Free Keeping Her by Kelly Lucille

nerves dance up
her spine.
    “Yes?”
    “I
wanted to make sure you got home all right.”
    She
rolled her eyes.  “I did.”
    “Good.”
    Silence.
    “Was
that all?”
    “Dinner.” 
The word came out in a bark.  Not remotely sounding like a question.
    “What
about dinner?”
    “We
can have that date tonight.”
    She
rolled her eyes.  “No.  Call me Friday.”
    “Damn
it Clytie!  That’s too long.”
    She
laughed.  “You know clinging is an unattractive quality in a man, as is
whining.  I’ll talk to you Friday.  Bye.”  Click.

 
    Chapter
6
     
    After
a shower and a change, Clytie went into her workroom and glanced around. 
Quite a few waxed bases in differing sizes had been started.  A whole
table of finished products waited for the last layer of resin to be applied
then they would need weeks to cure.  Encaustic was not a fast process, but she
loved it, and it was just what she needed today.  She changed quickly into
her work clothes.
    Unfortunately,
she was not in the same mindset she had been when she began all the on going
projects.  She itched to begin something different.  She grabbed a
large plaque of bare white beeswax she had prepped weeks ago, this one about
five feet by five feet.  She started with a bold turquoise.  One of
the largest bases, she’d put off using it, waiting for inspiration to
hit.  Now she had something particular in mind.  She set the wood
base, melted wax and swirled colors, scraping away layers.  From there she
mixed and melted, coated and pressed until the abstract wash in her mind came
to life.
    Between
drying layers she worked on other projects, using dental tools for the
intricate details and filling in with color.  She worked on pieces as
small as 6 inches with the idea she would puzzle them together in a type of
tile design.  A few stand alones in 2-foot squares needed some finishing
touches. 
    She
lost the light and didn’t even notice she was squinting until it affected her
color palette.  She flipped the switch and washed the room in artificial
light.  She stopped to get a bite to eat as several things dried and only then
realized her back ached and her fingers needed a rest.  Several messages
waited on her machine.  She let the message light blink.  Did some
stretches and got back to work.  Rarely did her art flow so smoothly.
    It
was several hours before she finished for the day.  She yawned, rubbed
tired eyes, and stretched aching muscles.  She covered all the burners and
flipped off switches.  Her fingers shook a bit, and she had several
superficial burns but she was happy.  Most of the smaller pieces were
done.  The intricate tiny details of the tile collage had been exacting work
but the result was more than worth the effort.  In contrast, the big piece
seemed to be some alien landscape.  Even half-finished it was the best
thing she’d ever done.
    She
winced, remembering the fight with Sarah and the harsh words between them.  Too
tired to think, she ignored the blinking answer machine in favor of a shower
and sleep.  She fell into bed and was out as soon as her head hit the
pillow.
    Sometime
during the few hours remaining of dark she dreamed of big warm hands and a hard
presence at her back.  Warmth seeped into her aching back, and she moaned
and burrowed closer.  She breathed in and wanted to curl that masculine
scent around her like a blanket.  She sighed out a breath and swore lips
caressed the back of her neck beneath her hair.
    Clytie
woke up the next afternoon with a smile on her face, until she stretched and
every muscle in her body protested.  Between Demon and her art, she had
seriously overtaxed her muscles.
    She
convinced herself to get up by promising herself a soak in the tub.  She
chose the lavender bath salts for relaxation and dropped into water almost too
hot for her skin.  The wet heat made her think of Demons whirlpool tub,
swimming pool size as opposed to hers that barely held enough water for her