A Nightmare to Remember (Wicked Good Witches Book 5) by Starla Silver Read Free Book Online Page A

dark circles under her eyes as easily, and would have to pile on the makeup to cover them. She hadn’t been sleeping well even though she went to bed each night feeling exhausted and ready to crash.
    But like this morning, and far too many mornings lately, she had not awakened in her bed. But out in the middle of the woods. Alone. Naked. Bruised.
    And of all people to come across her as she wound her way home: Charlie Howard. And why on earth had she kissed him?
    “Kissed? You threw yourself at him like you’re life depended on it.”
    That had to be the stupidest move she’d ever made. It was something in his eyes, something she saw and suddenly wanted so badly she couldn’t stop herself.
    And in broad daylight on the side of the road.
    And he’d been all too eager to return her attack.
    “I’ve got to get a fucking grip.”
    She was losing control. It was a bit like she’d lost some part of herself she might not get back. And yet she wasn’t afraid while in the moment. She was… hot. On fire. Aroused in a way she’d never felt before. The ache in her center throbbed just thinking about it. Just like in the jeep sitting next to Charlie.
    “It’s making you weak,” she chastised in a harsh whisper. “ He is making you weak. Whatever the fuck is going on, it has to stop.” There was no way in hell she was going to submit to the wolf she’d bitten and claimed rightful ownership of. It was so many levels of wrong!
    But God damn it! The guy was built! Perfect could be painted on abs. Thick arms and thighs. So big and hard, all over. That come hither smile. Lips that tasted like danger. A tongue she could only imagine worked like magic… but mostly, it was that her wolf wanted to come out and play whenever she got too close to him. No other man or wolf had ever made her feel like this.
    “Screw this shit. We’ve got bigger problems and a big day ahead.”
    Until the job was done, or she found some way to make Charlie hers, she needed to avoid him. Determination washed over her. Today’s job required a clear head. She needed to get on with it.
    She let go of the tightly wrapped sweater and let it slip off her body, revealing her bare skin underneath. The oversized sweater was all she could locate from a nearby clothesline.
    “Thank God this place is so behind the times,” she mumbled bitterly. “People still hang their laundry out to dry.” She had a growing pile of borrowed clothes. “Bigger problems,” she mumbled sardonically. “Not bad enough my wolf has the hots for Charlie Howard, but I got to deal with some crazy ass shit like waking up in the middle of the woods or on a beach, instead of in my bedroom. With no memory of the night, and a hell of headache.” Sort of like a nasty hangover.
    She peered into the mirror, a little afraid to lift her hair and check out her shoulder. It hurt a bit still. She dug her hand through her hair and swiped it out of the way. Her eyes widened. “Is that…” her voice faltered. She ran her fingers across what looked to be a bite mark. Almost healed, just the slightest indentations remained.
    At least Charlie hadn’t seen it. How the hell would she have explained a bite mark on her shoulder, which was healing?
    “Charlie! Who gives two shits about that? How about, what the hell bit me?”
    What frightened her was that it meant she had not been alone. That whatever she was out doing during her nighttime memory loss strolls across the Isle, someone else had been with her.
    But who?
    Or what?
    She tried to remember. Tried to delve into her thoughts. But the answer just wasn’t there. Each time it happened she awakened like she’d been off somewhere unconsciously living out a dream or something. She’d never been a sleepwalker in her life though.
    Everything was hazy. Her thoughts incoherent for the first little while after waking up.
    She took a damp cloth and wiped off a bit of dried blood.
    Fury raged through her veins.
    “I need to get off this frigging