Page 10 of Demon (Mystic Guardians #3)

Chapter Ten

L onnie

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.”

Actual tears were gathered in his eyes as he wrestled the urge to laugh and laugh hard. But that would only confuse then disappoint Callan, and he’d rather swallow jacks than do anything to hurt the sweet demon. So he unpackaged the Barbie and fitted her onto the stand.

Then he set her on the shelf where Callan had indicated. Right next to his collection of Fullmetal Alchemist figurines. The Barbie sure stood out with her colorful tail and vivid red hair.

“You like my gift?”

“I love it,” Lonnie said, and he meant it.

“Good. The first store didn’t have a fantasy one. I went to two other stores.” He paused for several moments before continuing. “The third store had the holder. I wanted it to be right for your shelves.”

“You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.” He coughed to cover up the chuckle he just couldn’t suppress.

“There is no trouble when it is about you.”

That statement stopped the laughter, instead making his heart race. He stared up into Callan’s still-pleased expression and couldn’t help himself. He wrapped his arms around that huge, barrel chest and just squeezed. “Thank you.”

Callan hugged him back, then cleared his throat. When Lonnie looked up, there was a flush of pink in Callan’s cheeks. “Now, I cook for you.”

“Another demon tradition?”

“Yes. What’s your favorite meal?”

Lonnie had to think a moment. “Beef Wellington.”

Callan scratched his cheek, then tilted his head as his eyebrows moved together.

“I also like hamburgers,” Lonnie offered, hoping that was a better answer for Callan. He also had all the ingredients in his kitchen.

The demon nodded. “I make good hamburgers.” He shocked Lonnie when he pressed a kiss to Lonnie’s forehead then strode into the kitchen.

Lonnie touched the skin where Callan had kissed, completely bemused. Why had he kissed him? And just what was Callan up to? He looked at the Barbie and this time, he couldn’t stop his laughter, so he hurried down the hall and shut himself inside his room to bury his face in his pillow. Hopefully, that would muffle the sounds as he finally lost it.