FinsFantasy

by Jocelyn Dex

  She swallowed a chunk of dragon fruit before answering. “Yep, almost.”

  “Why so long?”

  She shrugged. “You know how it is. You get busy doing this and that and before ya know it, a year’s gone by.”

  “Well, it’s great to see you.”

  “I’m glad you think so because I have a favor to ask.” She grinned sheepishly.

  Fin raised an eyebrow at her.

  “My lame sister bailed out on me. She was supposed to be my date to Araya’s party. So, I thought maybe if you didn’t have a date, you could be mine.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  He chuckled at her silliness. “That’d be perfect, but why’d she bail?”

  Lymirie rolled her eyes. “Because of the Incubus thing. She totally chickened out. I told her she was being stupid. If Talith and Valia can be around Araya’s Incubus fiancé without jumping his bones, I’m sure we’ll be fine too.” She slipped a mulberry in her mouth, her eyes widened and she swallowed quickly, practically choking. “Hey. Does Araya’s Incubus affect you? Oh crap, I just realized I have sooo many questions for you.”

  She bounced in her seat like an excited child and Fin braced himself for the interrogation.

  Two hours later, she’d run out of questions about the male Sempire thing, eaten three plates of fruit and decided to take a nap in one of the many guest rooms. He’d always enjoyed her company. When she was a young female, visiting the mansion, she’d followed him around constantly. She was still young, only ten years Araya’s senior at forty, but had matured into a beautiful Sempire.

  Fin had barely gotten back to cooking when someone else came in. Damn, he was popular today.

  “Whatcha making? I’m starved.” Raimee pulled up a stool across the counter from Fin.

  “Meatball parmesan sliders.”

  “Mmm. Sounds great but looks like you’re just getting started. You have anything ready?”

  “Sure. Help yourself to anything on the bottom two racks in the fridge to the left.”

  She hopped up, dug through the various trays and platters filling up a large plate. Tomato, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe salad. Several pieces of fruit sushi. Chicken parmesan muffins.

  “What is this?” She pointed to three rolls on her plate.

  “Fruit sushi.”

  “Weird.” She popped one in her mouth. “Ooh but yum.”

  “Yeah, my mother and sisters love it.”

  Raimee took a bite of the muffin, nodded her head in approval and swallowed. “Is all this for Araya’s party?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, how about being my date?”

  Wow, super popular today.

  Fin figured she’d be going with Baden. But wait, Baden’s name hadn’t been on the guest list. Fin assumed it was an oversight.

  He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. “Did Valia put you up to this?”

  “Up to what?” She batted her wide eyes all innocent-like. At his glare she said, “Okay. Maybe she mentioned you were dateless and so am I so let’s go together. It’ll be uncomplicated. Not a real date—a friend date.”

  “Had you asked two hours ago, I’d have said yes, but another dateless beauty got to me first.”

  She pouted. “Damn. Any suggestions?”

  Fin thought for a moment. “Well, Baden’s the obvious choice.”

  Her eyes widened as she took another bite of muffin. “And why do you say that?”

  He shrugged. “You two seemed to get along well enough.”

  “Eh, well, he didn’t ask and… Never mind. I’ll go alone. No biggie.”

  Fin was surprised Baden hadn’t asked her, but maybe he’d been wrong about feeling a vibe between them. It was obvious his relationship possibility radar was off. “Oh, hey, have you met Aidor, one of the guards we brought back from the demon realm?”

  “Yeah, a couple times. He’s a little scary looking and doesn’t say much but seems okay. Why?”

  “Araya invited him and he really doesn’t know anyone yet. Might be nice for him to have a date. Want me to—”

  “Nope. I passed him in the hall a few minutes ago. I got this. Thanks for the food.” She winked at him and took off to find Aidor.

  * * * * *

  Navine had been staying at Baden’s for the past two days. She didn’t really want to be alone after being abducted for a second time. Luckily, this time hadn’t been as big of an ordeal.

  She’d been shocked when she’d seen the spitting image of Debol standing there. Baden had projected to the room she’d been locked in to keep her updated on what was up when they’d all shown up to free her. He’d warned her the Incubus looked just like Debol, but she couldn’t imagine it until she’d seen it herself.

  Shock and rage had overcome her. She’d wanted to rip the look-alike’s face off but smartly she’d controlled that urge.

  Baden had taken off the last two days to stay home with her, but tonight he’d been called in for some kind of pizza emergency or something. She supposed she should learn more about the business. Baden hadn’t wanted to leave her alone and asked that she come with him but she decided to port to the cabin instead. She couldn’t hide from the world forever and taking a swim in the creek always relaxed her, calmed her mind.

  Walking up the steps brought back memories of how she’d ripped Caffin’s shorts down and taken his cock into her mouth. He’d tasted so good, so male, so right. Instinct had taken control of her body and mind. All she’d known in that instant was that she’d had to have him. Had desired him above all else.

  Pushing the memory from her mind, she went inside. He’d cleaned up before he’d left. She opened the fridge and found a small fruit plate covered in plastic wrap. He must have made it the night they were supposed to celebrate.

  She unwrapped it, set it on the table and slid down onto a chair. She picked up a cherry. He’d pitted them for her. A folded piece of paper set atop the table. She pulled it toward her and opened it. It said, Navine, give me a call if you’re still up for a celebration. Fin. His cell number was below it.

  Waving the note back and forth, she considered her options. She could call him but why? Because she had her pussy-pants on and felt weirded out about being alone? What she needed to do was get off her ass and feed. But not today. She’d see if she could friend up with a Sempire at Araya’s party tomorrow night and they could go out together.

  She didn’t even want to go to the party but she’d promised Baden, and she couldn’t help but like Araya. Navine was still dumbfounded that Araya was getting married to an Incubus. Okay, only a fraction of him was Incubus but still it seemed crazy to her.

  She would give Araya a gift, chat for a few minutes, eat and drink a little and then she was out of there. Speaking of gifts, she and Baden had stopped by a restaurant-supply store and bought Fin the mack daddy of all industrial smoothie blenders. Hopefully, he didn’t already have that one, but if so, he could return it for something else.

  They would drop it off with Araya tomorrow to give to him. Navine knew she should do it herself, give it to him in person, but she couldn’t. She didn’t trust herself around him anymore. After what had happened between them. The things she’d felt, things only he’d ever made her feel. No she needed to move on. There could be nothing between them.

  Baden had assured her that Fin was only setting up the food for the party and leaving or Navine might not have agreed to go. She popped a handful of cherries into her mouth, went to her room and changed into a bikini and ported to the creek.

  * * * * *

  Fin spent the next afternoon, until early evening, transporting trays of food to Araya and Kean’s house and arranging them in a splendid display. Araya had decorated simple but elegant. Candles, paper lanterns, a few choice flower bouquets.

  It was six o’clock by the time he finished and the party started at seven thirty. He ported home and took a leisurely shower. Lymirie wasn’t meeting him downstairs until seven thirty on the dot, she said, and Fin planned to re
lax as much as possible until then.

  With only a towel wrapped around his waist, he lay on his bed and tried to think of anything but Navine but it was an impossible feat.

  A scratch at his door pulled him from his thoughts. He opened the door to find a somewhat odd-looking terrier mix dog and a Siamese cat standing there. The dog held a picture of Araya and Kean in his mouth. He placed it on the floor and nudged the cat with his snout. The cat looked up at Fin for a moment and then rubbed around his legs.

  Fin bent down to pet the cat. Its fur stood on end and a garbled hiss escaped its mouth but the dog nudged the cat again and it calmly rubbed around his legs some more.

  Fin invited them in. The dog, Kiberry, jumped on Fin’s bed and the cat, Xena, followed suit. Fin grabbed his cell phone off his dresser and took a picture to send to Araya along with the message, Dog desperately wants to come to party with his cat friend. I think it’ll be okay.

  Araya texted back a minute later, How cute! Bring them if you’re sure Xena is okay. I miss my Kiberry.

  Fin dressed in black pants and a white button-down shirt. He’d prefer to be in shorts but knew everyone else would be dressed nice.

  Kiberry in dog form and Xena in cat form followed him downstairs to the theatre room.

  A few minutes later, a guard escorted Raimee into the room, and wow did she look fantastic. She wore a pale yellow strapless dress that clung to her body like a second skin. It stopped just above her knees, a dangerous slit up the left side. Her spiked heels matched the dress.

  “Wow. You look great,” Fin said, hoping she wouldn’t think he was hitting on her.

  She flashed him a grin. “Thanks. You too. What’s up with the pets?”

  “That’s Kiberry and Xena.”

  “No way! Looking good,” she said to the Tengurs. Kiberry stood on his back legs and held up a paw. Raimee bounced the palm of her hand off his paw and laughed.

  “You meeting Aidor?” Fin asked.

  “Yep,” she smiled. “Although, I had to twist his arm to get him to be my date.”

  Aidor came walking down the hallway toward them. He looked oddly uncomfortable with the situation for such a large, arrogantly confident male. Fin guessed he hadn’t had much time to date or go to parties while being stuck in the demon realm for so many years. They’d had a couple conversations and even though Aidor was a male of few words, Fin got the idea he was only going because he felt beholden to Valia for freeing him from his contract bond to Debol and because Araya had been so welcoming to him. His sisters were hard to refuse when they set their minds on something.

  “Ready?” he brusquely asked Raimee.

  “Sure am. See ya there, Fin.”

  Just as Fin sat on a plush chair near the front door and the Tengurs curled up at his feet, Lymirie descended the stairs. She’d put on a short purple dress that matched the strand of feathers woven into her hair. The one shoulder strap was adorned with skulls and crossbone crystals that swooped down and across her chest. Her naturally gold Sempire eyes were covered by deep-purple contacts. A colorful dragonfly tattoo graced the base of her neck. He hadn’t noticed it earlier. She was definitely unorthodox but beautiful just the same.

  She held out her arms and twirled. “Whatcha think?”

  He stood offering her an elbow. “Lovely as always. Nice skulls.”

  She grinned and took his arm. “You too and thanks.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Lymirie hooked her arm with Fin’s as he knocked on the door, the Tengurs, in their dog and cat forms, behind them. Kean answered.

  “Hey man. Hey… I don’t know you.”

  “I’m Lymirie, Araya’s most fabulous cousin.”

  Kean laughed. “Great to meet you. C’mon in. Hey Kiberry.” He bent down and scratched the Tengur’s head. “Lookin’ good.” Kiberry nudged the cat and she stepped forward allowing Kean to scratch behind her ears. “Wow. She’s doing great.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. So, how’s it going?” Fin asked.

  “Great. They’re only a few people here so far. Shouldn’t be as weird as originally expected. My grandfather and father aren’t going to make it. They didn’t want to make all the Sempires uncomfortable with their…you know…Incubusness.” Kean chuckled at himself. “Anyway, I can’t keep my hands off those mini sliders. Araya’s elbowed me more than once.”

  Fin laughed. Kean loved food. The meatier the better. It was lucky his Incubus DNA kept him naturally fit.

  “Well, I made a ton of them. If the display gets low, I’ll set some more up.”

  Kean waved his hands. “No way. You’ve done enough and now it’s party time.”

  They followed Kean to the enormous back patio where he opened a full-size fridge and handed Fin a beer. “Lymirie, this is the beer-only fridge. I’ll get you wine from the fountain.”

  She waved him off. “No, no. I’ll grab a glass in a minute.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yep.”

  “Lymirie!” Araya squealed and gave her cousin a big hug. She looked beautiful in her long, flowing green chiffon dress, sequins wrapping around and accentuating her waistline. “I’m so glad you made it. I’ve missed you.”

  “I know, it’s been too long.”

  Araya turned to Fin and kissed his cheek. “I see you found a date.” “I don’t date cousins,” he teased.

  Red rose into Araya’s cheeks. “Oh yeah, about that…”

  “It’s okay.” He squeezed her arm reassuringly. “I know she’s not going to blab to anyone. It’s fine. I’m glad she knows.”

  Araya looked relieved and hugged him. “I thought you might appreciate someone else knowing—someone who would love you like we do.”

  The doorbell rang and Kean and Araya rushed away to answer it.

  “Wanna go inside or are you good out here?” Fin asked Lymirie.

  “I’m gonna grab a glass of wine real quick and come back out. I like the fresh air. Although the Texas humidity, I could do without.” She mock-wiped her brow, blew out a breath and went inside.

  Fin took a seat on the patio. Talith and Darcon joined him.

  “Hello dear,” Talith said as she bent to kiss his cheek. “You look handsome as always.”

  “Thanks. You too. Lovely, that is.”

  Darcon, a demon of few words, simply nodded at him. Lymirie returned with her wine and sat next to them.

  Rydin and Valia showed up, Valia with a wineglass in each hand, Rydin munching on a mini slider.

  “I see you found a date.” Valia rolled her eyes at him.

  Lymirie said, “What’s with the eyes? I’m not a good date?”

  “We wanted him to get some tonight. That’s not gonna happen with you.”

  Lymirie scrunched up her face. “Oops. Well, he can get some tomorrow.”

  “Kean was right. These things are fantastic,” Rydin said as he finished off the slider.

  Kean had made it his mission to introduce Rydin to every possible meaty food item possible when they were together.

  “Holy shit,” Valia exclaimed as Kiberry and Xena trotted past them, in their cat and dog forms, into the grass. “They look great and so freaking cute.”

  Fin explained how it had come about.

  “He’s such a smarty and a sweetie,” she beamed.

  Kean turned on some music as everyone chatted, drank and munched. Darcon and Talith were the first to dance when a slow song played.

  Araya ran off to answer the door again. Looking around, Fin thought everyone from the guest list had already arrived.

  Raimee walked up and said, “Hey, dance with me.”

  He looked to Lymirie, not wanting to be rude, but she smiled and waved him on. “Sure,” he agreed and took her hand.

  She pulled him a little closer than expected but he went with it. Why not?

  Chills ran down his spine as he heard a familiar voice. He spun Raimee around to the music just in time to see Navine smiling and laughing with Araya, looking more beautiful than
a female should be allowed to look. Her shiny black hair sat atop her head with small tendrils hanging down, framing her face. She wore a simple, tan-colored sheath dress with black-lace accents. She rocked that dress and he imagined stripping it over her head and—

  A hard poke to his ribs brought his attention back to Raimee.

  “Dancing here,” she said. “Gotta move your feet.”

  Oh yeah. He’d frozen upon seeing Navine. He and Raimee were standing still. He composed himself and started moving again. “Sorry.”

  Fin tried to keep his eyes to himself, to ignore her fantastic presence but the next turn brought her directly into his line of vision again. This time, she was staring at him. She turned quickly when his gaze met hers. Had she looked angry?

  The song ended and Raimee said, “Want another beer?”

  He nodded but wondered what Raimee’s deal was. She’d come with Aidor and he’d come with Lymirie. She held his hand as they made their way to the fridge. He saw Navine glance at their entwined hands and then she turned her back and went inside. Fin couldn’t believe she wasn’t even going to say hello to him after what they’d been through together.

  Disappointment and anger swamped him. He downed his beer in two hefty gulps and grabbed another, trying to dull the emotions brewing inside him.

  This was his sister’s engagement party and he didn’t need to be all grumpy. He didn’t want Araya worrying about him so he forced a smile on his face and pushed the shitty feelings into a corner. If Navine was totally indifferent to him, then he would be the same. Anything else was useless and detrimental to his mental health.

  He sat back down next to Lymirie. “Hungry?”

  She grinned. “You know I can always use some munchies.”

  He led Lymirie to the massive food display. Navine was in front of the fruit sushi, picking out the ones with the most cherries. He and Lymirie grabbed plates and filled them with a little of everything.

  “Hey, Navine,” Raimee said, stepping up on the side of Fin that wasn’t occupied by his cousin.

  “Hi, Raimee,” Navine said. Did she sound a little stilted?