~By Keltic Design~

 by

*lizzie starr

Jaye leaned over the sink in the small hotel bathroom and stared into the mirror. A disgusted glance fell to the watch lying on the counter. Two in the morning. Once again sleep escaped him. Passing a comb through his disheveled hair moved the waves into some semblance of order. He yanked on the closest pair of slacks, grabbed his key card, left the room, and hoped he could wander the hotel again until he was tired enough to fall asleep.

His lonely supper was spent daydreaming about Celtic knots surrounding Allyn and pulling her to him. Many of the restaurant’s female patrons tried to capture his attention, but none of them had violet eyes. Jaye punched the elevator’s lobby button fiercely. She just disappeared. A young man sat at her booth when he’d checked the sales area after his meal, but Jaye refused to ask after her. Damn his pride sometimes.

Jaye leaned against the doors with both hands as the elevator sank to a stop and waited for them to open. Thick carpeting cushioned his bare feet when he stepped into the lobby. Across the open expanse of space, Allyn sat in a deep chair, watching the elevators. Jaye thought--hoped--she was waiting for him.

The first impulse was to rush across the lobby like a love-struck teenager and fall at her feet. He stopped in his tracks. Love-struck? Jaye Zeroun? Nah. Debating his feelings while he crossed the lobby, he came to no answer before he sank into the chair next to Allyn.

Her soft voice filled him with surprising contentment. “Can’t sleep?”

Almost afraid to speak, afraid of what he might say, Jaye shook his head and took a deep breath anyway. “You?” Was that a slight crack in his voice?

Allyn lay her hand on his. “I’m a night person, especially these nights when the moon is dark.”

“Oh, a vampire.” Jaye cringed. Smooth conversation. She’s gonna think I’m a total nutcase.

Allyn laughed. “Not even close. I simply enjoy the quiet and solitude of the night. Sometimes large groups of people, like at these Cons, are distressing to me. And, I get some of my best ideas at night.”

Jaye willed his voice to stay in one register and took another deep breath. The touch of her hand was playing havoc with his raw nerves; his skin tingled and burned with the contact. “I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. Ever since I got the tattoo, I just can’t seem to get any rest. It’s not that it hurts and the itching is almost gone. In fact I really don’t think my not sleeping has anything to do with the tattoo. Both just happened around the same time. I, well, I just can’t even seem to explain it.”

“I understand. Have you tried--?”

Jaye interrupted, voice unintentionally sharp. “I’ve tried everything anyone has suggested.” He glanced sideways at Allyn. “Sorry, I’m a little touchy about it, too. I refuse to resort to sleeping pills. I’ve tried relaxation techniques and visualizing times when I haven’t had any problems with sleep. Until it’s nearly dawn, but I just can’t stay asleep.”

Allyn clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Well, when you remembered good sleep in the past, what stands out most? Maybe you should try that.”

With his long legs stretched out in front of him, Jaye shrugged and leaned back in the chair. He slipped his hands into his pockets and felt a crumpled piece of paper. A mischievous grin spread across his face when he pulled it out and smoothed the pale yellow scrap on the arm of the chair.

“I remember one of my foster moms reading bedtime stories. Allyn, do you ever use coupons?

“Coupons? What do they have to do with…?”

Jaye leaned forward eagerly. “Do you ever use coupons?

“Well, sometimes.” She giggled. “When I remember I have them.”

“Okay. Now, if you were a store,” Jaye lifted a hand to stop the comments obviously hovering on Allyn’s lips. “Just play along with me here. If you were a store, would you accept coupons?”

Allyn shrugged. “Oh. I suppose so.”

“Good.” Jaye picked up the scrap of paper and held it in both hands. “Here is a coupon. I would like to redeem it.”

Allyn looked at him, rolled her eyes and tentatively reached out her hand. Taking the slightly crumpled coupon, she pursed her lips and blew out a long, slow breath. Jaye shivered.

Cautious, Allyn looked down at the paper in her hand. Once again her tinkling laughter flowed through the large lobby, knotting and twining itself around Jaye’s heart. “A bedtime story?”

Before he could answer, Jaye had to pause and catch his breath. His hand trembled slightly and he fought to control the tremor. Allyn lay the coupon on her knee and smoothed the wrinkled paper.

“One of my foster moms used to read or tell me stories to help me go to sleep. Just imagining it didn’t work. Maybe a real story will. I’ll bet you know lots of stories.”

“Where did you get this?”

“I found it last night.”

“Yeah. Right.” She leaned forward to hand the coupon back to him.

“Really. Please, won’t you accept my coupon? Help me out.”

Allyn looked deeply into Jaye’s eyes and he wondered if she was searching for his soul. Something inside opened to her willingly. Surprise touched her eyes before she blinked and sat back. Glancing again at the coupon, she took a few moments to fold it carefully and put it into her skirt pocket. “This isn’t a very good place for a bedtime story.”

“You’ll do it?” Jaye jumped to his feet.

“Yes. To help out a friend.” Allyn smiled up at him, took the hand he offered and let him pull her out of the chair. “You need to be in a familiar space. I suppose your room would be the best.”

Jaye eagerly pulled her toward the elevator. Abruptly, he stopped, turned to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. It was difficult to resist the urge to knead them gently. “I have no ulterior motives, Allyn. I really just need some sleep.”

Reaching up, she patted one of his hands. “I wouldn’t agree if I thought otherwise.”