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“Only in your dreams, baby.”
“I can feel you.”
He smiles. “I can feel you too.”
“Is this a dream? It feels so real.”
“Does it?” He caresses my face once more and closes his eyes, and I realize his answer has told me nothing. Galvanized into action, I reach up and place my hand on his chest, and beneath his shirt, his heart thunders, a steady beat. His heart is beating!
He’s neither warm nor cold. He groans and screws his eyes up tight, and the sound travels straight to some mysterious, deep part of me, tightening everything in its path and leaving me breathless. It’s a delicious feeling. “Your heart’s beating,” I whisper in wonder.
“Only for you, Emily. Somewhere.” He opens his eyes, and they blaze with green fire. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
I’m panting now, breathless. “No.”
“You light up my life. Literally.” And he laughs, a carefree, full-of-wonder laugh. “When will you be back home?” he asks.
I can’t hide my grin. “Back to England? Tomorrow.”
He drops his hand from my face and glances around us, and I follow his gaze. Oh. Yes. We’re here. Wherever this is. Swaddled in the mist, I’ve forgotten everything but him. “Where are we?”
“I can’t tell you the name.” He shrugs.
“Why not?”
Tristan laughs. “Because I don’t know if this place has a name. I do know you shouldn’t be here.”
“I call it the land of ghosts.”
“Seems apt,” he says. “Though some here are not ghosts. I have to go.”
“No. Don’t go.”
He smiles, his eyes widening. “Believe me, I don’t want to. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He touches the side of my face with his whole hand. “Oh, Emily, the feel of you. It’s heavenly. You’re so soft, so lovely.” He sighs.
My heart continues to stutter and I tremble… everywhere. The feeling is delicious, and I am weak with want.
“Breathe, Emily,” he murmurs, and I take a deep cleansing breath and catch a faint trace of his scent.
“You smell divine,” I whisper.
“Do I?”
“Yes. Like this place.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Divine. And delicious.”
He grins. “That’s good to know. Now, I have to go. Tomorrow then, whenever that is, I’ll see you then.” He leans down, and for one wonderful moment, I think he might kiss me. His scent is stronger, more concentrated. He runs his thumb once more over my lower lip, smiles, then turns and walks into the mist.
“Come back!” I wake immediately.
Dawn’s early light filled the room. Oh. I was at the manoir, my heart still thumping from my dream, but I was worried that I might have woken Dylan or even Lulu. I strained to hear any noise, but all I heard was a faint cock crow in the distance. There was no sound in the house.
Tristan.
Tristan was touching me.
