Blood Lines: Kallen's Tale (Witch Fairy #3.5) by Bonnie Lamer Page B

to back down from this one.”  I walk away and I hear him chuckle behind me.
     
    As I walk down the stairs I ponder my behavior.  I thought I had prepared myself for the reaction of other men to Xandra.  Considering my violent jealousy with simply introducing her to Kegan, I am not off to a good start.  If I am not careful, I will end up pushing her away so I need to stop acting like a territorial ass and give her reasons to stay with me not leave me.  Right after I pay her back for the whole bikini thing.
     
    She is already on the beach when I reach her.  Swinging her up off her feet, I throw her over my shoulder while I hold onto her legs.  Her long, sexy legs.  I find I like this view of them.
     
    “Kallen, what are you doing?” she shouts over the noise of the waves.
     
    “Exacting my revenge,” I say as I run the rest of the way to the water and when deep enough, I sending her flying.  She is sputtering when she comes back up.  I fold my arms over my chest and admire the view. 
     
    “You’re going to pay for that,” she says.
     
    “I believe you are too small to throw me in the water,” I gloat.
     
    Before I can react, she has pulled magic.  A tidal wave of massive proportions rises above me and swallows me whole when it comes down.  My turn to be the sputtering one.  I am not one to give up easily, though.  Diving after her as she retreats towards the shore, I pull us both underwater as she laughs.  She slips out of my hold underwater and pushes up to the surface.  Following her, I reach out and once again am able to toss her over my shoulder.
     
    “Put me down,” she laughs, gently pounding her fists on my back.
     
    “Certainly.”  I throw her back underwater.
     
    This time, I follow her.  Pulling her to me, I capture her lips with mine as I bring us both to the surface.  A deep groan escapes my throat when she wraps both her arms and her legs around me and deepens the kiss.  I crush her against me wanting to feel every inch of her skin against mine.
     
    Of course Kegan chooses now to come after us.  “Are you trying to drown her or seduce her?”
     
    “Ignore him,” I murmur against her lips.  “He will go away eventually.”
     
    Xandra giggles.  “That’s not very nice.”  It would be nice for me.
     
    I shrug.  “I never claimed to be nice.”
     
    “True, but it would still be rude to ignore him.”
     
    “Go away!” I call over the waves.  “There, I am not ignoring him.  Happy?”
     
    She slaps my shoulder.  “You’re terrible.  Stop acting jealous of your cousin.”
     
    I scowl.  “And I suppose you would have no problem with a beautiful cousin of yours joining us?”
     
    She grins.  “I don’t have any cousins”.  I toss her back into the water. 
     
    She comes up laughing.  “Will you please stop doing that?”
     
    “Doubtful.” 
     
    Turning to Kallen, she says, “Come on in, the water’s great.”  I pick her up and throw her in the water again and she is still laughing.
     
    This time, she does not come right back up.  She swims away from me towards the shore.  And towards Kegan.  When she surfaces in front of him, he says with a wicked grin, “I believe you were right, it may have been safer for you to swim alone.  Come to me for protection?”
     
    I am close enough to hear her uncomfortable reply.  “Um, actually, I thought I was going in the opposite direction.”  I know I have a smug look on my face when I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her. 
     
    I can tell that Xandra feels awkward at the moment.  Perhaps I should act a little less possessive.  I try not to be annoyed when she moves out of my arms and says, “I’m starved.  We didn’t have breakfast back home; do you think we could have brunch?”
     
    “Of course,” I say, “we can see if Tabitha will let us raid the kitchen.”
     
    Just to bother me, Kegan says, “Yes, I could use some food myself.” 
     
    “Great, let’s