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Compounding Traumas (Artemis University Book 6)

Page 17

by Erin R Flynn

I climaxed again and again, letting him see how good he was making me feel through my telepathy. I begged him to finish in his mate’s body and mark her as his, shock rocking me how that worked almost instantly, and it seemed to rock his world. Wow, so that was a trick I’d have to remember with a bear shifter for sure.

  “Fuck, kitten, I can’t believe how good it is,” he panted when we were done. “Are you going to troll me that it was only okay again?”

  “There’s room for improvement,” I teased, not wanting him to get a big head.

  He had a big enough cock. He didn’t need the ego to go with it.

  He quietly chuckled as he gently pulled out and set me on my feet. “At least my ego won’t ever get too big with you around.”

  I smirked at him as if making it clear that was the point. Then, I was distracted by his thoughts of how much he hoped I’d bend over my bed and stick up my pert little ass for him, offering myself to him like that.

  So I did, even reaching back and spreading my cheeks so he could see everything he wanted. He was on me before I could get embarrassed it was too much, shoving in me so hard that my body pressed into the mattress enough to smother me. I had to let go of my ass and try to balance. He grabbed my hips and lifted me as he thrust his hips forward, hitting that perfect spot in me each time.

  I couldn’t even get enough air to scream when I orgasmed and simply enjoyed the ride. I played with the idea of rimming him since I knew he liked anal sex, and he went wild, clearly feeling it as if I was licking him while we were having sex.

  Cool.

  I finished a few more times before he came with something like a roar and snarl. He pumped his monster in me so many times that I almost wanted to make a joke about how big his balls were to have so much stuff to empty inside of me, but I was too busy gasping for air.

  And even I had enough tact to know better than say something so crass after sharing something so awesome. Some days at least.

  “Holy fuck me, kitten,” he groaned.

  “No, I think you did that to me.” Fine, I was still a smartass. “Were you trying to forever shape my body to your cock?”

  “Yes, that’s my evil goal,” he panted. “Once I finally fuck you with all of it, that will be my goal.”

  I simply moaned. He wasn’t even fully inside me yet? He really had a monster. Right, he hadn’t hit my cervix yet. I mentally winced. “Yeah, I appreciate that, considering how vigorous you are.”

  He kissed my shoulder. “Even losing my head, my bear and I would never hurt you like that. I know you’ve not had sex over the summer.” He nuzzled my neck. “Does that upgrade me from ‘okay’ yet?”

  “I think I got upgraded from earth-shattering. You seemed to really like what I did there.”

  He groaned. Deeply. “I did. I seriously did, kitten. It felt so fucking real.”

  “Be good and I might do it again.”

  “I’m so fucking addicted to you.”

  Just to prove that, he carefully tended to me with a wet towel to clean me up, and then took care of me with his tongue so I was completely and fully sated. Wow.

  And wow because he had a talented tongue.

  He went to lunch first so we weren’t seen walking in together and people wouldn’t speculate what we didn’t want them to. Plus, it took me a few minutes to really make my body work. It also tickled me that it left me with a Pop-Tarts haul. Well, that would thrill Izzy for sure. She loved sugary crap food.

  Then again, who didn’t?

  I loaded my tray, knowing I’d be going back for seconds, and joined Izzy who was sitting with Mel… Both of whom were giving me mocking looks. It took me two bites of my sandwich to figure it out, my cheeks flushing lava hot. “You came to the room.”

  “Yeah, I bounced off the door and practically gave myself a concussion when I slammed into it since I could unlock the door, and it sort of opened, but your magic kept me out,” she drawled. There was so much sarcasm in her tone, I was shocked it wasn’t dripping all over her tray.

  “I actually had to catch her so she didn’t land in the hallway on her ass,” Mel admitted before they burst out laughing.

  Oh good, something else to never live down. I actually said that when they started to calm down, and they laughed all over again. Awesome.

  We could always use more laughs, right?

  15

  Our mirth died fast when Holly walked by with her friends. I honestly didn’t realize I had reacted or moved, but luckily Mel’s reflexes as a dragon were faster than mine, and she caught my arm.

  Holly snorted and nodded to my fisted hands and how Mel had stopped me. “That’s why you don’t belong here and are garbage. You’re more wild animal than person.”

  “Funny, I think you’re more dangerous animal than person too.”

  She stiffened and narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re furious and ready to use violence against me because someone challenged you and tried to give out your precious address when—”

  “I could give a flying fuck about my address, you stupid twat,” I sneered, shocking everyone around us besides Mel and Izzy. “I’m seconds from pounding in your face for how you handled the situation to save yourself, and every woman with any sense should feel the same. You went to your sexist and demeaning council and played the simpering little girl, brushing off your crime as girl drama.

  “You won your case and set us all back, while the rest of us are fighting for progress and to end the ridiculous amount of sexism in this world, well beyond what the humans put up with. This isn’t about me being violent, but you being so selfish. Every woman should get a free shot at you playing into this bullshit as an ‘elite,’ that the councils can now point to a woman as siding with them.

  “So how does it feel to be part of the problem, Holly? How does it feel to be culpable? When the next vampire is raped, and they chastise her, demean her as no longer being pure and dismiss her—how will it feel to know you bear responsibility for that?” I nodded when her eyes went wide. “You played into their beliefs women are nothing compared to men, hormonal, and not equal.”

  “You contributed to the problem and stacked the deck against the next woman who stands before them,” Mel added. “You’re now the reason they will rule how they will, even after others like Tamsin have been pushing back and fighting to show they’re sexist. Was it worth it? Was it worth your selfish need to not be punished, and do whatever you wanted when they’ll ruin the lives of other women?”

  “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” Holly sneered.

  “No, because this isn’t fucking poker, but life, and the women who have to stand before them next don’t get a fucking choice as it’s not a godsdamn game,” I shouted. “You’re so fucked in the head that this is all a game to you, but it’s people’s lives you just fucked with. They don’t have mommy and daddy to go to bat for them, and now the council will push back with their demeaning sexist ideals, and it’s your fault.”

  “And you didn’t even get the address right, idiot,” a female shifter taunted as she walked by with her friends. “Yeah, you’re such hot shit, they’re talking about taking the list away from the vampires if they won’t protect it as they should. Good job.”

  Woah, I didn’t know that. Good. I didn’t think any one council should have that power, as I doubted it was the first time anyone abused that power.

  I highly doubted it. Especially given the vampires were the second most corrupt council I’d been dealing with. The witch council being the first. Or at least from what I knew, as they were the one that came at me the most, and that screamed corrupt to me. I mean, they didn’t want me for anything valid and simply wanted my power or to steal what I had.

  So yeah, total corruption basically.

  Holly scurried off when someone else a few tables over made some comments, and I sat back down, chilling out as best as I could.

  “Thanks,” I told Mel under my breath. “I didn’t even realize I was going for her.”

  “I wan
ted to as well,” she admitted. “You’re faster though, after training this summer. Keep that in the back of your mind because you might have a few more instances like that, and I won’t always be at your side.”

  Yeah, I had other reasons to go after people and unfortunately, the list of people who deserved my fist in their face was fairly long.

  Really long, if I was honest. Awesome.

  Though it was actually awesome I was faster.

  We finished lunch and headed out. I almost tripped over my feet when that energy that happened between Hudson and I flared… And by flared, I mean roared to life as I walked by his table. It was like a punch to the gut and phantom hands all over me at the same time.

  I heard glass breaking and guessed he felt about the same. That was not awesome. I had enough going on that I didn’t need some metaphysical bullshit with my ex-fuck buddy who said he was my mate.

  Really, I didn’t.

  Shaking my head when Mel and Izzy gave me surprised looks, I hurried out of the cafeteria trying to act like I wasn’t. I felt as if I could breathe again once I was outside, but still didn’t want to talk about it.

  They were kind and didn’t push it.

  Mel veered off towards her room to handle her teacher stuff, and we went back to our dorm to prep for the next day. We’d already gotten our books, but I hadn’t really gone over my schedule, as every time I saw I had to deal with Craftsman when I had placed out of the class, I about blew my temper. It was time though, as I had to plot out my days.

  I pulled it out and read it over for real. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, my schedule was:

  Power Training I

  7:45-9:45

  Instructor Rothchild

  Botany 101

  10-12

  Professor Pillay

  Lunch

  12:15-1:15

  Shifter Culture I

  1:30-3

  Professor Puth

  Tuesdays and Thursdays were other classes:

  Physics 101

  8-9:30

  Professor Richardson

  Magical Advancements101

  9:45-10:45

  Professor Campbell

  Potions 101

  11-12

  Instructor McGrath

  Lunch

  12:15-1:15

  Runes 201

  1:30-3

  Dr. Craftsman

  I realized there was another possible serious problem to handle that I hadn’t thought of and immediately went for the door. Calling over my shoulder to Izzy I’d be right back, I hurried back towards the cafeteria in the hopes of catching who I needed.

  Professor Richardson didn’t normally spend weekends on campus, but there must have been a faculty meeting, and he never passed up anything free, so he was in the cafeteria for lunch. I couldn’t even blame the man as the grub was good.

  I caught sight of him on the quad and jogged after him, not wanting to call out as that would draw the attention of others. I was almost to him by the time he reached the administration building as if he was going to the faculty portal, but then he veered to the side of the building.

  Huh?

  Still I followed, and I realized he knew I was there for him when I saw he was waiting for me with a curious look.

  I held my hands up in surrender as I threw up a barrier to keep anyone from listening in on us. “I didn’t want to shout your name and have people wonder why I wanted to speak with you.”

  “I figured as much, Ms. Vale,” he accepted. “You’re not one to stab someone in the back, but punch them in the nose, and there isn’t a single thing I can think of that I’ve done that could raise your ire.”

  I was about to agree, but then he winced. Oh, that couldn’t be good. Something to address later. “I realized we might have a—well, we’re going to have a problem with physics, worse than geometry, and maybe it’s best we discuss it up front.”

  He simply raised an eyebrow at that, biting back a smile when I didn’t give him anything, but simply stared back. “How so, Ms. Vale?”

  “Your word of honor that you will keep to the rules of the school and not make any assumptions into what this might implicate me in?”

  He rolled his eyes at me. “I already know you’re rescuing the hobgoblins. Anyone with a brain knows that.”

  “Yes, but this would give them the proof it was me,” I sighed, nodding when his eyes went wide.

  “Wait, don’t tell me yet.” He cleared his throat. “Collins and I were pulled into a ‘meeting’ recently. It wasn’t a formal hearing or recorded, but merely a conversation, we were told.”

  I swallowed loudly, understanding what he was telling me. “I’m so sorry. I never thought they would go to these extremes.”

  “Neither did I,” he whispered, looking scared. “What are you asking me for, Ms. Vale?”

  I sighed. Heavily. “I don’t want a free pass, as we both like being fair, but can I get like extra credit for using portals on the fly to save the hobgoblins, or just something? I placed out of runes, but can’t skip the class, as that would piss off too many, but I put in the work. I can’t do the work of this as my magic just jumps over it all. I’m doing tons of other work and—I have no idea, Professor.”

  He mulled over my rant for a moment and nodded. “Yes, as long as you pass the written tests and apply yourself as you did last year to learn the theories behind it, I’m not going to dock you for your magic being advanced. I know I had trouble comprehending you truly were that strong, but after White verifying how she’s seen it firsthand working with you, and your honor is tested, I agree.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I would ask something just as odd,” he hedged. “We can call it extra credit if you’d like.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “You can ask.”

  He flinched, probably realizing how shady he was sounding. “I’m worried about my mate getting caught in the crossfire of all of this, Ms. Vale. She didn’t sign up for this, and I love her dearly. I agree what the councils are doing is wrong, but I won’t pay the price of losing my mate to protect your secrets, even if you are the last fairy. I’m sorry. I love her too much, and she’s needed in this world too.”

  I actually smiled when tears formed in his eyes. “I would never ask that, Professor Richardson. Never. I just asked that people come talk to me, or us, instead of betraying what we’re trying to do, and do the right thing. You did.”

  He quickly wiped his eyes. “You act as if this is a simple matter that can easily be handled now that I told you the truth, Ms. Vale.”

  “It is and can be,” I chuckled, smiling at him. I nodded when he opened his mouth to argue. “Have you seen Craftsman worry about his mom? Not in a while, right? Actually, I don’t think at all since you found out because we hid her away before you knew.” I had to think about that one, and I wasn’t sure what came first. “She’s safe.”

  “You can’t seriously be suggesting I stash my mate at a safe house for the foreseeable future until—I don’t even know how this all gets resolved and—”

  “No, that’s not what I’m suggesting,” I cut in when he started to sound too agitated and falling over the edge. “I’m saying we got this. And I don’t mean just the twenty-year-old that stands before you. Okay? Ray and Zack are good. They know their shit. The Rothchilds are all now in the loop. I don’t know what your mate does, or if she can leave your house, but I can order one of the fae dogs to guard her.”

  He let out a slow breath, nodding his head. “I understand. You’re saying it can be handled.” He waited until I confirmed it. “Thank you, Ms. Vale. I’m sorry I would betray you for her but—”

  “She’s your everything. I saw that when we went out to dinner last year. I get it. She’s a lovely woman who doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this.” I smiled at him. “Tell her the truth without everything. Tell her that the council wants to use you to get to me, and it might be a golden ticket for something better since you picked the right side of this,
because it’s not just me fighting against the councils’ tyranny.”

  “She knows of your fight,” he chuckled. “She’s rooting for you. She’s asked if I’m helping, but knows how cautious I am. She is not.” He shook his head as if saying that was silly given how the councils were, or even the current climate of the supe world.

  He wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean we should all roll over and show our stomachs to assholes.

  “Let’s go find White. She gets the fun job of being the adult of this and handling Collins.” I opened my mouth to say something bitchy about how I doubted the man would tell me the truth of the meeting, or demand more of my blood to keep quiet, but Richardson had enough going on without getting in the middle of that.

  And I wasn’t sure if he knew what had happened over the summer. I’d prefer less people did.

  I wished I could forget it.

  Shocked rocked me when I found Collins already at White’s office, but then I reminded myself that the two deans probably hand lots to talk about all the time.

  “Speak of the devil and she will appear,” White teased me.

  Or not.

  I raised an eyebrow at that, waiting until she waved us in to join them. I closed the door behind us and put up a barrier. “What did I do now?”

  Collins glanced at Richardson. “I believe you already know about the conversation we were forced to have with members of our council if you’re having a private word with Professor Richardson.”

  “She actually came to me about class issues, and I asked for help,” Richardson clarified, as if that mattered somehow.

  White’s eyes went wide, but then she closed them. “Of course you’d have issues with magical physics. By the gods, that would have been a disaster. I’m so sorry I didn’t think of that, Tamsin.”

  “We’ve been slightly busy all fucking summer,” I drawled. “And it’s not like the first day we start opening portals. We would have thought of it. I just did today.”

  Collins glanced between the three of us. “Why? What’s the issue.” He cleared his throat after a few moments. “I apologize for prying.”

 

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