Page 18 of New Nebraska Heat

Though I had definitely unwound some, those nasty memories still lingered. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to mention to either Hunter or Bryce what had resurfaced for me today with Billy.

Maybe sleep would help me forget again.

“I’m off to bed, Bryce,” I called from the living room. “Thanks so much for coming over and making dinner.”

“I hope you sleep well.” Bryce turned from where he was pulling a clean pan out of the sink. “I’ll stay until Hunter gets home.”

“Oh, no need. Carrot and I will be just fine. It’s no problem if you want to go home. Thanks so much for making dinner. I hope you have a good night.”

He looked troubled, but nodded. “Okay, night.”

I showered and then, once in bed, slumber soon came calling, allowing me to drift off into sleep. I tossed and turned so badly, I briefly woke to see even Carrot had jumped off the bed, unable to settle, my body was writhing so much. The pillow was so damp I had to turn it over to the fresh side. I fell asleep again.

And wished I hadn’t. There, in my dream—nightmare, more like—I was back among the grimy mattresses and musty odors of the feeding den. Conrad’s bruising fingers pinned my shoulders on a filthy mattress while I screamed, watching poor Billy, helpless, being devoured like rare steak. One of Conrad’s friends, Armand, was gnawing into Billy’s neck, blood gushing from the wound. The boy’s shrieks only seemed to excite the vamp further, making the attack even more vicious. When the deed was done, Billy had been drained dry. Dead.

Jerking awake, soaked in sweat, I clutched at the bedsheets as screams I couldn’t contain pierced the silence of the room.

In the darkness, I finally swallowed down my cries, but I must’ve been heard. And it must have been so late, Hunter was back from the club. Because the bedroom door battered open so hard it thudded off the wall. Light from the hallway filled the room and Hunter stood there just in a pair of boxers, chest heaving, eyes flashing yellow several times as they found me then darted around to each corner, like a threat might appear at any moment. His gaze finally settled back on me, where I was safe in the bed, all in one piece. He let out a huge breath.

Carrot darted past him, probably scared and fleeing to the living room.

“Serenity? What happened? Are you okay?” Hunter asked.

Before I could manage a response, Bryce was at Hunter’s side, his normally crisp dress shirt crumpled and unbuttoned, his face strained with worry.

“Are you okay? What’s going on?” Bryce rushed past Hunter, almost knocking his hand into Hunter’s bare arm in his rush to get into the room.

“Bryce? You’re still here?” I asked, confused and a bit disoriented.

His face had that dazed look of someone who’d just woken up, probably not much different than mine looked right now, as he said, “Fell asleep on the sofa. Never mind that. What happened? Bad dream?”

I nodded, my chin trembling. “The worst. I was back in the feeding den.” I hugged myself. “I saw a boy drained to death. It was horrible.” My own touch was doing nothing to banish the cold terror in my veins, no matter how much I rubbed my arms.

“What can we do?” Bryce asked.

Hunter walked slowly into the room. “Want to talk?” he asked, much more hesitantly than Bryce had with his offer. His eyes dipped to my frenetic movements. “Are you cold? Do you need another blanket?”

I shook my head. “I think…” The stress made me blurt it out, despite my embarrassment and Hunter’s apparent hesitance to get close to me. “I need a hug.” Wiping tears, I looked up to meet his startled gaze. “Hunter, would you… hold me? Please.”

Hunter stumbled back a step.

Bryce let out a soft gasp, almost of distress. I immediately felt awful for not thinking of his condition and how he’d feel about my request. Bryce shook his head. “Hold her.” He said to Hunter, almost demanding it.

“Um, I think I can do that safely,” he muttered as his eyes flashedyellow again. “But are you sure, Serenity?” he asked with a gruffness to his voice I didn’t know what to make of.

“Yes, please. I know it’s just a dream and it’s silly but—”

“It’s not silly.” He took a deep breath. “I’ll hold you as long as you need.” His tone was firm and he almost growled out the last words. I couldn’t figure out what he thought of all this, but I really needed one of them close right now.

Hunter strode forward without hesitation this time.

“I’ll stay too,” Bryce said, then cursed under his breath. “Never mind. God. I’m such an idiot. You don’t need me here. Hunter’s got this,” he said, a defeated look on his face.

“Stay, Bryce. To be honest, I’m not completely in control right now.” Hunter swallowed a rough, animalistic sound I’d never heard from him before. But strangely, it didn’t scare me. It only made me feel safer.

“Honestly, it would be great if you both stayed.” I fidgeted with a fold in the comforter.

Bryce nodded at once. “Absolutely then. I’ll go check on Carrot in a bit too.”