Wicked Dreams (The Dreamweaver Saga Book 1)

by K. G. Reuss

  “So pathetic,” Jasmine tittered with her friends. Feeling humiliated and less than human, I began changing clothes.

  “Brent said your tits are fake,” Jasmine called out to me.

  “Whatever,” I muttered, pulling my gym shorts on.

  “He also said your pussy is dry, and he felt like he was fucking a hallway.” The girls burst into peals of laughter as my face heated once more. I paused long enough to take a deep breath before tugging my t-shirt into place.

  “Hey, Olivia!” Brenda Cameron, a dark-haired beauty who oozed cruelty, shouted out to me. I turned to look at her and was hit with a face full of water from her sports bottle.

  “Oops,” she shrugged, feigning sorrow. “I heard you smell like fish. I figured you might like some water.”

  The back of my eyes burned with my tears. I rushed past them as they laughed loudly, shouting obscenities at my back.

  Needless to say, gym class sucked. By the end of it, I’d been hit in the face twice by a dodgeball thrown by Eddie, and Caleb had knocked me to the ground a few times. And not once did anyone say anything about it. Coach Barnes just looked the other way, acting like he didn’t see a thing. When Mrs. Ruiz was absent, we had co-ed gym. And everyone knew co-ed gym combined with dodgeball was an excuse for the school douchebags to take their aggressions out on us lowly students. I seemed to catch the brunt of it though.

  By the end of class, I was near tears. Not only was I exhausted, but I was just sick of their crap. Stepping into the shower, I hoped to just wash it all away. I tuned everyone out and focused on my breathing as I tried to avoid a panic attack. Giggles tinkled in the background, but I paid the girls no mind, too lost in my thoughts of sleeping. And Donovan. And how much I missed him even though he’d only been in my dreams three times. I’d caught glimpses of him a few times when I’d doze off. I knew he was only there because my subconscious needed a friend, one that wouldn’t judge me. Deep down, I knew even Anita grew tired of me.

  When I moved to grab my towel, I found it gone. My heartrate kicked up. Frantically, I looked around and saw everyone had left. With a sinking feeling, I glanced down. My clothes were gone too.

  “No,” I whispered, my body trembling. I rushed over to the bench where I’d left my stuff and found that everything was gone, even my bag. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. A flood of emotions overtook me, causing me to sob loudly, my cries echoing around me in the empty locker room.

  I anxiously scampered around, trying to find something—anything—to cover my body with. There was nothing. Desperate, I started pulling the rolled paper towels out, hoping I could somehow wrap it around my wet, trembling body. All I succeeded in doing was making a mess, the bits of wet paper clinging to me. Knowing I wasn’t about to leave the locker room, I returned to the shower where I slid down the wall in tears, my soft sobs echoing around me. I had to get out of there. Closing my eyes, I took the only escape I had.

  Sleep.

  I was back in the forest. The sunlight streamed through the cracks in the trees, warming my skin. I peered down at myself. Thankfully, my subconscious had put me in a white, off-the-shoulder dress that hugged my body. It fell to the tops of my bare feet in soft, gauzy, flowing material. I let out a breathy sigh and spun slowly in the shards of sunlight sprinkled down on me with my arms out wide and my eyes closed.

  “You’re beautiful,” Donovan’s soft voice called out to me. Before I could open my eyes, strong arms wrapped around my waist, his warmth radiating through me. A smile spilled onto my lips, wiping away the sadness from my waking life.

  “I’ve missed you,” he breathed out, his breath hot against my neck as his chest pressed into my back and his arms tightened around me. “So fucking much.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” I admitted, butterflies flapping madly in my chest. His lips brushed against the sensitive skin of my bare shoulder, igniting a fire within me I knew I had no control over. He was my arsonist, adding fuel to the already uncontrollable fire he’d set ablaze in my heart.

  His fingers twisted in my wild, red hair as he tugged my head back, so he could rain delicious torture on my neck in the form of his hot lips.

  “Where have you been?” his words were a rough contrast to the soft kisses he pressed to my neck.

  “Scared,” I breathed out as his hands roved up my body. He stopped his kisses and turned me around to face him. I drew in a sharp breath as I stared up into his dark, stormy eyes.

  “Tell me.” He brushed my hair from my face tenderly, his eyes searching me. “Why are you scared, Livvy?” The use of the pet name made me crinkle my brows. I'd never been called that in my life, and yet, somehow, it was familiar to me. It was like being called home.

  A sad smile touched his lips. “You know the name. I used to call you it when we were alone. I’d make love to you and whisper it to you over and over.”

  “I-I don’t understand.” I frowned up at him. He reached out and thumbed my bottom lip tenderly.

  “You don’t need to. Not yet. Now, tell me what has my girl so scared.”

  “This,” I whispered, my voice shaking as I admitted what was on my mind, his words making my heart jump. “I-I feel like this is so right. Being with you. From the first dream, I felt something. I can’t explain it. All I know is that it’s just a dream, and I shouldn’t want it… But if I could sleep forever just to be with you, I would. A-and now you’re calling me by a name that feels right, that I feel like I should somehow remember. It’s like having something on the tip of your tongue and not being able to say it.”

  A soft chuckle slipped from him as he stroked my cheek affectionately. “It’ll come to you.”

  “Will it?” I ventured, looking up at him with pleading eyes. “Or is this just a really good dream?”

  “It’s the best dream.” He leaned in and planted a kiss on my lips. It started slowly, the heat unfurling a voracious beast in my stomach. It leisurely came to life until it filled up my core, the heat from it spreading to areas of my body that begged for release.

  “Donovan,” the moan slipped from my lips as his hands tugged my dress down, spilling my breasts for him.

  “Livvy,” his soft sigh against my mouth had me writhing in his hands as he pressed his body against mine. I dared to open my eyes, finding the world around us swirling quickly passed, only us not moving. We were stuck in a hurricane of emotions—our bodies the eye of the storm, neither of us relenting in our needs as our hands searched each other’s bodies for what we’d both been missing.

  “I want you so badly. You don’t even know, baby,” he managed to choke out between his deep, frenzied kisses.

  “Then take me.” My fingers slid through his dark hair. He let out a moan as I gave it a gentle tug. I’d been such a fool to try to stay away from him.

  “I can’t.” He slowed down, his once deep kisses turning softer as he spoke between them. “I can’t. I don’t want to hurt you. Not again. I’d cease to exist if you were ever harmed. I-I couldn’t do that to you again.”

  “Donovan…” I planted a sweet kiss on his swollen lips. “This is just a dream.”

  “Then I think you should wake up, sweetheart. For your own good.” His dark eyes wavered with the pain of his words. I looked at him, wounded. “Please, Livvy. Just for now. I swear to you I’ll be here when you get back.”

  “Promise?” My lower lip trembled as I stared up at him.

  “I fucking swear it on my existence. I’ll always be here.” His fingers brushed against my shoulders as he gently put my dress back in place, a hungry, desperate look in his eyes.

  “What if you’re not—”

  His fingers were under my chin in a flash, tilting my head up so I could look at him. “There isn’t a force in Hell that could keep me from you now that I’ve found you, Olivia. Believe that.”

  It wasn’t the conviction in his voice that made me believe it. It was the fierceness in his dark eyes. A storm was brewing behind those pools of midnight, making me think for jus
t a moment that this was more than just a dream. That it was some alternate reality I’d stumbled upon, a prison in which only he lived, and I was the key to setting him free.

  Oliva

  “Olivia. Olivia, can you hear me?” a female voice wafted out to me. I shivered, curling into a tighter ball.

  “Get a blanket,” the voice commanded. A moment later my eyelids fluttered. I peered through them to see Mrs. Stevens, the assistant principal, staring down at me. Miss Parsons, the school nurse, was at her side. My brain rubber-banded back to the events that led to me being on the floor. My face heated in humiliation as I tried to cover my body.

  A girl named Melissa Jenkins popped into view with a gray, wool blanket in her hands. I recognized her from my biology class. She quickly came to us and handed it over to Miss Parsons, who wasted no time in wrapping it around me.

  “Olivia, what happened? Did you hit your head?” Miss Parsons’s blue eyes leveled on me.

  “N-no.” I shook my head, clutching the blanket. “I…someone took my clothes. I didn’t have anything to wear.”

  “Do you know who it was?” Mrs. Stevens asked abruptly, her hazel eyes darkening, her lips set in a firm line.

  “I don’t know,” I whispered.

  “Olivia.” Mrs. Stevens gave me an even look. “You can tell us. I’ll make sure it gets taken care of.”

  I wanted to tell her it was Jasmine and her friends, but I had no idea if that was even true. It seemed like the most likely answer.

  “Mrs. Stevens?” Melissa piped up. Mrs. Stevens glanced over at her with a raised eyebrow. “I think it was Jasmine Marcel and Brenda Cameron. I overheard them in calculus talking about taking someone’s clothes and putting them in the dumpster behind the cafeteria.

  “I see,” Mrs. Stevens said tightly. “Melissa, would you please go to the office and let Principal Forrester know that I’ll need those students brought into the office. Ask him to send a page out. Also, go to the emergency clothes stash we have and bring Olivia something back to wear.”

  “You don’t have to—” I started, my heartrate galloping. Sure, I wanted the clothes, but I definitely did not want the fallout of Jasmine and Brenda getting called into the office. Melissa looked between me and Mrs. Stevens before trotting off.

  “Olivia, I’m not blind,” Mrs. Stevens said softly, kneeling down so she was in front of me. Miss Parsons gave me a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “I know you don’t have it easy here. I try to keep the students in line. I really do. This particular group that’s been harassing you needs to be dealt with before something terrible happens.”

  “You mean like me being naked in the middle of the school?” I asked hoarsely. I shook my head as I looked into her eyes. “It’s too late. The terrible has been happening since ninth grade. I’m a senior now. I only have a few months before graduation. Then I’m out of here. So really, it’s whatever. What’s the point now? It’s something that should’ve been handled four years ago when I told Principal Forrester about it the first time I was tripped in the hallway.”

  “I’m sorry this has been happening to you,” she returned with genuine sorrow on her face. “If I’d worked here then, it would’ve been dealt with.”

  “Can I just go home? I want to go to sleep.” My mind flashed to Donovan and our steamy kiss. I had to get back to him. I didn’t care anymore if I spent all my time sleeping. It sure as hell beat being awake in this nightmare. All the things I’d been afraid of were stupid. This was where the real fear was. In my dreams with Donovan, I was safe. I knew I was.

  “We’ll call your mother—” Miss Parsons started but I shook my head.

  “She works at night. She needs to be sleeping when she can. I’ll be fine.” To prove my point, I climbed to my feet, making sure to keep the blanket firmly around me. As if on cue, Melissa came back in holding a few articles of clothing in her hands.

  Mrs. Stevens let out a sigh and nodded to me. I snatched the clothes from Melissa and went to a bathroom stall where I quickly yanked them on.

  Disgustedly, I looked down at myself. I was wearing a t-shirt with a cat on it that had laser beams for eyes and was floating in space. The neon green basketball shorts were about two sizes too big. I secretly wondered if the shorts belonged to Brent or one of his loser friends. They all played sports. It was better than nothing though.

  When I walked out of the stall, only Mrs. Stevens was left.

  “Olivia, I meant what I said. I want to deal with this.”

  “It’ll just cause more problems,” I sighed, shaking my head. “Please. Just let it go.”

  “I will. This time.” She pursed her lips, appraising me quickly. “But if it happens again, it will be taken care of, protests or not. Understand?”

  I nodded. “I understand.” I quickly pushed past her and left the locker room before she could try to give me a pep talk about being here to help me. I rushed to my locker and slammed it closed, upset I didn’t have anything to carry my books in. Hell, I didn’t even have all my books since some of them were in my missing backpack. Wes was waiting when I turned around.

  “Leave me the hell alone,” I snapped, backing away from him.

  “Easy. I come in peace,” he said, holding his hands up. I eyed him wearily. They were all a bunch of liars. He must have sensed my hesitation because he stopped walking toward me. “Olivia, I’m sorry, OK. I'm sorry about the party. I didn’t know Brent was planning on tricking you into bed with him—”

  “I didn’t screw him,” I hissed angrily. “He’s lying.”

  “OK. OK, you didn’t do it. I’m glad. I didn’t think you really did. You’re not that type of girl—”

  “You don’t know what type of girl I am,” I growled at him. “So, let’s cut the shit. Why are you really here? Are you going to push me down? Tar and feather me? Give me my clothes back and record me while you do it, so you guys can all share a laugh later?”

  “I just came to say I’m sorry. I wanted you to know that I’m not like them.”

  “Bullshit. Just stay away from me, Wes.” I turned on my heel not waiting for him to answer. I went out to my car and let out a yelp of happiness when the engine rolled over and started on the first try. Slamming it into reverse, I drove toward my house just as rain began to pelt my windshield. Old Faithful gave a shuddering wheeze as we splashed through a deep puddle on the road.

  “No. No, no, no, no!” I hissed, pulling over to the curb and trying to start the car. It gave an angry whine causing me to punch my dash angrily. I groaned in pain. That probably hadn’t been my most brilliant idea ever. Clutching my hand, I got out of the car in the pouring rain. Immediately, I was drenched.

  “Can this day get any fucking worse?” I shouted as I kicked the tire uselessly. Popping the hood, I ducked beneath it and started jiggling wires, not knowing if I was actually even accomplishing anything. I dashed back to the front seat soaking wet and turned the key. The car ground out another angry protest at me.

  “Fucking bitch,” I snarled, slapping the steering wheel. “Damnit!” I clutched my hand again. Releasing a moan, my head fell back against the headrest. I didn’t even have my phone to use to try call for help. It was probably wherever my clothes were. If I had to guess, I’d say they were all buried beneath a pile of today’s chili and old milk cartons from the cafeteria.

  Sighing, I got out of the car again, hoping by some miracle me wiggling the wires under the hood more would create a spark of magic, thus reviving Old Faithful who wasn’t exactly living up to her name.

  “Need some help?” a voice called out to me. I peered around the hood, the rain still coming down in torrents. There was Wes.

  “No. I’m good.” I grabbed the hood and slammed it closed, pushing past him to get back into my car. His hand came out and grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop.

  “I can help you. At least let me give you a ride. You can’t sit out here all afternoon in the rain.” Blue eyes peered at me from beneath thick lashes, no sign of trickery written
on his handsome face. Of course, there hadn’t been the night of the party either.

  “Yeah, you can help me. By leaving me the hell alone.” I jerked my arm away from him and stomped back to my car door. I climbed inside and was surprised when he got into the passenger side.

  “Seriously, get out.”

  “No. I want to help you. Just let me, damnit.”

  “Why?” I demanded. “You want to find some sort of redemption for your shitty actions? Guess what? I’m not a priest. You don’t need to confess your wrongdoings to me. I’m well aware of them. I don’t give a shit what you did in the past. All I know is you need to get the hell out of my car this instant before I—”

  “What? Before you what?” he challenged. “If you could call for help, you already would have. The way I see it, you could really use a friend. So just shut up and let me help.”

  He was right, making me hate him just a little bit more. He must have sensed my crumbling resolve because he continued talking in a rush.

  “I’ll take you home. Promise. No games. No tricks.”

  “Fine,” I grunted, reaching for my purse. He snatched it away from me before I could take it. I scowled at him as he shot me a timid smile. “If you mess with me in any way, you’ll be sorry.” I didn’t know what the hell would happen considering I had no way to get back at anyone, but I hoped the threat would keep me safe.

  I followed him to his car, which of course was new, and slid onto the leather seat. He immediately cranked the heat up and turned on the heated seats. I sank back into them gratefully, a little thankful that he’d come along. Maybe I’d be more thankful if I made it home without any harm coming to me. It was a wait and see game.

  He eased the car back onto the road, both of us silent for most of the trip.