Chapter 4

Cora stretched out in the chair. “Kathy outdid herself this morning. I’m stuffed.”

Dade rubbed his stomach and grinned. “She doesn’t even come close to your cooking, Coralee.”

“Flattery like that Dade Jones, will be rewarded with meals.”

Steven smirked.

“That’s what I like to hear, honey.” Dade winked and rested his head back against the wall.

Steven watched Rachel go into her room then come back out again, digging in her backpack.

“What did you lose, Rach?” Kasey asked her softly.

Rachel didn’t even lift her head from searching. “Damn phone cord, my cell’s dead.”

Kasey leaned back in Chris’s lap. “You can try my charger if you want, it might fit.”

Steven looked at her again for a moment. She’d been quiet and jittery since they’d gone to breakfast. At first, he thought it was from the events of the night before, but she had no trouble looking at him with a knowing sparkle in those sleepy eyes. Of course, he grew hard each time she did that. “My phone is up by my cot if you need to call someone.” It hit him hard when she looked up and his heart flipped inside his chest to see tears forming. Now he knew what had been bothering her. “Go call and see how Ricky is, the reception’s good here.”

Rachel lowered her lashes for a second before looking back at him with a small smile. “Thank you, Steven.”

He watched her go up the stairs.

“That’s probably the third time in all the years she’s known you that she’s called you by your name. Is she all right?” Dade slid down the wall to lie on his side as he looked at him.

Steven sighed, “She’s just worried about the little guy.”

Cora studied him for a minute. “So, you think you’ll be able to help him?”

He shrugged, “Won’t know until I take a look.” Sitting up, he sighed. “I hope so, for her sake.” He stood up and stretched. “I’ll go see if she reached him.”

Rachel sat looking down at the phone in her hand. All he wanted was to hold her right now.

“Did you reach him?” Steven asked as he leaned against the doorframe.

She nodded. “Yes, he said ‘I’m having a good day, Rach’.” Her voice was quiet.

Pushing away from the wall, he went to squat down in front of her, taking her hands in his. “He may just be having a difficult time absorbing all the right nutrients Rachel, I’ve seen that many times. Don’t get yourself all worked up until we know more.” He shouldn’t tell her that, he knew better than to give false hope, but he couldn’t stand to watch her worrying.

She lifted damp eyes to his. “You think so?”

He caressed her cheek. “We’ll have to wait and see.” She dropped her lashes, hiding her eyes from him. When she looked back at him, something entirely different was reflected there. He smiled. “I think I’m going to have to fit in a nap today. I didn’t get much sleep this morning.” He chanced a light kiss on her lips.

Her eyes lit up as she grinned. “I know the feeling. I won’t last until the fire tonight if I don’t lie down later.”

Steven caressed his thumb over her lip tenderly. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” She shook her head quickly, smiling at him. “Good. I have a few teeth marks myself.”

Rachel grinned. “Your own fault, Doctor O’Reily.”

His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m not complaining at all, angel. In fact, I’m having a difficult time staying away this morning. I want to be…”

“Everything all right?” Leena stepped through the door.

Steven dropped his hand away from Rachel’s face when her eyes widened. Looking over her shoulder to the door he nodded. “Everything is good. Rach and I are going to head over to see how many munchkins we can get riled up.” Rachel smiled at him still not looking at Leena.

“I hope that adorable little blonde is there, she’s so much fun to do things with.” He pulled her to her feet. Turning to Leena she smiled. “Then I’m having a nap before tonight.”

Leena sent her a knowing smile. “Yes, my thoughts too, it’s going to be quite a night.”

Steven looked from one woman to the other with a curious look.

“With the ritual, fire, then dancing, I get tired just thinking of it.” Leena added with a smile.

“I’m looking forward to seeing those new outfits.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “I love to suffer.”

Leena laughed. “We’ll see if we can manage that for you, Steven.”

He nodded. “Good.” He grabbed Rachel’s hand. “Let’s go drive the volunteers looking after the kids crazy, we’ll get them all riled up.” She laughed and this time he noticed it reached her eyes.

Steven watched Chris drop down beside Dade, sprawled on the grass under the hot sun. “The ladies are exhausting me. I can’t keep up with them today.”

Dade grinned and closed his eyes. “I’m resting up so I can drum all night and exhaust them in a pleasurable, viewing kind of way.”

Owen grinned. “Just don’t tire them out too much.”

Steven smirked at Owen. “I hope Lee exhausts herself on you tonight, you bragging bastard.”

Chris chuckled and stretched to reach the cooler. “I don’t think Kasey ever tires. But I’m not complaining.”

Dade sat up and glared at them reaching into the cooler. “I’m gonna use the bass drum tonight and keep them going for hours, just to spite you two.”

“Someone’s a mite growly today,” Steven mumbled quietly.

Dade raised his eyebrows. “It doesn’t bother you that we’re staying in a cabin with the constant touching and whatnot of these two with their women? Drives me crazy…”

Steven smirked. “You need a woman, my friend.”

Dade drank half of his beer before replying. “Don’t see you with one yourself, friend!”

Steven leaned back at looked at him. “No comment.” He turned and looked at Owen. “Caught one of those looks between Leena and Rach earlier. I still say there’s something up with them.”

Chris scowled. “I agree, but can’t think of what else to try, to help us find out.” He lifted his head as Kasey came flying out the door at her usual top speed. Grinning he stretched out a hand towards her.

Kasey stopped and turned. Seeing Chris, she grinned. “I don’t have time to play Chris. I have to go find Gwen.” She blew him a kiss and started up the path to the main building.

“Strike.” Steven laughed.

Chris grinned at him. “Never when it counts.”

Dade stared at the bottle in his hand. “Justin knows what’s going on?”

“No, he’s as clueless as the rest of us,” Chris muttered.

“Makes me feel so much better when you put it that way.” Steven chuckled. Without looking, he knew Rachel was moving quickly towards the cottage. He’d always been tuned into her energy, but it was much stronger now. Lifting his head, he looked behind him. “Wear out all the kids for them, angel?”

She stopped abruptly and nodded. “Of course. Has anyone seen Cora?”

Dade pointed to the cottage.

“Great. Thanks,” she almost ran the twenty feet to go inside, leaving no time to answer any questions.

Dade looked over at Steven and raised his eyebrows.

“So, Chris you still any good at looking?” Steven asked him quietly playing with the grass in front of him.

Chris shook his head. “No, well, yes but I’ve vowed to Kasey I won’t do anything I used to, along those lines.”

“You’re not helping the cause, Larkin.” Dade mumbled under his breath.

Owen leaned back and looked up at the sky for a minute. “How bad can it be guys? They’ve promised they’re not doing spells or something dangerous, I say let’s deal with whatever it is when the time comes.”

Dade laughed.

Steven continued to look at the grass under his hand. “I haven’t made any promises about what I will and won’t do.” He knew they had caught his quiet words when none of them moved or spoke for several moments. He lifted his eyes and looked at Chris. Chris knew exactly what he meant. He watched him look quickly towards the cabin.

“If I did…”

Steven sat up, “you won’t be. I just need someone to be a strong amplifier to lend a hand.” Both Owen and Dade looked from one to the other. It was plain from their expressions they didn’t know what Steven was talking about.

Chris looked at the cabin again. “When?

Steven shrugged. “Now.”

Dade leaned forward. “Now what?” he whispered.

Steven got up slowly. “You and Owen stay here and keep an eye out. Let us know if they come out.”

Dade nodded but still looked hesitant.

“Let you know how? Where are you going?” Owen was sitting up now too.

Chris scanned the treed area and motioned with his head. “Over there, it should be close enough.” He got up quickly. “If she finds out…”

Steven grinned at him. “She won’t.”

Chris snorted. “You say that now but our bond is really strong.”

Steven paused in his step and looked back at the other man. He held very strong and powerful magic and was afraid of little Kasey. Steven dared him with his eyes to back out.

Chris sighed and continued walking.

When they were well out of sight Steven stopped, and looked back towards the cabin.

Chris sighed as he looked around. “This should be far enough.” He looked at the trees overhead and then to the ground. “How do you want to do this?” He sent him a wary look. “Who are you going after?”

Steven rubbed his jaw. “Not Kasey, she’d just zap my ass and I’d probably have burn marks.” He noted the pride in Chris’s eyes as he tried not to smirk. “I’m going to aim for Rachel or Leena, definitely not Cora. If she so much as made a sound, Dade would thump me into the ground.”

Chris grinned. “And you don’t think Owen won’t?”

Steven shook his head. “Leena wouldn’t let him.” He let out a deep breath and then held up his hands, palms facing Chris. “Here goes nothing.” He closed his eyes focused, taking slow breaths as he reached deep inside to the magic he held tightly within his body. He felt it climb through him and warm his skin. When Chris’s fingertips touched his, he felt a powerful boost to his magic as it gathered.

He pictured Rachel inside his mind and focused on her for a few seconds, testing. A heat spread through him as he felt the connection to her aura pass over his own. He searched for the way into her thoughts and felt her mind click open as if he’d turned a key in a lock. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated harder.

His hands shook until he felt Chris funnel some of his own power into the sight he was trying to grasp. He could see all the women and a multitude of colors as they moved around inside the cabin. He could feel nervousness and anxiety. Furrowing his brow his held onto the link as it started to change. He couldn’t sense what it was now it had somehow changed quickly. It was as if …

A blast of power shot through him and sent him sprawling to the ground. His hands were burning, and it felt like he’d been hit across the head with a block of stone. He opened his eyes slowly and looked up at the leaves on the trees. Lifting his head carefully he looked around and spotted Chris lying flat on his back as well.

“We are in a lot of trouble, Doctor.” Chris sounded out of breath.

“Yeah,” he agreed and then turned his head towards the sound of footsteps coming from the direction of the cabin.

He was almost able to sit up when Rachel and Kasey came into view. Following right on their heels were Cora and Leena. None of them looked to be in a very good mood, in fact if he knew how to vanish, he would have tried that.

“Christopher!” Kasey stopped when she reached them and glared down at her fiancé. “What were you doing?”

Chris hissed out a breath and slowly got to his feet. He glanced at Steven and then looked down at the angry witch standing a few feet away. “I …”

“Wasn’t doing it,” Steven finished. He looked at Kasey with what he hoped was a passable expression of honesty. “Chris wasn’t doing it, I was. He just came to keep me out of trouble and I guess he got too close to me.” He propped himself up on one hand and wished it would stop hurting sometime soon. “Who the hell blasted me?”

Rachel appeared beside Kasey, and if Kasey looked upset then Rachel looked pissed right off. “We did.” She scowled at him. “What were you doing? Trying to get inside my head?”

He shrugged, “Not exactly…”

“Couldn’t just be a normal peeping tom and look in a damn window,” Dade mumbled from where he stood behind Rachel.

All eyes turned to Dade.

Steven raised his eyebrows at him when no one was looking at him. Leave it up to Dade to find an out. He stood up and brushed off his shorts with still tingling hands. “I have to get my kicks somehow.”

Rachel turned back to him and huffed out a breath. “That freaked me out, you jerk.”

Steven tried to look repent. “Sorry. I’ve never actually done it before…”

She shook her head. “If you feel the need to experiment with crap like that, as least wait until we don’t have some maniac out there.” She let out a long breath, “at first I thought it was him…”

“Uh, I’m sorry, angel.” He went over and hugged her into his chest. “I didn’t think,” he smirked into her hair. “If it’s any consolation that hurt like a bugger when you zapped me.”

“Men.” Leena turned and stomped out of the trees. Cora shook her head and followed her.

Rachel relaxed for a moment in his arms and then pushed him away, following the others.

Steven dropped his arms and looked over at Chris. Kasey was brushing the dirt from his clothes and cooing over him. He rolled his eyes at the other men, who were working very hard not to grin. When she finally left him with a quick kiss and headed after the others, Chris let out a sigh.

Steven smirked. “That was interesting.”

Chris glared at him. “Next time you want to get yourself fried, leave me out of it.”

Dade snorted. “You? Owen and I were left in the middle of the war path.”

Owen nodded. “I thought they were going to kill us when they came out of the cabin.”

Chris looked down at his hands and flexed them. “Did you at least find anything?”

Steven exhaled loudly. “Nothing useful.”

Chris scowled at him for a few moments and then turned back to the cabin.

Steven watched Dade, leaning on his drum looking in the direction of the cottage. The sun was almost set now. Any moment they’ll come over that little knoll, he thought and he didn’t want to look away and miss that first punch that always took his breath away, seeing their latest outfits of torment. They’d placed the women’s offering for the harvest in the fire pit for them, and now waited. “It’s like being a kid at Yule waiting for present opening to begin,” Steven mumbled.

Patrick walked up and sat down beside him. “I don’t have to ask what you gentlemen are watching for. Damn near swallowed my own tongue at Solstice when your ladies made their appearance.”

Chris grinned. “You wouldn’t be the first.”

Owen tapped his fingers lightly on the rim of the drum. “Living with the creator brings no advantage either; she wouldn’t give me a preview.”

Chris threw his head back and laughed. “Well, I got to see the material and have been picturing Kasey covered in it ever since.”

Justin leaned down. “I have orders from Gwen to light the fire now. So, if you gentlemen will get ready to start, I’ll go tell Charlie to get it ready.” Dade nodded and straightened up.

“We’re ready.” Steven grinned. “We’ll start with a slow steady beat for the ladies to finally make their appearance.”

“Can’t miss that,” Justin smirked as he walked away.

Charlie lit the fire without any ceremony and then went to stand behind the drummers.

Dade was just leading them into a quiet gentle rhythm when Patrick straightened suddenly.

“They bring tears to my eyes,” he whispered to Steven.

All four men turned, facing the direction he was looking. Coming over the knoll were the four women they’d waited for. They slowly walked toward the fire, their poise and grace giving them a mystical appearance. Steven sat back and watched the reactions, not sure if he could look at Rachel and not do something she’d be angered by.

Chris straightened and grinned as his eyes ran over Kasey. The dark green material was draped to hug her hips, riding low on her waist. It looked like leaves falling down onto her thighs.

The top looked like leaves placed strategically across her chest, leaving plenty of exposed skin for his eyes to devour. She had green sparkles in her hair, and looked exactly like a little forest fairy. Chris groaned.

Owen’s smile was wide, knowing that he would get to take the wispy creation from his beautiful witch later that night. Leena’s outfit was much the same as Kasey’s, only it was a deep purple. longer material gliding nearer her knees. “I’m a lucky man.” Owen said to no one in particular.

Steven was having a hard time concentrating on the beat he was tapping out when he looked at Rachel. His dark-haired angel was draped in a deep red, filmy material. The witch on her thigh was completely exposed and he stilled when he saw the red cuffs around her ankles.

The material covering her breasts moved as she walked, he knew with one look, there was nothing but skin underneath. He lowered his eyes to focus on his hands for a moment, finally able to breathe, clear his head, and concentrate on the drumming.

He looked back up to see Coralee heading straight for Dade as they entered the circle. Stopping just in front of him, she began to dance slowly to his rhythm. She lowered her lashes and let the beat take her.

Dade licked dry lips as he watched her. Her slender body moved with his hands. The yellow fabric barely covered her, moving and floating motion with her body’s movement.

As she turned back to face him, he swallowed. He watched her every movement as she circled the flames with the other women.

“Someone give me a drum,” Patrick muttered, “I won’t be able to stand up for an hour.”

Grinning at him Chris motioned with his head to one of the many Dade brought, sitting beside him.

Wiping the sweat from his brow Dade guzzled another bottle of water. “The girls will want to head back soon. I’ve never seen them dance this long before.”

Chris grinned. “Not enjoying it?”

Dade smirked. “Much more and I’ll pass out from lack of oxygen to my brain.”

“Is it just me. or are they going heavy with that mead of theirs tonight?” Steven asked quietly flexing his sore hands.

Owen nodded then grinned. “They’re burning it off as fast as they drink it.”

Chris leaned back and watched Kasey work her way towards the drummers. She was biting her bottom lip and he smiled. Steven decided he may not know Kasey all that well, but by the sappy look Chris was giving her, she knew how to work him.

“Chris,” she said quietly. walking to kneel in front of him.

The sappy look didn’t leave Chris’s face. “Yes, sweetheart?”

She chewed her bottom lip again. “I’ve been sent as the messenger. We want to dance a bit longer.”

Steven noticed the other men stopped and just looked at her.

Kasey bit her lip again. “We need you to drum—and just don’t be mad, okay?”

Chris leaned forward watching her mouth. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I’ll drum as long as you want to torture me.” She smiled a small nervous smile, and got up weaving her way through the celebrants to join the others.

Dade watched her walk towards the other women. “What the fuck?”

Steven turned to see where the women were. The four huddled together on the outskirts of the circle, heads close together. Cora and Rachel were wrapped in sarongs. He squinted as he watched Leena adjusting Kasey’s top.

“Fuck!” Steven spat from beside him.

Dade stood up watching carefully. Cora looked over at them and her eyes pleaded.

“They wouldn’t use themselves as bait, would they?” Patrick whispered quietly to Steven.

“Fuck!” Steven spat again. “Yes, they would. And they are.”

A few of the drummers started playing again. Glancing back down at them Patrick spoke sternly. “I’ll keep watch on the crowd, but if I were you men, I’d help them through this. It doesn’t look like any of them want to, but they’re going to go ahead with or without you. Then, I’d carry them home and lock them up.” He walked behind the drummers.

“Fuck this.” Dade growled as he reached down and picked up his drum to strap it around his waist.

Chris did the same without taking his eyes of Kasey. “They’re going to have some serious fucking explaining to do later.”

Owen set his drum down and stood up. “If one man takes one step toward Leena, I’ll be throwing him into the fire.”

Steven sat beside Dade as he watched the women work their way toward the fire again. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do when they dropped the wraps around their shoulders. Glancing at Dade he snarled. “Help them or drag them away?”

Dade watched Cora walking towards them with the other three. Cora stared over at them. “Fuck,” Dade whispered, “help.” Taking a deep breath, he waited for the right beat to join, then began to add to it.

Gritting his teeth, Steven followed Dade’s rhythm as he watched Rachel walk toward him timidly.

Chris held himself rigid as Kasey stepped in front of him. He kept his hand pounding out the rhythm. Steven didn’t need words to know Chris was forcing himself to drum so he wouldn’t grab Kasey.

“We have to,” Kasey said softly. “I love you,” she whispered as the shawl dropped from her shoulders.

Chris’s jaw clenched when he looked down to see only the small bit of material wrapped across her hips still on. She kept her eyes on his as she moved, and he could see how much she didn’t want to follow their plan. Closing his eyes, Chris opened them again. and smiled as best he could manage. She smiled back and turned to dance in front of him for a few minutes longer. before circling the fire.

Steven watched Dade look into Coralee’s eyes, even he could see the shame in them as she dropped the wrap at his feet. Dade’s eyes moved over her and he missed a beat on his drum.

“Please, Dade,” Cora whispered as she began to move.

Clenching his jaw Dade swore under his breath and then took a step away from the other drummers, moving closer to her. “Dance for me, Coralee,” he said softly before changing the beat.

Cora stared at him for a moment before lowering her lashes and following the call of his drum. She continued to move in front of him for a few more beats, before she moved towards the women circling the flames.

Owen was watching Leena’s wrap hit the ground. Steven didn’t need to guess that Owen wasn’t happy to see her pale skin bared to everyone. Leena’s eyes held Owen’s as he looked at her. She mouthed I love you, before turning to join the other women. He followed her every move around the fire, watching for anyone to get too close to her.

When Rachel danced up in front of Steven, she wouldn’t look at him. Her head was down as she moved slowly to the beat. He leaned to her, watching.

She lifted her head and watched his face as she moved and dropped the wrap from her shoulders. He didn’t look at her body, just watched her eyes and beat out the rhythm. Letting out a breath he’d been holding, he nodded his head slightly and watched relief cross her face, before she turned to take her place between Cora and Kasey, now circling past them.

Justin stopped drumming when Gwen appeared by the fire. She gracefully moved in place behind Leena. The material barely covering her was completely transparent. She blew him a kiss. Grinding his teeth, he shook his head and began to drum again.

Patrick stood back watching. Those women certainly knew how to push buttons. He’d never seen so many males that angry in his life, yet each one had given his woman what she needed to find the courage to do this. Incredible, he thought with a shake of his head. Walking back into the shadows a bit further, he scanned everyone around the fire then looked to the drummers.

Old Charlie was drumming like he was possessed with a huge grin on his face. Well, he couldn’t blame him there—those were some very sexy women revealing themselves to the old bachelor.

He grinned as he eyes moved over young Kevin. The poor medic looked like he was in need of a medic himself as his eyes moved over the women.

Everyone was used to seeing ladies, and sometimes men, strip off some clothes as the night went on and the drumming got louder. But the four, no five, that were moving in among the other dancers tonight had never done this before, so it was a whole new viewing pleasure.

Shaking his head Patrick reined in his thoughts and looked back to the dancers again. He let out a slow breath as Rachel stopped in front of Steven. The way that woman was moving should only be done behind closed doors he thought. Then he grinned. The doc had control, he’d give him that much, he would have thrown his drum to the ground and kissed her feet in thanks.

When Coralee caught his eye with a concern in hers, he straightened and walked towards her. With her eyes, she motioned towards the drummers. He inclined his head and turned to walk around by the drummers.

Dade watched Cora without missing a beat. He couldn’t look at the silver rings hanging from her nipples or he’d never be able to do this. Blinking, he saw her send Patrick a silent message. She then danced over in front of him and looked him right in the eye.

When she raised her arms in a graceful motion above her head, moving with the tattoo his hands beat on the drum, his eyes dropped and explored her slowly before looking back up. He knew she saw his every thought in his eyes right now. Lowering her lashes, she smiled, then turned back to dance towards the other drummers.

Dade watched Patrick lean down to Justin and say something.

Justin took his eyes from his wife and nodded slowly in time to the beat. Standing up, he held the drum between his thighs and slowly moved his eyes over the other drummers.

Chris had now turned his eyes from Kasey to the drummers. Justin was searching the faces of each drummer. Patrick stood off to the side searching for something as well. He nodded to Steven when he glanced over at him.

Steven stopped drumming. He waited until Rachel was almost in front of the drummers and then set his drum on the ground. He went over and started dancing with her in front of the drummers. She turned and watched him before catching the look he was sending her.

Biting her bottom lip, she moved closer and began to move suggestively with him.

Patrick smirked at Dade and then turned to focus on watching the drummers and not the couple in front of them. If they had been touching, he would have said they were doing things that were only meant to be in private.

Dade watched Coralee go over and dance off to the side of Steven, who really could fuckin’ move, he thought, and Rachel. He watched for a moment to make sure Steven’s eyes weren’t on Cora and couldn’t help but grin at the look Doc was giving the dark-haired woman in front of him.

Leena moved over to Cora and continued to move as she watched the other woman’s face. She was definitely sensing something right now. With a small shake of her head Cora turned to Dade.

She couldn’t continue this anymore. He searched her face for a moment before leading the other drummers, very loudly, into the end of the rhythm. The last hand hadn’t stopped before he was picking up the shawl at his feet and striding towards her. The other men were doing the same just as quickly.

Grouping the women together in between their bodies, they slowly drank some water as their eyes searched over all the drummers still seated and taking a break.

Turning back Steven nodded and then looked at the women. “You’re done dancing,” he said quietly.

The women turned and began walking quickly in front of them towards the cottage.