Dreams Outgrow Rooms Built From Other Peoples Fears by Niro Mason 242

242 Torn Feelings 

CATHERINE 

I slowly opened my eyes, meeting the soft light streaming through the window, the curtains dancing from the subtle wind. It wasn’t that bright the last time I was awake. 

I sit up, just staring in space. I exhaled shakily, burying my face in my hands. 

Oh, Catherine. What’s happening to you? Don’t you know better? 

I brush my hands through my hair, staying in that position as pressure seized my body. Last night… and this morning, I let my body speak for me, because there was no way I was in my right mind, especially this morning. 

It was all this morning, and last night I was just trying to save a life. 

I scoffed at how stupid my thoughts were… yeah, sure, getting fingered while someone was bleeding to death was saving a life. Jesus. 

What is wrong with that devil? How dare he… how dare he become so…. I closed my eyes as I shook my head, mostly pitying myself. 

How dare he become so… irresistible? 

How am I supposed to deal if he said words like… he loves me, expressing himself in that way? Seriously, he’s giving me a whiplash! I’m not dealing with a Mister Ice or an impenetrable billionaire, or God help me, a fucking Don. I don’t know what I’m dealing 

with. 

I took the cover off me but froze. This is not my shirt; my shirts aren’t this big. I clutched the material as that pressure came again. 

It’s Ares‘ shirt. 

Slowly, I bring the collar to my nose, closing my eyes as I take a deep whiff of it. I clutched the sheets tightly, getting high over a fucking scent. 

I can’t blame myself; he just smelled so fucking good, too good. The kind that makes you wanna drool. 

I rasped as my pussy pulsed. I could still feel his fingers thrusting inside me in a maddening friction. This wasn’t about not being gentle; it was how he marked my insides, working them as if they were home, proving how unbreakable we were. 

242 Tom Feelings 

I rubbed my knees together, but I quickly shook my head to get a grip on myself. I let Esme cloud my mind instead and left my room to check on her. 

I don’t have a single strength in my body, and the ache between my legs was frustrating. Thank God it was the weekend. 

“Esme?” I pushed open the door, but there was no sign of her. 

I stepped out, eyeing both sides of the corridor, noticing that Reed’s room door was 

open. 

With a frown, I walked towards it, not a single piece of furniture or anything, it was spotless, as if he had been erased or kidnapped by aliens. At this point, I think I prefer 

aliens. 

Is he dead? Nico took out the bullet, or was it too late? 

I hope not, because the shame of last night was slowly transforming into guilt. I headed downstairs, slowing down when I caught sight of Esme stabbing her fork into a piece of pancake, before feeding Ares, who was heavily concentrated on his laptop, but somehow he still took a bite. 1 

“Mommy!” Esme pitched the instant she saw me. 

Ares peered at me through his lashes, and I had to clear my throat because that look wasn’t just a look, especially when there was nothing but hunger in them. 

Go to hell. 

“Hey, sweetie…” I kissed the top of her head. “Did you sleep all right?” 

“Mister King made breakfast, you should try it. It’s more delicious than yours.” 

“Is that so…” I peeked at Ares, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me, and whatever work he had been doing was suddenly useless. 

“Seems like Mr. King still has his… skills…” My eyes darkened as I thought of the way. his fingers worked me over multiple releases to the point of exhaustion. 

“What kind of skills?” 

I quickly broke focus. “Um.. cooking skills.” 

“He’s a better cook than you, then.” 

“Ouch…” 

242 Tom Feelings 

“Don’t worry, mommy, I still like your cooking.” 

“That’s right!” I growled as I tickled her, and she screamed and giggled. 

I scooped her up, and she curled in my arms, reveling in her laughter. I showered her face with kisses. 

“Stop, mommy, stop!” 

“Time to get ready!” 

“But we’re staying in, aren’t we?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“It’s a day off, right, Mister King?” she looked towards a smiling Ares. 

I finally saw my phone next to his, and it dawned on me that he must have done something. 

Great. 

A knock on the door distracted us, and Ares moved. 

“W–Wait!” I set Esme down and ran after him, but it was too late. 

Ares pried the door open, leaning against the door frame. 

“Oh, Mr. King.” 

“Sheriff!” I rose to my tiptoes just so I could poke my head for him to see. 

“Ms. Walker.” 

I ducked and went under Ares‘ arm to come forward. “Morning!” 

“Um, morning, I didn’t realize you had company.” 

“That’s err-” 

“Is there anything we can help you with, sheriff?” Ares asked. 

“I’m just here to check on Ms. Walker. There was an emergency call from your house.” “Oh, that!” I pitched discreetly using my hand to push Ares so that he could back up, but it seemed like I was trying to feel him up, and it made everything more awkward. I took my hand off and crossed them against my chest. I guess it was no use. Here I was with the new hottie in town with bed hair and me in his shirt. There was no use 

242 Torn Feelings 

putting two and two together. 

“It was a false alarm.” 

“False alarm?” 

“Yeah, butt dial. 

He nodded. “Okay. What about Reed? I was hoping he could help me fix-” 

“Gone.” 

I flinched at Ares‘ abrupt reply. 

“Gone?” he looked shocked. 

“He means… traveled! T–That’s what he means,” I assured him, and I sure hope that was the case. 

“Alright…” He tipped his hat. 

“Bye now!” I slammed the door. 

When I heard his retreating footsteps, I exhaled and faced Ares, already casually walking back to the living room. 

Seriously! 

I blocked his path. “What do you mean, gone?” 

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