Cado Read Free

what’s real and what’s not?” a male voice that sounded like pure decadence asked. It was the same voice from my dream, at least I thought it was.
    I sat up and finally took in my surroundings. My brain was moving at a molasses pace. The last thing I remembered was being at Club Elite and being beaten senseless…literally…by the kid. Now I was waking up, home, in my own bed, completely uninjured—with the golden god from the club? He stood a few feet away, in the corner of my room, his gaze boring into mine. I swallowed convulsively. “Oh shit,” I muttered. “I’m in the hospital and on some really strong drugs.”
    “Am I to assume that every time I appear to you I will be associated with drugs?” The golden god’s crystal blue eyes sparkled with mirth. “Although I’m already aware how addicting I am.”
    “If you’re not a drug induced hallucination, then explain the rest.” I was suddenly aware of the not so subtle pulsing between my thighs. Even if he was a figment of my imagination, the next session with my battery operated boyfriend would thank me for inventing him.
    “You may call me Lucian.” He strode towards me slowly, almost seductively, but not quite since he was too predatory somehow. “The reason for the rest—” His full perfect mouth tipped up in an arrogant smile. “—I saved you, and then I healed you.”
    I rolled my eyes. Now I definitely knew he was a drug-induced hallucination. But before I could make my declarations out loud he spoke again. “I’m not human, nor have I ever been human. I have the power to do many, many amazing things.”
    I flopped back on my bed and let my eyes slide shut. “Yeah, sure, whatever.”
    Lucian’s hot breath fanned across my cheek as he was suddenly close enough to whisper in my ear. “From the very first moment I laid eyes on you I’ve been intrigued by you.” I inhaled sharply when he nipped at my ear lobe. “You and I…” His large warm hand skimmed over my hardened nipples and I moaned softly. “We see humanity for what it really is. You seek to punish in the way I do. I will see you again…very soon.” Then his touch was gone and when I sat up, my eyes fluttering open, he was gone as well.
    Whatever kind of drugs the hospital gave me, when I woke up… I definitely need to get some more.
     

 
3

     
    Someone was incessantly pounding on my head, and I wanted to kill them for it. Or at least that’s what I balefully thought as I was swept away from my ocean paradise dream where Lucian was worshipping me with his tongue on our own private beach. In actuality, someone was knocking on my front door. Or trying to beat it down. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure which one by the way the sound was reverberating within my skull.
    “Okay, okay—I’m coming!” I shouted as I stumbled from my bed, my top sheet catching my foot and nearly causing me to face plant. I peered through the peephole and grimaced. It was a cop. The curvature of the image made the badge on his shirt protrude in a very cartoonish way, as if it was the most prominent thing about him. Steeling myself, I swung the door open and grinned amiably. “Yes?”
    The tall, broad-shouldered Pittsburgh Police officer’s gaze slid down over me and he cleared his throat. “Ummm…ma’am… you’re naked.”
    “What?” I glanced down at my…yes, very naked body. “Shit.” I pushed the door shut, which he caught with his foot. “I-I’ll be right back.” I dashed to my bedroom and pulled on the first items I came across, a black pair of jeans and black t-shirt. I forewent the bra, but it didn’t really matter, I was just trying to cover myself up. It wasn’t like I was embarrassed to be naked in front of a strange man, after all I did it for a living, but I didn’t want to get arrested for public indecency or something.
    When I exited my room and headed back to speak with the cop, I noticed he’d moved into my foyer, if the small dingy area could be