Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Another snore sounded, this one muffled. Soon, hopefully, he’d be in that bed to hear that low sound next to his ear. He’d be able to cuddle the man close, take in his scent. Make love to him.
He had to get Lonnie interested. Had to show him that Callan would be a good mate. That he was strong and able to protect him. Show Lonnie that he was wanted and adored.
So, it was time for a proper demon courting.
Chapter Ten
Lonnie
The message boards were busy as hell. One of the members had found a Lavi, one of the figures Lonnie had been searching for. He was happy for the woman who’d found it, but damn, he wanted one. It wasn’t his holy grail. That had been Sesshomaru. His gaze flicked to it, and as he’d expected, nothing but fear filled him. To know that someone had been inside his house, that someone was tracking what he did on his computer, made his heart skip beats. He really should go back to the police about this, but Callan had wanted him to wait, so he would.
The demon had gone out and brought in another preternatural, Finn, to guard him. This one looked human, but there was a feeling to him, like an aura, that told Lonnie he was something different. He was also pretty damn good-looking with his auburn mohawk and square, rugged face. Not as rugged as Callan’s, which held more lines and scars. Lines and scars Lonnie felt made him uniquely attractive.
He was attracted to Callan. Very. The demon had the big, burly kind of body Lonnie had always found appealing, and surprisingly, Lonnie found the horns sexy as hell. They were just so elegantly curved, and he wondered what they’d feel like. Would they be as smooth and marble-like as they looked to touch? Did Callan have feeling in them?
But what really attracted him was Callan’s personality. He spoke in mostly short, succinct sentences, making it obvious he struggled a little with words. But he was still smart, and so damn sweet he made Lonnie’s teeth ache. A big, cuddly teddy bear despite the grumpy exterior.
One Lonnie wanted to strip naked and lick all over.
Shaking off his thoughts, he clicked on a private message from the usual person who seemed so invested in his searches. This was an apology that he hadn’t found the Lavi first. He shot off a reply, then shut down the message boards and went back to grading.
He was in his favorite chair with his legs propped up on the ottoman when someone knocked. Finn went to the door and grinned, letting in Callan, who looked…happy.
Lonnie watched Callan closely as he said goodbye to Finn, a hint of jealousy burning a small hole in his belly. Had Callan left to get laid? Is that how he looked when satiated? Whatever he’d done, it had erased his normal stony expression.
Callan shut the door after Finn left.
“Where did you go?” Lonnie blurted out, his treacherous tongue so not his friend right then.
“Had something I needed to do.”
Was that something a lover? He’d been gone for three hours, so that was plenty of time.
Callan was holding two small bags, and he carried them into the room he was using before returning to the living room to settle on the couch. He was holding an oblong wrapped gift and staring at it with a rather pleased expression softening his craggy features.
When he held the package out, Lonnie immediately set aside his laptop, his belly now churning with something else. “For me?”
“Yes. For you.”
“But why? It’s not my birthday or anything.”
“It’s from me to you. Demon tradition.”
“Oh,” Lonnie breathed, taking the gift. “Do you want me to open it now?”
Callan nodded and sat forward, eyes intent on Lonnie’s face.
Touched, Lonnie quickly made work of the wrapping and barely managed to stop a frown of complete confusion as he looked at the gift.
It was a Barbie.
A colorful mermaid Barbie with a striped, pastel tail and even a little crown on her long, red hair.
“For your collection,” Callan said, fairly bubbling with excitement. “Is fantasy—like you like.”
Holy shit, was it hard not to crack up. Lonnie didn’t have to force a grin; he just hoped it looked pleased, rather than the hella amused he was. And honestly, he was also pleased because Callan had gone out and purchased a gift. Just for him. “This is so thoughtful, Callan. Such a sweet gift. I love it.”
The demon puffed up with pride, looking so pleased with himself, Lonnie had to work harder not to laugh. Inside, he was dying.
“Go ahead. Take it out of the box. Oh, I forgot.” He jumped up and hurried back into the guest room, coming back with a little white stand. “This was harder to find. Is why I was gone so long.” He handed the stand to Lonnie, then he moved to one of Lonnie’s shelves and pointed to an empty spot. “Could go here.”