Dreamscape by Christie Rich Read Free Book Online

wearing short sleeves
until this moment.
    Her velvet touch is enthralling, but I command my blood to
slow, my heart to remain calm. With measured movements, I stare at her hand
then look directly into her eyes. Her pupils dilate and her lips part in an
invitation I know she does not intend to offer.
    Her pulse is a siren song, but I cannot get caught up in
the sound; I cannot allow myself to get distracted by her sultry scent, either.
My feet refuse my command to step back, so I smile instead.
    That’s all it takes for her to drop her hand to her side
and move away from me.
    “Amelia,” I say. My voice reflects the softness I feel for
her. “I know you are scared, and I am sorry for causing your fear. You will see
in time, you needn’t fear me, yet I have no more time at the moment to give
you. Please step away from me.”
    “You’re not ditching me!” she hisses.
    I close my eyes and shut my heart against the panic in her
voice. “You are not ready to follow me, sweet one. Please, do as I say.” When
she doesn’t move, I pick her up.
    She pounds my chest, my shoulders, and my back. “Let me
down!”
    I desperately wish I had time to resolve this conflict. Not
able to help myself, when I reach her room, I slide her body along mine. My
lips brush her earlobe, and she stiffens, but her heartbeat tells me a
different story.
    I keep her in my embrace because if I see that mouth of
hers, I will not be able to go. I speak calmly into her ear, “I will return in
a few hours. Make yourself at home. If you need anything at all, merely speak
your request and, apart from leaving, it will be granted.”
    Her ragged breath beats against my neck and her body
stiffens. I let her go and glide through the door, locking it the moment it
shuts. Her fists pound the barrier between us. “Seth, you can’t do this to me!
Seth! Please! Let me out.”
    I grit my teeth and focus, calling the flames. With Amelia
screaming at me, I step into the Dreamscape.

 
     

    I scream until my voice runs out. I pound the door, kick it
until my foot aches. When that fails to budge it, I scan the room for something
to smash through the tick barrier.
    He left. Seth left me here. Alone.
    I’m alone.
    Nothing’s changed, really, but in this moment I’m lonelier
than I could have ever imagined. He’s using mind games on me; they aren’t going
to work.
    That little stunt he pulled before he locked me in here
won’t work, either. What kind of idiot does he take me for? I’m not going to
fall for him just because he ran his hot tongue along my earlobe.
    I ignore the shiver that snakes down my body and open the
door he materialized out of a frigging wall. The cool brass handle gives under
my twist. With the slightest pressure, the door slides open and a bright light
blasts on, illuminating the most amazing bathroom that could ever exist.
    A gigantic tub rests in the center of the room. It’s made
of copper with dents concaving the outside like the scales of a fish. Mahogany
cabinets line the soft green walls, and all I can think of doing is searching
through them to see what’s inside. I’ve never been to a spa, but I doubt any of
them could compete with this.
    I find some bubble bath that smells like plums along with a
sponge and shampoo. Smiling, I rush to the other room and grab some clothes to
change into. Without hesitating, I turn and lock the door. He’s probably got a
key. I might be stepping into his trap to get me naked, but at this moment, I
need a bath so bad my skin aches for it.
    I’ve only had one real bath in my life and that’s when
Justine splurged for a fancy hotel on my sixteenth birthday. Unlike those
shallow things that pose as tubs in the apartments we had, this one was deep. I
took my time soaking. We were in between towns so it wasn’t like I had a crew
to hang with anyway. She was so sweet to me that day. Took me to see a movie
and got me some new clothes at the mall.
    I’d tried to get her to take me to the discount