Mated By The Demon Collections: Paranormal Romance

by Riley Moreno

  Regina saw the tiny hands, the toddling fat legs and she thought of the Simpson children, their throats violet blue from the ligature marks, Jason Simpson, his neck severed in two. She shook her head to get the image out of her head. She felt a sudden need to cry.

  “Hey,” Leo hugged her from behind, “You okay there?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Just concerned about this new case I’m handling.”

  “The Simpson one,” Leo said fetching two large glasses of lemonade and taking her to a quiet corner of the grounds. “It’s harrowing.”

  “It’s more than that,” she said. “It’s the way Dakota talks about her children. She made no effort to hide the fact that she didn’t want her children. They have it on record; she said it during bloody questioning: I never wanted my children.”

  “That makes it tough for you,” Leo nodded.

  “Fuck that,” Regina shrugged. “It makes it tough on those kids! I really want to ask Frank what he was thinking when he forced Dakota to have children when she clearly never wanted them.”

  “He wanted children,” Leo shrugged and it rubbed Regina the wrong way.

  “Then he could have had them with someone who wanted them,” Regina said. “He keeps harping that Dakota never wanted children; that she felt burdened by them but then he shouldn’t have insisted she go through with every pregnancy.”

  “None of this is relevant to the case,” Leo said trying to keep her on track. “What he should have or could have done won’t make a case against him. You need to see how you can protect your client from getting a murder sentence that she claims she didn’t do.”

  “Why do you have to be reasonable when I just want to rant?” Regina accused.

  “One of us has to keep a level head,” he said tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

  “Don’t forget,” Regina said pinching his thigh, “my level head got you out of jail.”

  “It also got me out of a nasty dry spell,” he said nuzzling her neck.

  “Mind the children!” Mia warned them in a sing song voice as she walked by.

  “No,” Leo took Regina’s bamboo skewer wielding hand and held it down.

  ~*~

  Regina did not feel too well. She blamed the bacon wrapped shrimp but mostly she blamed Mia Hudson with her chipper smiles and prophesies of doom. She felt like there was a ball of wriggling worms trying to push up her throat but nothing came out.

  She spent the morning in bed, being ministered to Anita. Leo called after every forty five minutes to check if she was okay. Regina felt a little better by the afternoon. She waited till Anita was busy doing the laundry then she slipped out of the house. She stopped at the pharmacy on her way to the office to pick up some antacids.

  Florescent lighting always gave Regina the feeling she was under water. It dulled her senses and she was already feeling battered. She picked up a bottle of grape flavored antacids and was headed to the counter to pay when a sudden thought struck her.

  She looked through the aisles till she came to the one she was looking for. There were many choices, but feeling like a thief in the wrong part of town she grabbed the first one she saw and rushed to the checkout counter.

  The woman at the cash register didn’t even look at her and for that Regina was grateful. She felt like an imposter, a silly little girl who was making a ridiculous mistake. She was sure she’d be laughing later but at the moment she felt like a naive fool.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Jeffrey greeted her when she walked in. “Rick’s bored me half to death with pictures of his son’s birthday party, Clowns! I mean, why?”

  “I know, right?” Regina said. “You’re the only one who gets me.”

  “Plus, wow, that kid is ugly!” Jeffrey said. “I mean his sister is cute but poor Bradley. He should be grateful his Dad’s making a ton of money so some woman somewhere will find him attractive.”

  Regina tried not to laugh but this was exactly what she needed. It was a relief to know that she wasn’t the only one who thought things like these, that they couldn’t be that horrible if one other person agreed.

  “Did you cancel all my appointments?” Regina asked.

  “Yes,” Jeffrey said. “At least this way you can concentrate on that Simpson case. God, you’re going to need a miracle with that one.”

  Regina closed her office door then headed to the bathroom. She took out the pregnancy test from her hand bag, her heart pounding against her chest. She didn’t really think it was true but Mia’s words had gotten to her and she had to make sure. Regina felt like an absolute idiot as she peed in the stick.

  She washed her hands vigorously biting on the inside of her cheek. She hadn’t ever felt this nervous waiting for a jury’s verdict.

  Two garish pink lines stared back at her.

  What the hell does that mean? Regina though but she knew what it meant, she had read the literature twice before she took the test but she glanced at it again hoping that she’d got it wrong but there was no mistaking it.

  Regina was pregnant.

  Chapter Three

  Choices

  “Did he ever hurt the children, or threaten to hurt them,” Regina asked.

  “Well, you know Frank,” Dakota said absently. “He was controlling. He loved the kids but he demanded discipline.”

  “And did he ever hit the children?” Regina repeated feeling frustrated. Dakota was as wispy and frail as her sister was loud and in the way.

  “Once,” Dakota said and Regina sat up straighter, “when I was a little girl my father beat me with a belt because I wouldn’t kiss grandma’s hand. But I’d seen her scratch her crotch with it,” Dakota said. “He didn’t like hearing that so he beat me some more.”

  Regina shot Diana a stare.

  “She has episodes of lucidity,” Diana cajoled. “She’s been through a traumatic experience, have some sympathy.”

  “I’m trying to stop your sister from going to jail,” Regina bit the words out, “I don’t have to sympathize with her to do my job.”

  “She’s better with the psychiatrist,” Diana said. “If you could give me the questions you need asking I can ask him to give them a try.”

  Regina jotted down her questions while Diana and Dakota talked about their lives in high school. Diana had the manic glint in her eye Regina had seen in people with a savior complex. They thrived when they were depended on and Dakota was very dependent at the moment, so much so that Regina feared Diana might encourage her never to leave home again.

  Regina decided to talk to Dakota’s psychiatrist about Diana.

  Once the sisters had left Regina took care of some paperwork for another case and headed the end of week meeting with the heads of her staff. They reviewed cases coming into the company; lawyers discussing how far they’d come in their case, which stance they were taking then they rolled up their sleeves and stuck in to the discarded pool, the nitty gritty cases, the boring cases which no one wanted and distributed them as equally as possible.

  James, Hudson and Colt employed over a hundred and eighty lawyers and paralegals and these meetings were often nerve wracking but today Regina enjoyed the challenge and the grueling process was fulfilling. She joined Rick Hudson and Nathan Colt for an after work drink.

  Rick Hudson had been Regina’s colleague at her last firm; talented and hardworking he had been ignored and shoved to the side lines. Regina had seen his potential and invited him to her company. He’d made partner in eight months.

  Nathan Colt was Regina’s oldest friend from college. Suave, charming and irresistible to the ladies Nathan Colt had the gift of the gab. He could turn a courtroom around with his serpentine tongue and had been more than happy to join her firm as partner.

  Regina sipped her martini, her mind jumpy and exhausted needing the drink but her anxiety blooming about what it might do to the baby. She didn’t want it, she would have gone to an abortion clinic yesterday and gotten rid of it but something told her that she couldn’t do it
without telling Leo; but if Leo found out she was pregnant he would want the baby.

  It was well and good when there was no baby to talk about whether they wanted one or not, but being pregnant left her with no cards. She felt vulnerable.

  “… it’s going to be a shit storm,” Nathan was saying and Regina started.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “The Simpson case,” Ricky said. “Are you okay, Regina? You look a little pale.”

  “I’m fine,” Regina said. “Just a little under the weather.”

  “The flu’s been doing the rounds again,” Ricky nodded. “The kids are down with it too. You must have caught it at the party.”

  “Do you have a good hold on it?” Nathan asked.

  “God, Nate, it’s just a flu,” Regina said riled up.

  “I’m talking about the case,” Nathan grinned.

  Regina threw a peanut at him which he caught expertly in his mouth.

  “The woman’s a psyche case,” Regina sighed. “She doesn’t say anything coherent about the case except that she didn’t do it.”

  “She mentioned that she didn’t want her kids to the police,” Ricky chimed in and Regina blanched.

  “Yeah,” she said faintly. “Guys, I’ll call it a night. I’m beat. I’ll see you Monday.”

  Regina drove home in the dusk. L.A. was at its most beautiful at dusk, the garish city lights weren’t on, the sun hit the world at just the right angle to set everything aglow. She parked her car in the drive and was pleased to see that Leo was already home.

  “I’ve made dinner,” Anita said as soon as Regina came in, “Don’t order in,” Anita took her coat from the rack in the hall. “Also, there’s dessert in the freezer.”

  “Ben & Jerry’s?”

  “Ben & Jerry’s,” Anita nodded then said good bye.

  Finally home Regina just wanted to relax in a hot tub and feel her worries radiating out of her body. She found Leo swimming laps in the pool, his lean body tearing through the water like the fins of some aquatic creature. His muscles bunched and relaxed with every stroke, the two dimples at the base of his spine called out to be touched.

  Regina stripped to her underwear and jumped in. She swam to him and was immediately engulfed in his arms. She loved the warmth of his skin against hers; it was a sense of belonging she shared with no one else.

  “I missed you,” he murmured against her ear and she felt desire flutter up her calves and in to her groin. She let him cup her breast, their legs intertwining in a bid to keep afloat but then they were kissing, lips latching on hungrily, tongues clashing, fingers trailing, tearing and squeezing till Regina couldn’t breathe.

  “I need you,” his whispers were ragged, his need intense against her thighs. She pulled him closer, her back hitting the tiled walls of the pool and she felt him inside her, his heat radiating up and up till her face was flushed, the trickle of water on her body taking her senses to new heights.

  “Fuck me,” she gasped her legs circling around his waist, locking his hips, taking him in deeper. She arched her back and Leo bit in to the fabric of her bra, pulling it down with his teeth and licking her hard nipples.

  “Your breasts have gotten bigger,” he moaned appreciatively flicking his fingers on her nipples till she was squealing for release.

  “Oh, God, don’t stop!” Regina cried. She was close, so very close to the point of no return. Leo thrust deeper in to her, harder and deeper, his tongue licking the arch of her neck and plunging his tongue in her hot mouth.

  There was a burst of pure bright light that left her blind in the next instant.

  Leo helped her get out of the pool; she was so relaxed that she just wanted to float on her back indefinitely. They snuggled up in fluffy towels and ate dinner on the kitchen floor like they did all those years ago at his penthouse apartment.

  Later in bed she hunkered down in her pillows for some much needed rest while he watched an old Western. She watched the outline of his profile, the straight nose, the sharp jaw and the big sensual lips.

  Regina loved him dearly, she wanted to be with him forever; but would having his baby help keep them together; or would Leo see the monster not the mother that resided in her and leave her?

  Chapter Four

  Options

  Champagne flowed freely; glasses were replenished as soon as they were drained. It made business sense to keep the guests lubricated, the more intoxicated they were the more generous the donations. Women swathed in silks and satins, men ensconced in suits and tuxedos, the talk varied from politics to the current market trends and Regina was bored out of her mind.

  The event was hosted by Katherine Bates for the Make a Wish Foundation and pictures of chubby children suffering from cancer were everywhere. Regina, who had donated generously, was given a button with a child’s face on it to wear on her dress. Katherine had forced her to put it on.

  “You look like you need a drink,” Leo said handing her a glass of Champagne.

  “I really shouldn’t,” Regina said. “The flu has shot my nerves and I feel really raw.”

  “I know,” he said sitting beside her. He rubbed her back gently. “You still look lovely though.”

  Regina smiled. She was wearing a muted gold evening gown by Chanel. It hugged her curves, showing off her figure in a classy way. She had seen many men stare at her and she was pleased to see their skinny girlfriends had not been pleased. She kissed Leo lightly on the lips.

  “Hi, Leo,” a young woman in her late twenties walked over to their table. She was wearing a red low cut dress that showed off her sleek long legs and her tiny waist. “Hi, Regina, right?” she asked shaking Regina’s hand.

  “Hi, Melody,” Leo said, “Regina, Melody Grisham is my new assistant.”

  “You’re Brian’s daughter,” Regina said recognizing Brian Grisham, the billion dollar tech company owner’s button nose and pointed chin in Melody’s face.

  “Yeah,” she said, “Daddy asked Leo to do me a favor,” she rolled her eyes affecting embarrassment Regina was sure Melody didn’t feel. “I see you’ve lost weight. I’m glad you’re finally making an effort. It must be torture on your knees.”

  Regina, who had spent the past three days throwing up more than she ate, felt her smile stiffen. She always found it surprising that people who were so private about their own lives and spouted slogans such as ‘live and let die’ would think it perfectly appropriate to talk to her about her weight as if it were a national issue.

  “Melody used to be fat,” Leo added hastily.

  “A whale!” Melody said. “This one vacation when I was seven I had to be rolled around in a wheelchair because I couldn’t walk. So humiliating!”

  “I’m sure,” Regina said, non-committal.

  “Leo told me you’re handling the Simpson case,” she said taking a seat at their table. “How can you defend someone like that?”

  “Our justice system demands that everyone be given a fair trial,” Regina said lightly but she couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that she was being attacked.

  “But a monster like that; can you imagine doing that to children?” Melody asked Leo, effectively cutting Regina out of the conversation. “I can’t wait to have kids and the thought of someone as reprehensible as that at large gives me the creeps. Do you want children?” she asked Regina.

  “Not particularly,” Regina said trying to keep the conversation as light as she possibly could. She’d noticed Leo’s jaw tighten.

  “That’s unfortunate,” Melody said glancing at Leo. “I think everyone should have children and the women who abort are despicable.”

  “So they should go ahead and have the children they never wanted and murder them then?” Regina asked losing her cool, her stomach roiling. Leo put a steady hand on her arm but she had had enough, of little Miss Perfect with her perfect white teeth, her creamy skin and the surety of her daddy’s money.

  “Of course not!” Melody said disgusted. “If they don’t want children they
shouldn’t get in relationships where the other person does.”

  “I agree,” Regina said. “If you’ll excuse me.”

  Regina felt the bile rising up in her throat and just about made it in time to the bathroom. She felt tears prick her eyes. She felt miserable and vulnerable. She desperately wanted to get rid of this baby but her love for Leo had made her weak.

  And he’s spending his days with a baby crazy nut job, Regina groaned at the thought of Melody cozying up to Leo. She gargled with some mouth wash in the bathroom and reapplied her lipstick. She patted her hair down and exited to find Leo waiting for her outside.

  “What the hell was that?” Leo asked her and Regina felt all her anxiety and insecurity rear its head. “She’s opinionated, yes, but you could have ignored her.”

  “You’re defending her?” Regina shot back. “She gets excuses from you while I get the third degree.”

  “It’s not like that,” Leo said a bit more placidly than before. “She’s just a kid.”

  “No, she’s a woman who can’t wait to have babies,” Regina snapped, she was not going to reign in her anger. “Your babies, specifically. She practically had her legs wide open for you to fuck her and make a baby inside her right there and then!”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Leo protested.

  “No, what’s ridiculous is how blind you are,” Regina said. “And you know I don’t take kindly to being harassed about children.”

  “Oh, believe me, I know,” Leo said bitterly.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Regina asked.

  “It means that maybe I should take your advice for Frank Simpson and find someone who does want children rather than force you to have mine,” Leo said coldly and Regina felt her insides freeze. “If it’s a good rule for him, why not for me?” Leo didn’t wait for her reply but walked away.

  Regina felt deserted; she felt like Leo had slapped her. Regina walked out of the gala in a daze and hailed a taxi. Twenty minutes later when the cab came to a stop she saw that she had given directions to her old apartment. Regina began to cry in earnest, the taxi driver, a Sikh man in his late fifties said encouraging words in Punjabi.