Darya, what am I doing here?
I was about to ask you that question.
I stood at the foot of my bed, wearing only a thin T-shirt and boy shorts. No bra. Peter’s focus seemed to zero in on that detail, his gaze heating before he averted it. Goosebumps pimpled my skin.
I have no idea why I’m here. I was asleep at the library.
You were asleep?
Yes.
A thought occurred to me. You must’ve teleported while you were unconscious.
That’s not possible. I have to channel the magic to teleport actively.
Maybe you channelled it subconsciously while you slept.
He dragged a hand through his sleep-mussed hair. Why would I do that?
I remembered my nightmare and how it was suddenly soothed away. Had Peter sensed my state of panic and came to my rescue in his unconscious state? It was too intimate a theory to voice right then, especially given how exposed I felt and how aware I was of his proximity. I was barely wearing any clothes, and Peter was shirtless. He had lounge pants on, but other than that, his wiry physique was on full display.
He was the sexiest person I’d ever laid eyes on, and he was in my bedroom. No, strike that, he was in my bed. I was struck by the sudden urge to tackle him. Obviously, my sleep horniness hadn’t subsided yet.
I don’t know, I replied. But you should probably go in case my dad wakes up and senses an unknown presence in the house.
Peter’s eyes flared wide, and he crawled from my bed. Okay, let’s talk about this tomorrow.
I nodded in agreement, and his eyes traversed my body one last time, almost reluctantly, and my nipples beaded. What I really wanted to do was invite him back into bed with me to continue what we’d started back in the library earlier in the night.
A moment later, he disappeared into a cloud of mist. My pulse pounded like crazy as I climbed back under my covers and closed my eyes. There was no way I was getting back to sleep. Not with how worked up I was and how my bed smelled like Peter now.
Just as I predicted, sleep never came, so I decided to get ready for school. By the time I’d showered and gotten dressed, I’d just about managed to calm down. So, Peter had teleported to my bed while he slept. No one needed to know about it, and we’d already kissed, so it didn’t need to be awkward.
Right?
Right.
My first class of the day was Herbology, with my sister teaching. I spotted Nic on his way there and hurried to join him.
“I take it you got as little sleep as I did last night,” I said when I saw the faintly grey bags under his eyes.
“We got home so late from the hospital, so I decided to stay up and study,” he replied with a shy smile. “What about you?”
“The same, pretty much,” I replied. “Well, except for the studying part. And I managed to get an hour or two of sleep.” An image of Peter and me wrapped around each other in my bed entered my mind, but I pushed it away.
“Any news on Angela?”
I shook my head. “As far as I know, she still hasn’t woken up yet.”
Nic nodded, and we walked in silence for a moment.
“Darya, about that dare,” he began, but I waved him away.
“We don’t have to talk about it. It was just a dare.”
His face fell. “Right. Got it.”
Oh, God, had I hurt his feelings by being dismissive? “I mean, it wasn’t a hardship. You’re a really good kisser.”
He perked up a little. “I am?”
I nodded. “I was pleasantly surprised.”
“You’re just saying that to save my feelings.”
I stopped walking and turned to face him. “I wouldn’t lie to you about something like that, Nic. You’re an amazing kisser, and whatever girl ends up with you is going be a very lucky lady,” I said, my voice sincere.
He bobbed his head, seeming awkward about the compliment. “Okay, I believe you,” he replied quietly, and we continued walking to class.
When I entered the classroom, I spotted Peter in his usual seat. I took mine two rows in front of him. Hey.
Hi.
About what happened this morning, I have a theory, I said.
Oh?
You remember the night I was attacked by those vampires, and you felt my panic? Well, last night I was having a really bad nightmare about Angela, and I think you sensed my emotions and teleported to me in your sleep.
Several moments passed as he digested what I said. That makes sense, he replied at last. Man, you must’ve been so freaked out when you woke up and found me in your bed.
It was a surprise, but it’s not like there was a stranger there.
Rebecca entered the class and began her lesson, but I was too busy conversing with Peter to pay any attention to what she said.