O.

DAWN ATKINS POV

I looked up only to freeze as I came face to face with angry grey eyes staring at me. The longer I stared, the more I was convinced that there was a haze of red clouding over them. They were unique. Scratch that, he looked freeking unreal. No wonder everyone went so quiet all of a sudden. He was human tho. A very hot gorgeous package of sin. His jaw was sharp, and he had an athletic build. Not too buff to freak me out, and not too lean to appear thin.

He looked strong, powerful even. Everything about him screamed power and dominance. He had dark blue hair and his lips were red in contrast to his flawless pale skin. He was tall too and for the first time, I wanted nothing more than to pull him down towards me and get drunk on his lip.

He looked perfect and graceful but he was still glaring at me and the anger radiating in his grey eyes felt like it was seeping through my skin. I was not sure if I had finally gone crazy but I swore his eyes kept flickering from light grey to dark sliver and then red. I blinked in confusion.

"Follow me outside," he ordered in a deep voice that felt as if they were being whispered right between my ears causing a shiver to run down my spine. It felt like he was talking in my mind. I felt suddenly defensive.

"Excuse you?"

One of his eyebrows arched slowly. He looked taken aback and despite the weird situation, I had to say that whatever face he made, he made them sinfully sexy.

Everyone was practically still staring at us. I gave a reassuring smile and they jerked back to their business looking embarrassed, but that didn't stop them from glancing at us now and then.

He smirked, and my heart almost flipped inside my chest.

"Follow me, pretty one," he said in a more beguiling manner, the rough edge to his voice suggesting dark and erotic promises. I grabbed the counter hardly fighting myself against the pull of the handsome stranger.

"Am sorry but if you need coffee, maybe you should take a seat and Gracie here will take your orders." My voice came out shaky, and I clenched my fist.

"Interesting" he mused aloud, his eyes peering into mine.

I took a deep calming breath. He was too hot to be crazy. Gracie was still staring and if I didn't know better I would have been forced to think Mason was suddenly gay. He was staring at him the same way he did at me.

The guy suddenly turned and his gaze clashed with Mason's. Getting caught off guard, he started to blush like crazy. Oh well.

"I'll order coffee," he said over his shoulder. His side profile almost had me drooling. He smirked and turned to face me again.

"I won't make any scene here but know this..." he stopped, his eyes glancing down at my chest until his gaze leveled on my breast. My eyes widened before I figured out that he was just reading my name tag. "Dawn," he murmured, testing the name on his tongue.

His gaze fixed back on mine heatedly. "You. Are. Mine" he enunciated each word darkly making me almost fidget in my spot. I felt too hot suddenly. Surely I was not sexually attracted to a crazy psychopath. I didn't want to be the girl in novels who choose the bad guy all because he was hot.

He watched me squirm, a seductive smile playing on his lip. They contrast with the venom in his eyes. Stepping away from me, he walked towards the most secluded boot which was usually kept for Mr. I want 'silence' all the time. Gracie finally snapped out of her daze to look at me with crazy wide eyes.

"Did I just imagine all that just fucking happened or did it happen".

"I'm shocked too, but it did." I got out nervously as I tried to get my shaking hands under control. "Mason is going to jump his bones right about now".

"No not that. Fucking eww! I meant what he said to you. Oh my gosh!" She said, squashing her cheeks between her palms. "You're always so fucking lucky damn! I have never met a more handsome man whose body screams 'fuck me alive. Like what the actual fuck" she squealed excitedly.

"Stop exaggerating. There are a lot of good-looking people on earth, plus I think he might be a little crazy... Just go and take his order"

Gracie gasped. "I can't! Am going to faint" she got out in panic.

"It's your job Gracie, plus I don't like the way he's staring at me"

"Everyone always stares at you"

"Not now they're not" I pointed out and it was true. I looked down at my stubbed toe. I knew some things were not going to go right today.

He stayed until the closing hour and Mason was all over him but the guy indulged him too. He even flirted back.

I didn't understand what the dark feeling was that clouded my chest.

Questions all centered on him swirled around my head. Who was he? Was he just passing by? Was he gay? If he was, then why had he been all over me just some hours back?

His eyes were suddenly back on me and I hated to admit that he had my skin prickling with awareness of him as a man whenever his eyes connected with mine.

I was always weirded out or disgusted when guys stared at me but I couldn't find myself feeling either. I wanted him to stare at me with a deep kind of longing while waiting for me to give him my number. He wouldn't be getting it, but it didn't hurt to fantasize.

He still had the dangerous look in his eyes, and as I watched him, unable to look away, It felt like he wanted to murder me and yet protect me at the same time. It was even odder that I was trying to figure him out.

Mason stopped fawning over him long enough to help me take the new materials that were ordered for the cafe to the storage room.

Getting back, I glanced at where he was seated and was shocked to see that he was gone. I hadn't noticed any movement or doors opening.

Mason looked so disappointed when he came back and couldn't find the source of his distraction all day that I offered him a sweet smile as we both left the cafe after closing up.

Gracie had left early for personal reasons and I felt like something was off.

I got home, fished my keys out of my bag then stuck them into the keyhole. A sudden gust of wind blew across my cheek. I looked up at the sky, watching as lightning struck against the dark clouds. The sound of it rumbled violently.

I smiled, enjoying the beautiful display. I loved the storm, the sound of rain on rooftops, and window panes, and the scent of rain as it connected with the dust of the earth. I closed my eyes and took a deep whiff of the earthy smell.

I might not have nightmares tonight.

Entering my room, everything felt the same except for the howling wind outside. I was glad to be back at my haven as the rain started pouring not long after.

I took a warm shower and forced the thought of the strange guy out of my head. I was more worried for Gracie. She might be god knows where and was probably freaking out because she hated storms.

I put on my bathrobe, my feet padding against the floorboard as I looked around for my bag. It was on the bed. I ransacked through it for my phone.

"Looking for this" a very familiar deep voice whispered as lightning rents the sky, then a loud rumbling followed. I whirled around screaming, then stopped in panic.

Nightmares were terrifying but not more terrifying than someone real in a secluded space that could hurt you.

"How the hell did you get into my house" I screamed, instinctively grabbing my bathrobe closer. I have been harassed countless times but never in the comfort of my house. This was supposed to be my safe place.

"I was thirsty after waiting for so long. I came to claim my price. You have no idea how long I have searched for your blood Dawn Atkins. I would be the first to taste it and be the only one after"

I gaped at him. He was truly insane. "What the hell are you blabbing on about? You're a fucking psychopath so I suggest you get out of my house or I will call the cops" I threatened, trying to appear braver. Shit, he was with my phone.

"I suggest you stay still, Dawn. This doesn't have to hurt or take longer than it should. It will hurt more if you make me angrier than I already am." He warned in a voice hard as steel.

"Don't fucking come near me" I shouted and dashed towards the kitchen. I barely could grab the knife before I felt his hand on my arm. I winced in pain because of his vicious grip on my skin. He turned me around and my wrist was suddenly pinned up against the wall.

I hadn't been wrong about his strength, because try as I might, I could not move or push his hold. The fear that gripped me was so much that I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"You're the same as her! But I will not spare this time" he spoke slowly, enunciating each word darkly. His eyes clashed with mine, and I watched in horror as they turn red.

I screamed. This had to be another nightmare. I must have fallen asleep without knowing. The next thing I felt was excruciating pain as fangs dug deep into my skin. I felt the heat of his mouth against my neck as he sucked deeply.

It was unreal, yet so erotic that my hands gripped his dark shirt tightly as a wave of pleasure swept through me.

I bite my lips to stop the moan that threatened to escape. Black dots filled my vision and my knees gave out. I felt chilled to the bone. My heart skipped in my chest as my hold loosened and the pleasure waves died down. He continued to suck while I hung limp in his arms.

Well, there were worse ways to die.