“Babe, it was only a nightmare.”
In a flash, her arms encircled my neck and she pulled me down into her grasp.
“I lost everything,” she whispered.
I held her tight, whispering, “shhh.” until the quakes rocking her form settled.
“Naomi,” I said when she stopped shaking. She peeled away and stared into my eyes. “I’m not planning on dying any time soon,” I added when I had her full attention.
“Sometimes planning and reality don’t meet,” she said and sniffled.
“Neither one of us is clairvoyant,” I pointed out.
She wiped her eyes and nodded. “I know, it’s just... it was disturbing.”
Her trembling lips propelled me forward and I covered them with mine, tasting the soft saltiness of tears mingling with her natural sweetness and I sighed, breaking the kiss. She palmed my cheek and attempted to smile. It didn’t work quite as well as she might have thought, but I let it go. I really didn’t want to hear about whatever nightmarish horror she could dream up.
Instead, I snuggled down into my pillow, pulled her back into the spoon position, and ran my fingers slowly through her hair. It wasn’t long before she dropped into dreamland and her chest started the soft rise and fall of sleep.
Chapter 3 - Damian
I woke facing away from the window and my gaze landed on the sunlight painting the walls with the outline of the windowpanes standing out like giant Braille relief map. Instead of the usual freak out, I sighed and studied the patterns that so many take for granted.
The door to the bathroom opened and I rolled onto my back, looking down beyond the foot of the bed at Naomi. Her hair glistened in the morning sun and the soft smile on her lips created a heat through my entire form. I sat up, returning her smile.
“Valerie is taking me to the doctor. Did you want to come?”
My smile faded. Neither of us had left the safety of the property since the battle with Lucifer and just the thought left me chilled. All the what-ifs hit and I stared at her. Instead of voicing the shit flinging in my head, I gave her a nod and threw the blankets aside. Any hope I had of morning sex went out the window and I headed for the bathroom, catching a quick kiss on my way by.
If she was nervous about leaving, I couldn’t tell, but that’s par for the course. She could hide her nerves better than I could. Yesterday was one of the first times I had ever seen her hesitant about anything. Naomi usually barrels along without much of a thought to her mortality. It’s both refreshing and frustrating, and one of the many reasons I love her.
The warm water of the shower didn’t quell the chill in my bones either and I wondered if we could get someone to come here instead of venturing out. Sure, I had gone to the garage, but that place is almost as secure as this one. The only saving grace was it was bright and sunny, so the monsters that hunted at night wouldn’t be on the prowl.
That left demons.
I hate demons. Those crazy fucks didn’t have any sort of moral code. They plundered, tortured and killed with glee.
By the time I stepped into the living room, I had worked myself up into a foul mood.
“What time is your appointment?” I asked with a clip in my voice that turned both women’s heads.
“What crawled up your ass?” Valerie shot back.
I leveled a glare in her direction. “We haven’t left the house since...” I stopped, pressing my lips together and shifting my stance. I knew Valerie’s motives were purely to make sure Naomi was okay, but I don’t think she considered what could happen on the outside.
“I’ve been coming to and from without incident.”
She had a point. Even with Uncle Ted off on vacation, no one bothered her. I nodded and met Naomi’s gaze. “What if demons are watching the place? We have to be prepared for the worst.”
That annoyed crease appeared between her eyes and her arms crossed. She didn’t need to speak to broadcast her irritation, but underneath the fire burning in her gaze, I saw the first hint of hesitation.
“How does one prepare for a demon attack?” she asked, opting for the snarky sarcasm that always steeled my nerves.
I shrugged. “I used to be able to smell them coming.” My hands found their way into my pockets and I dropped my gaze.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
My gaze snapped to hers and I bit back my comment. There was no way in hell I was going to let her go without me. I turned to Valerie.
“Do you have your uncle’s pistol?”
“You don’t have a permit to conceal and carry. Besides, the hospital frowns upon firearms on the premise unless you’re a police officer,” she said.