The Dream Walker (16 page)

Chapter
36

Alaina
’s heart pounded as she tightened her grip on Nico’s hand.

“
On three,” he said. “Ready?”

She nodded.

On three, she closed her eyes and jumped. She expected to get wet as she would if she jumped into a pool, but she didn’t. Instead, she felt as though she were floating downward. She opened her eyes.

The space was shrouded in white, like a never-ending cloud, yet all around her were waves and reflections, as if she were underwater.

“What is this place?” she asked, taking it all in.

“
You tell m
e,
Alaina.” Nico said. “What does all this mean? Why did you see my reflection in this light?”

She spun around slowly. Right there, right on the precipice of her thoughts, were the words to express what she was feeling.

“I’m free,” she whispered.

Nico smiled. She suddenly realized she had seen him in the light in the river because he was her key to freedom. He had unlocked the answers for her. Her soul felt lighter, as it had when she danced with Liberty in the rain.

Despite her dire situation of not having a job, finding out she wasn’t fully human, and having two psychopaths wanting to kill her, she was free of her past, her self-doubts. Instead of looking at her future with fear, excitement brewed within her.

“
You held the answers to my questions, Nico. You helped me understand so much about myself, about my dark thoughts. You brought a . . . clarity to my mind.”

Before she knew what she was doing, she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hesitated for a moment, but then held her close. She felt so much from the embrace, things like comfort, security, and from deep within her, an explosive sexual attraction to Nico.

They didn’t move for a long while, and Nico ran his hand down her back. It had been a long time since she had been attracted to a man—two years, in fact. The relationship had ended with him not being able to date a stripper, and they parted friends.

She lifted her gaze to Nico
’s. He grinned as he pushed some hair behind her ear. “I think you may very well be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” he said. “Both inside and out.”

Alaina fought her desire to kiss him, but then figured what the hell. It was a dream. And if she wanted to kiss Nico in her dream, then she surely would.

She pulled his head down, and their lips met softly. He tasted like mint and the stubble on his face tickled. As their tongues intertwined, she ran her fingers through his soft, tousled hair. His scent reminded her of freshly cut trees. As he pulled her close, she felt his erection push against her stomach, and heat coiled within her as she wanted nothing more than to have sex with Nico right then, in her dream.

Pushing her hands under his shirt, she explored the muscled ridges of his body. Goosebumps rose on his skin as her hands trailed over the valleys and grooves. He pulled away from her and took her head in his hands.

“Be sure you want this, Alaina,”he whispere
d
.

She
’d never wanted anything more in her life. Her tongue was tied with a desire that needed to be sated.

“
Alaina?” he said, his voice raspy.

“
Yes.”

He pulled her close again, their bodies melding together. The need had both of them frenzied, pulling and yanking at clothes. Nico dragged her dress over her head, while she pushed down his sweatpants, freeing his sex. Finally, they were skin-to-skin, and Alaina had never felt so alive.

Nico laid her gently down on the soft clouds and hovered over he
r,
resting on his forearms. Her hand grazed his chest, over the tattoo that looked like a half sun or a closed eye. She pulled him to her again, and his weight settled on her.

His fingers traced down her ribcage, her thig
h,
and down to her foot. He hiked her knee up so that his erection settled in the apex of her sex and he kissed her mouth lazily. Her core wept, the need for him tight in her belly.

Slowly, he kissed her jaw, his lips moving down her neck, to her collarbone, and finding her breast. His tongue swirled around her nipple, making it a tight tip. She moaned as he did the same to her other breast.

He peppered her stomach with achingly gentle kisses. “You’re amazing, Alaina. I feel like I’m tasting a fine wine for the first time.”

Alaina closed her eyes, her breath coming in short bursts. Certainly she would die of anticipation.

“Look at me, Alaina,” he said.

She opened her eyes. He sat back on his knees at her feet, his eyes slightly hooded. He gave her a small smile, then took one foot in each hand and kissed the insides of her ankles, sending shockwaves up to her core. Who knew her ankles were an erogenous zone?

Setting her feet down, he pushed open her knees and lay on his stomach between them, his face at her cente
r
.

“
I want you to watch me,” Nico said in a low voice.

His mouth found her core, and his tongue gently lapped at her, his intense stare never leaving he
r
.

“
Oh, God, Nico . . .” she whispered. She wanted to tear her gaze away, but she couldn’t. It was as if she were in some type of trance. She was so close to the crest of gratification.

His tongue flicked her flesh one more time, and she came undone. Her hips undulated, and Nico put his arm over them to keep her in place, unrelenting with his mouth.

When the last wave of pleasure subsided, Nico got on all fours and came toward her, his lips glistening, desire burning in his eyes.

She kissed him forcefully, tasting her own essence on his lips. She wanted all of him.
“Please don’t make me wait any longer,” she whispered against his mouth.

“
I want to worship your body,” Nico murmured as he kissed the sides of her neck. “I want to know every inch of it. I want to kiss you and make you scream in pleasure. And I want to do it slowly.”

His lips met hers, and Alaina gave her body and mind over to this incredible experience, hoping to God that she wouldn
’t wake up.

Chapter 37

Nico opened his eyes the next morning and smiled. Being with Alaina had been everything he thought it would be, and more. Unfortunately, it had been in her dreamscape, and his raging erection gave a whole new meaning to the term
“blue balls.”A quick shower, some soa
p,
and reliving some of what Alaina and he had shared offered a little bit of relief.

He had never made love to a woman in a dream, but he hoped the physical gratification she had felt had been real for her. He wanted her to wake with moisture between her legs, and, hopefully, a big smile on her face.

After making love, they had talked. She had gone into detail about her childhood and how she ended up working a stripper. Her life had been difficult, and he admired her strength to get through it.

Then they had made love again.

At one point, the dreamscape had started to spin, and he knew she was waking up.

“
Don’t wake up,” he whispered, holding her close. “Stay with me.”

After a moment, the spinning had stopped, and he squeezed her.
“Thank you.”

He felt they had gotten a lifetime of
“getting to know you” done in her dream.

He found out that Alaina had a wicked sense of humor as she told him about some of the names she gave patrons of the strip bar. For instance, she told him a story about one guy who was married and wanted to become her sugar daddy, which landed him the name Mr. Money. For some reason, Nico found it hysterical.

He told her snippets of his life, and she had marveled at the parallels they shared, even if they were from different galaxies.

“
I guess people . . . or beings, are pretty much the same wherever you go,” she had murmured, her hand making lazy circles from his chest down to his stomach.

“
Yes, I think you’re right,” Nico said. “In the end, it seems we all just want to be loved.”

And man, did she make his body hum. Her touch sent shockwaves through his system. His breath caught when she kissed him, and her intoxicating scent made his head swim.

Nico never wanted the dream to end.

Despite his happiness that he had been with Alaina, a sadness g
ripped his heart. She would be leaving today, and chances were good she wouldn’t be seen again. He hoped she would take their advice and head for another state, or preferably, another country. The farther she could get away from Daniel and George, the safer she would be.

He went upstairs to the kitchen, the smell of coffee greeting him. He poured a cup and stared out the window down at the pool area. The summer storm had passed, and it was another hot day in Phoenix.

Yes, he’d been a shit to deceive Alaina, but frankly, he was glad he did and he had no regrets. They shared something special in her drea
m,
something he would keep close to his heart and think about often. In her dream, they had bonded, shared a deep connection, but he supposed it was to be expected. Dreams are a private place, a place where people’s fears, hopes, loves, and disappointments live and breathe. Sharing your thoughts and dreams with others was one thing, but to have another being experience your dreams with you was a whole different level of intimacy. He had developed deep feelings for Alaina in her dream, and he was glad he had the memories.

“
Good morning, Nico,” she said.

He turned to see her at the top of the stairs. The morning sun glinted off her dark hai
r,
and she smiled at him shyly. Her long legs peeked out of her khaki shorts, and a blue tank top hugged her torso.

“
Hey. How did you sleep?”

A slow blush colored her cheeks as she poured her coffe
e.
“Good. Thank you.”

They stood in silence, sipping their coffee.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” he asked quietly.

She shrugged.
“I’ll stay with my boss, Peggy, while I pack up my stuff, and then I’ll head out. I was thinking maybe Texas.”

Nico nodded. He wished she would skip the packing part and head straight to Texas, but at least she wasn
’t thinking about staying around. She should be long gone in a day or two. “What’s in Texas?”

She shrugged.
“Space.”

Nico nodded.
“We’ll be able to help keep an eye on you and then help you out financially until you’re ready to move.”

“That’s sweet, but—
“

Nico held up his hand. “No buts about it, Alaina. That’s the way it’s going to be.”

She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, and Nico shook his head. He put his coffee mug down and stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders. She shivered, and he hoped that was a good shiver and not a you’re-creeping-me-out shiver. He smiled and said in a low voice, “It’s okay to accept help, Alaina.”

She stared up at him, his heart skipping a beat, his thoughts going back to their time together in the dream. If only things were different. If only he could be honest and tell her that what they’d shared last night was real, that he had been a complete bastard and invaded her most private space for his own selfish reasons that had nothing to do with helping the Saviors, and everything to do with his own wants and needs.

Yeah, like she’d ever want to see him again. Flashbacks of his mother’s reaction played through his mind, and he didn’t want that from Alaina. He wanted her to remember him and their time together in the dream as the beautiful thing it had been.

“Okay,” she said. “Thank you.”

Nico leaned against the counter, and they eyed each other over their respective coffee cups. “I hear Texas has big bugs,” he said.

She smiled.
“I heard that, too. But I guess everything’s bigger in Texas.”

Liberty and Jovan came in, and Alaina
’s face lit up. The females chatted it up as if they had known each other for years. Nico couldn’t help but notice that Alaina seemed lighter in spirit. She seemed more carefree.

Jovan sidled up to Nico and leaned against the counter. They both watched the two women talk for a moment more, then Liberty and Alaina went into the living room.

“Liberty really likes her,” Jovan said.

“
I can see that. Has Liberty ever met anyone she doesn’t like?”

“
I can’t think of anyone.”

They sipped their coffee in silence, then Nico asked,
“Where’s Blake?”

“
He went out last night. Haven’t seen him. Maybe he didn’t come home.”

Nico nodded.

“You okay, man? You seem a little down.”

Nico thought about sharing his feelings for Alaina with Jovan, but decided against it. Alaina was leaving, and it was for the best. Well, at least the best for her. For him, probably not. Besides, it wasn
’t like he was going to admit to dream-walking on her.

“
I’m fine. Just tired.” And that was the truth. Just because he was in someone else’s dream didn’t mean he slept. In fact, it took a lot of energy to dream-walk, and it could be exhausting.

“
Okay,” Jovan said, putting his coffee cup into the sink. “I’m going to pack, so when Blake comes back we can get out of here.”

“
I’d like to drive Alaina to wherever she’s going to stay before we head back to the silo, if that’s okay with you.”

“
Sure. We can do it on the way.”

“
Alone, Jovan.”

Jovan
’s eyebrows took a hike for his hairline. “You like her, huh?”

“
I do.”

“
I’m sorry, man. Sorry things can’t be different for you. Maybe if she could stay in town you guys could date and get to know each other and see where it took you.”

Nico nodded.
“Yeah, but she needs to leave for her own safety.”

Just then, Blake walked around the corner.

“Well, good morning, sunshine,” Jovan said. “How was your night?”

Blake smiled.
“Fantastic. I’m exhausted.”

“
If you’re going to take her home, Nico, you better do it,” Jovan said, laying a hand on Nico’s shoulde
r.
“Noah wants us back at the silo by early afternoon. We can wait here for you.”

Nico sighed.
“Okay. I’ll get going now.”