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.

her eyes, leftovers from her dream that

she was awake, her eyes never really saw him-not even a reflection. But

thought, he'd never be able to open that door, no

He'd tried everything.

widened, searching his

her face, his voice

lips together, hesitated, then suddenly climbed onto

kissed his eyelids, then the corner of his

at

Still mad?

kissing his

bobbed. He reached over and patted

maybe he'd let it go. She was just about

"Mark me."

soft, turning

where you kissed me. Make it deep, so

not really sure what

tugged at her loose shirt, pulling it off her

bit down, hard enough to

cry out, just froze for a second

like he wanted to

finally let go, he rested his forehead

pretty sure he'd drawn blood, and there'd

what he meant by

then

wore a

remembering his bite, she didn't hold back.

on even harder, just because she wanted