Rosanna woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She blinked against the darkness of her room, the faint scent of vanilla and chamomile lingering in the air. For a moment, she lay still, her breath shallow as she tried to shake off the remnants of the dream. Gale. His name echoed in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.He had been there again, his presence as vivid as ever. His long, dark hair brushing against her skin, his intense blue eyes staring into hers with that familiar mix of curiosity and hunger. She could still feel the weight of his touch, the way his fingers traced her jawline, his lips hovering just above hers, teasing, tempting. But like always, he had disappeared before she could reach for him.Rosanna groaned, throwing an arm over her face. “Stop it,” she muttered to herself. “He’s not real. He’s just a figment of your imagination.”But even as she said the words, she didn’t quite believe them. The dreams were too real, too visceral. She could almost smell the faint hint of incense and storms that seemed to accompany Gale's presence. And then there was the way he looked at her, like he could see straight through her, like he knew every secret she had ever kept.For weeks, the dreams had been constant, leaving her restless and frustrated.Rosanna flung the covers off and sat up, her long red hair tumbling over her shoulders. She reached for her phone, checking the time. 3:47 AM. Of course. She sighed, running a hand through her hair.“He’s not real. He’s just… a dream.”But deep down, she didn’t believe that either.---The days passed in a blur of work and distractions, but nothing could shake the sense of longing that clung to her. Rosanna found herself glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting to see Gale standing there with those piercing eyes and that infuriating smirk. But he never appeared.Rosanna sighed, setting her wine glass down on the coffee table with a soft clink. The novel in her lap was long forgotten, its pages splayed open but unread. Her thoughts were consumed by one thing—Gale. Or rather, the absence of him.“What changed?” she murmured to herself, frustration bleeding into her voice. Had she imagined it all? Was she losing her mind? The dreams had felt so real, so tangible, and yet now she was left with nothing but questions and a gnawing sense of longing.She leaned back against the couch, running a hand through her hair. Why did he stop coming? The thought gnawed at her, a persistent itch she couldn’t scratch. Had he grown tired of her? Found someone else to haunt in their sleep? The idea sent a sharp pang through her chest, though she quickly brushed it aside. Gale wasn’t real. She had to keep reminding herself of that.But if he wasn’t real, why did his absence feel so unbearable?Rosanna closed her eyes, trying to summon him in her mind—the way his eyes had glinted with mischief, the way his touch had ignited something deep within her. But the image was fading, slipping through her fingers like smoke. She clenched her fists, a mix of anger and desperation coursing through her.“You’re just a dream,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow. “A stupid, infuriating dream."And yet, even as she said it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out there somewhere, watching, waiting.---It wasn’t until one evening when Rosanna had almost given up that she felt it—a shift in the air, a presence that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She froze, her book slipping from her fingers as she slowly turned her head.There he was.Gale stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. His long hair fell in loose strands around his face, and his wings—those beautiful, iridescent black wings—were fully unfurled, the feathers catching the soft light. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.“You missed me,” he said, his voice low and velvety, carrying a hint of amusement.Rosanna’s heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to protest, to tell him that she hadn’t missed him at all, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Where have you been?”Gale tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “Couldn't sleep without me?”“Don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped, though her cheeks flushed despite her best efforts to stay composed. “I just… I thought you were gone for good.”He stepped closer, his movements smooth and deliberate. “I told you I would come back for you, didn’t I?”“You say a lot of things,” she shot back, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened as he approached. “You also said you’d take me with you, but here I am, still waiting.”Gale’s smile deepened, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Patience is a virtue, Rosanna.”She rolled her eyes, but inside, her stomach was doing somersaults. He was so close now, close enough that she could see the golden flecks in his eyes, close enough that she could smell that intoxicating scent of incense smoke and ozone. Her body betrayed her, leaning ever so slightly toward him, drawn to him like always.“You’re not real,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.Gale reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, making her breath catch. “Aren’t I?” he murmured, his voice soft but firm.Rosanna’s resolve crumbled. She let out a shaky breath, her walls collapsing as she leaned into his touch. “Why do you keep doing this to me?”His thumb traced her lower lip, and she shivered at the sensation. “Because you want me to,” he said simply.She wanted to argue, to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she found herself reaching for him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. Their lips met in a kiss that was both tender and hungry, a collision of longing and frustration that left her dizzy. Gale’s wings enveloped her, their silken feathers brushing against her skin as he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down to grip her waist possessively.When they finally broke apart, Rosanna was trembling, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath. Gale’s eyes darkened as he gazed down at her, a possessive gleam in their depths. “Who else has touched you while I was gone?” he demanded, his voice rough with barely restrained jealousy.Rosanna blinked up at him, her mind still foggy from the kiss. “What are you talking about?”“Don’t play coy with me,” he growled, his fingers tightening around her waist. “I can smell him on you.”She frowned, pulling back slightly, her brow furrowing as she stared up at him. The intensity in his eyes was almost too much to bear, but she refused to let him see how much he affected her. “You’re insane,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “You’re not even real!”Gale’s grip on her waist tightened, his fingers pressing into her skin with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down her spine. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her cheek as he whispered, “Oh, I’m very real, Rosanna. And I can feel it—the lingering scent of another on you.”Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “You’re imagining things,” she retorted, though her voice wavered slightly. “Even if someone else had touched me, what does it matter? You don’t get to decide who I spend my time with.”His lips curled into a dark smile, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flash of something dangerous in his eyes. “It matters because you’re mine,” he growled, his voice low and gravelly. “And I don't like to share."Rosanna’s breath hitched as Gale’s words reverberated through her. His grip was unyielding, his presence overwhelming, but something in her refused to back down. She tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze with a defiance she didn’t entirely feel. “You want the truth?” she asked, her voice sharp but trembling slightly. “Fine. Yes, I... ”Gale’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dark and dangerous passing through them. “You what?” he growled, the low rumble of his voice sending a shiver down her spine.“I was with someone,” she admitted, her voice steady despite the rapid beat of her heart.A muscle in Gale’s jaw twitched, and his grip on her waist tightened almost painfully. “And did he satisfy you?” he asked, his voice dripping with venom.She met his gaze head-on, her own anger flaring. “Does it matter? You left me. You disappeared without a word. What did you expect me to do?”Gale’s eyes darkened, and he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “I expected you to wait for me.”Rosanna’s heart skipped a beat, but she refused to back down. Feeling bold, she challenged him, her voice low and taunting. “And what are you going to do about it now? Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Gale.”His response was immediate. His hand slid from her waist to the back of her neck, pulling her closer until their lips were almost touching. “Jealousy?” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “No, Rosanna. This is possession.”Before she could reply, his lips crashed onto hers in a kiss that was both punishing and claiming, leaving no room for doubt about exactly who she belonged to.

Rosanna woke from a vivid dream of Gale and struggled to shake off the lingering feelings, but she couldn't deny the intensity of her dreams. She spent days longing for Gale, unable to shake the sense of his absence, and then one evening, Gale appeared in her room, his wings unfurled and his eyes locked onto hers. Rosanna and Gale argued, Gale's jealousy flared and he kissed her possessively.

Rosanna woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She blinked against the darkness of her room, the faint scent of vanilla and chamomile lingering in the air. For a moment, she lay still, her breath shallow as she tried to shake off the remnants of the dream. Gale. His name echoed in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.

He had been there again, his presence as vivid as ever. His long, dark hair brushing against her skin, his intense blue eyes staring into hers with that familiar mix of curiosity and hunger. She could still feel the weight of his touch, the way his fingers traced her jawline, his lips hovering just above hers, teasing, tempting. But like always, he had disappeared before she could reach for him.

Rosanna groaned, throwing an arm over her face. “Stop it,” she muttered to herself. “He’s not real. He’s just a figment of your imagination.”

But even as she said the words, she didn’t quite believe them. The dreams were too real, too visceral. She could almost smell the faint hint of incense and storms that seemed to accompany Gale's presence. And then there was the way he looked at her, like he could see straight through her, like he knew every secret she had ever kept.

For weeks, the dreams had been constant, leaving her restless and frustrated.

Rosanna flung the covers off and sat up, her long red hair tumbling over her shoulders. She reached for her phone, checking the time. 3:47 AM. Of course. She sighed, running a hand through her hair.“He’s not real. He’s just… a dream.”

But deep down, she didn’t believe that either.

---

The days passed in a blur of work and distractions, but nothing could shake the sense of longing that clung to her. Rosanna found herself glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting to see Gale standing there with those piercing eyes and that infuriating smirk. But he never appeared.

Rosanna sighed, setting her wine glass down on the coffee table with a soft clink. The novel in her lap was long forgotten, its pages splayed open but unread. Her thoughts were consumed by one thing—Gale. Or rather, the absence of him.

“What changed?” she murmured to herself, frustration bleeding into her voice. Had she imagined it all? Was she losing her mind? The dreams had felt so real, so tangible, and yet now she was left with nothing but questions and a gnawing sense of longing.

She leaned back against the couch, running a hand through her hair. Why did he stop coming? The thought gnawed at her, a persistent itch she couldn’t scratch. Had he grown tired of her? Found someone else to haunt in their sleep? The idea sent a sharp pang through her chest, though she quickly brushed it aside. Gale wasn’t real. She had to keep reminding herself of that.

But if he wasn’t real, why did his absence feel so unbearable?

Rosanna closed her eyes, trying to summon him in her mind—the way his eyes had glinted with mischief, the way his touch had ignited something deep within her. But the image was fading, slipping through her fingers like smoke. She clenched her fists, a mix of anger and desperation coursing through her.

“You’re just a dream,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow. “A stupid, infuriating dream."

And yet, even as she said it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out there somewhere, watching, waiting.

---

It wasn’t until one evening when Rosanna had almost given up that she felt it—a shift in the air, a presence that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She froze, her book slipping from her fingers as she slowly turned her head.

There he was.

Gale stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. His long hair fell in loose strands around his face, and his wings—those beautiful, iridescent black wings—were fully unfurled, the feathers catching the soft light. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

“You missed me,” he said, his voice low and velvety, carrying a hint of amusement.

Rosanna’s heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to protest, to tell him that she hadn’t missed him at all, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Where have you been?”

Gale tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “Couldn't sleep without me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped, though her cheeks flushed despite her best efforts to stay composed. “I just… I thought you were gone for good.”

He stepped closer, his movements smooth and deliberate. “I told you I would come back for you, didn’t I?”

“You say a lot of things,” she shot back, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened as he approached. “You also said you’d take me with you, but here I am, still waiting.”

Gale’s smile deepened, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Patience is a virtue, Rosanna.”

She rolled her eyes, but inside, her stomach was doing somersaults. He was so close now, close enough that she could see the golden flecks in his eyes, close enough that she could smell that intoxicating scent of incense smoke and ozone. Her body betrayed her, leaning ever so slightly toward him, drawn to him like always.

“You’re not real,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Gale reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, making her breath catch. “Aren’t I?” he murmured, his voice soft but firm.

Rosanna’s resolve crumbled. She let out a shaky breath, her walls collapsing as she leaned into his touch. “Why do you keep doing this to me?”

His thumb traced her lower lip, and she shivered at the sensation. “Because you want me to,” he said simply.

She wanted to argue, to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she found herself reaching for him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. Their lips met in a kiss that was both tender and hungry, a collision of longing and frustration that left her dizzy. Gale’s wings enveloped her, their silken feathers brushing against her skin as he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down to grip her waist possessively.

When they finally broke apart, Rosanna was trembling, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath. Gale’s eyes darkened as he gazed down at her, a possessive gleam in their depths. “Who else has touched you while I was gone?” he demanded, his voice rough with barely restrained jealousy.

Rosanna blinked up at him, her mind still foggy from the kiss. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play coy with me,” he growled, his fingers tightening around her waist. “I can smell him on you.”

She frowned, pulling back slightly, her brow furrowing as she stared up at him. The intensity in his eyes was almost too much to bear, but she refused to let him see how much he affected her. “You’re insane,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “You’re not even real!”

Gale’s grip on her waist tightened, his fingers pressing into her skin with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down her spine. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her cheek as he whispered, “Oh, I’m very real, Rosanna. And I can feel it—the lingering scent of another on you.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “You’re imagining things,” she retorted, though her voice wavered slightly. “Even if someone else had touched me, what does it matter? You don’t get to decide who I spend my time with.”

His lips curled into a dark smile, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flash of something dangerous in his eyes. “It matters because you’re mine,” he growled, his voice low and gravelly. “And I don't like to share."

Rosanna’s breath hitched as Gale’s words reverberated through her. His grip was unyielding, his presence overwhelming, but something in her refused to back down. She tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze with a defiance she didn’t entirely feel. “You want the truth?” she asked, her voice sharp but trembling slightly. “Fine. Yes, I... ”

Gale’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dark and dangerous passing through them. “You what?” he growled, the low rumble of his voice sending a shiver down her spine.

“I was with someone,” she admitted, her voice steady despite the rapid beat of her heart.

A muscle in Gale’s jaw twitched, and his grip on her waist tightened almost painfully. “And did he satisfy you?” he asked, his voice dripping with venom.

She met his gaze head-on, her own anger flaring. “Does it matter? You left me. You disappeared without a word. What did you expect me to do?”

Gale’s eyes darkened, and he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “I expected you to wait for me.”

Rosanna’s heart skipped a beat, but she refused to back down. Feeling bold, she challenged him, her voice low and taunting. “And what are you going to do about it now? Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Gale.”

His response was immediate. His hand slid from her waist to the back of her neck, pulling her closer until their lips were almost touching. “Jealousy?” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “No, Rosanna. This is possession.”

Before she could reply, his lips crashed onto hers in a kiss that was both punishing and claiming, leaving no room for doubt about exactly who she belonged to.

Rosanna finds herself inexplicably drawn to Gale, a mysterious winged entity who visits her in her dreams, leaving her frustrated and longing for more.


Gale

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