The Book Waitress Series Volume One (22 page)

Fingers made small circles at the crown of her head, working their way toward her ears and around to the base of her neck. She groaned. He continued to scrub and massage her scalp. More warm water sluiced down the top of her head.
He’s rinsing. Bummer.

“Here’s a tip. Go into massage therapy for a profession. You’re good.”

“Thanks. I’ll take that under advisement. Here’s a towel. Wrap your head.” While she did so, he poured out the sudsy, foul-smelling gunk into the sink and brought back a fresh container. “Now, for the rest of you.”

She glared at him, but he wouldn’t budge from his spot at the table. “You really think I’m gonna let you watch as I wash myself off? I thought you were joking. That’s so not gonna happen.”

“Like I said, I’ve seen and held you, Camille. I know your body well.”

“You’re not helping your case any.”

“Just do it. If you’re worried about your boyfriend finding out, I promise not to say a word. It’ll be our little secret. Pinky swear.” He held out one of his pinkies.

She swatted it away and snickered. “You are very sweet.”

A sudden shadow distorted his face into a scowl. “Don’t be fooled,” he growled gruffly. “I’m a douchebag of the highest order. You’ve just caught me at a weak moment. It’ll pass.”

“Right. So you’re a self-deprecating douchebag, to boot.”

“Is that what you think I am?” He grabbed her by the shoulders, his face reddened with anger.  “Just because I want out of Hell, don’t try to romanticize who or what I am, Camille. I’m a very bad man who’s done one thing good.”

“Sometimes one good thing is enough to make a person change forever.” She stared him down. Glowing, golden eyes or not, when push came to shove, she could give as good as any hard-nosed individual. “Hmmm.”

“What?” He bristled.

“I think you’re deliberately trying to be an ass to me. But it won’t work. I already know you as a man wanting to be better than his sordid past. A man who values life.”

“My “sordid” past is only about a day or so old. And I don’t think any of the thousands I’ve killed would agree with your assessment of how I treat life.”

“What’s with the turn around, Synn? What’s gotten into you?” She raised a hand to smooth his hair and caress his cheek. A bold move at such a volatile time, but she wondered if the Dark Lord had somehow seized him. Maybe a soft touch, so diametrically opposed to his sudden harshness, was just the kind of gesture to break through his funk.

The glimmer receded and he blinked a few times. He rested his own hand on hers. “Wow, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I think I’m going through a detox of sorts here.”

“I figured something was up since you’ve only ever been kind and protective of me. What were you feeling inside just now?”

“Intense hatred warring with the need to protect you.”

“Did…did ‘You Know Who’ appear at all or try to speak to you?”

“I don’t think so. No. No,” he said absently, his brow furrowed. And just as suddenly as the dark mood came, he brightened. “Thank you. I have a feeling you saved me from something ominous. Maybe Satan was trying to reach out to find me. Or maybe it was my true nature resisting the drastic step I’ve taken by helping you.”

“One good turn deserves another. You’re welcome.” She sighed, resigned to the situation, reached for the hem of her shirt, and lifted it over her head. Then she removed her pants. Taking the rag from the table, she dipped it in the frothy water and scrubbed all the parts she could reach. Looking at him pointedly, she held the cloth out and said, “I can’t reach my back. Would you?”

He hesitated then took it from her. “Sure.”

As he washed her down, from shoulders to dimple above her butt, she bit her lip and closed her eyes.
His touch is making me so damn hot!
She stepped away from him and grabbed the towel hanging on the chair. “Okay, thanks. I got it from here.” She wrapped herself up and dried herself off, snatching her clothing as she scooted into the living room to change.

Checking herself in the mirror above the piano, she scowled and gathered her hair in a twist, securing it with a few bobby pins.
Why on earth is this happening to me now? I need him like I need air. And I want him like a guilty pleasure. But I love Derek. I have to get back home.

Synn walked in, sat down on the couch, and watched as she smoothed a few loose strands behind her ears. She chose to sit on a chair rather than next to him and assumed a more formal tone. Maybe if she played this professionally, it would dampen her raging emotions.

“I was thinking,” she began. “How do you plan on getting me back to the library? I do need to get back as soon as possible, but I’m afraid I don’t know my way around this island well enough to know where we are.”

“Don’t worry. I know how to get back there.”

“What are you going to do? Walk or steal someone’s car? Hey, wait! I know a cab driver who picked me up when I first came to the island. He could come get us. Oh, but I don’t have my purse with his card. Forget it. This house must have a phone book somewhere. We could call the service.”

“And pay with what money? No, I have a much easier way to travel. Come here and I’ll show you.” He extended a hand for her to grab and she reluctantly took it.

“I don’t know what you’re up to, mister, but I must confess I’m dubious.” He led them out the front door and down the stoop, totally ignoring her squinting eyes and screwed up mouth. Stopping at the sidewalk, he turned her toward him.

“Now, just hold onto me. You may want to close your eyes. Ready?”

“Whoa, wait! We’re going now? How
exactly
are you taking me back home?”

“We are going to travel my way. It’s how I got you out of the well. Don’t worry. You’ll be very safe. Come on.”

“If I’m not, there’s gonna be Hell to pay. Literally.”

He snorted and waved her into his arms. She wrapped hers around his waist and squeezed her eyelids shut. “Okay, I’m ready.”

He pressed her tightly against him. His powerful muscles surrounded her, and that quiet strength assured her he wouldn’t let go. A luscious, addictive scent wafted about her face. She couldn’t decide if it was vanilla ice cream or cake batter, but he sure smelled sweet. “Hang on!”

A squall of wind smashed her hair against her face, and she tried in vain to spit out the tendrils that had found refuge in her mouth. As her feet left the ground, a somersaulting stomach raised concern over whether or not she would toss her cookies.
Be brave, Camille! Be brave!
Before she had time to think past her personal cheering mantra, everything stopped. Feet met ground. Hair returned to its rightful, messy place, and her stomach settled.

“You can open your eyes now. We’re here.”

She couldn’t, and shook her head. The stranglehold on his waist was still very much in force. He rubbed her back gently, and she thought she heard a chuckle.

“Don’t you dare laugh at me, Synn. I don’t know what just happened, but when I do open my eyes, there better be a library in front of me.”

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. Come on and show me those beautiful amber eyes of yours. Have you noticed? They match mine.” He lightly caressed her cheek. She couldn’t help but angle her face up towards his and peer between her lashes. “Ah, there they are.”

“So, we’re really back at the library? I’m afraid to look around.”

“Yes we are, so you can release the bear hug.”

She peeled herself away from him but didn’t move too far. Glancing around, she found they were indeed in the parking lot. “I can’t begin to understand how you made this happen. You’ll have to explain it to me some day. For now, let’s get inside. There are people who need to know I’m alive.”

Chapter Three

Camille ran up the stairs and then back down, bumping right into a wall of Synn. As much as she wanted to hurry inside and jump into Derek’s arms, nerves had taken hold while she considered exactly how to introduce him to the crew. “What do I tell them about you? I mean, do I tell them you’re a demon, but a good demon who saved me, so they should be nice to you? Or do I lie and say you’re some dude who saved me after Satan spit me out of the well? I don’t know what to do. They’ll probably freak out no matter what I say.” She twisted and untwisted a curl by the nape of her neck. “Help.”

“Maybe I should stay out here for a bit. Let them get the excitement of your return out of their systems before you spring me upon them.”

“Good idea. You sure you’re okay with that, though?”

“Yes, now get in there and put them out of their misery.” He spun her around to face the steps and nudged her forward.

Each wooden step felt like it’d been painted with tar, but she finally made it to the front door, turned the knob, and pushed. Amidst gasps and looks of horror from Mallory and Arnie, she strode in, focused solely on the figure slouched on the sofa, arm hiding his face. Managing a quick, curt smile for the shocked pair, she hurried to Derek’s side.

“Derek,” she said softly, and gently grasped his arm, bringing it down to hold in both of hers. “I’m back. Open your eyes and look.”

He blinked a few times, and as his jaw fell, his shook his head. “Camille, is it really you?” He touched the pads of his fingers to her cheek.

“Yes, it’s really me. I’m back. I’m home.” She leaned in, forgetting the others in the room, only wanting to reconnect mind, body, and soul with him.

Scrambling, he abruptly sat up and grabbed her fiercely to his lap. He held her with trembling arms and his hands cradled her head against his chest. “Jesus, I can’t believe you’re alive! How…? I mean, where…? Shit, I can’t even put two words together.”

She heard him snuffle and pulled away to find tears trailing down his tired face. She gently wiped them away, and kissed his lips, so soft and inviting. Her heart fluttered and sighed with joy at this homecoming. “I’m very much alive. It’s a long story I have to share with all of you.”

At last, fully acknowledging the others in the room, she shifted on Derek’s lap and continued. “And there’s someone I’ve brought home with me. He’s waiting outside.” By the looks on their faces, she was certain Arnie and Mallory thought her to be Satan’s spawn. She expected nothing less than their skepticism upon her return. “Guys, I’m fine. Satan hasn’t claimed me. I’m not possessed by any demons, and I certainly haven’t turned to the dark side. It’s me, Camille. The same messed up woman you met a few days ago. And still just as screwed as before. I’ll go outside and get our guest. It’ll give you a chance to regroup.”

As she tried to get up from Derek’s lap, he held fast to her. “I don’t want you going anywhere without me ever again. We’ll both go out and get him.”

“Sure, come on.” Hand in hand they walked out the front door. She looked around the porch and parking lot, but didn’t see the demon anywhere. Concerned, she called out to him. “Synn? Where are you?”

“Nice name.” Derek smirked.

She gave him a nudge. “Now stop that. Synn? Come on, Derek. Let’s take a walk around and see where he’s gotten to. I’m worried.”

As they rounded the corner to the back yard, he appeared. The relief and joy that fluttered in her belly confounded her, and left her teetering on an edge much more precarious than that of the well she’d fallen into.

“Here, I’m here! Just checking out the property. Saw the well. Think we might wanna cover that thing up, right?” He extended a hand to Derek, and not giving anyone a chance to respond, he barreled ahead. “Hi, name’s Synn. Camille tell you anything about me?”

“Nope. Just that you’re her guest. I’m Derek, her boyfriend.” Camille blanched and nearly caved in from his pronouncement. But why his declaration unnerved her in front of Synn, she couldn’t say.

“So you’re the one she was dying to get back to, eh? I’m sure you’re just as glad to see her. Quite the catch, this one.”

“I’m a lucky guy that she loves me. And I love her, too.” He squeezed her to him and she coughed uncomfortably.

She detached herself and tromped up the steps. “Let’s take this conversation inside and I’ll…uh…explain everything as I know it. He can fill in the rest.” She didn’t wait for the men to follow.

Holy cow, how am I going to deal with these two in the same space? Maybe it was a mistake introducing Synn to everyone. Maybe I should have just said thanks for the ride and let him be on his way.
As she entered the library, her thoughts were blindsided by an intense burning of the pentagram on her stomach. She staggered across the threshold and crumbled to the floor. A mass of confusion swirled around her. Derek roared for someone to get the ice packs, and a volley of directions as to where they could be found ensued. She wailed.

One by one, Camille’s satanic designs flared up, sending her beyond reason and coherence. Vaguely, she watched as Derek put a frosty gel pack on her stomach. It sizzled and bubbled and exploded. More tumult and angry voices surrounded her as she felt cold, strong hands reach under her arms and lift her up off the floor. Immediately enclosed in a frozen embrace, she sighed deeply. Opening her eyes, she found the ice demon held her to him. His heart thrummed wildly against her cheek, but slowly returned to a normal rhythm once she peered up at him and mouthed the words “thank you.” Had he been worried about her? Scared?

“What the hell? Get your hands off her, man!” Derek was livid. Veins in his neck were ready to burst as his anger visibly spilled over. He tried to tear her away, not understanding the new guy’s motives, but she held on fast.

“No, Derek. He’s helping me. I swear….” Since Synn hadn’t been near her to suppress the burning quickly enough, she was too weak to continue. Her knees gave way, but he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa where he laid her down.

He spoke to Derek and the others over his shoulder while he knelt down and focused his concerned gaze on her. “The episode is over. She should be fine in a little bit.”

“Oh, really? And you would know this because?”

He pivoted on his knees to face her irate man directly. “The story Camille was about to share with you, well, it’s quite the tale. Now, I need you to calm down there, Derek. I’m not trying to make moves on your woman or anything. She needs me.”

“She
needs
you? And just who the hell
are
you that she needs you?”

“I…well….” he stammered, and raked a hand through his mess of hair. “You see, it’s like this—”

“Here, let me explain.” Seeing him squirm broke her heart. He didn’t deserve this. Feeling stronger, she sat up and continued. “It’s okay, really. Come, sit down and hear me, us, out.”

“Oh, so now there’s an
us
?” He remained standing, like a bear poised to rip the throat out of its victim.

Oh, you didn’t just say that. Did you?
He’d just pushed a button that sent Camille into a tailspin. “Stop acting like a jealous schoolboy and give me a chance to tell you everything. Looks can be deceiving, and assuming the worst will get you in a hell of a lot of trouble with me.”

He opened his mouth and then shut it. She’d flustered him?
Good!
This wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for her. She’d sooner forget the harrowing experience in the well altogether, but to keep it to herself would more than likely create a chasm between them that would be difficult to bridge.

“Mallory, Arnie, if you’d pick your jaws up off the floor, I’d like to introduce you to Synn. All of you need to get on the same page with us. I’ll give you a moment to regroup. Let me know when you’re ready to move past the shock and horror to hear what I have to say without judgment. That is unless you didn’t bargain for this and you want to leave. If so, there’s the door. I’m prepared to go this alone.”

The bear morphed into a cub. “Don’t be like that, Camille.” Derek dragged a seat over to the couch, sat down, and leaned in to caress her cheek. “You know I’m here for the long haul. I’m sorry for being such a jackass.”

“Yeah, we’re in it to the end, too, and we’re sorry, though I won’t be calling myself a jackass anytime soon.” Mallory had finally found her voice in another cigarette.

“Apology accepted. Now would you like to know what happened?”

“Yes, I’m dying to know where you went given the fact that I dived in to rescue you right after you jumped and I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

She related the entire series of events as they happened, with shocking detail, and Synn chimed in to fill in the foggy parts. The most uncomfortable part to explain was what he really was, and her newly found reliance on his body. Derek’s expression had gone from apologetic to shocked and irritated.

Arnie shook his head. “So, you want us to believe this guy here is a demon from Hell, but he’s a good one?” He sneered. “Sorry, but I just don’t buy it. What’s your angle, dude? What do you stand to gain from saving Camille?”

“You don’t have to answer that, Synn.” Camille grabbed his hand and squeezed it to reassure him. “Arnie, that’s enough. There are no ulterior motives here other than wanting a new life, free of Satan. He had no clue that his curse would be my salvation.”

“So what’s your plan,
Synn
? Grope my girlfriend every time she lights up? I don’t think I can let you do that.”

“Excuse me?” She’d had enough. She expected it to be uncomfortable introducing the born- again demon around, but the animosity toward him infuriated her. “I think it’s time you leave.” She stood and staggered over to the front door. Grabbing the knob, she held on for dear life. “You have your own home. Go live in it.” She flung the door open. “And take your friends with you.”

“Are you kidding me?” He shot up from his chair. “Come on! How do you expect me to react to this?”

“Like the man I thought I knew. The man who is supposed to trust me and be open-minded about things. Take a couple of days, Derek. We both need some time.” She waved him out and beckoned the other two to follow. Dumbstruck, they walked out one at a time. Once they were down the steps, she closed the door and leaned against it. Closing her eyes, she just wanted to feel nothing for a while. No pain, no fear, no disappointment, no nothing. A stray tear dared to escape the corner of her eye, and she angrily swiped it away. There’s no crying in Hell-busting!

A voice, low and tender, teased at her wounded heart, making it even more difficult to regain the anger holding her together. “Hey, you all right?”

She shook her head and peered between moistened lashes to find him standing before her, shamefaced. “No, but I will be.”

“I’m sorry, Camille. I’m sorry your friends let you down. I’m sorry it was over some piece of Hell trash like me.”

“We’re not going down that senseless road again. Think what you want about yourself on your own time. I happen to think you’re wonderful, so get used to it while you’re with me.” She needed to sit down desperately and stepped away from the door in an attempt to walk back to the couch. Her feet betrayed just how strong she needed to be to accomplish that feat, and she stumbled. Before she could hit the floor, he grabbed a hold and ushered her over the rest of the way.

“Yeah, about being with you.” He sat down beside her. “Did you see what happened to the gel pack?”

“It exploded, didn’t it?”

“Uh huh. Luckily, nobody was hurt. Without those, you’ve got nothing to stop the scars from burning and eventually killing you. Except me. So I’m staying. I have years of death and devastation to make up for. If I can do this one thing for you, it will help ease the burden.”

“You want to stay here? With me? You’ve got a new world shining in front of you, and you want to saddle yourself with the Marked One? You’re crazy. It’s bad enough Satan has his eye on me. If he finds out you’re here and helping, you know it won’t go well for you. You’ve got to run and hide in a new life. That’s what you have to do. I’ll find another way to get through this.”

“There is no other way and you know it. I’m not leaving you, Camille. It’s that simple.”

What could she say? He was right. She would die without him.

“So it’s as I thought. Your curse has turned out to be my blessing. But I can’t possibly expect you to give up your life, only hours old, to be shackled to me for the foreseeable future.” So why was her guilty heart fluttering at the prospect of having him around all the time? How could she be in love with one man and need to be with another so desperately?

“I give up nothing. The moment you fell into my arms, Camille, my fate was decided. You are my new life’s path. I’m here to protect you, to keep you safe and alive, no matter how. And I’m good with that.”

“I…I don’t know what to say.” She shook her head in disbelief. “I mean, thank you. I, um, I’m not burning or anything, but can I still give you a hug?”

He chuckled and nodded. “Come here, you silly woman.” He opened his arms wide and she wrapped herself around his thick, toned middle. She breathed him in, his sweet aroma, and sighed.

She would
not
think about Derek right now. The hothead of a boyfriend and his issues would have to wait.
He won’t be happy with this arrangement, but he really has no choice. He can’t touch me and remove the pain. Only Synn can.