Keeping Her (6 page)

Her
sister grabbed her arm, stopping her from stomping away.  “This is not
like you at all.”

Clytie
recognized the worry behind the anger and breathed out.  She rolled her
shoulder to relieve the pressure and turned back to her sister fully.  “I
think he’s the one.”

Sarah
opened her mouth, closed it, then repeated the procedure.  “You can’t be
serious.  He’s...”

“Do
not say it.  You don’t know him at all.”

“But
he’s  ...” At a loss for words this time, it was Sarahs turn to catch her
breath.  “What do you even know about him, other than he calls himself Demon?”

“Enough
to know I want to know more.”

“Because
it sounds like you’re planning on jumping in without a thought.”

“Maybe
I am, is it so bad I finally like someone enough to jump in without thinking it
to death?”

“Yes. 
If you don’t think at all.”
             

Clytie
went stubbornly
silent.             

“You
are my baby sister and the man is probably a criminal.  Did you drink
anything he gave you last night?”

“He
didn’t drug me!”

“Are
you sure?  Sarah’s lips were pinched and Clytie had to wonder when she had
become such a judgmental prude. 

“I
had sex with him because I wanted to.  Listen to me.  I. LIKE. HIM.”

“Think
for a minute.  You can do so much better.”

“Enough.” 
Clytie glared at her sister.  “I am not a child.  This is none of your
business.  So butt out!”

The
silence lasted for all of ten seconds. 

“It
is my business when you bring him to our place of business.  My children
are here.  What is happening to you?  First you want to chuck
everything we built to become an artist and now you’re taking up with someone
completely inappropriate.  Is this some kind of late teen rebellion you’ve
been storing up?  Because I thought you got it out of your system when you
ran away from home and changed your name.”

The
thought occurred to Clytie this fight was about more than not liking her
date.  “I love you Sarah but I am nearly 30 years old.  I spent a lot
of years helping you build the life you wanted for you and the kids and I loved
every minute, but that doesn’t mean you get to make my decisions for me, or
judge me when you don’t agree with them.”

Sarah
held up a hand.  “Fine.  You want to be an artist.  You don’t
want to work in the store, fine.  But this guy.  The man is
massive.  He has a shaved head, a tattoo on his neck and his name is
Demon
. 
Could you pick anyone more assured to alienate the family?”

“Since
I’ve been alienated from the family for years, I don’t think this is going to
make much difference.  Unless you mean it will alienate me from you.”

Absolute
silence.  Clytie swallowed hard.

“Well,
since you have no say in whom I date all I can say is: Tough.”

Sarah’s
lips went rigid.  “Maybe the family has been right about you all along.”

“When
did you become such a sanctimonious prude?”

“About
the time you became a slut apparently.”

This
time the silence reverberated through her chest.  Ouch.  Clytie
swallowed with an effort.  “Why are you acting like this?”

“I’m
not the one bringing her one night stand around to meet my children.”

Clytie
ground her teeth.  “Fine, I will do you a favor and take my slut self and
my thug lover elsewhere.”  She turned in high dungeon and went back out
into the garden to find Demon.  “We’re leaving.” 

“What
is it Baby?”

“We.Are.
Leaving.” 

Demon
thought about asking questions but one glance at the fire in her eyes convinced
him later would be better.  He nodded his good-byes while Clytie relented
enough to hug the teenagers before leading Demon to the back gate.  Sarah
did not make another appearance.

Unfortunately,
the visit tarnished the glow she had started the day with.  Clytie no
longer felt quite so sure about herself or her out of character choices. 
She wiped the angry tears from her face and stared out the window.  She
didn’t argue when he suggested they skip lunch.  She was more than ready to
head back to the real world to think.  She didn’t like fighting with her
sister.  She took a deep breath.  Sarah was wrong about Demon but she
was right about a few things.  This was definitely not like her.  A
little time to herself to think about everything would not be out of order
here.

They
pulled into the garage back at the compound and they sat as Clytie thought
about what she wanted to ask. .

“We
never talked about Birth Control.  I’m on the pill, but I just wondered
why you never asked.”

He
turned off the car and sat, face void of expression.  Shape-shifters
didn’t carry disease but he couldn’t very well tell her that.

“I
don’t carry any diseases and you were a Virgin.”  That was the certainly
the truth.  “As for having a baby, I’ve never been with another woman
without wearing a condom but in your case...  I guess I don’t mind the idea of
getting you pregnant.”

She
blinked.  That was not what she had expected to hear. 
O.K
.
 
Think of a new subject please.

“Next
subject.”  She said a little desperately.  “What do you do in
security?”

He
leaned back getting comfortable.  “My specialty is computer and building
security.  The company as a whole?  Essentially, we go in and
pinpoint weak areas, then fix them.

“So,
not just a pretty face.”

He
smiled, a touch brutal, “You are the only person I ever remember calling me
pretty.”

She
leaned over and ran her hand down his scarred cheek.  “Maybe you’re
right.  Compelling is probably a better word.”

“Compelling?”

“I’m
an artist.  Trust me.  Compelling is better than pretty any day.”

“And
that’s your professional opinion?”

“Absolutely.” 
She smiled and placed her hand back in her lap.  “I had a good time.”

“You
say that like its over.”

She
peered at the clock on the dash.  “As dates go 16 hours is usually
considered adequate.”  She smiled again.  “Some might even say
excessive.”

“Like
your sister?”

“Not
something I want to get into right now.”

“I
want you to stay.”

She
unhooked her seatbelt and opened the truck door.  “Good.  I’ll expect you
to call me in the near future.”

Demon
went around to help her down and ended up pulling her up into his arms
instead.  “Stay.”

“Demon. 
I can’t.”  But it was the most natural thing in the world for her arms to
circle his neck, her legs to capture his waist and her nose to bury itself in
his neck.  “I have my art, and a show coming up.  That should me my
priority right now.  What happens when you touch me is wonderful and
exciting but I need to stop and take a breath.  Think about what I‘m
doing.” 

That
sounded like a horrible idea to Demon.  “We can bring your supplies
here.  You can paint here for a few days.”

“Demon,”
She laughed a little breathlessly, lifting her head from his neck and putting
her hands on either side of his face to get his full attention.  
“I’m not a painter.  See?  We don’t even know each other.”

“All
the more reason for you to stay so we can get to know each other.”

She
huffed in exasperation.  “You are the most stubborn...”  She shook
her head.  “Let’s try it this way:  I am going home now.  I will
talk to you in a few days.  We will have a second date where we will
actually converse, get to know each other.  Dinner might be
involved.”  She leaned up and kissed him, smiling.  “There is also a
good chance for mind blowing sex.”

He
harrumphed and placed her on her feet, rubbing his nose against hers.  “I
don’t want you to go.”

She
kissed him full on the mouth and said succinctly “Tough.”

He
growled and she headed for her car, her laughter trailing behind.

The
phone rang as soon as she walked in her front door.  She rushed ahead to
pick up the receiver before the machine could pick up. 

“Hello?”

“It’s
Demon.”  His voice was a hard growl on the phone making nerves dance up
her spine.

“Yes?”

“I
wanted to make sure you got home all right.”

She
rolled her eyes.  “I did.”

“Good.”

Silence.

“Was
that all?”

“Dinner.” 
The word came out in a bark.  Not remotely sounding like a question.

“What
about dinner?”

“We
can have that date tonight.”

She
rolled her eyes.  “No.  Call me Friday.”

“Damn
it Clytie!  That’s too long.”

She
laughed.  “You know clinging is an unattractive quality in a man, as is
whining.  I’ll talk to you Friday.  Bye.”  Click.

Chapter
6

After
a shower and a change, Clytie went into her workroom and glanced around. 
Quite a few waxed bases in differing sizes had been started.  A whole
table of finished products waited for the last layer of resin to be applied
then they would need weeks to cure.  Encaustic was not a fast process, but she
loved it, and it was just what she needed today.  She changed quickly into
her work clothes.

Unfortunately,
she was not in the same mindset she had been when she began all the on going
projects.  She itched to begin something different.  She grabbed a
large plaque of bare white beeswax she had prepped weeks ago, this one about
five feet by five feet.  She started with a bold turquoise.  One of
the largest bases, she’d put off using it, waiting for inspiration to
hit.  Now she had something particular in mind.  She set the wood
base, melted wax and swirled colors, scraping away layers.  From there she
mixed and melted, coated and pressed until the abstract wash in her mind came
to life.

Between
drying layers she worked on other projects, using dental tools for the
intricate details and filling in with color.  She worked on pieces as
small as 6 inches with the idea she would puzzle them together in a type of
tile design.  A few stand alones in 2-foot squares needed some finishing
touches. 

She
lost the light and didn’t even notice she was squinting until it affected her
color palette.  She flipped the switch and washed the room in artificial
light.  She stopped to get a bite to eat as several things dried and only then
realized her back ached and her fingers needed a rest.  Several messages
waited on her machine.  She let the message light blink.  Did some
stretches and got back to work.  Rarely did her art flow so smoothly.

It
was several hours before she finished for the day.  She yawned, rubbed
tired eyes, and stretched aching muscles.  She covered all the burners and
flipped off switches.  Her fingers shook a bit, and she had several
superficial burns but she was happy.  Most of the smaller pieces were
done.  The intricate tiny details of the tile collage had been exacting work
but the result was more than worth the effort.  In contrast, the big piece
seemed to be some alien landscape.  Even half-finished it was the best
thing she’d ever done.

She
winced, remembering the fight with Sarah and the harsh words between them.  Too
tired to think, she ignored the blinking answer machine in favor of a shower
and sleep.  She fell into bed and was out as soon as her head hit the
pillow.

Sometime
during the few hours remaining of dark she dreamed of big warm hands and a hard
presence at her back.  Warmth seeped into her aching back, and she moaned
and burrowed closer.  She breathed in and wanted to curl that masculine
scent around her like a blanket.  She sighed out a breath and swore lips
caressed the back of her neck beneath her hair.

Clytie
woke up the next afternoon with a smile on her face, until she stretched and
every muscle in her body protested.  Between Demon and her art, she had
seriously overtaxed her muscles.

She
convinced herself to get up by promising herself a soak in the tub.  She
chose the lavender bath salts for relaxation and dropped into water almost too
hot for her skin.  The wet heat made her think of Demons whirlpool tub,
swimming pool size as opposed to hers that barely held enough water for her to
fully submerge.  Demon would never fit.  She groaned, bent her knees,
and dunked her whole head under water. 
No thinking about Demon.

She
pulled herself up and slicked back her hair.  On the other hand,
Wow.  Her hand palmed a breast as she remembered how he made her
feel.  She shook herself, reaching for the towel as she stood up. 
Time to get back to work before she did something stupid, like called Demon for
hot monkey sex.  Then she would never get anything done. 
Except Demon.
 
Her body pulsed with the thought.  Beyond tempted, she groaned shaking her
will power back into place and standing up.  She dried herself briskly
then slathered on the lotion.  She combed out her wet hair and dressed for
another day of playing with hot wax.

On
her way downstairs, she caught the message light on her answer machine again
but kept ignoring it.  She did not want to be any more tempted to call Demon,
and she wasn’t ready to field questions from her family yet.

The
week was long but productive.  By midnight Thursday, she had worked like a
dervish and finished all but the largest piece.  At this point, she might
be ready for a second show and come morning she would call and inform Marion at
the studio.  In the meantime, she had one more week before her first
professional gallery showing.  She breathed deep trying to still the
butterflies that took flight when she thought of her showing.  It was even
worse now because she wasn’t sure if Sarah and the kids would still come. 
Did she want Sarah there?

If
the fight had been strictly about Demon, she could deal with it.  She
didn’t like that Sarah had taken one look and rejected him but that could maybe
be attributed to overprotective older sister.  It was the judgments on the
rest of her life that Clytie hated.  Sarah had acted like only her opinion
counted, and her opinion was that Clytie should continue to work for her and
stop playing around with her art.  It meant Sarah did not really see her
and that hurt, a lot.  She was the only sister she had left and one of her
few good family connection but she was becoming as judgmental and closed minded
as the rest of them. 

She
needed someone to talk to.  Cassandra was the only one who might
understand and she was probably sleeping about now.  Tomorrow, she would
call and talk to Cassandra tomorrow.  As the other black sheep of the family,
she would understand the situation.  Clyties stomach growled insistently,
reminding her, she had other concerns tonight.

This
time she had peanut butter toast and a shower before falling into bed and
conking out.  She fell asleep thinking about Demon, just like she had
every other night.  Tomorrow, she would call him tomorrow.

Apparently
Demon wasn’t willing to wait that long.

The
morning was half gone by the time Clytie awoke.  She stretched her arms
above her head enjoying the warmth at her back.  The hand on her thigh
pulled her back tighter against a hard body.  A nose burrowed deeper under
her hair to nuzzle her neck.  Clytie froze, trying to think back to a
moment when someone, a naked someone from the feel of it, would have been
invited to her bed.  No such thought came to mind but she knew it was Demon
behind her.

How
did he get in?  Stupid question.  Hello, Security specialist.
 
Was it paranoia on her part to think maybe this wasn’t the first night he had
slept in her bed?  O.K. yes the thought was a disturbing one.  Now
the important question:  Why was he making a habit of sneaking into her
bedroom?

Clytie
turned over to face him.  His eyes were open.

“Morning
baby.”  His voice was a rough growl, and immediately her nipples pebbled
like he had run his tongue over them.

“Do
you make a habit of things like this?”

His
hand started making soothing circles on her hip.

“A
habit?  No.”

“I
could get freaked out by this.”

“You
could.”  His lips found her neck and nuzzled.  It made Clytie catch
her breath.

“It’s
important for me to know that should this relationship end you won’t become
some crazed stalker with combat training.”  Her little speech would have
been more powerful had she not ended with an arch of her neck and a moan, but what
can you do?

“Won’t.” 
He growled low, his lips moving up her neck to just beneath her chin.

“You
won’t become a crazed stalker?”  Clytie found herself unexpectedly on her
back with Demon above her.

“We
won’t end.”  He said, both hands cupping her face, his weight braced on his
elbows.  He nipped at her lips and she grabbed his arms for stability.

“We
won’t?”

“No.” 
Intense and possessive, his eyes were hot enough to brand.

“OK.”

“You
aren’t afraid of me.”  More a command than a question it made Clytie smile.

“If
you say so.”

“I
do.”

Her
smile faded and her eyes became serious.  “I missed you.”

“Good.” 
The wealth of satisfaction in the growled word made her laugh again.  His
marauding lips captured hers, stating with every thrust of his tongue he had missed
her too.

Clyties
t-shirt and panties disappeared in shreds under his ruthless hands.  She
didn’t have the breath left to protest.  His hands trailed down to capture a
breast, holding it captive for the lips that soon followed.  Clytie arched
with a gasp and moaned his name, her hands clenching into his hair to hold him
in place.

“Oh
no baby.  I’m driving.”  He clamped his teeth down on the breast in
warning and she yelped even as heated cream pooled in her sex.  She let go
of the death grip she had on his hair and he laved her abused nipple with his
tongue before trying to suck her breast down his throat.  In the mean time,
she was so wet and ready her thighs were slick with it.  Finally, he left
her much-coddled breasts and moved down her body.  When she managed to
lift her eyelids, it was to see Demon on his knees.  Between her thighs,
he held her open at the knees engrossed with the view of her spread out before
him like some pagan offering.

“So
fucking beautiful.”  He growled.  His eyes finally lifting to meet
hers with a fire scarcely banked.  “Mine baby.”  He cupped her sex
inserting his big finger down to the first knuckle.  She arched with a
cry, loving the way he filled the emptiness he created.  “This is mine.”

Clytie
might have been able to form some kind of argument against his proprietary
claim but at this moment in time, she couldn’t recall why she’d want to bother.

“Demon
please.”

“Did
you touch yourself without me baby?”

“Did
you?”

Demon
tsked, “Wrong answer.”  He flipped her over leaving her empty once again and
smacked her ass.

Clytie
squeaked.  “I am not a child.”  But her independent words lost something
with her head buried in the pillow.

“Did
you touch yourself?”

“You
have got to be kidding.”  She growled her frustration.  He spanked her
again.  Not hard, but enough to cause a sting.

“Wrong
answer, baby.”

“O.K.
Fine.  No, I worked.”  Between the yearning in her cunt and the pain
in her ass, she needed him.  “I’m not comfortable doing that.”

“Doing
what baby?”

What
did she have to do to end this conversation?  She tried to turn over and
received another swat for her troubles.  “Masturbation, you bastard. 
I’ve never been able to do it!”

Suddenly
she was flipped back over to face a smug and horny Demon kneeling between her
thighs.

“Good.” 
His hand went back to a proprietary hold on her pussy.  This time he stretched
her tight opening with two fingers.  “From now on the only one who touches
this is me.”

She
grabbed him by the hair on either side of his ears bringing his face to hers,
and enunciated very clearly.  “Then get on with it.”

Demon
chuckled.  “Not this time, Baby.  You don’t answer my phone calls or
return my messages.  You refuse my date.”  He nipped her full bottom
lip.  “I have to sneak in here just to touch you.”  He soothed the
bite with his tongue and captured her mouth again, making her groan into his
mouth.  “You needed a few days.  You had it; it sucked.  Now
we’re going to do things my way.”

His
lips were soft on hers, his eyes a hard chocolate steel that made Clytie shiver
even as it turned her on.  His fingers curved up until he hit the spot
that made her moan his name.  He pulled out and hovered above her on an
elbow, sucking his fingers like a lollypop.  She cleared her throat,
sinking down a little in the bed beneath him and unable to look away.  “What
exactly did you have in mind?”

He
finished cleaning off his fingers and popped his lips, never taking his eyes
from hers.  “I’m going to fuck you up one side and down the other until
you never even think of saying no to me again.  Then we’re going to pack
up all your things and move you into my house and into my bed where I know
you’re safe and I can touch you whenever I want.  No more of this
‘thinking things through’ shit.  You’ll have whatever you need. 
Hell, I’ll build you your own studio if that’s what it takes, we have over 200
acres.

“Just
like that?  You say it so it must be so?”

He
leaned down and bit her none too gently on the shoulder right over his
mark.  When she tried to hit him, he pulled her hand down and placed it
around his hard cock.  She forgot about the bite and curled her fingers
around the hot length.  Her hand did not span the entire width.  He
shuddered when she tightened her grip and Clytie closed her eyes to better feel
him.  He was hard, unbelievably hot, and smooth as silk.  The veins
stood out angrily but the skin was soft.  She squeezed him from base to
tip and opener her eyes to find him fighting for control.