Sometimes something good can come out of a bad situation, if only you have the strength to take a chance.
Demi flees Starhaven, the demon town, when his ex won’t take no for an answer. Noah takes him in and Demi meets Reed. He knows from the first moment that he’s Reed’s mate, but Reed has been through a lot, and neither of them knows whether Reed can trust Demi enough to open up to him or if he’ll run away instead.
Reed has been having nightmares and other problems ever since the lab. He’s been working on it with Gentry, but the road to recovery is still long. Still, he’s happy when he finds his mate, and even happier when Demi turns out to be an affectionate and sweet man who does everything he can to help Reed.
The couple slowly works toward a future together, but what will happen when Demi’s past finds him? Will Reed break under the pressure, or will he be able to trust his mate enough to work his way out of his own dark thoughts?
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Demi
Copyright © 2015 Catherine Lievens
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0585-4
Cover art by Latrisha Waters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Demi
Gillham Pack Book Seven
By
Catherine Lievens
Chapter One
“Where are we going today?” Demi asked his father as he finished loading the truck.
“The Thorton in the morning, and the Esslemont in the afternoon.”
Demi groaned. The last thing he wanted was to have to work for his ex, but they couldn’t afford losing a client. Besides, his dad didn’t even know about Demi and Larsen, and Demi wanted to keep things that way. He just hoped Larsen wouldn’t cause problems, or even better, that Larson wouldn’t be home.
Demi thought about telling his father he wasn’t feeling well, but one look at him was enough for Demi to decide he wouldn’t. His dad tried to hide it, but Demi could see the way he pressed a hand on the small of his back and grimaced with almost every move he made. He was getting old, but he couldn’t quit his job. They needed the money, and Demi couldn’t do everything on his own. Hiring help would mean giving some of the money they desperately needed to someone else, though, so they made do.
But Demi knew his dad wouldn’t be able to work for much longer, despite the way he tried to hide his health problems, and Demi would have to find a solution.
“Demi? You with me?”
“Oh, yeah. Sure.”
They climbed in the truck and Demi started driving. His father was silent beside him and Demi searched for something to say. It was at times like these—among others—that he missed being able to see Noah easily.
Noah had been his best friend since they’d been kids, but he’d recently moved away to be with his mate. Demi didn’t have other friends. He spent his days working and his evenings trying to make ends meet, pouring over bills and accounts. It didn’t leave him time to go out more than a few times a month, but since Noah had left, Demi spent those times in Gillham with him. So, no new friends.
Besides, he’d learned his lesson. Loneliness had pushed Demi into Larsen’s arms, and that had probably been the worst mistake he’d ever made.
Demi steered into the Thorton’s driveway, relieved to have something to take his mind off things. The last thing he needed was to think about either the money they didn’t have or even worse, Larsen, because he sure as fuck didn’t deserve it.
The morning passed way too fast. Demi and his father drove to the Esslemont estate, stopping on the side of the road to eat their packed lunch. Demi decided it was time to push the retiring speech on his dad again, even if he knew it wouldn’t change anything.
“So, dad.”
“Oh, I know that tone, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear what you’re about to tell me.”
“Aww, come on. I just want to talk about your retirement again.”
“That’s easy. No, I’m not retiring.” He gave his roast beef sandwich a bite.
“Dad...”
“We already talked about this, Demi. We can’t afford it.”
Demi wrapped his sandwich again. His hunger had vanished. “I know. But I can see you’re hurting, and continuing to work isn’t helping.”
“I have no other choice, though.”
Demi sighed. “I know. I just wish you did.” His mind went to Larsen’s proposal of giving Demi money to get together again, but he discarded it. There was no way he was doing that.
Demi’s dad looked his way, a tired smile on his lips. He patted Demi’s knee. “I know. You’re a good man, Demi. A good son. I know you only want what’s best for me, but I want what’s best for you, and you can’t have it if I don’t work too. And even like this, it’s hard.”
“I could talk to Noah. He’d help.”
Dad shook his head. “No. I won’t take money I haven’t earned. You know that.”
Oh, Demi knew it, and he actually agreed with it. But it was Noah, and Demi felt that maybe it’d be worth it. Maybe he could find a way not to tell his dad, ask only for a small amount of money. Noah had been bugging Demi to accept money for years, but Demi had always said no. Now, though, with his dad getting older and probably needing to see a doctor... he might just say yes. It would be better than saying yes to Larsen, that was for sure.
They got to the Esslemont estate in time and Demi was relieved to see that Larsen’s car wasn’t in the driveway. It didn’t mean he wasn’t home, because it could be parked in the garage, but Demi knew Larsen. He was probably with his rich friends, spending his father’s money shopping or drinking.
Demi shook his head. He still didn’t know what on earth he’d been thinking when he’d hooked up with Larsen. For some reason, he hadn’t been able to see just how spoiled the man was, how he cared more about money and appearances than he cared about Demi.
Demi set to work on the rose bushes while his father mowed the lawn. He noticed clusters of little green bugs in a few of the bushes and swore. He hated aphids, because it was hard as fuck to get rid of them. He put his hand on one of the nearest bushes, careful of the thorns, and sent a small wave of his power through it.
He watched as the aphids that had been directly on the branches died and fell on the ground, but the number of insects that was left on it was still high.
“You could’ve told me you’d work here today. I had to learn it from my mother.”
Demi sighed and turned to face Larsen. “Why should I tell you when I come?”
Larsen arched a perfectly waxed blond eyebrow. “Aww, baby. You’re still angry at me?”
“Don’t call me baby, Larsen. We’re not together anymore.”
Larsen’s f
ace morphed into a displeased expression. “We could get back together.”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Demi.”
Demi was losing his patience, and that was saying something, since he was really hard to anger. “Look, I wouldn’t get back with you even if you were the last man on the planet.”
“Touchy. You know, I still don’t get what I did to make you so angry.”
Demi took a deep breath and tried to keep the snappy retort from bubbling out. “What you did?” he asked in a mostly calm voice. “You were ashamed of me, Larsen. You didn’t want any of your friends to know you were sleeping with the staff. How lowly of you, huh?”
“Demi, try to understand—”
“There’s nothing to understand. I was just a plaything for you, and the fact that you offered to pay me to try to convince me to have sex with you again is a proof of that.” Demi shook his head. “Look, it was fun while it lasted, but you can’t tell me you thought we’d be together for long. Hell, I’m not even sure we were ever together. We just had sex, Larsen. There wasn’t anything more to it.”
Larsen’s blue tail was swishing behind his back, a sign he was nervous or angry. Probably both.
Larsen opened his mouth to reply, his eyes hard and full of distaste, but the sound of the lawnmower suddenly cut out and Demi’s father called him. “Demi? I need your help here.”
“I’m coming!” Demi answered loudly. He looked at Larsen, wondering if the man was going to let him go without protesting.
Demi took a step away from the bushes, then another. He was relieved when Larsen didn’t protest, but he should’ve known it was too good to be true. Larsen grabbed his arm as he passed by him, his hold strong enough to hurt. “I still want you, Demi, and I always get what I want.”
Demi gave Larsen a disgusted glance. “Looks like you won’t this time.” He shrugged Larsen’s hand away. “Just leave me alone, Larsen. We both know you just want a plaything, and with your face and your money you can have anyone you want. Just chose one of those and leave me alone.”
Demi started walking away. But Larsen’s voice made his steps falter. “I’ll have you, Demi. One way or another, I’ll find something that’ll make you change your mind.”
* * * *
Reed checked that no one was in the living room before shuffling in with his mop. It probably sounded weird, but he liked taking care of Kameron’s house. It was a bit Reed’s house too, and since Zach had started college, he was the one to take care of the cleaning and most of the cooking.
Zach even insisted on paying Reed, even though Reed thought Zach and Kameron were already giving him enough as it was. He had a roof over his head, warm food in his plate and clean clothes. What more could he want?
A door banged shut somewhere in the house and Reed swung around, his heart beating fast. He knew it was nothing, that it’d been just the wind, but he couldn’t help it—every time there was a sudden noise or movement, his mind went back to the lab and he froze in fear.
He was sick of it, but apart from seeing Gentry and talking to him, he couldn’t do anything to get better.
“Sorry! It was me!” Jago said, appearing at the living room door.
Reed nodded at him and grabbed his mop, hoping Jago would get the hint and leave him alone, but of course he didn’t. Nothing in Reed’s life was easy, not even this.
“What are you doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Do you need help?”
“No, thank you.”
Jago frowned. “Reed... you know you can talk to me, right? I know what you’ve been thro—”
“No. Thanks, but I don’t need to talk.”
Maybe Reed could find something else to do, like clean the kitchen, or the bedrooms. Yeah, that would do.
He left the mop in the living room and went to strip the sheets from the beds in the downstairs bedrooms. They weren’t being used at the moment, but Reed made sure to wash the sheets every so often. It was his job, after all.
He balled all the sheets up and carried them to the laundry room. He dumped the first half in the washing machine and started it, then emptied the drier and folded everything that didn’t need ironing.
Reed grabbed all of Zach’s clothes and put them in a basket. He’d take them upstairs and leave them on Zach’s bed for him to put away. That was one thing he didn’t do. He had no intention of putting his hands in anyone’s dresser but his, not after finding one of Zach’s sex toys the first and only time he had. The awkward silence between him and Zach had lasted for a few days, and that had been enough punishment for Reed not to want to do it again.
“—but can’t we do anything more?”
“I’m afraid not. This isn’t something that will heal easily, and Reed knows it.”
Reed stopped in front of Gentry’s office. Jago was apparently worried about him, enough that he’d gone to talk to the resident psychologist. Not that Gentry could tell Jago anything about what Reed told him during their sessions, but still. Reed didn’t know whether to be grateful he had friends who cared, or angry some people just didn’t understand when their help wasn’t wanted or needed.
“But is it normal? He jumps at every small noise and he doesn’t seem to want to talk about it.”
“Jago, I know you’re trying to help, but you have to give Reed the space he needs. You’ve both been through a lot, but he’s been affected by it differently than you have, and he has to deal with the consequences differently.”
“I just want to help him,” Jago said softly, almost too softly for Reed to hear him. Great, now he felt guilty for not giving Jago the time of the day.
“I know, and believe me, I’m doing everything I can to do just that. Be there for him when he needs a friend, when he needs to talk, but respect his need for privacy and solitude.”
Someone moved in the office and Reed fled. He took the stairs two by two, stopping only once he was in Kameron and Zach’s bedroom. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror and snorted. God, he looked like he’d seen a ghost.
His eyes were huge, the pupils dilated ever so slightly, and he was deathly pale. His brown hair hung around his face, and he pushed it away before starting to unload the basket he’d brought. He left the clothes on the bed and took a deep breath, then went back downstairs. He made sure to make plenty of noise so that Jago and Gentry would know he was in the vicinity, but Jago wasn’t in Gentry’s office anymore.
He was in the kitchen instead, peeling the potatoes Reed had left on the table. He’d planned on making mashed potatoes and roasted chicken for dinner.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. Doesn’t mean I won’t do it, though.”
Reed nodded and went to put the basket in the laundry room. He stopped by the table as he walked past it. “I’m going to mop the living room.”
“I’ll be here,” Jago answered without looking up from his potato.
“You can peel all of them and put them in water. I’ll do the rest when I’m done.”
“Don’t worry about me, Reed. I know how to cook.”
“Okay. Mashed potatoes and roasted chicken.”
“Perfect.”
Reed hesitated, but he just couldn’t leave without saying anything. “Thank you.”
He didn’t wait for Jago’s reaction and hurried back to the living room. He stuck his headphones in his ears and tried to ignore the world around him for a little while. That was when he felt best—when he was left alone to do his thing.
Reed knew he couldn’t go on like that for much longer, though. He was starting to miss people, but his constant vigilance was tiring, both for him and for the ones around him. The worst thing, though, was his mood swings. Sometimes he felt angry without a real reason, and it took all he had to keep himself in control, then he was happy, or sad, all in a five minutes
time. It was confusing for him, because there weren’t concrete reasons for the swings, and he couldn’t imagine how confusing it was for his friends.
Once he was done, Reed wanted to shift and hide outside, but instead he pushed himself to go to Jago in the kitchen. The man was done peeling potatoes and was now cutting them. Reed put away his mop and washed his hands, then started preparing the chicken.
The kitchen was silent and Reed felt himself relax. He was always tense when someone was close, but Jago didn’t try to talk or touch him. He was concentrating on his task and humming to himself quietly.
But Reed knew it wouldn’t take them long to finish what they were doing, and he could feel the tension rising again.
“God, I’m beat.”
Reed jumped and swirled to face Zach. The alpha mate was biting his lower lip, obviously having noticed Reed’s reaction. “I’m sorry. I forgot to check if you were in the room when I came in. I saw Jago cooking and I didn’t think you were there.”
“It’s okay.”
“You sure?” Worry was obvious in Zach’s eyes. Reed nodded and tried to decide whether he’d be able to stay in the kitchen a bit longer or if it would be better for him to go outside for a while.
He decided for the later when Zach and Jago started talking. They seemed to be concentrating on each other, but Reed could see their eyes sliding to him every so often, watching him, probably checking that he wasn’t about to explode. He knew it was his own fault, but it made him feel unstable, so he dried his hands and gave the two a hesitant smile. “The chicken’s in the oven.”
Jago smiled a bit more broadly. “I’ll check it every so often.”
“Is it okay if I go outside, or do you need me here?”
“Oh, no. Go. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
It took Reed only a handful of minutes to walk out of the house, strip, and climb down the porch. He shifted and disappeared into the trees, thankful for the calm and silence.
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