"Darling, scrub my back, please." Dahlia's teasing smile made Mathew's heart race twice as fast as normal.
He grabbed the shower sponge hanging beside the faucet and began to gently scrub his fiancée's back in rhythmic strokes. His pulse quickened as Dahlia turned the shower handle, increasing the water flow that soaked them both. Waves of desire surged through Mathew. Each inch of Dahlia's body drew him deeper into a vortex of promised pleasure.
"You're so cheeky. Just say you wanted us to shower together," Mathew said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her cheek.
"You're the one who missed the hint," Dahlia replied with a coy smile.
Mathew turned Dahlia to face him and kissed her passionately. "Are you sure you want to do this here?" he whispered against her lips.
Dahlia nodded and then gave him a warning. "Don't forget protection. I don't want to get pregnant before we're married."
"Naughty girl," Mathew murmured, pressing his forehead to hers. "It would be good if you did get pregnant. Then you wouldn't have any reason to delay our wedding."
"Shh! Be quiet!" Dahlia pressed her finger to Mathew's lips.
Mathew brushed her finger aside and silenced her with a searing kiss. His lips explored hers, his tongue dancing gently at the tip of hers before diving deeper. Dahlia wrapped her arms around Mathew's neck, the pleasure coursing through her body as their lips mingled. Their escalating desire ignored the setting as they quickly shed their clothes and gave in to their passions, forgetting even the protection Dahlia had insisted upon. The sound of running water couldn't mask their moans and gasps as they joined together. Their passionate encounter continued on the bed until they were both exhausted and fell asleep.
Teeet... teeet...! The doorbell's shrill sound startled Dahlia awake. She found Mathew no longer beside her.
"Darling, where are you? Did you forget to put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door? The hotel staff is interrupting us," Dahlia grumbled as she wiped her face and got out of bed. She called for Mathew again but received no reply.
"Darling, where are you? I'm not dressed yet. Can you get the door?" she pleaded.
The doorbell kept ringing. Frustrated, Dahlia quickly put on her pajamas. Irritated at the hotel staff for disturbing her, she reluctantly opened the door.
"Yes, wh—" Dahlia's eyes widened in shock. Her heart nearly stopped at the sight of Mathew standing in front of her. She stared at her fiancé, almost unable to blink, then glanced back into the room. "Mathew... how are you...?"
Mathew's puzzled expression mirrored Dahlia's confusion. "Darling, what's wrong? Why did you take so long to open the door? Were you asleep?"
"Mat, weren't we just sleeping together? Where have you been?"
Mathew smiled, trying to understand Dahlia's bewilderment. He cupped her face in his hands. "Sweetheart, I told you I was going to meet a high school friend who's also on vacation here. I tried to tell you, but you didn't respond, so I went alone. Did you forget?"
"When did you tell me?" Dahlia struggled to remember Mathew's explanation.
"When you were in the shower."
Dahlia frowned, truly baffled by Mathew's claim. "You left while I was in the shower?"
"Yes. I even called out to you, but you didn't answer when I said goodbye," Mathew explained, taking her hand and leading her back into their suite. "I forgot my key, so I had to wake you up. I'm sorry, darling."
"But I'm sure you were here with me," Dahlia insisted.
"Sweetheart, you must be very tired after our day out," Mathew said, stopping and embracing her.
"Mat, are you sure you weren't here with me?" Dahlia repeated, still confused.
"Enough, love. You look exhausted. You should rest. Go back to sleep. I love you," Mathew said, loosening his embrace and kissing her tenderly on the lips.
Dahlia remained silent, still unable to believe that what had happened wasn't real. Was I just dreaming? She wondered. If so, why did it feel so real?
***
Summerdale, California. A Few Weeks Later
The nightmarish creature bared its teeth in a sinister grin, poised to strike at Dahlia. Desperate to escape, Dahlia darted through the dense forest, weaving between tall, neatly aligned trees that formed a labyrinthine maze. The deeper she ran, the more she found herself ensnared by the towering foliage. Panic surged as every path seemed to lead to nowhere, trapping her in the tangled maze.
The bat-faced, human-bodied monstrosity drew closer, its grotesque form becoming ever more menacing. Dahlia pressed her slim body against the row of trees, feeling her strength wane. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and the air in her lungs felt dangerously thin as the creature readied itself for the attack. All she could do was close her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable.
"AAARRRGHHH!!!" she screamed.
Dahlia jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. Her breaths came ragged and her chest pounded fiercely. It took several moments for her to steady her breathing. Once she felt somewhat calm, she sat up.
"It was just a dream," she whispered, relieved. She glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. "Huft! It's only 5.00 AM."
Since returning from Romania a few weeks ago, Dahlia had been plagued by recurring nightmares. The same disturbing visions had been intruding upon her sleep, leaving her anxious and unsettled. Though she tried to reason with herself, dismissing them as mere dreams, the fear lingered.
Unable to return to sleep, Dahlia spent the early hours reviewing work reports. As a marketing consultant for Brick Lane Realty, led by Mathew, her role demanded a high level of professionalism, especially given her engagement to the CEO.
By noon, she and Mathew had arranged to meet for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Despite working in the same building, their meetings were infrequent, often limited to video calls, texts, and brief exchanges.
"Honey, I had that dream again last night," Dahlia began, her voice tinged with unease.
Mathew, sitting across from her, took a sip of his margarita and regarded her briefly. "Maybe you're just tired, Darling."
"This feels so strange, Mat. The dreams are always the same. The creature in my dreams never changes. It's terrifying."
"Listen, Sweetheart. I want you to move in with me. I don't want my fiancée to be haunted by nightmares every night. Will you move in with me?" Mathew's voice was soft but earnest.
"I want to, but I'm still comfortable living alone," Dahlia replied, crossing her arms over her stomach.
Mathew sighed, disappointment clear in his eyes. "What if we move up our wedding plans?"