Page 17 of Cursed by the Love Witch (A Monstrous Holiday #2)

17

DARCEE

T he day passes in a blur.

Every time my thighs rub together, I remember what Bael felt like between them: his warm breath, the scent of skin, and the feel of his silken hair on my bare skin. My mind had been wandering all day, replaying the wonderful morning and knowing it should never happen again.

I know that, and yet, as I sit next to Prue at our workbench and watch Bael flit around the room explaining the properties of a plant I’ve never heard of, I’m desperate to feel his touch again. I’m powerless when it comes to my desire—and I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as him. It’s not unheard of for me to fall for someone too quickly—I am a love witch.

Usually, what ends up happening is I realize I’m more in love with the idea of them—their potential—than who they are. Bael is the opposite of that. The way he presented himself to me initially put me off. After seeing the softer, more compassionate side, I’m rapidly falling for the male I’ve discovered.

The one who cares for me in a way I’ve always dreamed of. While I love his gifts, I adore the compassion he’s shown me. From helping with my grade to holding me last night and keeping the nightmares away, it’s no wonder I’m in danger of losing my heart to him.

Especially when I’ve opened my textbooks throughout the day to find little love notes tucked between the pages, each one was some abysmal riddle that made my heart pound and skin tingle. They are adorable, and I’ll cherish every single one of them forever.

I wonder—not for the first time—if we could have had this without the love potion. Would this relationship have formed naturally if I had come to him for help organically? It just seems so easy. For all I know about love potions, I am truly out of my depth with this one. It has shown no signs of waning, though our little tryst this morning surely didn’t help the situation.

Again, I vow that if it hasn’t completely gotten out of his system by graduation, I will take matters into my own hands. I was leaving that night anyway. The first day of my lease starts the day of graduation. I needed to be open immediately if I had any hope of making the next month’s rent.

I can make it through one more week of this. The end of our relationship—if it can even be called that—is a matter of when, not if.

Deep in thought, I barely register the bell ringing until those around me pack up to leave and shuffle out the door. Prue is already on her feet, stuffing her books into her bag and looking at me expectantly.

“Zander and I are going to research bog creatures at the cafe if you want to come. I know nothing about that place, and we’re going in a couple of days.”

I glance over to Bael leaning against the front of his desk. Formidable and grumpy, yet he had eaten my pussy like he was starving, and I was the feast he’d waited his whole life for. It’s a delicious secret that our surly professor burns hotly for me. The gleam in his eyes tells me he knows what I’m thinking. Heat swims in my cheeks as I turn back towards my friend.

“I—I—um can’t. Professor Fangborne is giving me extra lessons after class to help raise my grade before graduation.” Prue lowers her brows. “Did—I, um, not mention that yesterday?”

“No,” she says. “You’ve been acting strange. Is everything okay?”

The truth is on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it back down.

“Everything is fine, Prue. I’ve just been forgetful lately. Graduation brain, you know?”

My best friend purses her lips.

“You’ve been forgetting a lot lately. Like the fact that I can read auras and yours, my sweet friend, is pinker than usual.”

My mouth goes dry.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, waving a dismissive hand.

Her dark brows lower, but Zander appears before she can push me on it. He nods at me before taking my friend’s hand.

“This conversation isn’t over, Dar.”

“See you later,” I say, waving at them as Zander pulls her down the hall.

As much as I long to confess to her, I don’t want to put her in that position. If the school found out she knew and didn’t report it, she could also be in serious trouble. I’ll keep it to myself for now. How have I made such a mess in only a few days?

Once the final student exits, I hear the door to the room bolt shut. Bael remains in front of his desk, eyeing me carefully. I rise on shaking knees and collect my belongings. His hungry gaze devours me whole the closer I get. I’d love nothing more for him to toss me over his desk and give me a repeat of this morning, but we have work to do.

He grins down at me, his hand falling to the small of my back as he guides me towards his office.

“Let’s see how much you’ve retrained from yesterday.”

Inside his office, the purple fire is barely flickering. Atop his desk are a variety of herbs and a bubbling cauldron. Inside a delicate white teacup is a dark-colored liquid. The scent is putrid, and the steam rising over the lip of the cup looks like smoke.

“Nightshade tea,” he explains from beside me. “Extremely deadly. Your task is to make it safe to drink based on the properties we discussed in our last session.”

I glance up at him. Surely, he is joking. His eyes, however, are earnest. The hand on my back falls away as he leans down closer. Finding my ear, his words are a whispered promise.

“If you do good, I’ll reward you once our lesson is done.”

A sigh escapes me, and I nearly collapse to the floor. Instantly, he pulls away with a grin on his lips and retreats to the other side of the desk. I drop my things to the floor and survey the ingredients before me.

“Okay,” I say, grabbing a fresh sprig of rosemary. “Here goes nothing.”

An hour later, my eyes feel like they’re filled with sand.

My head pounds and my magic is officially spent for the rest of the day. As I stare down at the teacup, which no longer seems ominously dark, I can only hope I counteracted enough of its properties to make it drinkable. Bael oversaw me the whole time, gently nudging me in the right direction but ultimately leaving this first test up to me.

I sink into my chair, exhaustion weighing me down.

“Finished?” Bael asks, reaching for the mug.

Nodding, I can no longer even form words.

Bael gives it a tentative sniff. Apprehension tickles the back of my neck. I did all that I could, but I still wouldn’t drink it. He doesn’t plan to?—

Before I can say anything, Bael puts his lips on the cup and consumes one large swallow. If I haven’t broken down the poison enough, that sip means death in a few minutes. My mouth falls open, and I lean forward in my chair. Bael’s body tenses as he swallows. After a few moments pass, he appears no worse for wear—and he’s breathing, which is a very positive sign.

Violet eyes meet mine and I’m happy to see them clear.

“Not bad,” he says softly.

Pride floods my veins. I did it?

“Really?” I ask, reaching for the cup.

Bael snatches it from me before I can bring it to my lips. Walking on his long legs towards the fireplace, he quickly tosses it into the low-burning fire. It hisses, and an eruption of black smoke billows from the hearth. Bael returns to me and sets the cup down.

“Not bad, but still poisonous.”

I deflate like a balloon falling back into my chair. I’m truly hopeless at this.

“You forgot one key ingredient,” he says, nodding towards the end of the table.

My eyes land on the glass pot of licorice root. Goddess, I had forgotten all about that. It was the exact thing I needed to counteract the final properties. Without it, the poison was still deadly.

“I knew I was forgetting something,” I mumble before my whole body freezes. “Wait, how come you aren’t dead?”

Bael chuckles, waving a dismissive hand.

“My kind are immune to such things.”

“That’s handy.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean forward. “So what are you exactly? That is if you don’t mind telling me.”

Bael smiles softly.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, Darcee.”

I blush in delight.

“My father was a demon from beyond the veil. On the winter solstice, my mother had summoned him, and well—one thing led to another, and I was born. As a halfling, I have some of my father’s power, and I can see into the veil more easily than others. As you've seen, I also have some of his more beastly attributes. And his long lifespan.”

“Is he still around? Do you see him?”

Bael’s lips turn down. Sadness dances over his features.

“No, my mother and he passed away a few decades ago.”

My hand comes down on his, and I thread our fingers together before squeezing him.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Bael.”

He smiles at me before gently tugging on my hand. I rise and round his desk, as he pushes back into his chair. I allow him to settle me into his lap, feeling whole again for the first time since this morning. His hands go to my waist, gently squeezing me.

“While it wasn’t perfect, this attempt was much better than your last.”

“No explosion this time, you mean? I ruined my favorite sweater that day.”

We share a smile, clearly remembering the screaming students and the walls painted in a thick goo. I had just thrown everything into the cauldron and hoped for the best. Now I see how foolish that had been.

“In any case, a reward for improvement is undoubtedly in order.”

I giggle as he rises with me in his arms. With a wave of his hand, his desk is wiped clear of our lesson, and he settles me on the smooth surface. The cool wood seeps into my clothes and soothes my heated skin. There’s something decadent about letting him have me in here. His large frame looms over me before he sinks to his knees.

His face is at the perfect height of my heated core. I prop up on my elbows and lift my hips as he reaches beneath my skirt and slips off my satin panties. I watch him tuck them into his pocket as his hands slide up my booted legs and hook me around the waist. He drags me closer to the edge and flips up my skirt, baring me fully to his hungry gaze.

“I think Prue knows about us,” I blurt out.

It may be my half-hearted attempt to stop this before it begins. One touch from him and all my protests will be silenced. Bael’s eyes bore into mine, his mouth inches away from where I need him.

“Does the idea bother you?” he asks.

Licking my lips, I avoid the question.

“I don’t like lying to my friend.”

“Once you graduate, we no longer have to hide.” His fingers dance up and down my thighs. “I would publicly claim you, but I understand how it could look to some.”

“We should be more discreet.” My protest is half-hearted at best. “Maybe we should take a step back and?—”

The broad side of Bael’s tongue licks up my pussy and cuts me off. My body heats at the slight touch. His hands on my hips tighten, and he stares up at me.

“Do you want me to stop, little witch?”

He swipes at my flesh with his tongue again, and my mouth falls open.

“Darcee,” he prompts against my wet flesh.

“N—no.”

His smile is pure satisfaction.

“Good girl.”

Without wasting another moment, he devours me like he did this morning. His tongue laps at me before sucking my clit into his mouth. He loves it with his tongue, kissing it gently before nuzzling it with his nose. He inhales fully as if savoring the scent of my arousal. The wet glide of his tongue pushes into my entrance, and I grind my hips against his face.

The silken glide of his hair against my inner thighs sets my blood on fire: my heart pounds, and my head races. The scent of our coupling mixes with his earthy smell. It overwhelms me and pools in my lungs. Wet sounds echo from between my legs as he continues to feast.

His hand slips from my hips. Bael sucks his fingers into his mouth, wetting them before he spears them gently into my heated center. He pumps them just as he did before, curling them expertly. Moans and sighs pour from between my lips as my peak looms closer. Bael lashes at my clit with his tongue as his fingers work me.

I feel a third one begin to stretch me, and my muscles snap tight. There is nothing but pleasure. I am awash in the scent and feel of Bael. There is only us. Nothing else exists beyond my pleasure. I scream his name. My legs lock around his face as my body comes clean off the desk.

He licks me through my orgasm, prolonging it until I am a quivering mess atop his desk. My eyes can barely focus. I feel him rise to his feet rather than see it. Leaning down, he scoops me into his arms and settles me against his chest again. His lips find mine, sharing my taste and lazily exploring my mouth. The cool leather arms of the chair bracket my thighs.

“You are my madness, too,” I confess.

His eyes flash, and he kisses me harder. My soul reaches for his, but I stop it from completely unfurling—it’s the last shred of myself I haven’t wholly relinquished to him.

The growing length of his cock presses into me, and I shift against it. Breaking our kiss, I stare into his violet eyes.

“Why do you never ask me to pleasure you?”

Licking his lips, his hands drift up my back to shift through my curls. He sighs, leaning back against the chair.

“My kind has different rules when it comes to…physical intimacy.”

Apprehension seeps into my stomach.

“Go on.”

Bael’s smile is small as he curls a lock of my hair around his finger.

“We mate for life,” he says simply. “Before we find the one we want to spend the rest of our lives with, we do not engage in any sort of release.”

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth at his confession. Bael is a virgin. His inexperience now makes a lot more sense. With him being older, I assumed he was just out of practice or maybe was used to being with his kind. Now, it’s all adding up.

“Oh, Goddess, have I—have we crossed a line? Did you not want me to?—”

Bael silences me with a kiss.

“I would gladly take you back to my cottage and make love to you all night. Never doubt the depth of my devotion to you. It’s why I wanted to court you properly—to make sure you are certain. If you allow me to claim you, our lives will become one.” His smile is breathtaking. “If you require more time, I will gladly wait. And if you are never ready, that is okay too.”

“But you want me?”

“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

His hand cups my cheek.

And there it is, the clear line in the sand. The line I will never cross. Taking that next step with him could never be undone. I’m glad he stopped me all those times I reached to pleasure him. If we had taken it too far, and he had bound himself to me only to wake from the potion's stupor and realize what he’d done, I’d never forgive myself.

No, that is one thing I cannot take from him. While I’d love to give myself to him and live our lives together, I cannot. I should slide off his lap and tell him this was all a mistake. I’ll take my failing grade and find some way not to have to repeat the class and delay my graduation hopes. Or better yet, I should confess to what I’ve done, give him an antidote, and accept the consequences.

Yet, I look at the hope in his eyes, I know doing either of those things would crush him right now. As much as it sickens me to do so, I know what I have to say. How much worse can another lie make things?

“After graduation,” I say.

Bael lowers his brows, and I press a kiss to it.

“After graduation—when we no longer have to hide and you’re no longer my teacher—we will—I will—become yours.”

His smile is beautiful enough to break my heart.

“It’s perfect,” he says. “You, Darcee, are so perfect.”

I blush, my giggle all too real.

“It can be your graduation present to me.”

He helps me to my feet and collects my belongings as we enter the main room. The door to the room unlocks, and the sound triggers a memory.

“What did Romina want yesterday?”

Bael shrugs. “For me to sign off on a few teaching aids. Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” I say. “You know she likes you, right? Surely, you’ve noticed. She’s all the subtlety of an angered snake.”

The High Warlock chokes on a laugh.

“I hardly notice anything about Romina. I only have eyes for you.”

My lips pull up at the side.

“Good answer,” I say, pulling him down for one last parting kiss.

His hand lands on my backside and pulls me deeper into him. I moan in surprise, letting our tongues tangle. We savor each other as the evening bell chimes. Reluctantly, we pull apart. His thumb traces my swollen lips.

“Possessive little thing you are.”

I am when I have no right to be.

“Are you coming to my room tonight?” I ask.

I should tell him not to, but I’m not that strong.

“If you’d like me to. I promise to be on my best behavior.”

Shaking my head, I smile as I walk towards the door.

“I’ll leave the window open.”