Chapter 66

Ciara sagged onto the couch. She was freaked out of her mind and somehow the stranger’s phantom face lodged securely in her thoughts.

Holly offered to stay the night but born with pride like no others, she refused. She was a big girl for Pete sake!  She could look after herself…could she?

Not feeling nearly ready to go to bed, she popped in her old time favourite,  Bram Stoker’ Dracula movie. She felt so much compassion for the dark creature of the night, even though he was portrayed as something so evil , he even craved the love of a life mate. Tragic.

A few minutes into the movie, she felt the rumble in her tummy, telling her that she neglected to eat earlier that evening. Not really in the mood to make something, she grabbed a bag of microwave popcorn and chucked it in, setting the timer for two minutes.

Deciding that it will go well with some hot chocolate she kept herself busy with heating the milk on the stove. Maybe some hot milk would settle her nerves and the strange unsettled feeling looming in the between her shoulder blades.

Filling a huge mug with sweet scented milk, she turned towards the basin to dunk the pot.

Something made her look up to the window, she was staring at herself, a pale, big eyed Ciara.

Halloween really got to you this year. Whoosie!

She giggled at her own silliness when suddenly something behind her caught her eye and she felt her heart drop. Her scream lodged in her throat, a cold rush brushed over her skin.

He was behind her, so close she felt his breath in her neck, his hands rested on her shoulders, keeping her there. Everything inside her wanted to run like hell but her fear kept her immobilized. Ciara felt her mouth gaped, but nothing came out., her legs felt like lead.

She could only see the top of his blond head, feel him as he inhaled her scent. His mouth was dangerously close to her neck, she closed her eyes, waiting for…for God knows what but it never came. Opening her eyes slowly, she was met with the iciest blue eyes she had ever seen. They glittered like fallen stars, the message in them so clear and utterly forbidding that her soul cried out in despair. The full lips retracted into a grin, displaying ivory, elongated teeth…

Deep inside survival snapped into place and she screamed, she focused again and saw..nothing.

He was gone!

Turning around, she searched the room. There was nothing, not a soul. Scared witless she grabbed her popcorn and hot chocolate, not flinching as the scolding hot liquid burned her skin.

Ok now I’m losing my mind here!

Not sure if she could stomach fanged creatures any longer, she switched of the dvd and started jumping channels until she found some safe, romantic gibberish to keep her mind of the fact that she might be losing her sanity.

The movie was actually refreshingly funny and soon she was so drawn into it.

“veni-mi frumos, sa am timp uni,  “

Ciara felt her eyelids getting heavy, maybe the hot chocolate was doing it’s job…..

“renunţare la mine,
fi al meu în seara asta.”

She was floating between slumber and reality. The fluffiness surrounded her and soon she was drifting…..

Ciara opened  her  eyes. She was  in her bedroom, only not. 

Was she dreaming?

It had to be, because her girlie room had been transformed into a seductive ruby fantasy. Gone were the furry teddies and plush cushions.

Ciara shivered as a cool breeze breathed over her, the crimson silky curtains billowed in the wind, dancing against the ceiling in wild abandon. She stared at her surroundings, flickering candles fluttered under the onslaught of the assaulting breeze. 

Why did everything felt so familiar , yet so bizarre?

Open palms glided over silky sheets, her nails spiked into the mattress..this was pure decadent pleasure...the feeling of cool silkiness whispering along her skin.

Ciara felt a pull and sat up slowly. Her hair was flowing down her back, looking down she realised her nightgown matched the scarlet palette of the room. The scene was so intimate, so sexually arousing , a sizzle stroked her insides and she sighed, leaning her head back to give full reign to the exquisite feeling.

“Ciara”

Her name was so clear in her mind, as if someone called out to her without breathing a word.

“Ciara.”

Her eyes fluttered open the moment her head lifted.

He was here, her dark, mysterious stranger.

 Holding out his hand, his palm open and relaxed , he waited. She would come to him..she was his for the taking.

Instead of feeling panic she felt warmth flooding her. Somehow her soul knew he would come back, she wanted him to come back even if it had to be in her dreams.

She felt the undeniable pull towards him, sliding of the bed she felt energy bounce of him as she came closer. His eyes glittered with determination and satisfaction.

Her hair blew from her face as she drifted closer, the nightgown glued to her curvaceous body, making his hunger for her more irrepressible.

His eyes gleamed in the semi shadows, he was without the mask, yet she couldn’t see his face completely , only the stubborn jut of his jawline and the slight smile on those full lips.

As her hand touched his, she sighed , her lips parting as the breath escaped her .

She had come home, he was all that mattered now...

Capturing her hand in his, he coaxed her closer, no need to frighten her.

“You came back.”

“You wanted me to.” His husky voice played over her senses.

Cupping her face gently in his hand, her heavy eyelids shuttered.

“Yes..yes I wanted you to.”

A calloused thumb stroked the feminine curve of her jaw, lowering the gentle touch to the swanlike  neck.

 She felt his eyes boring into her, those hungry eyes feasting on her, bathing her in sexual need.

Tangling his hand in the warm weight of her dark curls, he supported her nape as he closed the space between them.

A tiny cry fled from her as she felt the first touch of his kiss.

**Come my lovely, it’s time we unite,

surrender to me,

be mine tonight.