Chapter 20

"Do all of your people live in Montreal?" Katie's bright-eyed curiosity reassured Damien that he'd done well in trusting her.

"No. We began in what is now Southern France, so our enclaves tend to be in areas settled by the French. The two largest on this continent are in Montreal and New Orleans, but there is a small colony in New York and in a few other cities. As far as I know, I am the only gargoyle currently in Philadelphia, though."

"When you find this belt, will you return home?"

He stared into those piercing green eyes. "I had thought to. Now - I don't know."

"Do you know where to look?"

He shook his head. "I do not even know what it looks like. All I can do is remain alert and hope to recognize it if I see it."

"I'll help, of course." She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "As will my coven. We'll find the belt, Damien, goddess willing."

There was silence for a moment. She toyed with her food, but he could see she was still worried about something.

"What is it cherie?" He hadn't let go of her hand and he gripped it tightly.

She nibbled her lip. "It didn't occur to me until this morning that we didn't - use anything. Not last night or this morning. Or then again when you came home. I'm an earth witch, which means fertility is part of my nature. I've always used protection before. I'll admit I'm a little worried."

Something clenched in Damien's stomach at the thought of this vibrant creature growing round with his child. But he shook his head. "Don't worry petite. Gargoyles can only breed with other gargoyles. There is no chance we have conceived a child."

"Oh. Good." She toyed with her food some more and he fancied he heard a trace of disappointment mingled with the relief. "Doesn't that make for an awfully inbred population?"

"There is a way. In the past, when one of my race found a mate, they were able to perform a conversion process, if the mate was willing to adopt the life of a gargoyle."

"Only in the past?"

Damien nodded. As much as the idea of converting Katie to be his bride appealed, it was out of the question. Her life was far too precious to risk for such a thing. "It is too dangerous now. Perhaps once the regalia is found it will be safe again, but at the present time, it is not a risk I would be willing to take. In the last few decades many of the mates have failed to survive the conversion process."

Katie's mood was melancholy and contemplative as she cleared the kitchen and made her way up the stairs. Damien was in the living room using his laptop to contact his family back in Quebec, so she decided to take a few moments to center herself. How could she have fallen so hard for him so fast?

She stood by the window in her bedroom and lit a candle, then murmured the words to a spell for reflection and understanding. She held herself still while comprehension dawned. Ah. She was worrying about the wrong question. The how didn't matter. The fact was she had fallen in love with Damien St. Pierre. Now she had to decide what to do about it.

Number one was to help him with his quest. That was a no-brainer. All of her contacts, all of her powers would be at his disposal. Secondly, she could help him by providing unconditional emotional support. Her love was a gift to be freely given with no expectation of return. While she hoped he would someday love her, she wouldn't demand it. She'd felt a moment of hope when he'd described the conversion process, but she could only take the risk if she was convinced he truly loved her and wanted her as his mate. Otherwise she would continue as she was - his lover and his friend.

With that she decided that Damien's spirits would benefit from a little light-hearted fun. She opened her toy drawer and perused the selection before deciding on a couple of all-time favorites. Her decision made, she shimmied out of her Flyer's jersey and into something a little less comfortable.

Damien was shutting down his laptop when he heard music wafting down the stairs. Katie had confessed earlier that she shared his preference for jazz, so the smooth sound of a saxophone was no great surprise. It was almost five in the morning. He didn't have too much time yet before changing and Katie would need sleep before she had to rise and go to work. He closed the lid on his computer and bounded up the stairs two at a time. He might not be able to make Katie his mate, but while there was life, there was hope. The seers said the artifacts could be found. If they were, he could marry Katie if she'd have him. Until then he wasn't going to waste a moment of the time he was blessed to spend in her company.

When he reached the bedroom the lights were off and the room was lit by fat white candles. Katie sat in the center of the bed, her long legs folded into a lotus position. Damien's eyes nearly popped out of his skull when he saw what she was - or wasn't - wearing.

Black. Leather. Yum. His brain was able to come up with words, but not to string them together. Fish. Net. Stockings. He licked at his lips afraid he was drooling. Spike. Heeled. Boots.

"Done working?" Her voice was a soft purr which matched the velvet kitten ears she was wearing on a headband. She wore some kind of little leather corset thing and a black silk thong. Black lace gloves covered her wrists and forearms but left her fingers free. In one hand she idly twirled the dangling ends of her long necklace, the antique gold one with the red and green stones.

He nodded.

"Good." She uncoiled her legs and rolled to her feet beside the bed. She crooked one finger at Damien. "Come here."

Obediently he stepped forward. His raging erection tented the front of the boxer shorts that were his only clothing.

"What a good boy you are." She traced one finger down the center of his chest. "And good boys get rewarded."

He could see the laughter bubbling up under the surface. He was nowhere near a submissive, but that was okay since she wasn't really a dom. This was just a game and he loved the fact that she felt safe enough to play. He smiled back and wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh yeah? And what happens to bad boys?"

Her grin melted what little wall he had left around his heart. He felt it go, felt himself fall all the way in love with her when she giggled and replied. "Oh they get rewarded even more."