Dare (30 page)

I wrapped myself around him, knowing the energy was building and eventually it would crest and we would collapse together. I held on to him, wanting us to stay connected, delaying the wash of bliss that would cover us. But as it built, as he kissed me, as he swayed me with his hips, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting more. Clawing at him, devouring him, taking him under with me.

“Don’t you have to go to work?” I asked. My head rested on his chest. I could hear his heart beating.

“I should. But as long as you’re right where you are, I’m not moving.” He kissed the top of my head. “This is worth a thousand lectures from the director.”

I traced a finger over his flesh, feeling the warmth of his skin. “I don’t want to move either.”

“I haven’t slept like that in forever.”

“Why not?” It had been a luxurious deep sleep.

I heard him hold in a breath. “I’m a restless sleeper, I guess.”

I felt as if there was more to it. “You can tell me.”

He sighed. “I have dreams sometimes. They wake me up. But last night, with you in my bed, I slept. I think I’ve found my sleep remedy.” He pulled the sheet away from my hip, running his palm over the curve of my waist.

I smiled. I liked thinking I helped him sleep. “I have dreams that wake me up too.” The wedding nightmare hadn’t stopped. It was getting worse.

“And what about last night?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No, not a single one.”

“This thing between us…” He stopped for a second. “The way I feel about you…I want you to know I haven’t felt like this in a long time. Actually, I’ve never felt what we have.”

I tilted my head so I could see him. “I haven’t either.”

He smiled. “Does this mean we’ve lost our damn minds?” He laughed and his chest shook under my chin.

“It depends on what you’re saying.” I slowly crawled to a sitting position, my hair sliding over my shoulders.

He sat forward. “I’m saying that I’ve never met a girl like you. I’ve never kissed a girl like you. I’ve never spent a night with someone like we had…or a morning.” He winked.

I wanted words that fit the moment, but I couldn’t tell him everything surging through me.

“See? I told you this would happen.” He tucked my hair behind me ear. “Guy meets girl in the library. Girl asks guy out for coffee. Guy ends up falling head over heels for cool girl. It’s like we knew all along we were going to end up here, and I don’t mean in my bed. Since the day I’ve met you, I would have done anything to get an extra minute with you, an extra laugh, a smile. Because God knows, you’re all I can think about it.”

I didn’t have nights like last night. I couldn’t promise him we could have another one.

“What if all we have is today?” I looked into his eyes. “What if I can’t promise you tomorrow, but I can give you today? Would you still take it?”

“I don’t know what you’re asking me. I’m in this with you.” I saw the flecks of cobalt surfacing under his lashes.

“If I have to leave, would you still want last night? Would you make the same decision if I didn’t stay?”

I felt the roughness of his palm stroke my cheek. “Because of last night, I know I’ll never be the same man.” He kissed me, his mouth hovering over my lips. “Tell me you aren’t going out of town again. You saw how awful my drunk dialing is.”

I tried to laugh. “Not right away, but I might have to leave for a while.”

“I just found you. You can’t go.”

“I don’t have a choice.” I let him pull me back into the crook of his arm, where he could hold me tighter.

“There’s always a choice, Dare. You always have a choice.”

S
he wouldn’t say it. She didn’t have to. It was the magic. I didn’t know what kind. I didn’t know how it affected her, but it had something to do with that damn cave and the witches who had screwed with my memory.

My notes and lame sketches were useless.

The only link I had to any of it was Silver, and that was a stretch. Maybe, just maybe if we could corner the Ghost of the Forest I could find the source of the magic. I could find out what was taking Dare away from me. If I could talk to her, the human version of her, I would have a way to help Dare. I could protect her.

I called in sick to work. Lacey sounded annoyed, but told me she would pass on the message. It gave me the rest of the day to prepare for the night.

Silver called and said tonight was the night. He had everything he needed to set the trap. All he needed was the bait. Me.

I didn’t like the idea of going back into the woods. The last time I had been attacked, and if it hadn’t been for Dare, I would have died. Silver agreed it might take a few nights before the jag attacked again, but he seemed to think he and the Ghost were involved in some type of turf war. His theory was if I were in danger, she would appear.

The problem was the jag. Silver said he had acquired a dart gun and several tranquilizers we could use to take them both out. That was what had taken so long. He said things on the black market moved a little slower than he liked.

I didn’t know what kind of tranquilizers would work on half-human half-cat shifters, so I left the details to the painter.

I poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table, reading over the morning’s headlines. I couldn’t focus. I walked into the garage and turned on the AC. I needed to still my mind and find center again.

Since I wasn’t allowed to talk to Dare about the magic, I couldn’t tell her ever since the elixir had rid my body of the poison, I felt more alert. More alive. It was possible I was on an adrenaline high from where our relationship had gone, but I didn’t buy that. I could feel nuances in my muscles I had never felt before. It was as if I hummed with a new energy.

I closed my eyes and started my routine. I could get lost in this until it was time to meet Silver.

On the drive through town, I spied Isaac cleaning a glass through the pub window. There were joggers prepping for next weekend’s 5K. Sullen’s Grove seemed normal. It seemed like an idyllic place to live. Then why was I on my way to capture a panther? I almost turned around.

I parked at Oaks Park. Silver was waiting near the gravel path. He could sit a few more seconds. I pulled out my phone to dial Dare. I got her voicemail and left a message.

“Hey, I have to work late tonight. Maybe you can come over later? Or I can meet you at your place. I’ll call you.”

I stuffed the phone in my pocket as I walked toward Silver.

“You ready to meet our muse?” He looked happy.

“I don’t know about this.” I looked at his truck. There was a tarp in the back and I saw rope coiled in the front seat.

“I’ll be within sight the entire time. You’re not going to get hurt. I’ll hit the jag with the dart and then her. You just keep talking long enough for me to get a shot off.”

“I don’t speak panther.”

“But you said she understood you. She’s human. She’ll understand. Just keep talking.”

“And what am I supposed to say?” We walked on the trail deeper into the woods.

“Make it up.” He threw his hands in the air. “I don’t care. Just keep her occupied long enough. That’s all I’m asking. Can you do that?”

“I guess I can. Want to strap a steak to my neck while we’re out here?”

Silver laughed. “Nope, you’re fresh meat without it.”

“Great.”

I followed him until we were off the path. I knew we were getting close to where I had seen the jag.

“How long do you think she’ll be out?” I asked.

“Long enough. We just have to get her back to my studio. I have everything I need for her there.”

“I just want to talk to her. That’s all.” I wanted to make it clear I didn’t want her hurt. I just needed a few minutes with her. He didn’t need to know why. I still couldn’t believe I was going along with this.

Silver tossed an end of the rope over a tree branch.

“What are you doing?” I watched as he started to haul himself up the trunk.

“I need a high vantage point. Now just stay in the radius of the tree. He’ll show up.”

I shook my head. This was freakin’ crazy. I turned off the flashlight and meandered through the brush. Silver thought the more leaves and branches I touched, the more my scent would travel in the air. If the jag were in the area, he’d pick up on it quickly.

I walked back to the tree where Silver had shimmied up a few minutes ago.

“Do you see anything up there?” I called to him.

“Shut up. Don’t talk to me. Get out there and be the bait. That’s your one job.”