“The proverbial floodgates have been opened. I’ve been aware there is conflict between some extraterrestrial groups and the shadow government’s black ops army…but,” she sighed heavily, “not this sci-fi nightmare.”
“Hades and the other gods and goddesses are intervening to protect life on Earth. However, it is a balancing act since humanity must arise and learn how to triumph over evil.” Zol caressed beneath her chin with his knuckle, then tipped her face up.
“There’s so much good here. On Earth. There are so many good people like my adoptive parents…oh, I wish…I wish humanity would arise.”
Zin observed the subtle changes in his Kandy’s auric field. What looked like pink diamonds cascaded from her heart chakra.
“Too bad I don’t have a spell to accomplish that.”
Her wistful smile reached in and seized Zin’s heart. “Darling, that would be like using magick on hellhound pups instead of letting them learn the lessons they require to accomplish their missions.”
“Oh, I know. Hey,” she jerked her gaze to him, “what’s with the red ember eyes?”
“Think of it as Spock performing a Star Trek scan. You still need more nutrition.”
“I could have told you that, Spockster.” After giving him a playful smirk, she opened the sack, peeking inside at the costume. “Zol, you do know how to make a woman happy. This woman, anyway.”
After smoothing her hand over the buckskin, she pulled out the fringed shirt, and held it up. “Caramel butterscotchy…it’s beautiful. Okay, what if I change here, then go inside?”
“Splendid idea, love. Zin will switch the windows to opaque.”
“Don’t look,” she sassily teased. She lowered the buckskin shirt, wiggled into a better position, then whipped off her T-shirt.
Zin halted his tongue from hanging out, yet couldn’t stop his lusty panting. “Kandy Apple is delightfully lickable.”
“Ogling hellhounds. You’re making my nipples lickable.” She grinned at them both, then tossed her hair like a vixen and gave her shoulders a shimmy.
He and Zol devoured her delicately shivering breasts with their randy gazes until she slipped the buckskin shirt over her head.
Zol helped her adjust it, his courteous manner automatic.
“I’m guessing this wasn’t made for an adult.” Her gaze swivelled from sleeve to sleeve.
“No, darling. Your lovely petite stature demanded I choose this costume size.”
Zol handed the sack to him, and Zin pulled out the matching pants. “The suppleness of the garment is pleasing.”
“Yes, and this fringe is wonderful.” She swung one arm, watching the fluid ripple of the long fringe. When she looked up, her wide smile included both of them. “Give me those.”
The instant their Kandy Apple took hold of the pants, Zol gripped her waist, swinging her around so she faced the dash. With ease, his twin assisted her in sliding each leg into the buckskin pants that proved to be a bit too large for her.
“Feels leathery sumptuous. I could so get used to this type of clothing.” Their Kandy straightened her leg and gazed at her bare foot. “What about shoes?”
With Zol’s nod in the direction of the shopping bag, Zin looked inside. He lifted out the clear plastic bag that held a pair of white beaded moccasins.
“Sorry, handsome, it’s okay if there aren’t any. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.”
Turning at the waist, she spied the moccasins, and her expression became radiant as she reached for them.
“They don’t match, love.” Zol took one from her and palming her calf, he slipped the moccasin on her foot.
“Oooh, you do that so uber smooth and sexy.” She offered her other foot. “You two are such Cary Grant fashion plates, you should know I’ll never be—”
“Stop,” he and Zol chorused, their tone firm.
“Darling, we’re your hellhounds.” Zin claimed her chin with his hand, and brought her face before his gaze. “Don’t forget. You are our witch. You are our one sacred woman.”
“You want to lick your Kandy Apple, don’t you?” She’d spoken after a pause, and just above a whisper. Her eyes transformed to mist, then to sparkling amethyst as they continued gazing at one another.
Zin grazed his thumbpad down the satiny skin of her throat. “Kandy Apple is getting yummier.”
“Yummier,” Zol echoed, stroking her upper arms.
“I feel yummier…H hounds.”
Her little breathless voice careened through Zin. Not only did his cock harden, but his soul wanted her. He caressed up her throat tenderly. “Prepare to be thoroughly and passionately licked. Later.”
“Zin.”
His name from her lips bewitched him further.
“Blazing hair and rosy lips,” he crooned to her. “Flames fly from her fingertips.”
“Our echoing howls in the night,” Zol continued, singing to the tune of “Witchy Woman.” “She’s our enchanting beauty on a daring flight.”
“Wooo hooo, our witchy woman, see how high she flies,” they both sang. “Woo hoo witchy woman she got the charm in her eye.”
“She held her hellhounds in the night,” Zin crooned. “Dancing shadows and candlelight.”
“Crazy passions, we spin around the room,” Zol sang, “a sweet madness beneath the silver moon.”
“Wooo hooo, our witchy woman see how high she flies. Woo hoo witchy woman she got the charm in her eye.”
“Well you know we want our one lover,” Zin crooned. “Let me tell you brother. I want her sleeping in our bed.”
“There’s supernatural envy going round,” Zol sang. “Someone’s jealous underground. She can rock you in the nighttime ’til your skin turns red.”
“Wooo hooo, our witchy woman see how high she flies. Woo hoo witchy woman she got the charm in her eye.”
Tears glistened in his Kandy Apple’s eyes. She touched his face, and her fingertips flowed along his jaw, a tenderness he basked in. “Oh…I think I’m falling in love with my hellhounds.”
Zin nuzzled her palm then gently released her chin. Now was not the moment to explain that as a hellhound, he couldn’t fall in love like a human. Instead, he rasped, “Hurry back, darling.”
“Come on, love.” Zol wrapped one arm around her waist, then turned around with their witch. Once he opened the door, he set her outside. “I shall be your escort,” he formally intoned.
“With my magick on the fritz, I accept, kind sir.” She twined her arm around Zol’s presented arm.
Zin followed their progress while he established a stronger mind link with his twin. He didn’t quit his observance until they’d entered the restaurant.
His Kandy Apple would probably never know how adorably charming he found her, attired as she was, unless he did perform a mind-meld with her.
Delight bubbled through him like champagne—Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1995 Champagne, to be exact. Made only with the first pressing of grapes, Zin also favored the touch of liqueur and the low acidity of the wine.
He felt the corners of his mouth lift into a grin.
During their training in the Underworld, he and Zol had been prepared for the time when they found their witch. Already, as he had discovered, they were less joined at the hellhound hip while in human form.
They were also developing more differences in personality. Even so, they would never be wholly like humans.
“Love potion number nine,” Zin muttered, as he and Zol often dubbed champagne. “Yes, a bottle of Moët et Chandon's Nectar Imperial Rose Champagne.”
Perfect for romancing their witch, it was warm pink in color with aromas of strawberry and raspberry. As soon as possible, he would order the sparkling wine, and others that would please her palate. As well, Zin planned to keep his kitchen stocked with the foods she relished most.
On alert, Zin glanced around the parking area, then took a glimpse through Zol’s eyes. He stood near the ladies’ room, engaged in a chat with a young waitress who obviously
found him attractive.
Mere moments later, he noticed the approach of two truckers. As they roved their gazes over the Twilight Mirage, Zin lowered his window part of the way. “Gentlemen, may I assist you?”
“Just wanted a closeup look at your ride. Custom made?” the younger of the two asked. Not hiding his enthusiasm, he slowly ran his gaze along the entire length of the Twilight Mirage.
“Indeed, yes. My twin and I decided to have our dream car built.” Zin automatically x-rayed their minds, as he called it, and found nothing to be concerned about. Still, he cast his sight in a circle, encompassing the truckstop.
“How much did your dream car set you back?” The older one sharply assessed Zin’s face.
“Not as much as you might believe. We accomplished most of the design work ourselves, then employed a custom manufacturer.”
“Custom manufacturer?” The younger one smiled in a friendly manner. He shoved one hand in the back pocket of his jeans.
Zin grinned at him, suggesting he was about to reveal a secret. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”
“Nope.”
“Before Tesla came onboard as a motor company, we offered to improve their coffers.”
“Looks to me like drug money bought this car,” the older one sneered.
“Plan on calling the authorities?” Zol inquired, as he and Kandace walked toward the passenger door.
Chapter Thirty-Four:
Must Love Hellhounds
Kandace jutted her chin, meeting the man’s menacing gaze with her own aggressive glare. “Either answer the question or take a hike, mister. I don’t like bullies.”
“Don’t be runnin’ that mouth of yours, missy. Whorin’ for these two drug lords is gonna land that skinny ass of yours in prison.”
Barks of laughter had Kandace looking from Zol to Zin. “He thinks were drug lords,” Zin chortled out the car window.
Zol opened the passenger door. “Let’s go, darling. Such pathetic behavior must not be rewarded.”
Bristling more than usual, Kandace allowed Zol to usher her within. As he folded himself inside, he simultaneously placed her on his lap.
“Perhaps, mister.” Zin drawled with a sophistication that would normally have tickled Kandace. “I should advise you that you have insulted a witch who possesses quite extraordinary powers. If you begin to make sounds that resemble a croak, if you develop a sudden yen for pond water and find you crave mosquitoes as part of your diet…might I suggest you seek out a professional spellbreaker.”
Kandace watched the younger of the two men grab his friend’s forearm and tug him toward the restaurant. She let herself giggle once Zin backed up and circled the Twilight Mirage toward the road.
“Priceless, Zin.” Impulsively, Kandace leaned toward him and gave his cheek a quick peck. “It might be worth it to pop not-nice guy into a pond as a frog. For a few minutes. But, oh-so unfair to the real frogs.”
“Yes, the frogs would not be amused.” Zin chuckled, the sound low and masculine.
“And, darling, why waste your witchly wonder on a dolt?”
“Dolt. What an apt description. But, witchly wonder, I like that even better.” Kandace arched backwards, kissing the cheek Zol presented.
“Zin and I plan to embrace your witchly wonders often,” Zol whispered seductively.
“Do you?” she sang.
“We do.” Zin caressed her thigh. “However, only after you have consumed enough nutrition.”
“I am still hungry.” Kandace peered into the shopping bag. Pulling out a white cardboard box, she then settled on Zol’s lap. “This smells like pumpkin bread. Wait. The apple cider.”
“There’s a scenic spot.” Zol pointed briefly. “A splendid cactus included.”
Within moments, Zin parked them. He reached inside the console for the glasses, then handed them out. Zol poured the crisply fragrant cider, not splashing a drop.
As if on cue, they clinked glasses, and Kandace drank thirstily. “Appley tangy good.”
Turning her head gradually, she took in the view. “Wow. What a splen-tastic vista.” A sense of calm filled Kandace despite everything she’d been through.
Zol refilled their glasses and raised his. “To our future road trips.”
She and Zin followed suit. This time Kandace sipped and savored, yet kept one eye out in case almost-frog man made good on his threat, and called the cops on them.
When she shook her head indicating she’d had enough, Zin suavely took her glass, then placed all three inside the bag that remained on the floor. “I say we should indulge in apple cider martinis soon.”
“Capital idea, brother.” Zol set the half-emptied jug in the bag. Easily maneuvering himself around her, he handed it to Zin.
After placing the bag behind his seat, Zin scanned the area around them. He started the Twilight Mirage and, soon, they cruised onto the highway.
Kandace had to ask, “What are the ingredients?”
Zol loosely embraced her. “Besides apple cider, darling, it’s cinnamon, clove-infused vodka and ice—shaken, not stirred—then strained into a martini glass, which has been rinsed with apple brandy.”
“I can taste it now, brother.”
Zin’s enthusiasm amused Kandace. “I can’t wait to try one.”
“A prelude to our first evening together as a triad,” Zol rasped. “Then we shall dine.”
“Oooh, must love hellhounds, that’s my new saying.”
“Afterwards, Zol and I shall dashingly romance our Kandy Apple.”
“Dashingly, I’m on pins and needles of desire. However, to end the mood…the pumpkin bread is shouting my name.” Feeling nearly as hungry as before, Kandace opened the box.
“Yes, sliced. Perfect.” Ravenous, she bit into the homemade bread. With the second slice, she took her time, nibbling.
She felt Zol move to glance at Zin. “Timeline?”
“I will be checking momentarily. Once we are clear of the traffic. Our encounter with the big-rig gentlemen delayed my observance.”
“Num…don’t you two want to try some of this?”
Angling herself toward Zol, she offered him a piece. With polished eagerness, he ate it from her hand.
As his lips brushed against her fingertips, he paused, and his tongue lightly lapped her fingerpad. Her hellhound’s seductive finesse teased her, even tingling her toes.
“Traveling with you two is a really good time.”
With her stomach still half empty, Kandace helped herself to another slice. She noticed Zin had passed a small line of traffic.
He sped them into the empty lane like a knife through warm butter. Butter, it wasn’t as through hunger had her in its grip, or anything.
Kandace smiled at herself, then polished off another slice of the spice-pumpkiny deliciousness. Deciding not to interrupt Zin’s look at the timeline, she didn’t tantalize him with the bread.
“All clear ahead,” he announced. “Since events have been slightly altered, I will be putting the pedal to the metal.”
Within seconds, they soared down the highway, the speed limit forgotten. “As if the hounds of hell were in hot pursuit.” Kandace uttered her first thought.
“And the day keeps on remindin' me, hellhounds on my trail, hellhounds on my trail.”
Zin imitated Robert Johnson’s singing voice in such a funny way, Kandace laughed. “The blues are not your forté.”
“He keeps practicing. Indeed, I must move out of earshot.” Zol’s tone ribbed his twin. “Quite difficult with our hearing ability.”
“Wait. The Blues by the Bay event…were you two howling during one rendition of that song?”
“Yes, Kandy love, we sent a recording to the band. Anonymously,” Zin answered.
“We were ridiculously curious to know if they would use it,” Zol added.
A fit of giggles took over, and Kandace shook. With a grab, she saved the pumpkin bread from falling off her lap. A split second later, Zol’s hand landed on top
of hers.
“Almost a good save,” she teased.
“Almost.”
Zol stroked her thumb with his, fizzing bubbles of pleasure through her, as Kandace thought of them.
“Slowing to normal speed,” Zin informed. “There is traffic ahead. Darling, will you feed me a piece of smoked brisket? I’ve been salivating since we stopped at the truckstop.”
“Brisket?” Kandace changed position just as Zol’s hand dived into the sack behind the console, then emerged with a foil-wrapped package.
“A hellhound favorite, Kandy love.” Zol placed the package within a scooped out area on the dash. “Whenever we entertain others of our kind, brisket is a must on the menu.”
“Not the whole cow?” she asked before thinking.
Zin and Zol’s deep chuckles entered both of her ears, keeping her hot to trot.
“During the first days of spring and fall, outdoor roasts are held, and the whole animal is used for feasting.”
Neatly, Zol exposed the slices of juicy meat, and the aroma steamed into her nostrils. Deciding she’d finished with the pumpkin bread, Kandace set the box back in the sack, then wriggled forward.
“Okay, Zin, how do I feed this to you without dripping it on your immaculate upholstery?”
“I believe a dish is required.”
Zol’s uber-sexy chest pressed against her back as he opened the glove compartment. I’m holy smoking hot, she thought.
“What? Do you keep a whole dining setup in there?” Kandace gawked at the porcelain plates and cutlery.
“We find impromptu picnicking a delight, and necessary at times while on the road.”
Zin’s tone caused Kandace’s imagination to hit overdrive. Scenes of her hellhounds engaged in frolicking sex with other women blasted her mind’s eye. “Jealousy,” she muttered, taking hold of the small dish Zol handed her.
“Jealousy?” Zol purred near her ear.
“Yes!” Kandace snapped. “You two have gotten to me. If you must know.” She heaped on the brisket, then licked her fingers like a primitive. “Mmm…that is good.”
Kougar, Savanna - Kandy Apple and Her Hellhounds (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 19