Amor Vincit Omnia

✝Chapter 7 - If Tomorrow Never Comes

Brianna's home was as beautiful as the woman herself. It was very different from her workplace, which was sleek, modern, and cool. Her home was warm and sumptuous, filled with antiques and art anchored by gorgeous rugs laid over gleaming hardwood floors.

Her stare burned through me. ''It feels good to have you here.''

''It feels good to be here.'' I smiled at her.

''I laid out several T-shirts for you on the bed. Glass of wine?'' She asked.

''Yeah, that sounds good.''

I showered and dresses quickly in the clothes Brianna laid out for me; then I called Sarah letting her know I would be spending a couple of days at Brianna's house.

I joined Brianna in the living room, and we sat on the floor at the coffee table to eat pizza. We watched a rerun of some of episodes from Brianna's favourite television show; 'Sex and the City'.

We crawled into Brianna's bed at ten thirty and watched the last half of an episode curled up together.

When I woke it was still dark in the room. I sat up to see the digital clock face on Brianna's nightstand and found it was barely three in the morning. I usually slept straight through the night and thought maybe the strange surroundings were keeping me from sleeping deeply; then Brianna moaned and shifted restlessly, and I realized what had disturbed me. The sound she made was pained.

''Don't touch me.'' She whispered harshly. ''Get away from me.''

I froze my heart racing. Her words sliced through the dark, filled with fury.

''You're sick!'' She writhed, her legs kicking at the covers. Her back arched on a groan that sounded painful. ''Don't! Please, stop it, Damon!''

She strained, her body twisted. I couldn't bear it.

''Brianna.'' I knelt on my side of the bed and called her name. ''Brianna, wake up.''

Stilling abruptly she fell to her back, tensed. Her chest heaving with panting breaths.

I spoke firmly, although my heart was breaking. ''Brianna, you're dreaming. Wake up.''

She deflated into the mattress. ''Phil...?''

''I'm here.'' Shifting, I moved out of the way of the moonlight but saw no luminous glitter that would tell me her eyes were open. ''Are you awake?''

Her breathing began to slow down, but she didn't speak. Her hands were fisted in the bottom sheet. I sidled closer to her, reaching out with a tentative hand to touch her arm. When she didn't move, I caressed her, my fingertips sliding gently through her red hair.

''Are you okay?'' I asked her.

''Better now.'' Her mouth formed into a soft small smile. ''I'm sorry if I woke you up.''

''Brianna, what were you dreaming about?''

She closed her eyes momentarily. ''Nothing important.''

''I think it is.'' I replied. ''What aren't you telling me?''

Her arms came around me, her hands running up and down my arms. I felt her let go of the dream with a long, deep sigh.

''It's a long story.'' She whispered.

''I've got nothing but time.''

* * * *

I woke the way I had fallen asleep, with Brianna on top of me. Her gaze was heavy-lidded with desire as I rose from unconsciousness into heated pleasure. Her hair hung around her breasts, looking sexy. There were no shadows in her gorgeous eyes, nothing lingering from the pain that haunted her dreams.