Broken Butterflies (29 page)

“Enough depressing talk.” She put some body wash on a puff and ran it down his torso. Her free hand took hold of him. He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation.

When the suds had run from him, Ilisha’s lips encased him and he gripped the soap caddy, yanking it from the wall. A few tiles fell with it. Ilisha stood up and smiled, knowing she was teasing him.

She walked out of the shower, leaving him stunned. She heard Damon flip the water off, his feet splashing across the floor after her. He found her in the living room sitting in the chair, smiling.

He leaned over her and tried to kiss her, but she climbed out of the chair. Ilisha shoved him into her place.

“This is my show,” she said climbing on top of him.

She watched his body language and couldn’t help herself from getting into his mind.

He wanted more and fast, but she moved at a very slow pace. When his mind was begging for more she stood up and ran up the stairs.

When he got to the door of the bedroom his eyes were on fire. She smiled sinfully. In a blur he was across the room, throwing her on the bed where took her. When they finished she curled herself up to his chest. “Tell me what you meant when you told John you could trust him.”

“The night he was attacked, that demon was beating him within an inch of his life to get information and he didn’t say a word. No matter how much pain he was in he kept his word to me.”

“Why doesn’t Azriel’s army just come and get me?”

“He knows I’m here, but I’m positive he hasn’t told them. There is no way they would agree to this if they knew they would be fighting a royal army. They don’t know I’m here, but they can feel a strong angelic presence in the house. They also know they sent a pawn to the house and I killed him. They aren’t taking any chances.”

“What would they do if they knew you were here?”

“Get reinforcements, and hope they lived to tell the tale.” Damon paused and anger filled his eyes. “As for the king Bram sent, he had enough power to take me and he knew it. The army Azrielhas is pretty much low level.”

“From what I understand royals of the underworld don’t like to get involved in angel politics.”

“No they don’t, but if an opportunity presents itself to take one of us out, they’re going to take it.”

“We need to go see my mom. I told her I would explain all this.”

“Oh, goody, I can hardly wait.” Damon reluctantly got up and dressed.

A half an hour later Ilisha looked back and forth between her mother and John. “How much has he told you?”

“He explained the butterfly thing.”

“I didn’t know if I could say anything, Majesty.”

“John, thank you for your discretion,” Damon replied. Ilisha looked to him as he spoke. She could tell that he genuinely liked John.

Ilisha started from the beginning on the train. She could see Damon tense when she spoke of Bram. Dena listened as she told of their marriage and his betrayal. Shock filled Dena’s face.

“Mom, Damon is my husband from my other life.”

Dena eyed Damon. Her eyes ran up and down his tall, intimidating stature.

“Could you guys leave us for a second?” Ilisha asked.

Damon leaned down and kissed her forehead before they walked outside.

Ilisha scratched behind her ear. “You know I’m an angel. Actually I always have been. Damon restored me by letting me drink his blood.”

Dena’s face crinkled.

“Mom, I know you’re dating John. You may as well know all this. He may ask you to do the same thing.”

“How…?”

Ilisha cut her off. “I’m happy for you. I hope it helps relax you a little.”

Dena straightened her skirt across her lap. “What do you mean?”

“Mom, come on. You became so uptight after daddy died. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel.”

Dena sat silent.

“Nobody likes to feel pain. I think I would rather have someone punch me in the face than feel emotional pain sometimes. You deserve to be happy again, take this chance.”

“Are you really okay with this?”

“Mom, I loved daddy with all my heart, but I also think it’s time for you to move on. John is a good man.”

That made Dena smile. She paused for a second and leaned forward on the chair. “Did you drink Bram’s blood also?” Fascination filled her voice.

“No, he knew I was already bonded that way to Damon.”

Dena looked confused so Ilisha explained the bond of blood.

“Is he good to you?”

“He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Dena listened as Ilisha explained Azriel and his army.

“What can you do?” Dena asked. She looked down at her knees and they began to bob. She was wringing her hands and Ilisha knew her nerves were getting the best of her.

Ilisha got up from the couch and knelt in front of her mother. “Pray,” she said looking into Dena’s eyes.

In that instant Ilisha acknowledged religion and God, which she had protested since her dad died. Dena gave a slight smile and nodded.

“I pray for you every day, honey.”

The guys came back in and John kissed Dena’s hand. She responded by grinning from ear to ear.

“John, can you remind me to call the main bank branch in Denver?” Dena asked gaining her composure.

“Why?” Ilisha asked.

“Well, I tried to drop off my house payment at the local branch and they insisted it’s paid off.”

Ilisha eyed Damon. “You don’t need to call the bank. It’s paid off.”

“No, this is some kind of mistake. I still have ten years mortgage remaining on this house.”

“Damon paid it off.”

Dena’s hand went to her chest.

“You took John in with no questions. It’s the least I could do,” Damon explained.

“I’ll have to pay you back,” Dena insisted.

Damon leaned forward on the couch. He gave her that stern look that only he could give. “You will do no such thing.”

Dena went to speak, but Damon silenced her. “I would feel very insulted if you try to pay me anything.”

Tears welled up in Dena’s eyes. “Thank you. And thank you for loving my daughter.”

“You don’t need to thank me for that either. She’s my world.”

As Ilisha and Damon walked out to the car she said, “Were you going to tell me?”

“It wasn’t a secret; I got a little preoccupied this morning.” He raised his eyebrows and she smiled, getting into the car.

Damon drove Ilisha out of town and into Denver.

“Where are you taking me?”

“There is something I’ve always wanted in this human world. I think it’s time I get one.”

Ilisha raised one eyebrow.

A few minutes later they pulled into a Porsche dealership.

“Are you serious?” she asked rolling her eyes.

“Very.”

When they got out of the car, a salesman practically ran out the door. Damon was dressed in designer jeans, a black t-shirt and Italian leather shoes and jacket. Ilisha was wearing jeans, black leather boots to her knees, a cream spaghetti strap tank top, and jean jacket. Every piece of clothing was designer labels. She was sure the salesman spotted this, hence his eagerness.

Damon scanned the lot and then looked inside the buildings large windows. “That one.” He pointed to a black 911 Turbo S circling around on a platform just inside the door.

“We have another one just over here that you can test drive, let me get the key,” the salesman said.

Damon stopped him. He brought a huge wad of cash out of his jacket and held it between his fingers. “I want that one.” Damon pointed again at the car.

“Of course sir, my mistake.”

Damon and Ilisha followed him inside.

One salesman opened the double glass doors while the other turned off the turning platform. The car was driven just outside the doors and Damon was handed the key.

“We just need to fill out some paperwork, then you can be on your way.”

“No paperwork, just the registration, and you can take the other car off our hands.” Damon pointed to Ilisha’s car and she opened her mouth to protest.

Damon turned to her. “That car is old as dirt.”

She looked over at it. “No it’s…okay.” She paused. “I guess it is.”

“Of course, Mr…” the salesman said.

Damon raised his eyebrows, cutting the man off.

“Mr. Samuels. Have fun in your new Porsche.” The salesman walked away.

Damon slid the key in the ignition and hit the gas, while in neutral. He closed his eyes like he was having an orgasm. Putting the car in first gear he sped out of the lot and skidded onto the street.

“What’s with all the money your spending?” Ilisha said gripping the door handle.

“Ilisha I have more money than I know what to do with. I may as well give some away and buy a toy while I’m here.”

“While you’re here? Are you planning on leaving me?” Hurt filled her voice.

“No, my beauty, you’re coming back with me.”

She thought of leaving her mom and Amy.

“I can sense your distress. It’s not like you can’t come back to visit.”

“Oh. So why not just go now?”

“Because I have a demon problem to deal with. I have to stop them or they will wreck havoc.”

Damon drove them up a winding mountain road. The car glided around the turns sometimes at seventy miles an hour. Damon had a perma-grin. The speed actually got to Ilisha and not in a bad way. It seemed to turn her on. She looked over at Damon dressed in leather, his dark blond hair slicked back. As his hand gripped the shifter she wished it was her.

He cranked the wheel and they drifted sideways and hit a small dirt road. Damon drove back a few feet and turned the car and lights off. “Your desire is so strong I thought I might wreck the car.”

“Not likely,” she said climbing out of the automobile and removing her jacket.

She leaned back on the hood supporting herself with her elbows. Her long black hair dangled behind her, grazing the shiny paint.

Damon tossed his jacket onto the front seat of the car and stood looking down at her. “Too bad you don’t have a dress on.”

She tilted her head to the side and smiled. “Sorry, you’re going to have to be more creative than lifting my dress up.”

He took off her boots and socks, moved up and slid her jeans and underwear off. Getting as far as dropping his pants to his ankles he took her.

He hesitated for a second. “Don’t break anything on the car.”

She chuckled and wrapped her legs around him.

Damon drove them home, taking the curves at high speeds. He rounded the corner to their street, skidding tires and came to a screeching halt in front of the house.

The next day there was a knock on the door. Damon opened it and showed a guy in who was pulling a large black case on wheels. He had jet-black hair and had on a perfectly tailored suit.

“This is Giovanni. He’s here to make you some clothes.”

Ilisha was well aware of who he was. She owned many pieces from his clothing line. Grinning from ear to ear she did a little dance and squealed with delight.

“This is my creation, no?” Giovanni touched the fabric on her shirt.

“Yes.”
I saved for a month for this
.

“You’re lady has good taste, Majesty.”

Damon smiled and sat in the chair.

“I need measurements. Is better if naked.”

Damon eyed him. “Of course I brought this for you.” Giovanni held up a body suit.

“Okay.” Ilisha said holding the suit up wearily. Despite her misgivings she went to the bathroom and changed.