Zahra was already asleep by the time I got home—which is good, because it means I didn't have to hear her I-told-you-so speech tonight. But after staring at my ceiling for almost two hours, I'm wondering if I should wake her up for some advice.

Who else can I talk to about being anxious to fall asleep because I'm feeling awkward about having to confront the "dream-walking" guy that I just had sex with? It's not like I can google it.

I know because I've already tried.

I've never felt so many butterflies over seeing a guy after sleeping with him, but I've also never had to see them in my dreams before. But it's not just that and I know it—I really like him, and that has me nervous. I really liked Vic too, and I already know how that turned out. It's not that I don't trust him, but I don't trust myself anymore.

The lighting seems to shift slightly; it's warmer and just bright enough to see, which I've come to recognize as a sign that I've entered the dream world. As I sit up, I hear Kieran's voice from the corner.

"Hey babygirl." His tone is rough and low and sends tingles down my spine.

I roll over to face him, sit up, and pull back the covers. His eyes go wide as he scans my body, and I remember that I wore my blue silk romper to bed. I've been dressing my best since he started showing up in my dreams, but tonight I wanted to go a little sexier. It's kind of like having him sleep over after sex, but he's not technically here and we're not technically sleeping.

"Hi," I say with a bashful smile.

He walks toward me with long, determined steps, before stopping right in front of me and pinching his eyes shut. He hisses and shakes his head.

"Do you know how many times I told myself I wasn't gonna show up here and immediately try to fuck you again?" He opens his eyes again and they lock on mine as he licks his lips. "I'm trying to be the good guy and show you I'm not just into you for your body and you go ahead and wear this little number like you're trying to fucking torture me. This is just not fair."

I can't help but smile and he smiles back, biting his bottom lip as he shakes his head like he's almost scolding me.

"Oh I'm sorry," I tease. "I didn't realize it was supposed to be fair."

He leaps on top of me, his arms on either side of my waist as he lowers himself in to kiss me. I expect his lips to touch mine, but he stops just before they do and sweeps his tongue across my bottom lip. I lace my fingers in his hair and pull him in to close the distance. The kiss is dizzying and frantic; like we're starved for each other. My legs wrap around his hips and he scoops me up by my waist, tugging me flush against him. His head dives into my neck and he kisses, licks, and sucks every inch of my skin. I feel his breath against my skin as he brings his lips to my ear.

"Seriously, Red. I think I'm addicted," he whispers, pulling back to look me in the eyes. "You need to have one of those Surgeon General's warnings or something."

His eyes sweep down to my chest, which is barely covered by the fabric.

"Dammit," he curses. In a flash, he's against the wall on the far side of the room, staring up at the ceiling and making a pained expression.

"Where you going?" I sit up and turn toward him.

"I'm not here to have sex with you again, Sam. I'm trying to make a point, damn it. I'm not going to let your gorgeous, delicious curves work their fucking black magic on me."

I laugh and sit upright.

"You're trying to be a gentleman?" I can't help but giggle a little at the idea.

"You don't think I can do it?" He raises an eyebrow and feigns offense. "Well joke's on you, babe. It's not happening. I don't care how much you beg, you're not getting this."

He gestures to the bulge in his pants.

"Is that so?"

Our eyes meet and he swallows hard.

"No," he says, his eyes widening.

"Well if that's the case..." I walk over to my dresser, deciding to put him out of his misery. I pull out a baggy t-shirt and pull it on over my head. "Better?"

"Not really, no." He smirks and I tuck myself back in bed. "But I'll survive."

He walks over to the bed and sits at the foot, leaving a fair amount of space between us.

"Well, you don't have to stay if you don't want to. I mean... I'm sure Vic has probably given up by now, right? I haven't heard from him in a while. Not that I don't want you to stay."

His brows furrow.

Did I hurt his feelings?

"Well, actually... I can feel it when he tries to enter your dreams. He still checks in every few nights. I don't mean to freak you out or anything. I swear, I'll find him and put a stop to it. You won't be in any danger."

A chill washes over me.

I hoped Victor had given up and finally moved on. I thought—maybe foolishly—that being confronted by the Demon King was enough to have put him off me once and for all. But hearing that he's still at it makes me realize that he'll never give up.

I'll never be free of him.

"Sam?" he asks. His voice is soft and distant as I stare ahead. Before I have a chance to respond, I feel his arms wrap around my shoulders and tug me into a hug. "It's gonna be alright. We're gonna figure this out, I promise."

"Yeah... no... I know."

"It's okay for that to bother you. But I've got your back, Red. We will figure it out."

He rolls over, laying down and pulling my head into his chest.

"What are you doing?"

"Cuddling," he says, combing his fingers through my hair. "What does it look like?"

I push my cheek into his chest further and let the sound of his breathing calm my nerves.

"The Demon King is a cuddler?" I tease.

"Oh shut up and snuggle me, Red."

*****

I wake up to a stream of blindingly bright sun slipping past the curtains and hitting my eyes. I groan and I hear a matching groan beneath me. I jerk upright in surprise and see Kieran stretching and yawning in his boxers.

"You're here!" I exclaim. "Like, here here!"

He blinks a few times at me and looks around the room.

"Oh."

I laugh and shake my head.

"This is so weird."

He props himself up on his elbow and smirks. His eyes trace down my neck to my breasts and his pupils widen.

"Is this thing legal to own?" he asks, gesturing to my silk nightie and licking his lips. "Because I'm not sure it should be."

I hear a snort from the corner and turn to see Pumpkin standing grumpily at the door. I look at the clock and see that I'm two hours late for his usual breakfast time.

"Oh shit," I say. "I need to feed him before he has a tantrum. Stay here."

Kieran chuckles and lies back down in bed.

I head downstairs, following Pumpkin who snorts with every step, making it clear that he does not appreciate my missing his breakfast. When I reach the fridge, Pumpkin is already sitting beside his dish with an accusing look. I put a scoop of vegetables in the bowl and he immediately begins scarfing them down.

The tv is on in the living room and I hear Zahra's footsteps slowly heading my way.

"Okay, don't judge me, but Kieran is here," I say as I start heating up the coffee pot.

"What??" I hear her shriek as she rushes into the kitchen with a shocked expression.

"I know, I know. You were right, I was wrong, okay?"

"Sam, d-"

"Yes, I slept with him."

Zahra cringes and covers her face with her palm.

"Slept with who?" an unexpected voice calls from the living room. My eyes go wide as Grams appears behind Zahra.

Oh great. This is very awkward.

"I was trying to tell you that you have a visitor," Zahra says with an apologetic smile.

"Grams, what are you doing here??" I ask.

"You said you would take me shopping today."

"But I was supposed to come pick you up! Oh no... Tell me you didn't drive."

I love Grams, but she's a hazard behind the wheel. There's a reason she had her license taken away. Actually, several reasons.

"I didn't drive—please, that would be irresponsible!" she says, making me feel slightly better. "I'm far too high to drive."

I pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers and sigh.

"I meant because you don't have a license."

"Oh you hit one mailbox and suddenly you're a danger to society."

"Mailman, Grams. It was a mailman, not a mailbox."

"It was technically both, but who cares. I barely tapped the fella! He was completely fine! That's beside the point—who's this person you're sleeping with?"

"I'm just gonna go..." Zahra says, slipping out of the room.

"No offense, Grams, but I don't really want to have this conversation with you," I say.

"Oh, come on, Samantha! It's just sex! How do you think your father came into existence? Or you for that matter?"

I groan.

"Yeah, that's also not a conversation I'm interested in having."

"Well there's nothing wrong with enjoying a little fun with a beautiful man—or woman. Lord knows I've had my fair share. Your father's father was a gorgeous man. Absolutely stunning. He was European. They're so much more adventurous in b-"

"Ahh!" I cover my ears with my hands. "TMI, Grams. T. M. I."

"Oh pshh!" she says, shaking her head. "I swear your father's prudishness has rubbed off on you. I don't know where it comes from."

I laugh and Pumpkin rubs up against her leg. She bends down to scratch behind his ears and he purrs slightly. The sound of footsteps down the staircase catches my attention and I look up just in time to see Kieran wearing only his boxers.

"Hey!" he says to me. As he comes closer, he sees my Grandma and smiles. "Oh, hi!"

Grams adjusts her glasses and gives Kieran a once-over.

"My, my," she says, turning to me. "Well done, honey. What a specimen. I guess you are my granddaughter after all."

Kieran bursts into laughter with such force that he is practically choking.

"Kieran, Grams. Grams, Kieran," I say, already feeling my cheeks burning. They shake each other's hands.

"Grandmother?" he asks with a raised brow. "No way you're old enough to be a grandmother."

"Oh, a charmer!" she says with a smirk.

He turns to look at me with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, Red, but I actually need to get going. I have to do payroll today and I don't have my phone on me to call in and push it back. I'm gonna try and catch the bus back home."

"Oh, okay. Do you need clothes?"

"No, I'll be fine. I've worn less on a bus before."

Since he's only wearing boxers, I can imagine what he's getting at.

He shoots me a gorgeous grin, says goodbye to my Grams, and gives me a kiss before heading out the door.

The moment the door closes, Grams rolls her eyes.

"He's a fuckboy just like your grandfather."

"Grams!" I scold. "How do you even know that word?"

"I have Google."

"Wh-... Why would you say that?"

"I'm an old woman, hon, I've seen it all. I know trouble when I see trouble, and he's trouble. And you—you're in deep aren't you?"

"I... no. I don't know, Grams. I like him. I was trying to stay just friends, but..."

"But he has the body of a god."

I can't decide if I should cringe or laugh, but I end up doing a combination of both.

"It's complicated."

"It always is. Just watch yourself, Samantha. Never trust a gorgeous man with a knockout smile and eyes like the devil."

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