Stars Dancing [Dreams-To-Lovers Romance]

RORY

Yeah, Slydar thought hearing his deceased dad in his dreams constituted "haunting." I told him not to end the last chapter that way, but my man has a way of toying with people, so that's what you get. Shoulder shrug.

It was pretty cool, actually. Because it wasn't just Slydar's dreams; it was both of us. Here's how it went the first time:

I was in Uncle Euri's backyard watching the mirkas play in the garden. A red one. An orange one. A blue one.

In case you're wondering, no mirkas don't come in psychedelic colors in real life. It was a dream.

The purple one looked at me, said to my mind, Don't ignore the breeze, then darted toward my face. I screamed and woke up, arms flailing.

To be struck in the head by a flailing black arm.

"Oh shit, Rory. You okay? I thought a purple mirka was gonna eat my face."

It was minutes before we could catch our breaths. And then we forgot about everything else because Slydar had my cami and shorts off, licking me the way I wanted, with my hands in his dreads and my legs wrapped around his shoulders.

Yeah, that's what it's like waking up with Slydar. Sorry you'll never really know for yourself. Live vicariously. Oh, you want details? Okay, you asked for it:

His tongue was magic. It always was, but his telepathic voice was almost as good.

You taste so good, baby. Come for me the way you want to. That's my girl. Let go, and let me feel it. I want you too, baby. I know you need me, and you'll have me, but let me have this first. That's it. Relax for me.

Sly!

Say my name again, Rory, and I'll give you what you need.

Fucking asshole.

That'll work too.

I broke, but that was only round one. He pulled me on top of him, sliding in, and he felt so good. I needed him deep, and he didn't let me down, moving my hips and taking us where we needed to go.

Tell me you love me, Rory. Tell me how much.

I'll love you forever if you just fucking shut up and make me come again.

He flipped us and pounded into me, both of us coming undone.

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SLYDAR

I needed to dream about purple mirkas more often 'cuz good things happened to me and Rory after, and then I got to hold her against my chest, running my fingers down her back, feeling her happy and warm against me. Just as it should be every morning.

But the dream had been super weird, class-A mind fuckery. I didn't really even know what a mirka was other than Ronnie's little Etta creature, of course. Cute little thing, always hopping about, looking for scratches and stealing popcorn from the unwary.

"No, Sly, real mirkas aren't that colorful, and they definitely aren't carnivorous."

"Wait, you dreamt it too? The purple thing about to eat your face?"

Nodding.

"What was in that pie we had last night?" I wondered.

"Did the mirka say, 'Don't ignore the breeze' to you?"

Nodding from me.

"Dunno what that's about. I gotta shower and get to work, you good, babe?"

Nod.

Two nights later, it happened again.

I was at the skate park, strapping a silver-haired lady to a hoverboard. Her feet, people. Not her dead body. What's wrong with you? The lady's face turned into a red mirka, and she looked square into my eyes saying, Son, listen to the wind.

I woke up, freaked, and found a creeped-out Rory next to me. Yeah, matching dreams again.

The next night, we lit a special ghost-eliminating candle before bed. Nah— not really, but I did get a candle-like nightlight and put it next to my bedside table. Rory cracked up, and I told her it was for good luck. 'Cuz I say shit sometimes.

It didn't stop the weird-ass mirkas. Nope, I was in my wagon on Dliptonia, playing the Djembe when Etta suddenly appeared on the couch wearing glass slippers. Pink glass slippers with a purple ballerina skirt. She bit my hand and screamed in my mind, Listen to the breeze, Sly!

I woke up shouting and holding my hand to see Rory on the floor.

"Baby! Rory!" I reached down and helped her up.

"Fuck! Etta bit me!"

"Me too!"

Her mind shot out on the mental plane, and I followed.

Is Etta okay? she asked her Uncle Ronnie.

Raised eyebrows.

I just had a dream that she was wearing pink glass slippers and a purple tutu—

Laughter from Ronnie and Cyn.

and she bit my hand screaming "Listen to the breeze!"

Thoughtfulness.

Etta is eating peppers right now. I don't think she was actually in your dreams, Rory. Wait, you've had more than one like this? Three? You know Grampa Ren's songs about the wind as well as I do.

Nodding.

And you know what Euri says about Ryst and Nayth. So, put it together.

You think it's Muller, Uncle Ronnie? Muller's popping into our dreams telling us to listen to the wind? Wants to tell us something? Rory mused.

Nodding. The timing lines up. Have either of you tried listening to the breeze?

What does that even mean, man? I asked.

Ronnie's mind quested out. Cyn's followed, so we went with them.

RORY

It had been a while since I'd talked to my Uncle Euri and Aunt Shah, so their presences wrapping around me was a welcome warmth.

Hey! It's a party! Auntie Shah's mental voice made me smile.

Wait, what, Ronnie? You think Muller's on the wind? Oh. Dreams? Hah. Mirkas eating your face! Euri laughed.

Rich laughter all around.

How very Muller of him. Fucked up, though, with the tutu. Okay.

I held my breath as I followed Uncle Euri's mind. Then I didn't think about breathing anymore because my whole being was full of overflowing love. I felt Euri dial back, pulling away from the breeze. Sly didn't let him, pushing forward, reaching for something he recognized. He knew what he was feeling, and he didn't wanna let it go.

Dad! Dad! It's me.

Outside, the wind howled, and I tightened my arms around Slydar.

Dad! I got your message. I'll listen. I love you.

Pungent skunk smell, and all went quiet.

Except for Uncle Ronnie and Cyn laughing.

Ungh. He always was a pungent one, Euri grimaced.

Peacefulness from Sly. Happiness. Contentment. We all felt it. Warmth and love and acceptance.

Thanks Ronnie, Euri, and the lot of you, Slydar sent my family.

Nodding, and they were gone.

"Well, baby, I guess our weird-ass life just got weirder."

"What did you expect, Sly?"