To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) (21 page)

Darcy
heaved a put upon sigh.  “Lovely image, but it seems like a double
standard if it’s okay for you to throw around a few threats.”

“I’m
the bride to be and I will go distinctly Bridezilla on your ass if you ruin my
big day.”

“Okay,
okay.”  Darcy held her hands up in submission.  “Jeez simmer
down.  I promise to keep my activities to minor stalking and just ask a
few questions.”

“Darcy.” 
Nell sent her sister her sternest ‘I will see you put in front of the medical
review board’ look.

“What? 
That’s the closest I’m prepared to promise to be good, take it or leave it if
you want help organising this shindig in time for Sunday.”

“Fine
and I want you to be my maid of honour.”

Darcy
gave her a wry look falling just a smidgeon short of outright disgust. 
“If I must.  As long as you promise the dress won’t rival Gaia’s hideous
nightmare… I swear to the Goddess above that thing has built a nest at the back
of my closet and I’m pretty sure it ate a pair of my shoes the other day.”

“Actually
there aren’t going to be any dresses.”

“Excuse
me?”

“How
do you feel about going bikini shopping with me this afternoon?”  Nell
couldn’t recall the last time she’d witnessed Darcy lost for words.  Her
sister’s mouth actually dropped open in genuine shocked surprise. 

“You…
you’re getting married in a bikini?  What’s that…? I think the world just
shifted off its axis.  So you’ll need help picking out a virginal white
bikini?”

“Actually.” 
Nell couldn’t keep the wicked smile off her face.  “I need help picking
out a bikini that will best show off my new tattoo.”

For
the second time in as many minutes Darcy struggled for words.  Nell
couldn’t help the peal of laughter that issued forth as she watched her sister
grope for a witty come back.  Would wonders never cease, she was about to
marry the man she loved and twice in one day she’d shocked her evil genius
sister into silence.  If the world had shifted off its axis she never
wanted it to shift back.

Chapter
Twenty

“You
don’t think you’re a little under dressed?”  Rafe eyed Drum’s black sarong
and obsidian beaded necklace.

“It’s
a beach party.”  Drum shrugged unconcerned, elbowing Rafe out of the way
so he could step outside. 

They’d
arrived moments ago via Nell’s cousin Charisse’s hall closet.  A squeezy
experience even with just two of them coming through at a time.  One he
was happy to live with if it meant one minute he was in Atlanta watching
snowflakes swirl outside and the next he was under the heat of the Australian
late afternoon sun.  It was a five minute walk then from Charisse’s beachfront
property to the party location.

“Wow,
someone has gone to a lot of trouble.”  Rafe admired the set up. 

Hundreds
of poles had been driven into the sand; each one had a long fluttering white
flag attached to it.  Under some nearby palm trees a rustic beach bar had
been set up.  Next to the bar sat a guitarist on a stool crooning out a
tune a la Jake Johnson, celebrating summer, sun and all things that made the
beach super cool.

“Hey
there’s Vaughn.”  Rafe raised a hand to greet their Captain.  “Maat,
is that Hadleigh in a bikini?”  Rafe’s voice suddenly sounded slightly
hoarse.

“Put
your tongue away or Vaughn will rip it out.”  Drum issued the warning
distractedly as his eyes scoped quickly over the people already gathered, none
of whom were Nell. 

“Hey.”
Vaughn strolled over, looking uber-cool in white linen pants, matching shirt
and bare feet.  “What’s up with Rafferty?”  He eyed his comrade in
arms.

“He’s
never seen Hadleigh in a bikini before.”  Drum supplied the answer
absently.

“Dude!” 
Rafe cried out in dismay. 

“I
know.”  Vaughn was grinning from ear to ear.  “Am I the luckiest son
of a bitch in the world or what?”

“What’s
going on?”  Flynn came to a halt next to them, Dash his twin brother by
his side.  The two already had ice cold beers and happy relaxed smiles on
their almost identical faces.

“What
are we talking about?”  Dash echoed the query, his gold edged hazel eyes
scanning the group.

“Two
words.  Hadleigh.  Bikini.”  Drum supplied the intel.

“Where?” 
Flynn’s head whipped around so fast if he hadn’t been an almost immortal
warrior he would have given himself whip lash.  Just as fast Vaughn’s
right hand flashed out, cuffing first Flynn on the back of the head and then
Dash.

“Hey
what did I do?”  Dash rubbed his ringing skull.

“Where
he leers you follow.”  Vaughn answered good naturedly.  “That’s my
wife.  I shouldn’t have to warn you that if she catches you staring she’ll
totally misinterpret it and assume you’re thinking of launching a surprise
attack.  And then she will crush you.”  Vaughn said the last words,
pride beaming from his golden eyes.

“Then
this should be good.”  Rafe smiled with evil intent, drawing everyone’s
attention as their fellow elite warrior Nate approached Hadleigh.  The two
had a convoluted history.  Nate was a natural born flirt and Hadleigh
loathed being flirted with more than she loathed spiders, and that was saying
something.

“We
could sell tickets.”  Flynn moved slightly so Drum wasn’t blocking his
view.  “I don’t suppose anyone thought to bring the camera?”

Five
mouths dropping open in surprise and shock thirty seconds later as Hadleigh
leaned over and gave Nate an encompassing hug.

“What
a gyp!”  Dash groused.

“I
can’t believe he’s wormed his way into her good graces.”  Rafe shook his
head in disgust, his forest green eyes filled with reluctant admiration at
Nate’s schmoozing abilities.

Vaughn
put two fingers in his mouth and gave an ear piercing whistle.  Hadleigh
and Nate promptly broke apart and looked their way. 

“Stop
feeling up my wife and get over here.”  Vaughn commanded, managing to
direct a scowl at Nate and a mischievous wink at his wife as she rolled her
eyes and wandered off to join some of her female cousins.

“What’s
up?”  Nate jogged over, an easy smile on his face, his light amber eyes
twinkling with good cheer.

“Hands
to self when it comes to my wife Nate.”  Vaughn warned without any real
censor in his voice.

“Hey
she hugged me.”  Nate gave them a dreamy look and added a small sigh. “I
could die a happy man now.”

“That
could be arranged.”  Vaughn shook his head, a wry smile on his face.

“And
we could help.”  Rafe offered.  “Call it a bonding exercise.”

“Hard
to bury a body in sand.”  Dash offered up.

“Plenty
of ocean out there.”  Flynn suggested helpfully.  “We could weigh him
down, fish would do the rest.”

“Has
anyone seen our target yet today?”  Nate enquired, ignoring his fellow
warriors attempt at humour.

“He’s
here.  I was waiting for you guys to arrive before approaching him.” 
Vaughn shifted his head slightly drawing everyone’s attention off to the
water’s edge.

“I
can’t believe it’s come to this?”  Dash muttered.

“You
sure there isn’t another way?”  Flynn sent Vaughn a pleading look.

“You
think I’m happy about this?  It goes against every code we stand for.”

Rafe
nodded at Vaughn.  “But it’s Serena we’re talking about here.  If we
have to sink lower than a viper’s belly to get her out of that hell hole insane
asylum then that’s what we need to do.”

Nate
winced.  “But guys seriously, you really think he’ll do it?”

“We
won’t give him a choice.”  Vaughn shrugged.

“Vaughn
he’s your brother-in-law.”  Rafe reminded him.  “What are you going
to do him?  It’s not like you can hurt him?”

Vaughn
smiled suddenly, flashing teeth in a predatory manner.  “Not me… we have
plenty of leverage, trust me.”

“Maat...” 
Dash ran his fingers through his too long tawny gold hair in frustration. 
“A lawyer!  I feel so dirty.”

Drum’s
head lifted abruptly as his snake tattoo snapped its tail across his skin.
Finally she was here.  Not bothering to make an excuse he detached from
the group and strode across the sand towards her.  Maat she was
beautiful.  Her hair was back in a loose knot, wisps of it fluttering in
the soft breeze caressing her creamy shoulders.  She was wearing the
promised bikini but it wasn’t white, it was metallic silver, the material
shifting the spectrum from light to dark as she moved through the dappled
shade.  The colour bought out the blue of her eyes and the silver accents
of her snake tattoo, its head frozen in place, hugging the inner curve of her
breast.  Around her waist she’d wrapped an almost see through sarong made
out of silvery gauze that caused his fingers to twitch with the desire to
unwrap her. 

“Hey
Doc.”
 
His voice a barely audible rumble
as desire thickened his throat.

She
came to a stop directly before him, looking up to meet his gaze. 
“Hey.”  She echoed softly.

“You
want to find a room first?”  He breathed the question out in a low rumble,
need and the urgency of his desire rasping his voice.
 
Maat he’d missed her.  Only inches
separated them but he dare not reach for her or he’d never let go.

“Definitely.” 
Nell smiled in dazed agreement, her senses on overload with his scent, his
nearness.

“Break
it up you two.”  A hand descended on Nell’s shoulder and she was yanked
away from Drum.

Drum
growled, issuing a snarl at the intruder.

“Bad
dog.”  The girl was slender, dressed in a dark purple micro bikini and
matching gauzy sarong that flaunted toned curves and a tiny waist.  
There was something about the nose and lips that reminded him of Nell. 
Though her hair was black and short and her eyes a much lighter icy blue. 
“Don’t make me get the rolled up newspaper.”  She met his gaze and didn’t
back down an inch.

“You
must be Nell’s sister… Darcy.”

“I
really must.”  She gave Nell another yank as her sister threatened to take
a step in Drum’s direction.  “Behave, Grandma’s here for Goddess sake.”

“Sorry.” 
Nell sent Darcy an apologetic half smile.  “It’s just we haven’t seen each
other in...”

“Forever.” 
Drum finished the sentence for her, their eyes meeting and holding.

“By
the Goddess, you two are more nauseating than Hadleigh and Vaughn.  Okay
stay right here… no touching.  I’m going to gather everyone together and
get this show on the road.”  Darcy took one step away then whirled
back.  “And I mean it… no touching.”

As
soon as Darcy’s back was turned Drum took a step forward.  Nell held out a
warning hand to stop him.  “I wouldn’t if I were you.  Darcy doesn’t
give a second warning.”

Drum
smiled wryly.  “You think she could take me?”

Nell
smiled back in amusement.  “You think she’d play fair?”

“Hmmm,
maybe not.  So…”  He drank her in with his eyes.  “I missed
you.”

“Talking
every night just wasn’t the same.  I’m sorry I couldn’t get away.”

“Me
too.”  His fingers literally burned to touch her.

“Still
no luck getting Serena out?”

“No
but Vaughn’s come up with a plan.  It’s time to send in the big guns.”

“Is
it dangerous?”  Nell’s eyes filled with concern.

“Not
for me.  It will depend upon how good a lawyer Locke Valhalla is.”

“Really
Locke?  I thought you’d just blow the place up?”

“That’s
plan B.”  Drum smiled at the very idea.

“And
Locke’s happy to just go along with this grand scheme of yours?”  Nell
enquired dubiously.

“I’m
sure he won’t take too much convincing to do the right thing.”

“I
don’t know about that, Vaughn has been riding all the Valhalla boys pretty hard
since he and Hadleigh got together.”

“As
I understand it they kind of deserve it.”  Drum caught the edge of her
sarong as it fluttered his way, trapping the silky material between his
fingers.

“Probably,
but Aunt Lucy is rabid crazy for grandchildren, now that she’s shifted her
attention to the boys they’re running scared.  I just can’t imagine Locke
wanting to do Vaughn any favours.”

Drum
slid his fingers back and forth over the material, wishing that it was Nell’s
creamy skin under is touch.  “The lads can be really convincing.”

“And
by that do you mean they need you to intimidate him?”

“Me?” 
Drum gave her his best innocent look, which meant he only looked guilty of
manslaughter rather than outright murder with intent.

Nell
laughed in amusement.  “Yes you.  If they need your help maybe we
should…”

“Listen
up Doc, we’re getting married today, no ifs, ands or buts.”  Drum sent her
his lady killer smile.  “I hear tell the sex is amazing after you
meld...”  Drum watched the colour drain from Nell’s face.  “What’s
wrong?”

“I
forgot.”  She covered her mouth in horror.  “Drum, I’m so sorry, it
completely slipped my mind.”

“Doc?”

“Council
approval.  It just never crossed my mind.  If they don’t approve we
can’t be melded.”

Drum
shrugged those massive shoulders of his. “But they can’t stop us from getting
married, right?”

“No
but they can stop us from being melded, from joining the family grid… from
linking to the magic feedback and experiencing the amazing sex you were just
talking about.”

“I
don’t know about you Doc but what we’ve experienced together already borders on
the stupendous, I can live without the magical enhancement.
 
How about you?”

Nell
eyed him, looking so darn gorgeous and lethal in his black sarong, the overhead
sun caressing his large frame, making his skin glow darkly golden. 

“Yes.”

Drum
pulled on the edge of her sarong causing her to take a step forward. 
Gently he lowered his lips on to hers for a brief sweet kiss. 
“Yes.”  He echoed.  “So what do you say Doc… time to get married?”

“Absolutely.” 
Nell swung about looking for Darcy, it was past time her sister made the
announcement and kicked everything in motion.  Her eyes searched the crowd
of friends and relatives, coming to an abrupt halt as she spied Alma and Maat
standing together.  Identical smiles of smug satisfaction on their faces
as they watched her and Drum together.  “Actually I think we might just
have council approval after all.”

“Oh.”
Drum followed Nell’s gaze, spying Alma and Maat together.  “Do you think
we ever had them fooled?”

“By
the look of that bridal bouquet in Great Aunt Alma’s hands I’m guessing
not.”  Nell smiled ruefully. 

Drum
slipped her small delicate hand into his.  “What do you say just for today
we let it go?”