Chapter 7 - Lex

I step out of the elevator that leads straight into my duplex penthouse on the 80th floor of an exclusive residential apartment complex in Billionaires' Row. I knew she'd turn me down, but I didn't know it would hurt. I meant what I said to her though. I am not going to give up. The only way to get her out of my system is to sleep with her.

The guys are all meeting at The Sitting Duck, but I just don't feel like going tonight. The motion sensing lights come on as I walk into the living room and the automatic blinds slide up. I fix myself a scotch on the rocks and plop down on the patent leather couch. The large windows facing the couch show a gorgeous view of the New York skyline at night. I think of Nic and her penchant for the views. It makes me smile, but it also makes me realize that I'm thinking of her again.

No other woman has gotten under my skin the way Nic has. She's like a parasite that has colonized my brain! My dragon growls within me when I think of her that way.

"Alright, alright, I am sorry. She's not a parasite. She's a beautiful, extremely sexy sex angel who refuses to have sex with me!" I say out loud, rubbing a hand over my face. "But, I have a plan. She won't know what hit her," I reassure my dragon rather overconfidently, knowing he'll be able to see through me.

"Right. Cold shower followed by a night of fitful sleep for us, buddy." I finish the drink in one gulp and head into the bathroom.

After a quick shower, I get into the bed. From the bedside table, I pick up a tech magazine. Although I'm flipping through the pages, the words are not really making sense. I plow on determinedly to prove to myself that I can go five minutes without thinking about her.

Ever since I laid my eyes on Nic, not just my waking hours, but even my dreams are dominated by her. At least during the waking hours, I can consciously push thoughts of her to the back of my mind. When I am asleep, I am totally helpless. And that's why I've been dreading going to sleep. So far, it's only been sexy dreams, but there's something lurking in my subconscious that's waiting to come out. My dragon knows what it is, and he's been trying to tell me, but I won't let him.

I put the magazine down on the bedside table, turn off the lamp, and lie down on the bed.

I don't even realize when I start dreaming.

The meadow is covered by lush, green grass a foot tall. The skies are clear blue and the air is filled with melodious bird song. I see her in the distance. She is standing facing away from me, wearing a flowy white dress. Her long red hair is loose, blowing in the wind, as is the skirt of her dress. My heart soars when I see her standing there. But she's too far away. I shift and take to the air, shifting back as I land right behind her. She turns when she sees me, smiling her million-dollar smile. She's holding a bouquet of flowers, and I realize it's my wedding. She's my bride. I hold her outstretched hand and take her in my arms.

‘My love, my mate,' she says, her eyes shining with love for me.

‘My love, my mate,' I repeat.

I lean in closer and finally kiss her on the lips.

‘My mate,' I repeat again. I am happier than I've ever been; I'm feeling stronger than I've ever been. I hug her tightly, wanting her to be as close to me as possible. But then, she starts fading away slowly in my arms. The tighter I try to hold on, the fainter she gets, until I am left with nothing but emptiness.

‘No, no, come back! I can't lose you!' My heart is pounding against my chest. I turn around and call out her name. I'm met with nothing but silence.

‘Nic! Come on, don't do this to me!' I shout, dropping to my knees. I try to fight the madness as it takes over my brain, weaving its tentacles around my mind, destroying it.

‘NO!' I shout. My body is writhing in the grass.

When I sit up in bed, my eyes fly open. I am covered in sweat, breathing as if I've just broken the record for a hundred-meter sprint.

"Just a dream, just a dream," I repeat to myself, running my hands through my hair. I make myself get up and walk to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Once I'm wide awake, I feel some of the panic leaving me. Since I know I will not be able to sleep now, I get a bottle of Evian from the concealed refrigerator next to my bed and head to the terrace attached to the living room.

This outdoor space is my oasis, a place where I do my best thinking. A number of potted plants are arranged artfully around the seating area, adding a touch of greenery in a space otherwise dominated by steel and concrete. The plant guy comes in every alternate day to take care of them. I sit in one of the white wicker chairs and put up my feet on the coffee table.

The dream was so fucking real, it scares me, but it also reiterates my belief that I don't need a mate. I cannot afford to claim a mate. The price is simply too high. As a Quartz dragon, a mate can be both a boon and a curse. Mates can make us incredibly strong and powerful, but if we lose them, we lose our mind. We go crazy. That's a steep, steep price to pay. My life is perfect the way it is.

But neither can I carry on like this. It's only a matter of time before this diet of sleep and sex deprivation starts to affect my work. I need to get Nic out of my system. I don't care what the guys say; this is the only way I will be able to get her out of my system. I know she is as attracted to me as I am to her. That's why I don't understand why she's resisting this so much. But it also gives me hope that the attraction will ultimately win.