Innocently Evil (A Kitty Bloom Novel) by Felicity Beadsmoore

interrupted, of what I wanted to happen. My mind pondered all the possibilities until a deep sleep dragged me under and I started to dream.
    I found myself on the window seat in my new room, looking out at the dark alley below. Murky shadows moved through the alleyway like black clouds , some fast, while others were slow. In the thickest shadows, grisly faces started to form. They howled and snarled up at me, only this time I wasn’t scared. Darkness, night, this was my home, living in a life of shadows. I felt comfortable here. I belonged here.
    “You took it off,” said a deep voice from behind me.
    The voice echoed in my head as I turned around. Max sat on my bed, he was wearing only white boxer shorts and a black t-shirt and his hair was tussled as if he’d been raised from sleep. In his hands he was holding the necklace. His gift to me. I’d taken it off, but I couldn’t seem to remember why. His eyes searched my face, looking for an answer. He looked hurt and confused, and it was my fault.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, as I left the window seat and went to him. I stopped in front of him and stretched a hand out towards his open palms and the necklace inside them. As I reached my hand longingly over to him I realized that I was still wearing Mum’s old, paint-stained t-shirt and nothing else. But, for some reason, it didn’t seem to matter.
    Max looked up into my eyes and a smile passed his lips. He tossed the necklace back under my pillow and took my hand. In one quick movement he pulled me into the bed beside him and rolled me over until m y back was against the wall. I was quiet as he did so, never once complaining or hesitating in his arms. His predatory touch never seemed wrong to me. Max held me close, his arms were wrapped around me and our feet were intertwined. I raised one leg and draped it over his hip, feeling my heartbeat quicken as our bodies flattened further against each other. I wanted him close to me, his arms around me, and his body on mine. I needed him.
    His warm amber eyes were still focused on mine as his right hand moved hesitantly from its safe place on my back. It travelled down along the curves of my body until it reached my thigh, and there it lingered. “Do you promise to wear it,” Max asked me in a whisper, his lips almost touching mine.
    Without hesitation, I moved my face closer and rubbed the side of my face lovingly against his. Content with the extent of my loving caress, I moved back until our noses were touching and my eyes were looking deep into his. “I promise,” I said.
    As soon as my answer had left my lips , Max had me pinned hard between the line of his body and the wall. His lips aggressively met mine and I felt like I was on fire. I could taste blood as he kissed me, but it didn’t stop me and instead, I wanted more, craving for more of him. I pulled him closer as I felt his hand slide up along the bare skin under my shirt. My skin tingled and burnt with his touch, yet I needed his hands on me, all over me. I was burning up, growing hotter by the moment, and there wasn’t enough air. I was suffocating. I pulled back from him and opened my eyes. A creature with glowing amber eyes and bloody fangs stared back at me. But, it was still Max.
    A loud, shrieking howl pierced the thrumming silence of the dream and pulled me back to consciousness. I threw the covers down and sat up. I was alone and now more confused than ever. Standing up, I walked uneasily over to the window. I wasn’t sure what was driving me exactly. Curiosity possibly, or the chance to breathe fresh air, either way I opened the window. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. Things seemed wrong in my head. I couldn’t seem to feel properly when I thought of Sam. My memories of him were distant. He seemed like a stranger.
    But, Max, on the other hand, was perfectly clear. I remembered what had happened on the train, but in a strangely different light. I had been drawn to him, I wanted him. I