The Devil's Dream: A Dark Romance (Dark Romance Novel Book 1) (5 page)

Chapter Nine—Kiana

Kiana could barely hold herself up. She wiped a hand across her face and blinked at her laptop screen. She closed her eyes, remembering the full night of sleep she had gotten on her first night of the sleep study. Aside from being inappropriately handled by the man who was supposed to help her, the night of sleep had been pure bliss. She had felt energized the next day and had gotten a load of work out of the way. Now, she was back to square one, falling apart and incapable of working.

She had no one to blame but herself. For the past three nights of the study, she had been up, waiting for Stavros to come to her. The first night, she hadn’t taken the meds because she had been drinking. The other two nights, she had pretended to take them. She was determined to be conscious when Stavros did come to her. But for each of the three nights, her door hadn't opened once. She had only seen him the mornings after when he made his rounds. She grunted. What would she have done if he did come to her room, jump up and say
Ah-ha, I knew it
? She laughed and sat back in her chair. “What the hell am I doing?”

Hours ticked by, and all she had done so far was edit one page of a document. “Christ, I won’t be able to pay my rent this month.” She had already lost two clients. “Rent, utilities, student loans, car payment, food…” she ticked off the list of things that she wouldn't be able to afford if she didn’t get her shit together and do her job properly. Anxiety welled up, tightening her chest. She moaned in distress. For a minute, she considered calling Jasmine.
Hell no
. The only thing her sister would do would try to goad her into talking about her experience in their stepfather’s house after she had taken off. She was convinced that talking about it would help to relieve Kiana’s anxiety and insomnia. In Kiana’s opinion, if Jasmine had cared enough, she wouldn’t have left her in hell to face the devil alone. So she had no right to hear about it.

She took deep breaths, attempting to calm herself. The walls started to close in. Jumping up from her chair, she grabbed her handbag and ran to the door. She wasn’t sure where she was going; all she knew was that she needed to get out of her apartment.

She found herself in front of Stavros’s office building, staring at the entrance. As if compelled, she took slow steps toward the door. She passed the elevator and made her way up the stairs. She glanced around the waiting area, which was thankfully empty. Marie glanced up. “Ms. Taylor, hello. How may I help you?” Her brows furrowed in confusion.

“I know I’m not supposed to be here until tonight, but I need to speak with Dr. Kane. I’m sorry for just dropping by without an appointment. I just really need some help.”

Marie took in her distressed state and smiled gently. “It’s no problem. Dr. Kane is with someone at the moment, but I’m sure he won’t mind seeing you.”

“Thank you.” Kiana took a seat and waited, fidgeting and biting her nails, watching Stavros’s office door.

Marie shot her concerned looks every now and then but didn’t ask any questions. Her anxiety started to mount again.
I shouldn't have come here.
Seeing Stavros might only serve to upset me even more.
She stood up, ready to make a dash for the door. “Ms. Taylor?” His voice stopped her in her tracks.

Turning around, she stared at him. “Uh, hi Dr. Kane. I um stopped by… I’m sure you’re busy, and anyway, I feel much better now. See you tonight.”

“Not so fast, Ms. Taylor.”
Damn it
. She turned around again. He pierced her with cool, gray eyes. “You don’t look well. Please, step into my office.”

Marie nodded encouragingly. Now, she had to go in so as not to look like an insane person. She sighed softly. As she stepped forward, a middle aged man emerged from Stavros’s office, looking just as frazzled as she was. “Thank you, Dr. Kane. I feel so much better now.” Kiana watched him shake the man’s hand.
Hmm, so he is the real deal, after all
. A bit of her suspicion about him dissipated. Brushing past him she dashed into his office. She heard him say, “Marie, push back the rest of my appointments about an hour or so back.”

He entered seconds later and pulled the door closed, twisting the lock. She gulped, wondering what need there was to lock the door. “You didn’t have to push your appointments back. I can go. I’m pretty sure I can’t afford an hour with you anyway.”

He stared at her, tilting his head. “I wouldn’t turn away someone who needs help because of money, Kiana. Have a seat.”

She sat down, clutching her bag to her chest. “Thanks.” She watched his graceful movements as he sauntered toward her. Her breath hitched, thinking that he was going to touch her. But he stopped and pulled a chair, placing it in front of her instead.

He sat down and smiled encouragingly. “How can I help you?”

She looked at him strangely. He really was professional psychiatrist.
Of course he is, dumb-dumb
.
Why would he have a damn office and a clinic?
She nearly smiled when her subconscious emerged to berate her. She was just confused by his many dimensions. He was way too sexy, unlike anything she had pictured a psychiatrist to be. He owned a night club which he ran some other business out of. At least, that’s what she assumed when she witnessed him and several men disappearing behind a door the other night. He seemed dark on some occasions, genuinely caring on some, seductive and inappropriate on almost all, and now he was just friendly and professional. She frowned.

Who was Stavros Kane, really?

“I know you didn’t just come here to stare at me, Kiana.”

“Um, I’m not even sure why I’m here. I mean, I know why, I’m not sure how I ended up here.” She sighed, “Am I making any sense?”

He smiled, “Perfect sense.”

She let her guard down, relaxing a bit. Putting her handbag down beside her, she found his gaze. “I was trying to work, but I couldn’t focus. I guess I had a panic attack. The walls of my apartment began to close in, and I ran, and I found myself in front of your building.”

“I see. Maybe, subconsciously, you knew I was the right person to come to.”

Or maybe it’s because I wanted to see you
. She swallowed. “Well, I did hear that you're the best psychiatrist in the state.”

“What were you thinking about when you began to feel anxious?”

She sat back in the comfortable chair. “I was editing a piece of writing—that’s what I do for a living, I’m a professional editor. Anyway, I wasn’t making any progress, and I started to wonder how I'll pay my rent and the other pile of bills if I can’t do my job. I have already lost clients. I’m going to lose them all, soon.”

He said nothing, just observed her closely.

“I thought of calling my sister, but I knew all she would do is bring up the past.”

His brows lifted. “And that’s something you don’t want to talk about?”

She shifted in her seat uneasily. After a pause, she shook her head, “No, I don't feel comfortable talking about it.”

“Not even with your sister?”

“Especially not with her.” She couldn’t cover up the contempt that dripped from her words.

He rubbed his chin. “Don’t you have anyone else you can talk to? Maybe another family member, perhaps?”

“There’s only my mother and stepfather,” the two names left a bitter taste in her mouth. She laughed bitterly, “It wouldn’t make any sense to confide in the people who ruined my life, would it?” His brows shot up, and she frowned, annoyed with herself for letting that piece of information slip.
Shit.
She averted her gaze. “I should go now. You should probably see to your real patients.”

“You
are
my real patient, Kiana.”

“I think participating in your sleep study is a bit different.” She stood. “I’ve wasted enough of your time.”

“We have an entire hour.”

“Well, at the rate I’m going with my work, I can only pay you for ten minutes.”

“Sit down, Kiana.”

She sighed, “Can’t you take a hint, doc? I don’t want to talk about my family or my childhood.”

“We can talk about something else.”

Her eyes narrowed, “Okay. If we can talk about you, I’ll stay.”

His lips lifted. “It doesn’t work like that. You came to me for help.”

“And I got it. I vented a bit, and now I feel better. Thank you.”

He frowned. Why didn’t he just let her go? For some reason, he wanted her to stay. “We can talk about me, fine. What would you like to know?”

She grinned, and sat back down. “How long have you been a psychiatrist?”

“Ten years.”

“And you are how old?”

“Thirty-seven.”

She cleared her throat, wanting to get to the real questions. Reading her mind he said, “Go ahead and ask me what you really want to ask me.”

Biting her lip, she blurted out. “Why haven’t you come to my room?”

“I beg your pardon? I come to your room every morning. I visit all of my patients every morning.”

She flushed, “I mean, in the night. You came the first night and you…”

“I what?”

She studied him. His expression gave nothing away.
So, he is still denying it
. “You- we, you touched me.”

His brows furrowed, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” She stared at him in disbelief. “Is that why you haven’t been taking your meds? Have you been staying up, waiting for me? Did you enjoy your fantasy so much that you want it to become reality?”

Her eyes wide open in shock. His lips curled wickedly, and the dark-mixed-with-seductive Stavros appeared. “I-I have been taking the meds, and I didn’t dream about you having sex with me.”

He chuckled, “If you took the meds, you wouldn’t have laid in bed for the past two nights feigning sleep.”

Her mouth dropped open, “How do you—”

“I watch you every night, twisting and turning, your brain waves and heartbeat erratic. I above all others know when someone is faking sleep. Why is that Kiana? Have you been thinking about my hands on you?”

Her body temperature skyrocketed. Becoming flustered, she stammered, “N-no, of c-course not. Why would I be thinking about that?”

“Maybe because you liked it the first time, when I had you strapped to the very same bed you sleep in at night. I made sure you got the same room.”

“I never said I liked it.”

“The way your body reacts to my touch says it all.” Desire pooled in her core. She gulped, folding her legs and squeezing her thighs tightly together. “Do you want me to touch you again?” Her eyes shifted to the door and back to him, wanting to say 'no.' But she did want him touch her. “Marie won’t hear a thing if you promise not to scream.”

Her eyes widened. “I c-can’t.”

“You want to. Why deny yourself the pleasure?” He rose from his chair. “Come here.”

Her hear pounded in her chest. She found herself walking to him, hypnotized by his eyes boring into hers. She stopped in front of him to gaze upward, holding his gaze. Was he going to kiss her? Her lips parted, and he smiled. “You want me to kiss you,” he stated. “Why?”

“Because I long to feel your lips on me,” the word tumbled from her lips before she had a chance to stop them.

Chapter Ten—Kiana

Stavros’s fingers bunched in Kiana’s hair, urging her closer. Warm lips covered her and moved with fervor. She kissed him back with enthusiasm, even though she suspected she was getting herself more entangled in whatever sick game he was playing. She should have walked out when he denied touching her in her sleep. He was twisted, and she knew it, but her traitorous body wanted everything he had to offer.
It’s ok, I’m just playing along
. If they got more intimate, she'd just have a better opportunity to find out more about him.

Winding her arms around his neck, she pressed her body closer to his. Walking her backward, he lifted her onto his desk, stepping between her thighs. He broke the kiss. She stared up at him, chest heaving. “We shouldn’t do this in your office.”

He kept silent and began to unbutton her blouse. “This is what you came here for.”

She gasped, “What? I most certainly did
not
. Don’t flatter yourself, Dr. Kane.”

He chuckled, unmoved. “Deep down, you came to me hoping that I would kiss you, touch you, and fuck you.”

Anger reared its ugly head. Slapping his hand away, she attempted to scoot off of his desk. “If that’s what you think, you are sadly mistaken. If I wanted sex, I could have much more easily called someone else.”

Blocking her escape, his lips pursed. “You have a significant other? You told me you slept alone during your interview.”

She almost said 'no,' but decided to goad him. “I do. His name is Marcus,” she stated, remembering the man she had met in a bar a week ago. She prayed that he couldn’t tell she was lying. “And I
usually
sleep alone. We don’t live together.” I didn’t come to you for sex since I can get it anytime I want.

His lips curved upward. “So can I. And I want it now, with you.”

Oh dear
. When he bent his head to kiss the sensitive spot on her neck, she whimpered. She could feel the moisture seeping into her underwear. Large hands palmed her now-exposed breast, rolling her nipples between lean fingers. She was lost. All logical thought seeped from her brain. Seeing her melt before him, he smiled with satisfaction. Loosening her belt, he peeled her tight jeans down her thighs and dropped them on the chair. Reaching for the flimsy material of her panties he tugged, ripping them from her body. She gasped when he held up the scrap of lace. “Hey, what did you do that for?”

“It was in my way.”

She now sat on his desk, her legs open, totally exposed. He stepped closer, his hand reaching down to brush against her mound. “Tell me, sweetness, do you like things rough?”

She shivered, bile rising in her stomach. She tried to shield the pain that flickered in her eyes, but he caught it.

“Don’t call me that,” she whispered.

Taken aback, he searched her face for answers. When she refused to look at him, he grasped her chin, forcing her head up. Her eyes pleaded with him not to ask. Shoving his perverse ideas aside he stroked her cheek gently.
Next time
, he promised silently. When he had her in his bed, he would show her his darker side, and she would love every minute of it.

Kiana held his gaze, confused by the instant change that had flared up in him. She had seen a fiendish look on his face, but now all she saw was gentleness. She was tempted to ask if he was bipolar. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes. She soon felt his hand disappear. Her eyes flew open when she heard something being torn. They widened a fraction at the sight of him sheathing himself with a condom. Was she really going to let this happen?

He looked up, observing the fear on her face. Clenching his jaw, he decided to play the gentleman—something that he really wasn’t. “Do you want to stop?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She took a deep breath and tried again. “I don’t have much experience.”

He arched an eyebrow. He knew she wasn’t a virgin. He’d had a taste of her, after all, and she had a boyfriend. “How inexperienced are you?”

“There’s only been one person before.”

He assumed she spoke of her current lover. He brushed his lips across hers. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

There was a brief pause before she gave her succinct consent: “Okay.”

Stavros’s eyes narrowed, not sure whether it was relief that he saw on her face. He sighed softly, glad that she didn’t stop him. Even though he couldn’t introduce his games to her yet, he still wanted her, and he would take her anyway he could get her. “Open your legs wider,” he ordered. She obeyed, and he pulled her bottom to the edge of the desk, entering her in a swift motion. She nearly cried out, but a hand clamped over her mouth. “Remember, no noise.”

She nodded, and he dropped his hand, wearing his usual sinful grin. He pulled back and plunged into her again, filling her completely. He stilled for a moment, reveling in the feel of her muscles gripping him tightly.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered.

Pulling out of her, he heard her whimper a protest. “Stand up and turn around.”

Sliding off of the desk, her feet touched the floor and she turned away from him.”

“Bend over.”

She shuddered, the soft command sending excitement pulsing through her. He caressed her bottom and moved up to grab her hips, pushing into her from behind. “Oh my god,” she moaned.

Taking a fistful of her hair, he pulled her up to whisper, “Do you like the feeling of me being inside of you?” He pulled her head back roughly.

She winced. “Ouch, oh. yes!”

He loosened his fingers and gave himself a mental kick. He had briefly forgotten that he was supposed to be gentle. He couldn’t scare her away just yet. “I’m sorry,” he pushed her hair aside to trail kisses on the nape of her neck. Continuing his moderate strokes, he fought to hold onto his control.

She moaned with each movement he made. Wanting more, she pushed her hips back.  She could tell he was holding back. He increased his pace a notch sliding in out and out of her, bringing her higher and higher to ecstasy. “
Stavros,
” she breathed softly as her muscles spasmed around him and she groaned, overcome with pleasure. He bit back his groan and kept plunging into her. Reaching a hand down, he slid it between her legs to flick her clitoris. She arched her back and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck.

“I want you to come for me again," he breathed in her ears.  With two more powerful thrusts, she crumbled to pieces, her eyes rolling over. Her knees buckled, but he held her against him. She heard him moan and felt his large frame shake. Their heavy breathing mingled in the silence of the office.

Kiana blinked rapidly, coming back to earth. She craned her neck to look up at him in wonder. How did he get her to orgasm multiple times, and so close together? He gave her a knowing smile. She hated that he always knew what she was thinking.
Freak
, she thought, irritated.

“I do so enjoy our little therapy sessions, don’t you, Kiana?” She avoided his gaze, her cheeks flaming. Her sexual desire had dissipated, leaving behind shame. She glanced at the door, wondering if Marie had heard anything. “She didn’t.”

She let out a growl, “Stop that!” Reaching for her discarded items of clothes, she glared at him.

“What have I done now?”

“Stop reading my mind,” she hissed.

He smirked. “You know that mind reading is science fiction, Kiana.”

“Well, you always seem to answer questions that I don’t ask out loud. It’s fucking annoying.”  She held up her torn underwear between her fingers.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, but there was nothing sheepish about the look in his eyes.

“I need a bathroom.”

He pointed to a closed door and she rushed toward it, eager to get away from him. Closing the door, she leaned against it.
Oh shit, I just had sex with him for real
. But the last time was real, wasn’t it?
But he denies that it was
. It was possible that he was telling the truth. But why would he have had her fingernail marks on his skin? It was hard to picture the gentleman she had just fucked doing something so vile. But he wasn’t always that way; he was the most mercurial person she had ever met. She clutched her head with both hands, not sure what to believe anymore.

She glanced at herself in the mirror, noting her flushed skin and tousled hair. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly satisfied. What if others could see it too? Splashing water on her face, she attempted to get rid of her pink-tinged skin. She combed her fingers through her hair, fixing the mane as best she could. “I can’t believe I just had sex with my shady psychiatrist,
on his desk
,” she grumbled. Worst of all, she had
liked
it.

Stepping out of the bathroom minutes later, she spotted Stavros lounging in his chair, completely relaxed and wearing a smug expression. “We’ve still got ten minutes.”

Kiana rolled her eyes, wishing she could slap the smirk from his face. “Do you do this often? Fuck your patients on your desk?”

His lips lifted slightly. “Only the women of appropriate age,” he drawled.

She scoffed, “You’re disgusting.”

“Are you saying that because you truly think so, or because you’re jealous?”

She huffed and marched to the chair she had occupied earlier to snatch up her handbag. “Why the hell would I be jealous?”

He shrugged. “You tell me.”

“I could care less what you do with other women.” She marched to the door, aggravated that she was, in fact, jealous. She hated that he made other women feel the way he just made her feel.

Before she could open the door, a palm rested against it. Stavros peered down at her, amused. “Then why are you so angry, Kiana?”

She folded her arms. “I’m not. I’m just angry with myself for letting you touch me again.”

He grinned. “It won’t be long before you admit that you like it.”

“Whatever.”

He chuckled, “See you tonight.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” she murmured, pulling open the door. “Thank you so much for all of your help, Dr. Kane,” she said loudly, for Marie’s benefit.

“It was my
pleasure
, Ms. Taylor,” he drawled.

Kiana grounded her teeth and forced out a smile. “Bye, Marie. Thanks again.”

“No problem dear. I’m glad you feel better. See you tonight.”

She maintained her smile until she reached the outside of the office. Her shoulders sagged, and she let out a breath. She had serious doubts about coming back tonight. Maybe the sleep study was doing her more harm than good. But she knew her curiosity would get the better of her. She would find herself back here tonight and attempt to solve the mystery that was Stavros Kane.