Keeping Her

“You can stop blaming yourself for the actions of a psychotic rapist.  You tried to keep me safe, and you rescued me when I needed it.  You came for me.  You killed that bastard.”  She leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his scarred cheek, her harsh tone at odds with the softness of her touch.  “I knew you would.”

He closed his eyes briefly then with a deep exhale he leaned in to kiss the bruises on her forearm.  “I’d kill him again if I could.  Forgiving myself for letting you be hurt is harder.  It might take a few years.  What else?”

“I need you to hold me.”  Her voice broke under her emotions.  “I’ve had a rough couple of days.  I want to sleep without nightmares.  I think I’ll feel safe enough to sleep if you’re with me.”

This time Demon couldn’t stop the tears as he climbed into bed.  Careful not to jar her he spooned up behind her until he could bury his face in her shoulder and breathe her in.  “Go to sleep baby, I’ll be right here.”

“You promise?”

“You had your chance to get rid of me.  You blew it.  Now you’re stuck with me.”

Clytie pulled his arms in closer hugging them to her chest and drifting off with a sigh.  “Good.”

Epilogue

              The champagne glasses tinkled throughout the room, people milling, murmuring in soft voices.  Clyties art was hanging in strategic spots to catch beams of light from different angles.  The white walls and specially prepared lights made the translucent wax glow from the inside out.  Demon had been dragged off by Ben and Mac at Marion's request.  The Art Director seemed to think the clients would be more likely to approach the Artist if a seven-foot tall crazy man wasn’t giving them the evil eye and growling at any male that came within three feet of her.  So Clytie was standing alone in a little black dress Demon had threatened to rip off her later.  She stood beside the only piece of art in the room that was not for sale and answered questions on technique and the properties of wax whenever anyone stopped to talk.

When she had worked “Wolf Dreams” from the wax that first day she had been thinking of Demon and his wolf tattoo.  It was supposed to be symbolic.  Of course, now that she had seen Demon shift to his beautiful black wolf it became more a private irony.  Every one of his pack mates had tried to buy it, and it had become a private war between them to bid for it whenever they saw Clytie.

Lucas Gibbs, the scary man who ran a handful of security companies including Demons didn’t bother with the competition.  He just told Clytie he would meet any price she cared to throw out there.  Good to know.

“That’s it.”  Marion gleefully announced as she danced up to Clytie.  “Everything is officially sold.”

Clytie blinked, “You are kidding?”

She was practically rubbing her hands in happy greed.  “We even had a bidding war over your “Cerulean Seas” but that ended right quick when a patron, who wishes to remain anonymous, tripled the price and paid in cash.”

“Marion did you invite Wise guys to my show?”

Marion snorted out a laugh.  “Don’t look at me.  Quite a few of the people buying came with you.”

Oh, no.  If Demon had goosed the guys to buy my art, I will kill him.

“Your lovely friend Mr. Gibbs bought three pieces for his office and has requested first look on anything you produce in the future.”  Marion flicked away an imaginary tear.  “I’d like to have his babies.”  Marion was a spry fifty-four and about to celebrate her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Clytie was still laughing when she saw Sarah across the room.  It made her catch her breath.  “Excuse me Marion I see my sister.”

“No problem, I’m just going to go count my money while I cackle like Ebenezer Scrooge.”

“Sarah?”  Her sister looked good in a peach silk sheath dress, her auburn hair up in a sedate twist.

She looked overwhelmed when she turned to face Clytie.  “I can’t believe this is all your work.  It’s stunning.”

That made Clytie sad.  “I’ve shown you my work before.”

“Yes but it didn’t look like this.”

It looked exactly like this.  Some of the pieces Sarah was ogling were the same ones Clytie had tried to share with her sister before she realized Sarah had no interest in her work.

“I mean, Jordan tried to tell me after she went to your first showing but I thought she was exaggerating.”  Sarah took a deep breath and turned back to Clytie.  “I owe you an apology.  I should not have belittled your art.”

Clytie waited but Sarah was finished.  No apology for the way she treated Demon?  Or how about when she called Clytie a slut and told her, she was throwing her life away?

She wanted to cry, but instead she faked a smile, “I’m glad you came.”  She pointed out the buffet table.  “Jordan and Boone are at the troth.  You should get some food before there isn’t anything left.”  Between the teenagers and the shape-shifters, prowling the room it was not an exaggeration.

“They’re here?  Sarah narrowed her eyes “They told me they were going to the movies.”  She was getting ready to march over there when Clytie spoke fast.

“They probably are.  They said they were just stopping by for a minute.”  She gave her a hug.  “Make sure you have some champagne.”

Watching Sarah walk away, she knew it was never going to be the same between them.  Something had been broken and it just wasn’t fixable.  It made her feel lonely.

Strong arms circled her from behind, and a nose nuzzled into her hair.  Clytie smiled.  Well Demon took care of that funk.  Lord the man made her happy.  “You better stop that my boyfriends going to get jealous.”

Demon squeezed her a shade too hard making her giggle.  “Very funny.”

Clytie turned in his arms to face him.  She had to crane her neck to glare into his eyes.  “Please tell me you didn’t put your friends up to buying my art.”

“Put them up to it?”  He growled looking aggrieved.  “They’re like locusts stripping the walls before I can get to it.  Do you have any idea how much I offered for “Cerulean Seas?”  He cuddled her closer even while he still mumbled to himself in disgust.  “Tricky Damn Cat.”

Clytie realized her mouth was hanging open and snapped it shut.  “Marion said the buyer was anonymous.”

Demon snorted.  “Thinks he’s being clever.  But that particular move has Eli written all over it.”

“Demon, you do know that all you have to do is tell me you want something and it’s yours.”

“Bullshit.  I told you I wanted to buy “Wolf Dreams” and you turned me down.”

She rolled her eyes.  “Because you wanted to buy it.  I’m saving it for your birthday present.  It’s going to be a surprise.”  She patted his arm.  “Don’t forget to be amazed.”

“You’re giving it to me?”  He looked flabbergasted.  “For my Birthday?”

“Yep, I asked Ben and he said it’s next month so all the guys are going to come for a barbecue.  I know how you guys like any excuse to eat red meat.”

Emotions crowded around his eyes until one beat out the rest.  Clytie felt her pussy heat beneath that look and had about a second to think Uh-Oh before Demon pulled her out of the room past all their guests and pushed her up against the wall in the empty vestibule.

He palmed her ass and pulled her up within easy reach.  She was wrapping her legs around his waist before it occurred to her how inappropriate this was.

“Demon, I don’t think...”  But his mouth was on hers and like every other time he touched her she lost her mind.

“They’re at it again.”  Ben said when he walked out and saw Demon kissing Clytie against a wall.

Mac leaned against the doorjamb beside him sipping his champagne and enjoying the view.  “Apparently.”

“You think they’d want to know that Marion’s looking to toast her artist?”

“Would you?”