Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:39:04 +0000
From: Willow Lemon <willowlemon@outlook.com>
Subject: Coven, ch. 12

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CHAPTER TWELVE

      Kemper came in with an arm full of flowers while Veronica was
enjoying breakfast.  "Angela has out done herself yet again this morning,"
Veronica told him between mouthfuls.
	"I would have to concur." He laid the blooms out on the counter,
and then retrieved a vase from the cupboard. He chose a large flat circle
container made of ruby colored glass.
	He began arranging the blossoms and Veronica came up beside
him. "So, how are you doing?" she inquired casually.
	"I'm fabulous. What about you? You look happier."  Kemper beamed,
delighted she was at long last able to observe a contented feeling in her.
	"Me? Yeah sure, you could say I feel happy. It's been awhile, I
suppose I forgot what it felt like." She paused and smiled in thought for a
moment. "Listen, do you think we could talk? I need to tell you about
something." Veronica plucked a long sprig of lavender from the hodgepodge
of multicolored flora, bringing the buds to her nose.
	"Sure." Kemper was curious. "Let me finish this up then we'll
talk."
	They carried a pot of tea out to the front porch, overlooking the
seashore. The waves and gusts were tranquil this morning and it was
especially lovely. These were the days Kemper lived for on the islands.
	She asked about Justin. He told her what had happened, and
explained the need for such a lengthy rest. "The emotional drain on top of
such a powerful spell knocked me out."
	"I feel awful. I shouldn't have invited him to visit. He said he
was okay with you having a boyfriend."
	"You couldn't have known, Ronnie. Justin is rarely predictable. And
I said he could come too. This isn't on us; it's on him."
	She nodded. "You're right. I'm just disappointed it went down that
way. But all's well that ends well, I suppose."
	Veronica got quiet and he knew that wasn't all she was wanting to
speak with him about.  Kemper sipped his blueberry tea and waited. He knew
Veronica would start when she was ready.  He wasn't in suspense too long.
	"Two nights ago, something strange happened. I remember hearing you
come up to go to your room. I looked at the clock and it was around 3:45. I
drifted back to sleep and woke just thirty minutes later. At this point I
decided to go get something to drink. I was halfway down the stairs when I
saw something moving in the living room. At first all I could see was a
faint grayish kind of light. I then realized it was a person, a ghost to be
more specific. It disappeared after I watched for maybe a minute. I hate to
break it to you, but your house is haunted."
	"A ghost? Are you positive? What did it look like?" Kemper was more
than curious now.  He set down his cup and focused.
	"Well, like I said it had a pearly and kind of glowy light
surrounding it."
	"What was it doing?"
	Veronica took a swallow of her tea and pushed a blond lock behind
her ear. "Just walking around, looking at things. It appeared as if she was
searching for something or maybe casing the place."
	"Wait a minute, did you say she?"
	"Yes, it was a woman. A rather beautiful woman at that."
	"What did she look like?" Kemper did not like this.
	"She had red hair and she was wearing a long dress. Pretty face,
nice rack."
	The pieces began to drop into place inside Kemper's head. "I may be
mistaken, I'll have to ask Carlo, but I think I know who it is."
	"Did I hear my name?" Carlo came out on the porch. His navy shirt
and shorts set off his eyes, giving Kemper a pang of lust in his belly. He
pushed the feeling aside and focused on the topic at hand.
	"Yes baby, we want to ask you something. This will almost certainly
seem like a strange question," he explained.
	"Ask me anything." He sat on a lounge chair and he saw Carlo's eyes
slide down the length of Kemper's legs, making his face feel like he was
sitting in the sun instead of under the shaded porch.
	"What does your ex-wife look like?" Veronica asked, beginning to
catch on.
	"You're right, I didn't expect you to ask that. Well, she's pale
with red hair and green eyes. May I ask why the inquiry?"
	Veronica and Kemper askance at each other. "You were the one who
saw it, you tell him." Kemper picked up a cigarette and lighter while
Veronica retold the story. It seemed quite often that the three of them sat
around talking out problems.
      He eyed Carlo as he listened to Veronica intently. He looked so
handsome, his jaw strong and eyes slightly narrowed in attentiveness. The
sweet-smelling breeze that sacheted over the ocean blew through his hair
making him look like an Adonis.
	"So, I guess now the assumption is that it was not a ghost that I
saw, but that it was your ex." Veronica was finishing up.
	"What do you think?" Kemper asked him.
	"Sounds precisely like the time I saw her in the bedroom. I wonder
what in the world she was doing?"
	"Maybe she was looking for you. I was out cold, so if she came in
the bedroom I wouldn't know. So maybe she was hunting for you in the living
room."
	"This is insane! There has to be *something* that we can do! We
can't keep letting Monique browse around your home at leisure." Carlo was
getting visibly upset.
	"I swear, if I have to say don't worry, everything is going to be
okay one more time I'm going to strangle you." Kemper gestured with his
hands.
	"How do you know everything will work out? You keep saying it, but
how do you really know?" Veronica asked.
	"That's what I'm saying. Kemper, sometimes you are just too
optimistic." Carlo went along with Veronica's sentiment.
	"Please, you just have to trust me. We will fight back, just not
yet. It's not time."

      * * *
      The three of them split up soon after their powwow and went their
separate ways around the house. Veronica, of course, went to where she
spent her days and nights, to paint in her atelier. Carlo went to have the
breakfast that the girls had raved about. Kemper went to his study and
finally checked his e-mail.
      Kemper stared at his computer screen flashing images as his hard
drive booted up. He knew that Carlo and Veronica were worried about what to
do and the danger that they were obviously in. He kept telling them, 'Trust
me, trust me!' yet Monique continued to invade their domicile and stalk
Carlo. He didn't know what *to* do, though, but he was convinced that he
would discover the answer when the time was right.
	Chuck had sent his itinerary. He was going to New York for the
commercial in two weeks. Kemper had been enormously hesitant about doing
the commercial, but he kept receiving good omens when it came to the ad.
	Realizing that the shoot was only two weeks away, he left the study
and headed to the gym to work out. He wanted to firm up for those close
shots. Once he had left his blood, sweat, and tears all over the gym, he
went upstairs to shower.
	While slumping under the three gold oscillating showerheads, he
began thinking about Carlo. He never could have imagined loving someone
could make him so satisfied. They complimented each other so wholly, and
the time they spent together was already some of the most treasured moments
of his life. Thinking of Carlo made his stomach flutter, creating that
well-known ache inside.
	Not noticing him until after Kemper finished with his shower, Carlo
lay asleep in the bed.  Carlo had worn himself out caring for him. With
nothing but a towel on his head, he went over to Carlo, stopping next to
the bed, gazing down at him. Somehow watching Carlo sleep always made him
feel serene. He had kicked off the sheets in the humid room, lying there
only in a pair of maroon satin boxers. His golden-bronzed skin and the
crimson of his shorts stood out against the pure white of the crisp cotton
sheets. It seemed to illuminate him and he was the most attractive Kemper
had ever seen him.
	He was always lusting after Carlo; he was a gorgeous man. But it
was almost as if his energy depended on being with him. He found that when
he was at his most exhausted were the times he sought after Carlo the
most. And when they completed true bliss, he felt revitalized, like he
could charge through a brick wall.
	As he stood contemplating this, Carlo stretched and opened his
eyes. Carlo smiled up at him with a stunned, but pleased expression to see
Kemper standing there and he smiled back, Carlo's eyes appearing to
shine. Carlo reached out and stroked his exposed chest and abs.  Kemper
felt everything drawing towards his center like a heavy weight in his belly
as Carlo's fingers grazed the flesh of his cock, issuing waves of chills
across his body.
      Kneeling next to him, Kemper tugged on Carlo's boxers, yanking them
off, then laid down next to him in bed. He was already hard as Kemper
firmly grasped his hand around Carlo's massive length, and then placed his
mouth around him. Carlo arched his back, as a growl escaped his
lips. Kemper firmed his lips against Carlo's movement, positively drooling
over his glorious taste.
      Kemper laved the head before deep throating him. He clicked his
tongue as he sucked up and down Carlo's length. "Dio!" Carlo exclaimed when
Kemper gave his sack a tug before firmly rasping a finger across his
perineum to get to his entrance.
      Sinking down all the way until Carlo's tip was hitting the back of
his throat, Kemper began gulping, his throat caressing his shaft. That's
when he glided a digit into his hole after coating it in some of Carlo's
piquant pre. Searching out Carlo's p-spot, Kemper tapped it, causing his
hips to lift off the bed and to dig his fingers into Kemper's
shoulder. Kemper hummed deeply as Carlo kneaded at his muscles, the sound
vibrating up Carlo's dick. That had Carlo keening.
      The towel on Kemper's head untwisted and slipped to the floor. His
dark wet hair brushed Carlo's inner thigh. The coolness of his damp locks
against Carlo's skin sent a shiver through him that made him orgasm
abruptly. Kemper took it with surprise. Kemper was used to being able to
know when Carlo was going to orgasm because of their connection, but this
one happened so fast it surprised them both.
       But Carlo didn't appear to have been discomfited by his quickness,
and he was ready to for more. He sat up and pulled Kemper to him, so that
he straddled Carlo's waist. Kemper knew what Carlo wanted, and he wanted it
too. Reaching between them Kemper held Carlo's hardon firm as he eased down
onto him. Carlo enfolded his brawny arms around him as they rocked back and
forth together.
      Kemper craving his refill of stamina, grew to be tempestuous, driving
Carlo's hips into the bed. As he felt both his and Carlo's desire built,
quickening to a climax, (this one wasn't going to be a surprise) Kemper had
an idea.
      A sly grin split his face as Kemper began doing this swirling, flick
movement with his hips. "You're planning something wicked," Carlo
accused. "Care to share what it is? Oh Christ, don't stop doing that!"
      Little did Carlo know, stopping was precisely the plan. "Nope,
keeping it to myself, but it is indeed wicked."
      Kemper kept riding him, bucking against him, bringing them higher and
higher, and when Carlo was inches away from crossing the finish line,
Kemper rose up on his knees and let Carlo's heavy cock slide out of
him. And when he climbed off him and sat between Carlo's legs, the
expression on his face was a convoluted mixture of ecstasy and
pain. "Wha...what's happening? What's going on?" Carlo's voice was taut
with desire and confusion.
      "Everything's fine. It's all going to plan." Kemper started stroking
and massaging Carlo's muscular legs, starting at his ankles, running his
hands over his calves, and up his inner thighs, giving Carlo time to catch
his breath and ease back down.
      "Dear god, you're pure evil! Are you doing what I think you're
doing?" Carlo panted.
      "What do you think I'm doing?" he teased.
      "I think you're fucking edging me!"
      Kemper laughed. "Language Mr. Sabatilli!" Carlo rarely cursed, so he
knew he was immensely frustrated.
      "Be forewarned, I may tell you I hate you at some point." Carlo
clenched his butt cheeks as his dick throbbed with his heartbeat.
      "Aww, I'll be crushed," Kemper simpered.
      "How many times are you going to do it?" He was sounding less pained
the more his almost climax abated.
      "Oh, I do love being in charge of you! I guess we'll see. Don't
forget, I'm being edged just as much as you." Kemper slipped a finger into
his muscled tunnel, feeling Carlo seize up around him in response.
      Pushing and pulling his finger, Carlo muttered, "I don't know if
torture is conducive to love making."
      "Let's find out, shall we?" Kemper stroked a second digit in his ass
as his other hand grabbed his shaft, squeezing it.
      "Dio, mi stai uccidendo!"
       Kemper had to giggle. He had no clue what Carlo said, but when the
Italian started, he had him right where he wanted him. "I'm going to have
to learn Italian so that I know what you say in bed." Kemper noticed that
his own voice was tight. Watching Carlo thrash against his hands was
turning his own insides to boiling mush. His own erection was straining
painfully for release.
      His heat flushed brain was thinking irrationally when it thought,
'The faster Carlo gets to the edge, the sooner I can come.' It didn't make
much sense, especially since this was his ploy, but he added a third finger
and started pumping up and down on Carlo's cock, occasionally leaning over
and sucking the tip free of pre.
      Carlo was groaning, and Kemper was moaning right along with him
watching Carlo's intoxicating tremors. The pleasure was building step by
step, but before it reached its zenith in both of them, Kemper pulled his
fingers out of Carlo, let go of his diamond hard cock and backed off all
the way to the headboard, leaning against it. He needed to put some space
between them or he was never go to calm down.
      "Whoever invented the concept of edging should be murdered." Carlo
was laying spread eagle on the bed, unable to even lift his head, his body
was so wracked with need.
      "Talk to me when I finally let you come and then tell me how you feel
about it."
      "Know when that's going to be?" His voice was tinged with anger.
      "Come on grumpy. Lighten up. If anything, I'm learning that I better
keep my man sexually satisfied or he'll turn into a bear, and not the good
kind." Carlo scowled at him.
      The banter had helped him cool down, and Kemper was ready for the
next round. He jumped on Carlo and realized he wasn't as cool as he thought
he was. He put his tongue down Carlo's throat, his fingers were working his
nipples, and his cock was pushing its way into Carlo's ass. Carlo grabbed
his ass cheeks and pulled him in deep. Kemper was plowing into him, hard
and fast, he pounded and thundered losing any previous self-control he had.
      But somehow Kemper caught himself, ceased his pumping and pulled
out. "Sorry, that got away from me fast," he panted.
      "Fuck that!" Carlo was done playing games. Pulling Kemper's hips into
him, causing his hardon to slip back into his hole, Carlo lifted his hips
and wrapped his legs around Kemper's waist, trapping him there. "You will
do me. You'll do me hard. And this time, we're both coming!" Carlo's eyes
flashed with blue flame.
      "Yes sir!" Kemper followed orders and gave it everything he had. He
slammed into Carlo, rutting against like a wild animal. Carlo was grunting
with every pummel, and Kemper couldn't and didn't want to stop the praises
falling from his lips as Carlo's channel convulsed around him. "I love
fucking you! Your ass is so damn perfect and tight. I can feel you
squeezing my dick. Oh, yes! I'm gonna come. I'm going to come!" And he knew
Carlo was too.
      Kemper filled Carlo's crevasse with hot come as Carlo volleyed onto
his own chiseled abs. Kemper crumpled next to Carlo, their legs tangled
together, having a tough time catching their breath.
      "Holy shit! I think I saw stars," Kemper used his first lung full of
air to say.
      "I saw the whole universe," Carlo gasped, a grin curving his sexy
mouth.
      "So, are you saying this was a good idea?" Kemper couldn't pass up
the temptation to harass him a bit.
      "It was worth every agonizing moment."

      * * *
      As they lay in bed, Carlo amused himself with a strand of Kemper's
ebony hair by twirling it around his finger. Kemper lay content, snuggled
against Carlo's chest.
	"My sabbatical will be over in a few weeks," Carlo stated it
matter-of-factly.
	Kemper had completely placed that occurrence from his mind. For
some reason, he thought Carlo would be there forever, like some kind of
instant fairytale, including the evil witch and everything. That was
ridiculous of him he now realized. "Does that mean you'll be leaving?"  he
was almost too frightened to ask.
	"Well of course I'll have to go back."
      "But of course." Kemper shot up getting defensive, red rising in his
features. "Like there would ever be any consideration of staying here with
me." He started retreating out of the bed, but Carlo grabbed him and pulled
Kemper back next him.
	"If you would let me finish, Mister," Carlo laughed at him. "I was
saying, of course I have to go back...to sort out my affairs. You know, get
things in order. I have to quit my job and sell my flat. Kemper my love, I
want us to be married!"
	"You do?" Kemper felt faint.
	"Yes, I love you! I never want to have to be apart from you,
ever. I want to spend the rest of my life right here, with you. That is if
you want me, if you'll have me."
	Kemper felt dizzy now. An instant ago he was furious because he was
leaving, now it seemed he had everything he wanted. It took him a moment to
get on even kilter. "Marry you?  You want to marry me? Are you sure?" For
some reason, he was having a tough time believing it. Now that Carlo had
put forth the ultimate expression of love, it wasn't so easy to receive it.
	"I have no question about it. I am more than sure. The question is,
what you want?"
	The last thing he wanted was for Carlo to go away. Kemper knew that
Carlo was taking a huge gamble asking for his hand so shortly after Monique
had attempted stealing his resolve.  Kemper loved him so fiercely and his
proposal, though surprising, was wondrous, as well as it created a feeling
in him that went beyond adulation.
      But one thing Kemper wasn't great at, was accepting love. Giving
love, never a problem, but receiving it had turned into a problem for
Kemper over the years. Veronica has been the only person in his life that
loved him unconditionally. He had felt Justin cared that way about him, but
his love did have boundaries. And all the other people in his life that
were supposed to feel affection for him, like his parents and family, had
been concerned more about their own lives and putting him down then giving
him attention and love. So, he didn't have much practice at accepting love.
	"Don't you think we should get this matter with Monique taken care
of first?" Kemper was grasping at straws for more time to think.
	"We are taking care of it I thought. You keep telling me to trust
you that everything will be okay, and I do trust you. Besides, she will not
control my life. If I want to marry you, I bloody hell will!" There was
that spark in his sapphire eyes. Kemper rarely witnessed Carlo's temper
flare. Not even when he found him with Justin. But when it came to
protecting Kemper from his ex-wife, it flashed.
	Kemper slowly smiled at him, being able to come up with no other
excuses and got over himself. Carlo did love him in every way and he knew
it, he was just scared. "Do you want a big or a small wedding?"
	"I want whatever you want my love." He ran his hand down Kemper's
arm.
	"That is the perfect answer."
	"Listen, we'll wait until I have the ring, is that better? I know I
sprung this on you rather fast."
	"I know my answer, but I'll wait just to torture you."
	Carlo kissed him, sincerely and fervently.

* * *
	That night Carlo and Kemper couldn't help but celebrate their
unspoken engagement with more love making, so falling into a contented
sleep had been no problem for Carlo. It felt as though the moment sleep
took him that he began to dream, but it was unlike any dream he had had
before. All his senses were working except his mobility, which he
discovered when he attempted to step from where his feet were planted. The
night air was rich with a salty clean scent, and there was barely any
whisper of a wind. The temperature was warm with the humidity dotting the
air.
	At first Carlo saw the sky; blue-black and so clear he forgot that
clouds existed for a moment. And the stars-there were so many of them! It
couldn't be possible that there were that many pinpricks of light in one
sky. His eyes traveled down from the sky to the sea he had already caught
scent of.
      The water was glowing. The ocean was radiant with a light source by
no means. It was beautiful, though he knew it didn't make him happy to
witness such a glorious supernatural occurrence.
	His body moved, but not of his own accord. Carlo turned and began
walking towards someone. He had not noticed them before; he had only seen
the water. A few steps and he could see Kemper, his face expressionless.
	"It's over now," a voice echoed through his head, and then he
realized it was his.
	Carlo awoke to Kemper nibbling on his ear.

* * *
      A couple of days later Kemper was in the study inspecting his email
in a turquoise swimsuit; his plan was to do some laps when he was done with
business. The ocean's waters were subdued today and just what he needed.
	Kemper was becoming increasingly anxious. Several matters have
currently been weighting on his mind and the pressure was beginning to take
its toll. His correspondence could have waited, but he was aiming to lose
his headache before going swimming.
      Carlo traveling to London on his own was Kemper's main concern. They
intended to conjure a spell and make a red talisman for him to dull his
presence, to help Monique to overlook him without her realizing it. But
Monique had influence and much knowledge, so naturally Kemper was still
nervous.
	Veronica would be left here at the house alone when Kemper went to
New York for the commercial. If Monique were to assail the house in some
way while he and Carlo were away, Veronica would be utterly
defenseless. But Monique hadn't been too violent, well at least not toward
Veronica. Kemper didn't feel any better.
	Also, Kemper had a feeling that the time to battle Monique was
approaching. This scared him, because they were not close to being prepared
for the fight. They still had no inkling of who the third member of their
circle was. But power was the main issue and Kemper knew they didn't have
enough of it. Something, anything, had to be done, but what that action was
still mystified him.
	Kemper continued to scan his electronic mail, struggling to
temporarily stamp out his thoughts of his troubles for the moment along
with his burning headache. There was a new piece from Chuck with more
information regarding the commercial. This project was Chuck's baby and he
was making sure everything went flawlessly.
	Odd, there was an email from his mother. Was it a holiday? He knew
it wasn't his birthday. Kemper clicked on it wondering what an emotionless
woman had to say.

      Kemper,

		Just letting you know your father and I are leaving New
Mexico and are moving to Georgia. Your Dad's opening a new office there for
the company. Below is all our new contact information.

								Best
regards,
									Barbara
Woods

      He was surprised his mother even bothered giving him the new
information seeing as she was such a large advocate of independent
living. Yes, there was one virtue his parents had taught him, that was how
to manage on his own. Kemper recalled one instance when he was very young
and he had asked his mother why they hadn't come to the school play that
Kemper had had a main role in. Barbara Wood's reply was, "One must manage
to do things on one's own Kemper.  Having no one to lean on around you is
what makes us strong. Now don't you feel proud that you did it all by
yourself?" But he hadn't felt proud, he had felt lonely. Kemper was self-
sufficient though, doing things on his own had given him the strength he
needed to make a success of himself.
	"...what makes us strong." The statement rang in his head.
      That was it! Kemper almost hated agreeing with his mother on
anything, but she may be right. He wrote a quick thank you and good luck in
reply to his mother.
	Them being alone just may be the solution to their dilemma with
Monique.

      * * *
      The next day, Kemper texted Liz:

      Kemper: Hey you. Any chance you're free on the 22nd?
      Liz: Actually, Nate's taking me to Boston to meet his family. I'll be
gone the 19th through the 24th. Why? What's up?
      Kemper: I was thinking of having a dinner party, but I'll wait until
you get back. Have fun on your trip. Good luck meeting the fam! XOXO

      There was, of course, no dinner party plan.
      Kemper couldn't get a clear indication of who the third member of
their coven was, and Liz was his best guess at this point. He didn't want
to say anything to her until he was certain, or perhaps until she
discovered it on her own.
      But for what he had in mind, he needed someone to be here at the
house. Since he was unsure, he wasn't about to ask her to change her
plans. And she could very well still be the third but, for this at least,
he would have to think of something else.

      * * *
      The night before Carlo left the three friends got together. Kemper
had prepared the meal for the special occasion. The spicy seafood soup he
had made had turned out marvelous, and Angela had only helped him a little.
	"Well love, since we are getting married, I mean if we get married,
it is good to know what an amazing chef you are." Carlo smiled at him.
	"You mean good to know that you are not entirely dependent on
Angela." The threesome laughed knowing that it was the truth. "Don't worry
Carlo, Kemper will be the perfect husband."
      Kemper had told Veronica of the semi-engagement the first opportunity
he had. She had responded, "The only thing more natural would be the
sunrise." Then she had embraced and congratulated him.
	They took their dessert of baked chocolate pots to the front
garden. Veronica had wanted something to care for, so she had bought two
canaries, a brown one and a yellow one that she named Harry and Larry the
canaries. So, they all had been spending more time there listening to the
birds' cheerful song. This included Augustine who seemed to know not to do
any more than observe the birds flutter about the large cage.
	"Listen guys, I wanted to talk with you. You know that I have been
apprehensive about all of us separating. We're going to create Carlo a
talisman tonight, but I have another strategy.  Ronnie, you once told me
that to protect me, if you had to, you would practice magic. I need you to
do it."

* * *
      The day before Kemper left for New York City, he and Veronica laid on
the giant sectional couches in living room; watching movies, snacking on
popcorn, and hanging out per their tradition.
	Veronica stretched out like a cat. Sitting up on her elbows, she
lit a pink colored joint rolled in strawberry flavored paper. Kemper
thought the sherbet orange cami and shorts she was wearing looked
flattering on her tan skin. She passed the strawberry cigarette to Kemper.
Veronica exhaled and questioned, "So you really think I can do this?"
	Kemper knew she was referring to the upcoming rite they had
planned. "I know you can, I don't have one doubt, but you have to know you
can do it too."
	"I know, I just like hearing your reassurance." Kemper gave her a
warm smile as he passed the smoking pink stick back. "Hopefully I'll be
able to get up that early."
	"You better get up or I'll beat your ass! Don't stress; I know you
can handle this. A lot of supremacy is involved, but it's power I see you
have respect for, so I'm not concerned."
	"Are you sure that you shouldn't wait for the third person of your
group to show up?"
	"There's no time to wait anymore. Besides this is the ideal
occasion. My gut tells me it is the proper step to take." Kemper was still
seeking to encourage her. He understood Veronica's apprehension, but he
also understood that this spell had to be done. If it wasn't cast... Kemper
didn't want to think about it.
	He also knew Veronica could do it. "I know you can handle it
Ronnie." He reached over and squeezed her hand that was resting on a
scarlet satin pillow.
	"Well, I would do anything for you.  God knows you've done
everything for me."

Veronica squeezed his hand back.