In Our Dream Page 9

  She stopped and peered inside a house. There was a couple embracing beside their lit up tree. Her heart ached for this, even though she kept telling herself that she’d had her chance at that and it hadn’t gone according to her dreams.

  When she realized she was still standing there, staring like some weirdo, she turned and kept wandering down the sidewalk. “Dom where are you? Are you all right?” It had been over two weeks and she knew nothing. As far as she had been told, he was still at the safe house and she couldn’t contact him. Why didn’t he answer her? Why hadn’t he snuck away from reality and met her in their dreams?

  She sniffled and then huffed out a breath. He has his own life to live. It’s not like he’d just been on a short vacation. He’s been in prison for six months trying to sniff out a vile slug. Shaking her head, she turned the corner and headed toward the town’s park. The huge tree that made its home there was decorated every year and it always made her feel a little better to see the solitary tree decked out in its holiday gear and braving the season alone. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts. Now she was sympathizing with a tree!

  “Officer Best! We were on our way to your house and here you are!”

  She turned to see two of the young girls she knew were related to Rudy. Half the town was related to Rudy—or Beth in some distant way. “Hello, girls.” She smiled because she had no choice but to smile at the happy faces.

  The older one held out a poinsettia plant. “This is for you. Merry Christmas!” The younger one nodded enthusiastically.

  Her eyes watered slightly. “Oh, thank you, and Merry Christmas to you, too.” She smiled and hoped it reached her eyes.

  The youngest pulled on her sister’s arm. “We have to go. There’s singing at Uncle Rudy’s tonight.”

  Jennah nodded. “Go ahead. You don’t want to miss that.” She watched the giggling girls run down the street. In a few years’ time, she’d probably be chastising them for being out too late with young boys.

  Sighing, she looked down at the bright red flower in her hand. “I suppose I should take you home and try not to kill you for at least tonight.” Holding it closer to her body, she turned around and started back to her empty apartment.

  “Jennah.”

  She stopped in mid step. “Dom?”

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Are you all right?”

  She could hear him chuckle. “Yeah. Other than feeling like a caged animal for the past two weeks, I’m good.”

  “Have they found that weasel? Are you still in the safe house?” She wanted to ask him why he hadn’t contacted her, but she was just so happy to hear from him she didn’t want to spoil it.

  “He’s still out there somewhere.”

  “Oh.”

  She knew this meant he would still have to stay out of sight. She started walking again when she realized she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk holding a plant with her eyes closed. If anyone went by, the person would wonder if she was praying to a plant or doing something just as odd.

  “As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.”

  “I am.”

  She started walking a little bit faster, wanting to get home and inside so she could talk to him more.

  “I’ve missed you, Jennah.”

  Her heart lost its rhythm when his tone dropped and was so soft. “I missed you too.”

  “It seems there is a distance restriction on our ability. I tried nonstop to contact you.”

  She felt like a giddy teen just knowing he’d been trying too. “So did I.” She turned the corner and headed toward her driveway. She had just reached it when a panicky feeling hit her. “Dom?”

  “Yeah, Beautiful?”

  She stood at the end of her drive and squinted out toward the street. Every instinct was singing. “If there’s a distance restriction, how are we talking?”

  His chuckled sounded through her mind. “About that, Captain is going to be pissed with me.”

  “Dom?”

  “Turn around.”

  Her eyes widened as she spun around to look by her front door. He stepped out of the shadows and grinned at her. She stood there for a few seconds longer and gaped at him. “What . . .” She walked toward him as she reached in her pocket for her keys. “You shouldn’t be here!” She looked around the street as she stabbed her key into the lock. She opened the door and he went in.

  Closing the door quickly, she locked it and turned to look at him.

  He stood there, smiling at her like a guilty, unrepentant child. “Should I go then?” He stepped toward her and gently took the plant from her hand. He set it on the table beside the door as he reached for her. “That wasn’t the welcome I expected.”

  She smiled up at him. “How did you find me?”

  He cocked his head to the side and lifted his eyebrows. “I am a cop. We’re pretty good at finding people—most of the time.”

  It hit her all at once. Dominic was here, in her home! She launched herself into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her up against him and kissed her roughly. She gasped for a breath and continued kissing him back.

  He crushed her against him and buried his face in the neck of her jacket. “That is the welcome I wanted.” Setting her back to the floor, he began undoing her jacket.

  She tossed her keys on the table and kicked off her snowy boots, and then stopped and smirked at him. “So, you ditched the safe house?”

  He shrugged as he pulled the jacket from her arms. “It was actually pretty hard to get out of there without being caught.”

  “Captain Wilds is not going to be happy.”

  He grinned. “I’m safe here.” He began to work the clip from her hair. “I couldn’t sit there alone on Christmas and leave you sitting here alone. It’s just not right.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’m glad you’re here, but we’re both going to be in big trouble.”

  He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers as his hands feathered through her hair. “I’m pretty good at trouble.”

  She grinned against his mouth. “I know.” She pushed his jacket over his shoulders and waited as he dropped it on the floor. He is here was all she could think. Running her hands back up his chest, she leaned into him. “How’s your side.”

  “Better.”

  His voice dropped lower and caressed over her. He lowered his head slowly toward hers until she could feel his breath on her mouth.

  Her cell phone rang loudly from the pocket of her discarded jacket. Dropping her arms away from him, she turned and picked it up. She dug in her pocket as she watched his gaze move over any part of her they could. Pulling the phone out, she glanced at the screen. “Let the trouble begin.” She answered it. “Hello, sir.” She grinned at Dom. “Yes, I know. He’s here.” She held the phone out to him and then walked over to close the curtains.

  “Yes sir, I know.” His voice moved closer as he spoke. “I will. There won’t be.”

  She heard her phone beep as he hung up. She smiled. “Captain’s a little unhappy with you?”

  His breath was against her hair as he answered, “A bit.” He slid his hands around her waist and rested them on her hips as he pulled her back into his body. “I’m supposed to stay inside and not go anywhere until the holidays are over.”

  She closed her eyes and smiled, loving the feel of his hard body pressed into hers. “I suppose it’s my duty to stay inside with you and watch over you and keep you company.”

  “I need a lot of watching over.” His warm lips brushed against the side of her neck.

  She could feel the heat from his hands as they moved over her stomach and up to her rib cage. “You do?”

  He bit her ear gently. “Yeah.” He turned her so she was looking at him again. “A whole lot.” His dark eyes moved over her face as he pulled her tight into his body.

  She smiled and reached to wrap her arms around his neck again. His strong hands gripped her waist and he boosted her up so they were fac
e to face. She wrapped her legs around him as his mouth crushed hers.

  One large hand gripped the small of her back to hold her as the other grasped her hair lightly to hold her head so his tongue could plunge in and out of her mouth. Her body heated with each movement of his lips against hers. He growled and turned, taking a few steps, holding her by the bottom. Each step bounced her against him and she wanted to whimper from the need it was creating.

  He stopped and kissed her again. Both hands moved to her hips to rock her against him. She could feel how hard he was through the jeans and she gasped against his mouth as he slid her against him again. “The door on the right.” She bit his bottom lip between her teeth, causing him to groan.

  The phone ringing intruded on them again. This time, it was her home phone. “Leave it,” he whispered against her neck.

  She had planned to, but the voice that came over her answering machine stiffened her spine.

  “Jenny, come on, pick up. I know you’re there. I’ll just keep calling . . .” A few seconds went by and then the machine clicked off.

  She looked at Dom, who made no move to release her, but raised an eyebrow at her. “Ex,” she said quietly.

  He smirked and then began to kiss her again. His kiss wasn’t hot and hard. It was soft and lingering and it sent a shiver through her. She ran her hands down his back as his mouth tenderly made her head spin.

  The phone rang again. Dom’s mouth moved over hers again, and his tongue stabbing into her mouth made her not care about the phone.

  “Jenny, come on, honey. I know you’re sitting there alone. Pick up.”

  Dom lifted his head and turned to glare at the phone. Without releasing her, he went over and grabbed the phone. “She’s not alone and we’re busy! Go away.” He started to lower it and then brought it back to his mouth. “Merry Christmas!” He hung the phone up and gave her a searing look that set her body on fire.

  The End

  About the Author

  For years, I have been combining my imagination and my insatiable need to read everything with words on it or in it; which has lead me to take fictional characters in my mind to a different level of “what if…”

  Many dynamic characters have been the result of mingling creative thoughts with my passions in life of all things mystical, magical and my interests with herbs and holistic avenues.

  With the encouragement from my children and friends, Jacqueline Paige was born. She’s been able to put imaginative exploits into words to share with others; when they to want to take a brief step out of reality. Visit me on the Web at www.jacqpaige.webs.com.