Spring Rain

by Lizzy Ford

  Chapter Nineteen

  Biji arrived to school in the same frustrated mood in which she’d left it.

  “Thank you for allowing me to accompany you,” said the man beside her.

  She glanced at him as he parked in the lot behind the school. “My parents insisted,” she replied curtly to the fiancé she didn’t want. A fellow air witchling, he came from a good, wealthy family like hers. He was pleasant, nice, friendly, handsome and considerate. He was the perfect Prince Charming.

  And she wanted nothing to do with him. At nineteen, she had the urge to scream at her parents more than once and remind them she was old enough to do whatever she wanted with her life, which meant not marrying the man they picked out for her as was customary among some of the more traditional and wealthy Indian families.

  Biji climbed out of the car and waved at Summer, who waited in the Square for her as she had the past week. Biji was spending her nights at the nearest resort with her family.

  “Mind if I pop in and see Amber?” he asked.

  Biji cocked an eyebrow and gazed up into his dark eyes. She started to count to ten to keep from going off on him.

  “Look, Biji, I know this is awkward. It is for me, too. We can talk about it,” he said.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” She spun away and strode towards Summer and the Square, unconcerned about Sanjay following her. Half a dozen feet from Summer, someone else appeared in her line of sight, and she froze.

  Noah was on the Light campus. She had thought it was locked down, but clearly it wasn’t. He seemed to be waiting for her, too, and he almost looked … happy. The sexy, brooding water witchling had been her first kiss, her first snuggle, her first ever real crush – and ditched her. Complicated did not begin to describe Noah, and his beautiful, high cheekbones and the body that should’ve been modeling Calvin Klein underwear were emblazoned in her memory. He’d risked his life to save her – then vanished.

  Biji’s agitation increased and kicked up a small windstorm she quickly suppressed. She was burning up from the inside and hated her body for its reaction to the guy who hadn’t spoken to her since the events of winter, except to call her last week and tell her he was alive. The short conversation ended with her hanging up on him. Part of her wondered if that was his plan: to run away so he didn’t have to let her down easy.

  Selfish, stupid, sexy, kiss-worthy Noah. She clamped her lips together at the memory of their kiss and tore her eyes from his features to look at Summer.

  “You’re, uh …” Summer patted the air, seeking the right word. “Frazzled.” She glanced at Sanjay and offered her hand. “I’m Summer.”

  “Sanjay. I thought I’d drop by and see Amber while I was here. She was always my favorite teacher.”

  “Mine, too.”

  Biji’s attention shifted again, this time in surprise that Noah was actually approaching her. There was something different about the Dark boy, something she couldn’t pinpoint. Dawn’s younger brother wouldn’t stop looking at her and held her gaze as he stopped a short distance from her.

  Too startled and infuriated to speak, Biji stared at him, aware of Sanjay’s discomfort and Summer’s nervous shifting. She stared up into Noah’s gorgeous blue eyes.

  “Um, Sanjay, this is Noah. Noah, Sanjay,” Summer said awkwardly. “You’re both … witchlings.” She drifted off and nudged Biji.

  “You must be the fiancé,” Noah said and looked away finally to offer his hand to Sanjay.

  “And you’re …” Sanjay prodded.

  “Nobody,” Biji snapped.

  Noah didn’t appear fazed. His cool water magick was reaching out to her, and she pushed it away angrily with her air, ready to hurl him into the forest.

  The thick silence that fell made even Biji overly aware the two men were sizing one another up. She had never fancied being fought over by men and didn’t like either of the two near her for them to bother.

  Except she did like Noah. Her anger said no, but her heart was doing somersaults.

  “I can take you to see Amber,” Summer said.

  “Um. Sure.” Sanjay replied with absolutely no enthusiasm. “Talk later, Biji?”

  She waved him off.

  The two of them moved away, and Biji crossed her arms. Noah shifted closer. The tension between them was tight, hot and more than a little uncomfortable. She struggled with emotions she had repressed during the months between December and now, the fear she’d experienced watching Noah in action, the desire she’d experienced in his arms. There was no place in her world for a man like Noah, even if she didn’t want Sanjay either.

  “What do you want?” she demanded quietly.

  “To ask you out.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Craziness must run in your family!”

  Noah flashed a small smile, his gaze riveted to hers. “A few things changed while I was away.”

  “Yeah, you’re bald!” she snapped. “Why would I care? It’s not like we had a moment or anything.”

  He studied her. “Didn’t we?”

  “No.”

  “Okay,” he murmured. “Then you won’t be interested in knowing this.” He tugged his amulet from beneath his sweater and let it fall back to his chest.

  He was Light.

  Biji stared at the brilliant, pale blue crystal glowing in the middle of his dark sweater. “How is that possible?”

  “Come grab coffee with me and I’ll tell you.”

  Her face grew warm while her heart took off. In addition to her anger, she’d been almost relieved he disappeared when he did, because he left her too conflicted to know what to do. She would never date a Dark student, no matter how many years she’d drooled over Decker. After seeing Noah hurt people in winter, no part of her could cope with the idea of being with him. It went against everything she believed in, the Light, her rationale.

  Everything, but her heart.

  “I have school,” she whispered. “Whatever this is … no. Just no, Noah.” She started away, unable to comprehend how he was Light. It had to be a trick of some kind.

  “Morgan did it,” he called after her. “She has the ability to burn Dark out of a witchling. I let her torch me. Thought it’d give me a shot with you. A very painful one.”

  She stopped.

  “I walked through fire to get here, Biji. One cup of coffee.”

  Was she scared or exhilarated by the romantic notion of him doing this for her? Biji didn’t know for certain and stood indecisively for a moment. “I have a fiancé, Noah.”

  “I don’t give a shit.”

  She faced him.

  “Do you?” he challenged. His smile seared through her. “C’mon. I got my bike.”

  The bad boy of her dreams had walked through fire to return to the Light and wanted to take her on a motorcycle ride.

  Why was this not the best day of her life?

  She suspected it had something to do with Sanjay and Dawn.

  “Did you say Morgan?” Lanky, dark-haired Connor McCloud approached from the direction of the boys’ dorms, gaze on Noah.

  “Yeah.”

  “My dead sister.”

  Noah faced him. “She’s not dead, Connor.”

  “You conniving Dark bastard!” Connor flushed, his eyes glittering, and he clenched his fists. “How dare you –”

  “No!” Biji snapped and approached, pushing her air magick between the two. “Don’t you pick a fight, Connor. She’s alive. Summer told me.”

  Connor stared at her, wild emotions flashing across his face. “Biji … you would never lie to me.”

  “I wouldn’t,” she confirmed. “Morgan is alive. Go find Beck and talk to him about it.”

  “Beck knows?” The words were a growl.

  “Yep. Go get ‘im,” Biji said, aware the Master of Light could take care of himself. If he hadn’t told Connor yet that his sister was alive, he deserved an angry water witchling showing up on his doorstep anyway. “Try their cabin.”

  Connor bolted towar
ds the parking lot.

  “Coffee?” Noah asked her once more.

  “Did you really let Morgan burn you up so you could ask me out on a date?” she asked skeptically.

  “We needed to test it out first before we try it on my sister, too,” Noah replied. “But … you are one of the reasons I let her.”

  “And she really did set you on fire?”

  Noah flinched. “Yeah. Melted me into a puddle.”

  The admittance he’d suffered even a small amount like she had over the past few months soothed some of her anger. Biji’s arms dropped, and she searched his gaze. The sense of danger, of great depths of emotion, remained, and she sought some reason why she was attracted to someone she shouldn’t be and bored with Sanjay, the ideal man.

  He held out a motorcycle helmet. “I dare you, Biji.”

  Being with Noah was a thrill, an adrenaline rush like nothing else, and kissing him had sent her air magick soaring into the sky. It was the reason she hadn’t been able to look at any other guy without comparing them to Noah.

  “I have a fiancé,” she said aloud to remind herself as well as him.

  “And I think you should make your own choice about your life.”

  “Why? Because you think you’ll win?” she retorted.

  “I already have,” he replied without hesitation.

  Biji was speechless.

  “Look, things aren’t ideal. I know this,” he continued, a troubled expression crossing his features. “There are a lot of issues with Dawn, my family, money. I probably shouldn’t even be here asking you out, but … I’ve liked you for a while, Biji. Things are rough, but you’re one of the few good parts of my life. I don’t want to lose that.”

  She did her best not to sigh wistfully.

  “Please? Give me a shot?” He held the helmet up higher.

  This is not going to be easy. She gazed at him one moment longer before snatching the helmet and marching past him towards the parking area. But he’ll be worth every minute of grief my parents give me.

  Noah trailed, close enough for her to feel his heat and smell him. Her insides were fluttering, her attempt not to squeal replaced by the steely determination to make him beg for her to give him the time of day.

  Storm clouds were moving in, black thunderheads that lined the western sky. Her air magick tingled at the approaching storm, but she paid it little heed, too aware of Noah’s presence and everything he’d said. Adrenaline was racing through her, too, and she sensed it was as much because of the fact she was defying her parents as because of Noah’s affect on her.

  She’d hear him out, then decide what to do and whether or not he could be forgiven for the three-month absence.

  Before they reached his bike, he took her arm. “Do you feel that?” he asked, eyes on the clouds closing in.

  “What?” She shook off her addled senses to focus.

  “That’s a really weird storm.”

  Biji looked up once more at the clouds. They appeared normal to her, like a fast moving spring thunderstorm approaching the town. Noah’s arm went around her instinctively, and she did everything possible not to melt against him, to feel his solid strength wrapped around her the way she had in December.

  “We’ll stay close,” Noah said and moved with her towards the motorcycle.

  Their sides brushed together, and her breath caught audibly. Biji sneaked a look at him to see if he’d heard.

  He was smiling.

  She cursed herself quietly.

  They reached his bike. She stood back while he straddled it and lifted the kickstand. Biji texted Summer first letting her know where she was going then tugged on the helmet and climbed on behind Noah. After a moment of silent panic about where to hang on, she slid her arms around him and almost sighed.

  Noah felt good. Too good for her not to hear him out if he wanted more than a cup of coffee.

  Chapter Twenty

  Despite her intention to be gone by morning, Morgan didn’t wake up until ten. She pushed red curls out of her face and rolled onto her back, taking a moment to recall where she was. She breathed in deeply – and flushed so red, her fire leapt to life across her skin. Beck’s scent, their combined scent, was everywhere. She was naked beneath the sheets and sorer than she expected. The muscles of her thighs and abs were spent while her lips felt puffy. She felt like she’d had a killer ab and hip workout.

  Beck had been beyond gentle. Passionate, consuming, and so sweet, she sighed. It was nothing like what had been done to her before. There was no pain, only desire and pleasure.

  “Figured I’d let you sleep in.” His low voice was gravelly from sleep.

  Morgan twisted her head to see Beck stand from his position beside the fire. He wore jeans and was bare chested, the faded pair of pants hanging low on his slender hips to display his flat abs. She watched him walk, amazed by how his muscles moved beneath the skin while recalling what it had felt like to be pressed beneath his hard, athletic frame, to skim her palms and lips across the smooth, warm skin of his chest … to feel him slide between her thighs …

  A little dazed, if not disbelieving, that she had spent the night with him, she couldn’t figure out how to respond. Beck glowed brighter than she had ever seen him, his Light forming a mist of fog on the floor of the bedroom. Any doubt she ever had about who he was, the Master of Light, was gone.

  He knelt beside the bed and rested his arms on the mattress beside her, smiling. His teal eyes glittered. “Morning,” he whispered. He cupped her cheek with his broad palm, sending a spiral of earthy warmth through her.

  This is real. Morgan shifted onto her side then propped herself up on one elbow. She was on fire already and tucked the sheet around her to keep it from falling off. Of all the thoughts she thought she should be thinking, wanting Beck to climb in bed with her didn’t seem like the right one, but she already missed his heat and strength pressed against her.

  She had unleashed all her magick, let go of her fear and inhibitions and fallen into him. Not only had he caught her with tenderness and passion that made her blood ignite just thinking about it, but he’d taken her to climactic highs she never expected either.

  “Morning,” she said finally, realizing she had been staring at him like an idiot for several moments.

  He traced the pad of his thumb across her swollen lips, the light of desire in his gaze once more. Her face grew warmer.

  “You feel it?” he asked. “We’re stronger today.”

  Grateful for the distraction, Morgan tested her magic. The equinox rendered her fire magic faster to respond, more powerful. “I still can’t control it,” she said with a frown.

  “That’s what I’m for, remember?”

  She flushed after the first-hand demonstration the night before of how well he could wield her fire.

  “You okay?”

  She nodded with a half smile. “Was that … how you thought it would be?” she asked awkwardly, self-conscious of his reputation for sleeping around when she had never willingly slept with anyone. “I mean, are you …” She cleared her throat, embarrassed.

  “Morgan it was the most incredible night of my life.”

  His words drew a smile from her. “Swear it?”

  “Swear. In fact, I want to spend every night like that. If you’re interested.”

  She gave a nervous laugh, too aware of being naked so close to him. She had the urge to throw off the sheet and invite him back into her body but didn’t know if that was the right thing to do or not.

  “So … you interested?” His grin was big, but she sensed the casual question was much deeper than if she wanted to spend the night with him. “Did I convince you to stay?”

  “Is that what that was?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

  “That was what sex between two people destined to be together feels like,” he replied just as quickly.

  She rolled her eyes, heart fluttering. The sudden urge to scream out of joy filled her, and she swallowed it. “But …” Her gaze
went to the soul stone on the nightstand beside her phone, and her joy began to fade.

  “No.” Beck took her chin and shifted her focus back to him. “We’ll handle it together.”

  Trusting someone else to help her was harder than trusting the man she took to bed. Morgan didn’t know what to think. “Beck, I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you.”

  “You won’t. You just need to stay away from the Light source. Today, we’ll go to the forest, and Sam can teach you how to bind the soul stone with your magick. It won’t be a danger to me then.”

  “He can do that?” she asked hopefully.

  “He said he can. Morgan, I’m serious about you staying. With me. Pretty much forever.”

  Overwhelmed by the sentiment and her emotions, she resisted the need to cover her head and hide for a moment. “Forever,” she repeated and held his gaze.

  It felt like the best day of her life.

  “Yes,” he whispered. “If that’s … uh … cool. You can get back to me if you want.” For the first time since they had been reunited, his cheeks turned pink, and he appeared nervous.

  Morgan smiled, always touched when her valiant, confident Master of Light showed his vulnerable side. It made her want to wrap her arms around him and burn anyone who came near. She took his face in her hands instead and kissed him. Surer of herself today, she opened to him without prodding, and he kissed her long, deep, and tender. Her fire crept over his skin while his earth magick floated through her. He was no longer trying to suppress her, instead exploring her body while she did his.

  Beck withdrew and rested his head against hers. “Is that a yes?” he asked hoarsely. “Because I’m about to climb back in bed with you.”

  A thrill went through her. “I think you should,” she said with boldness born of the fire magick coursing through her. “And yes.”

  He stood and eased into bed beside her, his kisses growing more intense while one of his hands pushed the sheet down her body.

  Suddenly, he stiffened, his head lifting. Morgan felt the change in him, in his magick.

  “What’s wrong?” she whispered, shivering at the sensation of his bare chest touching hers. She ran her fingertips down his jaw and neck, once more awed by his raw beauty and how natural it felt to be naked with him.