The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) (31 page)

“She does have two,” Dominick admitted, “but
one’s married, and the other’s engaged.”  The pair groaned.  “Don’t voice your
disappointment too loudly or Kiri’s liable to tell your girlfriends back
there.”  They didn’t need to turn to feel the icy stares of Jarissa and Psych
upon their backs, nodding to their friend’s advice.  “Seriously, guys,
Julianna’s sisters aren’t like her anyway.  She’s one-of-a-kind, just like your
present companions are to you.”

“Maybe,” sighed Buddy, “but not all of us can
take our girlfriends for walks on rainbows.”

“Or toast marshmallows with them on frozen lakes,
while friendly polar bears watch.”

“Or float in large sky bubbles with them, while
lights, music, and fireworks are everywhere.”

“
Excuse
me?” Zantarl interrupted
loudly in disbelief.

Dominick shrugged nonchalantly.  “I’m a
dreamphaser.  When I want to share magical evenings with the woman I love,
you’d better believe they’re going to be amazing.”

“I can see you like to impress
her with your creativity.  But, son, are you sure this is really love you feel
for her, or just a means to show off?”

Dominick shook his head.  “No,
Zan, it’s definitely nothing like that,” he said seriously.  “My feelings for
Julianna and hers for me are very real, all dreams aside.  The dreams just
enable us to have dates that go beyond the ordinary.  Besides, we do regular
things too, like going skating, and going to a carnival on another occasion. 
She especially liked it when I brought her to a Renaissance Faire, Chavernos
style.  Not to mention, she’s a fairly good card player.  And from our
conversations, I’ve probably learned more about her in these weeks than those
who’ve known her for a lifetime.  We just wish we could be together in reality,
instead of just dreams.”

Zantarl smiled.  “Well then, I stand corrected. 
When you put it that way, it does sound like you really love her.  She sounds
like quite an enchantress.”

Dominick’s features softened.  “Chavernos knows
she does enchant me,” he murmured, conjuring up her smiling image in his mind’s
eyes.  “But in reality, she’s still an innocent of her world.  I could sense
that from the beginning.  She was hurt emotionally by a former boyfriend called
Roger Collins.  After he betrayed her with another woman, she was left alone
and lonely.”

“Until you came along to
rescue
her,” declared Buddy.

Inferno shouldered him so sharply, he was nearly
knocked from his chair.

“Don’t make it sound like that,”
warned Dominick.  “I love Julianna very much, and I won’t tolerate any insults
about her or us.  She has a good heart, which is as loving, loyal, and giving
as any man could hope for in a woman.  Circumstance just left her an unhappy
soul craving to feel loved by someone, and to give her love freely without fear
of rejection.  It’s by the luck of the stars that we found one another.”

“Just like a fairy tale,” chuckled Riff, causing
all to turn towards his table, unaware he’d been listening in.  Fortunately, he
was on his own tonight.

Dominick’s expression darkened
slightly with apprehension.  Over the past weeks, his brother had traveled to
the other side of Chavernos, and obviously returned without notice.  Knowing
how dubious Riff’s reputation had been in the past regarding women in the
dream-state—including some of Dominick’s own liaisons—the others could fully
understand his wariness.

“Leave it alone, Riff,” he replied, turning away.

His brother shrugged indifferently, gesturing for
Zantarl to get him a drink.  “You ought to stop wasting all your time on dream
women, and try the ones of reality for a change.  There’s a world of difference
when you’re not worried your companion’s going to disappear by waking up.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dominick replied dryly.

Unfortunately, his determined silence only piqued
Riff’s curiosity over Julianna.  Knowing how close-mouthed his brother could be
prompted him to rub his chin thoughtfully.  There were of course... other ways
to find things out.

“Well, I’ll leave you to your
important
chats,” Riff told the group, picking up his prepared drink.  “As for me, I’d
best go talk to Kiri, lest she brain me for not greeting her properly upon
returning.  See you guys later, I hope.”

“‘Bye, Riff,” Inferno spoke for the rest.

Dominick looked after his brother worriedly.  “I
don’t trust him,” he whispered.  “Riff never leaves so amiably without a
reason.”

“Don’t be paranoid,” laughed Buddy.  “After all,
he
is
still your brother, remember?”

“Not to mention, the son of Discord,
remember
?”
Dominick mocked.  “Don’t get me wrong, my father has his good points too, but
there are times when I think I’m not related to them at all.”

Zantarl and the others silently agreed on this
point.

*****

Thank heaven she could leave Almira and work
behind after five!

To curb Julianna’s daydreaming thoughts, Almira
had dumped a heap of correspondence on her desk to be typed up.  Add that to
making ten copies of each, followed by mailing them to every address from here to
Osh Kosh, while juggling the nonstop phone calls and clients who walked in...

It added up to one tired worker,
thankful to be home.

One who was even more grateful
that night had finally arrived.

Julianna stretched languorously in bed as the
stars came out to shine through her window, wondering what whirlwind encounter
Dominick would show her this night.

The memories of the past weeks always made her
smile.

Life with Dominick had certainly been
anything
but dull.  Thanks to him, she’d gained both happiness and confidence in how she
viewed life and love now.  She believed in love again, and wasn’t afraid of it
this time, and the mixture of romance and companionship was wonderful. 
Something only he inspired in her.

She’d equally enjoyed his teachings of things
such as dancing, skating, card playing, horseback riding, sailing, and even a
bit of fencing.  He was all she’d ever wanted in a friend, a companion, a
lover... and whatever else might be stronger.

Leaning back against the pillows, Julianna shut
her eyes, content with the knowledge that Dominick would soon be with her.  He
might even be here now in his astral form, awaiting her secretly.  Sighing with
a blissful smile, she had no idea that the presence in her room now wasn’t
Dominick, but his curious and grinning brother instead.

How fortunate that Dominick had
mentioned the city where she lived to the others, which he’d managed to
overhear when he returned to his table, seemingly distracted by other people. 
To find the precise location of her home; however, he’d had to wait until his
brother dreamphased.  Once he did, Riff simply followed him secretly in his
astral form to learn how to get there.  From that point, he’d arranged in
advance for a suitable distraction to prompt Dominick’s return to Chavernos, in
order to delay his brother’s arrival tonight.  After all, how else could he
learn more of Julianna?

Was she thinking of meeting her familiar lover?
he wondered, gazing at her peaceful smile.  No, more likely, she was just
looking forward to a night of romance in general.  But no matter, by the end of
this night, he’d find out just what had attracted his brother to this
innocently slumbering woman.

And then, he’d find out just how
‘innocent’ and ‘in love’ this Julianna really was.

Julianna surveyed the scene about her
with curiosity and confusion.  Admittedly, Dominick had taken them to some
unusual places before, but this one really puzzled her.  She seemed to be in an
office building, dressed in a gray business suit, in the middle of a hallway
where several people quickly brushed past her.

He must be here somewhere
, she decided, walking down the
corridor to glance at each door’s nameplate, searching for his own.  She found
one plaque that read ‘Mr. Westbrooke’.  A wry smile curled across her mouth, as
she hoped he wasn’t going to demand she call him
that
tonight
after all their time together.

Mr. Westbrooke indeed!

Knocking on the closed door, she
wasn’t too surprised when it opened of its own accord, revealing someone’s arm
resting on a large chair that had its back turned to her.  So Dominick was
going to play the corporate executive type tonight, she thought in amusement. 
Well, maybe she could erase any thoughts of business he might have.

Using a quick concentration technique
that Dominick had shown her one night, she altered her outfit to transform it
into a sexy dress of a pretty, shimmering scarlet.  Her shoes were now a
matching red with reasonable heels.

Walking quietly towards the desk
before her, she sat upon it, leaning forward provocatively with a smile.  “Your
secretarial ‘lady in red’ is here to assist you, sir,” she said seductively.

The chair swiveled around, revealing
not Dominick, but a man who resembled him, except for being a bit older and
having green eyes.  The man gave her a lazy smile, steepling his hands as he
appraised her, lingering on the added view the scoop-necked dress allowed.

Only a glimpse, since she blushed
more crimson than her attire and stood instantly.  “You’re not Dominick!” she
protested, backing up.

“Really?” chuckled Riff, rubbing his
chin thoughtfully.  “Hmmm, I wonder what gave me away this time.”

“Where is Mr. Westbrooke?” Julianna
persisted.

Riff gestured with open arms, never
once losing his expression of amusement.  “Right here, darlin’,” he told her
smiling.  “I’m Mr. Westbrooke.”

“Liar,” she spat, turning to leave. 
The door shut unceremoniously in her face, causing her to whip about.  “How
dare you!” she exclaimed.  “You have no right to keep me here, when I’m
expecting someone else!”

“All you asked for was Mr.
Westbrooke,” he retorted, walking over to her.  As he advanced, she retreated,
until her back was to the door and his arms were on either side of her against
the wall.  “You’ve found me,” he said in a low voice.  “And may I say, I most
certainly approve of my new secretary and her present state of attire.”

Ducking down as he leaned forward,
Julianna deftly stepped away from him again, wondering what had happened to
Dominick, but more conscious of the need to stay away from this stranger. 
Turning about to face him so he couldn’t surprise her, she eyed him shakily.

“I’m not your secretary, and you’re
not Dominick Westbrooke,” she said flatly.  “So just who the hell are you?”

“Someone who’s heard some interesting
stories about you,” replied Riff, backing her against the desk.  As she
remained frozen, his hand lightly brushed her arm.  “Very interesting in
fact.”  She shied away from his touch, but his arms surrounded her on both
sides of the desk, leaning forward so she couldn’t move away.  “Since we’re to
be working so closely together, why don’t you show me a sample of your...
skills?”

As he smiled seductively, Julianna
slapped him soundly in the face.  “I don’t know who you are,” she hissed, “but
I’m
not
that kind of woman, and certainly not with you!”

“But you are for Dominick?” he asked,
clasping her wrist to pull her closer.  At her surprised gasp, his gaze
softened slightly.  “Romancing on rainbows, flying in starlit bubbles, and no
doubt much more.”  He stopped upon seeing her face drain of color.  “Oh, come
now, we’re both adults here.  And I have to say, as a fellow dreamphaser, I
admire both of your creativity.  But even Dominick’s imagination has limits,
whereas I could show you things he’s never even thought of before.”

He tried to lean closer, but she held
him back at arm’s length.  “Where is Dominick?” she demanded, disturbed by this
stranger’s knowledge of their time together.  Receiving only silence, she
continued, “Look, Mr.
Imposter
Westbrooke, either you tell me
where the
real
Dominick Westbrooke is, or I’ll search for him
myself.”

At her words, Riff’s eyes hardened
with contempt.  Never before had a female spurned him so backhandedly.

“You’re an infuriating woman,” he
said in a low voice.  “And if this venom is common for your attitude, it only
makes me wonder why Dominick keeps coming back to you.  Are you so good in the
damned bedroom?”

Blushing furiously, Julianna slapped
him again, sliding away from him while he was distracted to run towards the
door.  As she turned the handle to open it, Riff reached out to slam it shut
again, grabbing her by the arm and spinning her about to embrace her.

“I’m warning you, if you don’t let me
go right now, Dominick will make you suffer for it,” she hissed, choking down
her fear to let anger rise to the surface, struggling futilely against the
tight hold of his arms.  “Get your hands off of me!” she yelled finally.

Riff appeared to consider this for a
brief moment, but then shook his head.  “No, I don’t think I want to just yet,”
he replied, backing her against the door again.  “After all, in spite of your
attitude, you are most fetching.”