by Evie Wilde
Dash sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. It was obvious why Cassandra had been attracted to him. “I’ve never heard of it being done successfully.” His eyes shifted around the table, his face showing fear. “Transferring that much energy could kill one or the other. Is that something we want to risk?”
“He’s right,” Kyler said. “If it goes to shit, it may affect everyone who has a connection to her. Hell, it could destroy the connection.” He shook his head. “We can’t risk all of us losing our power. Then there’d be no one to protect her.”
Oliver laid down the book he’d been reading and nodded, his brain obviously working in overdrive. He was the only person I knew who could read a book and keep up with a conversation at the same time. “There is a way,” he said. He let the comment hang in the air for a moment while he looked at each of us. Darkness fell across his face. “But I don’t know that any of you are prepared for such an adventure.”
“Out with it,” Dash said. “Drop the drama.”
Oliver rolled his eyes. “There’s a forbidden spell,” he said, happy to show his knowledge of such a thing. “Taboo even. One only a master witch or warlock can perform. None of us.”
“At this point, I’m willing to try anything,” I said. “I promised her we would fix this. It’s not fair to her to not try everything.”
“I don’t agree,” Cassandra said. We turned to find her at the open doorway. “I can’t ask you guys to risk your life and your powers for me. It’s not fair to you.” She joined us at the table. “Headmaster Eliphas was right. I’m useless without my powers and should go away.” She looked down at the table, dejected, having already accepted a fate only she could decide.
“You can’t do that,” Dash protested and stood.
Kyler stood as well. “We won’t let you!”
“All we need is a plan,” Oliver said. “A solid plan. Besides, you’re one of the most powerful witches we know.”
Cassandra scoffed at the thought. “If I were as powerful as you say, I wouldn’t be in the situation I am now.” She raised her hands and closed her eyes. Nothing happened. “See? Don’t risk your powers on me.”
I stood and put my arm around her, but she pulled away, the move shocking me. We had been friends for much too long for her to ignore my help. “We just want to help you. That’s why we’re all here.”
“Leave me alone, Braeden,” she said, a sadness in her eyes I'd never seen before. She’d given up. “This is something I need to sort through on my own. I can’t always have someone else fixing my shit. I need time to think, alone.”
We watched Cassandra turn away and leave the room, Ruby following close behind. Ruby looked back at us, her face full of confusion.
“That went to shit quickly,” Kyler said. “What do we do now?”
“We need to find answers,” Oliver said. “I swear I’m in love with her.”
We all stopped and stared at Oliver. “Everyone’s in agreement?” I asked.
“What about you?” Kyler asked. “I thought maybe you were onboard, but then I couldn’t see how someone who had so much time invested in her could let three guys walk into her life.”
“Because everything I do is for her, not for me. No, I didn’t think she’d ever fall for four men at once, but since she sees us as equals, she’s not choosing one over the other. I can deal with that. I just want her to be happy.” Then I shrugged. “Besides, I know where I stand. It doesn’t matter that Dash slept with her first. If she had to make a choice, I know what she would do.” I motioned at Kyler. “What about your commitment?”
Kyler shrugged and chuckled. “Trust me, my commitment to her is ironclad. I’m like the rest of you. I want her to be happy and will do everything within my power to make that happen. I’m not afraid of it.”
“Well, I’m glad we had this little talk,” Dash said. “But it doesn't change the fact she’s gone back to her room to beat herself up over what’s happened. We can’t let her do that.” He pointed at me. “You need to go after her,” Dash said. “She trusts you. She’ll listen.” He shrugged. “What’re you waiting for?”
I stared at the group for a moment, their heads nodding. I tore away from the table and rushed from the room. I knocked on the closed door, and Ruby answered, her face a field of frustration.
“She doesn’t want to talk to anyone,” Ruby said. “Let her have some time, Braeden.”
I shook my head. “No way. She’s had years to think, and through those years she’s had time to think alone. I'm not letting this go. You know what we have to do.” I pushed my way past Ruby and entered their room. She let out a loud sigh, but I thought it was more for show than her frustration. She knew what we needed to do.
“You better fix this,” Ruby whispered.
“That’s why I’m here,” I said. “She say anything to you?”
“Not really, just that she didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I think she’s lost her confidence in herself. The only way she gets it back is if she gets her powers back and is able to prove herself. That’s what you guys have to do.”
“Of course,” I said.
The room looked just like the one I shared. There was a living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. One of the bedroom doors was closed. “Cassandra,” I said as I knocked on the door. “You can’t just walk away from me like that. We’re friends, remember?” She said nothing, so I took the low road. “You owe me, Cassandra. I’ve always stood by you no matter what.”
“She’s ignoring you,” Ruby said as a warning. “You’re lucky she has no powers.”
“I'm not leaving,” I said to Ruby, and then the door opened.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Cassandra
“Come in,” I said and walked away from the door. I thought all four would show up but was happy only Braeden did. “You’re persistent if nothing else.” I took a seat on the bed and sat with my legs crossed. We had to talk at some point, and then was as good a time as any. Deep down, I was happy he came after me and wanted to talk without me prodding him or pouting about it.
“It’s because I care,” he said, and sat on the bed next to me. He studied the room, looking at the posters on the wall, his eyes catching a view of the panties on my dresser I’d yet to put away. He cleared his throat and looked away.
“Just panties,” I said. “And no, it’s because you’re crazy.” I laughed, and Braeden finally smiled. “Remember when we were little, not even teenagers yet, and we visited the temple in the next town over? I can’t remember what it was called, but we visited a few times before the last time.”
“The one hidden in the hills? Yeah.” Braeden shook his head. He’d tried to forget that day.
“And I wanted to show you a new trick I learned?” I said. “I told you it was perfectly safe and perfectly legal. And you believed me.”
Braeden laughed, knowing exactly where I was going. “You said you could make the five-hundred-year-old statue cry because you always thought it looked sad. We waited until the place was almost empty and snuck by the guard.”
I giggled. “Instead of making it cry, I made it explode.” We laughed, and he patted my foot. “We cut out of there thinking we could get away. We mismanaged our time, and when we got to the exit it was locked. I remember the security guard grabbing us by the collars and dragging us down the hall to his office.”
“Yeah, and you took the blame for it,” I said. “They let me go, but kept you there for hours.”
Braeden shrugged. “It’s what I do,” he said quietly. “You’ve always been my world, Cass. And you always will be regardless of everyone else.”
“Thank you. I don’t think I ever properly thanked you for taking the blame for so many of my screw ups,” I said. “Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever properly thanked you for any of the things you’ve done for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “That’s not why I do it.”
“Why then?” I asked.
He chu
ckled. “I was hoping it was obvious,” he said. “Because you’re the most beautiful creature on the planet. Because I've loved you since even before the temple disaster. When I look into your eyes, I see more than just color; I see your depth as a person. Sometimes I watch you with envy because you are so carefree that no matter what the situation is you find something to like or love or be positive about. It’s only now that you seem to be so worrisome. I worry about that.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” I said, my heart beginning to race. A warmth spread through my body, a sensation like the one I had with Dash. “You’re such a silly boy, Braeden.”
I put my hands on his chest and tugged on his shirt, pulling him toward me and pressing my lips against his. The kiss was awkward. Not because he was inexperienced, but because I knew he wanted to please me. He wanted to do everything in the proper way and in the right order. He needed order in his life, but I was the one who turned his order into disorder. I moved my hand up his leg and found him standing at attention. I felt it pulse, making my eyes brighten. We were both ready.
He pulled back, a smirk on his face. “This the result of sleeping with Dash?” he asked.
I nodded and gave him a peck on the lips. “He opened me up to something I’ve been needing.”
“I’m sure he did,” Braeden said. “And I think maybe it’s my turn to open you up. I certainly don’t want to be last.” He smiled and kissed me hard, his arm wrapping around my back.
I pulled back and grabbed the hair at the back of his head. “You worry too much about what others think of you, Braeden.” I kissed him again. I pulled away, and he tried to come after me. “All you need to worry about is what I think of you.” I pulled my shirt over my head, exposing my bare breasts. “And that’s a lot. Just like the past twelve years, Braeden, I’ve always wanted you.”
He buried his face between my breasts, kissing and licking. I briefly wondered what it might be like to have Braeden on one nipple and Dash on the other. The thought shot excitement through my body, making my wet and tingly—there. I grabbed at his cock again and was pleased to find him as long and wide as Dash.
“Fuck,” Braeden whispered under his breath. “I’ve waited for so long.” He laid me back and pulled my pants down, tossing them to the floor. I glanced at the door that had not been shut all the way.
“Braeden,” I said, but then he began kissing my thighs, his hands caressing my breasts. Why start there? What was his plan after my thighs?
Braeden looked up at me and smiled. “You’re delicious,” he said. “I always knew you would be.” He nibbled my thigh, and I squirmed. “Oh, I think I found the spot.” We were both enjoying his teasing.
“I think the spot is a little higher, Braeden,” I said. Two could play at his teasing game.
“That so?” he asked. I nodded, and he continued kissing up my legs until he stopped at my panties. “Someone’s already wet. I like that.”
“Someone made me that way,” I replied. “And I like that.”
He kissed my panties and then glanced up at me. “I can taste you through your panties,” he said, smiling. Pushing against my panties, his tongue parted my lips. “Fuck,” I moaned and laid my head back. He licked me up and down, his saliva mixing with my juices.
I reached down and pulled his shirt over his head, seeing his chest for the first time in our short lives together. Like his arms, his chest was rock-hard and flexed as he moved. His shoulders were lean and filled with deep striations. I writhed as his tongue entered me, still pushing against my panties.
“It works better if you remove them,” I moaned.
“But what fun would that be?” he asked, teasing me. That’s what it was about, making me wait, growing the anticipation. I didn’t mind because I’d been waiting for years.
I moved my fingers over my covered pussy and moved my panties aside. My fingers brushed against my clit, and I jerked. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I said. Ruby told me about things she did alone and showed me some of the toys she used, but I never felt comfortable touching myself. Until then. I brushed my fingers back over my wet clit and moaned. Even though I had four guys, I began to long for a time by myself, to explore with my hand and toys.
Braeden’s hands pushed at the back of my thighs and spread me further apart. I’d heard girls talk about their boyfriends doing it, but I had no idea it would feel so good. But if he went down on me then I knew eventually I'd have to return the favor, which I was definitely looking forward to. Ruby said she enjoyed doing it to her boyfriend and, in fact, they enjoyed doing each other at the same time. There was so much to explore.
He squeezed my legs as he ate me, his tongue swirling and diving, the blissfulness creating a dripping mess. And then a finger entered me, and then another, slipping in and out, pressing me wide. Braeden never stopped his slashing tongue, using both mouth and hand to take me even further than Dash had. The rush started deep, making me queasy, but then turning the queasiness into euphoria. I’d also heard girls talk about orgasms and coming. Some talked about squirting. Ruby said she never had but was always willing to try.
“I’m going to come,” I said and moaned, never thinking those words would ever slip from my mouth. I said it again, loving the sound of it and enjoying the sensation. I said it again and again and every time I did, Braeden responded with his tongue.
Braeden pressed harder against me, doing his best to control my shaking body. I bucked and squirmed, finally throwing him to the side, his fingers still inside me, still working their magic. I wanted it to never stop. I wanted him in the bed with me, always, always doing it, always bringing me to the brink and then pushing me over the edge. I closed my eyes and let myself be stolen away.
I came, and it seemed to cleanse my soul, years of sexual frustration escaping my body. Though Braeden slowed, I could still hear the squishy sound of his fingers against my wet hole. I stopped moving, and he moved up my body and laid next to me, kissing me, sharing the taste of my juices.
“Thank you,” I said softly. I backed into Braeden and felt his hardness press against my ass. He draped his arm over me and held us against one another. His lips kissed at my ear and neck. Just small kisses. Enough to titillate and arouse. “That was amazing, Braeden.” My body shuddered again, and I relaxed.
“There’s always more,” he said and pressed forward, his cock snaking between my legs. I reached back and grabbed his ass and raised my leg, moving it back over his top and making it easier for him to enter. And when he did, I was overcome with bliss.
My pussy stretched against his intrusion. Braeden made me feel full and satisfied, my salacious need being fed. He moved slow and deep, his face buried against my neck. I closed my eyes and let him take me away again. Let him do the very thing he’d dreamed of, that we both dreamed of.
“That feels so good,” I said, and he moaned into my neck, his thrusting faster and harder. “Come on, Braeden,” I whispered. I wanted to feel his stuff inside me. No, I needed his stuff inside me.
Braeden moved harder and each time he moved inside me he grunted louder. Each time he grunted, I moaned. “I want you in me, Brae.”
“I’m coming,” he said, and we held onto each other tighter. He tensed and shuddered, and then a fullness developed inside me. We moaned together, and Braeden kissed me over and over. “Too fucking amazing. We waited too long, Cass.”
I moved away, and he slipped from inside me. I turned and faced the man who was no longer just a friend or my protector. He was now one of my lovers. “That was always meant to be,” I said. “Always.”
“I definitely think we should do it more often,” he said, and we both laughed. “Or whenever you can fit me in.”
“I may need a calendar,” I said, and we both laughed again.
Braeden jerked the covers over us when the clapping began. I smiled, and he ducked under the blankets as if he were going back down.
“I’ll close the door now,” Ruby said. “Please continue.” She closed the d
oor, and Braeden’s head popped out from the covers.
“I think we were a hit,” I said, and reached between Braeden’s legs.
“No sense in being a one-hit wonder,” he said and pulled me over him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Cassandra
Braeden left my room the next morning shortly after we enjoyed another round of sex. I spent most of the morning wondering where he’d learned the things we had done the previous night and the following morning. But I was most curious as to when he learned such things because it seemed like we spent most of our free time together. He offered no information, and I asked for nothing in return; though, that would certainly change the next time we were alone.
I crossed the courtyard and stopped before entering the classroom building. There were still holes in the ground and cracks in the sidewalk from the fight with Challis. There was also a large dent in my ego from the fact I was helpless to defend people I’d been brought there to defend. Neither Headmaster Eliphas nor the instructors or other administrators had any answers as to how I would get my powers back. I wanted to ask them if something like this happened at places like the Crystal Academy in San Francisco. But I was already on the precipice of being tossed out, and saying something like that would have been the final push.
I entered the classroom building and took the stairs to the second floor where I had Magical Defense. I stopped at the door and leaned against the wall, thinking about Dash and Braeden. Dash had taken my virginity, and Braeden had given me my first orgasm. And second and third.
When Braeden fell asleep, I snuck out into the living room where Ruby had fallen asleep on the couch. I gave her a nudge and when she woke, she gave me a knowing smile.
“Well,” she said. “Better than Dash?”
I giggled because that was what girls did when having such a conversation. “They each have their own unique ways,” I said.
