Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara shot upright in bed, gulping in air, her forehead damp with sweat.

Her eyes were unfocused as she looked at him. "What?"

Dylan's hands hovered stiffly over his laptop, veins standing out, but his face gave nothing away-calm, almost distant.

"What did you dream about?"

She frowned, digging for the memory, but all she could grab was a heavy,

uncomfortable feeling pressing down on her chest.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around Dylan's.

"Babe, can we not sleep here tomorrow night? I really don't like this place."

She slipped into her old, familiar way of whining-Clara had always been good at that, ever since she was little.

She was always so sweet and obedient, stubborn but adorable, a little clueless, a lot innocent.

Clara watched his face, searching for a hint of warmth, scooting closer to press a few soft kisses to the corner of his lips.

"Please?" she murmured.

He didn't say a word, just closed his laptop slowly.

Suddenly, Clara felt a chill radiating off him-cold, almost sharp. She loosened her hold on his arm, uneasy.

He set the laptop aside, folded up the tray table, then glanced at her. "Are you scared of me?"

She dropped her head and stayed quiet. She had no idea what had set him off. Then, out of nowhere, he cupped her face in his hands, staring at her.

eyes, leftovers from her dream

her eyes never really saw him-not even a reflection.

able to open that door, no

He'd tried everything.

searching his face.

face, his voice

together, hesitated, then suddenly climbed

eyelids, then the corner

looked at him,

Still mad?

his jaw, then

He reached over and patted her head gently,

he'd let it go. She was just about to move away when

"Mark me."

was soft, turning his

kissed me. Make it deep, so

not really

tugged at her loose shirt, pulling it

in and bit down, hard enough to make

just froze for a second

fierce, like he wanted to brand her,

his forehead

blood, and there'd definitely

was what he meant

his collarbone, then leaned in and

spot-when he wore a

meant to go easy, but remembering his bite, she didn't hold back. She

harder, just because