon to answer questions.

“Damn, Gabs, are you sure you’re ok? You haven’t been yourself all week,” Jared asks, obviously exasperated by my dispirited state. It’s Thursday. Finally. And he’s had to deal with my dejected disposition long enough.

“I’ll be fine by tonight.” I know exactly what’s wrong. I need Dorian. This goes so far beyond wanting him. My body literally needs him.

“Good. I’m getting tired of seeing you moping around like this. It’s downright depressing to watch,” Jared chuckles. “Hey, I know what’ll cheer you up. There’s an open air concert this weekend. Over at Palmer Park. Bunch of different bands, food, drinks. Come with me.”

“Oh Jared, I’d love to but I think I have to work,” I lie. I’ve never purposely lied to Jared but I can’t tell him about Dorian. He’d flip, especially since I turned him down. That would surely put the nail in the coffin of our friendship.

“That sucks. Oh well, maybe next time.”

Work is like being stuck in quicksand and I have half a mind to tell Felicia that I’m sick just so I can go home early. But since I changed my schedule to free up my weekends, I just have to suck it up and try to get through the long, torturous hours until closing time. All is prepped at home and I just have to shower and leave. I’ve even prepared a story for my parents about a weekend trip to Denver with Morgan just in case I stay the entire weekend at the Broadmoor. I’m getting ahead of myself. Dorian and I agreed on Thursday. Who’s to say he won’t kick me out Friday morning?