Harper feels thighs straddle his chest, a whisper of soft skin against his cheek just as her hips come down. His mouth parts and he licks into her, feels her quiver against his tongue. She has his wrists pinned above his head, squeezing them hard each time she rocks against his face.
He shuts his eyes and the world becomes centered on just the press of her on him, the heat between her legs and her stuttered movements.
In the darkness the only thing he is sure of is her body, of the way they touch. No light, no sound. It's like being submerged in water. Drowning.
Harper wakes up gasping.
*
Erica crushes the man's skull against the pavement, again and again. Blood seeps into her jeans and she pulls back in disgust. "You're lucky these aren't my favourite pair."
"Now, this is just a dream of a crime scene," someone says from behind her. "the evidence would be stacked so high up against you that the jury'd need a ladder to see you over it."
Erica grimaces and wipes her hands off her pants. "If we weren't both legally deceased I'd be worried, as it is," she kicks the asshole until he rolls off the platform into the riverbank. "I'm not worried."
She looks over her shoulder to see Riley, a smirk playing at his lips as he moves in close behind her. Erica holds still as he wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. "You're making trouble," he says against her ear.
She puts her hands over his and digs her nails in until she feels his skin tear and bleed. "Let me go."
His hold on her tightens. "So that's your second high-profile victim tonight. You think that'll go unnoticed?"
Erica struggles but Riley doesn't let up. "I don't care," she bites out. She knew that Marcus and Ehren had seen her leave Harper's apartment. She wouldn't risk killing anElder and his boy-toy if she wasn't certain.
"I'll clean up your mess this time," Riley tells her, lips pressed against her ear. Erica feels the prick of his fangs against her skin. She shuts her eyes. He goes on, "Don't think I don't know what this is about." Riley's hand splays out on her stomach. He whispers conspiratorially, "If you play along, we won't have to kill him."
*