Satin Bruises

Reilly watched her son complete his homework, checked it, then sent him on his way to get changed into his play clothes. She could hear him in the lobby, playing with a pack of young weres his age, and a smile played at the corners of her mouth. Someone rapped softly on her office door. Reilly asked them to come in and the door slowly swung open. A man with long, curly blonde hair stuck his head in and smiled.

"Please," Reilly said pleasantly, standing up. "Come in."

"Thank you Miss Gallion," the man said upon entering the room. Reilly took notice that the man was huge, easily pushing seven feet tall. He had a muscular neck and his arms were thick and strong, reminding the woman of ancient tree trunks. His hair was thick with curls and two tiny braids were hidden behind his ears. He had a thick, long blonde beard. Reilly couldn't help but to think of this man as Beowulf and imagined his fighting Grendel. She held her hand out, hoping he wouldn't crush it in his bear like hands.

"Now, Mr. Erikkson, my sister tells me that you would like to be our history professor," she began.

"And she would be absolutely correct," he answered. "And you may feel free to call me by my name, Baird."

"Well thank you. You are of Nordic descent?"

"I wouldn't say descent," he replied, smiling. Tiny fangs peeked over his red lips and Reilly smiled.

"I thought so. I have looked over your application here and contacted your previous employers. They all said you were an impeccable instructor. They made sure to inform me that your students had a ninety-eight percent success rate."

Baird nodded humbly and smiled. "I was there. I teach from experience and find it extremely easy to relate to my students."

"That is fantastic," Reilly whispered, impressed. "Now, I have heard everything I need to hear. We still have some wrinkles to iron out for the school, but I will give you a call and let you know when to come in. In the mean time, my sister and I need to run a few more background checks, if you don't mind."

"Well, even if I did, you would still run the checks," Baird joked.

"You're clever too! I'm sure you understand the need for security..."

Baird interrupted her. "I completely understand. I researched the area before I applied. I know about the security breach a few months back. I know your laws and I agree with them. Feel free to do as many checks as you need."

They shook hands and Baird left the office. Reilly grabbed her cellphone and shot her sister a text message that read "Just talked to Baird Erikkson. He's PERFECT for the history position!"

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Raleigh leaned back in her plush computer chair, propped her feet on her desk, and pushed her glasses further onto the bridge of her nose. She ran her long fingers through her hair and sighed audibly. On the desk, her cellphone lit up and vibrated. Raleigh reached for the phone, then decided she was too lazy and left it. When she looked up, Micah was standing at her door. He was clean shaven and smiling, holding a bouquet of pristine white roses. He was wearing black slacks, a black dress shirt and the leather jacket Raleigh bought for him.

"Hey darling," Raleigh said happily as she rose from her chair. "What's up?"

Micah handed her the roses and kissed her cheek. "I just thought we would go out to dinner. I made reservations at Valentino's."

"That's sweet baby, but I'm definitely not in my 'going out' clothes," Raleigh answered, putting the roses in a crystal vase. She stepped back for a moment to admire their beauty. She turned around, finding Micah holding a dress and a pair of slinky stilettos.

"I thought of everything so you wouldn't have to," he whispered as she took the clothes from him. She examined the dress made of soft, black fabric. Micah handed her the shoes, strappy and gorgeous.

"How did you know my sizes?"

"Now don't be mad, but I went through your closet to get an idea of what you liked," Micah laced his lean arms around her waist. "Imagine my surprise when I actually found a dress hidden in your closet."

"Sometimes I like feeling pretty," she replied, breathing in the thick leather scent of the jacket. Micah buried his face in her hair.

"I know, but you better get ready or we'll miss our reservations."

"Alright honey, I'll be ready in ten."

Ten minutes later, Raleigh stood in front of her mirror, stunned at how gorgeous the dress was. It was a strapless number that clung to her waist and hips, giving her a flowy and feminine air. The black dress stopped mid-thigh, usually not what Raleigh went for, but the stilettos made her legs ultra long...the definition of sexy. Raleigh turned around and admired the heels effects on her rear. Perfection, truly. She grabbed her handbag, deciding to put her make up on in the car.

Micah was waiting at the foot of the stairs, chatting with Jason, Sylvie, Nathaniel, and Cherry. Raleigh paused at the top of the stairs, catching the women's attention, and did a sassy spin. Sylvie and Cherry's eyes went wide and they shared a grin. Jason and Nathaniel looked at each other, then at Micah.

"You picked THAT outfit by yourself?" Cherry asked.

"Well, no. Nathaniel helped," Micah whispered. "But don't go blabbing."

"If Nathaniel helped then he should..." Sylvie began, but Nathaniel stopped her.

"I don't want any credit. I only helped because Micah is incapable of buying shoes."

"Both of you shut up," Micah hissed, still wearing a pleasant smile.

"You look fantastic," Cherry gushed. Raleigh's face was glowing, her eyes gleaming happily. Micah held his hand out to her to escort her to the car, all eyes on them. As Micah lifted her into the truck, she couldn't help feeling like a princess.

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Reilly locked her study, pulling on the handle to ensure it was really locked, and began climbing the stairs to her level of the house. When she came through the door, she was bombarded by a pack of black and white balls of barking fur. Reilly yelped and jumped back against the door. The puppies sat at her feet, tails wagging happily and yipping for attention. The witch tried to think of why these puppies would be in her house, then she remembered seeing a portrait of Jean-Claude...black and white Harlequin Great Danes sitting at his side regally.

"Jean-Claude!" she called, trying to sound sweet despite her slight distaste for dogs. Jean-Claude walked calmly into the living room, holding yet another puppy. Reilly's arms dropped to her sides, she just stared at the vampire. Jean-Claude, for a brief second, looked like a child who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I will not lie," he began. "I may have been bad."

Reilly fought back a laugh. "What happened and why so many?"

"Conner asked for a puppy."

"So...you went a bought a whole litter of puppies. Oh darling, you do spoil him."

"Asher wanted one too."

"Don't lie. You wanted them the most," Reilly insisted, shaking her head with a slight smile.

"I'm afraid so my love. They were all so...cute," he explained as the puppy in his arms licked his face. Reilly's previous anger dissipated as she looked upon the man and his puppy. She smiled and bent over to scoop up one of them in her arms. The squirming ball of fluff licked her face repeatedly, her long tail thumping against her.

"Alright, they can stay," Reilly sighed. "I guess they're kind of cute."

"Well, they would have to stay anyway. Conner and Asher already named them."

"You and Conner named them."

Jean-Claude sighed, caught again. "Yes. Actually, Asher had nothing to do with it. They were here when he came home." She laughed slightly.

Reilly placed the puppy back on the floor with her litter mates and walked toward the bedroom. Jean-Claude followed her with his puppy still in his arms. He laid on the bed, watching as Reilly got changed into her pajamas.

"What do you think your sister will say?" he asked, helping the litter of Great Danes onto the bed. Reilly eyed the Danes warily.

"About what? The dogs? She loves dogs."

"You don't know do you?"

"Know what?"

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Micah and Raleigh were seated at the best table in the restaurant. The Leopard King was a perfect gentleman, pulling Raleigh's seat out for her, pushing the chair back in for her. Raleigh beamed at him as a party of women next to them began whispering to each other, staring at Micah. Promptly, the waitress came, took their orders, and was off again. When they were left alone, Micah reached over and took Raleigh's hands in his.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you my sister was in town," he apologized. Raleigh smiled.

"It's okay honey, I figure that there was a reason why you wouldn't so...I'm fine."

"You're right," Micah replied. "There was a reason. That doesn't mean I couldn't at least give you a heads up."

"That would've been nice," Raleigh joked. A silence fell over them as the waitress brought them their food. Raleigh, not wasting a moment, began digging into her pasta as Micah watched her. A thought finally dawned on Micah as he watched the woman across from him. Raleigh was going to be the mother of his child. His mind wandered to the future as his fingers played with his grandmothers ring. He could see Raleigh in the backyard, running in circles with a little boy and a German Shepperd. He saw himself at soccer games, school functions, tucking the little one in at night. It wasn't until Raleigh said his name softly that he realized he was smiling.

"Baby, are you okay?" she asked. Before Micah knew what was happening, he pulled the ring from his slacks pocket and went to his knee. Raleigh's dropped her fork and covered her face with her hands. She peeked through her fingers, just to see that Micah was still on the floor in front of her. An anticipatory hush fell over the area around them, the table of women next to them fell silent, on the edge of their seats.

"Raleigh Cassidy Gallion," he said softly, slowly. "I love you, more than anything. You're everything to me, even the mother of my child..."

He reached up and took her hand, revealing tears welling in her silver-green eyes. "Marry me. I'll make you the happiest woman in St. Louis. I'll do anything for you my love, just please...marry me."

Raleigh looked down at the classic Tiffany's ring in Micah's hand. The diamond sparkled beautifully in the soft light. The silver was polished until it gleamed with an inner light. She wrapped her fingers around Micah's hand and stood up, pulling him to his feet. Her lips found his, she placed her hands on his chest. His heart stopped as he slid the ring onto her slender finger.

"I will marry you...a thousand times over again," she cried into his shoulder. The tables around them clapped and shouted congratulations. The women next to them bought them a bottle of fine wine. Since Raleigh couldn't enjoy it, she decided to take it home to her sister when she flaunted her news.