“That…uh…” I cleared my throat, flicking a finger. “That’s my private property.”
She held up my black monsoon purse with a raised eyebrow. “I never would have guessed it belongs to the spirit who wears funeral clothes. Thank you for informing me.” My eyes shot wide as she started rummaging through my purse. “You do know,” she lifted a condom from its depths, “you don’t need these while taking birth control?”
I cleared my throat, fisting the blanket at my chest. My blush would probably never go away. Like her. “I have it in case someone else needs one.”
“A good Samaritan,” she deadpanned, and flicked the condom back into my purse.
“Is this really necessary?” Leric asked, beginning to sound aggravated as he lifted on his elbows. The blanket slid down to his waist and displayed lots of lovely tanned flesh. “Those are her personal items you’re going through.”
“You can tell a lot about a woman by going through her purse,” Mrs Damon murmured, her eyes avid on her task of trespassing. “Such as, she is indeed taking birth control. She has a fascination with silver weapons. It appears she is homeless, since she doesn’t have any keys other than a hotel card. She’s prepared for her period but not on it. Her favorite colors appear to be black and hot pink—a shame. She’s not vain because there’s no mirror in here. She’s either broke or cautious, because she carries no cash. And…jackpot.”
Mrs Damon lifted my license. “She’s a youthful twenty-three-year-old spirit Elemental from New York. Your bedmate does, indeed, have blue eyes, weighs only one hundred and five pounds, and is a mere five-foot-two-inches tall.” Her lips curved up in satisfaction. “And her name is Caroline Jules.” Her head tilted, and white eyebrows rose as she peered over the license at me. “The Prodigy Elemental, I presume?”
“Yes, ma’am.” There was no other word for her. She was definitely a ‘ma’am’.
Brown eyes never wavered. “How long have you been sleeping with my son?”
“Mom…” Leric’s growl was a clear warning.
Mrs Damon didn’t appear to have any boundaries of courtesy.
She was in a whole other stratosphere of ‘Leric’s Mom’.
“What?” She turned innocent eyes on him. “I’m only curious.”
He glared.
Her lips slowly curved. It wasn’t a good sign. “All right, I’ll find out another way.” She dropped my license into my purse, setting it back on the dresser. Gracefully she moved to the end of the bed, staring blatantly where Tristan was taking up half the mattress. “He appears to like you, Ms Jules.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly, patting Tristan’s side and making him groan at being woken. “He’s a big sweetie who flirts for chocolates.” I blinked, quickly glancing at Leric as I stroked Tristan in apology. Unlike Leric’s mother, I was polite when waking some one—or thing—unexpectedly. “I promise I haven’t given him anymore since…that episode.”
A white eyebrow rose. “I would hope not.” He flopped back on the bed, glaring up at his mother. “Mom, I love you, but get the hell out of here. I would like to rest for whatever remaining night there is.” I yelped when he yanked me down next to him, the abrupt movement putting me on my side facing him. “And so would she.” A deep, soft chuckle. “Or, I could tell Dad about this…”
Mrs Damon shrugged a shoulder. “He doesn’t think I know, but he’s out playing golf with his buddies. He wouldn’t answer your call right now, anyway.” Quick, irritated fingers ran through her hair. “He was supposed to help me start redecorating the dining room, but no.” Her eyes narrowed. “He ducked out the back door before I could stop him, and I know he saw the material swatches I left on the bar.” An arrogant wrist flicked. “As you know, I have my contacts. They informed me of his play date.”
“Mom.” Leric yawned wide against my forehead, turning to toss an arm over my side and caging me between him and Tristan. “Get. Out.”
She hummed, and even though I couldn’t see her with my face squashed to a muscled chest, I could still feel those eyes of hers staring at us. “As you wish, dear.” I heard a patting noise, and I was pretty sure she was touching his feet. “I love you.”
Leric growled quietly, the sound vibrating against my face. “Love you, too.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Damon,” I murmured. I wasn’t even ashamed to admit I was frightened by this woman.
“Now she’s polite.” She gave no returned pleasantries. “Well, goodnight.”
Another flash of white blazed inside the room as she finally left us.
Leric sighed, lifted his arm from me and tilted a little to click off the bedside lamp, then flopped his arm back over me. “Sprite, try to forget that ever happened.”
My voice was muffled against his bare skin. “That is not something easily forgotten.”
He kicked a heavy leg over both of mine, practically using me as a body pillow. “Just don’t tell Roselle or Reese. They’ll never let me live it down.”