Silent Screams

The erratic pounding beneath her chest had her pulse racing. Her body felt strange. A static charge started at her head and worked its way down to her toes. It rolled back up her body in waves and left the center of her back throbbing. “What the hell?”

Bewildered, Rayne reached back, slipped her hand under her hoodie, and brushed her fingers over her dragon tattoo. She vividly remembered when she got it years ago in Hong Kong. On that day, she was a little tipsy and feeling mighty damn adventurous. 

As she stroked her tatted flesh, it thumped against her fingers like a heartbeat. Weird! 

Suddenly, she noticed something even weirder. The people walking by slowed down. And it wasn’t just them. Vehicles rolled by at a sluggish pace. It was as if everything and everyone moved in slow motion. 

Rayne spun around frantically, searching for someone—anyone—moving at a normal speed. She noticed how eerily quiet it was. It was as if all sound had been sucked out of the air. She could only hear her chaotic breathing as she tried to figure out what the fuck was going on. 

Was she dreaming? Were the edibles having some crazy effect on her? Hallucination! “Yeah, I must be hallucinating.”

A presence… She felt a presence that made her insides flutter. She remembered this feeling. Could it be him? Demetri? Had he actually found her? 

A warm tingling slithered up her spine as an enchanting voice sailed across her mind like a sweet song. “The distance between us is torturous.”

Oh God, Oh God, OH MY GAWD! 

“Demetri?” she panted. Clutching at the hem of her hoodie, she scanned the area for a glimpse of her shadow man. No one stood out. No one even looked her way. Was he teasing her? Or was her mind playing tricks on her? 

A powerful, alluring aura eased up behind her. A deep croon brushed the side of her neck. “Let’s eliminate this distance, shall we?” 

Rayne spun around with a gasp lodged in her throat. 

The view of the street, sidewalk, and the buildings along it all vanished. With it, the ground softened under her shoes. She looked down. “Holy shit—what…” She was on the beach, which was half an hour’s walk from the strip. She couldn’t have gotten here that fast. She whirled in place, wrecked with confusion. Her rubber soles dug into the sand. “Demetri, if this is you, you better stop playing!” 

There wasn’t a body in sight. Strange to see the beach deserted this early in the evening. 

Off on the horizon, the pale pink tint from the moon radiated over the small waves in the ocean and highlighted the grains of sand. They sparkled under her appraisal like a trillion tiny diamonds in the spotlight.

The tantalizing scent from earlier returned. Only it was much stronger than before. Rayne helplessly inhaled it into her system as her feet carried her forward against her will. 

A gazebo came into view. Sheer red curtains draped along the sides of the enclosure. Through the transparent fabric, she saw a chaise lounge. A large bottle sat on a side table. Looked like wine. Thick metal torches were placed at each corner to keep it standing, their flames adding to the light cast by the blushing moon.

A hand unfurled from the opening in the curtain, making her shuffle to a halt. Someone waited on the other side, but she couldn’t see them through the sheer curtains. While she could see everything else, the owner of that hand remained a ghostly presence.

What kinda freaky ass magician trick is this? 

Eagerness and anxiety bubbled up inside of her. “Demetri, this ain’t cute.” 

The fingers wiggled, beckoning her forward. 

Rayne closed in on the awaiting hand. Long pretty fingers, soft-looking skin. She paused a moment, unsure if she was making the right choice. 

What if this wasn’t Demetri? What if that hand belonged to a monster? 

What if what happened to those girls was about to happen to me? 

Though her mind was questioning everything, her heart urged her to reach out and take his offer. 

“God, what am I doing?” Swallowing hard, she slipped her hand into his. She drew in a sharp inhale. Stirring heat radiated from his palm and tunneled through her, making every nerve quiver. A shaky moan fluttered from her lips. Terrified, she squeezed her eyes shut. 

His fingers curled around her hand and gave her a gentle tug. The curtains feathered over her face as he drew her inside the enclosure. His captivating scent enveloped her, making her head swim. Tremors dashed through her. She felt drunk in his presence, lost in the wonderful sensation he gave her with a simple touch. 

He pulled her flush against his taut body and slipped an arm around her waist. 

Her breathing escalated. “Oh gawd.” Deathly afraid to look up into his face, she clutched what felt like the lapels of his jacket and squeezed her eyelids tighter together. Panic picked at her nerves. The enticing aroma that made her horny as all hell swirled around her in teasing ribbons of ecstasy. She couldn’t help but breathe him in with every inhale.

His long fingers slipped beneath her chin and tilted her face upward. “Open your eyes.”

His deep silky voice drew her eyes open. A sound between a whimper and a gasp fluttered out of her.

Well gawd-dayum!

Framed by long thick lashes, a pair of mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes gazed down at her. Lengthy raven hair cascaded over his broad shoulders, enhancing the allure of his gorgeous face. A narrow-bridged nose, mid-high cheekbones, and plush kissable lips added to the sheer perfection of his features. 

Mouth hanging open, she gawked at him. She had never seen anyone so insanely beautiful. He was unreal. 

“Demetri?” she whispered breathlessly.

His luscious lips curved into a sexy smirk as he pulled the shades from her face. “Hello, Angel.”