Page 59 of Demon
She sat quiet and still long enough that Demon started to worry, but he kept his mouth shut.Instead of asking what she was thinking or trying to distract her, he let her be.The hand on her back continued to work in small circles.
After ten minutes, she released his hand and scrambled from his lap.
"I can't just sit here staring at the walls.What’s the plan?"
"I don't know about you two," Damon stood and reached both hands toward the ceiling enjoying the stretch and pull of his muscles before relaxing, “but I need to get some sleep.Even if it's just a couple of hours."
"Is the office even going to be open today?"Ronnie looked at Gavin, her hands on her hips.
"I'm sure it will be, even if the government takes everything and the business closes, it will take time.But there's nothing saying you can't take a day off.If you're worried about it, call the office and see if anything new has come in.One day, or even three or four days taken off won't hurt you."
"So says you," she scoffed."I'm going to be the one scrambling for the money to cover rent."She threw her arms in the air, as if that would convince him.
Demon watched the two of them in silence.He wanted to speak up and tell her not to worry about it.He didn’t because then she would demand to know why, then she would argue when he told her he would pay it.
He wasn't up for that argument, not until he'd gotten some sleep at least.
"What's about you?"She looked at him, her hands on her hips once more.
"What about me?I told you, I need sleep."
"I get that."She waved one hand in a dismissive gesture."Where?"
He lifted one shoulder and let it fall."I was thinking I'd borrow your bed, if you don't mind."He didn't bother to look at her brother or check his reaction.Demon didn’t care about how Gavin felt about the two of them sleeping together or any other part of their relationship.He wasn't part of it.Their relationship was between Demon and Ronnie, and hers was the only opinion he cared about.
"I don't mind.How would you feel about a little company?"Mischief glittered in her eyes.
"I'd love to have you there, firecracker, but whether you're with me or not, I'll only sleep as long as he's here and awake."He tilted his head toward her brother.
Ronnie watched him with narrowed eyes for several seconds.“Why?”
“Same reason I wouldn’t sleep last night.If you’re here, someone has to be awake, just in case whoever is supposed to take you gets tired of waiting and decides to make their move.I won’t put you at risk that even the few seconds it would take me to wake up and respond to a threat will be the ones that matter.”Demon didn’t look away from her as he spoke.
Would he like to hold her in his arms while he slept?Fuck yes.But he wouldn’t put her at risk, not even for that.He’d been pushing it on the keeping her safe earlier while he’d taken her to bed, but he hadn’t been able to resist any longer, and at least he’d been awake and able to respond more quickly, should someone come in.
He watched as she turned, hands still on hips, to face her brother.
“Well, what are your plans?Are you going out to play cowboy some more or are you going to hang around here?”
Gavin stared at her for several seconds, his gaze flicked to Demon for a moment then went back to Ronnie.
“I’m here for at least a couple of hours.You can go lay down with him if you want, but I’d prefer not to have to listen to you two having wild monkey sex.Try to keep it down, will you?”
“I’m not planning on that, I’m just going to lie down with him for a little while, then I’ll come back out and we can talk.”
“Sure.I’d like some time to just visit with you.”
“Me too.”She glanced around the room.“I’m sure you’ve got something you can do for a little while, either for work or not, and you’re always free to watch the TV.I’ll be out in a while.”She turned back to Demon.He motioned for her to lead the way.She headed down the hall.
Demon met Gavin’s gaze, making sure the man planned to be here.When Gavin nodded once, Demon turned and followed Ronnie into the bedroom.
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Ronniewentintothebedroom then into the attached bathroom without waiting to see if Demon was following her.She might have just gotten up from a nap, and wasn’t sleepy at all, but she hoped that if she laid down with Demon she might could get a little something before he went to sleep, much like he had done to her earlier.
In the bathroom, she thought about stripping off her shirt, but decided to wait.By the time she made it back out to the bedroom, Demon was there.He lay still, curled on his side, his eyes closed.She wondered if he’d fallen asleep already, if maybe she should skip lying down and go out to spend time with Gavin instead.
“Come on, firecracker.Stop over thinking this and come get in bed.I’m waiting for you before I can relax.”
