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Connor moans into my mouth, fitting his hard body to mine. “Yeah, we do,” he says, making no move to pull away from me. “Tonight, I’m going to steal you for a bit. Need to keep you fed.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and tangle my fingers in his hair, only vaguely aware of the people staring as they pass us. “Is that so?”

“You don’t think I’d neglect you?”

“You want it as much as me, big guy,” I whisper, shifting so he knows I can feel his hardness against my stomach.

Connor groans, and my fingers tighten at the sound. “Oh, you have me trained, babe. All I have to hear isbig guy, and I’m ready to go.” He pulls back and looks around to make sure we’re not being watched before pressing my hand discreetly over his bulge. “Try.”

I drop my voice, my words coming out low and husky. “Big guy.”

His cock twitches under my hand, and I squeeze his length. I pull him down and claim his mouth again, the kiss deep, hot, wet, and oh so carnal. My core tightens, and I whimper against his lips before pulling back to gasp for breath. “I want to suck on you…”

Connor moans, moving his lips to my jaw and trailing sinfully hot kisses toward my ear. “I’ll be over after practice.” He reluctantly pulls back, and I bite my lip, watching him. He takes another step back, his dark eyes roaming hungrily over my body. “I’ll see you later?”

I nod, and Connor winks and turns, discreetly fixing himself in his pants.

“Con?”

He stops and looks at me over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“Rafe?”

Connor sighs. “Gone for now. He does this sometimes. He’ll be back.”

The way his eyes go from happy to defeated tugs at my heart. I close the distance between us and cup his face, trying to offerhim some comfort. It’s something I’ve never truly known, but I’m learning.

“Rafe isn’t like the rest of us. He has… demons.”

“He’s lucky to have you, Con,” I say, stroking his cheek.

Connor leans his head into my hand, his eyes shimmering. “And I am lucky to have you.”

I press against him and push up on my tiptoes. This time, there is no heat in the kiss, just genuine comfort and care. Connor’s big hands rest on my hips, and he relaxes against me. When we separate, his shoulders are a little less burdened.

32

Summer

Ibrush my fingers over my slinky silk dress, the black stark against my pale skin. Connor stands from the bed, and I lock eyes with him in the mirror as he walks up behind me. He kisses my shoulder and gives me a satisfied grin before disappearing into the bathroom.

There’s a loud bang through the wall from Alice’s room, and I sigh, shooting a glare at it. Connor emerges a few minutes later and pulls some clothes from his backpack. He slips into his pants but leaves them unbuttoned as he pulls on his shirt. I lick my lips and walk over to him, sliding my fingers over his stomach before working the buttons closed on his jeans. Thanks to my heels, the top of my head comes to his nose, but he still smirks when I have to lift my chin to lock eyes with him.

“Still a big guy.” I brush my lips against his jaw.

He wraps his arms around my back. “There are only a few people at this school taller than me. Mostly professors.”

I bite his jaw. I’ve always been into big, muscular guys, but there is something magnetic about Connor that drives me wild. It’s an energy he permeates, a golden wave of kindness, loyalty,protectiveness, and confidence. He is the complete opposite of Torin.

That kind of soul-deep goodness is something I will never possess. He is something I can never be.

“My dad is taller, though,” Connor continues, brushing his fingers down my back. His touch easily mutes the voice in my mind that whispers such harsh truths. He is the only one who can do that. I don’t know why, but he is able to quiet and calm the unceasing noise of anxieties and doubts that echo in my head. Since the moment I stepped through the gates of Avalon, I have struggled to free myself from the chrysalis I hadn’t realized I had wrapped around myself. I’d buried myself so deeply in it that I barely remember who I was before. With every day that passes, I am pulling myself from the hardened casing of trauma and pain, and the feeling of vulnerability is terrifying.

“Summer!” Zane shouts, pounding on the door. “We need your conjuring abilities!”

Connor’s lips pull into a smile as he calls back, “What’s wrong with yours?”

There’s no reply for a moment, and then he slams his fist against my bedroom door again. “Summer!”