Free Killing Me Softly by Leisl Leighton

desks.
    The whole place was a musician’s wet dream.
    ‘You didn’t go for the newer model of this?’ he asked as they walked back into the smaller acoustic studio downstairs.
    Alexia shook her head, fingers nimbly working along the sound desk, stopping to press a couple of the pots and set the foldback knobs to neutral. The gestures were affectionate, almost intimate. A smile played at the edge of her mouth as she looked down at the desk. ‘No, I didn’t. This was the first desk I bought. I know it looks a bit banged up but I have to say, I haven’t come across anything I like better. The mids and highs I can get out of this baby are sweet and clear and perfect for the more intimate work. I love my desks upstairs, but the polished finish the computer software can give just doesn’t suit every piece.’
    ‘So, what do you think?’ She crossed her arms and leaned back on the desk, waiting for a response.
    ‘This is impressive,’ Craig said. ‘I had no idea you were this big.’
    ‘Why would you? I’ve never advertised what I do. The proof is in the music. How I do it is frankly irrelevant to anyone but those I work with.’
    ‘Good point.’
    ‘So, the question remains. Are you happy to come out here to work?’
    Daemon continued to look around. After a long silence he smiled. This was all better than he’d imagined. Except for what had happened to the sister. But for now, he would trust Craig’s word. Soon enough Nigel would come through with the goods and if Craig was right, he would have nothing to worry about. Maybe it was unwise to give in to this all-consuming need to work here with Alexia when he had such reservations, but the Lord only knew, after the year he’d had, he needed something good in his life.
    Smile widening, he stuck his hand out. ‘I think we have a deal.’
    She hesitated, as if she didn’t want to touch him again. He met her gaze. A dare. If he was going to take a chance, then so could she.
    As her hand slid into his, he purposefully rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. Melting warmth curled inside him as her hand jerked. Her eyes narrowed. He could see pride stopped her from pulling away as she had before. Instead, she grasped his hand more firmly, matching his smile.
    ‘I think we do.’
    Oh, this was going to be good.

Chapter 5
    The dream caught her the way it always did, in the deepest dark of the night. Apparitions appeared and vanished in a swirling noisy void. Cries of anguish and despair mixed with whispers in the dark; unintelligible garbled words.
    In her sleep, Lexi trembled. A nameless face drifted close, mouth like a black maw swallowing her whole.
    She screamed . . .
    And awoke with a start, the empty echo of her scream ringing in her ears. Her eyes darted nervously around the darkened room looking for the intruder.
    There was no-one.
    Oh God! A nightmare. Just a stupid nightmare. The worst one yet.
    Probably caused by that stupid letter.
    Taking in deep, gulping breaths, she thought about the letter that had arrived today, the second in the last few weeks. She should have known better than to read the filth spewing from the page. Should have known it would seep into her subconscious; poisonous images forcing themselves into her dreams.
    Stupid! So stupid!
    Hand shaking, she turned the light on. Perspiration beaded her forehead. Her pyjama top was damp. Shuddering, she climbed out of bed and staggered to the bathroom.
    Tossing her damp pyjamas into the hamper, she turned on the shower. The hot spray rinsed away the perspiration but not the images still playing in her mind.
    She rubbed hard at her skin with the loofah as if to scrub away the crawling sensation her nightmares engendered. One thing was certain – there would be no more sleep tonight.
    Turning off the shower, she grabbed a towel and rubbed her wet hair vigorously, but still she couldn’t rid her mind of the nasty images and the feeling of being touched by filth.
    Work. Only work would help.
    Five