Page 9 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

Riley

I held his face between my legs, hooking my ankles behind his back.

River pinched my nipples between his fingers as he toyed with my breasts.

He hadn’t come up for air for almost twenty minutes and I’d already come twice.

His tongue slid over my clit, circling it as his finger pushed into me over and over again.

There was a small smile on his face when he looked up at me, taking in my exhausted expression and pleading eyes to let this be the last orgasm.

I was enjoying it, but River had a way of distracting me at the worst possible times. And as much as he thought it was funny, I really didn’t want my roommate to wander in and see my boyfriend with his face buried in my pussy with me on the verge of a third orgasm.

“Come for me, gorgeous. One more time and I’ll let you up.”

He pressed his thumb against my clit and I nearly convulsed when I came against his face.

I ran my hands through his hair and tugged, needing something to grasp as my body tensed and relaxed.

I caught my breath when the feeling finally passed and River leaned back, moving my panties back into place.

He got up from the floor, running a hand over his wet mouth.

“Satisfied?” I asked, using both my hands to lift myself up. My braids hit my back, having long since been removed from my hair tie.

“Oh, devouring your pussy is always satisfying, gorgeous.” He smirked, plucking my shorts from the floor, tossing them at me.

I wrinkled my nose at him when I put them on, my shoulders tensing when I heard the sound of the door unlocking.

“What perfect timing.” River joked, raising his arms over his head, stretching.

I shoved him back, hoping that I looked somewhat presentable and not like a girl whose boyfriend just eagerly went down on her. I wasn’t really sure what sex or anything having to do with sex smelt like, but I sure as hell hoped it wasn’t potent.

The door opened and a beautiful girl with short black tight curls and dark skin walked in.

She had glasses with thick black rectangular frames perched on her nose and a leopard print headband with a matching t-shirt dress on that hit right before her knees.

A neon yellow fanny pack was hooked around her waist. She rolled in two suitcases and behind her was a man who brought in two more suitcases and a duffel bag.

He looked identical to her, right down to the way they both smiled at me.

I waved my hand awkwardly. “Um...hi.”

The girl looked from me to River and then back again. A laugh ripped from her throat, followed by a snort. “If I had been alone in this room with Mateo, I would have made the same decision.”

We couldn’t be that obvious…could we?

She waved nonchalantly towards the empty bed so the guy behind her knew where to put the rest of her stuff. She practically skipped over to me, the friendliest smile on her face. “I’m Corrin Hayes.” She looked over her shoulder. “And that brute over there is my brother, Ike.”

I cleared my throat. “Oh, um…well, I’m—” She cut me off before I could finish.

“Riley Monroe, yeah, I know who you are.” Her dark brown eyes softened, and I didn’t know if it was pity or empathy.

She flicked her eyes to River. “And River St. James, wow, isn’t she a little out of your league?

” Corrin shook her head and despite my thoughts just seconds ago, I found myself laughing.

River huffed. “I am inclined to agree with you.”

“Cor, can you quit being a fucking pain?” Ike scolded his sister. He ran a hand over his closely buzzed head. “Actually, speaking of Mateo, why aren’t they helping you instead of me? I have plans and one of those plans was not helping you move from the north dorms to the east.”

Corrin rolled her eyes. “Because mom and dad told you to, that’s why. I’m their favorite , not to mention I was born two minutes before you, so I’m older and therefore have authority over you.”

Ike narrowed his eyes at her, but just shook his head. “I am bringing the last of your bags and then I’m gone.” He gave us a small salute. “Good luck with her.”

“You have more bags?” I mumbled, looking at the size of the room and more so, the size of the closet.

River pulled me into his side, kissing the top of my head. “I’m going to head back to the house. Call me after the assembly or when you get completely settled, alright?”

“After I call my mom and Marianne, you are next on the list.” I said, causing him to swat my ass playfully before he said goodbye to Corrin and left.

I waited a few moments to see if she would speak to me again, but she was giving her full attention to making up her bed.

I looked down at my messy sheets and decided to do the same.

Corrin’s brother had come in, thrown the rest of her bags at her and given me a small wave before he threw his middle finger at his sister while she threw both hers up as well.

I had put my black silk pillowcases on the two pillows the school provided and was about to tuck in my top sheet when she spoke next.

“You’re human, right?”

I moved my pillows to the head of the bed. “Yeah. Are you?”

She snorted again. “Oh, fuck no.” Corrin brought her hand to lips.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out like that.

Being a human is fine. I personally like being a witch.

My whole family are witches, well except for my dad.

My brother would rather focus on his business degree than his metal magic. ”

I raised my eyebrows. “What kind? Of witch I mean?”

“Fucking dampeners. It would be much better if I showed you. I’m a healing witch, but I also have an affinity for potions and science.

I like my magic to come with a lab coat most times, potion chemistry I like to say.

The university has a dedicated building for potions on the south part of campus.

One of the only places I don’t have to wear those stupid dampeners. ”

I fiddled with one of my braids. “I thought you guys had to wear them all the time.”

Corrin looked up at the ceiling. “Any magical student may remove their dampeners for specific classes that pertain to their major or if they are overseen by a professional individual employed by the university within that field of magic that enhances their education.” She did a little shimmy.

“It’s in the handbook. Anything outside of that is grounds for expulsion.

Believe me, I’m just a sophomore and I’ve seen it happen.

All it takes is one person to open up their stupid mouth and boom, under investigation for violating the rules and you’re out on your ass with no degree in hand. ”

It was a long shot, but maybe something happened with a student and they got angry at my dad.

I couldn’t wrap my mind around the thought that something like that could end with my father falling through his office window.

I couldn’t dismiss any option at this point, then again, I couldn’t go around asking every single student if they knew, met or had any suspicions on the matter.

Corrin gasped, startling me out of my thoughts. She was looking down at her phone. “Omg! We are going to be late for the assembly.”

“Isn’t it just for new students?”

“Yes and no. It’s mandatory for new students, but it’s open for anyone to go.

The university really likes morale, so all the teachers go, faculty, the vice president, sometimes the chancellor.

I emphasize sometimes , because he only graces us with his presence during graduations or things he deems really important. ”

I remembered when I was doing a dive into the school, The Mystic Riegan chancellor, Erik Fowler, had a lot of credentials and had been with the school for a while.

There wasn’t much information on him. My dad never really spoke about him, and based on how little there was to know, I would assume he’d never even met him.

I blinked over at Corrin who was still talking. “There is free food, so obviously I will be in attendance.” She grabbed my university ID, shoving it at my chest before I was ushered out the door.

The auditorium was slowly filling up as we found our seats, plates of food in hand.

I absentmindedly fiddled with my necklace as I watched everyone filter in, popping a few grapes into my mouth.

The room had a high ceiling and three sets of stairs that separated multiple rows of chairs.

A few people would look at me and then turn to their friends, who would then also look at me.

Some of them would nod and others would contort their faces into that same expression that Corrin had in our room.

I tried to convince myself they were looking past me or maybe I was just imagining the whole thing and really no one was paying me any mind.

“There’s your boyfriend’s dad.” I followed her eyes to a man sitting between a woman I knew was the Dean of the English Department and a tall man who was animatedly speaking on the phone, but I knew he was another Dean of some sort.

River’s father had dark hair with lines of gray throughout, thick defined eyebrows, and what almost looked like permanent disdain on his face.

The scariest part is they had such similar bone structure and facial features that it would be crazy to not think they were related.

I’d never officially met the man. At first, I assumed it was because River just wasn’t interested in letting me into that part of his life, but the way he spoke about him had me reconsidering my earlier thoughts. His face almost looked pained and annoyed when his parents came up.

I looked back over at Mr. St. James and internally felt myself wanting to laugh. That man couldn’t pick me out of a lineup if he tried.

Corrin leaned into me, swallowing a few bites of her mini muffin. “Does he always look so constipated?”

A laugh bubbled out of me. “I wouldn’t know, I’ve never met him.”

She shrugged at this. “I guess it has to be hard sitting on that high pedestal knowing both your kids are circulating in your academic department. River is the dream magic one, right?”

“No, River is a telepath. You’re thinking of Asher.”

Corrin nodded, tapping the side of her head. “Right. They’re both hot, so it's easy to make a mistake.”

The doors closed around the auditorium, letting us know that it was about to start as people were finishing finding their seats.

“You’ve met Asher?” I realized I’d said it like I’d never met my boyfriend’s brother.

I’d met Asher, but it was so brief I would have assumed it never happened.

The interactions were a simple hi and bye with no eye contact.

River’s excuse was that his brother doesn’t like anyone. That’s why only the bravest students make it out of his classes alive and with good grades.

“Have I met him? Like have I sat with him during his office hours and made small talk? Hell no. He took over one of my English classes during the summer, but apparently, he hates doing that during the fall, well like he hates subbing in for other teachers in general. He likes to stick with his mental magic classes or anything revolving around that, so I wouldn’t worry about having him as an instructor.

” She balled up her napkin and chucked it at my head.

I laughed. “Well, that’s good to know, since English is my major and all.”

“You must really love writing papers.” She leaned back in her chair, chuckling.

The fluorescent lights dimmed a bit and River’s dad tapped the microphone in front of him, sending feedback throughout the room. I lowered my voice to a whisper. “So, your boyfriend, Mateo, is in a wolf pack? He’s like?—”

Corrin placed her hand on her cheek as she stopped me. “They. Not he, they.” She adjusted her headband on her head. “Also, not my boyfriend, they’re my partner.”

I nodded, feeling my cheeks getting a little hot assuming I’d fucked up any potential of having some sort of friend already. “Right, I heard you say that earlier, I’m sorry…”

“You’re fine. If you fuck up again, I’ll make sure to remind you.” She bumped her shoulder against mine before we ceased our conversation to listen.

I wish we had kept talking and shut out the meeting entirely.

I thought they would be droning on about what they expect at Mystic Riegan and how they hope we have a hopeful and enlightening year.

I didn’t think I would start paying attention the moment River’s father pointed to the empty chair that sat at the end of the long table at the front of the room.

I couldn’t make out the name plate from where we were sitting, but Mr. St. James said my father’s name and I knew.

My brain short circuited when he started going on about what a great man he was and how what happened was a tragedy.

The words started to jumble together, and I could make out things like how he helped so many students and that he could never be replaced.

The school was a better place because of my father’s hard work.

I started to sink further into my seat, like I could feel the eyes on me.

Maybe this was a shit idea. Mom was right and this would be too much.

She didn’t know why I was really here, but some part of her must have known that this would happen, and I wouldn’t have her shoulder to automatically lean on.

I felt stiff, like I couldn’t even move my fingers to reach for my phone and text River.

My eyes burned from the tears that threatened to fall. The fucking overwhelming tears.

I should go home. I should go?—

A hand lightly touched my wrist, sliding down to envelop my shaky hand in its warmth.

I slid my eyes over to Corrin slowly. She wasn’t looking at me, but straight ahead.

Her hand had mine tightly trapped as if she was holding me together with every little squeeze she sent in my direction.

She turned her head slightly to me, so I could see the softness in her eyes, and I let myself smile at her.

She winked at me before facing forward again.