bedeviled & beyond 06.5 - bedeviled & bah humbug

by Sam Cheever

  I didn’t think. Didn’t consider. I just reacted. I yanked my power forward and, in the blink of an eye, space shifted toward my sister and shoved her away just as the energy sizzled into the spot where she’d been. There was a secondary explosion and energy hit my back with the force of a laser bomb, sending me to my knees as pain ratcheted through me.

  I could smell my hair burning and pain sizzled through my body, twisting me into a jerking pile of agony on the wet sand. The world went black but, a moment later doused me in warm, salty water. I sputtered to my knees, realizing, to my amazement, that I was still alive.

  Small, grasping hands tugged on my shoulders. “Phelps! Are you okay?”

  I looked up into a pale, worried face that slid slowly into focus. “Ralphy?”

  He closed his eyes. “Oh thank, Him! I didn’t think I’d get here in time.”

  I shoved a hand through my hair. “What just happened?”

  “Ralphy diverted the killing power of the airship blast and saved you,” a familiar, jolly voice said.

  I looked up at Santa, happy to see him unharmed. “I’m sorry about my sister, sir.”

  He clasped his belly and laughed. “She’s under the influence, Mx. Phelps. I don’t blame her.” He glanced toward the mob of screaming ninja elves down the beach. I was happy to see the dragon fire had created a wall of thick glass that the elves were unable to breach. “I don’t blame any of my children.”

  I couldn’t resist asking. “Not even the Grinch?”

  Though the black button eyes tightened for just a beat, Santa gave another jolly laugh. “Especially Grinchy. He didn’t mean any harm. He’s just a Holiday Hater. Mx. Claus and I are going to put him into therapy as soon as I finish my rounds.” He blinked. “Which reminds me...” He looked up at the airship and motioned it over. The thick-bodied green blimp with the curly nose floated overhead and, in a beam of light, sucked a laughing Santa up into its belly. The last thing I saw before the blimp shot away from the beach was Santa and Mx. Claus, waving gaily from behind the viewport.

  Unfortunately for Mx. Claus, I’d never believe she was that woman again. I’d seen her ninja side. But I realized with a start that it was okay. I kind of respected her more for her willingness to protect her man.

  I looked around for my sister and found her shoving to her feet with a groan a few feet away. The mask was cockeyed on her face but still covered one eye. Reaching into my pocket, I started toward her. “Darma!”

  She looked up, shoving her mask straight before I could reach her. Almost immediately her blue gaze turned hard. “I guess I’ll have to deal with you before I can finish my work.”

  I shoved the cookie toward her. “I brought you a sugar cookie.”

  She eyed the cookie like it was covered in bidgie bugs. “I can’t eat that, I’m watching my weight.”

  I expelled air. “Come on. One cookie won’t hurt you.”

  “I’m not eating that cookie, Astra. She lifted a hand, deadly energy sizzling in her palm. “Prepare to die, halfling.”

  “Oh for god’s sake,” I told her. I lifted my palm too and smiled. “Nighty night, Darma.” Then I blew into it and sent pixie dust from the vial swirling through the warm night air. Into my ninja sister’s face.

  CHAPTER 6

  Christmas morning was just starting to peak on the horizon when Dialle and I finally got some much needed alone time. The flames in the massive fireplace cast a glow over the surface of the windows and turned my glass of Christmas champagne to gold. I sipped the icy liquid, enjoying the way the bubbles burst against my tongue.

  A hot pair of lips trailed down my throat, hungry hands skimming over my belly and engaging an entirely different kind of fire deep in my core. I closed my eyes, resting my head back against Dialle’s firm, golden pecs. “Mmm, I thought Christmas Eve would never end.”

  Dialle’s lips curved against my skin. “Yes. At last I can give you my gift.” His hot tongue came out to tantalize the spot where my tear-shaped daemon hickey throbbed with anticipation.

  Tiny answering sparks met his delicious touch.

  I turned as he kissed my ear, capturing his talented lips in a bone melting kiss. Lost in the intensity of his kiss, my fingers went numb around the champagne flute and only Dialle’s laser quick reflexes kept it from hitting the floor and spilling.

  His lips entrapped me in a spiral of need so deep and rich I thought I might never emerge from it again. As our lips pressed and savored, my hands cupped his square, bristly jaw and my thumb traced the sexy dimple in his chin. He groaned softly and I pulled the delightful wine of his breath deep, savoring it.

  The previous night’s debacles fled under the sensual onslaught. My sexual core tightened like a bow string beneath the bow master’s agile touch. And my fingers were sliding into the leather waistband of Dialle’s deliciously form fitting leather pants when our sanctuary was disturbed by pounding.

  Dialle broke the kiss with a groan.

  “No. Let them wait. This is our time.” I wrapped my fingers into the fabric of his chest-baring white shirt and tugged him close, trying to capture his lips again.

  The door shuddered under another assault and frustrated air burst through my lips. “Pulling my magic forward, I told myself I’d only stun the intruder into oblivion, but the amount of energy flaring at my fingertips felt like it might be more of an obliteration than a stunning.

  Dialle kissed the end of my nose and wrapped his hand around my fist, squelching my lovely power. “It’s Gerch.”

  He leaned back on the divan and turned his head to call out. “Come.”

  With an unhappy sigh, I tucked myself back under his arm. I fixed a pout on my face as Dialle’s Captain of the Guards entered the room and strode quickly toward us with a smile on his craggy face.

  I blinked at the smile, able to count on one hand the number of times I’d seen Gerch smile. “What are you up to, devil?”

  He showed me the hand he’d been holding behind his back and I frowned at the badly wrapped package he held. “Your Christmas gift, my queen.”

  Eyeing the lumpy, twisted box wrapped in red foil paper with a black bow, I almost forgot to chastise him for the queen thing. “Don’t call me that.”

  Gerch handed me the package. “Your sister helped me get you just the right thing.” His grin widened until I was afraid his cheeks might break off.

  “Good Him, Gerch! You took Darma’s advice on my Christmas present?”

  His smile dimmed and I felt a little bad about that. “I mean....she’s still mighty pissed at me over the pixie dust thing.” I frowned, remembering the Martian-sailor-like language my older sister had assailed me with once she woke up from her pixie dust fog to find her entire form covered in large, red splotches. How in Hades was I supposed to know she was allergic to pixie dust?

  But Gerch wasn’t to be distracted from his gift giving pleasure. His black eyes sparkled with happiness. “Go ahead, Astra. Open it.”

  Sighing theatrically, I tried to pretend I was opening my present just to please him. But truth be told, though I’d recently passed my twenty-fifth birthday, I was just as much of a sap for gifts in my advanced old age as I’d been as a tiny little ball buster of five.

  I tugged the knot of foil paper on one end of the box and looked at the over-taped and malformed white box beneath. “Good Him, Gerch. Did you dance on this box before you wrapped it?”

  He lifted massive, rocklike hands. “I’m afraid these hands were made for fighting rather than wrapping.”

  I grinned. “You should have made Darma wrap it. She could have covered it in paper with big, red polka dots on it.”

  When Gerch laughed his eyes closed and his whole body bounced. I realized in that moment I liked it when my friend laughed.

  Giving up on being delicate, I ripped the paper back and tugged on the box lid. It was so dented together that, for a minute, I couldn’t get the lid off and I ended up tearing the cardboard almost into pieces before the contents of the
box were revealed.

  I frowned down at the gauzy, sparkling material for a moment before I realized what it was. Then my lips started to curve upward in a slow smile. I lifted the smile to Gerch.

  His black eyes sparkled. “I couldn’t fit the wings in the box.” He shrugged.

  I pulled my sex sprite costume from the box and held it up for Dialle to view. He frowned. “What is that?”

  I jumped up from the divan and started toward the personal hygiene room. “It’s a surprise. For you.”

  I stopped after two steps and, on an impulse, walked over to Gerch and kissed him on a red, craggy cheek. His black eyes widened in surprise. “Thanks, bud. I love it. Now go away. Dialle and I have some enjoying to do with this.”

  His gaze was suspiciously bright and, as I turned away, he lifted his fingers to touch the spot where I’d kissed him.

  I skipped away from my two men, excited for Dialle to see me in my Christmas present. Because, though I’d been a disaster trying to act the part with the nasty masked rodents at the Angel City Mall, with Dialle I really was a sex sprite.

  Or at least I played one at Christmas.

  THE END

  Astra Q Phelps is the heroine of my fun and sexy futuristic adventure series, Bedeviled & Beyond. If you enjoyed this fun collection of stories, I hope you’ll check out the full series, highlighted below:

  Book 1: Bedeviled & Beguiled

  Visit: http://www.samcheever.com/bedeviled&beguiled.htm for buy links and an excerpt.

  Astra Q Phelps is on the side of the good guys in the war between good and evil. Unfortunately for her, the bad guys have been making inroads on her soul. And when a particularly dark and sexy dark worlder fixes his heated gaze on Astra, the lighter side of her nature quickly finds itself kicked to the curb by her slut-monkey side. But Astra doesn't have time to deal with her love life. She's in the middle of a war between two dark factions...a war that just might mean the end of the human population...and it seems the fate of the world rests uneasily on her shoulders. It's a lot of pressure to put on one feisty halfling...but Astra Q Phelps is definitely...erm...certainly...ahh...possibly up to the challenge.

  Book 2: Bedeviled & Bedazzled

  Visit: http://www.samcheever.com/bedeviled&bedazzled.html for buy links and an excerpt.

  With sexy devil Prince Dialle at her side, Astra Q Phelps finds herself embroiled in yet more danger and intrigue at the royal devil court. As Astra discovers her family tree might be growing right in the middle of the current mess, her career as a demon slayer is put at risk, her dignity is seriously damaged, and there might be a pair of giant granny panties in her future. Fortunately for her she doesn’t have much need for dignity. It's a whole mess of trouble for one determined halfling to sort through, but Astra Q Phelps is...hopefully...up to the challenge.

  Book 3: Bedeviled & Beleaguered

  Visit: http://www.samcheever.com/bedeviled&beleaguered.html for buy links and an excerpt.

  As a poisonous magic veil descends over Earth, turning humans into mindless killers and threatening another Great War between the magic and non-magic populations, Astra and the devilish Dialle must find a way to save humankind and defeat Satan himself. With madness rolling over everyone in waves and the guardian angels succumbing to a rare disease called Devil’s Plague, Astra finds herself walking a thin line between dark and light to vanquish the coming evil. Through it all, Astra and Dialle are still trying to forge a relationship together, despite the fact that they might be, once again, on opposite sides of the coming battle. Could it all be more than Astra Q Phelps can handle? There’s only one way to find out!

  Book 4: Bedeviled & Belittled

  Visit: http://www.samcheever.com/bedeviled&belittled.html for buy links and an excerpt.

  As she approaches the age of twenty-five, Astra Q Phelps starts to feel the effects of her Settling, the time when a creature formed of light and dark decides which nature she’s going to embrace. Unfortunately for her, the delectable Dialle, king of the Royal devils, really needs Astra’s help in Hell to deal with an insurrection. But Astra’s Settling pretty much has her thinking of only one thing—S.E.X.! It’s a constant struggle just to keep her mind and body pure so she can concentrate on the business at hand. And, let’s face it, being immersed in the dark world is hardly conducive to culminating her Settling in the light. But Astra Q Phelps is presumably up to the challenge. And Good versus Evil has never been this much fun!

  Book 5: Bedeviled & Besmirched

  Visit: http://www.samcheever.com/bedeviled&besmirched.html for buy links and an excerpt.

  Who knew that one little magic hickey could cause so much trouble? Never mind that Astra Q Phelps has no idea how she gave the king of the Royal Devils a Daemon mark. Females aren’t supposed to be able to mark their males. Now everybody’s trying to kill her. Well, half of everybody is trying to kill her. The females on the Devil Court want to know how she did it so they can do it too. And, while Astra’s trying to stay alive, somebody’s making a play for her man and the power he’s about to inherit. It’s a whole lot of stuff for Astra Q Phelps to handle. But, as you probably know by now, she’s...most likely...up to the challenge. Hopefully.

  Book 6: Bedeviled & Befouled

  Visit: http://www.samcheever.com/bedeviled&befouled.html for buy links and an excerpt.

  Without her magic, Astra Q Phelps is at the center of a tsunami of trouble that’s affecting everyone she cares about in ways no one could have predicted. Unfortunately for her, the only fix might be a visit to the white on white kingdom high in the sky. To Astra’s way of thinking, that’s almost a fate worse than death.

  Sexy Devil King Dialle is fighting his own problems stemming from Astra’s loss of magic. Without her light energy to keep him grounded, he’s in danger of succumbing to the pull of dark forces and losing his way.

  As deadly forces battle to keep the two lovers apart, plaguing them with doubts of their future, they’ll have to decide if their love is worth the risks...or if they’d be better off letting it slip away!

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  Did you love Bedeviled & Bah Humbug? Then you should read Bedeviled & Beguiled by Sam Cheever!

  A roller coaster ride of fun and sexy sci fi paranormal romance with a devilish flavor!

  Astra Q Phelps is on the side of the good guys in the war between good and evil. Unfortunately for her, the bad guys have been making inroads on her soul. And when a particularly dark and sexy dark worlder fixes his heated gaze on Astra, the lighter side of her nature quickly finds itself kicked to the curb by her slut-monkey side. But Astra doesn't have time to deal with her love life. She's in the middle of a war between two dark factions...a war that just might mean the end of the human population...and it seems the fate of the world rests uneasily on her shoulders. It's a lot of pressure to put on one feisty halfling...but Astra Q Phelps is definitely...erm...certainly...ahh...possibly up to the challenge.

  ***NOTE: This was previously published under the title 'Tween Heaven and Hell. It is Book 1 of a 6-book futuristic paranormal romance series of full-length standalone novels with no cliffhangers. The series is written in first person POV. This book contains some violence, a single, brief portrayal of coerced sex and the occasional sexual innuendo. The heroine in this fun series isn't always politically correct and may at times embarrass herself and bumble about slightly out of control. If you're not a fan of self-deprecating humor, you might want to give this one a pass! #:0) Happy Reading!

  Read more at Sam Cheever’s site.

  Also by Sam Cheever

  ALPHAS OF THE BLOOD

  Sangui

  Mavim

  APOCALYPTIC SERIES

  Apocolyptic Mojo

  Tall Dark and Apoc
alyptic

  An Apocalyptic Need

  BEDEVILED & BEYOND

  Bedeviled & Belittled

  Bedeviled & Besmirched

  Bedeviled & Befouled

  Bedeviled & Bah Humbug

  HONEYBUN HEAT

  A Honeybun and Coffee

  Life, Liberty and Pursuit of a Honeybun

  Fast Track to a Honeybun

  A Honeybun in Hell

  Honeybun in a Loin Cloth

  Honeybun at a Dude Ranch

  Honeybun on the Run

  Honeybun, One and Done

  Honeybun Heat Box Set Volume 1

  Honeybun Heat Box Set Volume 2

  YESTERDAY'S MYSTERIES

  Yesterday's News

  Threads of Yesterday

  Yesterday's Ghosts

  Standalone

  Guardian

  Blue Screened

  Watch for more at Sam Cheever’s site.

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes romantic paranormal/fantasy and mystery/suspense, creating stories that celebrate the joy of love in all its forms. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 50+ books and has been writing for over a decade under several noms de plume.

  Read more at Sam Cheever’s site.