A Midsummer Night's Demon(35)

Ky gave a tug on the ripcord, and brought the motor to life. Lyn watched him, appreciating the play of his muscles under the white shirt he wore. He looked ready to attend a beach wedding, dressed in khaki pants and classic Cuban-style shirt that hugged his body in the most delicious way.

Damn, she thought, taking a seat. That is one gorgeous male wrapped up in a fine package. The Goddess had blessed her with a fine mate, and she intended to show her appreciation.





Chapter Fourteen

The sound of the minstrels’ lutes and vihuelas filled the air, their songs dainty and gentle, much like the Goddess they celebrated. The soft sound of the waves kissing the shore below accompanied the minstrels in a steady beat.

Humidity clung to the hot night air, but the company made the slight discomfort worth braving the balmy weather. Lyn sat next to Ky on the dune, his arm about her shoulders. She felt at peace, tucked against his side. She took a deep breath, taking the salted fishy smell of the ocean into her lungs.

The evening had been going splendidly. She’d introduced Ky to the majority of her friends and family in attendance. He amused them with stories and witticisms. No one realized that he was a vampire which put him at ease, and the look on his handsome face indicated he might be having a good time.

“Here, it’s almost time for the bonfire.” Her friend, Bret, passed her a handful of flowers. “Put these on.”

“Put what on?” Ky’s voice sounded suspicious. He watched the male demon saunter off to offer another bunch of flowers to a different couple.

Lyn lifted a garland of yellow blossoms. “Put this around your neck.”

Ky took the garland gingerly between his finger and thumb, holding it away from his body, like a deadly animal about to strike. Make that rotten meat, Lyn amended, noting the look on his face.

“You want me to wear a Hawaiian lei?”

“It’s not Hawaiian. It’s a Litha tradition. The men wear garland around their necks and the women wear these.” Lyn put a crown of yellow and white flowers around her head. “They are made of St. John’s Wort and white lilies.”

Ky smiled a sexy grin and placed the garland around his neck. “When in Rome,” he gave her a wink that made her bones melt and sent a rush of heat to her feminine core, “wear a lei.”

“Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” Lyn laced her fingers with his.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are with those flowers in your hair?” he countered, and drew her closer.

His lips descended on hers in a gentle kiss. His tongue bid entrance into the warm cavern of her mouth, by making a sinuous slide along the seam of her lips. She immediately obliged, opening to him. Ky slipped his skilled tongue between her parted lips, and she gave herself over to his light but thorough kiss.

The sound of a throat being cleared superfluously loud next to them brought the kiss to a quick end. His lips left hers, and she knew a moment of anxiety.

Her brother, Matthias, smacked Ky on the back, hard enough that Lyn could feel the hit where their bodies pressed together. “That’s enough of that, you two. It’s time for the Creation Story. Don’t want to keep the Priestess waiting, if you know what’s good for you.”

The threatening look her brother gave them brought Ky to his feet, his hands clenched by his thighs. Her brother responded in kind, squaring his shoulders as his fingers curled into his palms. Their eyes met in an intense stare, sizing each other up.

“Men!” Lyn rolled her eyes. “Mierda. Back off, Matt.”

Her brother’s dark, angry gaze locked with that of her lover’s. His eyes narrowed in challenge, daring Ky to advance.

“Who is this male?” Ky demanded, his stare never leaving his opponent. He shifted his weight to one side, settling into a fighting stance.

“Who am I? Who the hell are you to be sucking face with my sister?”

The look of shock that settled upon Ky’s face would have made Lyn giggle if not for the tension that filled the air. “You are her brother?”

Matthias nodded his head and crossed his arms over his wide chest. His hands pushed behind his large biceps, making them look even bigger. “Yeah. And who exactly are you?”

Ky pulled his eyes from her brother’s to look at Lyn. “I thought I had met all your relatives, Lyn.”

The female demon lifted her shoulders in a carefree shrug. “What can I say? I have a large family. In the next decade, you may not get to meet them all.”