by A. J. Macey
With a quick spell and flourish of his hand, the door to his office locked with an audible click, a blue glow surrounding it with a soundproof barrier. As he turned to me, our need became so strong, it felt like an electric current, waking up our bodies, my breath coming out in pants. His fingers teased the exposed flesh on my hips as his lips claimed mine. The kiss was forceful and possessive, the heat of it matched with fire of my own.
A whimper escaped as he pulled away, holding me at arm’s length as we both caught our breath. He smiled down at me, clearly reading the confusion in my gaze before leaning down and giving me a kiss that was the opposite of our last—slow and sweet but equally breathtaking.
“I want to take this slower. Our relationship so far has been full of stolen moments and quick encounters. I want to take my time, learn your body, worship you like you deserve. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Gorgeous?” His voice was husky and low as he whispered in my ear, his warm breath fanning over my trembling body as a low moan escaped. I wasn’t always this submissive, but the way Torryn loved to take charge had my body jumping to obey.
He silently and slowly peeled away my clothes, his tongue exploring each new inch of exposed skin. By the time I was completely bare, I felt like my body would explode if he didn’t give me more, but Torryn, as he’d said, wasn’t in a hurry. He took the blanket from the couch, laying it out over his rug and lowered my body to it, his eyes drinking me in as the bulge in his pants grew even more. I reached for his pants, but he smirked and stepped beyond my grasp. I couldn’t have stopped the pout on my lips if I’d tried.
His eyes crinkled as he grinned and stepped closer again before running his thumb over my pouted lips and lowering his body over mine. At that moment, he looked so relaxed and free, my chest tightened. It was a glimpse of what we could be… no, would be. A life where I could have him when I wanted, where he could be an active part of my life, where we could build our relationship even more.
I cried out as he nipped at the sensitive skin on my collarbone, licking his way over the swell of my breasts. He teased around my chest, never getting too close to my peaked nipples and driving me absolutely wild. Goosebumps erupted over my skin, so sensitive, each touch had me rocking my hips into his. He growled as I ground into his hard cock, straining against its confinement. Knowing I had this kind of effect on him made me feel powerful. I wanted… no, needed to feel his hands and mouth on me like I needed to breathe.
He was making me feel normal again with each swipe of his tongue. His tongue flicked my nipple, then grazed his teeth over the hard bud. The sharp sting of pain had me crying out, then dissolving into a moan as pleasure flooded me again. Our eyes met, the pure raw desire and love in them melting me into a puddle. This man was mine. I was the only one who would get to see him like this, see the demanding yet gentle side of him I craved. As he moved to the other bud, his calloused fingers skimmed down my body slowly, leaving a trail of molten heat in their wake.
“Please,” I begged, letting out a sigh of relief when his fingers slid to their destination, teasing lightly over my dripping core. His mouth moved back to mine as he continued his exploration. I whimpered into the kiss, reaching for his clothes, trying to tug them off.
“Hands above your head and keep them there,” he growled, the command clear in his voice. I swallowed hard, nodding, and followed the order as he ripped off his shirt and shimmied out of his pants and boxers, his thick cock popping free and slapping against his stomach, drawing my eyes to it. He was so hard, he was throbbing, precum already leaking from the swollen tip. I moaned, knowing that he wanted me that much.
When his hands found me again, the teasing was finally done. He slid one finger inside me without hesitation, quickly adding a second as his thumb swirled over my clit, sending shockwaves of pleasure rocketing through me with each pass of his expert touch. Pleasure coiled in my stomach, strong and insistent as it moved through my body, growing and making me tremble with the force of it. He pulled his hand away, leaving me teetering on the precipice with no relief in sight. I didn’t have time to protest before he moved to his knees, grabbing the base of his cock and lined himself up, thrusting in slowly. He moved at a glacial pace, the slow torture even worse now that I was on edge and needy. The moment our eyes locked together, my internal whining fell away.
Despite our physical distance, I’d always felt a strong emotional connection with him. He understood me on a deeper level than almost anyone else. One look at me and Tor would know what I was feeling. There was no long discussion or tiptoeing around; he immediately gave me what I needed, sometimes before I realized it myself.
This, however, was different… deeper. As our eyes locked, and he slowly made love to me, I felt it solidify even more. I loved this man with my whole soul, and I knew he loved me the same. He rocked his hips in a steady rhythm, his face gorgeous as he let go, allowing my now wandering hands to finally show him how much I wanted him.
“I’m close. Come with me, Gorgeous,” he begged, his hand moving between us. He matched the brush of his fingers with the thrust of his hips, my legs locking behind him as he brought us both to the edge, this time not stopping as the orgasm moved through me. The moment he tightened his hold on my hips, I lost it, crying out his name as pleasure and heat flooded me, shuddering through shockwaves that made me feel weightless. My vision blurred as I came harder than I ever had, finally collapsing onto the soft material beneath me and pulling Tor down with me like a big burly blanket. I let out a sigh of contentment as I nuzzled my face into his neck, feeling loved, sated, and relaxed in his hold.
One day, we’ll be able to do this whenever we want, but until then, I’ll enjoy this moment as if it was our last.
November 13th
Wednesday Night
Aris
During the rest of my classes, I tried my best not to let my paranoia get to me, but even when I was distracted by lessons, it felt like the entire student body was staring at me. When I left familiars class, I headed down the hall with Cas walking next to me. We were quiet, both of us worn and tired from the day. Before either of us could say anything, Torryn stalked down the hall, his face pale as though he'd seen a ghost. My eyes flickered down to his hand, where he held a small lantern of some kind. The glass was clouded from age, and the metal was off-colored from what I assumed was plenty of use. Before I could ask about it, he was already speaking.
“Caspian, take her to the meeting place. But first, take this; it’s a Lantern of Shrouded Flame and will conceal you from view when lit. Before you head to the meeting, go up to Aris’s room and drop your stuff. Make sure you turn it on before you leave. Use it the entire way to the cave. Family meeting as soon as I send word to the others,” he instructed, waiting for Cas to nod before he stormed off.
The severity in his tone had me on edge as Caspian and I hung out behind the Familiars building, waiting for the other students to clear out before slipping away to my room. The Lantern of Shrouded Flame was small but heavy in my hands. Why Tor would need me to use it was beyond me. Not to mention, how did he even acquire one? Just from glancing at it, I could tell it was ancient, not just a run-of-the-mill magical tool.
Whatever it is that prompted him to give this to us, it’s serious. My anxiety flared.
“What do you think this is about?” I murmured, my voice uneven as panic filled my words. Chewing on my bottom lip, I couldn’t slow the swirl of thoughts in my head. Cas had to reach over and free my tortured lip with a worried grin.
“Maybe there really was more to the whispers? I don’t have any idea, though. Either way, Torryn wasn’t playing around,” he said, tangling his fingers with mine and pulling me toward the dorm.
As soon as we were in my room, I grabbed a thick coat, the chills swirling in my veins, making me shiver. Caspian attempted to give me a reassuring smile, but I could see in his ocean eyes that he was as worried as I was. Taking a steeling breath, I flicked the little switch on the side of the palm-sized lantern.
“You’ll have to keep up with me since I can’t see you until I grab hold of it along with you. Ready?” I nodded at first until I realized he couldn’t see me. Oh hellsticks, Aris, you’re a smart one. At least that means he can’t see me blushing either. Shaking off the embarrassment, I muttered my agreement. “Alright, Cupcake. Let’s go.” He opened the heavy wooden door, leaving enough space for me to slip through without being obvious to anyone walking by. It was an overly cautious move, but we weren’t taking chances anymore. He just as casually made it seem like his coat got caught on the door for a second. We continued that through the rest of the building and out into the cool night before quickly making our way to the rough dirt path and toward our crystal cave. Caspian only paused on our walk for a moment to grab hold of the lantern in my grasp when we curved around the path past the tree line. As soon as we made our way into the mouth of the cave, Caspian turned the light off, taking it from my hand and tucking it into his pants pocket.
It seemed as if we were the first there, so I decided to enjoy the tranquility of the cave. No matter how many times we’d been here, I didn’t think I’d ever lose the wonder for it. Thanks to it being fall now, the sun was mostly set. The sun cast a warm yellow that transitioned to a deep pink and purple glow as it reflected straight down the clock tower, making the crystals take on a gentler glow. I stopped and closed my eyes, letting my head fall back, and my arms open wide as I took it all in. The diluted sunlight warmed my face as I absorbed the raw power that emanated from the crystals surrounding me. A gentle hum radiated through me, quiet as a whisper, as I meditated, the feeling of strength and peace settling in my core and leaving me rejuvenated.
“She looks like an angel,” Drayce whispered in awe, breaking me from my bubble of quiet and warmth. I looked back up at them, collected in a half-circle, and smiled, the action feeling odd and lazy as my body came back from the trance.
“We have a problem. I confiscated this during class earlier today; some of the students were passing it,” Torryn ground out as he joined us, unfolding a piece of parchment and turning it our way.
Did you hear that the Mixta with pink hair, Aris, bonded with five guys? The best part, one of them is Professor Callahan! She’s not just a Mixta. She’s an elemental! Can you believe it? All the guys AND all the powers. Some witches get all the luck.
My peace drained away as all-consuming fear took its place. The words burned into my mind’s eye as I blinked at the others, begging for there to be a punchline. Their silence gave me all the unfortunate answer I needed.
“Oh, my broomsticks,” I murmured, my body starting to tremble as fear iced my veins. I tried to say something else, but panic had clawed its way up my throat, and my vocal cords were frozen along with the rest of me.
“Shh, Muse, it’s alright,” Xan tried to soothe me, but despite his deep, comforting tone, I couldn’t calm. He and Caspian both rubbed soothing circles over my back while the others watched, unmoving. My heart raced, and tension radiated through my muscles. The shock of the note had translated into an almost tangible feeling, an all-consuming fear that seeped into my bones. There was a sense of heavy foreboding that seemed to emanate from the note.
This could change everything.
No. This would change everything.
What the hellsticks are we going to do?
“First, we need to keep an eye and ear out,” Torryn answered the question I had apparently spouted in my panic-filled haze. “Has anything odd happened? Any strange people or situations, any mishaps?”
“Aris made a new friend, Olive something or other,” Drayce muttered, his face holding an expression I recognized all too well.
Pity.
“Olive wouldn’t do that!” I practically shouted, my fear transforming to irritability. “It was my fuck up, and she covered for us!”
“Whoa, hold up. What happened?” Torryn demanded, his hands waving in the air to cut us off. It was at that moment, I realized we never told him what had happened at the party. I was upset he couldn’t be with us, with me, and yet here I was, excluding him from things that happened in my life, things that directly affected him.
“We went to a party, and I screwed up,” I admitted quietly, curling in on myself. “My new powers got away from me after I got too excited and had a little too much to drink. That’s my screw up, and Olive covered for me, masking my powers with her own. No one in the room thought twice about it; they were too lost in their own worlds.”
The group was quiet, all the guys except Torryn glancing around the circle with thinned lips and worried gazes. No one spoke for a moment, but it felt like so much longer. The silence stretched until I thought I was about to go insane.
“I may not get to go everywhere you guys go or have the same type of relationship as you all get with Aris—for now—but I need to be kept in the loop. It's hard enough trying to hide my feelings for her. I can't be left in the dark too.” His words were met with guilty stares, and I opened my mouth to apologize, but he gave me a gentle smile and waved it off to focus on the problem at hand.
“Alright, here’s what we need to do. Either someone heard something, saw something and ran with it, or someone’s following you. I am highly unconvinced, this was just a student at a random party. There’s too much information in this to say it’s a simple moment of someone seeing something. If I’m correct, someone is watching us or at least you, Aris. It might be good if we talk to Olive, even in a passing conversation, just to be sure. We can figure all of that out tomorrow. And while you may have slipped up, I’m almost certain this isn’t from that,” Torryn assured confidently. As much as I thought it wouldn’t help, his stern gaze and tiny grin as I looked up at him from under my lashes helped my body relax. “We’ll be careful, keep all eyes and ears out to who could possibly be following us. Professors, students, creepy fucking headmasters, I don’t care who—you write it down and bring it to me. Airplanes can be intercepted. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Do I need to start staying away from you guys?” I asked, and as much as I tried to keep my voice steady, it wobbled as the burn of unshed tears built in my eyes.
“No, you’re staying with us. I’m not letting Tallis get anywhere near you,” Kye commanded, speaking for the first time since we got to the cave. “He doesn’t get to put his grubby fucking hands on our girl.”
“Amen to that,” Drayce cheered, nudging Kye on the shoulder. “Since mine and Caspian’s schedules make it easiest for us to spend the most time with her, would it be better to have someone else go to her room for the night?”
“No,” Torryn started, hesitating before tilting his head back and forth indecisively. “Well, yes, but it shouldn’t be to her room. She has the Lantern of Shrouded Flame, so whoever was watching thinks she’s in her room. Whichever of us stays with her needs to go back to their room. Understood?”
“I’ll stay with her. You three have hogged her,” Xan huffed, throwing me a playful smile in an attempt to cheer me up. Torryn and the guys nodded without argument, but I had to purposely ignore Caspian’s tiny pout.
“Alright, good. Let’s stagger our exits. Xan, Aris, use the lantern, and stay alert.”
Hell’s bells and tarot tells, what have I gotten us into?
Xanthius
The walk back was tense, my poor muse practically vibrating with anxiety, half-listening to anything I tried to bring up. Once we got back in my room, she seemed to visibly relax. I cleaned up a bit as she settled on my bed, trying to give her a few more moments of peace to collect herself. I wasn't exactly messy; it was more paint and canvases taking up far too much space. I couldn't wait to be done with school and have my own office.
“What can I do to help?” I asked, grasping for anything to take the rest of the tension away and see her smile again. She’d been through so much lately, her bubbly personality was starting to waver a bit.
“Can I watch you paint? It relaxes me,” she said, grabbing one of my dark t-shirts fro
m my dresser to keep her clothes paint-free. I bit back a groan at seeing her in my paint-splattered clothes, her bright silver eyes blinking up at me expectantly.
“Why don’t I help you paint your own?” I countered, raising an eyebrow in challenge. She grinned, obviously picking up on the meaning.
“Promise you won’t laugh? I literally have no artistic abilities.” She sounded almost vulnerable as she slid onto the stool in front of me. I placed a kiss on the back of her neck as I reached around her to slide a blank canvas on the easel. She waited patiently as I got her palette ready, pouring out the essential colors, and adding the pink I bought that perfectly matched her hair.
“Here you go. And you know I would never laugh,” I promised, sliding my extra stool in behind her and reaching around. “What should we paint?”
“How about the night sky?” she offered, glancing out at the impeccable view of the moon from my window.
“Perfect.” Placing the brush in her paint and wrapping my hand around hers, we dipped the paintbrush in the black paint, smearing it in long strokes over the canvas. My grip lessened as we went on, her own becoming less stilted and her body relaxing into mine. Pride swelled in my chest as I watched her move from black to white, carefully adding layers and shadows to create a moon. No matter how many times she tried to convince me she didn’t have talent, this was definitely talent. The problem was, each artist had their own style, a unique mix of their personality, techniques, and preferences, and she was no different.
“Am I doing okay?”
“You are. There’s no wrong way to do it. I love the shadowing on your moon,” I praised. She turned around to glance at me, the look on her face warning me she was about to say something pointed.
“See, you should do something you love. I never hear you sound more open and content than when you talk about painting. You take someone like me, who knows nothing about art, and you make us want to know more. Maybe you should teach magic-infused art classes. Convince the higher-ups to make it an elective here or even in the capitol! There are tons of primary schools there!”
