Chapter 23 Damn, I need a nap.
Damn, I need a nap.
Iopened my eyes from a quick call with Jackie, where I filled her in on everything. She, of course, clung to the idea of Raymond and me being married, and that was when I had to end it. Her head floated in front of me, fuzzy and unnerving, eyes filled with unspoken judgement.
“We’re supposed to be focused on Natalie!” I fussed at her. If I could have grabbed her by the shoulders to shake her, I would have.
“Yeah, and then we can plan a wedding!” she teased.
“I’m leaving.” I sucked my teeth then released the stone from my hand. My vision cleared, and I was back in the condo, sitting on the leather sofa next to Raymond. “So dang annoying.”
I muttered, and Raymond’s head snapped toward me. “You’re back.”
“Yeah, I am.” I tucked the stone back into my shirt.
“What is it?” He sat next to me, a mask of concern twisting his expression. “Is something wrong back on Earth?”
“No, everything is okay. Just Jackie being Jackie. You know how she can be.”
“Demanding more sushi?” He smirked at his lighthearted joke. “How much do you owe her now?”
“Not yet, but it’s definitely coming.” I rolled my neck. “I’m sure the longer we’re here, the higher the tally grows.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll cover the tab.”
“You know, what I really wish is that I could have one of those little donuts right now.” My stomach ached at the thought of the sweet treats. “I know they aren’t the best thing for me, but neither is going to another world to face off against demons.”
“Ask, and you shall receive.” The corner of his lips twisted up into a half smile as he placed the little packet in my hand. “I told you I had plenty for the trip.”
“Oh, thank you!” I snatched the little package away from him so quickly, I almost scratched him. “Sorry. That was a lot more aggressive than I planned.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He chuckled as he watched me open the package and quickly devour the first sweet treat.
“What’s that?” I looked up from the donut in my hand to see Cufio walking back into the room. They’d left us alone before I made the call to Jackie.
“Something to keep her happy,” Raymond said as another packet of donuts appeared in his hand for me. “Did you find out anything useful while you were gone?”
“Actually, I did. I spoke with Punal,” Cufio spoke. “He said Klougus is open to a meeting.”
“How do we know they won’t attack when we get there?” Raymond straightened next to me, the shadows on his arm lifted just slightly and swaying above his flesh. “Punal is a damned liar, and we all know that. I won’t go unless we’re sure what we’re getting into.”
“You know there are never any guarantees when dealing with demons. But hey, times have changed. People grow.” He paused, looking at me, then returned his gaze to his brother. “You’ve definitely changed since you left the Bane.”
“What else did they say?” Raymond asked.
“You might not believe this, but surprisingly, they are offering you a deal.” Cufio sat in the leather armchair across from us and kicked his feet up on the stone table in the center of the space.
“I don’t know the details yet, but it sounds like there is something he wants from you in return for letting you off the hook. ”
“That sounds too good to be true,” Raymond said. “Why would he ever just let me off after what happened?”
“Time passes, people heal and move on. There is definitely a catch, but what choice do we have?” Cufio sat down on the sofa across from us. “I mean, unless Likosa told you something different.”
“She didn’t. She wasn’t much help at all, actually,” Raymond muttered.
“That’s not like her.” Metice appeared, walking out of the kitchen with a glass in his hand. “What happened?”
“She gave her a scarf,” Raymond answered.
“A scarf?” Metice looked at me. “Was there something special about it?”
“It’s a long story.” I held up the green scarf I’d stuffed into my pocket. “But it used to be mine. I lost it when I was a kid.”
“It is always a long story with Likosa. She’s the queen of playing the long game.” Metice eyed the fabric in my hand. “But if she gave that to you, it means you’re supposed to have it. I wouldn’t brush it off as insignificant.”
“So when do we leave?” I asked. With my stomach full of sweet treats, my mind was ready to do more, and listening to the men go back and forth sounded like a horrible idea.
Raymond was clearly stalling, and his brother was doing nothing but antagonizing him.
“I’m all for strategizing when we’re talking about actual game plans, but that’s not happening.
Likosa said Natalie won’t make it long here because she’s a regular human. We need to get her home.”
“She’s right.” Cufio nodded, leaning back further in his seat. “Which is why I already moved some things around. We have a scheduled appointment with the big guy, and Noville will be here in the morning with transportation for us to head over there.”
“Transportation? Can't we just use the shadows?” I looked at Raymond. “Why are we making this take longer than necessary?”
“There are rules to our world. One of the biggest ones is that shadow walkers are not allowed to just pop up anywhere they want, not in private spaces and especially not in Klougus’s place,” Cufio spoke.
“We need permission to do that. Since everything that happened…he’s doubled down on security.
Shadows can’t just come and go like they used to. ”
“That gives you some time to rest. There is a lot that needs to be done, but none of it matters if you are falling over yourself.” Metice pointed at me. “She needs it.”
“No, I’m fine,” I insisted. “I’ve eaten now. Plenty of fuel in those donuts.”
“No, you’re not. It takes time to adjust to being in this world, and that hardly counts as a balanced meal.
You’ll need more to eat than that.” He looked at Raymond.
“Make sure she rests. If she’s anything like Rayna, she’ll fight you on it.
I have a few things to handle. I’ll be back when you’re ready to head out. ”
“Yeah, thanks.” Raymond stood as if he needed to walk them to the door, but Metice vanished with that weird, pressurized feeling, and Cufio stepped into a shadow and disappeared.
“Are we really supposed to just take a nap or something now?” I stood from the sofa. “I don’t think I’m capable of that right now.”
“They’re right.” Raymond turned to me, his eyes softer than before.
What the heck was it about Metice that made him harden like that?
“I won’t have you wearing yourself out here.” He held his hand out to me. “Let’s go.”
It was pointless to debate him on it. I knew what would happen if I did: shadow hands. And honestly, after eating the sugary treat, I felt the ache of exhaustion creeping over my body. We had a plan. That was what mattered.
I followed Raymond into the large bedroom.
It was simple—dark stone walls, flickering candlelight, one massive bed across from a large window overlooking a grassy expanse leading to the distant city lights.
There was a fireplace, and just beyond the bed sat the luggage Jackie helped me pack.
I’d been so worried about making it to Natalie, I hadn’t thought about my things.
But Raymond had. I didn’t know when he did it, but he’d considered me and my needs.
I noticed the zipper on one of the bags was opened, but before I could mention it, Raymond looked at me with eyes that made everything feel all too intense.
Maybe I should have asked him what was on his mind.
Maybe. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to that question, not after everything that had been said.
Likosa’s words, that suggestion of marriage, hung between us like a neon sign, buzzing and blinding.
When I said nothing, and after it was clear he also wouldn’t be breaking the awkward silence, I shifted my focus from his dark eyes to look out the window again. A quiet sigh slipped through my lips when I heard him moving around the room behind me.
“Come here.” Raymond’s voice was low and stern. This was his domain. He was in control.
Still keeping to the rules of our relationship, I turned around and found him with my nightgown in his hand.
It was one Jackie insisted I bring on the trip.
I walked over to him and held my hand out, expecting him to give me the garment, but he didn’t.
Instead, Raymond undressed me. Slowly, methodically, he pulled the t-shirt, sweats, bra, and panties away from my body.
My skin prickled, anticipating him to do so much more than undress me.
My pussy tightened with excitement for something that wouldn’t come.
Because Raymond didn’t kiss me, play with my pussy, or fuck me.
Hell, he didn’t even look at me, not in the way a naked woman would expect to be looked at by the man who claimed to want her.
He slipped the nightgown over my head, covering my body, and stepped away.
Then, just as he had before, Raymond phased out of view and returned in black pajama pants that matched my gown.
Silently, he pulled back the sheets on the bed, a dark red color, and called me over to join him by patting the mattress.
When I got into bed, he pulled the covers over my body as he slipped in close. His arm draped across my waist before he pulled me in close to his body. The moment my back pressed against his stomach and his warmth spread across me, I couldn’t protest sleep anymore.