Only in Her Dreams

by Christina McKnight

  “No, there was no other, except the girl and Maxim. I checked each room.”

  Maxim--alone with the girl? Well, isn’t that nice and cozy.

  # # #

  The glass had been cleaned up, the window boarded, and Lucessa was tucked safely in bed. While he didn’t want to leave her, it was imperative he return to Erebos and update Guy. Maybe he’d be able to sort out what Darius was up to. Maxim returned to the guest room and mentally prepared to give Guy bad news.

  He closed his eyes, quashing his need to stay close to Lucessa and thought himself to Erebos. The jump went smoothly, his molecules scrambling and reconnecting with ease. He took form outside his brother’s study, where the door stood slightly ajar.

  “Maxim, what news do you have for me? The girl is safe, correct?” His brother’s voice echoed from deep in the room.

  Pushing through the door, Maxim entered his brother’s domain. “It is not good news, brother. Darius is desperate. He sent Alexander and a few other Melas into Lucessa’s house again tonight. I think they found what they’d been looking for.”

  “That’s the name you are not to speak aloud, Maxim!”

  “The secret seems to be out and there’s no need to keep the name hidden any longer.” His use of her given name was a slip he hadn’t realized he’d made. “I know it hurts you not to speak her name. Your pain is not lost on me, brother.”

  “My pain, as you call it, is none of your concern.”

  Even after all these years, Guy had yet to allow him that intimacy. His eldest brother had not planned to return to Erebos, let alone rule, but he gave up everything to help his youngest brother when he’d been in need.

  “My apologies.”

  “What did they take?”

  “It seems he is only after family pictures. Last night, he took a picture of you and the girl when she was a child and tonight he made away with her wedding photo.”

  “Where’s the girl’s husband now? I’d expect he would not relish your presence in their home.”

  “He doesn’t seem to mind me being there.”

  “That’s interesting. How’d you explain your existence to him?”

  “I didn’t need to. He’s six feet under. He died of malaria during his time in Uganda. It was in my report some time ago.”

  “He’s dead? I don’t remember reading any of this.”

  Maxim was positive he’d included it in his annual report. “Well, yes. He contracted the disease and went fairly quickly, from what I heard. As my report said, I immediately started keeping a closer eye on Lucessa. She didn’t handle his death well and her dreams tortured her for some time, but they mainly focus on her childhood with you and Marie now.”

  “And how is she adjusting to your protection?”

  “She invited me to stay in her guest room, even changed the sheets for me." At Guy’s raised eyebrow Maxim continued, “Come on Guy, she is a lot like you. She hit a Melas in the head with a frying pan tonight for coming at me with a sentimental paperweight.”

  “Awe, a gift from her mother on her seventh birthday, an iron statute of Laura Ingalls Wilders, if I am not mistaken.” Guy glanced away.

  “Brother, I should return to the girl. I don’t know when it will be safe to leave her unattended again. Please send someone for me if there are any new developments here.” Maxim turned to go, without a formal dismissal from his brother. When it was just them in the room, protocol was disregarded. These infrequent times allowed them to be brothers, not leader and servant.

  “And Maxim...”

  He swung around to face Guy.

  “Guard my Lucessa with your life.” Unshed tears glistened in Guy’s eyes.

  # # #

  Guy paced his study. The sound of his boots hitting the hardwood floor and the swishing of his coat were the only sounds. The situation had escalated and he feared there was much that Maxim hadn’t told him. He’d let Maxim keep his secrets, just as Guy held his own secrets close.

  There was something new in his brother’s eyes, a purposefulness Guy had not seen before. The look was new and refreshing. Maxim’s existence hadn’t been one of importance. As the younger twin, he’d been overlooked by their father, a man who’d focused all his attention on Darius as his successor. Guy had long believed Maxim would’ve been the better choice to lead the people of Erebos. But as the only true son of Morpheus, the position could only be filled by himself.

  The depth of their family secrets ran deep and he looked forward to the day they’d be out in the open. Although, Guy feared they would crush Maxim’s fragile sense of self. His identity centered around who he believed he was--son of a demigod. To find out he was no more than the bastard son of a common Oneiroi would likely destroy him.

  How Guy wished that was the only thing he’d kept from Maxim, but his deception ran deeper still. Guy’s stake in Lucessa’s safety extended further than the relationship between a father and his supposedly adopted daughter. But he’d done what he had to do to ensure her safety. As the only true descendant of Morpheus, she’d one day lead the people of Erebos. That she was female mattered naught to him.

  Saying Lucessa’s name aloud after all these years, and in the company of another, lifted a great weight from Guy. For the first time in twenty-two years. The burden of leading the Oneiroi, staying one step ahead of Darius and his Melas, and keeping his past on Earth a secret had worn heavily on him. He looked as a young man should thanks to the healing environment of Erebos, but his soul was that of a man three times his age.

  The pain of leaving everything behind--the woman he loved and his half-demigod daughter--when duty called was almost too much to bear most days. His father had been right to ban the Oneiroi from traveling between Erebos and Earth. His current situation was proof of that.

  Chapter 13

  Maxim returned to find the house quiet and Goosey sleeping on the end of his guest bed. “Where were you when we needed you, girl?” There was nothing for it. Lucessa loved the useless dog. It was obvious every time they were in the same room. Lucessa would pat the spot next to her and Goosey would rush to her side.

  Looking down, he realized he still wore the pajamas Lucessa loaned him earlier in the evening. He smiled to himself and slipped into the cold bed, pushing the dog off the side. Dejected, she moved across the hall into Lucessa’s room.

  The bed contoured around his body. He settled in for what was left of the night, his mind wandering to Lucessa. Even more attractive than her looks was her spirit. She possessed the soul of a fighter. After her father had died and her mother had succumbed to dementia, she fought to right her life. Again, she hadn’t given up when Greg passed away. And tonight she surprised him as well; the thought of her aiding him in the skirmish sent tendrils of heat coursing to his nether region. The woman was unlike any he’d ever met.

  His last thought as he drifted off to sleep was Lucessa snuggled under her large down blanket across the hall and how he wished he was there, too.

  # # #

  Lucessa looked out at the clear blue water of Lake Tahoe as she enjoyed the summer warmth. The sky was cloudless, the sun hot, and the water warm to her touch. Impossible for this time of year. It was early November and the first snows of winter should cover the ground.

  Sail boats traversed the water, casting colors of green, yellow, red and purple against the mountains surrounding the lake. From her vantage point she saw snow on the peaks in the distance, and the ski lifts’ unfulfilled stillness rose above the hills. The beach around her was eerily silent; no one shared her enjoyment of the water or the warm sand. The familiar beach was often full to overcrowding.

  A slight movement drew her attention from the view across the water to the trees on the left. A stranger leaned casually against a tall, ancient pine, his feet surrounded by its needles and cones, his hat pulled low over his eyes. The majestic trees surrounded him, making him appear as a speck in the distance, although he was only a few paces away.

  Maxim.

  The name
radiated through her body, urging her to seek out the warmth and protection only he could provide.

  He pushed away from the tree and started in her direction. As he came out of the shadows she realized he was wearing the pajamas she’d loaned him. Was it just last night? A part of her wanted to rip the clothes from his body, he deserved so much more than a pair of used night clothes. The loose, plaid pants and white v-neck t-shirt appeared out of place in the summer heat. He approached her, his glowing blue eyes boring into her dark blue ones. There was something different and unique about his eyes. They were spellbinding, unlike her common run-of-the-mill blue. As he neared her, his walk slowed. She feared he’d never reach her.

  And oh, she wanted him to reach her.

  Her body hummed with anticipation, her breasts raised, her back arched slightly. She’d forgotten what it felt like to desire a man.

  How could she lust after a man she just met? But hadn’t she known him for so long, even longer than Greg?

  She yearned for Maxim’s touch. To have his fingers caressing her back, up to her shoulders and then running through her hair. To wait another second for him to travel the last five feet would be agony. With ease, as if she floated, she stood to meet him halfway, her arms outstretched, welcoming him home.

  Silently, he reached for her as well. He grasped her outstretched fingers and pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tightly she struggled for breath. He led her back to the plush blanket and lowered himself to a kneeling position. Her small fingers were still entwined between his much larger ones. He spun her around to face the water, her back to him and gently pulled her down to the softness of the cotton spread.

  She shifted on the blanket while his hands caressed her arms, moving up to push her hair out of the way, and expose her neck. Electricity ran through her body; everywhere he touched her it lit up like never before.

  Unwanted images popped into her head. Her late husband laying her down on their wedding night, his hands clumsily struggling to unbutton her blouse, his confused expression as he tried to unclasp her bra. The awkwardness of her first sexual encounter was burned into her mind, the hurt, the disappointment. But their love had been true and strong, developing over time. This feeling and experience was different.

  Maxim was all man--full of strength, integrity and compassion.

  His lips gently lowered to her neck, trailing light kisses over her shoulder and down her clavicle. She gasped at the pure delight of his kisses, further arching her back and thrusting her breasts skyward. His hand dipped into her shirt, cupping her breast and propelled her toward the release she sought.

  # # #

  Maxim awoke with a start, the image of Lucessa’s pleasure ridden body front and center in his mind. He’d seduced her in her sleep, shamefully taking advantage of her when she was helpless to resist.

  Pushing the covers back, he crawled out of the warm bed, almost tripping over Goosey. He paced the room. How could he explain his actions, his dastardly and ungentlemanly conduct? Thankfully, he’d been able to pull himself out of her dream before too much damage was done, but the guilt would continue to plague him.

  The sun rose outside the guest bedroom window as Maxim continued to pace the room. There would be no more sleep for him. Lucessa’s shower started across the hall and he escaped downstairs to the kitchen. The bottom level of the house was filled with early morning sunlight, and the aroma of coffee assaulted his nose.

  He hadn’t heard her go downstairs, the maker must be on an automatic setting, programmed to brew a fresh pot in time for her to leave for work.

  He searched through cabinets looking for tea bags and a kettle.

  “Can I help you find something?” She asked from behind him.

  He turned and came face to face with Lucessa, wrapped tight in her robe, her hair up in a towel after her amazingly quick shower.

  “Ummm, yes,” Maxim cleared his throat after his voice came out in a high pitch. “I was looking for a kettle and tea bags.”

  Her brow rose. “Coffee’s brewing now. I’m sure you’d much rather have that. Julie and Bret import the beans from a plantation in the Himalayan country of Nepal.”

  “If you insist. I haven’t had a cup of coffee in a long time. My kind tends to favor different teas to coffee.”

  Lucessa retrieved two coffee mugs from the cupboard above her head, her robe shifted above mid-thigh at the extension of her arms. He glimpsed a shapely leg underneath.

  “I promise to find the tea for you if you don’t enjoy the coffee.” She set the mugs on the counter and moved toward the refrigerator. She opened the door and grabbed a container of liquid hazelnut creamer and set it by the mugs.

  His hand lay on the counter. As she reached for the coffeepot, her hand grazed it. The feeling that rocketed through his body could only be described as pure, hot desire. They both pulled back their hands.

  “I’ll pour you a cup before I leave for work,” she mumbled.

  Her face turned scarlet red probably matching the color of his own face and neck. “No need, I can pour my own. You should finish getting ready for work so you’re not late,” he said as he grabbed the coffee pot and filled both cups to the brim.

  He could do nothing else but watch as she retrieved her mug and headed toward the stairs.

  She reached the bottom step and turned. “What are your plans today?”

  Chapter 14

  Maxim glanced behind Lucessa at the clock on the wall, hoping to distract her. When he didn’t answer her question she too turned to look at the clock.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Oh my gosh! Seven-fifteen already?”

  “You should dress. I do not seek to anger your boss, we can talk more when you come home.”

  “Okay, I have lots more questions.”

  “I assumed as much.”

  “If you’re going out today there’s an extra key in the drawer under the microwave. Lock up.” Taking her steaming coffee, she left the kitchen and headed upstairs.

  While she dressed, he threw on his clothes from the day before. When she returned downstairs, he tried not to notice the way her skirt hugged her hips or her toned calves below said skirt. Instead, he rushed her out the door.

  After her car pulled out of the driveway he grabbed the spare key from the drawer and headed out the door. With the key to her house resting comfortably in his pants pocket, he started down the street. His chore was to find Darius and persuade him to back off; Guy wouldn’t go easy on Maxim’s twin again for his misconduct. He should be grateful he was only banished and not put to death the last time.

  Maxim concentrated on thoughts of his brother, closing his eyes as he walked along the road. Opening them, he stood on another street in a different part of town. The freshly painted, picket fenced houses were replaced by rundown residential homes mixed among warehouses with nonexistent windows. The biggest differences between the neighborhoods were the smells. This area smelled of hopelessness and sorrow, while Lucessa’s neighborhood smelled of new beginnings and prosperity.

  One house attracted his senses, and he knew his brother would be found inside. The building showed more decay than the rest, missing the front door and both front windows; the fence surrounding the backyard now sagged at an angle that wouldn’t withstand a heavy wind. This was the type of grim, drug-infested house Darius frequented. How his brother had fallen.

  He would’ve gone to his twin sooner, but the way he lived was unacceptable and Maxim feared any reconciliation between Guy and Darius was hopeless anyway. It didn’t matter how much he cared for Darius or longed for them to be reunited in Erebos...it would never ever happen. Darius was set on his destructive path, evident by his refusal to improve his lot here on Earth.

  He kicked litter and garbage out of the way as he headed toward the void where a door should be. The interior of the house was dim, even with the sun rising in the sky, now closer to midday. Men lay sleeping or in drug-induced stupors around the room, many undressed or wearing tattered clothing. His t
win wasn’t among them. Since death was unlikely and hard to achieve for any of the Melas Oneiroi, short of a bullet to the head or heart, they partook in more taboo and risky activities than the normal human.

  Continuing through the room, Maxim made his way to the back of the house and a closed door.

  As he approached, the doorknob twisted, and the door creaked opened. Maxim stood face to face with the brother he hadn’t seen in over two decades. Darius had aged--and not gracefully. His face was etched with lines from drug use or from stress; his frame gangly and thin, no meat held to his bones.

  Darius’s face showed no sign of surprise. “Hello, little brother. What brings you to my private hell?” Darius pushed past him.

  Maxim’s body moved of its own accord and his fist shot out, catching his brother square in the jaw as he passed. “You bastard! You will fail and Guy will not give you another chance.”

  “I don’t know what you mean, brother,” Darius sneered. Rubbing his jaw, he turned to face Maxim.

  “I’m not a fool.”

  “Again, what’re you doing here, Maxim? I have lots to do and not much time to do it in.”

  “Playing dumb will not work with me. While I haven’t figured out exactly what you’re up to, I will.”

  “I don’t know what you think you know and I don’t care. Please feel free to leave my home.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk.

  “Be advised brother, I’ll not let you hurt her. She has no part in our family drama. If you have a problem, take it up with me or Guy, like any man with an ounce of integrity would do.”

  “I find two problems with your little impassioned speech, twin,” derision dripped from each word. “I’ve never been a man and unfortunately she is part of our family drama. I will do what I must to get what I deserve. You are dead to me! Run back to your little girlfriend now. I hope it turns out better for you than it did for me. Good day, Maxim.”