Chapter Seventeen
Kylie felt her cheeks begin to redden. "Okay, it's not what you think. . . . "
Even as she said the words, she knew she was lying.
"Okay, fine," she said. "It's exactly what you think. "
Miranda's mouth dropped open. "You mean . . . Did you-"
"No. " Kylie slapped her hand against her chest. "God, no. I mean, like I told you, we just danced and kissed. But. . . "
"But what?" Della demanded.
"Yeah," Miranda said. "But what?"
Kylie took a deep breath. "But . . . he said something that made me think that maybe he had the ability to convince me to, you know. " She blushed again.
"Do the horizontal bop?" Della offered. "Do the Humpty dance? Knock boots?"
Kylie rolled her eyes. "Where do you come up with that stuff?"
Della grinned. "I get around. "
Miranda giggled.
"Uh-huh. " Kylie felt her cheeks grow even hotter. "Anyway, yeah, that's what I mean," she added before the smart-mouthed vamp could come up with some more half-vulgar, half-hilarious terms for sex. "I just want to know if werewolves have any special powers, okay?"
Della leaned back in her chair. "Maybe he just means he'll seduce you by kissing you. Let's face it, he's pretty hot and you said his kisses were out of this world. Hey, he makes my knees weak, and I'm vampire with a natural dislike for weres. "
"He is hot," Miranda added.
Kylie tried not to think about her two roommates weak-kneed for Lucas.
"Then you don't believe that power really exists?" she asked instead.
"Yeah, it exists," Miranda said, and her brow pinched as if she were thinking. "I've heard something about it. Nothing specific, but just a few mumblings. "
"What have you heard?" Della and Kylie asked at the same time. Kylie put Socks down, moved to the table, and dropped onto a kitchen chair. For some reason, the ghost had decided to move on, which didn't bother her at all. She could use some downtime.
Especially right now.
"I can't remember the details," Miranda said. "Just that it's a little dangerous to date a were. It has something to do with animal pheromones. They're basically animals, and all animals have a natural way of attracting the opposite sex. "
"Attracting like how?" Kylie asked.
"Well," Miranda said, "lizards have a brightly colored balloony thing that they blow out from their throats and supposedly girl lizards find that all kinds of sexy. "
Kylie shook her head. "Lucas doesn't have a balloon in his throat. "
"Hey," Della added. "Have you ever seen those blackbirds-grackles, I think they're called-do the mating dance? They jump around on one foot and ruffle their feathers out. The females supposedly get horny just seeing the male birds do it. I mean, the guy with the better feathers always wins. Or is it the bigger feathers?"
Miranda snickered. "And I heard some male baboons have brightly colored buttocks and they go around mooning the females. Supposedly it's a huge turn-on. "
While Kylie was serious about finding answers, she couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think Lucas has colored buttocks, either. Not that I've seen them. " She laughed harder.
Before their conversation was over, Della was on the computer looking up strange mating behaviors that included everything from exploding testicles to slinging poop with a tail, and they laughed themselves silly until way past midnight. It was, Kylie decided as she finally slipped into bed, just the type of evening she needed.
Although she still didn't have the answer to her original question: Just what kind of power did Lucas really have?
And could she trust him not to misuse it? Her gut said she could. But was her gut being persuaded by outside influences?
* * *
The floating sensation filled Kylie's head several hours after she went to bed that night. Mental alarms went off. Was this Red again? Then she realized the difference: she was floating, which meant she was the one moving.
She considered trying to stop it, but she was too tired, so she just let herself go. Let herself float and zip through the air-moving through clouds of sleep.
The sense of freedom was exhilarating. She didn't have a clue where she was going, and she didn't care. Obviously, her subconscious had a plan. But what?
And then she saw him. He looked so good, lying in his bed, that her breath caught and she put on her flying brakes. He was shirtless, too. The covers came low on his waist, several inches past his belly button. Her gaze moved up and then down his bare torso. There was a lot of skin to appreciate.
Then she studied his face. So peaceful in his slumber. His eyelashes rested against his cheeks. His hair rested against his brow in a ruffled mess, as if he'd run his fingers through it too many times. Her heart spasmed and then she felt herself moving closer, into the room, into the bed, into his . . . head.
No! She stopped herself at the last moment.
She'd vowed to get over Derek. To move past him. Unfortunately, her subconscious hadn't gotten that message. Then, as if gravity, or maybe her own will, started pulling her backward, she let herself sail through the clouds, back through the universe of sleep.
She woke up with a start, as if she'd been slammed back into her body. Catching her breath, she reached for her pillow and hugged it tightly to her chest. The vision of Derek asleep filled her head. No! No! Don't think about Derek. Think about Lucas.
Lucas, who'd danced with her in the moonlight. Lucas, who'd kissed her so sweetly. Lucas, whose blood raced every time she was with him.
Closing her eyes, she lost herself again in the oblivion of sleep. The sweet nothingness of slumber. The next thing she knew, she stood in a room of clouds, in front of Lucas. Thoughts of Red hit, but Lucas spoke. "It's me. Feel me. I'm hot. " He reached out and took her hand in his. His touch sent warmth through her palm and her heart.
She remembered telling herself to think about Lucas, and she wondered if she was learning to control her dreamscapes. A little thrill ran through her as the sensation of accomplishment filled her chest. With so many unknowns and out-of-control issues happening, it felt great to think she'd mastered something.
He smiled up at her with his sleepy blue eyes. "I was beginning to think you would never visit me in my dreams again. "
Suddenly, the clouds evaporated like unwanted fog and they were back outside where they'd danced earlier that evening. The moon and stars cast lovely shadows around them. Only this time, the night played the music. Crickets and an occasional bird harmonized with the sound of a light breeze stirring through the leaves of shrubbery and the rustle of live oak trees.
"Shall we dance?" He held out his hand.
She started to place her hand in his palm when she realized he didn't have on a shirt. Instead of jeans, he had on a long, loose-fitting pair of boxers. The kind boys slept in-if they didn't sleep nude. The kind the movie stars often wore in those sexy photos.
She swallowed a nervous tickle. He looked really good. Warm and so touchable. And almost naked. As if nothing more than a flick of his thumb could leave him completely bare.
"Uh. . . " She waved her hand up and down. "Shouldn't you get dressed?"
He grinned and then laughed outright-something he didn't do often. "This is your dream, Kylie. You dressed me for the occasion. You're in charge of what I wear. So, the better question is . . . is this how you want me to be dressed?"
She felt her face heat up and wished she could deny it, but Holiday had told her as much during their discussions of dreamscaping. She controlled everything, from the person she visited to what happened during her visit. So what did it mean that she had visited Derek first?
And why had she wanted Lucas half-dressed?
Okay, that was a stupid question.
"Oh. . . " She let her voice fade away, not really sur
e what else to say. That's when she noticed what she was wearing. The same short pajama set she'd worn to bed-they consisted of a pale blue body-hugging tank top and a pair of tight dark blue boy shorts. A bathing suit would have shown more skin, but she still felt slightly naked.
She wasn't sure how she could change the clothes they were wearing, but she closed her eyes and concentrated for a couple of seconds. When she opened her eyes again, she saw she was back in her black party dress-much more appropriate. Lucas wore jeans and a white T-shirt with a big yellow smiley face on it.
He looked down at his shirt and then back up at her with a funny frown. "Seriously? This is what you chose?"
"I'm new at this," she said, defending herself. "But it's not that bad. "
"A smiley face?" He chuckled again. "Just remind me to never let you buy me clothes. "
She laughed, and then he held out his hand again. "Are we here to dance?"
This time, she took it and let him pull her against him.
When his warm arms went around her and his chest melted against hers, it reminded her how it felt to slip into a warm bed on a cold night. She sighed at how comforting it felt to be held by him again. When she rested her cheek on his chest, his hand moved around her waist and his almost electric pulse fluttered against her lower back. That flutter seemed to move inside her and caused her blood to pulse.
She recalled the question she needed to ask him and lifted her head and rested her chin against his chest. He looked down and met her gaze. His blue eyes were hooded with something that looked like passion, and she wondered if her own eyes showed the same emotion.
"Can I ask you something?"
"It's your dream," he whispered. "We can do anything you want. " There was an emphasis on the word anything that caused a ripple of nervousness to move through her.
Anything.
Taking a deep breath, she stopped dancing and slid her hand up his chest to where she felt his heart pumping.
"Tonight, you mentioned that you were good at . . . the art of persuasion. "
His lips curled into a smile. "Yeah, I remember that. " His voice had a teasing, sensual quality that made her want to shiver and press herself closer to him.
"What . . . what did you mean by that?"
His smile turned ultrasexy. "I'd rather show you. "
She nipped at her bottom lip, considering his offer. She was tempted-Lord, how she was tempted. And what would be the harm in saying yes, just this one time? After all, this was just a dream. Anything that happened here would have no effect on her real life. Right?
"Relax, Kylie," he said. "It's just a dream. " His words echoed her own thoughts. Then his warm lips brushed against her brow and the ripple of unease increased.
"Maybe it's just a dream," she said. "But it feels real and I'm . . . I prefer you just answered my question the old-fashioned way. "
He nodded. For a second, he appeared not to want to continue, but then he said, "It's not like a trick or anything. It's part of what I am. It's instinctual. "
"What's instinctual?"
"When a were is with a potential mate, our bodies react in certain ways. " He paused as if he knew his explanation wouldn't be enough. "Last night, when you had your head on my chest, you heard the sound . . . the low growl. "
"Like a purring or humming," she said, remembering being lulled by the soft noise.
He nodded. "Well, that reverberation is supposed to be somewhat hypnotic. It encourages our potential mate to want to be closer. "
Close and naked, Kylie thought, but didn't say it. "It makes one dizzy, too," she said, remembering how she'd felt last night.
He caught her face in his hands. "I guess maybe a little. " He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "But it's not a ploy to trick girls into bed. It's just a natural thing male weres do. If that's what you're worried about. "
"I'm not exactly worried," she said. And she wasn't. Because as potentially dangerous as the werewolf's purr could be, she didn't think she had to worry about Lucas misusing it. Last night, he'd had a chance to let things escalate between them and he'd put a stop to it.
"Like I told you," she said. "I trust you. " And she still did.
He studied her face. "But?"
Okay, there was a but. She hesitated to find the right words. "But knowledge is power. I like knowing what I'm dealing with. And I like being the one in the driver's seat, if you know what I mean. "
He frowned slightly as if he didn't like her answer. "It's not like entrapment. A female has to be close, really close, to a male were before she's even aware of it. "
Kylie smiled. "So I guess I need to be careful how close I get to you. "
"Or not. " He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. "I really, really like you, Kylie Galen. "
"And I you, Lucas Parker. " She raised herself up on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips.
His eyes met hers and he let go of a deep breath. "Okay. "
"Okay, what?" she asked, sensing his remark meant something.
"Okay, I'll be a bit more patient. Okay, I'm happy with this. With just being this close to you. " He picked her up and twirled her around.
She grinned when he set her back on her feet. "Thanks," she said, and touched his lips with her fingertips.
He caught her hand. "We just have to be a little careful when we're not dreaming. "
"Careful about what?"
"Like I told you last night. The closer to the full moon, the more I run on instinct. And sometimes, my instincts are short on patience. "
She didn't like the sound of that. "Do you mean we can't see each other when it's time for your change?"
"I didn't say that. " He frowned. "We can see each other. But we shouldn't . . . dance in the moonlight for too long. Or roll around on the ground by the creek. " He grinned. "Or go skinny-dipping at the swimming hole. " His tone seemed to deepen.
"That was just a dream. " She felt her face flush.
"A good one, too. " He smiled. Then he breathed in as if to sober his thoughts. "But basically, we'll be fine as long as we don't play too close to the fire until after the change. " He ran his hand through the curtain of her hair and brought a handful of it to his nose. "Unless you change your mind. You do know that what happens in dreams isn't really real, right? I mean, we could-"
Suddenly, she felt something yanking her from behind and pulling her away from Lucas. Pulling her to someplace she didn't want to go.
Lucas yelled out her name. But a cloud appeared between them. She realized that two men dressed in white lab coats had her in their grips. One on each arm, holding her so tightly that she couldn't get away. The camp had dissolved. Now she was in a building of some kind, and the two men pulled her down a dark, dismal hall. She screamed and tried to pull away, but she was helpless.
Her heart thumped in her chest, and she tasted fear on her tongue. Nothing made sense. Then she remembered-this was a dream. All she had to do was wake up.
She slammed her eyes shut. Tight. Then tighter.
Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
Suddenly, a bright light shone in her eyes. Everything had changed again. The men who had dragged her away were gone. She felt disoriented, lost, alone. Empty. She felt empty. What was happening to her?
The light shifted from one eye to the other, and she saw a man's face inches from her nose. She realized she was lying in a bed. Not her bed, though. Not the twin one at camp or her full-size mattress at home. This bed felt different. She tried to move but felt numb. No, not numb-she felt paralyzed.
"Is she okay?" a female voice asked. Kylie cut her eyes to the side to see her new captor, but she was out of vision range, and Kylie was unable to turn her neck. Panic started to tighten her throat again.
"She should be," said the man, shin
ing the flashlight into her eyes.
Kylie blinked and when she opened her eyes, she saw his pattern. He was vampire.
Then he turned her chin in his large hands and ran his finger over her head. Oddly enough, Kylie realized he touched her bare scalp. She was missing her hair.
Missing her hair?
She blinked again and remembered her ghost, Jane Doe. Was that what was happening? Was this a vision sent to her by the amnesiac ghost-one of those crazy ones where Kylie actually became the spirit? Fear swelled in her chest. She cut her eyes to the side and stared at the man's eyes until she saw her own reflection. Or saw the ghost's reflection.
It should have calmed her, but the panic built higher. She wanted out of here. She hadn't wanted to be here to start with. She'd already lost everything that mattered. Thoughts, feelings, and emotions collided in her chest and she wasn't sure which ones were her own and which ones belonged to her spirit.
"Wake up. Kylie, wake up!" Kylie could hear voices coming from somewhere far away. But then the voices faded and she felt the vampire's hand on her head again.
"She's healing nicely," he said. "Maybe she'll just take a while longer to come around. Let's do another MRI scan on her. " The man stood up and twitched his brows at her. "Then again, it could be more. Her pattern still hasn't emerged. " He frowned. "I don't understand that. Something isn't right. "
"What do I tell her husband? He woke up several hours ago and is asking for her," the female voice said. Kylie had yet to see the owner of that voice.
Help me! Kylie screamed in her head, because she couldn't make her throat work.
"Tell him she's doing fine. But we're keeping her for observation. Release him if he's ready to go. "
"Do you think she's going to live?" asked the woman again.
"I don't know. " He slipped his flashlight into his coat pocket. "But I guess it's inevitable that we will lose a few subjects. We just have to remember it's for a good cause. "
"I guess," said the female voice.
"Get me the results of the test. However, if she hasn't awakened by tonight, go ahead and extinguish her. "
Extinguish her?
Kylie's fear ratcheted up a notch.
Noooooooooooo!