Page 40 of You Rock My World

DORIAN

Early on Halloween night, I sneak up to Josie’s sister’s house looking like a B-movie Dracula, complete with a black mask and a red-lined cape.

I’m hoping the disguise will keep me anonymous.

I should’ve gone for a more foolproof costume with a full-face disguise.

Kylo Ren, Dr. Doom, or a traditional Ghostface.

But Josie has a thing for vampires, so here I am with my chin and mouth exposed—ready to sink my teeth in.

A wicked grin spreads across my face at the thought of grazing my fake fangs over her neck.

The smile fades as I glance around the busy street where Ned dropped me off.

A few kids in costumes run from house to house, their parents trailing behind, and I pull my cape tighter over my shoulders.

Following Josie’s instructions, I hop up a flight of steps to the second story of her sister’s housing complex.

I adjust my mask, schooling my features in a look as menacing as possible before I ring the bell.

Footsteps approach from the other side, prompting a warm friction to rise in my stomach.

The lock clicks, and a second later, Josie steps into view—or rather, her evil twin does.

My jaw hits the floor as I take her in. She’s wearing the sequined dress I was promised, the skirt criminally short, exposing miles of long, toned legs.

Her lips are painted a sinful red, and her dark and smoky makeup, much heavier than her usual, gives her an unrecognizable, sultry edge.

Her hair is loose and wild, tumbling over her shoulders.

A pair of horns peeks through the messy waves, and it’s absurd how badly I want to let her be the devil on my shoulder.

Josie twirls the pitchfork in her hands with a wicked grin. “Trick or treat?” she purrs.

“You’re stealing my lines.” And my heart. And my soul.

“Answer me.”

Bossy, I like it. I let my eyes trace the curve of her thighs before meeting her gaze. “What happens if I pick wrong?”

She leans against the doorframe, one leg crossing over the other, striking a pose that would make any mortal man weak in the knees. “You’ll suffer.”

“And if I pick right?”

Her lips curve wickedly. “You’ll suffer—but enjoy it.”

“So I suffer either way? You’re not presenting my opinions very well. Shouldn’t there be some seduction before the torment?”

“Didn’t you read the fine print before promising your soul away for tonight? I told you it wouldn’t be easy.”

“My kind doesn’t have a soul to sell.”

She frowns adorably as she takes in my costume. “Why, who are you supposed to be?”

“A brooding immortal. A seductive creature of the night. Your pick.”

“So vampire.” The way she says vampire —silky, teasing, an invitation and a dare—grazes against my ribs like a wooden stake, poised to pierce my heart and end me. “Do I need to invite you in, Mr. Immortal?”

“You do. But if I were you, I’d think real hard before letting me cross that threshold.”

She doesn’t even blink. “Come on in.”

Before I can even take her up on the offer, Josie catches me by the cape and pulls me inside.

The house is decked out in simple Halloween decorations—cobwebs crafted from cotton, paper skeletons dangling from strings, and a few carved pumpkins with friendly faces.

It has a charming, DIY feel that speaks of a family’s touch, not the kind you get from clearing out an aisle at the Halloween superstore.

It reminds me of the ornaments my mom used when I was a kid, the sort that held more sentimental value than aesthetic.

“You’ve been merciful with this costume. I expected something much sexier,” Josie teases. “You in superhero spandex, leaving nothing to the imagination.”

“That’s because you haven’t seen my fangs yet.” I flash her a slow smile, letting the porcelain props bite into my lower lip.

Josie’s jaw drops, her eyes doing that dangerous sparkle thing. “You’re really cruel, you know that?”

“Just trying to fit in with the other monsters.”

She opens her mouth to say something, but a small figure barrels into the room. It’s Penny wearing a mouse costume, complete with oversized ears and a golden crown. She’s clutching a plastic sword and waving it around like a tiny menace.

“Aunt JoJo! I vanquished the dragon!” the mouse declares.

“Penny.” Josie adjusts the mouse’s ears. “Are you sure you want to trick-or-treat in your Mouse King costume? You’ll ruin it before the recital.”

“Mom said I could—” Penny doesn’t finish, she gasps as she spots me, then bolts straight for my legs, wrapping her tiny arms around my knees. “You came!”

I pretend to wobble under the impact. “Whoa, your Majesty, I didn’t know I was getting escorted by royalty tonight.”

Penny leans back, grinning up at me. “I’m the Mouse King,” she declares, swishing her tiny plastic sword through the air. “We’re gonna get all the candy.”

“All of it? That’s ambitious. What’s our competition like?”

“Lots of kids, but they don’t have a knight. We’re unstoppable.”

Josie lets out an exasperated sigh. “He’s not a knight, Penny. He’s a vampire.”

Penny gives me a once-over. “Then you can scare the other kids away while my auntie turns into a human heart-eyes emoji. Cool.”

Josie groans, rubbing her temples. “I regret everything.”

I grin. “Too late. I’m committed now.”

Penny tugs at Josie’s dress, then at my cape. “Come on, let’s go! We’re wasting time!”

The three of us set out into the neighborhood.

Penny is bursting with excitement, skipping ahead and waving her sword at imaginary foes with one hand while she carries a plastic pumpkin basket in the other.

The warm evening air smells of dry grass and it’s filled with the shouts and laughter of kids in various costumes scurrying along the sidewalks.

Josie walks beside me, her low-heeled ankle boots somehow sexier than stilettos. I should keep an eye out for anyone who might recognize me, but I can’t look anywhere else.

“Lily’s really bummed she had to work tonight. But she promised Penny she’d take her to a pumpkin patch tomorrow.”

“Penny’s lucky to have you.”

Josie’s face turns sad. “Penny was so happy when I told her you were coming. Holidays like this are when she misses her dad the most. Danny loved Halloween.”

I glance ahead at Penny, who’s darting from one side of the sidewalk to the other, her mouse ears flopping with each bounce. The thought of her losing her father hits me anew like a punch to the sternum. Grief this big shouldn’t fit inside someone so small.

I lost my mother as an adult and it hasn’t been easy. I’m in awe of that kid’s resilience.

“I’m glad I could help.” I fight to keep the emotion out of my voice. “She’s a wonderful kid.”

Josie’s smile fades into something more contemplative. “Yeah, she is. We give her as much love and support as we can, but sometimes, I worry it’s not enough.”

“You’re doing an amazing job,” I assure her. “She’s surrounded by people who care about her. That makes all the difference.”

Josie nudges me with her shoulder. “You’re so nice, Mr. Immortal, weren’t you supposed to be a monster?”

I scoff. “Want to hear me roar?”

“I thought I made it clear from day one that all I want is to hear you purr.”

“Are you trying to tame me?”

“Never.” She laughs, then—without hesitation—takes my hand, her fingers slipping between mine like she’s done it a million times before.

My heart does some ridiculous taekwondo move in my chest, and I squeeze her hand back as we keep walking down the block, just a regular couple out on Halloween night.

At the end of the block, Penny turns to us, her eyes wide with anticipation. “Are you guys ready? This street is the best!”

We follow her from door to door, hitting every house in quick succession.

Orange-and-purple string lights flicker along porch railings, while inflatable ghosts sag slightly in the heat.

Plastic skeletons dangle from second-story balconies, their joints clicking in the breeze.

One yard has a dozen foam tombstones arranged in precise rows across drought-friendly gravel.

Spiderwebs stretch between cacti, and glow-in-the-dark bats cling to stucco walls.

Penny barely notices the decorations. She’s a machine, her energy boundless as she sprints from yard to yard, dodging other kids and parents.

Once we clear the first block, Penny grabs my hand. “One more street, please!” she pleads. “We can’t stop now!”

“Sure.”

Josie scolds me. “You didn’t even negotiate that this would be the last one.”

“Oh, well.” I brush the back of my fingers against hers. “I can’t say no to any of the Monroe women.”

* * *

We end up hitting three more streets. When we return home, I take off my mask and wipe the sweat from my forehead. Penny is bouncing off the walls, her sugar rush at full throttle as she dumps her candy onto the dining-room table.

“We got way more than last year!” she exclaims, as the assortment of sweets spills out in a colorful avalanche. Penny sorts them with the precision of a miniature scientist conducting an important experiment.

“How good are you at math?” I ask, loosening the collar of my Dracula costume.

“I can already do fractions. Like, if I eat half my candy now, I’ll still have… half left!” she announces with a big, proud grin.

Josie walks in, taking in our loot. “Penny, no more candies for tonight. You need to wind down. It’s way past your bedtime.”

Penny pouts. “But Mom said I could stay up late because it’s a special night.”

“How about this?” Josie crouches down. “If you brush your teeth and get into your PJs, I’ll show you the story I’ve been working on.”

Penny’s eyes light up. “The mermaid one, you’ve finished it?”

Josie nods. “And if you go change, I’ll read it to you.”

Penny considers. “Okay, but only if he reads the prince’s part.” She points at me.

Josie pretends to think it over. “Well, Dorian has the best reading voice…”

Her eyes meet mine, and I nod. “You’ve got a deal, kiddo.”

Penny runs down the hall, whooping, while Josie walks to the chair where she left her bag and pulls out a tablet. I stand behind her, draping her hair to the side and dropping a soft, open-mouthed kiss on the juncture between her neck and shoulders. “Do I get a preview?”

She leans into me. “Sorry, no spoilers.”

“Always so strict.” I let my vampire fangs graze her skin, and she makes a small, helpless sound.

“And you’re always so… tempting.” Josie sighs, tilting her head to expose more of her neck as she shimmies against me.

My pulse kicks up. Josie is a devil and she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. “I won’t be able to read anything if you keep moving like that.”

Mercifully, Penny calls out before Josie can reply, sparing me from whatever wicked retort she was about to deliver.

“I’m ready!”

We walk into her bedroom and find her sitting cross-legged on the bed, still wearing the Mouse King cape over her pajamas.

“Make room,” Josie says, and Penny scoots over. Josie climbs on and looks at me. “You joining?”

No way I’ll fit in that tiny bed, so I grab a chair and pull it next to them.

Josie loads the story, and, as the first page appears on screen, I’m struck by how breathtakingly detailed the illustrations are.

A mermaid with long, wild hair sits perched on a jagged rock, her iridescent tail glistening with a thousand multicolored scales.

The ocean behind her doesn’t appear painted; it’s moving , the waves curling and twisting in a dreamlike illusion.

“Wow. These are amazing.”

Josie shrugs but her cheeks become as red as her horns. “It’s just a hobby.”

Penny interrupts, “Read, Auntie!”

“Once upon a time…”

As Josie begins, I lean back in the chair, following the text on the screen and waiting for my lines. When the prince makes his first appearance, I have to stifle a laugh. He has blue eyes, tousled dark hair, and a series of strikingly familiar tattoos.

“Is it just me,” I cut Josie off mid-sentence, “or does the prince look a bit like?—”

“Pure coincidence,” Josie says quickly, but she’s biting her lip, fighting a smile.

“I’m still flattered.”

Josie turns the page purposely.

I deliver my next lines in my “seduction voice” to mess with her. She notices and scowls adorably, but keeps on reading.

When the story ends, Penny is fighting to keep her eyes open. “That was the best,” she says in a small, sleepy voice. “Will you write me a sequel, Auntie?”

“We’ll see.” Josie kisses her niece on the forehead. “Sweet dreams, bug.”

Penny is out before we leave the room.

In the hallway, I turn to Josie. “You should publish it. The art is incredible, and the story is… catchy.”

She waves it off. “I’m just doing it for Penny and because I like to draw.”

“You could still send it to an agent. What’s the harm?”

She hums. “Mmm, I don’t know. I would have to research agents and write queries. I should focus on finding a new job that will allow us to date openly, not chase a unicorn.”

Her answer isn’t just something I hear. It surges through my hands, charging them with the need to reach for her and grab that something that keeps growing louder inside me. Josie is rearranging her entire life for me, and I don’t know what I did to deserve it.

“Thank you.” I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. “I know this is harder on you. And it means the world that you’re doing it for me.”

She drops her cheek on my chest, hugging me close. “You matter more to me than my job.”

“I promise I won’t waste what you’re giving us.” I rest my chin on her head, brushing my hands down her back. “I should let you go to bed. Tomorrow, you need to study for your interview on Monday.”

She nods, her fingers curling around mine before she steps back.

After we say goodnight, I fasten my mask back in place and step out into the night, knowing that even if I’m walking away, every road still leads back to her.