Chapter Fourteen – Chrysi

Her heart ached for Nevis as he watched and listened to his father. It was obvious there was something wrong. Lex was stuck in the past. No matter how many times Nevis reminded his dad he had met Chrysi in the mountains surrounding Bear Creek, he kept talking about Everest.

Daphne looked on the verge of tears, and when they went to the ladies’ room together, she apologized over and over again. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be silly,” Chrysi said. “Nevis and I are mated. We are all family. So whatever I can do to help, don’t be afraid to ask. And I know Harlan will feel the same way.”

“Thank you.” Daphne put her arm around Chrysi and hugged her. “The one thing that gives me hope for the future is that Nevis has finally found the woman for him. And you know about shifters? I can tell you aren’t one.”

“Yes. Harlan taught me.” Chrysi looked sideways at Daphne. “I should tell you, I’m adopted. Harlan is a shifter, but I’m not.” Chrysi glanced behind her to check that they were alone. Luckily, they were.

“You didn’t mention your mother? Harlan’s mate?” Daphne asked.

“He never found her. Which is why he adopted. He was scared he would never find her and be too old to have a child.” Chrysi smiled weakly. “I feel bad sometimes, that I have been so lucky, so blessed, at the expense of Harlan’s happiness.”

“I’m sure Harlan doesn’t see things that way,” Daphne said. “The love we have for our children is as special as the love we have for our mates.”

“I wish I could feel that love.” Chrysi pulled her lipstick out of her purse and reapplied it, to give herself something to do while she tried to compose herself.

“You will.” Daphne dried her hands. “I think you already do. I see the way you look at Nevis.”

“I guess it’s because I have something to compare it to. Ross, the guy who tried to kidnap me… I was engaged to him. I thought I loved him. But now, being with Nevis, I know it was a lie.” Chrysi put her lipstick away and snapped her purse closed. “I’m so very lucky.”

“You are.” Daphne winked, and smiled at her, a real smile that lit her eyes. “I know I’m biased, but Nevis is one of a kind.”

Chrysi pressed her lips together, making sure her lipstick was even before she continued. “You know, he would hate to work in an office, but he would do it, if that was what it took.”

Daphne put her hand on Chrysi’s arm and smiled sadly. “It would kill Nevis, one day at a time. I know. I came from the wilds of Scotland, and each day I lived in Lex’s concrete apartment killed me. It’s why he worked so hard so that we could afford to live in a big house, with grounds that I could wander around in at night, with the moon and stars above my head and the earth beneath my feet.”

“So I was right. Nevis does follow you. And your daughter, Kate, she is like Lex?” Chrysi asked.

“She is. But she doesn’t know the feel of the wild wind in your hair, or the open mountainside. She’s lived her whole life away from the wilderness.” Daphne turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “It’s something Lex has never fully understood. Yes, he made it easier for me. But he never understood.”

“I’m going to try to understand Nevis,” Chrysi promised. “I want us to be happy.”

“And that works both ways. He needs to understand your needs too.” Daphne jabbed her finger at Chrysi quickly. “If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you, Chrysi. We’re family. That makes you my daughter too.”

“Thanks.” Chrysi coughed to cover her emotions. “It’s the one thing Harlan could never give me, a mom I could share… Well, you know, girly things with.”

Daphne hugged her close. “You are a remarkable young lady. And I am proud to call you daughter.”

“Oh, look at that, my mascara is going to run.” Chrysi half laughed, half cried.

Daphne took a step back. “You look beautiful.” She cupped Chrysi’s cheek and smiled. “Harlan is very proud of you.”

“Thanks.” Chrysi dabbed her eyes and sniffed loudly. “I’m going to look all blotchy.”

“You look fine.” Daphne led the way back to the table, where the three men were drinking beer and talking about football. It was common ground that skirted around other issues.

Chrysi sat down, stifling a big yawn. “I think I’m going to have to excuse myself soon. It’s been quite a couple of days.”

“Fresh air and cold weather make you sleepy,” Harlan said.

“And tomorrow I have to go and give my statement.” She glanced up at Nevis. “We should maybe go over things.”

“That’s a good idea,” Nevis said.

Harlan got up. “Let’s give these young people time to themselves.”

“And we should get an early night too,” Daphne told Lex.

Lex nodded. He looked tired, his eyes a little out of focus. “I’ll get the bill.” He produced a credit card.

“No, we can split it,” Harlan insisted.

The waiter came across to them with the bill, and Lex passed his card over. Then his face darkened, and he looked at Daphne, confused. “I can’t remember the pin number.”

“OK, I have it.” Harlan stepped in smoothly. “You can pay next time, Lex.”

“I’ll pay next time,” Nevis said.

“Or I could,” Chrysi insisted, catching the expression on Nevis’s face. “You do believe in equality, don’t you?”

“I’m going to say yes.” He grinned. “I have a sister who is far more capable than me, and always has been. So yes, I do believe in equality.”

“But Katie is only seventeen,” Lex said.

“She’s older than that, Dad,” Nevis pointed out, but his mom shook her head, and he let it drop. “She’s twenty…”

“Tomorrow,” Daphne said, her face flushed as she tried to hold back her tears. “We are going to bed. A nice rest will do you good, Lex.”

Daphne got up and took Lex’s hand. He smiled at her, and followed, leaving Nevis, Chrysi, and Harlan watching after them. Nevis’s face was pale, and his hand trembled a little as he sat back down, and reached for his glass, draining his beer in one go. When he set the glass down on the table, he looked a little better.

“Are you OK?” Chrysi asked.

“I’m not so sure. I know I haven’t been home in for a few weeks, but my dad was not like that when I last saw him. What’s wrong with him?” Nevis asked.

“He’s confused. It can happen for many reasons. Dementia, I believe some chemical imbalances in the body. A stroke.” Harlan caught the look Chrysi threw at him. “All of which need to be diagnosed by a doctor.”

“All we have to do is get him to go and see a doctor,” Nevis said. “He is stubborn. But I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“We will get him to a doctor.” Chrysi covered his hand with hers. “We’re all in this together. And if all else fails, we can set Harlan on him, who is very persuasive.”

“You make it sound as if that’s a bad thing,” Harlan said.

“It’s not. But only because you use it wisely.” Chrysi took hold of Harlan’s hand, her smile sad. “I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you. Either of you.”

They sat in silence for a moment, Chrysi holding the hand of each of the two men who were special in her life. She didn’t know what she would do if Harlan got sick. It had been the two of them alone for so long. With no mom and no siblings, their relationship had grown closer with every passing year.

Through childhood he had been the story reader, the homework helper, and on through her teenage years he had helped her understand the pressure faced by her and her peers. Then into adulthood, their relationship had changed once more, and he treated her as an equal when it came to the many decisions that had to be made, both personal and professional.

Chrysi knew Harlan considered watching her grow and bloom to be one of his biggest achievements. Once, during one of his rare melancholy moments, where he dwelled on never finding his mate, he had told her that if he lost everything he had made in this lifetime, as long as he still had Chrysi, he would consider himself a success.

“I’m going to take a walk,” Harlan announced, kissing Chrysi on the cheek. “Good night, Chrysi. Good night, Nevis. Maybe we can meet for breakfast.”

Chrysi blushed: did he suspect she was going to invite Nevis to stay for the night? Swallowing her embarrassment, she asked, “Are you going to prowl the street until you find your mate?”

“Are you certain she’s here in Bear Creek?” Nevis asked.

“Not certain. Which for me is a difficult thing to swallow. I have been certain of everything my whole life. Well, as long as I can remember. And now I am filled with self-doubt. Am I making it up? Is it wishful thinking?” Harlan looked tired, as if he needed a good night’s sleep.

“Dad, don’t stay out all night. We can troll the town tomorrow. We will find her,” Chrysi reassured Harlan.

“I won’t sleep, so I might as well make the most of my time,” Harlan told her. “Now, don’t you think about me. And Nevis, don’t get caught up worrying about your father either. Things have a way of sorting themselves out. At least that is what I tell myself.”

“Good night,” Chrysi said. She held Nevis’s hand as they sat in silence, watching him leave the restaurant.

“I’ll walk you to your room,” Nevis suggested.

“Only walk?” Chrysi asked.

“That depends on you.” He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “You need sleep.”

“I need you,” she admitted. “Even if we just sleep.”

Nevis got up and offered her his hand. “Let’s sneak past Denise.”

“Oh, because you are worried what she might think?” Chrysi asked.

“If you want me to, I’ll walk past her and tell her I’m taking you upstairs to bed.” He raised his eyebrow, challenging her.

“No, I think I’d rather sneak.” Chrysi rose from her chair and took his hand. Leaving the restaurant, they didn’t speak, both too lost in thought. Luckily, when they passed reception, Denise wasn’t there, so there were no embarrassing looks. They crossed to the elevator, and Nevis pressed the button, standing with his head up, watching the numbers descend until it reached the ground floor and the doors pinged open. They got in.

“Third floor,” Chrysi told Nevis and he pressed the button to take them up to her room.

“You know, this is probably giving us a small glimpse of what it’s like to have kids,” Nevis said as they got in and the doors slid shut.

“You mean worrying over our parents?” Chrysi asked.

“Yeah. I mean if it’s this bad for our parents, who are grown adults, what is it going to be like when we have kids?” Nevis looped his arm around her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I don’t know.” She turned in his arms. “But I do know I’d like something to take my mind off it all.”

“And what do you think will do that?” Nevis asked.

“Making babies.” Her words were blunt, but they had the desired effect; he dipped his head and kissed her, his eyes glowing with need.

The doors opened and they moved out of the elevator and along the hallway to her room, their lips locked together. She came up for air to find the key card from her purse and opened the door. He was undressing her before the door had shut behind them.

Nevis’s desire for her was intoxicating. He didn’t need to tell her how much he wanted her, she could feel it with every stroke of his fingers across her skin, every nip of his teeth on her flesh, as he touched and tasted every inch of her body. Drunk on her own arousal, she grappled with Nevis’s clothes, pulling them off his body, and dumping them on the floor in a trail that led to her bed.

He lifted her and laid her naked in the middle of the king-size bed, watching her as he unbuckled his belt and let his pants drop to the floor. He stepped out of them, crawling across the bed to hover over her body, blowing warm air over her skin, exciting her beyond words. Her nipples hardened into taut buds, goosebumps appeared across her stomach, and she shivered in excitement.

She ached for him. A deep-seated ache that needed satisfying, and needed satisfying right now.

Chrysi put her hands on his shoulders, and shifted her weight forward, to tip him onto his back. He frowned and then grinned as she straddled him. “You want to be in charge?”

“Yes.” She lifted herself up on her knees and used her right hand to guide the rigid head of his cock toward her sex. Easing herself down, his cock slid inside her, a perfect fit. Chrysi closed her eyes and lowered herself down, before raising herself back up. He slipped out of her but before she lost him completely, she slid back down. This time she moved further, his cock penetrating her deeper, stretching her wider.

She whimpered, her hips circling, stretching her inner walls. It was so damn good. A rhythm took her, one she knew instinctively. Nevis placed his hands on her hips, and moved with her, lifting his own hips off the bed to impale her with his cock.

Opening her eyes, she locked eyes with him, as they danced together, bodies meeting, joining, arousing. They completed each other on so many levels.

Chrysi placed her hands on Nevis’s chest, feeling his heart drumming to the beat of her own as her blood pumped through her veins. Her movements slowed, she wanted to make this last, she wanted to be one with him forever. Nevis, however, had other thoughts.

Placing his hand on the small of her back, he kept her in place, while he sat up. She nestled in his lap, her breasts at just the right height for his mouth. Cupping her breast in his hand he licked her nipple with the flat of his tongue, making her sex clamp down around his cock.

He excited her, aroused her, as he made love to her. All time, all worries were forgotten. Their lives were condensed to this one moment in time. A time that exploded in her head when his teeth grazed her nipple and set off a chain reaction in her body. And his.

Her sex gripped his cock, pulsing and throbbing around him. His cock erupted, his essence spurting deep inside her. She rode him, her hips moving in a steady rhythm, while he nipped and sucked her nipples. Her first orgasm merged with a second, and then a third, until at last her body gave in, and she clung to him, her breathing labored.

Nevis wrapped his arms around her body and eased her down onto the bed, where he pulled her close, dragging the bed covers over them both to form a warm, comfortable cocoon.

She wanted to stay awake and listen to the sound of his breathing, but almost instantly she was asleep.