Read Online Nightmares from Within by Jessica Prince - Free Book Online Page A

small amount of blush, a touch of eye shadow, mascara and nude gloss.
    I paired the dress with the only pair of shoes I had that weren’t Chucks or flip flops; a pair of tan sling back, peep-toe heels that also—not surprisingly—came from Benny. I’d been pacing the length of my apartment for the past ten minutes and nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a knock on the door. Other than the pizza or Chinese takeout delivery guys no one really ever knocked on my door.
    I opened the door and my breath caught in my lungs. The man standing in front of me was utter perfection. His black dress slacks hugged his muscular thighs in a way that should have been illegal. He wore a dove gray button down with the top two buttons undone under a black suit jacket. Visions of me licking the small amount of skin peeking out from his collar swam through my head, causing a full body shiver.
    I was pulled out of my daze when he finally spoke. “Wow. Taylor, you look amazing.”
    I ducked my head and fiddled with the locket around my neck. “Uh…thanks,” I said in a quiet voice. “You look really nice too.”
    He placed a finger under my chin and lifted my face so that I met those hazel eyes head on. “Do you have any clue how sexy you are when you blush?”
    My eyes grew wide and my lips parted to respond, but I couldn’t form words. I’d never had a man call me sexy before, especially a man that was the walking, breathing definition of the word itself. “Please don’t hide it from me.”
    I swallowed hard, gave a small nod and whispered, “Okay.”
    A smirk spread across his lips before he said, “I kind of like that I have that affect on you because the feeling’s mutual.”
    I’d never done it before, but I was pretty sure I just swooned. “I affect you?” I asked, surprised.
    “Crimson, you have no idea.”
    He reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear before trailing his fingers across my shoulder. His fingers whispered down my arm to my hand where he laced them together and gave it a little tug. “You ready to go?”
    “Yeah, just give me a second.” I pulled the door open a little further for him to step in as I went to grab my clutch.
    “This apartment’s amazing,” he pointed out, as he took in the surroundings.
    It really was.
    If my parents were going to insist on paying for me to stay out of their lives then I figured I might as well live nicely. Granite countertops and dark, hardwood spread throughout the space. It wasn’t a huge apartment so I had it furnished with the most comfortable, plush furniture I could find. But I didn’t want to get into all the reasons why a waitress at a diner would live in such an expensive place so I just said, “family money,” and left it at that, hoping he’d catch on as I guided him out the door and locked it behind me.
    He took my hand again as he led me to the elevator and I was surprised to find that the contact didn’t bother me in the slightest. It didn’t feel like I’d just met Jordan the day before. I felt a sense of comfort when I was around him. He was the only person I’d ever met that could make me feel safe. As we waited for the elevator, I decided to try and dig for information again. “So are you finally going to let me in on where we’re going?”
    I saw him smile and shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “You really don’t like surprises, do you?” he asked with a laugh.
    I smiled and shook my head, “Not really.”
    “You like steak?”
    The safety I always felt in his presence was beginning to have a calming effect and I was actually able to relax. “If it’s cooked right.”
    “Well then you’re in luck,” he responded as he led me into the waiting elevator. “Canlis makes the best filet mignon you’ll ever have.”
    “That’s where we’re going?” I’d never been there, but I knew it wasn’t cheap and it was pretty difficult to get a table at the last minute.
    We exited the elevator and he placed his