Page 46 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

As I weave through the maze, the scenery mutates. The once stone walls twist and morph into sinewy, dark roots and branches. They envelope everything, snaking from the ground and descending from above, secreting a viscous, warm substance. The unmistakable metallic tang of blood fills the air. I want to race ahead, but the gnarled branches and roots are treacherous, lurking in the shadows to ensnare my feet.

My breath comes in ragged gasps, each exhale echoing in the claustrophobic tunnel. The ceaseless thud of my heartbeat becomes deafening, filling my ears—thud, thud, thud. But wait, there’s a second cadence, a sinister symphony accompanying my heart’s frenzied pace.

“What do you want from me?” I shout into the darkness. If this is a test, a reason my midnight mind summons me here, then let it be known. The dual heartbeat intensifies, now a frantic lub-dub, lub-dub, quickening my pulse further.

In the distance, a pinprick of light beckons. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I gravitate toward it.

“‘It’s okay. I have you.’” The sound of Colton’s voice and the reassuring pressure of his arms bring me crashing back to reality. I gulp air greedily, each breath pushing the tendrils of panic further away.

“What happened?” Colton’s voice is laced with concern.

I quickly recount the dream to him, keen to share every detail before they fade away. “Is the beating from the dream the same as the one you mentioned hearing in the tunnels? The one I couldn’t hear?” He shifts slightly, pulling away to look at me, yet keeping his arms securely around me.

“Yes, the same. You know, one small comfort of being in Zomea was the absence of these nightmares. I didn’t miss them,” I confess.

His fingers glide gently down my side, a calming rhythm against my skin. “How often do they happen?”

“It’s unpredictable. Sometimes there are days between them, sometimes months. The burning forest and bleeding trees I used to dream about… I now know those are the parts of Zomea that are withering away, and these new branches in the tunnel might signify something similar, but the heartbeat... It’s a new, unsettling addition.” The memory sends a shiver down my spine. The sound of that heartbeat remains hauntingly vivid.

“I felt you,” Colton admits, releasing a weary sigh.

Confused, I scrutinize his face, searching for an explanation. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve always been restless in your sleep, but now with our tether I awoke immersed in your terror. I felt your fear as though it were my own. That’s why I had to wake you,” he says.

“Thanks for that.” With a deep sigh, I run my hands over my face, noting the sheen of sweat on my forehead. Part of me thinks I should insist he doesn’t wake me next time, that I should be diving into the depths of my midnight mind to decipher what I’m seeing. But with the creeped-out feeling still fresh in my mind, that’s the last thing I want right now.

“What time is it?” I ask, scanning the windows, but they only offer back the dark, silent night.

“It’s still early. The sun won’t rise for a few more hours. Try to rest some more,” he murmurs, gently urging me to lie back against him. But a dull ache flares in my side, prompting me to turn. Nestled between his arms, I press my back to his chest, drawing comfort from his warmth.

“After these nightmares, falling asleep again is a challenge,” I admit, brushing against him. A mischievous grin forms on my lips as I press back a bit more deliberately. His answering growl is low and possessive, his grip tightening, making his intentions—and desires—crystal clear.

Last night was tender, and I needed that connection. But in this moment I crave the raw pleasure, the escape that only he can provide. I press against him again, hard.

His response is immediate, a familiar warmth spreading between my legs as his fingers travel south of my belly button and tease me. I arch back, allowing him better access, and he rewards me with a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Tell me what you want, my shadow,” he murmurs, the intimacy of his voice contrasted with the urgency of his touch.

“Always with the nicknames.” My words come out as a breath, and I bite my bottom lip, an attempt to conceal the smile that his pet names inevitably draw out.

“It’s never mattered what I call you, Lyra, as long as I call you mine,” he says, his voice deepening into a growl.

In an almost blinding motion, the blankets are discarded, and I’m flipped onto my stomach. He’s on top, guiding himself into me. The initial sensation makes me gasp, but he waits, letting me adjust. When he moves again, he eases out of me slowly then slams into me, hard, rendering me breathless.

He leans in close, his breath a tantalizing caress against my ear, his voice hushed, “Is this what you desired?” The gentle graze of his teeth against my earlobe sends a shiver down my spine. His hands then secure themselves on the headboard, anchoring him as he surrenders to the rhythm of our connection—hammering into me.

“Yes,” I manage to choke out, clinging to the sheets below.

His hands move to my hips, pulling me up, positioning me for a deeper connection. I feel him everywhere, inside and out, as he dictates the rhythm, each movement a testament to our shared desire. He tangles one hand in my hair, pulling my back up to meet his chest. I turn my head to see him, and his mouth descends on mine. I feel his fingers wrap around my throat, not hard but enough to keep me pressed to him. The sensation sends a thrill through me, and I moan into his mouth. He uses his other hand to tease my sensitive flesh again, and the feeling is almost too much.

“Colton,” I whimper, desperate. He moves his fingers away, reigning me in and wanting to extend my pleasure longer.

I break the kiss, panting for air, and he releases my neck, running his thumb across my bottom lip then grasping my hair, pushing me back down on all fours. Grabbing my hips again, he holds me steady to meet his thrusts, while I bite into the pillow to muffle my screams.

“Colton,” I cry out again between breathy moans.

“Are you ready to take more of me inside you?” he asks.