Chapter 5

Setting his drum down beside the door Steven, turned to look at the four women sitting on the couch. “What the hell possessed you to do that?”

Dade opened his mouth to say something, and then shut it again with a click of his teeth.

Owen crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at Leena. “I can’t even put into words how I’m feeling right now, Aileena,” he said softly.

Chris glared at Kasey, who glared right back at him.

Rachel stood up, squaring off with Steven. “Last time I checked this was my body— my body, and I’m pretty sure I can do whatever the hell I want with it!” She glared, daring him say something.

Steven stepped in front of her and scowled down at her. “I can’t speak for the rest of the men here, but if you want to dance around naked, that’s certainly your choice…”

Owen snorted.

He continued. “I was referring to purposely setting yourself in front of a killer saying, ‘pick me.’ Are you fucking crazy?” He bit out between clenched teeth.

“That wasn’t what we were doing,” Rachel hissed back at him.

Cora stood, putting up a hand. “Everyone just calm down for a minute.”

Dade was in front of her in two strides. “Calm? You want calm honey? Then you should have kept your damn clothes on.” His voice was so quiet, Steven barely heard him from a few feet away.

A burst of wind rushed through the room. “Everyone stop it right now!” Leena stood up. Ignoring Owen’s look, she walked to stand beside Cora. “We weren’t using ourselves as bait, exactly. We know how he thinks the victims look when they dance, so we were hoping Cora would pick up his thoughts as we danced.”

Steven threw up his hands. “And then what? You four would go for a nice midnight stroll alone to see if you could bag him?” He was barely holding on and he knew it. He felt the boards under his feet begin to shake. He watched Rachel’s eyes widen. The touch of a hand caressed his cheek. Even though Rachel hadn’t moved, he knew it was her who sent it. Dropping his head, he breathed slowly through it.

Dade looked at the floor then back to Steven. “Sit. I’ll do the yelling without shaking the damn building apart.”

Steven held up his hands and sat down in the chair.

Dade turned back to face off with Leena as the door opened and Patrick walked in.

“Didn’t knock, was afraid I was going to have to come to someone’s rescue.”

Steven noted everyone gave him a bland look.

“Oh, good I see I haven’t missed the battle then.” Patrick ran a hand over the back of his neck and then looked at the women. “My hat’s off to you for your guts, ladies. I suspect Rhonda helped plan the escapade?” Cora twisted her hands in her lap. “No need to confirm, I just know.” He walked over and squatted down in front of Kasey. “We almost had strong enough vibes to get him, so relax.” He stood up and looked at the men. “I think we should let the ladies go change, or at least dressed, and then continue this discussion. I have a plan.”

Rachel walked back into the room wearing little more than she’d left in. Steven’s eyes moved slowly over the short skirt and halter she had on, pausing long enough to caress the witch on her thigh with his eyes. “Sit.” He motioned to the couch. She scowled at him, but sat.

Everyone turned to Patrick, waiting. He glanced around at the men with a sober look on his face. “You’re not going to like this one bit.” He paused when he heard the door open.

Kevin and Justin walked in.

“Justin, there was no need to bring back-up.” Patrick looked at Kevin and then back to the older man.

Justin grinned. “It’s okay, Patrick. Kevin here is apparently really good at keeping secrets.”

Kevin shook the shaggy brown hair out of his eyes and held out his palm. A butterfly appeared. He looked over at Rachel and grinned as it fluttered over to her.

“Oh!” She smiled at him and watched it before it disappeared.

“Well,” Dade whispered. “Welcome to Magic Is Us,” he added sarcastically before he smirked. “You’ve hidden that very well over the years.”

Kevin shrugged giving Dade a boyish grin. “Just being careful.” He turned towards Rachel and winked. “Had too much fun trying to catch all of you at it, first.”

Rachel smiled at him. “We’re a mix and match group so I’m sure you’ll blend right in.”

Steven watched the way she smiled at the kid, okay maybe not kid, but he was too young for her. Clearing his throat, he looked back at Patrick. “The plan?”

Patrick shoved his hands into his pockets and let out a breath. “With the ladies’ permission, we’ve decided to switch the watch partners around for the next few nights.”

Patrick had been right, Steven thought. Not one male liked the plan, but when Kasey and Rachel slapped invisible hands over objecting mouths, they had to back down and allow them to decide for themselves.

“What the fuck kind of plan is this shit?” Dade whispered as he leaned against a tree in the shadows.

Steven glanced up from where he was squatted down waiting. “A bad one.” He replied quietly, hardly more than a whisper, then turned back to watch Cora and Rachel stroll slowly across the site. Alone.

Dade moved silently until he was squatting beside him peering through the long grass. “How long do we have to follow them around, hoping this fuckin maniac comes at them?”

Steven glanced down at his watch. “Twenty minutes and then I’m going to throw Rachel over my shoulder then tie her to a large piece of furniture.” Dade muttered something he couldn’t understand. Lowering his voice more. “I was ready to throw them in the van and take them home tonight, willing or not. This is fucking ridiculous!” Steven hissed.

Dade’s head went up and he held his finger over his lips.

Looking around Steven glanced over to see the women walking too far ahead. Clenching his jaw, he stared at Rachel. It was hard to focus when he was this agitated, but he tried. Taking a deep breath, he sent the warm air spiraling out from where he was hidden, across the dark night to brush across her face hoping she’d feel the touch of magic on a night without a so much as a breeze. She stopped and reached for Cora’s hand.

Dade was turning silently, looking in all directions.

Rachel reached grasped Cora’s hand, leaning close. “Steven just sent a warning,” she whispered.

Cora nodded. “Let go of my hand and take a few steps away. I want to see if I can sense anything.”

Rachel wandered a few feet away and bent to examine a stone while Cora lifted her head and spun in what appeared a carefree manner.

“It’s coming from the direction of the dining shelter.” Cora whispered as she pretended to bend down and look at what Rachel was.

Rachel lifted her head and pretended to laugh at something Cora said. “I’ll see if I can get this to Steven somehow.”

Cora smiled. “You focus, I’ll send.” Then she draped an arm around Rachel’s shoulders as they walked slowly towards the men.” She stopped and rolled her eyes at her. “Okay focus on his face not his body, as interesting as that was...” She whispered.

Rachel’s eyes widened. “I’m trying. Did you see the man dance though? Yummm.” Shaking her head, she looked towards the tree and thought of Steven smiling at her.

“Perfect.” Cora whispered in her ear.

“What are they up to now?” Dade whispered near Steven’s ear. “They look like two lesbians.” He turned his head back and his eyebrows shot up when Cora leaned her body against Rachel’s and put her mouth to her ear. “Great, just great. Some sicko is going to come at them and I’m going to rush in with a hard on,” Dade muttered.

Steven smiled and shook his head. “They were sending me a message. Fuck, Jones. You need a woman yesterday.”

Dade looked at him. “I saw you hold your breath too. What message?”

“Cora’s feeling something near the dining shelter.”

“Who’s over that way?”

Steven rubbed his jaw. “None of us. that I know of.”

“Fuck! When is Owen and Chris’s turn in this?” Dade hunched down further and looked around towards the trees behind them.

“A few minutes’ time. We’ll let them wander this way before we walk out.” He turned to look at Dade. “Walk, not stomp. I’m as pissed as you are in this but if we’re close to bringing an end to this, we’ll do it right.”

Dade nodded, looking back at Cora. Letting out tension in a slow breath, he stood when Steven did.

Walking towards the women, they made sure they saw their approach, not wanting to startle them. “Ladies, care to take a stroll?” Steven watched Rachel’s eyes move slowly over his body. That was all she had to do was look at him and he was hard. Somehow, he had to tell her how he really felt. She smiled and stepped up beside him letting him pull her against his side as they slowly wandered towards the cabin.

Coralee leaned against Dade in the same casual way. Everyone knew none of them were feeling as calm and relaxed as they appeared. Dade’s hand lightly caressed Cora’s hip as his eyes kept wandering over her. “Mister Jones, you’re projecting some pretty interesting vibrations right now,” Cora said in a low voice.

“I’m entitled, honey. After your performance earlier, I can’t help it.” He hugged her tighter to him.

Rachel finally allowed herself to look up at Steven. They had slowly been falling a little behind the other two with each step. “Thank you for helping earlier, it wasn’t as easy to do as it looked.”

Steven ran his hand down over her ass in a caress. “It wasn’t easy to just stand there.” To emphasize a point, he squeezed before gentling to a caress again.

She bit her lip and watched the other two walk ahead. “How long will the others be out tonight?”

He shook his head. “They’d better do at least two hours like we just did. Staying hidden while you women wander around waiting to be attacked wasn’t a pleasant feeling, so they damned well better stick it out like Dade and I did.”

She chewed on her lip again. “I hope so.” She ran her eyes down over him. “I want to dance with you again, privately,” she whispered.

He started walking faster towards the cottage, practically pushing her to move with him. Her heart was thudding inside her chest. Steven had always been important in her life, but now there was something else. When he kissed her, it made her head float and every nerve tingle. She’d never felt that before, not even when she had been an inexperienced teen. How are we going back to just friends after this?

They waited through the half-hour growling match between Dade and Cora after the others left. Dade slammed out the door saying he’d go wander and watch until the others came back. Cora sighed and went to her room.

Steven closed the bedroom door and gently pushed Rachel toward it. His mouth covered hers before she hit the door. He kissed her hungrily as he pulled at the halter barely covering her, until it was on the floor.

He grasped the breasts that had tortured him when watching her move around the fire. Groaning against her mouth he pulled away and ran his lips down over her throat to take a nipple roughly into his mouth. She responded to his every touch.

Her head dropped back as her arms wound around his neck, holding him to her. He ran one hand down her back, pulling her tight into him before moving to the bottom of her skirt. and pulling it up. He threaded his fingers beneath the thong she wore and tore it from her body in one tug, tossing it to the floor with her top.

He growled when she moved to grind into his body as she reached down and fumbled with the knot on the side of his sarong.

He was rocking his body between her thighs, causing her to want him in a way she’d never wanted a man before. When his sarong slid from his body, he reached down and lifted her up against him, her legs wrapped around his waist. The feeling of flesh on flesh ignited her further.

His mouth moved back to hers muffling her moan as he drove his body inside hers.

Supporting her weight with one hand, he thrust up into her again. He pulled her head back to bite the side of her neck. She couldn’t get enough of him and moved her hands to touch as much flesh as she could reach. She gasped, pulling herself up using his shoulders only to slam back down onto him. Hissing against her throat he straightened and gripped her hips helping her increase the collision of their bodies.

“Look at me,” he demanded roughly.

She opened her eyes to his, the heated look in his eyes burning through her. As their bodies collided again and again, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out, in the chance someone might hear them.

Watching her eyes when she quivered around him brought him to a quick climax right behind her. Panting loudly, he rested his head on hers as he leaned her back against the door. She dropped her head to his shoulder and fought to catch her breath. “Did I hurt you, angel?” He nuzzled into her hair. She was absolutely his perfect match.

She shook her head. “No. I believe that’s exactly what we needed.”

He lifted his head and looked down at her. “I’ll need more than that as soon as I can feel my legs again.” He kissed her tenderly and then pushed away from the door and carried her over to the bed, lowering her down onto it.

She propped herself up and watched him. “We have to stop in case Dade comes back.”

He shook his head as he lowered his mouth to the witch on her thigh. “He’ll just think I went out to look around.”

She ran her hand through his hair as he moved up her body. “I don’t want to take a chance. He’s not in good humor tonight.” She gasped when his tongue swirled around a hard nipple.

Steven raised his head and grinned at her. “He’s a bit frustrated. Can you blame him? He had to stand there and watch Cora dance, just like I had to watch you. The only difference is I get to take it out on your body.” He flicked his tongue over the other nipple with the same results. “He was squirming when we were in the trees and Cora leaned against you.”

She chuckled quietly. “Was he hoping for a bit of a show?”

“He’s hoping for anything right now. If Cora would just let the man near her, we’d have a tame Dade on our hands.”

“Is that what you are now, Doctor O’Reily? Tamed?” She stroked a hand down his back as he moved over her body and ran his lips along her neck.

“I wouldn’t say tamed, angel. The animal will always break lose, but you have to admit I was on my very best behavior all day.”

She lifted her hips and took him into her body in one smooth motion. “You were. Now let loose of that animals’ chain,” she whispered against his throat moving her body erotically up and down him.

He growled against her mouth before complying.

There had been so many of them.

He had been so shocked to see the sinners come forward.

So many asking to be cleansed.

He watched some together and wanted to help them But two men lured to their wickedness had come to them He didn’t blame the men they couldn’t help it There was still time.