Watercolor Kisses Page 12

  “Lucifer, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but could there be fewer people here when we come home? I want to eat and cuddle with you. My head hurts terribly. I’m not in a partying mood, to be honest.” She sounded tired and weak.

  “Yeah, no problem but I doubt Charlie will go, he’ll crash on the couch.” Lucifer knew Charlie wouldn’t leave.

  Aries let out a deep breath. “I hate pain; I hope they give us shots to numb the area before they do anything. This fucking sucks.”

  They walked into the living room where Siggy was waiting with Charlie to take them to the Emergency Room. Sleaze had taken the girls to the diner and would bring the sandwiches back.

  Lucifer guided her down the stairs and into her car. They got into the backseat while Siggy drove and Charlie sat shotgun. Aries put her head on his shoulder. She was dozing until he gently moved her.

  “We’re here, come on, let’s get this over with.” Lucifer sounded weary too. He helped her out of the car and Charlie was right beside her.

  They walked into the well-lit emergency room; Charlie held her good hand. She was never going to another run or party in Pennslyvania, she swore to herself. The rest of their time at the emergency room was a blur once they numbed her hand. The nurse was nosey, but one snarl from Charlie shut her up. He made sure he never left her side, and he was the one that carried her up the stairs and into the apartment.

  Lucifer and Siggy stood on the balcony watching as Charlie got her a sandwich and fussed over Aries.

  “Charlie seems to be better; he said he’s gonna move in here with you and Aries, and you’re okay with that, Pres?” Siggy wasn’t sure it was the best scenario.

  “She needs somebody watching out for her, and she’s okay with him. That is the main thing that Aries is fine with him. Charlie will protect her and Jewel with his life. Maybe he will finally snap out of his depression. You all need to head out. I’m beat, crash at Sleaze’s apartment, just in case. Rico won't be back for a few days. Best to be prepared for anything. I don’t trust those motherfuckers, be ready.” He looked at Siggy with a hard stare. “I don’t know if they will try to retaliate. So until we’re aware of what’s gonna happen, we’re gonna be ready for anything.”

  Finally, everyone was gone, and Lucifer ate his sandwich. He didn’t tell Aries how many stitches she had. Charlie had said she didn’t want to know. He couldn’t wait to get to bed and hold his ol lady in his arms. It still pissed him off he hadn’t thought more about her safety. He promised her she’d be safe and he let her down. Thoughts of what he planned to do to Devil’s Grime MC filled his head as he plotted what he’d do to them for touching his property. Aries was his, and now he had to prove to her, she was safe with him.

  Aries managed a quick shower with her stitched hand well protected from the water. Washing the dirt from her body felt good, and she wasn’t taking the pain pills. She was dead tired, as it was, and she didn’t want to get sick from pain meds.

  Lucifer was ready with a towel and helped her get one of his tee shirts on. He took a quick shower, and when he came to bed, she was fast asleep. Charlie was on the couch watching the television.

  Lucifer moved closer to Aries and wound his finger around a strand of her hair; it was becoming a habit to twist a bit of her hair around his finger. He wasn’t sure why but it just felt right to him. She was his, and he’d kill for her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Opening her eyes in the morning, Aries wished she had slept longer. She had so many things to get done today.There was the laundry to do, food shopping and picking up Jewel, plus doing it all carefully and one handed. Her hand hurt badly. And she was angry at herself, that she’d been so stupid to let the blade cut both of their palms. She rolled over to wake up Lucifer, but he was gone. Slowly, she got up and walked to the kitchen in his tee shirt.

  Leigh was sitting with a cup of coffee and motioned to the coffeemaker on the counter. She looked like she had a terrible night. A joint was between her fingers, and she was staring at the smoke drifting toward the ceiling.

  “Why aren’t you at Sleaze’s apartment?” Aries questioned her. She rubbed at her sleepy eyes. She didn’t care for coffee, so she had the kettle on for tea.

  “I’m here so you aren’t alone and there are prospects in the back and some cleaning the closed shop. Guess for our protection, after yesterday. Club meeting and Luc didn’t want you alone. It’s a typical Sunday meeting, but maybe not after yesterday, I don’t know. I called my mother this morning; she wants me to move out. Says she is done with babysitting and wants Sleaze to step up. I am so fucked, Aries, fucked! I don’t have a babysitter but her. I have almost enough money to get a place. I was going to ask Lucifer about one of the empty apartments he has in the building, but I’m not sure he’d rent any to me. Too close to Sleaze.” She toked on the joint.

  Aries made her tea and sat down across from her and shook her head at the offer of the joint. She could see Leigh had been crying. She wasn’t sure if she should say anything or let her friend talk.

  Leigh smiled sadly. “Sleaze and I’ve been going back and forth for years. I thought when I had Lizzy, he’d ask me to be his ol lady but he hasn’t, and I’m tired of waiting. I love the man, but I don’t know if he loves me. He sure loves Lizzy though. I didn’t put him on her birth certificate; I didn’t want him to have to pay child support. I believed in the shining knight coming to the rescue fairytale. What a fool I’ve been. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. I think my mother is trying to prove to me that he isn’t right for me and that he’s never going to be there for Lizzy. I wonder if she is correct because he’s not talking about a future together. I never was a club slut, it’s always been only Sleaze for me, ever since I set my eyes on him. I don't think he fools around on me, but he never asked us to live with him. He knows things aren’t good at home yet he’s not trying to help me. I’m just a chick he fucks.” Leigh buried her face into her hand as she began to cry her eyes out.

  Aries looked at her friend crying. She had been through all of this with Gunner, but she’d learned to hate him from the time he’d come back into her life. Gunner was nothing like Sleaze. She didn’t know what to say to Leigh; she knew damn well her opinion wouldn’t matter to anyone. It wasn’t like she could get into their business. Just another reason she had wanted to avoid bikers again.

  “Leigh, I know Lucifer is going to give us more nights dancing. I could hook you up with the bars where I used to dance. We can make you some new costumes. I could watch Lizzy if you were dancing. Jewel has a double bed, and I’m sure they’d love to share it. We can look for a place close for you to rent. Have you talked to Sleaze about any of this?”

  “I’ve hinted at it, but I don’t think he cares. If he cared, wouldn’t he have stepped up years ago? He was doing a year in jail when Lizzy was born, and I visited and wrote him letters. It was awful; he went to jail when I was six months pregnant. I don't know what to think anymore. I’ve walked away before, but I keep coming back like a damn fool.” She got up and walked into the bathroom, sniffling.

  Aries sat there and thought about her life with Lucifer. Would this be her one day telling a friend she was finished with him? She thought it was very likely when the phone rang.

  Her aunt was on the line telling her that she expected them for Sunday dinner with Lucian’s parents. Aries didn’t know what to say; she didn't know when Lucifer would come in, and there was her hand that she’d have to explain to her aunt.

  “Aunt Helene, Lucian isn’t here, I don’t know when he will be back. Did anyone tell him about this dinner? You didn’t say anything to me on Friday. Maybe you should cancel it and make it next Sunday.”

  “Nonsense Ara, his mother called this morning and told him. Be here by four sharp, and I’d like to keep Juliette a few more days. His mother said you both got hurt in a minor accident? I understand what it is like to be young Ara, but motorcycles are dangerous. Don’t bother to bring anything, I have the dinner under control, j
ust be here on time. Arabella, dress nicely, I bought Juliette, a pretty new dress. First impressions are everything, you know.” She hung up leaving Aries speechless.

  Leigh had come out of the bathroom and was listening to the conversation. She saw Aries looking upset and shook her head.

  “It’s as if Sunday turned into a bad Monday. I hope Lucifer talked to his mother. Damn, your aunt sure has a loud voice. I couldn’t help but hear her.”

  Aries had a brilliant idea, “Leigh, you and Lizzy can stay in Jewel’s room while we get a few new costumes made for you and find a rental for you. I can help you with some money I’ve saved. I’ll get my sewing machine and some of the fabrics I have left over. One day maybe you’ll be helping me.”

  Leigh looked at her doubtfully. “You think Lucifer is going to let me crash here in his apartment?”

  “If he wants me to be happy he will and he’ll rent you an apartment if he has any brains. He likes us hanging out, so I think he’ll either talk to Sleaze or help you get one of the places here. He wants us to dance together; our daughters play well together so why wouldn’t he?” Arie looked at her and tilted her head. “It’s to his advantage to keep you close to me. I know that and so should you.”

  Leigh threw her arms around her. “Aries, you’re right, I didn’t realize it until now. Lucifer does seem to be pushing us together, doesn’t he? I liked you anyway, so it wasn’t a problem. He has a small, one bedroom that is empty, they just finished painting it, and I figured Charlie was going to move into it. Maybe he’d rent that to me.” Her usual happy self was back again. “How does your hand feel today?”

  “It hurts a lot, and I’m not sure what Lucifer told anyone about it. I need to find something to wear; we dress up at my aunt’s for Sunday dinner. I have a few dresses I brought with me, so I’ll wear one of them but how to eat is my question. It isn’t like I can cut my meat. The doctor told me to rest it for a few days.”

  Leigh stared at her helplessly, “Maybe put your arm in a sling? I’m sure somebody has one, but I’m not sure how clean it would be.”

  Aries shook her head, “I’ll wrap it in an ace bandage and make the best of it. My aunt’s timing is rotten. I know I have to impress Lucifer’s parents and remember to call him Lucian too. I wish he’d come home so we could figure this all out. No more getting high for me today. I’m planning to try and cut that out and so should you if you get a place. You don’t know if your mother will have anyone checking up on you.”

  Leigh stared at her in shock. “My mother is capable of doing something like that. Well, we can get sober together and support each other. Is drinking out too?”

  Aries thought long and hard before answering her friend. “I need to get my head together, and the only way for me to do that is to be sober. You don’t have to do, what I know I’ve got to do, Leigh. Things are going way too fast for Lucifer and me. I let him talk me into moving in, and I’m not sure that was the smartest thing I’ve done. He loves me, and I think I love him, but I can’t tell him that until I’m certain. He has to understand that I can’t have all this partying with Jewel living here. I’m afraid he isn't going to like it or understand it. Maybe you shouldn’t live in this building but get a bigger place we both could share in case things don’t work out with him. I don’t want to move back with my aunt again.”

  Leigh frowned at her and thought about her words. “I think after your dinner tonight and meeting his parents, things may change. I’ve got to talk to Sleaze too. Maybe things will change for me, and I won’t have to rent a place alone.”

  Aries looked at her and wanted to say more, but she left it alone. Leigh was dreaming in her opinion. If Sleaze hadn’t asked her to be his ol lady and they had a daughter together, she doubted things would change for her friend.

  She left her sitting there and went to look at the dresses she had brought from her aunt’s house. She found a simple black dress with the bottom slightly flared and looked for black ballet flats. Her aunt would be horrified if she had her toes peeking out at one of her dinners. It seemed even her aunt wanted her to make a good impression on Mr. and Mrs. Giovanni. She wouldn’t let her aunt down after she had done so much for her.

  She carefully took out the pearl necklace she had gotten from her adopted parents for her sixteenth birthday. She held it in her hand and wondered about them. A tear slid down her cheek as she thought of the happy times of her childhood. Until that damn church had changed her mother, they had been an ordinary happy family. She’d never even known she’d been adopted until she got pregnant and her mother had said she was just like her real mother. It bothered her sometimes that she couldn’t find her mother, although maybe it was better. After meeting her birth father, she wasn’t sure meeting her biological mother was a good idea. All her aunt would tell her was that her mother had been very young and that her father was a disgusting pig. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard the roar of motorcycles pulling into the back parking lot. The devil was home, she thought ruefully. She listened to the men joking around and a smile formed on her face. Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach, and she wished they’d quit it. She needed to have a serious talk with Lucifer, but she’d concentrate on getting through today and this Sunday dinner.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lucifer came into the bedroom in a great mood. He grabbed Aries up and swung her around. “You’re gonna meet my parents, dinner at your aunt’s at four this afternoon. My mother called, and I said we went down on the bike last night. I hate lying but sometimes you gotta lie. So what are you wearing, beautiful?”

  “My aunt will expect us to be well dressed; I have a black dress and pearls. What will you wear?” Aries wondered what he’d wear? He had a closet full of all kinds of clothes, but he rarely dressed in anything but jeans and tee shirts.

  “I’ll wear a nice pair of black jeans and a black button-down shirt. My parents and your aunt will have to deal with me as I am; they’re used to me. You’re going to look great and I’ve got something you can wear that will make my mother very pleased.” He disappeared into the closet.

  Aries stood there wondering what he was getting and why his mother would be happy if she wore it? Lucifer came out with a square box in his hand. He held it out to her to take and realized she couldn’t open it one handed. He put it down on the bed and opened the box and took out a ring.

  “Stick out your good hand baby, and shut your eyes, I want it to be a surprise.” He slipped a heavy ring on her fourth finger. “Open your eyes.”

  Aries opened her eyes and looked down at her left hand, a diamond and onyx ring twinkled up at her. A square piece of black onyx with a round diamond in the center, surrounded by diamonds and rubies around the edge of the onyx in white gold, encircled her finger.

  “It’s lovely Lucifer, are you sure you want me to wear this?” Aries knew the ring had to be expensive and most likely had been in his family because it looked like it was an antique.

  “It was my grandmother’s favorite ring, and I’ve never wanted anyone to wear it before. I know my mother will be thrilled to see you wearing it. It means a lot to me, babe, so please wear it for me.” His voice was gentle sounding, and his smile was endearing.

  Aries understood immediately this was a big step for him and she knew she would wear the ring. It would impress her aunt too, and she wanted to make everyone happy today. “I would love to wear it, and I can’t wait to meet your parents. What are they like?” She sat on the bed and waited for him to tell her about his mother and father.

  “My mother looks kinda like Sophia Loren; she’s beautiful. My dad met her on a trip to Italy. She still has an accent, and it bothers her. However, I think it’s charming. My dad is tall like me; he’s a nice guy until he doesn’t have to be. He doesn’t say much if he doesn’t like you but if he does, he will talk your ear off. They’re good people, don’t let anyone tell you different. They will love you and Jewel, trust me.” Lucifer spoke proudly about his family. “I need to shower and shave, a
re you going to get dressed now?”

  “Yes, and I wanted to ask you if you mind Leigh staying here for a few days. Her mother tossed her and Lizzy out, and she has nowhere to go. Luc, I could really use the help. Like when I shower, you don’t know how hard it is for me to comb out my hair and you’re not always here.” Aries used her most pervasive voice and hoped he’d agree. “Jewel is going to stay with my aunt for a few days, and they can stay in her room.”

  Lucifer turned around and looked at her. “Arabella, Jewel is coming home with us. Why would you think she can stay with your aunt and not ask me what I thought? Do you want my parents to believe that we drop her at your aunt's all the time? Leigh can crash here; I don’t mind her staying for a few days. Ask Charlie if they can sleep in his room and he can use the couch. Babe, don’t make decisions without asking me when it comes to Jewel, I missed her all weekend.” He continued to the bathroom, leaving her stunned.

  Aries sat still and wondered how she felt about Lucifer’s demands. On the one hand, she was happy he loved Jewel, but she felt she was losing more and more control of her freedom. She had to have a long talk with him after this dinner, and he had to back off a bit. She moved her hand, and it hurt. Shit, fuck and damn! She thought of Frog and Devil’s Grime MC and wondered what the hell she’d do now. She realized she wasn’t going to be leaving Lucifer for a while with those bastards after her. Sighing, she went into the kitchen to ask Leigh to put her hair into a French twist and to tell her that she could stay for a few days.

  Leigh was sitting on the balcony watching Sleaze hanging out by the garage. He wasn’t even looking her way, and Aries wondered if he knew Leigh’s problems.

  “Hey you, Lucifer said yes to a few days, and after dinner, I’ll talk to him about renting you an apartment here. Would you mind putting my hair into a French twist?” She waited for her friend to answer.