The Falcon Ridge Series Book 4: Art of a Girl

(Chapter song ‘Pon De Replay’ by Ed Marquis)

SAMMY

‘What are you doing in here, Sam?’

I whip around and swallow my heart at the sound of Bastian's deep voice. My jaw falls when I see him with his blonde hair down and partially hanging in his face. He has a strange smile on his face as he casually walks into the ballroom.

‘I-I’m working.’ I stutter.

He tilts his head. ‘Is that really what you think you should be doing right now?’

I look behind me as I back up and hit my but on the table. He rakes his thick fingers into his hair as he eyes fill me with heat.

‘I-I don’t…um…what?’ I feel like I should run, but I’m trapped by his desire filled eyes.

He shakes his head. “No… You shouldn’t be working.’ He gets in my space and I can’t breathe. His fingers dance up my arm and I’m almost trembling at his touch. He lifts my other hand and places it in between the open four buttons of his white business shirt. ‘The last thing someone like you needs to be doing is work.’ His lips float around my face as I let out a shaky breath.

My fingers rub his large chest muscle and he purrs. His lips lower to mine and I whimper.

His large hands wrap around my waist and he picks me up with such vigor, I yelp loud enough for it to echo. I land on the table and have to prop myself up with a hand as I look at him with complete shock.

‘I-I don’t think…’ I try to squeak.

He threads his fingers into my hair and pulls my head back. My arousal shoots through the roof as he looks down into my eyes. He dances his lips around mine. ‘No thinking.’ He drawls.

‘O-Ok.’ I quietly pant. I feel myself surrender and that was all he needed.

In one swift motion, he consumes my mouth, lifts my skirt and tears my panties off my body.

‘Oh God.’

He yanks my head back and bites my neck. He kisses my skin as he lets out primal growls. This completely feels like a claiming.

He lifts my legs and when he touches my core, my heat boils over.

His fingers spread my wetness and I moan to the ceiling as he pulls my shirt open. His lips devour my breasts as my desire rises to unimaginable levels.

He removes his shirt and drops his pants. Grabbing my head, he drowns me in passion as his thick girth finds my entrance.

His hips slam mine and I feel him fill me with his length. I scream out my pleasure into his shoulder as I claw his back. His large hand holds my ass cheek as he thrusts harder. Every muscle in his body is rock hard and he’s completely taking me over.

The table bangs against the floor and I arch back. He bites my skin as he hooks my leg and lifts it higher.

My entire body is on fire and underneath the sounds of passion, a rumbling growl grew. I lift my head and look around the room as he thrusts deeper. I’m panting hard trying to find the growls.

In a snap, the room turns blood red. Smoke fills the air and I pull myself up to Bastian. He kisses my neck as I look to the blackened doorway over his shoulder.

Bastian almost disappears from my thoughts as I peer closer into the dark doorway. The room becomes wavy and drifts away as the sounds of footsteps approach the door.

I cinch my brow when a tall man dressed in black pants, an open black button down and black hair steps out into the red light. His dark eyes and handsome face appear and I’m lost.

Bastian is panting and grunting in the fog of my mind as my eyes lock with the man’s.

He puts his hands in his pockets, lifts his chin and gives me a stoic look. I’ve never seen him before, but he feels really familiar.

‘Who are you?’ I asked the question, but it didn’t come out of my mouth. It came from the room and floated around me.

His lips didn’t move either. He ticks his jaw and stares at me holding onto to Bastian’s naked back. ‘What are you doing, Empress?’

“I'm not…” I start as he stares me down.

‘This isn’t your future. He…isn’t your future. I am!’ His last words boomed around the room.

‘No.’ I tilt my head back as Bastian nips and sucks on my neck. ‘I don’t belong to you.’

‘Not you… Her.’

I lift my head and connect with his eyes. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘You will when you set her free.’ He eyes me as he chews his cheek.

‘Never.’ I narrow my eyes and glare.

‘You’re a vessel to greatness, Sam. Let her out.’ He tilts his eyes to me and his lip almost curls.

I grip onto Bastian tighter. ‘Get out!’ The room carries my voice almost as loud as his was.

‘No.’ He shakes his head then lifts it. ‘I won’t allow you to deny my destiny. The goddess will rise whether you like it or not.’

‘WHO ARE YOU?!’ I demand.

‘The only prince you’ll ever need. Let her out!’ He challenges.

I feel a deep anger rise from the pit of my gut. As Bastian’s thrusts get harder and deeper, I bore holes into his soul. ‘GET. OUT!!’

‘SHE WILL RISE AND YOU WILL HAVE NO CHANCE IN HELL TO STOP IT!!’

It happened so fast. His eyes glow red as he leaps into the air at me. His clothes explode into shreds and the wolf with the white cross flies at Bastian’s back with drooling jaws open.

I scream, shove Bastian out of the way and fall to the floor.

****

I let out a scream as I jolt up in bed. I’m covered in sweat and it takes a minute to separate the dream from reality as I wildly look around the room. I huff out breaths as I pull up my knees and lay my arms on them.

I've been having countless dreams of Bastian in some of the most hottest situations, but that’s the first time another man has walked into the middle of it. I search my mind to place him and I can’t. I can even think of a reason why that would even happen. It’s not like I’m pining for another person. Just Bastian and it’s killing me.

The only thing that I am definitely concluding is that whatever Dr. Rennet did is broken.

A sharp sting on my arm as me lower my eyes. My brows shoot up. “Fuck!!”

I throw the blankets off. “MOM!!!”

My claws dig deeper into the soft skin of my forearm and it makes me stumble to the door as I grit back the pain.

My door flies open. “Sammy?”

I look up at her as I fight my uncontrollable hand. “Help.” I whine as my eyes start to well.

She rushes to me. “Ok. Hold it in. A few more steps.” She supports me out the door and my claws scratch harder. I scream and fall to my knees.

My mother picks me up. “Fight it, Sammy! A little farther.”

“MOM!!” I cry out as my hand claws my upper arm.

“NO!! SAMMY!!” She tries to pull my hand away and it swipes at her. She dodges and falls to the floor. A dark, demented growls escapes my chest.

“DYLAN!!”

I slam against the wall and cry out in agony as the beast tries to dig itself out of my body.

“No.” I clench as I shake tremendously through the pain.

Dylan jogs up the stairs. “Mom?”

“GET THE SHOWER!!” She points to the bathroom as she rises to her feet and rushes me.

I huff out more demonic growls as my eyes glow pink.

“FIGHT, SAMMY!!”

I curl up and spittle flies from my lips as I breathe through my war with the beast inside. It shreds more skin as my mother drags me to the bathroom. My blood splatters across the floor and wall with every attack.

Dylan turns the water on and helps me into the shower. I roar out when the water steams on my burning skin. My mother pulls me into a sit and holds me as the ice cold stream hits my back, soaking her as well.

The beast pounds on my body and I fight her.

“SAMMY!!” Dylan holds me from behind as my clawed hands threaten to take chunks out of anything. I scream out the excruciating agony and double over my mother’s arms. My blood flows down the tiles and down the drain of the tub.

‘Free me!!’ My animalistic voice shakes the room.

“FUCK YOU!!” Dylan yells back and holds me down harder.

My mother holds my legs and arms down and Dylan wraps his arms around my chest. The water turns colder and the heat in my body recedes.

I feel her surrender and I flop over my mother’s arm.

She places her lips on my wet hair. “It’s over, baby. It’s over.”

“I can't…” I cry as I shake my head. “It’s too strong.”

Dylan hugs me. “You’re stronger.” He whispers as I sob my mother’s arms.

****

Only 10 stitches this time. The rest will heal in a few days as long as they stay bandaged. As bad as it looked, this attack was an easy one. I was close enough to not let it out long enough to gain strength. That’s my biggest worry.

I can only attribute this to me wanting to get close to Bastian. There’s no other explanation for it. Now, I fear my hypnotherapy is undone and I’m going to have to go in again. The beast using my vulnerability around him as a way to push through. I don’t think I can win this. Not on my own.

After avoiding Bastian all week and trying to get my head straight, I made an appointment with Dr. Rennet. Then I think I need a few days of me time to center myself again. I need to fill my head with things other than Bastian Cole.

I tried to escape without running into him, but apparently, this mansion is too small for that.

As I quickly packed up for my last day, a cough came from the door.

“Wow. It looks really great in here.”

I spin around and almost trip over my own feet. The start of my dream slams into my mind. I feel the heat ignite and I swallow as I glance at the table his fantasy hands vigorously threw me onto before he ravaged me.

He’s standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets, hair down, and his white button down is undone to four buttons, giving me a peek of his chest muscles. He has definitely put a lot of work into them, and I'm trying not to be attracted. God, why?

I turn back quickly, blow out a breath and continue packing up. “Yep… It…uh… It’s coming together quickly.” I chuckle as I feel his presence come up behind me. I internally whine and close my eyes.

He half sits on the table beside me.

I glance at him. “D-Did you need something?”

He folds his forearms on his lap. My eyes flick to them. Hold it together, Sam. Remember the beast. What happened in your head was just a dream.

He leans to find my eyes. “Kind of. I was just wondering why you’re avoiding me?”

I glance at him as my cheeks flush because I’m totally guilty of that. I can’t risk it. Not after the other day. “Avoiding you? No, I’m just…busy.” I grab some fabric, walk it over to some boxes and proceed to pack them up.

“Ok.” He casually walks behind me. “I just thought that since you haven’t answered any of my messages about going out with me again, that you weren’t being completely honest with me."

I give him a quick look before turning back to my papers. “H-Honest? What do you mean? Honest about what?”

I throw my bag strap on my shoulder and face him. He stands in front of me and looks down. “About how you felt about our last date. I thought you liked it.”

“I did like it. I'm…just nervous…to take things too fast.” I say quietly.

He slightly smiles. “It’s just a date, Sammy. I don’t expect anything from you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I enjoy your company. I had hoped you enjoyed mine as well.”

“I do, but…” I look down.

He lifts my chin so my eyes can meet his. He leans a little closer. “Sam. I really like where this is going. If you don’t feel the same, you can tell me. I’ll respect that. But if you’re scared, please tell me. The last thing I want is for you to be frightened of me.”

It’s not me who should be frightened, but I can’t tell him that.

“I…I need a few days. Just to clear my head." I step back from him. “I booked some time. Eric and Dylan will fill in while I’m gone. After I get back, then we'll talk, ok?”

A look of disappointment fills his eyes. “Sure. Have fun on your vacation.”

“Thanks.” I give a little smile, pull on my bag strap and leave.

As I enter the hall, I suddenly feel like denying him to get closer could actually be a big mistake. He sounded so sincere and honest. I’m really starting to think Eric was right. He may actually have a genuine attraction to me. I want to reciprocate…

But this beast in my chest keeps ruining my entire life.