Dream of Me: Book 1 The Dream Makers Series (22 page)

Serenity let out a sigh as she set her phone on the table and stretched her arms out in front of her. She knew that Glory would be fine, but she still hated that memories would no doubt be dredged up because of the topic of their conversation. Glory’s life hadn’t been an easy one. She had wonderful parents, no doubt, and they loved her. But, unfortunately, parents couldn’t pick their family members and family didn’t always mean friendly or loving. She didn’t want to go down that road tonight so she tucked those memories away for another time. Just as she was about to stand, she felt the temperature in the room drop a couple of degrees.

“Hey.”

Serenity’s head whipped around at the sound of the deep, silky voice. “What are you doing here?” she whispered through the smile that was threatening to split her face in half. She hadn’t realized how badly she had wanted to see him or how much she had needed him.

“What’s wrong,” Dair asked as his eyes narrowed and he knelt down in front of her.

She shook her head, unable to say anything for fear that she would turn into a blubbering mess and tell him about the events of the night and then beg him to make it better. Instead she just reached for him and, like she knew he would, Dair wrapped her in his strong embrace. His hand stroked down her hair and back and his whispered words soothed her. “I felt you.”

His words had her pulling away to look at him. “What do you mean you felt me?”

He started to do the whole shoulder shrug thing but when she frowned at him he stopped. “I could feel you were upset and that you needed me, like a string is attached to my soul connecting to yours and your soul was giving it a tug.”

“How come I can’t feel you?” she asked, then watched as Dair closed his eyes and his face was completely relaxed. She wondered what he was doing but didn’t have to wonder long because then
she
felt him. Cool waves of concern flowed through her and she knew it was Dair’s concern for her.

“Why, I mean, how,” she stuttered as he opened his eyes to look at her.

“I don’t know,” he answered, obviously having understood what she was asking. “I don’t understand it either. But I’m not complaining.”

Serenity smiled. “I’m not either.”

“Now, will you tell me what has you so upset?”

Serenity bit the inside of her cheek, giving herself time to think, to figure out how to explain the events of the night without causing Dair to flip his lid. In the end, she decided that there was no way for her to explain little Emma being attacked in such a way that wouldn’t have Dair fuming. Better to just rip the Band-Aide off quickly she decided.

“Emma was attacked by one of Mildred’s scumbags tonight.” The words flew out of her mouth before she had a chance to even consider that maybe she should first tell him that Emma was alright and that she was safe. Dair started to stand and Serenity could feel the air around them growing colder as his temper flared. “Wait, wait, Dair.” She stood quickly and grabbed his arm. “Maybe I should have mentioned that she’s here and she’s safe.”

“What happened?” The room seemed to dim as his power began to grow, and she could tell he truly was on the verge of losing control. Serenity had no idea what sort of power Dair wielded, other than being able to create dreams, but she imagined an immortal being was no weakling.

Serenity told him all that Emma had told her, and once she was finished she waited. Dair stood in the middle of the small kitchen. He was still as stone and his inhuman beauty was harsh as the anger and obvious frustration at having not been there washed over him.

“He didn’t.” He paused but she knew he wasn’t going to continue and she didn’t blame him. Serenity didn’t like to think about what could have happened either.

“No, he didn’t touch her, not like that.”

Dair let out a slow breath that seemed to help him gain some control. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t here to be with you. I know it must have been hard for you to handle.”

She knew how he meant it, and Serenity appreciated that he wanted to be there to support her and that he cared enough to want to care for not only her but Emma as well. “We managed. Besides, Emma is one incredible little lady. She’s made of stern stuff.”

“Where the hell was Raphael?” he growled, his previous anger coming back full force. “I thought he said he would be watching over the child.”

“He said he had been summoned by the Creator.” Serenity didn’t miss the way Dair’s shoulders tensed.

“That would have been the only thing that would have kept the angel away. He takes his responsibilities very seriously. I imagine he is not handling this well.”

“I reamed him,” she admitted. Dair shot her a sideways glance and a small smile appeared on his lips.

“How did he handle that?”

She shrugged. “He took it like a man.”

“Speaking of the angel,” Dair said as he cocked his head to the side, “where is he?”

It was Serenity’s turn to slip on a sly smile. “I sent him on an errand. He’s playing Santa tonight.”

“Presents for Emma?”

“Yep,” she said popping the
p
with her lips. “He’s so jolly; I figured he really fit the part.”

Dair laughed.

It was only a few minutes later when Raphael appeared in the kitchen with his arms loaded down with bags. Serenity’s eyes widened. “You don’t mess around do you?”

“I am not sure what you mean by that.”

Serenity waved him off. “Never mind. Let’s just see what the damage is.” They began going through the gifts and she was happily surprised to see that Raphael had done really well. He got Emma some challenging puzzle games, a cute pair of snow boots, a stylish scarf, hat and mitten set, several boxes that appeared to be some sort of girly crafts, and some books. Well, not just some books, he had actually gotten her seven books, and they weren’t just your run of the mill books. These were classics like
Beowulf, Of Mice and Men, 1984,
and
The Iliad and the Odyssey
.

“Do you think she will like these books?” Serenity asked as she flipped through a copy of
The Scarlet Letter
.

Raphael’s brow scrunched together. “She said that she was extremely intelligent. All of the books in the children’s section seemed much too juvenile for her. These books seemed to be more appropriate.”

Serenity just shook her head. She went and grabbed the wrapping paper from the hall closet and enlisted Dair and Raphael to help her get the presents wrapped and under the tree. Once the work was done, she thanked Raphael for his help and then turned to Dair. “I’m going to go to bed. If Emma’s anything like I was at her age, she’ll be up in just a few hours―too excited to sleep.”

Dair’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Is that my hint to come and tuck you in?”

Serenity’s cheeks flared with heat as she glanced at Raphael from the corner of her eye, but he wasn’t paying them a bit of attention. She gave Dair a subtle jerk of her head to follow her.

D
air watched Serenity walk towards her room. His eyes didn’t leave her form as he spoke to Raphael. “Thank you for being here for the girls.”

There was a long pause before the angel answered. “I am sorry that I was not there to protect her.”

“No one expects you to be perfect, old friend,” Dair said, his voice low. He didn’t wait for Raphael’s response. He knew no words would comfort the angel. He would deal with what he considered his failure in his own way.

As he entered Serenity’s room, he pushed the door gently closed behind him and smiled when she tensed at the click that filled the silence. He stood there watching her, mesmerized as she brushed her long brown locks. She was beautiful. Her inner beauty only made the outer that much more incredible, and he was left breathless because she had chosen him.

“Are you just going to stand there?” she asked him, though her eyes did not meet his.

“What would you have me do, Princess?”

“Why do you call me that?”

“It’s your name. Sarah Serenity literally means princess of peace. It’s fitting if you ask me. So again, I ask you. What would you have me do?”

She paused and then finally looked up at him. Her eyes were full of the longing and ache that he felt inside of his own soul—an ache that only she could fill. Dair couldn’t remember a time in his very long existence ever feeling a need so strong as he did in that moment. He needed to hold her, to know that she was safe in his arms. Dair took a step towards her; his eyes held hers as he took another and another until he was standing inches from her. Serenity’s head tilted back so that she could look up at him. His hand reached up of its own accord, and his fingers brushed her hair from her face and then sank deeper into the thick strands until he was cupping her head.

“What are you doing to me?” he whispered as his eyes roamed over her face. “When I’m away from you all of my thoughts are for you. When I’m with you, regardless of how close I am to you, it is never close enough. What, Sarah Serenity, are you doing to me?”

Her breathing quickened and at some point her own hands had ended up on his chest and were now wrapped around his shirt as though she had to grasp him in order to stay standing. Serenity’s eye were glazing over, held captive by him.

“I’m not doing anything,” she finally answered and it came out in a breathy voice that had Dair’s stomach clenching with desire.

He leaned closer until his mouth hovered just above hers. He could feel her warm breath on his face and smell her sweet scent, and it only incensed his passion for her.

“I’m going to taste you now,” Dair whispered against her lips and he could literally feel his mouth begin to water for her. She nodded, unable to say anything and that had his confidence growing. He felt his own breathing increase just before his lips pressed against her. Her warmth flowed over him as she pressed herself closer. The hand that wasn’t wrapped in her luscious hair wrapped around her waist and pulled her even tighter against him. When Serenity’s lips parted allowing him entrance into the moist depths of her mouth, Dair fought the urge to lay her down on the bed, knowing it would only lead to things for which they weren’t yet ready. It was nearly his undoing when she slid her hands up his chest and shoulders until her fingers were running through his hair. Her soft groans and mewling were a red flag that it was time for him to stop.

Dair ripped his lips away from hers, pressing their foreheads together. He couldn’t speak, not yet. All he was capable of in that moment was breathing while attempting to stay upright. Serenity’s eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell as the breath rushed in and out. Dair could feel her heart pounding against her chest as she pressed closer to him. Dair’s eyes followed her tongue as she slowly traced her lips with it.

“Careful, love,” he told her in a near moan. “I can only take so much.”

To his surprise she chuckled as she opened her eyes and pulled back so she could look up at him. “I assure you that I am not purposefully trying to tempt you.”

“Princess, your very existence is enough to tempt me. I’m afraid there is nothing you can do to keep me from desiring you.”

Her lips pursed crookedly as she thought about his words. “I bet I could come up with a way to be less appealing. What if I never brushed my hair or bathed? Bet you wouldn’t want to get close then.”

“Your scent is the most intoxicating thing I’ve ever smelled. I have a feeling that would only draw me closer.”

“I’m not sure whether to be flattered or grossed out.”

Dair shrugged. “Just being honest.” They stood there staring at one another for several minutes. Neither of them was ready to let go. Dair didn’t think he would ever be ready, not in this lifetime or the next. As he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face he whispered, “I need to let you get some sleep.”

She nodded and then rose up on her toes to press a sweet kiss to his lips. She was out of his arms before he could deepen it. Dair watched as she climbed into bed and then he turned off the light for her. “Sweet dreams, Princess,” he told her. Serenity smiled at him as she drifted off to sleep. To his surprise, Dair felt a dream being drawn to his consciousness and realized it was for his Serenity. His brow furrowed as he thought about the fact that he hadn’t known beforehand that she was on the agenda. Closing his eyes, he reached into her mind and began to build the dream for her. Dair watched as Emma and Serenity hung out at the library together. The dream consisted mostly of Serenity pursuing a relationship with Emma. He wondered why this was the dream he was to give her when Serenity was already on that path.