A to Z Challenge 2013 - J is for Jive

I'm posting snippets from a story for this year's Challenge.

If you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

J IS FOR JIVE

Laughter shook Danielle's body, and she nearly slipped off the edge of her stool. She gripped the bar with one hand as the other rested across her stomach. Erik assured her through his chuckles that the story was true, and she laughed harder yet.

The bartender shouted "last call," and Erik glanced at his watch, chasing off the laughter.

"I need to get home and relieve the babysitter. I didn't expect to stay out this late." His smile was soft, but not from liquor. Neither of them had anything to drink in the past hour.

Danielle wanted to ask him to stay for one more drink. Anything to make this night last longer. Instead, she nodded. "It was a lot of fun. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."

"Me either," Erik said and rubbed his hands on his thighs. "We should do this again some time."

"Yeah, that sounds great." Danielle stood at the same time as he did, putting them inches apart. They held out hands to shake, but the closeness made it difficult. After a weird little hand jive, he slid his arms around her. Heat surged through her as she leaned against his hard body and wound her arms around his shoulders. Her heart pounded as she breathed in the fresh scent of his shirt and a hint of Irish Spring soap on his skin.

She wondered how long to hold the embrace. Should she pat him like a buddy or run her hands down his arms like a potential lover? Danielle nipped the inside of one cheek, wishing she had as much confidence in this department as she did killing monsters.

A to Z Challenge - J is for Jelly beans

This is an ongoing story for the Challenge.

If you're just joining me, please start with A is for Abby.

J IS FOR JELLY BEANS

Abby took shallow breaths, unwilling to her body press any more to Demetrius' than it already was. They were swashed into a corner by a deck and a garage. Tawa was mashed against the wall and complaining in some ancient language. Sounded a little like Greek but not quite.

The man on the deck told his dog to hurry up and finish his business. The dog, of course, took his time.

Abby could hear Demetrius' heart in his chest. It annoyed her it was much calmer than hers. Her stomach quivered and her hands clenched. No matter how she was breathing, she could smell that masculine woodsy scent that she had come to know as his. Even though he had been using her soap in the shower, he still smelled like he had just come out of the forest. He was as hard and solid as a great oak too. Yet cut in the most appealing of ways.

She glanced to see him looking at her. A smirk quirked up his lips and he leaned against her more so. Abby wanted to look away, but her head refused to move. Those lips of his were a crime. Too full and sensual to be a man's, but so fitting for the fae. What would it feel like to have him kiss her? Would he be tender? Or would he be wild as he was when fighting?

The dog finally did his thing and trotted back up to the house. The man muttered and shuffled inside, shutting the glass doors and locking them. The outside lights turned off.

Abby and Demetrius stood where they were for another minute. Their gazes locked. Goose bumps freckled her arms as he bent his head. He was going to kiss her. Oh, how she wanted to taste that fire.

My face is squished. Tawa grumbled. This is only the first house of the night. Let's get moving.

Tawa's sharp voice was enough to knock some sense back into Abby's head. She pushed her way out of their hiding spot, taking in a deep breath of the cool night air. She needed to focus on the matter at hand and not the gorgeous man her hands wanted to be exploring at the moment.

"This one's in the basement. Let's avoid going in through the rest of the house in case anyone is still awake. There's a window to the basement right there." Abby pointed to it. She stiffened as she felt Demetrius' hand on the small of her back. He seemed warmer than he should, or was that just her?

"I won't fit through the window. We can go through the back here. No alarms, right?"

"No alarms, but we're not taking the chance that anyone's still awake. I can take care of this one myself." Abby marched forward and worked the window open.

"You're not going in without me." Demetrius' tone was one that demanded her to obey. She ignored him. When she sat on the ground and slid her legs in through the window, he grabbed a hold of her arm. "Not without me."

"I've been doing this for years without any help. It's just one monster." Abby tore her arm from his grasp. "You go prance around the yard or whatever it is you fairies do." She slid the rest of the way in before he could snatch her again. "Oh, be careful. The dog left something nasty out there."

Demetrius cursed at her and stuck his head through the window. "I have a blood debt. I will not have my honor insulted by being ignored or belittled like this."

"Yes, yes." Abby waved a dismissive hand at him and let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the basement. There was only one child in the house. Mark had sent her a note with the boy's address and nightmare. Furry critter in the basement ready to yank him down there and eat him. She heard a noise to her left. Her palms glowed and her blades slid free. She gripped them tightly.

The ceiling wasn't high and she could see nothing her height or taller. Another noise and she looked down. A monster the size of a rabbit hopped into view. It was all eyes, ears, and mouth, and the rest of it was covered in dirty purple fur. It growled and left a big pile of slobber on the floor.

"Lovely." Abby wrinkled her nose. She could step on the thing and be done with it.

There was another noise to her right. Then one in front of her.

Several growls echoed the first creature's and nearly two dozen of the critters hopped into view. Each of them a color of the pastel rainbow.

What do you see? How many? Tawa asked.

"Rabid jelly beans. A whole freakin' basket full."