Chapter 8

• 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 watchd her every movement as she moved to circle 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.