YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

13

Claire's POV

"Good morning, dreamer," she said with a teasing lilt, as she playfully nudged me. 

I blinked, still half-dazed. "Oh... um, good morning."

Selene's eyes sparkled mischievously. "So, I heard you had quite the dream about us," she said, her tone light and teasing. "Something about us being really close and... well, let's just say it sounded pretty intense."

I felt my cheeks flush crimson. "Oh God, did I really—"

Before I could finish, Selene's fingers lightly traced a path down my side, her touch lingering near my abs. "You know," she said, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper, "it sounds like I should be thanking those abs of mine for making such a lasting impression."

The teasing note in her voice made my heart race. I sat up abruptly, the heat in my cheeks intensifying. "Selene, stop it. I—"

Unable to handle the embarrassment, I scrambled out of bed and grabbed my phone, hoping to find solace in talking to someone who wouldn't tease me. I dialed Lily's number, feeling desperate for her comfort and advice.

"Hey, Lily, it's Claire," I said as soon as she picked up, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need to talk. Something kind of... awkward happened."

"What's up?" Lily's voice was curious and concerned.

"Well," I started, my voice trembling slightly, "I had this dream about Selene and me. It was... intimate, and I sort of... called out her name in my sleep."

Lily chuckled softly. "And?"

"And now she's teasing me about it," I admitted, my face burning with mortification. "She even slightly showed her abs and said some... some stuff about them. I don't know if she's really into it or if she's just messing with me."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Lily's voice broke into laughter. "Oh, Claire, that's just Selene being playful. She's probably just enjoying the fact that you were dreaming about her."

"I guess," I said, feeling slightly reassured but still embarrassed. "But I'm not sure how to handle this. I mean, it's kind of personal, right?"

"Definitely personal," Lily agreed, her tone still amused. "But if she's teasing you, it's probably because she likes you and wants to see you flustered. 

I sighed, still feeling a mix of embarrassment. "Thanks, Lily. I think I needed to hear that."

"No problem," Lily said cheerfully. "And hey, if you need to vent more about your wild sex dreams with that strange woman I'm down for it. "

I hurriedly ended the call, taking a deep breath I tried to fix my emotions. I knew I needed to address this with Selene directly but today wasn't going to be the day. 

Mark's POV

Mark paced back and forth in his office, his anxiety building with every passing second. The looming meeting with the mysterious woman had his nerves frayed to the breaking point. He had heard rumors—dark whispers about her influence, her ruthlessness. She was said to be one of the most dangerous women in the underworld, but he knew little else. He didn't even know what she looked like or what she really wanted. The uncertainty gnawed at him, and the pressure was unbearable.

His thoughts spiraled into a whirlwind of fear and paranoia. What if she knew too much? What if this meeting was a trap? Desperate for some reassurance, he grabbed his phone and called the only person who might have answers—his father.

The phone rang three times before his father picked up. The older man's voice was cold and irritated. "What is it, Mark?"

"Dad, I'm freaking out here," Mark stammered, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. "This meeting... this woman... I don't know what to expect, and I'm afraid.  What if—"

"Stop it," his father interrupted sharply, his irritation clear. "You sound like a wuss. You're embarrassing yourself. What did I teach you about handling these situations? You need to toughen up, Mark, or you'll be chewed up and spit out."

Mark swallowed hard, his father's harsh words cutting deep. He had always tried to live up to his father's expectations, but it was never enough. The older man was a legend in his own right—a former vampire hunter who had made his name by being ruthless and cunning. But this time, Mark felt out of his depth.

"Just tell me what to do," Mark pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Figure it out, Mark. You should have learned by now that no one is going to hold your hand through this. Deal with it." And with that, his father hung up, leaving Mark alone with his rising dread.

His hands trembled as he slid his phone back into his pocket. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. The meeting was in less than an hour, and he couldn't afford to show any weakness. He left his office and drove to the secluded location where the meeting was set to take place, the silence in the car doing nothing to calm his nerves.

As he pulled into the desolate parking lot, the chill in the air seemed to seep into his bones. The shadows around him twisted and stretched in the dim light, making the entire scene feel like something out of a nightmare. He stepped out of the car, his heart pounding in his chest, and scanned the area.

A sleek black limo pulled up beside him, its windows tinted so dark that they were impossible to see through. The door opened with a soft click, and Mark's blood ran cold as he saw who stepped out.

It was Claire's mother.

He froze, his mind racing. What was she doing here? This couldn't be a coincidence. Was she the woman he was supposed to meet? The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and his stomach churned with dread.

"Mrs. Devereux," he stammered, his voice faltering. "What are you doing here?"

She regarded him with an icy gaze, her expression unreadable. "I'm here to see my stepson," she replied coolly, her tone laced with a hint of menace. "After all, it seems we have some unfinished business, don't we?"

Mark's heart skipped a beat as her words sank in. He had been so focused on the deal that he hadn't even considered this possibility. Now, standing before her, he realized with growing horror that the woman he was supposed to meet was none other than his wife's mother—the same woman he had been trying to keep secrets from for years.

His hand instinctively reached for his phone, desperate to call his father and get some sort of guidance. But before he could even pull it out of his pocket, a heavy blow struck the back of his head. Pain exploded in his skull, and the world blurred around him as he staggered forward, collapsing to his knees.

Through the haze of pain, he heard Mrs. Devereux's voice, cold and unyielding. "You will pay for what you've done to my daughter, Mark."

The darkness closed in, and the last thing Mark saw before everything went black was the grim satisfaction on her face as she watched him fall.